Yep :)

I think what you're saying (in simplified terms) is that, even though many of us see the board as a safe haven from the outside world, it is ALSO a public representation of the MAA community whether we like it or not. It's like the difference in speaking to a friend on the phone or speaking to that same friend over CB or Ham radio. The radio is public and therefore a public face MUST be presented no matter what subject is being discussed. That about right?

That is completely and totally right regarding the point I am trying to make here :) This is why I suggest that we need to consider the fact that the GC message board is a public venue, and NOT a private "safe haven," despite the fact that we do not see or hear most of the peeps who watch what we say. Hence, we should, IMO, likewise watch what we say before we say it.

I get it and I agree. I just feel that Furby's only mistake is that he's treated this place as a safe zone in which he can feel free to discuss anything. I hate to see him get ridiculed and slandered for that as so many here have done (*cough* AP *cough*).

Thank you, and this is the exact problem that I feel that Furby and a few other posters are guilty of, especially during the periodic intervals when they bring out numerous unregistered sleaze-mongers here to join in on the puerile fun, who then proceed to have a ball together having discussions on a very public message board that should be left to a more private venue; that is like having these conversations in a large crowded restaurant with dozens and dozens of non-MAA's, LEO's, CA's, and anti's sitting within earshot, including having John Walsh and Julie Posey each sitting at a table right across from you.

In all honesty, I hate to see him get attacked so savagely also, but in all fairness to AP, his attacks on Furby are acts of kindness compared to the way Puzzled used to frequently jump on the Furbster following his usual sleaze posts (even though Puzz, in all fairness to him, would often offer Furby helpful advice, and seemed to express a genuine concern that Furby not ignorantly place himself in danger due to his own short-sightedness in posting). Puzz would make almost anyone feel sorry for Furby, even on his sleaziest days. And as I have said before, I actually admire the Furbster on some level for being totally honest about the type of person that he is, and to lay all of his negative points (too much, IMO) on the line in front of everyone; as such, I actually respect him considerably more than I do the likes of Heather Peterson and a few other individuals I wont mention who put on the "sweetheart" fasaud to distract people from the type of person that they really are, and probably snicker to themselves when so many warm-hearted but cold-minded folks swallow their BS hook, line, and sinker.

Nevertheless, I am often concerned that Furby endangers the community with the sleaze level of his posts, reinforces negative stereotypes against ALL MAA's to all visitors in a manner that is NOT defensible to the community at large, and like you said, he treats this place as a private safe haven when in reality it's a VERY and oft-visited public venue.

Thank you once again for listening.

Your friend,

--Dissident