I am posting in this thread aren't I? My comment was not regarding this particular topic of which I have not knowledge or experience, but I don't come home from a rough day at work and visit rypn in order to witness shots over the bows of dissenting parties. I prefer level-headed well thought out discourse sans banter, but backed with reasonable data or conjecture. Pontificating is also a no-no. Everyone who has an opinion is entitled to it. The idiocy of a comment is usually self-evident. Over time, one can actually count on who will make the effort and who won't. I don't bother reading some posters on this board. Some here may feel that way about me. Such is life.

If my posts are filled with rancor and contempt, I expect them to be pulled. Some posts here of that nature have been and I applaud the effort. If there will be no more active moderation, I will be surprised if some don't take the cue to post more thoughtlessly. rypn is "tame" BECAUSE of the moderation (an apt word). It is not censorship.

We all have tough jobs. I have a friend who is fond of saying there's a reason "W-O-R-K" is a four-letter word for a reason.

I recall being treated to significant rancor sometime ago regarding my semi-disclosed pseudonym. It would erupt periodically, with the insistence that "real men give real names". Fear of spambots was a smokescreen. Being an auditor and needing to maintain independence was met with similar calls (hmm, I'm licensed they weren't) When I pointd out that employers are now "googling" prospective employees that was met with similar incredulity until another poster actually put a link in to a newspaper article. Others pointed out that a consistent psedonym is more honest that a deceptive fiction. Oh well.

Not every question in this advocation is factual. Some questions, like the question of whether operating preservation is oxymoronic ignites strong passions.

I'm not suggesting "rancor and discord". I do think hypothetically, if a poster suggests that he or she has dedicated investors ready to finance a Big-Boy, it needs to be examined. You might immediately think "4018", but-The idiocy of a comment isn't always obvious. Consider hearimg the following in 1988: A small railroad in New Jersey will maintain a fleet of Baldwin diesels in operating condition 19 years from now. (raised eyebrows). How about hearing the idea that Chinese QJ's would triple head with the 261 in say 2004? You'd have been treated like a loon, and probably rightly so. As it stands, one man had the means and motivation. to make it happen. SMS' Baldwins run because of similar dedication and unique talents.

"Pontificating" allowed me to be contacted back-channel by a rather prominent private preservationist, who sent me a copy of a speech he gave several years ago on a matter of mutual and direct interest to anybody that is interested in sustainable operation . He used to post frequently, but I rarely see him post anymore and miss the thoughts of somebody who put steels on steel. I don't know his reasons for defering, but the vigorous moderation hasn't brought him back.

Its one (reasonable) thing to ask people to defer from libel and insult. Its another to ask that people spend inordinate periods of time sanitizing their thoughts for every potential offense for a complete stranger. You want an omelet, you have to break a few eggs. Its not rancor and discord to ask "how" any "why".

I very much appreciate everyones thoughts. I am not pleased that Mr. Bailey has chosen to resign as moderator over this and would ask him to reconsider.
As has been well said we all need to keep this in perspective and I must admit that at times I'm guilty of not doing so.
Obviously many of you agreed with me that the posting that Mr. Bailey deleted didn't earn deletion and have told him or one of the Editors so. I'm perfectly happy to let Mr. Cornillie decide whether or not the post stays deleted and feel its no big deal either way.
What is an important point and in my view worth discussing is the whole subject of political correctness/deletion. It's obvious that the 46 people who wrote to me voiceing their disagreement with Mr. Baileys actions agreed with me that the post was on topic,polite and contained what to some was new information. It remains a complete mystery to me as to what earned it being deleted other than moderator Baileys decision that it was "politicol and innappropriate".
As I've previously stated we need to guard against becomeing so "pc" that we're impotent!!!
I'll be interested to see what Mr. Cornillie comes up with.
Ross Rowland

I missed it, but I sure would like to see what was so controversial.

RTK

Whether one person is right or one person is wrong, it doesn't seem to really make any difference. All I know is that as long as the human species has walked the earth, there have been those that are un-governable. That's why we have rules, and as long as we have rules, we'll also have people who disagree with the rules. Its just human nature.

But for whatever reason, all of these "issues" for lack of a better word, have cost this board some excellent moderators.

And that's sad.

R.O.

Earlier this evening Doug Bailey made a post here that was premature in light of the ongoing investigation. He removed it upon my request.

I request that other RYPN moderators and staff refrain from commenting on this issue until the investigation concludes.

Tom Cornillie

I wish he would reconsider.

The value of a member may be found in the content of his or her posting; not necessarily the name under which they post. It is understandable why some would wish to ruminate under a pseudonym.

I believe that all cases within recent memory where anonymously named posters have caused unwarranted trouble via slander and hearsay involved malcontents with a traceable history of troublesome contributions and questionable motives, and seem only to appear when there's trouble to be had.

There are a good number of cloaked individuals whose passion, concern, and intellect are discernable, but also a small group of bad apples with a noticeable history. I'd say that those anonymous posters with a noted impropriety (or recently joined, nondescript members who are first to cast stones) should be more suspect than those incognito who actually have something to contribute.



Hoping to come off more energetic...than anything else,

KL

If you are going to climb a mountain,be prepared for the pain,the agony,the isolation...and the glory when you reach the summit. Mountain climbing is a lot like rebuilding a steam locomotive,running a tourist railroad,except on a mountain,it's you against it...all your naysayers are in the lodge drinking hot chocolate or whatever it is they do. I don't agree with everyone who posts here,and I have had some heated discussions with people who do...but in the end,even if we do not agree,we respect what they other person has to say. True enough,if you say something really out there,be prepared to be called on it...as you should be. Treat it as the sounding board it is meant to be,and if you are a flake, too many experienced people are going to question your plan. I enjoy this board,not only for it's truly helpful content but also the occasionally outburst...I learn something for all of it,as should we all.

Seems to me that we need to honor Mr. Cornillies request to await his investigation before commenting further on this topic.
I did not save a copy of the original post that started all this although it wasn't much different than my last post on that topic just before it got locked. Please see that post if you're interested.
Ross Rowland

This whole issue is ridiculous. Investigation? Now come on! What is there to investigate? Are we going to hold hearings and call witnesses next?

I have no tolerance for political correctness. It has resulted in the death of so much that was once good about this country. It is also going to bring about the downfall of the RYPN Interchange. Is it any suprise that postings are down considering that the moderators are quite heavy handed in deleting or locking posts on a way too frequent basis.

We all realize that this is a DISCUSSION board! Is railway preservation better served by an open and frank discussion or by a select few people picking and choosing what you can or cannot say? If something that is said here is controvertial or offensive so what! If you don't agree then that is your right and make your case in a reply. Its called DISCUSSION!!!

By deleting the so called offensive posting it is causing more attention to be drawn to that topic than if it was just left in place.

I'm strongly on your side of this issue Stationary Steam. Seems to me that as long as a posting is on topic,free of cursing or slander and coherent it has a place here.
I'm very hopeful that some important good will result from this incident in moving us away from such hair trigger deletions as to make this forum impotent!
Let's see what Mr. Cornillie comes back with.
Ross Rowland

Remember that this is the-

in*ter*change

1-To put each in place of the other
2-To give and receive reciprocally; exchange
3-An act or instance of interchanging
4-A multilevel highway intersection allowing vehicles to move without crossing the streams of traffic

I do not see anything in any of the above definitions that says there must or should be censorship involved in the interchange. But to be fair, there must be some moderation to assure there is no profanity or blatant nastiness. But deletion because of disagreement to the subject or comment is unacceptable. Sort of like saying "I am taking my ball home because I do not like the way you are playing the game."

Later!
Mr. Ed

Well, more than a week has passed and it seems to me that this issue needs to be addressed/resolved. Mr. Cornillie said that he would review the deleted post and get back to us on his findings as to the appropriateness of both Mr. Baileys deletion and his subsequent locking of the thread.
Seems to me that the important thing here is not so much the specific deletion/locking per se but rather what is the policy going forward to be -particularly as regards the boundaries that Mr. Bailey will be given. A number of members have posited that the decline in participation on this forum is in part the tendency to delete too quickly????
Mr. Cornillies answer will be appreciated.
Thank you, Ross Rowland

In Re: Well, more than a week has passed and it seems to me that this issue needs to be addressed/resolved.

Gentle readers, if you have a disagreement with the moderation of this forum you are welcome to contact the board of directors. You will receive a fair hearing. However, inciting a public debate over your situation will not help your situation. It is also in violation of interchange guidelines.

I am locking this thread in a partial action to enforce a cooling off period on this issue - per my initial response to this thread which I have copied below.

Tom Cornillie

- - -

To whom it may concern:

I have just been requested to look into this issue by Hume Kading. I have not been following this thread, nor did I read the removed post. Upon reading the post, I will talk about the issue further with the individuals directly involved in no less than 5 days so as to provide a cooling-off period.

While I value and respect the opinions of the participants on this board - they will not influence my opinion in this matter.

On a more general note - those who run RYPN do so on the margins of what are otherwise very busy schedules (whether it be engineering the next generation of airliners or writing masters' theses). While we all value you, we ask that you also respect us by being considerate of us.

Tom Cornillie