As a west coaster, I love to read the east coast watch and post, and the other folks who do their "watch and post" all in one post.

I don't often get to watch in the same room as my computer, so watching and posting would be out for me anyway - ok, I guess it would be more of an issue if I was a more prolific poster.

Well - that is my 2 cents as a committed lurker...

Going back to an earlier issue -- are we going to change the Bitch slug?

EDIT: Moved from Building a Better Board.

Hi all. I'm developing issues with the outside world. Which is nothing new, but anyway....

A short while back, Allyson wanted to invite Steve DeKnight (Was it SDK? I forget) over here while he was being abused by Beta Boarders. A short time thereafter, both she and David Fury were subjected to out of line abuse over her interview with him.

Earlier today, Jane Espenson and other BtVS writers were subjected to (admittedly milder) attacks on some of the same issues.

Here's where I'm at. In the first instance, I'm beginning to think that all BtVS fans except us are nuts. Secondly, Allyson expressed interest earlier in inviting SDK (or whoever it was) here, but didn't out of fear of bringing the crazies with her. I have to furrow my brow at that a bit. Not for anything Allyson did, but rather, that she was put in a position to make that decision, and felt she couldn't invite a VIP over without drawing the lunatic fringe with.

I know we talked community standards before, and we're seeing a lot of what Allyson discussed at that time. I'm pretty sure we came to a general consensus at that time, if not anything but a broad rule, but I think it's time to revisit it shortly while the loonies are still on that side of the Internet.

I very much WANT to invite VIPS here. It's a bitchin site, and we should show it off. Allyson, particularly, is someone who finds herself in position to poke VIPs to come visit, and I want her to feel free to do so.

I guess what I'm getting at is, when we discussed this before, we talked kind of abstractly, about people we'd be able to ignore or deal with at leisure. However, if say, Fury visits here, and a bunch of folks from outside start jumping on him for his Spuffy hatred or whatever, I want, as a stompy foot, to know where to draw the line and cut someone off.

(moved over here)

I think our policy against personal attacks already covers that. No reason VIPs should be an exception.

We can't make a map of all possibilities, so we have nothing to draw a line on.

Personal attacks -- disallowed. Action taken, is that the question? Due process, appeals, etc?

Victor, I think that while the Buffistas rock, indeed, there are other polite and sane fans out there. It's just that they tend not to make as much noise as the crazies.

And the provisions we have in place are intended for all comers, VIPs and non-VIPs and lurkers and long-time members. Everyone is obliged to conform to community standards (although long-time members would probably get a little more flexibility just because we know them better...).

Victor, I think that while the Buffistas rock, indeed, there are other polite and sane fans out there. It's just that they tend not to make as much noise as the crazies.

Oh, I know. That was by way of making a joke.

On everything else, I think we're all on the same page. I just wanted to give it an airing, because, well, I really DO want to invite VIPS over, and want to be able to guarantee at least a REASONABLE protection from the nutsos (although a few of them like to scrap a bit, so there you are) and, consequently, keep this board in its usual eccentric-yet-peaceful state.

I may be fretting over nothing, but I'm glad I aired my concerns.

EDIT: And I'm glad it's a board where I can feel comfortable airing my concerns.

I think that the annoyance of having to register and wait for the email would take the most short-attn.-span of the crazies out of the mix.

Too blanket. I read them, and I am not bored by them.

You say this as if it's obvious to everyone.

I plead being late to work for my lack of tact. I threw a "kinda" in there, jumped on my bike, and got there right at 1:59.

Nilly's second link may be the solution, or someone could edit a 7:00 post to point to the end of the watch-and-post like we were doing on TT for a little while. My feelings don't really matter since I'm not subscribed, and I overstated how strong they were.

In terms of loonies getting out of line. You know someone is out of line when you see it. You are a stompy foot. If someone gets out of line -STOMP!