Matt said:

First off, I want to say that I have nothing but respect for the site that Matt and Ben have created and maintained over the years. As it stands now, Prince.org has gone far beyond simply being a fan website where people simply talk about one topic. It's expanded into an entire community of people from all over the world who come together in this forum, based on one common interest, to discuss an amazingly broad range of topics, from Prince-related to political to personal. And somehow, it works. It works really, really well.

Having said that, I would like to RESPECTFULLY suggest that the recent actions taken against Schausler are a smidge on the heavy-handed and unnecessarily strict side of the fence. This is a guy who isn't combative, offensive, provocative or offensive. He's a little silly and tweaked. He says "Voom" a lot. And as a result, his threads have gotten locked and he's been (inadvertantly?) singled out as a "bad example" for the rest of us.

If there are people whose choice of expression Ben & Matt wish to suppress, I'm sure we can all offer more appropriate choices. There are people on the Org who have been downright inappropriate. Yet they still post.

Based on their track record, I will assume Ben & Matt are making the "right" desicion here. But as it stands, Schausler was a harmless enough guy who I liked seeing around. I think it's a shame he's been alienated.

'Nuff said. From me, anyway...

-Anx
[This message was edited Mon Jun 17 17:13:44 PDT 2002 by Anxiety]
[This message was edited Mon Jun 17 18:38:26 PDT 2002 by Anxiety]

I wholeheartedly agree. It seems we were thinking the same thing, as I made a similar thread. Peace Anxiety!!

Anxiety said:

I wholeheartedly co-sign that with ya.

Shausler is one of the most inoffensive posters in Orgville, I've seen a few people lay into him and he always takes the high road by not responding the same way (if he responds at all). A temperament that most of us don't have. There are a lot worse threads and posters that Shausler doesn't even come close to.

Vavoom!

it ain't hurting no1 and it's make people laugh and feel good.nobody is flaming and it is one of the few post that everybody seemed 2 like.
Matt Matt cut him and the rest of us some
slack slack
[This message was edited Sun Jun 16 16:39:21 PDT 2002 by theC]

Anxiety said:

I agree with you Anxiety.

Matt, I see your point in wanting to draw a line. I also know that nowadays anything can be considered art, but Shausler wasn't trying to insult anyone nor was he making obscenities, which you used in your example. Not a great comparison IMO. A line needs to be drawn, but its current path seems somewhat jagged at the moment. I think your intention was meant to be good but the reasoning behind it is being misunderstood from what has previously been allowed to be posted on the Org.

\/ /\ \/ O O /\/\ S

Please do.

Did they ban him or what?
Peace and Love!

vgallo6 said:

I wish I knew what u guys were talking about, will somebody please fill me in, apparently the thread was pulled before I got a chance to see it. It seems that the org's policy is being questioned and I think we deserve answers. Why is it that a certain orger can talk about getting oral sex from Mani, but another orger can't tell mani to stop doing her man? Where is the line, and how is it drawn. Once this site does start making Ben and Matt enough $ to afford a full time moderator, does that mean that our freedom of speech is gonna be taken away? The supreme court just said porn was legal on the net, I don't like porn, but apparently the supreme court thinks it's okay. So what's really up? I didn't necessarily appreciate coming in here one day and seeing "Nigger Jew boy" but then again,the KKK just had a march in Minneapolis...I think this topic deserves further discussion, and some "real" answers...

I know that moderation is a thankless job and understand there are judgment calls and all that, but there was nothing wrong with Shausler's thread. If anything, it is this kind of slightly insane thread that should be welcomed. And whatever you think of Shausler's poetry, I have read things akin to voomio voom or whatever it was in some very respected works of poetry. Check the Dada poem I quoted in a recent poetry thread, and you will see... Also, note that Shausler's "poems" were mock homages to other Orgers, most of them very positive.
[This message was edited Sun Jun 16 18:54:55 PDT 2002 by Aerogram]

In my personal opinion...there were alot of other "threads" that could've been LOCKED!!! Why this one?

It wasn't "offending" (like MOST are) It wasn't "ripping on someone" (like MOST are)

It was just a harmless thread...(UNlike most)

I'd rather read schauslers thread than most I stumbled across.

I just don't get it...

As someone who is fairly new, I didn't understand shausler at first. I thought, WTF, all this guy ever says is "voom", now I understand it's his style. I've grown to like him. This thread was him giving mad props to fellow orgers in that unique style, a style that many daily orgers in this community know and love.

I for one, am guilty of posting some very offensive things for the sole purpose of envelope pushing, and even I am asking, why lock this one?

Mad props to shausler!

I've got nothing but love for Shausler. A real decent guy.

If you are going to lock a thread, did you ever consider locking something that bashes a religion or contains overtly pornographic or offensive stuff? Do you ever think about those 14 and 15 year olds that listen to mom's old Prince records, become a fan, and stumble upon this site?

You used to read Dr. Seuss, didn't you Matt? Hey, just consider Shausler's thread as a tribute or something...

I must admit, I didn't get it either when I saw that thread was locked.

While I know Ben and matt have the right to do whatever they wish with the threads, I didn't think locking shausler's thread was justified. He was being creative, and adding some positivity to this place, I don't see anything wrong with that. Perhaps there's more of a history than we are all aware of, maybe he had warnings from matt before and he overstepped the line according to the warnings he might have been given? I don't know.

All I know is I didn't find shauslers thread offensive in anyway, and I wouldn't have called it "pointless nonsense" either. It was refreshing in a sense, and while I have so much respect for matt and Ben and all the work they put into this site, I can't comprehend why shausler was punished... normally I can understand why certain threads are locked. even if I don't agree with them being locked, I can see where Ben and matt are coming from when they do shut them down, but this one caught me off guard... it was harmless and it is evident that many orgers were enjoying it, and since it wasn't inciting hatred, I think it should of been left as is.

.
[This message was edited Sun Jun 16 18:54:31 PDT 2002 by Diva]

I have to agree, I don't understand what line is being drawn here. There are threads out there that do nothing but bash a single orger that have remained untouched, but this one deserved a lock-down because of "artistic difference"?

Vashti said:

I have to agree. I've started way worse threads than this. Ever if Shausler isn't POOK, I find him amusing. Ban me before this poor guy.

Really have to weigh in on this one.

Mad props for all you do with the site, but look at all the posts you're getting. A lot of objectional stuff flies thru here and its seems silly to draw a line with Shausler's fun.

His thread was consistent with the fun of most every post he's made on prince.org over the years. He's part of the family and community you're responsible for facilitating.

Look at all this show of support.


Power to the Shausler

Locking the threads was absolutely ridiculous. If you get rid of all the nonsensical threads you'll be left with Ice talking to himself about cold fusion. And who wants that.

narcotizedmind said:

I can talk to myself about cold-fusion all day at home... I want to talk about silly stuff on here...

Shausler, you have a friend in me.

I thought is was very good and kind of Shausler to create that thread, actually...and, that it was a cool thread...

.
[This message was edited Sun Jun 16 19:19:05 PDT 2002 by Boob]

For those who haven't seen it, here is a link to the thread in question:

http://www.prince.org/msg...&tid=16658

Hope I got that right.

Anxiety said:

Our country is at war. We need to buckle down on these subversives and hoodlums who, by their ungodly statures, would limit the very freedoms and liberties bestowed upon us by our Founding Fathers. I commend Ben and Matt, 2 fine, upstanding American patriots, for rising to their country's aid in this time of grave danger. Together we can fight the commies and free this world from the threat of these godless heathens who's only aim is to destroy the very fabric of this Christian nation and all it stands for. Amen.

shausler is one of the best...a truly cool guy that never seems hurt anyone around here...i consider him a friend! i don't know what exactly has happened here...but i hope that shausler will still be around this site, it would seem pretty empty without him! and i for one would miss him lots!

many hugs to shausler, kim--

uglybrowneyes said:[quote]

Vashti said:

I have to agree. I've started way worse threads than this. Ever if Shausler isn't POOK, I find him amusing. Ban me before this poor guy.[/quote


No reason to ban anyone!! Much (L) ugly

For God's sake, I started a "Chronic Love" thread. All of that oceana stuff still lives. The Schausler thing was harmless.

Vashti said:

...i agree with ms.vashti...i mean granted he makes up some nonsense sometimes, but it never seems to be with ill intent...i already miss shausler...

revenge said:

Matt, I honestly think this is revenge/realpook's way of asking you to go over to OKP to lock the following threads:

i'm not a ho
yo im heading to staten island july 2nd...
girls who look pussylicious
am i drunk?
You can't be playin checkers...
happy father's day, mama!
Break the grill out. It's nice outside.
Church Folks Kill me...

~~~
Matt, I met you in line at the first Celebration and you seem like a cool, intelligent and reasonable guy. Therefore, please know that we wholeheartedly mean it when we say thanks for all you do. If you don't believe me, click here:
http://www.prince.org/msg...&tid=13427

That being said, revenge/realpook can lick me where I pee.

OK, I just read the Shausler thread. I am absolutely shocked that this was locked.

I can't imagine any connoisseur of Prince music thinking a ban is justified because of "artistic difference." Prince once broke all the rules and we champion him and you have named this site after him.

What makes this community great, is all the distinctive personalities. Shausler's voomish persona has been so defined over time that everyone just loves him. We expect him to va-vooom around. He doesn't bother anyone.

No disrespect to the moderators, but that was a thread that could have easily been IGNORED.

SynthiaRose said:

i agree!

I too must agree... I appreciate the hard work that goes into moderating...but I miss Schausler..and loved the thread...I was amazed at how much insight he was able to place in the descriptions... I found him to be a positive force on the ORG.

Maybe this once a thread reversal could be appropriate??

Respectfully, Karen