With your permission, Papa Bear:
“I like it here even if it is run by a bunch of petty egomaniacs. Actually, that’s the same reason I haven’t left the United States either.”
-Ursa
Although Alphagene does have a point (if you don’t like the SDMB, you don’t have to post here), I will agree with some of the other posters to this thread in that the tone of his remark seems to disinvite criticism.
I’ve heard a similar sort of remark many times since I’ve moved to this country (the USA), in my activist work (human rights)
“If you don’t like it here, why don’t you just go back home?”
I believe it’s my right to point out shortcomings of my environment and try to make it better.
Arnold, I offer my full respect to your views and others like them, but I am sure you can appreciate the vast difference between living in a country and voluntarily participating on a message board.
I will again say that I will really miss Melin but know I won’t lose contact with her. I consider her a friend and I’m sad that she will no longer be here. But let’s put some perspective into the situation. Even though there are friendships that have carried over to real life, this is still ONLY a message board.
It can’t be mentally healthy for those of you who let something as simple as a message board cause you so much anguish.
You turn me on. But maybe it’s because I just spent 20 years in the jungle, getting it on with anything I could attract with a piece of fruit.
Yes, it is only a message board. And no, I’m not losing any sleep over this current turmoil.
It is distressing to so such strife, on both sides. I don’t know quite who to believe. But I will confess, I am not spending a whole lot of energy going on a fact finding mission. This controversy only involves people that I don’t know very well. I just don’t know enough about the whole thing. Sure, I like Melin a lot, she seemed to always offer valuable insights. I’ll miss her, and I wonder about why this all had to be. But all-in-all, there is more to SDMB than Melin, and I am staying.
The only conclusion I have come to is that I will not want to get too involved with the administration part of this message board, and even if asked (not like that would happen) I would never want to be a moderater. Sounds like too much risk for BS to me. I just want to be a little fish in this big pond, want to visit GQ, GD, MPSIMS, etc., and hang out for a while. This is a nice message board.
I was just going to stay out of it all, but I finally posted something in the main Melingate Pit thread (and kind of wish I had not). It is all quite petty, but some of the invective being lobbed at the board admins and mods stirred me to response. I know many of you know the feeling of thinking, “I don’t want to respond to a troll, but I just can’t let that pass!” And NO, I am not calling the board regs who posted critical remarks trolls.
I’m here for GQ. For whatever reason, I enjoy seeing questions - the real ones - answered. And it redirects my thoughts toward questions I hadn’t considered. GD interests me, but I burned out on fighting the good fight again, so I venture there infrequently. It’s good to know, though, that we have parties who maintain an interest in keeping those fires burning.
I did a search on my own posts and was surprised to see that I do actually post in MPSIMS a little more often than in GQ (well, it’s definitely easier).
I have no problem with the board administration and I really can’t see the degree of anguish and intensity of feeling that has caused many of our regs to post fairly nasty stuff. I wish Melin could have been a better negotiator.
Anybody’s house going to fall down over all this?
While I think you have made some excellent points (and helped give some perspective), the above quote somehow makes you less stupid than the people you have villified?
(Unless of course that was a joke.)
I always try to do things in chronological order.
Not really knowing what the hell is going on I will continue to stay out of it. as noted by Satan “none of us really matter”. Take your leave of absence if you want. Someone will replace you.
Oh, and BTW . . . am I the only one who notices Alphagene goes from asshole to genius and back again in hours ??
Whatever man. 
Wow, some genuinunely great reactions and by some genuinely surprising people.
I just love this one:
Some would say that the nature of genius is such that a transition to “asshole” isn’t much of a transition at all. But it’s definietely my finest complement yet. 
I think despite the fact that I took great care in phrasing my OP carefully, people assumed that the question “So what’s keeping you here?” was a rhetorical insistence that Opal take a hike. I was just curious what keeps people that pissed off by the administration here.
I did think about this. Reminds me of what the wise second-grade philosopher Lisa Simpson one said: “You’ve defined yourself as a rebel. And in the absence of a repressive milieu, your societal niche has been co-opted.” In other words, it seems like some posters here need an Ed Zotti or a David B to survive. If they didn’t exist, they would have to create them. Discuss
Another great question, one which led to a fascinating GD discussion after the Pounder Invasion, IMO.
Wow. And I’ve been posting side by side with you in GQ a lot. I had no idea. Ursa, if only the whining stayed in the apporproate threads. I could start a thread about diaper rash. If someone responded with a word that even sounded like “moderator” it seems like someone would chime in with “By the way, in case you missed it Melin was banned… Free Melin!”
Besides, if you are sick of my comments, “just stay the fuck out of the two or three threads it’s taking place in.”
Once again, I never asked anyone to leave.
I figured someone would make this connection, but I think that’s a bigger picture. Our children will live in his country and by prostesting injustice, we are performing a vital service to the future generations of this pseudodemocracy. The SDMB is an enlightened dictatorship. Protests and voting really do squat once the emperor has dug his heels in. And if you plan on raising your kids on this MB, keep those jumpy future serial killers away from me.
Hey, no fair using my $10 word against me. That’s exactly why my conideration was short-lived.
I think criticism is healthy (and some people do it beautifully). I don’t feel that those who criticize are more likely to get banned. But I do get a little premenstrual when people hijack threads just to lay an anti-Moderator fart. We know who are the principal players in the SDMB Resistance, you don’t need to remind us at every turn.
Viva la SDMB!
Gypsy: Tom, I don’t get you.
Tom Servo: Nobody does. I’m the wind, baby.
Oh, she is free alright. We are the ones still trapped inside this nuthouse
Coldfire
Voted Poster Most Likely To Post Drunk
"You know how complex women are"
- Neil Peart, Rush (1993)
I just caught this, Pundit:
Fucking beautiful
Gypsy: Tom, I don’t get you.
Tom Servo: Nobody does. I’m the wind, baby.
[hijack]
Said by Vic Reeves
I used to have that as my sig when I first started posting…
Of course we stay because of you Alphagene. Your witty remarks and deep insight are flames to the fire of life.
Actually I stay because I enjoy the people. When I post something I have no idea what kind of responses will be given, usually there is always at least one idea that someone posts that never crossed my mind.
You really don’t do bad in your posts at all Alpha.
I’ve learned that if someone says something unkind about me, I must live so that no one will believe it.
Who said anything about raising children on the board? I personally, as a poster on the board, think that if I see something on the board I don’t like I should be free to point it out. You see “protests and voting really do squat”, but I disagree. If you think Ed Zotti really doesn’t care what people think, why do you suppose he posted (twice!) his justifications for the banning of Melin?
(Disclaimer: Please note that I have not been involved in the Melin controversy, but I still disagree with the people who say “shut up and leave if you don’t like it.”)
I stay because this gives me something to do when I’m bored at work. It’s interesting and it gives me a forum to egotistically spout my opinions. And, I guess I kind of like some of you.
I’m not going anywhere, but it does sort of rub me the wrong way that we have had a couple veiled threats from Mr. Zotti that if there’s any criticism against the board or insults are weilded in the Pit, that banishment is possible. I also don’t really have any more respect for the moderators than I would have for anyone else performing a service or a job. It’s nice of them, they do a good job sometimes and not such a good job others, and I’m sure they get some sort of personal satisfaction from it or they wouldn’t be doing it. I don’t feel the need to slather heaps of praise upon the administrators or moderators of this board. I guess I’m just mean. I guess, all in all, this just isn’t important enough for me to make it the hill I’m going to die on.
Oh, and Alpha, some of my best friends are grump SOB’s (I think my husband is your king). 
I had a long post written out here but decided it was too inflammatory. You are exactly right about the villain thing, Alpha. I posted something similar recently on Opal’s site where I new Melin would read it. I don’t like her and am not sad to see that she is gone, but as I’ve said before, the community at large will see the whole (for a while) and it will be filled quickly.
HUGS!
Sqrl
- that isn’t true
- I don’t like the way the place is run, but I still like the place itself and most of the people. This is really beyond your comprehension?
–
From an actual catalog: “Disco balls create an enchanting, dazzling effect of light shafts, adding movement and glamour to any occasion”
the Abrams’ bris was certainly memorable
O p a l C a t
www.opalcat.com
Who’s Melin 
Arnold, I know you’ve steered clear of this whole thing. And my comments redarding the comparison of my OP and the idea of “America: Love it or Leave it” were not directed at you.
I have not now nor ever asked anyone to leave. I lack the power or the desire to see people leave. Regardless of what Rysdad might tell you.
I was curious to find out what keeps people on Cecil’s board if they find the actions of Cecil’s staff so repulsive. It was a genuine question. I tried to make that clear, but I guess it’s not nearly as clear as I had hoped.
I guess in some ways I do find it hard to comprehend, Opal. But hey, that’s just me.
Some people have branded me a yes-man for espousing the views that I do. I have a big mouth and massive criticism (no matter how innacurate) is the price I pay for it. Hey, it comes with the turf and I acceopt that.
But I would like to reassert that I have truly nothing to gain by agreeing with Ed, Tuba, Jill, David or Nickrz. I do, however, get free beer when I agree with manhattan.
I have no desire to be a moderator and would turn down any such opportunity offered to me by a staff member.
You disagree with my views regarding Melin or the proper forum to debate Ed’s actions, that’s great. Really. I love a good debate. But I consider any implication that I have the view that I do merely beacuse I enjoy siding with Authority to be a baseless and cheap insult.
I mean, Christ, how much more of a misanthrope do I have to be to convince everyone otherwise?
If Melin’s legacy is one of cheap insults, accusations of sycophanty and overuse of the word “Putz” (which I consider to be a Wally trademark, anyway) than I think that’s a damn shame. And I would hope that even those who staunchly support her feel the same way.
I’m through.
Gypsy: Tom, I don’t get you.
Tom Servo: Nobody does. I’m the wind, baby.
Alphagene, let me also clarify. When I said
I was not referring to you. You specifically said in your OP “I am certainly not questioning your right to post here or demanding that you leave”.
I personally hope that the Melin banning debate won’t lead to more changes (for the worse) in my mostly enjoyable experience with the SDMB.
Arnold, thats what I figured. Everything gets so unclear!
I wish I could just squirt a little Didi-7 into this MB and watch the stains disappear like magic!