Wow, seems the White House has not only been able to change the name of Lake Ontario, a name created by the indigenous population over 400 years ago, but by doing so, now an insult to all native North Americans on both sides of the border created by the colonial invaders. However the Discourse mods support this by having deleted a post initiated Michael Hoff. Perhaps I’m wrong, but Mr Hoff’s post a couple of days ago seems to have disappeared.
I find it interesting to note, that not one person who posted a reply to Mr Hoff’s comments were Canadian, although I’m sure we all agreed with his sentiments.
Don and fellow Nonsuch owners,
I’m also conflicted on how our International Community of Nonsuch Owners should moderate our community forum. I agree that we should refrain from name calling and personal insults but I also see my country engaging in behaviors that are destructive to our ( Nonsuch Community ) well being.
The post that was deleted contained both personally insulting comments about a political leader and a statement of concern about an action the individual took to rename Lake Ontario. The personal insults violate our forum rules, so I support our moderator. Personally I’d like moderators to provide explanation and lock the tread from comment so we could see examples of acceptable and unacceptable content. But I defer to their judgement, because they’ve overseen a valuable asset for Nonsuch owners for many years.
I’d guess our forum moderators would allow discussion of changes in the world that are potentially destructive to our community. Tariffs, border restrictions, and indiscriminately changing names of geographic features all impact our community and it’s members. They also impact the broader community of sailing enthusiasts.
Both American and Canadian INA members have helped me enjoy and maintain my Nonsuch. I value the community and hope it will overcome whatever challenges the world brings.
There are many forums. Our forum cannot address the depths of the root cause of these problems. Concerned members of our community need to use their influence where it counts outside the Nonsuch forum. American INA members will have an opportunity in November to exercise their influence in the upcoming election.
Whatever your views or interests, please use your vote to be heard.
For my part I have to agree with the moderators because small concessions no matter how well meaning can be the thin edge of a destructive wedge but as a Canadian I accept Mr Hoff’s apology in the spirit in which it was meant.
Many forums have a place for off topic discussions where you can participate or not as you choose. I’m not saying it would be a good addition here but it is an option.
As moderator, I’m well aware that I can’t please everyone. But I do want everyone to feel that their concerns were heard, thought about, and had reasoning behind them.
Consequently, I’m going to hijack this thread and turn it into a place where people discuss concerns about postings and how they’re moderated.
I’d like to comment on some of the points already raised, but I’ll hold off until others have had a chance to have their say[1].
-- Bob
Something that’s very hard for me to do, as anyone who knows me even slightly may realize. ↩︎
Freedom of speach refers to the government not abridging your right to self-expression. Therefore, a Nonsuch forum has no need to offer such protections. A forum needs to protect itself from delving and devolving into discussions of divisive, unrelated topics. Politics will only serve to sour this venue. I have strong opinions on this unrelated topic , and am a green-card holding Canadian who has lived in each of the two involved countries for roughly 30 years apiece. Let’s keep that stuff out of the Nonsuch forum. No good can come of it. Period. Finito. Thanks.
Phil G, Naiad18, ex Nonsuch 30C #125 LilyPad (formerly Dodgy II, Gabrielle, Ten-Yo).
Jeff
(NS26U sailing out of Boothbay Harbor Maine)
6
While I understand the desire to express political thoughts amongst “peers”, I feel there are plenty of other venues for that. When I come here, I would prefer to read about our boats only.
I agree with Phil and Jeff. There is no freedom of speech on this private forum and I would like to be able to know that I can enjoy this forum as a respite from political diatribe.
I was appalled to find this forum hijacked for politics by someone with the audacity and lack of decorum to do so. The forum moderators need to COMPLETELY irradiate this nonsense now and forever. There is no leeway for being conflicted on this and they need to establish a zero tolerance policy with bans for a repeat offense. People are fed up with politics creeping into everything they enjoy and hold dear, such as this forum, and being lectured to. Take political views to The Rant Forum on some other board please. This will please everyone in the community.
I listen to opinions from all contributors and as long as they converse in a civil tone and refrain from personal attacks on others I welcome their participation.
Gentle nudging from our moderators has been sufficient to keep 95%++ of our conversations on topic.
I kinda like the Forum the way it’s been for the 4 years I’ve been using it. Thoughtful, flexible, and friendly.
FWIW, one sailor’s opinion, we should avoid irradiating or eradicating each other.
At this point, we’re starting to repeat ourselves, so it may be time to wind down this discussion until the next time new concerns about moderation are raised.
For the record, here’s what I try to do with an individual post or a topic that looks like it might go south: I take it private and try to have some private discussions among the disagreeing parties.
Depending on how it goes, that might lead to it staying down or to going back up after some folks edit their posts, or to a thread staying up but a post disappearing. So far, this hasn’t happened very often. As far as I know, it hasn’t yet ended with anyone leaving unhappy, either.
In this case, ALL the participants up to the point where I jumped in ended up comfortable with the thread going away.
When things disappear like that, however, I now realize it can look like censorship to those who weren’t made part of the private discussion.
I’ll be experimenting with different approaches to communicating to the community about what’s happening if another situation pops up in the future.
As my boss on my first programming job used to tell his boss when asked if the code was fixed yet, “I don’t know if it’ll work right, but it’ll work different.”
Bob is working on a way to keep life’s non sailing related problems out of the mainstream here on the INA discourse . I applaud that effort. There may be a way to express things not Knot related coming soon.
Let’s sea what happens with his efforts.
Brian
Facebook, You Tube, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, Bluesky, Truth Social, Gab, Rumble, and GETTR, among others, are great places for non-knot discussions. Lots of like minded folks for people who need to vent!