Post by sleepwalker24 on Mar 29, 2012 8:13:24 GMT -5
(Upon request I have amended this post as I mentioned something that I now realise perhaps wasn't entirely appropriate - my apologies Holly.)
I'd like to start by admitting that I was somwhat niave to the the way an online community operates when I first joined this forum. I had only just got a laptop when I joined and had little expierience of internet forums or the kind of characters that inhabit them. All I know is that I joined this forum in good faith, with no hidden agenda, with the intention of making friends, expressing my love for the Kinks and music in general and I think I've done this by being myself and trying to be friendly and respectful of all members.
For the most part I have been very touched by the kindness and support I've recieved from people here and the it's been lovely to have made so many wonderful friends and to have learned more about my favourite band and other music too
It's just gets to me that one person joined this board with the sole purpose of dominating it, desperately trying to post as much as possible - regardless of the feelings of others or the quality or relevence of many of their posts, and using multiple aliases to decieve and manipulate others and boost their own profile here
I have witnessed this poster delete and re-post things in an attempt to overshadow more active or newly started threads (this used to happen when I posted here in the morning, almost as if they were playing a childish game with me and trying to draw attention away from anything I posted!) I have also seen them start multiple threads and bump them daily, despite the fact that no one but themselves may have posted on the thread for many pages.
This person has been caught out using several aliases, they have also chosen not to own up and apologise even after being urged to by another member here (who I won't name.)
I was initailly welcomed by this member and would have been happy to form a friendship with them, or at least be civil but they have made it impossible. This person began shunning me around a year ago for no apparent reason, yet I still continued to address them and attempted to be friendly, despite being ignored repeatedly and deliberately. The minute I decided this was a fruitless exercise and stopped addresing them, they had the gall to send me a PM accusing ME of playing 'tit for tat games' (their words) and ignoring them - it was actually the other way around!
I KNOW for a fact that that I am NOT the only person who has had problems with this member and who is unhappy with their behaviour and underhand tactics on the board, but I don't think it is my place to name these individuals - it's up to them if they want to come foward.
I am aware that there was some recent drama concering a new member, Ron, whilst I was away on holiday. No one said this directly so I will -
All the questions directed at Ron were an attempt to discover if he was a genuine poster or another aliase of the member I refer to in this post.
Ron - if you read this and you were genuine then my sincere apologies that you felt you had to leave.
But is it any wonder that we become suspicious of new members? Especially those who post almost exclusively to said members threads?
It's a real shame that we have to be cautious when new members join - this is a direct result of what using aliases to manipulate others does, and how it can ruin an online community
I urge this person - you know who you are - to either come clean and explain your actions, or do everyone a favour and leave this board. We have enough genuine and respectful members here to keep this board going and we really shouldn't have to put up with this crap any longer.
I could tell you all so much more, but I'm hoping that I won't be the only one who is willing to call this person out, rather then pretending everything is fine. I know many more of you have opinions on this - lets hear them!
I'm genuinly sorry if I've upset anyone but I've kept quiet for over a year and I had to get this off my chest.
Please feel free to report this post if any of you feel it is inappropriate, and any of you are welcome to PM me if you find you have something to say but don't want to post it publically.
Alternativerly it would be a good idea to PM our moderator Holly, if you have any problems with what I have said, or if you've had any problems with said poster.
Holly - I'm sorry that I didn't run this past you first, please PM me regarding this post if needs be, or post something here if you like - I have nothing to hide.
Thankyou if you took the time to read this.
Sleepwalker24
And here is something that another member asked to post on their behalf -
''I am bamajohn1, and I full heartedly endorse Sleepwalker's post. I have known of much of this information even before Sleepwalker; finally informing her of my knowledge and the board moderator (some of said knowledge) right about the time of FrankLima's departure from the board in early March of last year! The incident in May of last year involving a PM from said poster to Sleepwalker was very ugly and I publicly challenged said poster on their actions on the Comprehensive Artist Collection Recommendation thread! I believe that the incident was not taken seriously to anywhere near the level it should have been; hence, the level of confusion, suspicion, and disarray that we have found ourselves at today!
Maddogtim74, also highly endorses this post!''
I'd like to start by admitting that I was somwhat niave to the the way an online community operates when I first joined this forum. I had only just got a laptop when I joined and had little expierience of internet forums or the kind of characters that inhabit them. All I know is that I joined this forum in good faith, with no hidden agenda, with the intention of making friends, expressing my love for the Kinks and music in general and I think I've done this by being myself and trying to be friendly and respectful of all members.
For the most part I have been very touched by the kindness and support I've recieved from people here and the it's been lovely to have made so many wonderful friends and to have learned more about my favourite band and other music too
It's just gets to me that one person joined this board with the sole purpose of dominating it, desperately trying to post as much as possible - regardless of the feelings of others or the quality or relevence of many of their posts, and using multiple aliases to decieve and manipulate others and boost their own profile here
I have witnessed this poster delete and re-post things in an attempt to overshadow more active or newly started threads (this used to happen when I posted here in the morning, almost as if they were playing a childish game with me and trying to draw attention away from anything I posted!) I have also seen them start multiple threads and bump them daily, despite the fact that no one but themselves may have posted on the thread for many pages.
This person has been caught out using several aliases, they have also chosen not to own up and apologise even after being urged to by another member here (who I won't name.)
I was initailly welcomed by this member and would have been happy to form a friendship with them, or at least be civil but they have made it impossible. This person began shunning me around a year ago for no apparent reason, yet I still continued to address them and attempted to be friendly, despite being ignored repeatedly and deliberately. The minute I decided this was a fruitless exercise and stopped addresing them, they had the gall to send me a PM accusing ME of playing 'tit for tat games' (their words) and ignoring them - it was actually the other way around!
I KNOW for a fact that that I am NOT the only person who has had problems with this member and who is unhappy with their behaviour and underhand tactics on the board, but I don't think it is my place to name these individuals - it's up to them if they want to come foward.
I am aware that there was some recent drama concering a new member, Ron, whilst I was away on holiday. No one said this directly so I will -
All the questions directed at Ron were an attempt to discover if he was a genuine poster or another aliase of the member I refer to in this post.
Ron - if you read this and you were genuine then my sincere apologies that you felt you had to leave.
But is it any wonder that we become suspicious of new members? Especially those who post almost exclusively to said members threads?
It's a real shame that we have to be cautious when new members join - this is a direct result of what using aliases to manipulate others does, and how it can ruin an online community
I urge this person - you know who you are - to either come clean and explain your actions, or do everyone a favour and leave this board. We have enough genuine and respectful members here to keep this board going and we really shouldn't have to put up with this crap any longer.
I could tell you all so much more, but I'm hoping that I won't be the only one who is willing to call this person out, rather then pretending everything is fine. I know many more of you have opinions on this - lets hear them!
I'm genuinly sorry if I've upset anyone but I've kept quiet for over a year and I had to get this off my chest.
Please feel free to report this post if any of you feel it is inappropriate, and any of you are welcome to PM me if you find you have something to say but don't want to post it publically.
Alternativerly it would be a good idea to PM our moderator Holly, if you have any problems with what I have said, or if you've had any problems with said poster.
Holly - I'm sorry that I didn't run this past you first, please PM me regarding this post if needs be, or post something here if you like - I have nothing to hide.
Thankyou if you took the time to read this.
Sleepwalker24
And here is something that another member asked to post on their behalf -
''I am bamajohn1, and I full heartedly endorse Sleepwalker's post. I have known of much of this information even before Sleepwalker; finally informing her of my knowledge and the board moderator (some of said knowledge) right about the time of FrankLima's departure from the board in early March of last year! The incident in May of last year involving a PM from said poster to Sleepwalker was very ugly and I publicly challenged said poster on their actions on the Comprehensive Artist Collection Recommendation thread! I believe that the incident was not taken seriously to anywhere near the level it should have been; hence, the level of confusion, suspicion, and disarray that we have found ourselves at today!
Maddogtim74, also highly endorses this post!''