Quote Originally Posted by cariad View Post
When I first saw this thread I anguished over what the correct action was. And I will be honest, if Rabbit had been around I would very happily have thrown the whole thing at him. I know that he has always had a guideline that chat is a different part of the site, and discussion about chat should happen in chat, as much as discussion about the academy happens in the academy. However it is clear from what has been said that this thread is the result of a number of members of this community feeling that they are unable to that.

Most of us live in countries where freedom of speech, and the freedom to think differently to those in power, and the freedom to say so is a treasured right. People are rightly also protected by law against defamation of character.

Unfortunately there is a very fine line between venting and flaming (defamation). What is written as a vent, may be read as a vent by people who 'support' the case being put, and as a flame but people who think otherwise. This is part of the staff team's very difficult juggling act, at all times, not just in this thread.

I believe that is what was behind Widget's post. Whilst the discussion is constructive, with controlled emotions, people able to express ideas which they have not previously felt able to, then it is healthy and will stay open. If it gets into a he said, she said match, where emotions are rising, then it may be closed for a short while, just to let things simmer down again.

cariad
I do understand your dilemma and can sympathize with you. However, I still feel it best to deal individually with violations and leave the thread itself alone. If you want to kill a thread just temporarily close it. My father always said there was no more permanent a tax than a temporary one. I believe the same principal applies here.

If I may suggest an idea I got from the other forum we all know about, they have come up with a separate area which allows more freedom of speech and emotions as long as it is not an outright flame. Maybe we need something very similar here.

If "he said," "she said" statements are mentioned in the right context without calling the author any derogatory names, in my opinion, I don't see that as flaming. Still I wouldn't want to be in your shoes having to make those decisions.

I just really hate to see any thread of substance closed even if the intention is temporary. How may threads have survived a temporary closing? If you want to give it time to settle down couldn't the same result be accomplished by dealing with the guilty parties individually thus leaving the thread itself to thrive or die of its own accord?

Just for the record I have no idea what goes on in chat nor do I really care but I find this one of the most interesting thread going right now.