Bring Back the Bomber!!! - An Open Letter to Tom Drapeau »
Posted By gamahuche 1 month, 1 week ago in Family
Like many others, I profoundly desire to see BB reinstated. I consider his quirky tales essential leavening for the propeller feast and it has seemed sometimes that he has virtually lived for propeller during the whole time that I've been there – apart from occasional medical absences. If he made a misjudgement yesterday it is far outweighed by the many kind words he has written to many individuals during this time, while dealing with his own health-difficulties and other challenges.
Read Full Story at opiczarna.blogspot.com »
431 Views Share Story 200 Comments Report
Submitted By:
gamahuche
"I would rather be a square peg than fit in a pigeon hole" -
an essay which won me the "Lamb Essay Prize" at the Religious ...
Who Also Submitted: All »
Other Related Articles: All »
RSS Join the Discussion
+ Add CommentShowing 191 of 200 Comments (view all)
-
100%
gamahuche1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I posted this after failing a dozen times to send it as a PM to Tom Drapeau.
Reply
I mention this only contextually - I believe that it is a valid story and one that may be significant for all members of the community.
All "organisations" have rules; all rules get broken sometimes. In the case of BB I sincerely believe that his positive contribution to propeller far outweighs any negatives - including whatever he wrote to dropkickalib [which I'd appreciate knowing, if someone who remembers it would be kind enough to send it to me as a pm].
I hope that BB can receive a pardon and, as I suggested in my letter to Tom, which is the "story" of this post, I believe that in this instance a pardon - and hopefully BB's acceptance of the same - will strengthen propeller rather than diminishing it. The other major suggestion that I made was that the following:
FTA:
I would also like to suggest, in terms of policy, that no single comment that does not actually threaten another member or contain palpable obscenity should in itself be considered grounds for expulsion.
What would be entirely fair and overall beneficial to propeller would be a 3-strikes policy – with 2 warnings. If we are all obliged to continually look over our shoulder and perpetually rein ourselves in propeller will be the loser because it will become boring! I suggest that this will improve standards far more than draconian banishment of much appreciated individuals.-
100%
hyperbola1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
At times I have had the feeling that certain participants in propeller intentionally try to be provocative enough to elicit a response that can be complained about and "form the case" for a banning.
Reply
If I had to make a judgment about which of the two participants is the more "provocative", it wouldn't be bronx - with whom I have had pleasant exchanges even when we didn't always agree.
At one point I asked the "gatekeepers" if it were not possible to leave the comments that led to banning visible so we could all see what caused the banning. Too many positive contributors have ended up banned - when their participation here made that a surprise. -
98%
Beau78901 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
There were at least three threads yesterday in which I noticed fairly nasty exchanges of nearly 20 comments between both BronxBomber and Dropkickalib. It seemed fairly clear to me upon reading them that Dropkick was baiting anyone who'd come by to respond. In fact, he got into it with a few others as well.
Reply
After noticing this post today, I checked, and see that Dropkick is still around. I'm not sure what criteria are involved in triggering a ban, but it seems only fair that if any of the aforementioned exchanges were what caused BB to be banned, then Dropkick should suffer the same fate. -
98%
Eagle_Eye1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
""BB to be banned, then Dropkick should suffer the same fate." I agree, these people bait others into the corner then gloat when they have succeed to anger the other into a comment that gets them banned. But that is their goal, to take over this site, the secret is to ignore the sock puppet dropkick and others, don't feed the trolls.
Reply
-
-
100%
gamahuche1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Below I have posted BB's propeller profile which was current when he got banned.
Reply
All the info was in the public domain then so I don't feel that this can possibly be an abuse of his privacy.
I am not a member of facebook but the link there is: www.facebook.com/people/Joe-Sturgis/1674715722
And please send warm greetings from me and let him know about the thread if you can!
Thanks! g
My Profile:
BronxBomber
Hello!
Welcome to my profile!
(Pardon the ambiance, but it's the maid's day off)
If you’re a newbie, I hope that you’ll enjoy Propeller as much as I do with the very nice members (for the most part).
Anyway yall have fun and have a good one!
My ~Group~ if you care to join it.
*The Bronx Bullpen*
Everyone's Welcome!
http://www.propeller.com/groups/the-bronx-bullpen/
(Please also check my ‘submissions’ and prop vote them if you'd like to. Thanks!)
Hobbies / Interests
I love working as a volunteer at the local VA hospital as well as spending time at a local nursery school reading storybooks to toddlers as well! I love all types of music (except rap) reading classic books from:The Great Bard, to Wordsworth,watching NY Yankees, visiting museums, and taking in the different cultures that we have right here in the Big Apple.
Me, Elsewhere
My Facebook, My Twitter, The League of Good Natured Smart Asses!, My AOL, One of my favorite rock bands: ' DOWNPOUR' Check them out!, Stop The Space Internet Fraud!, -
-
84%
Goppy1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
It's true that some of the Right Wing Propeller members try to bait others through rabid behavior ... insults ... and that special knack many on the right have for unparalleled crassness.
Reply
I myself experienced this ...
They will send you a insult laden message. If you reply in kind ... the report you and you can be banned.
Propeller is disinclined to ban the person who complained ... because they feel as though they will be labeled as having a "Liberal Bias".
This is how the Modern Right is reaping rewards from their decades old whine about Liberal Bias.
It's all calculated to get 'Special Treatment' in every set of circumstances.
It's working on ABC, CBS, and NBC now too.
Now ... these news programs will invite Newt Gingrich, Annie Coulter, Tommy DeLay ... and a whole host of others ... and they don't even bother to bring on someone to counter their comments.
They just let them speak freely, not countering any of the outrageous things they say.
Of course, my opinion is ... your Ideology has to be pretty Morally Vacant ... if you have to rely on 'Cheats' to gain preference.
. -
97%
altnrg1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Very nice of you Gamahuche.
Reply
I support a reconsideration for BB including weighing of his total reputation.
I do not know the details of what led to his banning, I just know that he is a positive member and therefore I would like to see Propeller reconsidering the decision while putting on the balance his entire reputation.
-
-
-
100%
Newperson1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I to would like to see BB come back. I have not been around this weekend and was shocked to here about this. BB is one of the nicest people here and it will leave a void in propeller.
Reply
Please let BB come back.
I do not know what happened but we need his wit and funny little stories. Thanks NP -
100%
slate1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I wasn't in the thread and didn't see what was said. BB ssems to be a decent guy and we have all said things when provoked and many have been banned. Some of them have been actively asked to be banned by others.
Reply
We have all been insulted and have a few people that follow our posts and make inflammatory about us personally in an attempt to denigrate and insult us personally.
Though BB and I have been on opposite sides of politics he seems like a straight up guy. -
100%
Natureboy1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Yes, I would like to see the Bronx Bomber back, and Mountainman and Ace as well.
Reply
It seems odd that these three have been banned, whilst we have daily postings of racist ignorance and the addlepated spammings of "The Real American" and his ilk.
Hard to make rhyme or reason out of it. -
100%
Charlson1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I am guilty of going over the top at times and have a short fuse and have said some nasty things to people who I've disagreed with and have "luckily" not been banned as of yet. So, please, "powers of Propeller", reinstate BronxBomber. I really do enjoy his posts and comments and will miss his presence.
Reply
There are many who have been banned but have snuck back in so couldn't you find it in your heart to bring him back through the front door? -
100%
GWHayduke1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
We have nearly ALL been guilty of going over the top once.
Reply
I personally dont want to see anyone banned - friend or otherwise.
I think we need to keep these threads and our conversations in perspective and not take ourselves too seriously. -
100%
canadianrancher571 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Once again we are back to the major part of propeller that causes me the most grief, and that is the banning of members. I have seen many members banned, both on the left and right and maybe it's just me but I still don't think it is right. If a member is banned the least they could do is leave the comment posted so the members could judge for themselves if it was so offensive that the member needed to be banned.
Reply
As for the banning of BB, I guess I feel like most who have commented so far and that is maybe a member should be judged by his total contribution to the site and not just by a single instance, we all have bad days and I can understand how some members must feel when they post stories and they turn into nothing but political insult competitions.-
100%
Eagle_Eye1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
""a member should be judged by his total contribution to the site and not just by a single instance, "" That is very good and should be the tool used to judge by, give a warning, look at what triggered the offense and weigh it all carefully. If they keep going like this no one with sanity or comedy will be left here.
Reply -
-
96%
smithichie1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
CR-I hate seeing folks banned, left and right. The only people I would ban if up to me, would be the spammers. If we find a poster to be offensive we can choose to ignore that poster.
Reply
But, from what Tom say's down below, I think it's a mistake to assume BB was banned over comments, so I will wait for the dust to settle and hope that BB makes a speedy return because if he doesn't I don't think the void it will leave can be filled.
-
-
97%
lovemylibs1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Without knowing what was said, it is difficult to pass judgment about the merits of this banning. I will say that I will miss Bronx Bomber if he is permanently banned. I will also say that he was always reasonable and fair in any communications that I have ever had with him. Since Propeller seems to be in the decline, a long standing member should be given every opportunity to make amends for their transgressions. Maybe it could be as simple as offering an apology to whomever was the target of the words that got him banned.
Reply -
100%
vor1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Banning members like BB will eventually kill Propeller. Maybe like certain Righties (AG/Red Tomato/LMP) he will just re-emerge under another moniker.
Reply
Funny, I have never gotten dragged into the politics of Propeller. Never been contacted a single time by the editors. And have lashed out to the extreme at certain posters. Afterall we should not be asked to comment with a hand tied behind our backs. How can one be expected to hold a civil debate with attack dogs who have no desire to make a valid argument?
Bring back BB! -
97%
uncle-dave1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Thanks for posting this Gama! I would like to see BB reinstated also. BB is a decent guy and a very active member and shouldn't be treated like this. I for one would like to know what he said that was so egregious. Was it one thing or collective comments over a period of time?
Reply
I would also like to know if "over use" of the report function is a violation of Propeller's TOU because I suspect there are some members that use this for the purpose of getting members banned that are on the opposite end of the political spectrum. BB has told me on a number of occasions about members that he liked in spite of the fact that they were on opposite sides of the political divide. Apparently some of those members don’t think that way and would like to turn Propeller into an echo chamber for their political persuasion.
Tom, do the right thing and reinstate BB with his profile intact. Propeller is a big part of his life and he shouldn’t lose it because of the actions of a thin skinned member.-
100%
bowsnumba11 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
"I would also like to know if "over use" of the report function is a violation of Propeller's TOU because I suspect there are some members that use this for the purpose of getting members banned that are on the opposite end of the political spectrum."
Reply
Personally, I feel that the report functon should be restricted to relevance, which I find particularly annoying. Submissions are made to groups that have no relevance or pertinance to the stated purposes of the groups.
-
-
100%
Amabaie1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
It is always hard to know just why someone gets banned on a website. It is usually for a good reason, but sometimes for an accident. And sometimes for a good reason that is small, and outweighs much bigger reasons for them to saty. Whatever the reason BronxBomber is in my mind a positive force for propeller, and for that reason I am happy to prop this article.
Reply
I understand personal privacy etc., but I would love if we might have some official comment on this (You know, not leave everybody just guessing). -
-
-
-
97%
splitrch1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I already let him know.
Reply
Oddly enough I got into it a little bit yesterday with dropkickalib. I hadn't seen him around here in a long time so jokingly said I thought he was banned. He took umbrage at my comment and chalked it up to typical liberal bias (wanting to ban members with opposing views). I assured him that not only don't I want to see members banned I rarely neg even the most offensive comments - of which I am sometimes guilty.
I think it is ironic that dkl managed to do to a great guy like BronxBomber what he objected to my joking about. I'd like to know what was said. I sent BB an email letting him know were pulling for him. If he responds, and allows me to, I'll post his comments in this thread.
-
-
-
100%
chevydog1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I did not see the post in question that got BB banned. To me, he has always been unfailingly polite, sometimes quirky. Such people are not always easy to find. The world being the rather screwball place it is, quirkiness is sometimes necessary for mental survival.
Reply
I have seen other people banned over the years. Sometimes puzzled over why. Should not a poster's history be part of the decision? -
100%
CRYMTYPHON1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Rules should be kept consistently.
Reply
And true consistency requires keeping the word and spirit
of the rule.
Bronx has been a sane, educated, and humorous voice
on Propeller; for years. It is foolish to ban him
for clicking 'reply' on one mistake.
Soon or late, each of us will say something over the line;
- and only the dishonest will return. -
100%
CHAM1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Gama. I don't know Brown Bomber and don't recall ever reading any of his posts, but banning anyone should be up to the community, not the whim of Tom ( and I have communicated with Tom before and found him to be nice and helpful).
Reply
I too , would like to know just exactly what he was banned for.
Is it too much to ask for a reprinting of what it was?
I got banned from Newsvine and never knew why. I was told I had violated a rule about posting articles I had written. I never posted one that I didn't publish under my name - not my moniker, but my real name. I used my real name on Newsvine as I do on all other sites where I post articles and comments.
I wrote and asked what was the problem and never received a reply. I noticed that I was not the only one kicked off. It seems it happened right after MSNBC took over Newsvine.
Where a site is open to the public asking members to use the site we should expect disagreement. I can be very disagreeable, but I think I take a lot of guff also. Not a problem.
When you kick someone off please ask the community. The community is what makes this site and Propeller needs the community much more than the community needs propeller.
There are plenty of other good sites around. I remember the change over from Netscape and you obviously lost membership there. It is not normal to see more than 100 comments on an article now. I remember posting an article back when we were Netscape where my article received over 1100 comments. What I am illustrating is that running off people ought be for a very good reason.-
100%
Eagle_Eye1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
""The community is what makes this site and Propeller needs the community much more than the community needs propeller.""
Reply
good point, and you can see by your later comment about posts with 1100 comments that it isn't happening any more so that tells you this community is dying.....people are moving out because the neighborhood is changing for the worse. It is becoming a "Ghetto" of users banned from other sites or banned previously here and reincarnated numerous times that continue to drag this site down. People are tired of trying to hold civil debate and we are leaving to communicate on other sites where we are not harassed.
-
-
93%
Eagle_Eye1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
"Bronx Bomber back, and Mountainman and Ace as well."
Reply
slowly the sock puppets of the right leaning side are taking out those that oppose their views. The ones that are banned are good people that the right has pushed over the edge and then they lose it. I have been there but have with held my tongue and just left the thread and at times the site for days.
""ignorance and the addlepated spammings of "The Real American" and his ilk."" The more I look at the posters who are now posting stories with user names that mean nothing but a bunch of scrambled letters who are getting their stories to the front with a menagerie of sock puppet never heard from proppers is getting really old and they have "cheapened" this site.
Gone are the days of being a "community" of users with lively debate and discussion. It is now being driven by bloggers pushing or promoting their sites, GOP people who post the most hateful opinion pieces and those of us that are attacked when we comment and belittled on our opinions and thoughts. It isn't fun any more, it isn't enlightening any more, it isn't informative any more. What was once some thing I looked forward to each day, my on line community, has been taken over by people pushing their agenda, people pushing good people into the corners to the point of losing their cool, people who don't care about other people but are self righteous butt kissers lickers that will just drop a story because you posted it even though it isn't about politics, etc, attack your comments because they see an opportunity to attempt to belittle you, act as if they are so morally higher than you when in fact they are the scum off the bottom of the pond. I have chosen to ignore those and keep in touch with my wonderful friends I have made here but slowly they are being banned.
If you watch the "new members" category you see nothing of substance, nothing of character, nothing of interest, just a bunch of alphabetical letters meaning nothing. This has cheapened our site, provides no interest and is just garbage. In the short, it has pretty much shown me the state of our country, that there are people out there set against America succeeding, want to see our President fail at all costs, are slanders, evil haters, and that is really sad.
The fact that they have torn down what was once a great social news site of great posts and debate is sad, what will be sadder is when they get what they want and the entire site will be another "trustserve" as we all slowly get fed up, stop posting, stop propping and just stay over at facebook having civil, funny, enlighting conversation and fun. I've been gone all weekend so I didn't see what happened but I do know that the hater continue to push the lovers into the corners and out this site will be filled with nothing but the haters and then it will die full of hate. No one wants to come on here and post then be attacked for expressing their opinion but that is what happens here daily and I am so over it I have stopped expressing my opinion.
Just the other day I was accused of not being truthful regarding my brother who just died from not having Medical insurance....that's right, people in "America" are dying because they don't have medical insurance and no one will treat you. I was accused of not being truthful in my brothers death, her I am grieving my brothers unnecessary death and I am called a liar, who the heck wants to comment on here when your constantly belittled and attacked. I don't and that is why I don't participate like I use to, I refuse to allow myself to be a target for hate any more, I refuse to allow the negative users drag me down to their level.
BB was a wonderful "asset" to this site and now there is one asset less, one really great poster less, one really funny user gone, soon it will all just be full of haters. It is really sad to see the neighborhood being taken over by the bullies but that is what is happening just like in the real world. When the scum moves in the better class leaves and so it is in cyberspace
OK, I'm done with my rant-
-
truthinessComment removed: Spam
-
-
53%
beavith11 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
i have to disagree.
Reply
propeller is 70 30 liberal, near as i can figure out.
so saying its the 'cons' (or whatever term you use) fault that some people get banned is wrong.
BB, i don't understand at all, but Mtmn i DO understand. Ace, i don't understand so much.
i suppose if the powers that be at propeller want to keep us guessing at where the TOU lines are, its not so bad.
we are all wonderful assets to propeller. not just the one you agree with. -
100%
fiftynine1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I would like to set up a UFC type cage match with some of the master baiters on here...It would settle a lot of things and would be oh so much fun :-)
Reply
I am guilty to responding to people like dropped in a negative way,but like EE said,they do nothing to promote what was once a good site..They are just here to fight and spread the hate..nothing more nothing less and i am one of those people that have lived a good part of my life in the dirt so one more trip there might not ne the right thing to do but it doesn't bother me at all..I stand up to these type of people here in the real world,teach my boy's to do the same,because if you don't then the community is soon ran over by them and the good ones are gone..
I remember and some of you probably do also a skirmish me and Spadecaller had a couple of years ago when i was on as Baddad59..It lasted almost two weeks(on the same thread)..It was brutal ,nasty, and childish on both of our parts...But neither of us got banned..we were warned a few times..:-) but we were allowed to continue on..What changed ? I now consider Spade one of my friends..although i haven't seen him in a while....we might disagree,might not even like each other some days,but like any real community we continue to try to add something to it and work past those differences...
Some people will never do that here or in your real world and those are the people that should be ignored.. -
-
-
83%
lfergie8121 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Eagle_Eye
Reply
I hear you. First thing I want to do is offer my condolence on the death of your brother. I know you have to miss him badly as I would if my brother were to die. Those that were calling you a liar are those that are so against the health care plan that they will stop at nothing to try to kill it. From what I hear, it might not work.
The second thing I want to do is thank the level heads on Propeller for making the right decision to remove the ban on BronxBomber and reinstate his rights back on Propeller. I'm sure that he did nothing to justify a permanent ban.
The third thing I want to do is comment you on a well written statement that echoes my sentiments exactly. That is why I don't come on here as often as I did. Statements are made without merit and are taken as truth by those that want to believe anything bad about the other party. And they have a following of sock puppets as you called them that backs up every word knowing it's a lie. As an example, the continuous babbling about Obama's birth certificate. It's been proven to be a legal document from the state of Hawaii and confirmed by the Republican governor of Hawaii as a legal certificate of birth. It's even been verified by factcheck.org which is a non partisan organization. But there are those that refuse to accept this proof and insist that he was not a natural born citizen based on rumors started by his enemies. So I have, like you, quit arguing with them because there is nothing that will change their little minds. Now some of the more intelligent ones know that it is legal and still like to spread the lie. To me that damages the creditability of all their statements in my eyes.
-
-
97%
SenorCoconut1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
I was gob smacked to see that BB had been "hard banned"! Surely such a long standing member who has without a doubt contributed in a positive way with his submissions and witty comments is deserving of a lesser penalty such as perhaps a "temporary" ban?
Reply -
-
-
100%
tdrapeau1 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Hello everyone. It is nice to see such support for BronxBomber, who has been a pillar in the Propeller community. We found reason to institute a ban on BronxBomber's account over the weekend. Our policy is not to discuss ban reasons with anyone but the banholder, but if it helps, it has nothing to do with any comment exchanges.
Reply
We have reached out to BB, and if it turns out that there is cause for reinstatement, you'll see him back.-
-
-
-
-
100%
fsev411 month, 1 week ago
This comment is below the standard viewing threshold View It »
Tom, thanks for clearing up the BB incident, whatever it may be. Would it be possible to post a list of who has been banned and when, even if it's only for 90 days or so? If we miss a members posts for awhile it's nice to know if they've been banned or just dropped out for some reason. Also, is there a difference between banned and hard banned?
Reply
-
-
100%
justanotherhoser1 month, 1 week ago
Add a Comment
Sign In With Your Propeller Account
Please keep your comments relevant to this story.
To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.