A whole lot of posts while I was composing my last. It was actually bitterchick's post that I wanted to hear (she's been so cryptic about her name change, I thought she was Allyson for weeks and weeks). And what a post it was.

(Incidentally, I think that it was recently discovered that the Rosenbergs were indeed spying for the soviets, wasn't it?)

To me, the word that applies to both McCarthy and John H is "vindicated," although it'll always be remembered as an unpleasant episode.

So you're saying, if DXMachina didn't exist, we would have to invent him?

It just means I have to spend more time with Ed at the F2F. First beer's on me.

checking feelings. Nope, still not upset at being misled by someone with an odd way of fulfilling his apparent need to belong here. I'm kind of sad. And I can't say I blame him for end-running the ban. A ban from a community of Buffy/Angel fans does not have the same mental weight as a ban from say, the municipal court that can throw your meatspace butt in a jail cell.

I have to admit I'm still somewhat startled at the degree to which people are upset by Anathema's actions. But I can only judge my own reactions to those feelings, I have no right to judge the feelings themselves.

McCarthy was not vindicated. To start with people still argue over whethr the Rosenbergs were guilty,. But if they were it has nothing to do with the many many innocent people who were harmed .

Hey Gar -- How's that binary walk lookin'? :)

Can't we go back to talking about Nutty's bras again?

And can you sing "Walk This Way" while you post it?

I have to admit I'm still somewhat startled at the degree to which people are upset by Anathema's actions.

It was connie who first made me realize I was way too angry about Schmoker and needed to calm down. And now I do a feelings check like her and I'm not upset either. In fact, since that day I've failed to become upset over voting, war, and many other controversial issues. Somehow, I no longer need to Doblerize, because connie taught me to Chill.

In fact, since that day I've failed to become upset over voting, war, and many other controversial issues. Somehow, I no longer need to Doblerize, because connie taught me to Chill.

checking various IDs in my wallet. Nope, teacher still not listed. Still blushing.

This post does not have the answers to everyone's concerns, and you might well want to skip it. It's just more therapy from another shellshocked Buffista who's avoiding the news. FWIW, I think telling Buffistas to drop a subject, especially one with as much baggage as this one, is an invitation to exploding Buffistas.

After mieske started making people uncomfortable, there were even people who accused Deena (who was a newbie back then) of being a sock-puppet, for committing the cardinal sin of engaging mieske in a conversation.

Paul, that was me, and I was wrong. But Deena and I got over it, and we get along great now. I agree that things were a little crazy at that time, and that mistakes were made. I made mistakes. I do that sometimes. There's no way to go back and change that, so I'd like to ask for a little forgiveness all around.

FWIW, John, I was personally quite upset by your leaving. We're not close friends, but I like you, and the idea that someone who built the board and has been an important part of the community felt he had to leave as a result of all the mieskie bullshit was end-of-the-worldy to me. As a result of that, and the fact that I always felt sure that m/S/A were the same person, I never felt I could engage him with any comfort. Not saying that those who did and who will miss him are wrong, but I can't relate. Too much negativity had built up by that point, and I couldn't give S/A the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps that means I'm small-minded. It's possible. But that's how my mind was working. I couldn't say anything nice, so once the subject was shut down I said nothing at all.

I think the rest, and very possibly what's above, has been talked to death already. I agree with Misha that many of us are on edge on account of a pair of stubborn dictators--I know I am--so I hope people will try not to be hurtful, or to take quick offense. (That reads like my standard rosy-colored glasses sign-off, I know. Ah well.)

A ban from a community of Buffy/Angel fans does not have the same mental weight as a ban from say, the municipal court that can throw your meatspace butt in a jail cell.

But it would, in my mind, seem to indicate that he doesn't really respect us or care about what we think. And that's... not the kind of person you want to have around? I mean, his witty banter in the Movies thread or his clever analysis of the current Buffy season notwithstanding-- he seemed to respect us on a (as I saw it) very basic level. And I don't know why he stuck around after that.

I can only think of religious examples to explain what I mean. (OK, OK, we supposedly are a cult, aren't we?)

For example, I'm not Catholic. I wouldn't really blink if the Pope tapped my shoulder and mentioned I was excommunicated. (OK. I'd blink. Then I'd ask for his autograph, and see if I could sell it on eBay.) But if I were Catholic, or really interested in becoming Catholic, I think I'd care!

Similarly, and in a less probable but slightly more relevant example, if a devotee of the Grand Stale Preztel Temple told me I was blasphemous in their eyes since I was wearing a purple skirt on a Thursday, and I was going to their hell unless I followed these twenty steps to save my soul, I'd brush that aside and keep walking. It's some weird social order trying to impose their arbitrary, insane rules upon me, right? I don't need to care; I don't want anything from them. If I get thrown out of a society I have no interest in... that's pretty pointless isn't it? I never wanted in in the first place.

But if I took a brochure from that GSPT devotee? And started taking Sunday night classes at the Temple? And got really interested in their organization? And wanted to join, and wear the spiky orange headdress of an initiate?

If I kept wearing that damn skirt on Thursdays, I really can't with any reason expect to be able to keep acting cute and surprised when they withhold the headdress from me.

I don't have the kind of responsibility to the Buffistas as I do to a court of law. It's just a social order, the place where I like to belong. But that means they have the right to kick my ass out-- can't throw me into jail, but they can exact punishment within their limited range, in their self-limited terms. IE, the headdress; the Catholic Hell. IE, Buffista posting privileges .