Jeez, quicksdraw45, I sure do get tired of explaining this but let's go thru it once more for the benefit of all and no doubt the pleasure of the folks at AR who feel I am the enemy. No doubt you'll run there with this so all can see.
I felt it necessary to ban a certain person from this site long ago for repeititive failure to follow the simples rules of good conduct. He was a business business person in the TC after market supply market and just couldn't content himself with explaining why he was the world's greatest. Instead he felt it necessary to explain that everyone else was inept and just plain didn't know how to do anything. He continually made personal attacks. That's not following the rules. He was give many warnings but refused to conform. He was banned and his full six months of banner payment refunded even tho he had only two months left on the banner.
Because this person was but a trouble maker the entire time here I banned him and do not wish to have his name brought back up on this site. THAT IS A RULE HERE. Follow it or expect noncompliant posts to be removed. Call it censorship if you wish. I don't care what you call it. I call it keeping order in an unruly situation.
I have to disagree with you on two of your statements: This isn't someone's house, it is their place of business and that makes it different.
I beg to differ with you graycg. This IS NOT a place of business. You do not pay me one red cent to come into this free site and use these forums. I do NOT consider it to be a business. I accept advertising revenue only to keep it running. I cannot afford the high cost of this site from my personal budget just so folks like you and quicksdraw45 and others can tell me how to run it or to go to other sites and bash me and this site while wanting so desperately to be a part of it.
When this site was first placed on the internet back in '97 there were no forums. You entered by clicking on the front door of my home. I considered all who entered the site to be my guests, no less so than if you entered the home where I live. This site is my home on the internet. While you are a guest in it you WILL FOLLOW MY RULES or you will be asked to leave. Should you persist in being a problem you will be forcibly removed, i.e., deactivated or if necessary banned. It is just that simple. You follow the rules or move onto a site without rules. I honestly do not care which you or any other person wishes to do.
I've never begged anyone to stay. I do not like to have dissatisfied people visit and post here. If you aren't happy with the few simple rules then by all means feel free to move on. There are plenty more looking for just such a place where the riff raff are not allowed to ruin the site for those who wish to have a quiet peaceful place to read and post.
This site was from day one and will be as long as it exists a friendly and family oriented site. It is a place where a Christian family may feel comfortable in allowing their children to visit without fear of them being embarassed by foul language, name calling and personal attacks. Many like that kinda site. Some don't. For those who don't by all means go elsewhere. No one is begging you to stay.
But stay or go understand this one point VERY CLEARLY. No one. Read that again. NO ONE will tell me how to run this site. It will be run just as it always has been. Clean, friendly and safe for the entire family. If that's not your kinda place by all means don't feel any obligation to stay. We sure won't miss you when you are gone.
I've never tried to emulate any other site on the internet. I do not feel I am in competition with any other site on the internet. This is NOT a business. It is my personal web site to which I openly invite those nice people who wish to discuss the topics listed here. I accpet advertising revenue to help defray the constantly increasing costs of running it. That does not make it a business to me but I do pay taxes on the revenue just the same to please Uncle Sam. I find there is a steady and constant influx of folks looking for just such a site. I also find there is a group of folks who feel their rights are absolute and that others have no rights. Those people feel they must be allowed to say and act in any manner that pleases them. They feel the need to cuss and rant and call names and make personal attacks. But that is not going to happen here. If you can't find a place where that sort of behavior is condoned then just send me an e-mail or PM and I'll be happy to refer you to one. I'd much rather see you there than here if you are of that bent.
So I say to you whomever you are. Stay if you like but if you do understand you WILL FOLLOW THE RULES. Or go if you wish. Just don't expect me to lose any sleep over you going.
GB