Baiting comment and personal attack removed. Please don't. [-Sid]
I think the reason @DarkLordChungus was never indefinitely banned was because there were rare times when he’d contribute in the fashion that was considered appropriate. He toed the line, essentially. And while I may find his quasi-sadistic jabs and overtures entertaining at times, I understand not everyone does, or can.
As someone who trolled the forum once years ago before I understood/accepted the community and integrated into it “properly”, I think we should give El Chungo a little bit more benefit of the doubt as to his ability to change, especially those of us who aren’t mods. I for one am someone who used to look down on CC from another platform and I mocked everybody here. People also doubted that I had full remorse for my actions. I’m proof that appeals can be made, and that anyone can do the work to integrate and make amends as long as they’re willing. Today, this is my longest running membership on any forum, of any topic.
I’m proud to be here and I’m proud that we allow diversity of thought and expression. I’m proud that we have a wonderful moderation team who can see the nuance in certain people and situations. Hopefully going forward, people will not only take inventory of how much the public forum affects their decision to join or remain active, but people who are a certain way will be given room to make errors and realize where they can be corrected without being condescended.
Respect and kindness is after all, a two-way street even if no car appears to be passing in the other lane. 🤷🏼♀️
@Catloaf 👍👍👍👍
I am a very infrequent participant in the forums and have absolutely no horse in this race. I don’t know the OP and I don’t know the history.
Just as an observation, having been on forums in some shape or another since the early 90s, I think a variation of this thread occurred on every single one of them at least once a year or so.
It’s a bit of the nature of the beast, especially in single-interest forums. People come to this site (aside from the dudes who refuse to understand this isn’t tinder) for more or less the same thing. But that thing is a small part of who we are. Some of you are Trumpers. Some of me are the opposite. Some are poor, some rich. Some atheists, some devout. There is just no way to have a forum like this and have constant harmony.
My general philosophy is report abuse and scroll past the rest.
@natickben 👍👍👍👍
Everyone. Thanks for your comments and opinions. @DarkLordChungus is out of timeout, and he understands there are no additional chances for breaking rules or creating chaos. I'm not asking him to be assimilated into the Cuddle-borg, nor am I asking him to suddenly be someone he's not. This is a collective playground. The rules have been stated, along with expectations and ideals. Our collective goal is to play. If there is bullying, it will be reported and handled swiftly. I promise.
I'm giving him and anyone who wants to be here a chance to contribute. To connect. To be a part of something more than themselves. We can learn a lot from each other, and we can especially learn because of, not despite our differences. The folks who've been banned in the past did not grasp the forum or site rules, had zero intention of staying, and had zero intention owning up to, let alone appeal the decision of their banning or timeout.
I've said this in various posts and messages before: it's not all sweetness and light. Even before the pandemic, we were individuals craving the power of touch and connection. Some here have very tough and lonely paths. It costs nothing to practice kindness, so fling that stuff around.
@SuperSnuggler2: Whoops. Guess I've had those labels vague-posted at me too often (and occasionally directly applied, heh...). Sorry about the assumption!
@Sideon ~ "It costs nothing to practice kindness, so fling that stuff around."
I'm in more of a take some down pass it around kind of mood... hope that's okay... 🥰
....
Coppery
Edit: Oh, this isn't a new game? Shame.
Okay... maybe just a little bit of flinging...
@quixotic_life: Ha. This Erick Oh guy is inventive.
As a side note, Chungus knows how to cuddle platonically, doesn't push boundaries with his buddies, hasn't broken any site rules I know of... he's just been, well, poison-tongued.
Which is evidently enough to get a person banned—so let's all be careful.
@DarrenWalker ~ And how with the poisoned tongues and the wit of the well read... Good thing I've got this sweet ADHD brain and got sidetracked enough times, that when I finally went to sort my thought piles, I didn't really care about them much anymore. At least not enough to get in trouble over the way I was expressing myself... Plus kindness was called for, so love it is... and YES! Erick Oh has some great goodies!!
Welcome back, @DarkLordChungus ! I'm glad you decided to stick around.
Thanks for the way you handled things, @Sideon.