Good-bye

[TheHalcyonYear]

It seems the time has come to leave once again. Those who have different views that the mainstream here are not welcome.

I have been singled out by BigDon for abusive and snide remarks because he feels that I am responsible for the locking of threads and that "not letting the rest of us have our own world views" and on these issues the Moderators remain silent.

The motives behind my posts have been questioned by 01101001 and I tire of feeling the need to defend myself against something that is not true.

I have no wish for "catty", useless exchanges with gillianren, but the moderators seem to have no issue with the inuendo and ugliness of the Halloween thread.

I seem to be unable to find consensus among the moderators between the moderators as to how reduced funding in the current economic environment can be discussed without going over the line.

I suggested that there was a place here for consistency. I didn't know what tools were available but it seemed that this should be a goal. There were posters and moderators alike who thought I was pressing an unreasonable agenda in an unreasonable way. After I retired from the thread, the point system was implemented that went a long way to meeting a lot of my concerns. I posted a "fence-mending" message on the thread saying that I thought this was a very positive step. This was thoroughly ignored.

The list goes on and on, but I see no reason to fill this thread with a laundry list. I simply want to illustrate a point.

I was warned by Paracelsus before I returned here that these forums had not improved and, in fact gotten significantly worse. Well it seems to be true. I have had enough and will be leaving now. I fully expect that this thread will either be ignored or filled with self-serving responses of the "don't let the door hit you on the way out" sort. I find that unfortunate, but there are other places to have thoughtful discussions.

BAUT is no longer a place for an exchange of ideas, it has become a battle ground in which entrenched ideas on of all types, mainstream and ATM alike, dig in and spend their time lobbing shells at the other side with little interest in learning, compromise, or understanding. It has become a place where the issue of penalties and their enforcement, motive and boundaries, have become more important than discussion and understanding. It is a place where some, for example those concerned about public spending, are to be seen with suspicion and whose motives are to be suspect because they disagree with cherished ideas of some in this forum.

This time I leave understanding BAUT and I will not look back.


THY

[hhEb09'1]

Since this is TheHalcyonYear's goodbye, with their reasons for leaving, I see no need for response, in this thread. So, I am closing it, with the possibility of making it a sticky, if we get a few more of these.

[mugaliens]

BAUT has sunk to extremes beyond which I refuse to deal. Rules aren't being enforced, moderator behavior crosses the rules, and bringing that to the attention of the admin/mod staff results in either nothing or infractions.

I'll check back in a few weeks or so to see if any improvements have been made.

Until then....

[PetersCreek]

Closed to prevent parting shots and the like.

[aastrotech]

In solidarity with Mugaliens' sentiments expressed here

"BAUT has sunk to extremes beyond which I refuse to deal. Rules aren't being enforced, moderator behavior crosses the rules, and bringing that to the attention of the admin/mod staff results in either nothing or infractions.

I'll check back in a few weeks or so to see if any improvements have been made.

Until then...."