Anyone heard from Doug Smith?

Nobody posts threads about ancient coins anyplace other than the Ancients Forum. If you think you're seeing such posts elsewhere, you're doing something wrong.

 

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Mods can re-open threads and post in closed threads, right? So the sequence could be:

1) Smell smoke, hear screams
2) Check thread
3) Close thread
4) Post to thread telling everybody to settle down, clean-up in progress
5) Sanitize thread
6) Re-open thread

Of course, that's a lot more labor for an already overtaxed team of volunteers.

 

After all the excuses and explanations are made, the indisputable fact remains that the obtuseness and hypocrisy of one person, and one person only, and his refusal to apply his own rules consistently, are ultimately responsible for the destruction of what was unquestionably the best ancient coin discussion group on the Internet. And the best part of Coin Talk as a whole, by the forum's own admission: approximately 90% of the "featured" threads over the last couple of years were about ancient coins (including no less than 27 of my own posts), and 90% of the people who posted those threads have migrated to the new forum.

It's over, and nothing can fix it.

 

Donna , I wish everyone in the new forum success, but I do think you are negating that in the US , the Confederate flag as well as the Nazi flag and symbol are not illegal to display, and unfortunately , in today's population the US population is closely split. (states do vary). Personally , it is up to each person's conscience, heritage, and politics, which side to favor, Each person should stand for their own decision. Obviously , I made a choice, and so did others , some on the side I can't agree with , but I still respect their position as it was not a wishy-washy dance. One doesn't have to agree to still play a part in the forum as an educational purpose and place for others. With high respect to all, Jim

 

Legality wasn't supposed to be the standard. "Black Lives Matter" is legal too. The standard was supposed to be "no politics." And the justification for not deeming a particular flag to be political -- despite its ubiquitous presence in current political discourse -- was one of the most poorly reasoned arguments I've seen in a long time. And that's saying something, given that I spent more than 35 years practicing law as a litigation attorney, and there are a lot of bad lawyers out there.

 

I don't mean to butt in - I don't even really know the full story of the original controversy that led to this exodus of members - but I have to make a correction here.

The confederate flag is still a split issue, sure. I think the latest polling shows about 60% against display of the confederate, 40% for (although among younger age groups, only 20% are pro-flag). But I can understand why one would take the position that it should be permitted on a coin forum and that's outside the jurisdiction of the mods.

The Nazi flag, however, is a different story. While it is technically legal to display a Nazi flag, it would offend just about anyone in the country and would start a fight in many places. I don't think there's any place for that given how incendiary that symbol is. Unlike the confederate flag where there is at least a valid reason for wanting to display it (i.e. southern heritage), a Nazi flag is useful only to skinheads, white supremacists, or internet trolls.

 

This is true. However:

1. The vast majority of offenses that have resulted in bans in this forum were also for things that are completely legal. For example, it is equally legal to ridicule someone who displays a confederate or Nazi flag, yet that behavior was not tolerated here.
2. It's actually illegal to display some of these (specifically the Nazi flag) in some countries where members reside.

Not that closely, in fact. A recent poll of southern voters found 56% view the confederate flag as a racist symbol. One would expect numbers outside the South to be even more strongly against it.

What it boils down to is the fact that someone displayed a symbol that is viewed as highly racist to a majority of the population, and when a highly respected member of this forum called him out on the fact, he was banned - not the original transgressor.

When this action was taken, it told a large number of people in this forum that the primary administrator supports the views of the original poster. Granted, it's possible that he doesn't - but his actions spoke loudly.

Ultimately, we all want to just talk about ancient coins here. To do that, we need a safe place where we can be isolated from schemes, hate speech, and the drivel that's all around us today. When someone is allowed to blatantly display a racist symbol, that destroys the bliss here.

Personally, I'm a newish member here and I've mostly tried to stay away from the political debates. However, I do find it hypocritical to take action against posters who discuss political topics, and then claim that someone's political statement on the forum must be protected.

 

I'll speak for myself (and strongly guess that it applies to others, too), but this is exactly what pushed me away from Coin Talk more than any political leaning I might have.

 

I wise man said once: « Ana kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. » That’s happening here on CT.

 

Hmmm, featured post are as far as I know, by request and who better to put forth the request than the member who owes a debt for his accumulated likes and featured post votes from his peers, or is peeps a better term? Coin collectors in general are a weird lot but there are those among us who are a bit over the opposite edge.

I sincerely hope that the new site has a like button and a featured post section or the mass exodus to this new site will soon return suffering detox from self admiration which can be quite brutal. Brutal enough in fact to spend ones entire virtual life trying to to fight their way back into the place they previously vowed to leave in the mirror.

 

Hunh? Peter Davis chooses the featured threads. I have no idea who recommended my posts for featured status. What a ridiculous comment. With your apparent propensity for conspiracy theories, you should join QAnon. Although you're probably a proponent already, judging from the quality of your reasoning skills. Nobody's coming back. Even if the current administration of the site steps down and U.S. collectors like you keep sticking their unwanted oars in.

 

As if your creek paddle is wanted.

 

The forum is privately owned and administrated, so any member might suggest changes, but it is the owner's right to do so or not. One must recognize they did set up www.partisanlines.com for those who wanted to express material not acceptable on Cointalk. So the administration did try to make an area for the questionable subjects to be discussed by members, but most members want to be in the main forum with their friends. If this whole situation had been in that forum , most likely no one would be gone, it would just be common chatter there.
The worse complaint one could have is that the idea "NO Politics, Religion , Current Events be on CoinTalk " wasn't specific enough, but that is what had to be followed. I believe it was kept general so all could understand it as Doug has posted explanations on it in various places several times. Even I had posts removed or edited during the covid misinformation days, and I accepted it, I knew what I was doing and so do most others. Jim

 

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On the ancients forum, it's been very much wanted, Mr. More Posts Than Likes Received. When have you ever posted about ancient coins? It's your sort of irrelevant belligerence that those of us on the new forum are happy to avoid.

 

Donna, please accept this comment from me as not taking sides (which I have avoided), but why are you still here posting about the breakup of CT and then saying nobody's coming back.

I want this whole matter to just die, but somehow it keeps being brought back to life

 

It seems like maybe we have wrung all of the water out of the dishtowel on this one and maybe the mods/admin will shut it down...

 

Слава Україна ~ Героеи слава

 

I don't mean that literally, because I do plan to post at both places if possible. That specific comment was a response to someone taunting me about people supposedly coming back here eventually. Unfortunately, with more than 100 people having migrated from the ancients forum to the new place, people are going to keep asking about what happened. But I've gone on record with my opinion, and don't plan to say anything further unless I'm directly addressed again. Fortunately, there's no unpleasantness at the new place.

 

My suggestion for what's it worth, if you or anyone feels the need to repond regarding this issue, please take it to PM. Between my wife's illness, real life problems (school shooting and more), and this has my nerves burnt out.