TexasCHLforum.com

Charles L. Cotton wrote:Welcome to the TexasCHLforum; we appreciate you joining us.

Thank you very much. I am glad to have found this place.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:The terms that are presented when a person first registers for the TexasCHLforum were created by the development group at phpBB. Some of the terms are intended to protect phpBB and since their software is free and is subject to the GPL, I think it only fair to leave those terms unedited. [...] I had forgotten that there was a term reserving the right to "remove, edit, move or close any topic." Had I written the "terms" I wouldn't have put that in because it is unnecessary to reserve a right to run a board as the owner sees fit. That said, it does at least notify the person registering that this is the policy of the board.

Thanks for clarifying the source of the terms. I like that it is explicit "right up front", so I hope you keep it.

Charles L. Cotton wrote:As a practical matter, the only time a post will be edited or deleted is in response to a rule violation. We never edit a post in such a way that it changes the author's meaning; we only delete profanity or a personal attack[...] I hope this explanation alleviates some of your concerns.

I have been to otherwise worthwhile forums where the owner and moderators edit posts to suit their own sensibilities, without saying what those sensibilities are, or saying that they make such changes. It was OK with most people, but that's not for me.

Your statements marked in bold address my concerns very well. If posts are only modified or deleted in response to violations of rules, and those rules are available to be read by the members, then "it's all good".

anygunanywhere wrote: Welcome, in an unusual way.
Heh. Most folks make an error in judgement before they question the rules and Chas way of doing things.

Anygunanywhere

Thanks for the welcome! I have enjoyed and learned from your contributions.

Just a reminder: I am not questioning the rules or the way of doing things here. I am suggesting, in the appropriate place, that the forum commit to a reasonable attempt to notify people when (post facto) they change something that individual has written. I'm not objecting to the ability to delete or change anything posted.

I'm not trying to "make trouble", I hope that is clear. I think this is a great forum and highly value the work and leadership that goes into it.

I make errors in judgement like everyone else. Maybe this is an "anticipatory request".

longtooth wrote:Welcome to the board.[...]
With all due respect sir you are not the first that has had a better way to do this successful board than our leader, Charles Cotton.

Working on a way to show, in the Terms of Membership, respect and gratitude for the sincere contributions of dedicated members would, IMHO, be "a better way" than what is in place now in the Terms.

Finding a way of efficiently dealing with spammers and cross-posts as part of that would take some effort, but it is worth doing on any forum, like this one, that desires and appreciates high quality contributions.

When I read phrases like the "With all due respect sir" intro above, I often get the feeling that the writer is meaning the opposite - especially, in this example, considering the rest of the sentence. I think the usage is characteristic of some groups of people, especially the use of "sir" in a derogatory manner. I translate, in this case, "With all due respect" to include "(which is not much, in my opinion)". Am I mistaken?

atxgun wrote:I've had some stuff removed before and have received messages as to why.

With this being your first and only post thus far though why are you so concerned?

PS Welcome to the board.

Thanks for the welcome!

You should get the Terms as you prefer before you sign anything, of course, but I see little risk in this case by doing it just after.

I read any agreement that I sign, and have at least the minimal changes made I see appropriate. It may be my first post, but it's not my first forum or "Please sign here". I do it with my dentist, I do it with cell phone service, I do it with anything. I would encourage others to do so as well.

Contracts, user agreements, licenses, etc should be taken seriously by all parties. I'm not being critical of the forum administration here, but rather being critical of people who will sign anything and then ignore their commitments under the agreement.

I'm not "so concerned". If I thought it likely the administration maliciously edited posts, I would never visit here. I am just suggesting that "codifying" what Mr. Cotton says is already done into the Terms would be a courtesy to the registered users who take the content they contribute seriously.

This is my first post.

First,I appreciate the mission and high quality content I find here. I appreciate the substantial effort it takes to create something like this site.

I have one suggestion. I agreed to the terms to register, but I do find one term unsatisfactory:

"You agree that “TexasCHLforum.com” have the right to remove, edit, move or close any topic at any time should we see fit."

I found a thread here via search with a post from Mr. Cotton saying that a poster is notified (via PM I assume) whenever a post is edited. I would appreciate it if the terms said just that - that the forum moderators would make a reasonable attempt to promptly notify a user when a post from that user is modified, moved or deleted.