Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Tuner-Technicians Forum Open letter to Mr. Baxter regarding the ban of Bill Bremmer

I thought about asking this before, but forgot. Now your post brings the same question up again:

Are you a moderator at PW? You said something earlier (to Kees I think) that if he would have written (the way he wrote to Ken) to you, he wouldn't be reading your reply.

Then here again, you say "that's not what happened here". Well, to me my scenario is more likely than yours - given that we are just two normal members contemplating this all.

That would of course be different if you're "on the inside", so to speak. Well, are you?

No one is a moderator unless their username is colored green (moderator; Brendan, Kreisler, Phlebas) or blue (global moderator; BB Player, Ken Knapp).

No, I'm not a moderator. What I meant in my reply to Kees, was that had he written to me in that manner and I WERE a moderator, then he wouldn't be reading my reply (because he'd have been banned already).
What I meant with "that's not what happened here", is that the scenario you painted adds too much to the picture. It's not that complex.

Since I've allowed myself to get involved here, I feel it necessary to exit this fiasco with a bit of thoughtfulness.

Here's the bottom line.

Someone that you count on for your tuning education has been suspended for breaking the forum rules. Out of frustration you tried to gather a group to your side of the issue to go up against the moderator/owner of PW. I posted some comments that you didn't like and so you attacked me rather vigorously.
Unfortunately, I've allowed myself to get involved in a problem that is really only yours. My mistake. Hurling insults around is not something I enjoy doing.

Good luck. Hopefully you'll get over it in time.

Just out of curiosity, are banned and/or suspended members able to read these forums? I know a lot of forums allow you to adjust permissions.

Interesting....there have been many insightful and thoughtful ideas and comments shared up to this point.

One thing that I haven't seen mentioned in this thread, and that I think bears bringing up: we as technicians have an obligation, indeed a duty, to advocate for the industry. It is up to us to set the tone, and to elevate the conversation.

While I've learned from Mr. Bremmer's ideas and teachings (and I don't want to pick on Bill here) I think it is overall harmful to our standing as technicians to air THIS type of commentary in public. I'm not sure what alternative there would be, but I'm fairly certain that the general public is not compelled by arguments between advocates of various temprements or for that matter, membership in organizations et al. PW draws thousands of people, some who post, and others who do not and just watch quietly. We are on stage here, and if we are wise, we will step away from this thread and perhaps move back to better offerings.

I'm as guilty as everybody else, of course, but I raise this because we ALL have an advocacy role to play here...and one of us being banned (for whatever reasons) is really also a a black eye to the industry, the organization he represents, and the trade in general.

The only way out, to my mind, is to elevate the conversation, starting now probably, past analysis of analysis, and onto better subject matter.

What do you say?...I deeply respect each and every one of you, but lets get back to work and let this thread drop off the radar.

RPD

I think in most cases they can view as a guest. I believe an IP ban may make the forum unreadable, however.

I can read the forum without logging in. Do you mean, Horowitzian, that the forums can tell when I'm reading it even if I'm not logged in? And can keep me from reading it even I'm not logged in? Wow!

Cathy

I believe that's possible since your IP is known even if you are a guest.

I'll be darned.

Cathy

Horowitzian, that is incorrect. It is possible to circumvent an IP address ban.

I have a question Horwitzian...what is the purpose of your small box at the bottom left of your posts, that lists the IP address, the Internet Access gateway, the Operating system and the browser of people reading your posts?

Of course, by getting a new one.

Only you can see that stuff. It's a harmless joke.

LOL...actually, I guess getting a new IP would work, but that is not what I was referring to.

Ahhh..I thought so, just was not clear on the purpose.

Such as?? Please PM if you like. Additionally, some forums allow the administrator to ban a domain name.

Exactly. What is derailing? Does the consistent nonsense and kowtowing that most threads contain count? The supercilious facile middle-of-the-road goes-without-saying platitudes that make up so much of any thread? As for the forum vigilantes...

stores,

I *sigh* because, once again, you misunderstand me, where I am seeking to be understood! And yet, you make me laugh, because you misunderstand me so terribly! I am at the point of *rolling my eyes*!

Horowitzian

It's not funny. Stop it.

wrong.

i can't believe i read this whole thread.

one would think tuners would have equal temperaments.

Bill, like the rest of us, is his own worst enemy,

Of course Mr. Baxter did not act inappropriately. This website is his possession to do with what he chooses.

I'm here because most of the time this is a congenial forum with most of the people willing to respect the rules.

That occurs partly because of the self selection of people who join - but not entirely. It is also largely due to effective moderation.

I've been targeted on other forums where the moderation was ineffective or absent, and that's why I'm no longer there.

In every moderated forum I've experienced, there has been a tendency for certain people to "get away with" more than others because of their obvious knowledge base or professional credentials.

Inevitably they've pushed the envelope. Inevitably they've drawn the newbies into their style.

And if moderators did eventually intervene, there were always howls of rage from the masses who felt the info content justified putting up with the rule violations.

Sorry, it doesn't. It is no harder to transmit information courteously than rudely.