So what does that have to do with me leaving BC? Well, actually it has everything to do with it. By becoming a mediator I had made a decision to lay down the sword. It was not only a change of career for me but also a change of mindset. Moving ahead a few years, by accident I stumbled across Blogcritics and subsequently joined. I was immediately taken aback with the appalling antics that I saw led by none other - Madame Mac Diva. It occurred to me as I watched there was an opportunity to utilize some of my conflict resolution skills. And so I posted the odd comment here and there leaving little clues and pearls of wisdom to those who would listen.
But before long it became apparent not all were listening, and I found myself no longer being an observer. I also became a target. It seems that once you make it to the Leaderboard, Madame MD starts focussing her cross hairs. And so instead of concentrating on writing quality posts, I found myself wasting an excessive amount of time fending off her malicious attacks.
Believe me when I say all that I ever hoped for was to be a positive influence at BC, but under the circumstances that is no longer possible. Instead it seems the "sinister cabal" aspect of Blogcritics has a much bigger role here than I anticipated, and that was not the gig I signed up for.
Somehow along the way I succumbed to my lower nature. When MD started maliciously defaming me (trust me folks I know the law better than you) I joined the fray and made a post that I'm now ashamed of. That was out of character for me (or should I say the old character) and I don't want to continue down that slippery slope.
I suppose it was my time to play the bad cop. I made a statement that I too could play the nasty game as well as anybody, and hopefully put an end to the abuse once and for all. A last stand at the Alamo if you will. Sometimes when all else fails a more heavy-handed approach is necessary. Mac needed to understand her maliciousness would no longer be tolerated and that I was up to the challenge. It was my intention to bring her misdemeanors to the fore and hope she would be shamed into submission. That was all that I could ever hope for. It seemed to work for a while but in the end the old adage rang loud and clear - that old habits really are hard to break.
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
I'm sorry to see you go. Fortunately, as is always the case, many others are standing by to take up the slack in your absence, and we constantly have more contributors week to week, not fewer.
Feel free to continue to comment, or not.
2 - Craig Lyndall
BORING! Don't be so serious and self-important. We have seen all this crap before. Don't threaten to leave. Just go. Don't try and become a poster boy by saying maybe things can "get better as a result of an episode involving you." Eff this. I am tired of everyone trying to be bigger than the site. Peace out. Bye bye. Sayonara.
I am sorry to see anyone leave. No really. I don't need to SEE it at all. Just go.
3 - TheRagingCritic
I too am a lawyer. Although I have not read the remarks Mac Diva has allegedly made about the Bloke, mere name calling and racist commentary is a far cry from defamation.
At any rate, best of luck to the Bloke. Believe me, we all hate the law.
4 - Jim Carruthers
Isn't "ethernet" a trademark, and you should be aware of that consigliore?
Geez, I thought they taught lawyers to be a little bit tougher than that. But what do I know, I've only spent more than 15 years online. And I still have my pubes despite many flames.
5 - Mac Diva
As they say down South: Let the door knob hit ya, where the dog should have bit ya!
Raging, you will not be reading anything defamatory I said about the Bumbling Buffoon because nothing of the sort exists. Jealousy can get really strange when a bigot is suffering from it. Typical of my detractors at BC, BB barely exists as a blogger. (Too much work involved, perhaps?) So, seeing someone he considers his inferior do what he can't is a deep wound to his ridiculously inflated ego. He would do himself even a greater service by leaving the blogosphere entirely because he has nothing to offer here.
6 - Joe
Or as we say in the Southwest, as you exit the kiva, don't get hit in the...
7 - Shark
It's too bad, but I don't blame the guy. I considerate it about once a day, and I've only been here a few weeks.
I've weathered some battles in various writer boards, etc, but MacDiva is like a Chinese water torture that constantly drips drips drips ...racist... bigot... doofus......racist... bigot...
doofus...racist... bigot... doofus...racist... bigot... doofus...racist... bigot...
doofus...racist... bigot... doofus...
racist... bigot... doofus...racist... bigot... doofus...racist... bigot... doofus...racist...
bigot... doofus...racist... bigot... doofus...racist... bigot... doofus...racist... bigot...
doofus...racist... bigot... doofus...racist... bigot... doofus...
racist... bigot... doofus
Until grown men are brought to their knees weeping.
Oh, and I just learned that BB is an amateur hacker/psycho/stalker and he knows his way around Portland Oregon. WOO-HOO!
I think I'll stick around a while!
~AHAHAHAHH!
8 - Shark
~GOD SPEED, BB!
xxoo
Shark
9 - Hal Pawluk
Bye-bye, BB, bébé.
10 - Eric Olsen
This is unfortunate, but hardly unexpected under the circumstances. The central problem is that no one person - including me - can dictate group policy to 430 people. I have floated suggestions on how to handle comments, conflict, vulgarity, etc. etc, and every time the near-unanimous majority has strongly expressed their wishes to see minimal interference. If I go against the wishes of, say, 425 of 430 people, then the 425 won't stick around for long.
It is the messiness of free speech, which often yields conflict, even bruised feelings, but I see no better alternative.
I do not agree that we have anarchy here - we have very spirited debate that sometimes veers into open verbal warfare. I don't like that part of it, I don't like to be the target of it, and I don't like when I lose my temper and direct it at others.
In the United States, the law clearly favors free speech over hurt feelings. I certainly understand if the consequences of this are too strong for some people and we must bid them fond farewell.
I always miss people when they go and it makes me sad for a bit, but there is too much going on, too much to do, and too many new people coming in every day for me to have the luxury of dwelling on it.
11 - BB
Dear Mr. Olsen and Mr. Winn:
It was my intention to have NO comments allowed on this post!
Apparently you have locked me out of my account and overridden my settings to allow comments here! Is that your interpretation of playing fair? So much for all of your rhetoric about non-interference!!! If you wish to make a statement you can always do so on a separate post. This is my post and I have the right to close comments if I so desire.
Accordingly, I will appreciate you respecting my intentions and thank you for your anticipated cooperation.
12 - BB
Dear Mr. Olsen and Mr. Winn:
It was my intention to have NO comments allowed on this post!
Apparently you have locked me out of my account and overridden my settings to allow comments here! Is that your interpretation of playing fair? So much for all of your rhetoric about non-interference!!! If you wish to make a statement you can always do so on a separate post. This is my post and I have the right to close comments if I so desire.
Accordingly, I will appreciate you respecting my intentions and thank you for your anticipated cooperation.