Re: Oliver\'s Porn
I have been on this forum since the beginning. I have spent a lot of time on it, contributed occasionally, and helped out when I could.
It seems to me that we have always had one forum member that antagonized many of us and kept stirring the pot up. I don't dispute that speech is free, but the manner in which you choose to express yourself is not altogether free, and if anyone uses the concept of free speech as an opportunity to abuse others, it shouldn't be tolerated. This is what MEAT did. This is what Oliver does.
The fundamental principle here is this: this is a forum about cars. Ethics and decency towards each other is more inportant than talking about cars. Civility counts for everything in a situation such as this, and folks who can't be civil, who persist in provoking others, who use every new thread as a place in which to take potshots at others, shouldn't be on here. Not because their ideas are necessarily mistaken- MEAT had some good ideas, and maybe Oliver does as well- but because they can't be civil. It's possible to not agree with someone and to still express your disagreement in a decent fashion.
This morning there was a post where a photo of a GT40 parked next to several Ferraris provoked a comment from Oliver describing the Ferraris as junk. This is exactly the kind of thing I'm talking about. It's mean-spirited, it's negative, it's pointless, and it's childish. And it's typical of the kind of thing Oliver posts.
Frankly, I find that whatever good information comes in Oliver's abusive posts is not worth the reading of them. I'm perfectly willing to do without Oliver and the ruckus he stirs up just to have a little peace around here. This isn't a real good time for a lot of people on this forum who have taken a big hit financially. Oliver pointing out that he spotted Logan first as a bad guy is just rubbing salt in the wound and is further evidence of his inability to be civil. I think we don't need this. I also think we don't need folks who hide behind assumed names, post things we don't want our kids to see, and generally exhibit the kind of hair-trigger temper we wouldn't tolerate in a friend, spouse, or family member. Or business associate. The final decision is Ron's and whatever he decides, it's his call, but if the call were up to me, I'd end Oliver's posting privileges. It's a privilege to be here, NOT a right, and Oliver has abused it. And us.
