Is this forum as wide-open as it looks?

[taebot]

I kept getting deleted at another MA disscussion board. I've been three-plus years at a non-MA board and love the free-wheeling environment. So tell me, this place, blood-sport, powder-puff, what?

[Scott Kano]

I reckon thats a bit of a stupid question really. This forum is to discuss various MA, and self defence situations and a place for information gathering and for people to extract information to help them with there training in self defese systems.

[taebot]

How stupid a question?

I went to their Open forum where you could discuss ANYTHING you wanted. I posted a thread that said, you guys are lightweights, with my post per day average, I'll soon be the top poster here!

That was declared taunting.

In another deleted thread, I was opened a thread for Kansas City Area Martial Artists to come and discuss our region's martial history and traditions and that was yanked for being spam.

So, my probing of the board here is directed towards what is the level of moderation, or control, that the Board Owners exercise because I like to have fun, crack a few jokes, use some entendre, that sort of thing.

I'm a serious Martial Artist. I'm just not a very serious person and that seems to rub some people the wrong way. I think it's the stiff-white gi crowd that hold martial arts in absolute reverence and treat the training hall like a church...



See what I mean!

[John G]

If I recall, you asked people (in that other forum) to take a look at a forum in the Kansas City Area. I may have misinterpreted your post, as I couldn’t find that Kansas City forum you were referring too.

[taebot]

See that's the thing.

There was no specific thread, so I went to the Open forum where you could discuss everything and used a bit of humor to draw attention to the thread and start a discussion about the arts in the KC area (with one of the members whom had asked me if I was from that area bases on the people I know there). And, I know a lot having grown up in the time of Jim Harrison and knowing guys like Chick Wolfe and Steve Mackey. I've trained at most of their schools, learned from them, and was willing to fight anywhere, anytime, under any rules. But, back on target...

It was real, honest fun, and I think would have been an asset to the board, especially anyone checking or searching on KC and Martial Arts and discussion. As I've gotten older, I've tended more towards the ideal of Bunbu Itchi and have been somewhat of a historian collecting old stories and interviewing that passing generation that really founded martial arts in our (the area I grew up in) region.

And the important point, to me is, if you always have to guard and watch what you say, then you can't say what you want to say. Then you are not having an open and honest discussion, because it needs to all come out warts and all if the situation is to be examined at all angles and levels even if it comes down to the. "meet me here and I'll (*^&%^& you because my style's better," because that can simply be way more illustrative of a person's point-of-view that any other singular point or manner of debate. [I understand the raw nature of many posters having matriculated in the Marine Corps and working heavy construction before getting my education at a more advanced age. As Plato argued before the Athenians, one should be allowed to defend themselves in their accustomed manner.]

Like hate speech. IF I am not allowed to hear your deepest innermost feelings on race, then I might give you a pass as a racist and never confront and try to mediate your way of thinking.

I though the moderators were putting out fires that hadn't been lit yet, i.e., punishing for intended or perceived offense. You can't have a discussion under those circumstances. Eventually the board will just be a reflection of the point-of-view expressed by the moderators.

I actually saw this conversation from a moderator [paraphrase]:

"I don't like your facts, they are lies and if you post them again, I will delete them."

I on the other hand, would find out the nature of the lie, expose it, and defeat the point-of-view of the unenlightened and try to educate them (at the very least educating some of the other posters and visitors to the site). But then it's a habit built up day-by-day teaching to really teach people. Not hammering the nail until it conforms.

Just two schools of though and I was smart enough to realize that I did not fit in with the school of thought of the other board and left without causing a rucus or any problems and both sides will be happier for it.

Your friend in the Martial Arts and thanks for bringing the topic up.

[Szczepankiewicz]

Do you like sheep?

If you like sheep, you're in.

If not, you're out.


We don't tolerate non-sheep types here.


Spanky

[John G]

Taebot, you obviously have a wealth of knowledge gained from 25+ years in martial arts, knowledge your willing to share with those who want to listen.

However, your sometimes upfront and in you face approach to posting (So tell me, this place, blood-sport, powder-puff, what?) albeit done with tongue in cheek, can sometimes be misinterpreted as an attack on the integrity of people posting to a forum.

May I suggest that you give people a little bit of time (more that a week) to get use to your dry sense of humour and style of writing, before unleashing that wit upon us mere mortals.

You have a lot to offer any MA forum; I look forward to many of a debate and technical / theoretical discussion about martial arts, the world, meaning of life etc… Give us a chance, and try not to take things so personally.

Respectfully,

[John G]

Szczepankiewicz,

I'm from Australia. We like sheep ALMOST as much as our friends in New Zealand.

[Szczepankiewicz]

YOU'RE IN!

[taebot]

While I respect your viewpoint immensely and treasure your kind words, they belie the world I train in. It is not a gentile, educated world. Oh yes, they are out there, and I know those men, the educated ones, the ones well-placed in society, the ones not well regarded in the world on men that I inhabit. Try telling Jim Harrison to his face that his “upfront and in you face approach …, can sometimes be misinterpreted as an attack on [your] integrity... "

You get my point. If not, try it, you’ll like it .

Musashi was such a man. He was characterized as gruff, un-kept and wild, but a man whose council would be sought. Yet, he was obviously a man who understood the need for arts and culture.

As to those easily offended, insulted, or impugned… They are not martial artists but dabblers would censor in a politically correct manner the free speech, which they so value and give such lip service too. Those people are a danger to truth and hence, a danger to freedom.

I leave you with this:

He who dares not offend cannot be honest. – Thomas Paine

and thank you for the honest discussion.

[Scott Kano]

Hey Spanky what about me man, my countrie is loaded with sheep, and I can get you woolen jerseys at discounted prices

[Hulk]

Originally posted by taebot

I went to their Open forum where you could discuss ANYTHING you wanted. I posted a thread that said, you guys are lightweights, with my post per day average, I'll soon be the top poster here!

No, dood... You are not your post count :P

[Hulk]

Originally posted by John G
Szczepankiewicz,

I'm from Australia. We like sheep ALMOST as much as our friends in New Zealand.

I am from Australia too, but I have never thought of it that way! I guess then ur a NZer Australian? :P

[John G]

Taebot,

The only time I have exercised freedom of speech, is in the company of a true friend, one who won’t (one hopes) use your words against you at a later date. Fortunately for me, the one and only friend, who I could talk to about anything, died last year taking my secrets and prejudices with him.

I may sound somewhat paranoid, but we live in a paranoid society. Anything you say or write can and will be used to discredit you if for some reason you are perceived as a threat or found not conforming to someone else’s ideas/ideals (prejudices).

Freedom of speech and the ideal of freedom is something politicians and those in power say we have, something, they say, we (not the politicians) should die for, a convenient set of words that justifies anything we want to take.

“Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy my life in our somewhat censored / restricted free society. I take for granted electricity, clean water and a plentiful food supply. I have no problem with our societies taking from others that whats not ours to take, in the name of freedom, security, whatever to sustain our life styles. If we have to murder tens of thousands of innocent men, women and children so I can have cheap petrol to drive my car 200 meters down the road to the shop, so be it. Better this side of the fence than a sweat shop.”

As I write I’m mindful of what’s considered politically correct and try to stay within those boundaries. What I have written in the preceding paragraph is only an example of what I would consider over stepping the politically correct line. No matter how strongly I feel about a subject, there are something’s our society’s just don’t want to here or would prefer just to go away. Hence the censorship.

I find your statement;

“As to those easily offended, insulted, or impugned… They are not martial artists but dabblers would censor in a politically correct manner the free speech, which they so value and give such lip service too. Those people are a danger to truth and hence, a danger to freedom.”

Somewhat confusing, Your social standing has made you one of those people easily offended, insulted, or impugned, as you too only pay lip service to free speech by posting under an alias. Does that make you a dabbler?

Just throwing around a few ideas, no offence intended.

Respectfully,

[John G]

Hulk,

I wish..

Have you checked out some of those NZ chicky babe's?