Shambles, I think I started that trouble thread you quote, wondering what happened to my last post. I got a reasonable and timely answer, and was satisfied with it.

I don't think anyone's saying everything is perfect, some people are saints, and your analogies are the root of all evil. I think people are taking a reasonable view of things, and registering some appreciation for considerable efforts made.

Yes I can accept that. However, that is yet another problem with providing (some of) the supporting evidence that some demand to see. The individual case is examined, and very often the 'victim' is reasonably happpy with their treatment - or at least the later explantion for their treatment. So folk understandably think - just what is all the fuss about? The wider picture tends then to be ignored in all the agreeing or disagreeing with the wisdom of the individual judgement.

Which leads me in to another important point, that if the 'victim' was first informed of the problem and proposed action - before judgement was automatically imposed upon them without their knowledge - they most probably would be just as happy for the action to be taken and would not then have needed to write and ask 'where has my contribution gone', I would not have seen this request and everyone may be 'happy'..

Why cannot this approach be always taken in such cases? Despite its nasty and counter-productive nature - why is such imposition thought to be the first, best and often the only method?

But this is but one example - I can inflict others upon you - if you really insist. And this rather IS the point. Over time and reading a number of 'why has my contribution gone' threads, I just became more concerned at the effect less of editing itself - but of all this imposition of it and of the example it was giving. I just feel that it is time for a more positive example to be set - one that more in sprit with the reason why most of us came to post here and why may of us intend to carry on doing so.

I agree that some and probably most folk may be "taking a reasonable view of things, and registering some appreciation for considerable efforts made." However not everyone is perhaps as informed as they probably should be and are possibly leaving a little too much to trust and placing too large a burden upon those who volunteer to make the efforts, on our behalf?

There are however a few notable exceptions. Posts here that state their very intention is to be personally abusive and contain the 'F' word - remain without comment, perhaps because its poster is above censure? Or may be I am just tempting fate and this entire thread will now be deleted (or closed) as a result of this post (and my complaint about it).

I make no complaint about being personally abused on the forum, not because I am a masochist. If I were such, abuse is not really likely to hurt me- is it? But even if this and similar posts stay on the forum - I nor anybody else needs to read it. If they do and are offended - then why choose to read it. Choice is rather the issue here or rather of having no choice - or of having things decided for you.

But this is NOT an encouragement for personaly abusive posting to be made and accepted. It IS an encouragement for some folk, (as so many already can and practice this self restrait) not to respond in kind and not to respond at all. To accept they do not have any control over the posting of others and to always set this example.