Lots of speculation on this thread, and I note some disapproval of my role in keeping order on the forum.

So there is not too much disinformation flying around, Foxy, Pynchme, Bronwyn and Romany have not been suspended. Horus was suspended for 24 hours for a bit of ad hom. Severin was suspended, but she's been able to post again for a fortnight. Col Rouge/Stern and Leigh both copped suspensions of less than a week each, but appear to have decided not to come back. Ginx's suspension is indefinite.

Some of you are carrying on as though there is some sort of rein of terror on OLO when all that is happening is that people who are disrupting discussion are being dealt with and the most effective way of doing that is to withdraw their posting privileges.

It makes it very difficult to get people to write for the site, or to get involved with it, when you get the level of toxicity that is generated by some commenters on this forum under the guise of humour.

Belly, if you haven't found another site quite like this one, then maybe it is because most sites aren't pluralist in their approach. Many of the commenters who complain about me being "biased" or "censoring" them are just projecting onto me what they would like to do to others.

I'm happy to deal with anyone who refuses to treat others with respect and who thinks that this site should only reflect one point of view.

That doesn't mean that discussion has to proceed in some sort of earnest gloom, but it does mean that commenters have to be respectful of each other, or at least express themselves as though they were. Otherwise the whole thing spins out of control pretty quickly.

Graham I was not intending to spread disinformation about suspensions.

I wouldn't have a clue who is or who is not suspended, I mentioned whether these posters were unwell given that Foxy recently wrote about a medical issue and Severin expressed concerns over her mother and having to move to support her in ill health. I can't imagine Foxy, Bronwyn or pynchme being suspended they are always polite.

All in all I believe OLO to be home to a variety of ideas and opinions. Evidence is that suspensions appear to be handed out evenly between posters of various political leanings.

Sorry Pelican, injudicious use of words by me. I wasn't meaning that you were spreading disinformation, just that speculation about who is or isn't suspended quickly seems to lead to conspiracy theories. Not suggesting you were pushing a conspiracy theory. Apologies if I offended you.

Forrest, too, would definitely have bridled at the thought of there being any prospect of a rein of terror being instituted upon OLO by GrahamY (or anybody else, for that matter) were he to have been a horse. No, gee; but nay, he was no gee-gee, and wasn't saddled with this particularly tacky problem.

Ever so briefly, however, Forrest wondered what the other rein in such hypothetical circumstances might be called: Erebus? The thought rapidly became a mountain of anxiety, such that it spurred him on to check that his tongue was properly parked in the correct cheek: fire and brimstone could issue forth at any time in such circumstances, and Forrest didn't want to have to bite his tongue.

Forrest would love to have invoked the Wizard Morgan to cast a spell check upon an earlier post in the thread, one posted not so long ago, but felt he could not ask. He had, after all, omitted one of the wizard's honourifics in his heralding post of Tuesday, 9 November 2010 at 4:48:57 PM. He had omitted the honourific 'Scourge of all the Wingnuts' from the wizard's title! Forrest was mortified by this failure, knowing how long and hard the wizard had worked to earn these titles.

In the gathering gloom a slight chill zephyr, a Cyberian vesper, returned Forrest to his own reality, that of a long luxurious bask in the warmth of the observation that:

"That doesn't mean that discussion has to proceed
in some sort of earnest gloom, but it does mean
that commenters have to be respectful of each other,
or at least express themselves as though they were."

Forrest knew that one part or other of that observation applied to himself, and was content. He had equitated himself moderately well. Freedom of speech was safe.

Forrest recalled, however, that long ago a certain American ambassador had acquired the nickname 'Mr Ed the Talking Horse', and that this nickname had found its way into Hansard. Hansard was duly censored, and Sandra Kanck's future fate thus sealed.

What a year, lovely to see you all, or some. After only one attempt I remembered my login info and after sitting and staring stupidly at the screen for several minutes I remembered you go "new post" to "reply".

I am guilty of shutting down, ignoring most things and people, wanting to stop thinking so much about all the hard stuff and of course OLO makes one think or at least attempt whenever possible to spell correctly and use appropriate gramma.. grammar?

Some things keep niggling at one though, how is Belly? Why were you so attracted to OUG and is that normal? Does this person or that person still just annoy the hell outta you especially if they agree with your opinion? Can I choose to be stupid or go back to where I was learning stuff? What are hyperlinks?

belly/quote..<<..I did not start this thread..to talk about*people who have different views..than me.>>

i know you wrote..that some time back
but i feel somhow we got of track?

you wrote/note..-quote..<<But to lift the rock,..see what others thought..lay beneath..the art*..of conversation,>>

conversly...we need to be a partnership...[only equals..can converse]..ok thats my opinion]..and this format...means..wether your [ok..wether..IM..a begger or a thief...a leftwing-greenie...or a liberal tory...in the words we write...our opinions carry equal weight

someone..will comprehend
someone will devey comprehending
but either way...we feel..we have had a fair go..at being heard

<<why we differ..and if it matters*..that we do.>>
there is a cetain suspition..[re clones/drones]...
that are mindlessly regergitating..that others put into them

i loove our differences..rejoice in our each being the unique..[us]...we all are...of course it matters..our difference..ensures..we each have our unique bits to add...!

i miss foxies up-ness...you could just tell..she loved many of you
[and just seing that put into word's..made one[ok me]..feel hope

of course..that was yes-terday...now god gave us jinny
but what i say for them..goes for all of you

i loove the knowlwedge..of the for-rest/grump..and cj...and..are we all..not unique*?

<<I think we benefit..by that difference.>>
TOO BLOOMING RIGHT..cobber
the young grayman..has created this forum well

[and better times to come..?]

<<But fail totally...>>..huh?
<<by not taking ownership..of those opinions..that are proved wrong.>>
oh...got ya...yeah..but mate..

as forrest reveals...[with his*..amasing*..ability..to find*..past quotes...reminding*..us all..

is as simple as*..going to their..*web-page...and posting the*link...
revealing..the error..[specificlly*]..[with love..and humour]...maybe..even a..'lol'

re..the words..<<*Well I am wrong..but I am still right*>>
i well know..what he is saying
the principle...and the delivery..were right..

its just..the fact*..[it was hooked on;..this time]
or..the authority..he addressed..[this*time]...
was...gulp..[^*^%&#}...wwwwwr..rrroooooong.%