Originally Posted by SkiAdcock
Moderators, close this thread down or move it to Omni, please. It has NOTHING to do w/ Community, at least my understanding of Community is get-togethers or bday wishes.
I knew Barton (not well); thought he was ok. Was stunned both to hear of his death (not a pleasant call for anyone) or what he did (definitely not pleasant).
But this is not a Community topic.
Originally Posted by Punki
bwatson was a member of our communitiy, whose actions turned him into a public figure.
. . . .
It is only natural that those who knew him and/or interacted with, through our FT community, will continue to discuss him until the saga becomes ancient history.
The essence of CommunityBuzz! is sharing our joys and sorrows, interacting with each other as fellow humans on matters both superficial and solemn. Witness the wedding last Thursday of our most generous host.
If the thread topic dealt solely with a public figure qua public figure, indubitably it would be grist for OMNI. But here was a person who posted prolifically in our midst, in an outspoken manner, as a moderator no less! The very archetype of a community member. And we were the only "friends" he had!
It is only natural that larcency and fraud on such a larger-than-life scale, followed by a grisly death at his own hand, should inspire revulsion. Death is a topic Americans are wont to sweep under the rug. Fine, if death disturbs you, don't open the thread -- which is very well labeled and descriptive of its subject matter, by the way.
The very fact that Barton Watson inspires such strong emotion shows how appropriate this thread is for community. The ongoing senses of betrayal, vindication, loyalty, disgust, sympathy, sorrow, and mercy -- it sounds like this is one soul who definitely needs our prayers, to those deists who are so inclined -- are compelling evidence of the influence this episode still has on our community.
This is confirmed by the number of views to this thread.
As with all topics, no one has to click on any of them.
I certainly feel that the "
Update on book about b watson" is a matter of community interest, and look forward to reading the subject of this thread if and when it is published.
For those wishing to discuss or learn more about our fallen community member's
conduct as a public figure, or their reactions such conduct, there is indeed an OMNI thread on those topics. Likewise, legal ownership of posts on internet bulletin boards.
This Thread Creeps Me Out
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=376280
FT owns you vs Fair Use?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=430895
Shall we keep further posts on topic?
