Thread:4paws/@comment-27643406-20160710231618/@comment-32738051-20160711062140

Fossiliferous wrote: Ok, please, i'm actually begging here, think about it. Of course that isn't going to happen. The only way it could happen is if everyone else did actually leave. And honestly even then I'd still be here fighting to hold this thing together.

You know why all that stuff Jennifer listed didn't worry me months ago? Because I had faith in all of you. You are smart, sensible and can see through such crap. And clearly you have. So please have a little faith back.

Dean asked TDC a question on his wall, inviting an answer. TDC responded. That's it. That's all that happened. It doesn't mean anything, and nothing will come of it unless people make something of it.

TDC has had 2 blocks already, he's being watched closely. Any infraction will result in a permenant ban. If people keep engaging him, he'll keep responding. The best thing to do is not feed the troll.

Everyone, I will say this just once here and then I will try to avoid this thread forever (which I hope won't be how long it continues).

I concur with Foss and I am also begging all of you to stop this. The decision has already been made to start fresh with TDC and we should not backtrack on that. What's done is done and TDC can't undo it but hopefully he can do better moving forward. If, from now, TDC commits an infraction that warrants it, rest assured Foss will take action. Until then all of us need to be the great and giving community we are and give that chance same as we would any new person, same as we would for anyone else we had forgiven for an offense. I know that's a hard thing for me to ask of you but at least many of you have weathered worse than this before. And I already know that TDC is trying to do better, though his communication style may trip him up for awhile. And despite his history here and elsewhere, I do think he wants to contribute positively and help improve this site. But he can't change unless these personal attacks stop - and that's what they are no matter what else you tell yourselves or how much you do this in the name of this community. And if all of you continue talking about him this way, I guarantee you will goad him into doing something negative again. And that isn't what you're trying to do, is it? Like Foss, I believe in all of you, that you can rise above this, and I believe you are also above doing something like that.

Some of you have also mentioned a desire to leave this community, because of recent events, of which TDC was only the subject of one. I think that would be sad and a mistake. Each and every one of you is a valued member of this community and this was just a hiccup in the grand scheme of things. With a community this large and so diverse, this is bound to happen from time to time...in fact, such things probably happen less often here than they do where each of us lives and really much worse happens out there in the offline world. I know TDC plans to avoid the forums, as much as possible, for at least awhile (though I believe he is trying to wrap up any threads he had initiated). And he is deleting some content but only that which he controls, like threads he initiates or content on his wall. I have seen at least most if not all of his recent deletions and each one of those I've seen was accompanied by an explanation and I not only concur with those explanations but have read the content in question and agree it was the right thing to do. Each of you may find it good advice to avoid him, at least for awhile. Hopefully, eventually, TDC will be able to interact freely with everyone again and he will become as valued a member of this community. In the meantime, if you see some activity on his part that wasn't provoked in any way and if you really truly believe it warrants it, let Foss know about it directly. But please don't rant about it in the forums...it will only do more harm than good...not just for the situation but also to both yourselves and every member of this community as well.

Thanks for reading and good night. Peace and best wishes everyone.