PhilPhilippines
Well-Known Member
He sounds interesting...lolHe didn't hold a candle to Fred BBG
where has ballisticechris gone
- Thread starter bimota
- Start date
Madhatter
Well-Known Member
I have a few things to share this evening….. probably piss a bunch off …. My opinion says it needs to be said.
One of the rules here is that the decision of the moderators is final. As far as Chris is concerned, he was warned on numerous occasions and he finally crossed a line where his contributions no longer outweighed his disruptions.
Please know that we do not make these decisions lightly. We understand that not everyone has the same values, ideas, experiences, perceptions, etc., so we do give as much leeway as possible.
Please know that we do not make these decisions lightly. We understand that not everyone has the same values, ideas, experiences, perceptions, etc., so we do give as much leeway as possible.
Madhatter
Well-Known Member
So your saying to me I’m not allowed to say anything about what’s happened here.
I thought that was the proper way to deal with someone that you don't like/agree with here. 'Cuz. . . . I have a list. . . . and I'm probably on one or two.
There were several "back-n-forths" that he, and some other members here were involved in. I didn't participate because both sides had some valid points, and some that made me think wtf?
There are some members here that seem to think they are God's gift to motorcycling. No sense arguing with them. . . . not like they're going to change. They just get put on my list. My dad told me once "it doesn't matter how good you are at something, there's always going to be someone out there that's faster, stronger, or smarter."
I've also noticed that our members on the other side of the Atlantic, don't seem to have the number of "butt heads" that we do over here. Not sure why that is.
Another thing, we seem to forget that the written word does not, can not, convey body language. Over the years, I've learned to pay more attention to a person's actions versus what he's saying.
Madhatter
Well-Known Member
We have and practice free speech , even though free speech is limited by certain things. Company rules forum rules and the list goes on. The political realm is we’re free speech is meant to flourish. That’s why we get shut down here and rightly so as this is a motorcyclist forum . Now expressing opinion on things related to motorcycle stuff is why Chris is banned. That’s what I see .
The problems occur when people cannot respectfully agree to disagree and drop the discussion then it escalates out of control.
I have moderated forums in the past. It is a thankless task.
I have moderated forums in the past. It is a thankless task.
Saint rob
Well-Known Member
Maybe there are just fewer of us over here so it's less obvious to everyone else on the forum
PhilPhilippines
Well-Known Member
......plus we form an orderly queue and wait our turn...
So, you're telling me that it's just a percentage thing?
We are more " Beavis " than " Butthead "
Saint rob
Well-Known Member
That is quite possible for this forum although I can confirm we do have our fair share of "butt heads" living over here who suffer from verbal diarrhoeaSo, you're telling me that it's just a percentage thing?
Ah that explains a lot, I also saw the “ballistic Chris guest” a few times.
I feel sad that these things happen but on the other hand when becoming a forum member you agree to the terms and rules set by the staff members.
I am very pleased this is a civil forum that can have discussions about various subjects in a civil way. It needs to stay that way, the mod’s have the ability to that. Otherwise it would be a mess. Thank god most of us are a fine bunch.
Stefan.
I feel sad that these things happen but on the other hand when becoming a forum member you agree to the terms and rules set by the staff members.
I am very pleased this is a civil forum that can have discussions about various subjects in a civil way. It needs to stay that way, the mod’s have the ability to that. Otherwise it would be a mess. Thank god most of us are a fine bunch.
Stefan.
Madhatter
Well-Known Member
as a person who has actually had conversations with Chris , I know him to be a good guy . passionate about certain things . and has had some cool real world experiences with motorcycles . I count him as a friend and I'm glad I met him here on this forum . there is a lot of good guys here and then there are some who....... but that's life . what ever opinion "you have on Chris " you are both right and wrong ..... he is a man , and in my opinion has been mistreated here . but what is done is done .... Chris is not looking back , he knows and understands this forum does not make him , it was something to do and a place to share about his experiences on motorcycles .... the forum did not win by banning this man , if fact as I see it , the forum is slowly fading away .(unless 'mother 'Yamaha does something fantastic ) hundreds of good members have quit contributing to this forum over the years , maybe it got boring for them as there is not much new here . but some have expressed other views and reasons not so flattering to the forum . so maybe the moderators sit to close to the screen and cannot see the bigger picture , but its their job and I would do it for nothing . so when does a forum become a club ? some times it feels more like a club lately . that's my view .
Now Chris can spend his time doing more productive things than sitting here pecking away on a keyboard trying to contribute to a forum that doubts and disparages his life experiences . do you know him , have you met him , or even talked to him . well I have . he is funny and knowledgeable ,handy with tools , loves his family , fears the Lord , but not perfect . and maybe not as articulate with a keyboard .
I have been on this forum and read so many claims of greatness by so many members , some seem fantastic . so I could say 'not true ' or no way that's possible .... but I take them at face value and believe their claims . because I don't know them personally doesn't mean its not true . did Chris get this curtesy ? I think not . well he is gone now , so most should be happy . but some of us enjoyed his contribution to this place but no more .
just so everyone knows ,Chris even if invited to return ,will not would not ,he is moving on with his life . every person on this forum is different .we come from different places . life has lead us down different roads but we all met here .
I would say this about Chris with full confidence , if you were stranded on the road and he found you he would help you no matter how he felt about how you may have treated him . that's Chris.
Now Chris can spend his time doing more productive things than sitting here pecking away on a keyboard trying to contribute to a forum that doubts and disparages his life experiences . do you know him , have you met him , or even talked to him . well I have . he is funny and knowledgeable ,handy with tools , loves his family , fears the Lord , but not perfect . and maybe not as articulate with a keyboard .
I have been on this forum and read so many claims of greatness by so many members , some seem fantastic . so I could say 'not true ' or no way that's possible .... but I take them at face value and believe their claims . because I don't know them personally doesn't mean its not true . did Chris get this curtesy ? I think not . well he is gone now , so most should be happy . but some of us enjoyed his contribution to this place but no more .
just so everyone knows ,Chris even if invited to return ,will not would not ,he is moving on with his life . every person on this forum is different .we come from different places . life has lead us down different roads but we all met here .
I would say this about Chris with full confidence , if you were stranded on the road and he found you he would help you no matter how he felt about how you may have treated him . that's Chris.
Longdog Cymru
Well-Known Member
Everyone has an opinion or a point of view, this doesn’t make you right and everyone else wrong, it simply means that there may be more than one way to do something or to view something. The problems arise when someone can’t accept this and starts to try and impose their views on someone or everyone else and it may be perceived as bullying but it certainly brings the end of reasonable discussion or debate. Moderating a Forum is a thankless task and occasionally, there is a need to use the last resort which is expelling or banning a Forum member and this is not something that is done lightly. There has to be rules in a Forum whether we like it or not, and they should be adhered too. I had my wrists slapped once just after I joined for for speaking out about an issue that was deemed too political. I was contacted by a Mod who explained why it wasn’t acceptable, I apologised and the issue was closed. Sadly, some people can be a little too pedantic or over enthusiastic about posting their views and making personal attacks on other Forum members, you just have to know your boundaries. Thanks to all Mods who have taken on this task.
cyclemike4
Well-Known Member
the older I get the more open I am to different points of view. I really enjoy this forum for all the different ways people can and do enjoy motorcycles not just the Super Tenere. I really like the way people handle them selves on this forum. I have been on other forums and just couldn't handle the way people presented them selves. I appreciate the moderators keeping this forum civil and enjoyable for all. While I can't say I have any idea what Chris said or did that got him expelled because I am not on here a lot and I don't read all the threads or all the inputs to a thread that I do read. I can say there were times I enjoyed Chris's input but a lot of times in the first line of his input I could tell it was another I know a lot more than you type of input. Sometimes I would read them and sometimes I would not. I have worked for years with a couple of people like that and they were really decent people but they really had no idea what a @$$ they were being to others. Not sure why. I think Chris was trying to convey his message about his experiences without taking into account others have different situations than him. That sort of made him look like a @$$ at times. I feel sorry for him about getting kicked off but I also will applaud the moderators for keeping a forum that people can have difference of opinion and share them in a civil way. Great job.
RCinNC
Well-Known Member
I don’t know what Chris said that resulted in the ban, but from multiple years of reading his posts in here, it’s easy enough to imagine the scenario: he was told to knock off some specific behavior by the mods, and he wouldn’t listen because he thought he was right.
I’ve had many exchanges with him over the years, and I can tell you from my experience, he could be off-putting in a way that actually interfered with the often good advice that he was trying to convey. Oftentimes, the problem with the advice or opinion he was rendering was that it was wrapped up in a creamy layer of contempt for the people he was giving the advice to. Chris simply couldn’t accept that he might be wrong about something, or that someone else’s experiences didn’t align with his. More to the point, he seemingly couldn’t accept the idea that, once he’d dispensed his wisdom, the other person didn’t just collapse under the weight of his logic and fall in line with his opinion. He would keep beating the subject to death, with no idea how to simply withdraw. Nowhere did I see this trait more aptly demonstrated than in the thread he started about why do people like the Mitas E07 tire. He didn’t start that thread to gain an insight into why some guys liked it, he started it because he wanted to argue that his dislike of them was the superior position, and that people who didn’t agree with him were simply inexperienced, ill informed riders. Even when people explained to him the reasons they liked it, he continued to double down and argue over what was entirely a subjective opinion. It was like having an extended argument over whether blue is a better color than red. And I told him that in the thread, so this wouldn’t come as a revelation to him if he read it now. I saw the same thing happen in a thread discussing how a motorcycle shop operated. He simply couldn’t accept that his experiences weren’t the universal standard, even when people who actually ran motorcycle shops chimed in with opinions that were opposed to his. Having a storehouse of wisdom isn’t much good if you present it to people with an air of smug condescension. People tend to get a little bristly when they’re being talked down to.
He very well may be a wonderful guy in person; the problem is, most people will never know him in person. Their sum total of knowledge of him will be what he posts in here on the forum. One huge reason I got off Facebook eight years ago was that I didn’t like seeing the way a lot of my friends presented themselves when the filter of in-person contact was removed. They were like different people on line. I’m still friends with them, but if my only knowledge of them was what I’d read on line, I doubt that I’d want to be in the same room with some of them.
I’m sorry he got banned, because he did have useful things to contribute. But I can also understand the frustration of the mods in trying to curtail some of his on line behavior.
I’ve had many exchanges with him over the years, and I can tell you from my experience, he could be off-putting in a way that actually interfered with the often good advice that he was trying to convey. Oftentimes, the problem with the advice or opinion he was rendering was that it was wrapped up in a creamy layer of contempt for the people he was giving the advice to. Chris simply couldn’t accept that he might be wrong about something, or that someone else’s experiences didn’t align with his. More to the point, he seemingly couldn’t accept the idea that, once he’d dispensed his wisdom, the other person didn’t just collapse under the weight of his logic and fall in line with his opinion. He would keep beating the subject to death, with no idea how to simply withdraw. Nowhere did I see this trait more aptly demonstrated than in the thread he started about why do people like the Mitas E07 tire. He didn’t start that thread to gain an insight into why some guys liked it, he started it because he wanted to argue that his dislike of them was the superior position, and that people who didn’t agree with him were simply inexperienced, ill informed riders. Even when people explained to him the reasons they liked it, he continued to double down and argue over what was entirely a subjective opinion. It was like having an extended argument over whether blue is a better color than red. And I told him that in the thread, so this wouldn’t come as a revelation to him if he read it now. I saw the same thing happen in a thread discussing how a motorcycle shop operated. He simply couldn’t accept that his experiences weren’t the universal standard, even when people who actually ran motorcycle shops chimed in with opinions that were opposed to his. Having a storehouse of wisdom isn’t much good if you present it to people with an air of smug condescension. People tend to get a little bristly when they’re being talked down to.
He very well may be a wonderful guy in person; the problem is, most people will never know him in person. Their sum total of knowledge of him will be what he posts in here on the forum. One huge reason I got off Facebook eight years ago was that I didn’t like seeing the way a lot of my friends presented themselves when the filter of in-person contact was removed. They were like different people on line. I’m still friends with them, but if my only knowledge of them was what I’d read on line, I doubt that I’d want to be in the same room with some of them.
I’m sorry he got banned, because he did have useful things to contribute. But I can also understand the frustration of the mods in trying to curtail some of his on line behavior.
SilverBullet
Well-Known Member
Lots of over analyzing going on in this thread.
I'm sure Chris is gone for really only one reason and that is "personal attacks". Same goes for EricV as coincidently he is gone from the forum at the same time and shortly after a lengthy heated and nasty verbal volley between them. It got edited quickly by mods so don't bother searching for it. I read much of it and agree with admin, no place for that here. Some just can't play nice and if you continually need a mod following up your posts with the editing scissors then that is too much.
I liked them both. Completely different personalities, different knowledge and different experiences. They will be mostly missed as both contributed alot here.
I'm sure Chris is gone for really only one reason and that is "personal attacks". Same goes for EricV as coincidently he is gone from the forum at the same time and shortly after a lengthy heated and nasty verbal volley between them. It got edited quickly by mods so don't bother searching for it. I read much of it and agree with admin, no place for that here. Some just can't play nice and if you continually need a mod following up your posts with the editing scissors then that is too much.
I liked them both. Completely different personalities, different knowledge and different experiences. They will be mostly missed as both contributed alot here.
patrickg450
Well-Known Member
Are we in H.S. or are we adults?
PhilPhilippines
Well-Known Member
Yes. A great shame, as both EricV and Chris had some great contributions (and some unnecessary attacks too). I am forthright and have to re-read my posts many times, on occasion, so as not to antagonise people. Even then I sometimes come across as confrontational and, in most instances - unless provoked - it is the completely the opposite of my intention.
It is quite strange to have something pointed out that was not the intent and I always apologise if my post came across incorrectly. It doesn't cost anything to do so and may pave the way forward.
This post will perhaps be seen in the wrong light...I don't know...but despite any misgivings this forum and all of it's members have value to my mind.
I will miss Chris and EricV.
NB....It was my turn in the queue