I could go on with so many comments over the discussion that started last night and has spilled over into today in the negative things thread. But I'll make two points...

I came back on this forum to talk about music and get involved in music discussions. It's why I'm back in the Album Club and I took over the MB Album Classics, still in its infancy obviously. If I wanted to join a forum that reveled in hurling insults at each other, and hurtful insults at that, I would have joined such a forum and not bothered with music.

Two. Responding to yet another of Frownland's holier than thou comments, you sound like if someone is bullied and beaten to a pulp in a schoolyard, then he's the one who has a problem. Batty pretty much alluded to that when Troll reacted (and rightfully so) the way he did. I don't know what to say except, what the f*** is wrong with some of you guys? Did you all have bad childhoods or something and need to take it out on someone? I mean if you want to verbally attack someone, hang out on Facebook, check out a Donald Trump thread, they revel in verbal abuse there. A forum where all most of us want to do is talk about music is not such a place.

So I'm curious as to what the resolution of this will be. Is Batlord going to have to take a vacation or is this another one of your 'boys will be boys' rationales? Exo was right in his OP when he insinuated that this is a dying forum. There has to be reasonable guidelines, and yes, a mod has to make a lot of judgment calls. There also needs to be someone that can overrule a mod's decision (or lack thereof). Once again, you can be a forum where people can have disagreements and still remain civil (and yeah, some playful banter is fine), or it can remain the dysfunctional playground it has been.

Anyhow, that's where I stand on this. This is nothing personal against Batlord but there are some things you just don't say.

The general level of maturity on this forum is very, very low. So the attitudes and behaviors are as you might expect. I wouldn't be here if I didn't accept it on some level.

I just think a line is crossed a bit more often than many others seem to think, but that's for the mods to decide. I can always leave if I start feeling too out of place.

This isn't a dismissal of TH's grievances. It's just me musing a bit on the "what the **** is wrong with some of you guys?" comment above.

Context matters. Some members like to play rough and that's fine so long as it's consensual. Batlord's post was consistent with your relationship in the past and it does seem like you've been okay with it. However, you said the safe word and it's not something that's going to happen moving forward. I'm certain that everyone will be willing to comply with that and if not: :bonkhead:.

I'll be honest. Any context about hoping someone gets AIDS is personal to me. I was in my twenties in the eighties. I knew a couple people that died from AIDS. I would walk in town and see some nut with a sign that said Mosquitoes Carry AIDS which was their way of saying, 'kill all gays.' Wishing someone died from cancer is another phrase that I'm sure would offend some people. It's hard to be in a world where having feelings and compassion is somehow a weakness in someone. But maybe that is what is wanted here.

So it doesn't work for your context and any posts made towards you would be treated as such (not that you were really at risk). You don't speak for everyone, though.

I agree and disagree. There are certain things that are just straight up not funny. And yes, I have been guilty of throwing words around that were more offensive than not, but I've already paid my dues on that. I just think that even though we all are comfortable here and we have fun, there are limitations as to what you can and cannot joke about. Context aside, a joke about AIDS is just in poor view. If some people find it funny, I guess it works as a joke, but I personally don't find it funny. Same goes with the rape jokes etc etc.

Being unfunny isn't against the rules.

Fair enough. That's why I threw it in that if some find it funny, then it works for those people. That was more just my personal take on it. I'm also only going from the context of what was said in this thread as I've not even seen what the original posts were saying.

I've made quite a bit of fun about your taste in music in those past few weeks. Does that bother you? I genuinely dislike being a dick to people. My humour is a bit on the roasty side at times but I respect people not liking it.

i don’t think aids should be the sensitive issue here

more to do with a joke aimed at TH’s sister who we all know has went through some very tough things.

idk, i don’t think anyone on here could genuinely offend me and i don’t really shy away from saying inflammatory things to any of the ***gots like frownland or batlord but i’d probably approach a joke with TH or Lisna a fair bit differently since i see a lot less crude or inappropriate posts coming from them.