This is now a Beatlebum-FREE Zone

[LobsterLvr]

Three days ago I posted a response to one of BB's tirades. It wasn't very nice...to put it bluntly. However, 30 seconds later I deleted it. Which is why you did the right thing Bernie. BB was bringing the worst out of us. Yes we need variety, drama, and people with opinions on this site. But when the entire 'family' becomes dysfunctional because of one member, it's time for an intervention. So, thanks.

Dave

[mannoman]

Bernie. Thanks for the great post to explain how we were constantly trying to keep our collective heads above a rising tide.

Pat, There is more here, than meets the eye. You didn't have to deal with the 'behind the scenes', numerous, daily emails from BBum. I am still dealing with them. Maybe I should send them to you. You owe Bernie an apology. You are way out of line on this one. He was extremely tolerant of this individual's rants. This isn't censorship, it's common sense. Besides, it's Bernie's bat and Bernie's ball so if one can't play by the rules, play elsewhere.

"With all due respect, May it please the court"

Ted

[Raspbernie]

Ted,

No apolgies needed from Pat. He ROCKS! I just wanted to explain our collective actions to a guy I have GREAT RESPECT for :-)

Bernie

[mannoman]

Bernie, - Re: Pat - duly noted.

Julia, Thanks for the kind words.

Ted

[Tim From Wisconsin]

Wow - I'm only gone for 1 day and I find this thread! All I can say is "Whew" and Thank You! I tried very hard to follow BB's posts - There were a lot that were quite interesting, but I really had a hard time following some of the gibberish he would write. It made me uncomfortable how pointed and angry some of his comments were. I hope that he understands that his dismissal was waranted.

Tim

[susana]

OK, I give (again!) - everyone has said it better than I ever could, and my respect for the moderators just grew immensely. (As if it needed to - what a great trio they are.) I'm a moderator on another board and while we have had a few borderline cases, never anything lik BB has darkened the door...and can't imagine what we would have done as the borderlines caused enough anguish on their own!

Thank you Bernie for all you do, for all you had to do with this, and for taking time to write the long post. This whole episode has made me uncomfortable because it reminded me way too much of something that happened years ago and involved many personal attacks on me. Oh, that it could have happened here with all of you to support me! This board is a family and as Dave said, sad as it may be, sometimes an intervention is needed.

It may have taken the 'Berries stop in Chicago to get me off my **** and register, but I have been lurking on this board since very near the beginning and even posted a few times (very few) way back when prior to having our own official names...mainly at the time for Eric's b'day card, etc. Anyway - while not as vocal a member for as long as many of you - I still have felt a part of it and am glad our cameraderie is still here.

Hats off to Bernie for bringing us all together and for being the dad who doles out the discipline when it is needed. (Does that make Kathy our mom and Ted our uncle?)

*susana*

still in MO...perhaps soon in Chicago...stay tuned

[blackhawkpat]

I am all for anyone expressing their opinions and I don't believe this is a vanilla type board, considering the many, many topics that have been discussed (constructively, I might add) here.

The scary thing, however, is when someone starts making verbal attacks on people because you never know how far it is going to go.

I am a longtime member of a good friend's hockey website and while everyone there is like a family (though we do get a little ornery now and then....missing the playoffs five of six years will do that to you)from time to time we have had some, mmmmm, "intruders" not get what goes on there.

A few years ago, we had a guy come on there who started posting awful rumors about a girl I am very close to, claiming to have slept with her several times and mocking her appearance, even though he never met her. It drove a valuable member of the community off the site for over a year, despite many people, myself included, coming to her defense. When she did return, she chose a different "identity", just to be safe.

A few weeks later, that same guy started feuding with one of the most controversial members of the site. Name calling, blah, blah, blah. Then, it became personal, as the guy brought my buddy's wife into it!

We often gather as a group at the games between periods and talk. Well, one night, some guy ran up and took a photo of all of us and ran. Turns out it was this goofball! He started emailing derogatory comments about posters appearances to them on the board. Then, my buddy's wife started GETTING PHONE CALLS AT WORK!!!!!!! All of a sudden, my friend got an email picture from the goofball showing his wife LEAVING WORK!!!!!!They ended up getting police involved. All this over a frickin' hockey message board!!!!!

You don't think stuff like this can happen, until it actually does.

This is the kind of crap that can happen if you don't police a website and I think Bernie, Kathy, and Ted have made the right decision, cutting this off before any nonsense takes place.

I come here to share a love for Eric, Jim, Wally, and Dave's music, as I assume everyone else does.

If I want to be called names, I'll call my ex-wife up!

[AnneG]

Bernie - Thank you for this tough call. I'm sure there is no doubt in your mind that you made the right decision.

I was on vacation last week, and normally I would still access the forum, but BB's posts were so jagged and incoherent that it was draining to wade through them.

Thank you for restoring the healthy flow!

Anne

[AJ]

From the sound of things....his removal from the forums was a necessity. I thought Beatlebum had an interesting take on music (he also seemed very knowledgeable), but his posts were so difficult to read....I just started to scroll pass them.

I'm a short-timer here, but from the looks of things this community seems to be able to communicate and debate without getting nasty or making personal attacks (some ribbing here and there - but just in fun). One person shouldn't be allowed to bring all this time and effort down.

Web pages/forums like these let people exchange ideas and thoughts about music, as well as, other things (I'm sure learning quite a bit), they let artists know that we're still interested in them (which can lead to reunions or reissues), and finally (for me) they've made trips to the local music shops quite a bit more fruitful!

[smittie]

Thank you, Bernie. I'm sure the majority of the board is breathing a collective sigh of relief.

[mymooladi]

And I thought I was the only one who couldn't read his posts!! PHEW!! Bernie can he still log on to this site???

June

[Raspbernie]

The site is open for anyone to read, but new policies enacted since his arrival prevent him from re-registering, and only registered members may post here.

Bernie

[Tony Cartmill]

Pierson, It seemd kind of unfair that BB could spend 24/7 soaking up and experiencing so much music, compared to the rest of us, probably because he has never had to work a real job or have responsibilities a normal person would have.

Just my guess...But he has been a very privilaged nutjob throughout his life, And nobody has made him treat people with respect, because he's "special".

Most of us would never have the time, or money to listen to, or experience live, so many obscure artists, even if we wanted to...Unless we worked in the music or radio business...like you.

"Special" or not, When someone goes out of his way to try to make you feel bad, using derogatory language, telling you that everybody wants you to leave and that you are a loser...just because you challenge him...The guy needed to be slapped upside the head, or given a change in his medication pronto!

And you Pierson, willing to overlook that mindset, for some garbled chatter about some obscure music groups. Makes me think you are too tolerant, or too desperate to find more music peers of your high level of knowledge...

"Oh, Those crazy misguided 9/11 hi-jackers...I'm sure they had their reasons. I'm sure they were passionate good people, if we could just try to see life from their perspective..."

...Libs :rolleyes:

[aggiesjc]

Nothing that I posted should have "provoked" BB into the wicked, vitriolic obscenities that he posted about me last week. Then the coward edited himself before any moderators could get to him. I certainly won't take any blame for driving him off the board -- I never even bothered to respond to him. BB's absence from the board is nobody's fault but his own, and I'll bet everyone but Pierson would agree on that.

[darlene]

I agree, Jennifer. I'm back at school and missed the vicious posts (thank goodness!) but Bernie had absolutely no choice.

ANY kind of knowledge, or even genius doesn't excuse vicious, threatening behavior. After reading some of his posts, I would *never* want to go near a place this guy would occupy.

If one wants to be tolerant, understanding or whatever, and not live in a "white bread" world, there are plenty of opportunities all around us in this world to do that.

The bottom line is that Bernie built the website for the glory and celebration of EC and the Berries, and anyone who would maliciously, deliberately tear down what has been built here doesn't belong, no matter how learned he is.

And nobody knows this guy personally, so who knows HOW far he would go? I'm not willing to meet him and find out.

One's "gut feeling" is rarely wrong, and far too many people had a "gut feeling" that something with this guy is *terribly* wrong. Whether he's spoiled, bitter, selfish, attention-seeking or jealous of the fact that this website is a shining beacon compared to what else is out there on the internet, too bad. There are some people who like to destroy things for some perverse thrill they get out of it. This is not the place for that. There are plenty of other websites who welcome that kind of behavior.

There are all kinds of people in the world, and when some are frightening, I avoid them. If I'm intolerant, so be it.

--Darlene

[marlene]

Very well said, Darlene.

I'm with you 100%, and he's taken up too much of our time here already. I vote we move on to happier and more interesting topics ! Time for a BIG pitcher of lemonade !

[aggiesjc]

How coincidental, Marlene! I really am drinking lemonade right now, just as I've read your post! An excellent way to put this to rest!

[Tony Cartmill]

Are you like me, when you drink lemonade? I'm always looking for a little Darlene "Tinkerbell" to fly into the kitchen and wave her little wand, and little Raspberries dust falls into my 'ade...And everything's right with the world, once again...

[Poor4Life]

Hi Everyone!

Haven't been around here much lately due to being exhausted when I get home from work!

I see another troublemaker showed his face around here lately. I did see a few of his posts when I did come around, and couldn't even get through ANY of his posts ( and I thought Carmen Smalleys posts were hard to understand! lol)It reminded me of the one bad apple (can't remember his name) that showed up here last year, and started getting obnoxious, and attacking Bernie. It sounds like Bernie handled this situation just as tactfully as when that other guy crossed the line and posted Eric's home address here. I do hope to appear here more often again, and have missed it...

Jeff

[aggiesjc]

I noticed you were missing, Jeff. Glad you're back!

[darlene]

Welcome back, Jeff! I've missed your cool style and great posts. Grab a snack when you visit the board. Put a pillow at the back of your chair, and relax while you read and post. Looking forward to your contributions.

--Darlene

[Gregkevinw]

see both sides of this issue....

sure he had to be a nightmare behind the scenes, but he had a knowledge for music that made him interesting imo.

i just wish we could stop the "post elsewhere" remarks...

we claim to be a "family" a "community" but when someone (pierson in this case) posts strong opinions that flow "against the current" of this site...we invite him to go elsewhere!!!!

is that really how we treat family???

if you dont want to take the time and effort to properly and respectfully challenge someones opinion... than keep quiet.

let the moderators do their job, (they did here!).

telling someone to post somewhere else is a lazy, mindless response...and if you are not a moderator, its not your call to make!!!

everyone on this site knows they can post elsewhere... they have chosen to post HERE!

value the differences, dont be afraid or intolerant of them....

PS: sorry tony, but imo making a connection to letting people post on THIS website and 9/11 was way "out of line"

[Raspbernie]

I agree 100%. Telling someone to go somewhere else is really not what this board is about. Having different opinions that we can all respect without malice *is* what this board is about. If you like something I don't like that doesn't mean I can't like you. Easy, right?

Anyway, I thought it worth mentioning that when anyone registers to become a member her they have to AGREE to these terms:

"Considering the real-time nature of this message board, it is impossible for us to review messages or confirm the validity of information posted. Please remember that we do not actively monitor the contents of posted messages and are not responsible for any messages posted. We do not vouch for or warrant the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any message, and are not responsible for the contents of any message. The messages express the views of the author of the message, not necessarily the views of this BB or any entity associated with this BB.

Any user who feels that a posted message is objectionable is encouraged to contact us immediately by email. We have the ability to remove objectionable messages and we will make every effort to do so, within a reasonable time frame, if we determine that removal is necessary.

This is a manual process, however, so please realize that we may not be able to remove or edit particular messages immediately.

You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use this BB to post any material which is knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, or otherwise violative of any law.

You agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyrighted material is owned by you. Although we do not and cannot review the messages posted and are not responsible for the content of any of these messages, we reserve the right to delete any message for any reason whatsoever. You remain solely responsible for the content of your messages, and you agree to indemnify and hold us harmless with respect to any claim based upon transmission of your message(s).We reserve the right to reveal your identity (or whatever information we know about you) in the event of a complaint or legal action arising from any message posted by you."

That about says it all.

Bernie

[TOMMY TUNES]

Kudos to Bernie for removing all that jibberish. See you next saturday.

[Tony Cartmill]

Whoa! That last paragraph!. Does that mean when we post a copyrighted lyric from Eric to color our posts, we are all breaking the law?

I will now live in fear of the ASCAP/BMI police knocking on my door...