Friends.

I made clear at the time my reasons for resigning as Moderator. To reiterate, I was protesting a tendency on the part of our "Governing Body" to act in ways detrimental to community building.
That I was invited back as Moderator and given sincere assurances that my concerns were seriously considered is testimony to the forbearance and open-mindedness of the directors of this site. I salute them and warmly express my gratitude.

But this isn't a one-way street. And we must also do our part.

And we must ask ourselves if indeed we want this to be a community.

How often have we driven people out of here? By our intolerance towards those who don't think like us, write like us, like the same books or movies we do or even have the temerity to be young and act accordingly?

In short, by making this place a closed club?

I am firmly convinced of one thing. On-line communities are here to stay. And will only gain in importance in the future. One only has to look at this place and the extraordinary attraction it holds, drawing diverse people every day in one place. Even those banned out will practically beg to be let back in.

Folks, we humans have just found another way to band together. We have always done so, since our distant ancestors walked the earth. It is what humans do.
To be sure, this is not a community in the traditional way one is perceived. It is far more fickle (so to speak...). Less solid and evolving way faster than ever a "real" community would, it's fluidity in membership and even perceived structure is somewhat disconcerting.

Nevertheless it exists. It is right here. I for one think this is something precious and worthy of time and effort. There is no guarantee attached to it. On-line communities are real and are here to stay, but that doesn't mean this one will exist.

It's only up to us all, and I emphasize us all, to see that it does.

It is centered here, in the Off-Topic section of the forum which I keep seeing as the village at the heart of the region. And I firmly believe tolerance will be the test. We simply cannot view this place as a closed club anymore. To discriminate on the basis of race,gender and creed is of course out of the question, but tolerance must also extend to age, opinions and cultural taste.
That doesn't mean, never did mean, never will mean that we are not free to disagree. It means a professed liking for a particular book or movie shouldn't attract derision and scorn. It means a kid should be tolerated for writing like a kid. And it means this place is nobody's personal playground. NOBODY'S. That includes Moderators. That includes pro eminent, established members of the community. That includes ALL of us.

Forum rules must apply. And we must never forget the actual meeting place, this cyber-space in which we gather is paid for and maintained by EVONY. A little gratitude shouldn't be out of order. I still have a tendency to forget that. I am NOT asking for sycophancy here. Just that we recognize the truth.

In short, what I ask of us all is what I have already asked this site's "Governing Body". I ask for a shift in focus.

For if we learn to see ourselves as a community, I believe the rest will probably come naturally. If we don't, then that's that.


It's up to us all.