I don't need to justify my handling of anything on CBF to a one time poster but I feel that it may be worthwhile for more loyal and longstanding members if I gave a brief resume of the events that brought us to where we find ourselves.
The initial introduction of this girl was fairly standard and unremarkable. A follow up topic asking about tattoo's became a little more alarming and I cut it short and locked it. A version 2 of this subject was started and due to the tone was also locked. At a later time the girl posted saying that she was having problems getting her photograph to show in her profile and I rectified that, I felt that maybe I had been a little harsh in locking the two tattoo topics, and I genuinely don't want to alienate the Calis loving youngsters; indeed, young people making friends with other young people who share a love of the place was something I liked to see. I'd love my kids to one day be able to meet children of a similar age who are coming over.
Now, at the same time the mod team were expressing grave concerns about this particular individual, most notably the age claimed. It is on record that I wasn't convinced there was any great cause to worry, kids grow up so quickly these day etc. etc...
The truth is that my only concern with these young folk was that they often type in this appalling "text speak" which makes reading and understanding what the hell they are talking about so difficult for the rest of us - I am of course aware of the threat of internet grooming but the very idea that it could happen on CBF had never once occurred to me. The whole episode has made me starkly aware of the possibility but I still do not believe there was anything of this nature going on on CBF.
Text speak aside, I have been very impressed by our younger members. This is an opinion taken from over 4 years of running CBF, and I still feel happy that our junior members have made strong and lasting friendships that began right here. How many of us have found amazing friends through this forum, friends that we would never have met otherwise? I'd say my personal count is around 70 (don't forget that I met many more because they bought from me, so I'd have known them anyway) - so we could be talking about possibly 10,000+ friendships, all from the Calis Beach Forum. That's pretty impressive. So why should it be restricted to the adults?
Getting back to the recent "events". Our "individual" posted a most distasteful reply to the daughter of one of our adult members, which Anne deleted within minutes, but copied and sent to me. It was enough to ban any member, not just an 11 year old. So the ban happened as soon as I could get on.
Criticism of me and our superb moderator team come with the territory. Personally, attacks on the mod team irritate me more than attacks on myself - I've been accused of everything imaginable and wear the rhino skin with pride nowadays. I think the mods are just about the same now
What I can't accept is that I/the mods caused this situation - in fact, we were on to it way before most people would have suspected a thing. The only mistake the mod team made was allowing me to run with the idea that they were overreacting. I'll carry the can for that one.
I am buoyed by the reaction of the younger members through this episode. Once again they show great maturity in understanding the situation and furthermore by offering ideas on how to navigate through and out of it. How can a website owner in his 40's not take on board the opinions offered; how can I argue with their view that one rogue youngster should not be allowed to spoil it for all the good ones?
It was, is and will be my opinion that a love of Calis brings us all together - whatever our age. We will work on ways to make this a website for ALL lovers of Calis. I don't want to dump the kid's sections but if that is the answer, I will without hesitation. It would be nice if just now and again, certain people would try and imagine what the CBF team have to weigh up and deal with. If you ban someone you are wrong (don't want anyone that doesn't agree with the moderator/admin team) and if you don't ban them you are happy to turn a blind eye to trouble. We're not after awards for our work, just please understand that we try to do the right thing in an environment where no matter what you do, a small percentage is lying in wait, ready to pounce.
A football question in the Calis Beach forum. Sack the board. We aren't even talking about the kids now, or maybe we are! The rules are there because forums without rules can become anarchic overnight, but that doesn't mean it's a rigid board or format. We try to be flexible. As one example of this, I am 100% happy to see a topic where a question is asked, an answer given that is correct and is followed by a large number of posts that are unhelpful but humourous - the board served it's purpose and a question was answered. So bloody what if, from that point forwards we find members chipping in stupid comments? The rules will never be enough to govern 4,600 members and 160,000 posts - they are there as a guide but we can have a bit of banter and fun over and above. Something is in the wrong section? Says who...it isn't a specific science. Imagine someone really wants to know if they can pay their phone bill at their bank. Should it be in "Telephones and Mobiles", or "Banks, Interest, Transfers, Insurance". Truth is, I'm the boss and I haven't got any idea on that. For all my caustic retorts, I'm totally happy for it to be in either, just don't post it in "Places to Stay"
I'm now aware that what started as a short post became a long one. So I'll wrap it up with a brief resume. We'll sort out the kid's section problem, the CBF team are already on it. What I would ask is that if you disagree with something, you can email me via my profile, I'll always answer. Personal attacks towards the moderator team are exactly that - trouble making, weak appraisals made by nameless, hotmail account holding spineless individuals. I'm very visible in Calis, if you feel the way you do when you post, come and tell me to my face. Unlikely though, isn't it?
