Many people would disagree.

That's part of the first amendment right of free speech

I am lucky to know a little aboutabout this (the first amendment)- and I am also for this (the free speech)

But I am less sure about expecting (and basing arguments) for the behaviour of international members/contributors on international Boards on the www to know and follow national constitutions/laws/cultures (whatever, even if the Board Owner has that nationality) .

I agree, that members/contributors agreed, when joining the board, to the individual rules for this board

Catman, I feel like leaving, too. But I won't---I'll try to make it as good a place as when I found it.

Rudi, it shames me as an American that many Americans do not understand that the "freedom of speech" means only that the government may not restrict your speech. "Congress shall pass no law..."

As Flyertalk is not an agent of the U.S. govenrment, freedom of speech does not apply, and this board is perfectly free to make up its own rules (for everyone in the world) about what is allowed and what is not.

All the consternation is a bit perplexing to me. We all work with people that we despise. Be it co-worker, customer, boss, or whomever. And we have to because it�s a part of everyday life. In many cases there�s not a thing you can do about it. You can�t ignore those people. But here you can ignore them. It�s sometimes tough to do when they seem to be everywhere but you can. And I do. This community is too valuable to me to walk away from because I don't like someone.

You are absolutely correct, and that is my point. There is no law against your having an opinion diametrically opposed to mine (although sometimes I wish there were ), and stating it in the manner that you wish.

It seems as if some on this board wish that it would continue to consist of the small group of "original" members. I understand that feeling, and have felt it myself when boards to which I have been an "original" member have been overrun with those who did not understand the purpose of the board and co-opted it for their own purposes. However, I would argue that this is not the case with this board. People come and go (and I have seen many helpful posts from Catman and will be sorry to see him go - especially since I'm a cat lover), but most try to post where they think they should and disagree respectfully. I know it is a cliche, but there are a few bad apples, etc., etc.

FF

I wasn't here at the beginning...though I was here when the place was still pretty small...when I recognized everyone's name. I haven't posted a lot, compared to many others...I read more than I write. But I've been here long enough to know how much a part of this board's identity Catman is/was (and many of the other's who left, too...) to be hit hard when I read the heading of this thread. I never met him...for that matter, I'm kind of shy, and have never met anyone from this board...though I've brushed close to it several times.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, the movements of late really make me sad.

I guess it's kind of like when I was in high school, it was kind of cool being a sophomore or a junior, and having friends that were seniors. then, when they left, I was sad, because then I was the senior, and I didn't know the underclassmen, and it felt a little lonely without the seniors around.

I'm not sure I'm making much sense. But I feel this loss. Catman, Premex, everyone else that left, I hope you're lurking, and I hope that you miss us as much as we miss you....so you'll come back!