I'd wanted to keep away from this thread but I have interacted with Andrey much on this forum.
pbkindiana wrote:is it a painful decision or sheer delight in banning someone for a small mistake or is it to impress the members of this forum "who's the boss."
First this quote has not helped as it rather disrespects "the boss", there is no need to spell it out, as I can imagine shivsenabhai took much time and consideration for the decision made. I don't think there is any delight or impression made in such a decision.
pbkindiana wrote:Maybe he can be suspended to make him aware of his mistakes.
Andrey has been suspended many times so he is aware.
john wrote:When someone wont listen to reason, as in your case, what options are left?
Consider more options.
andrey wrote:The admin should be more tolerant to other views. Was it not you that said just recently that everyone is free to express his views. Why don't you say this again. If i had to respect the feelings of shivsena i would have to stop posting.
Yes, stop posting in the thread and move to another. Let go.
arjun wrote:I agree that nobody should be restricted to quote from the VCD*. And Shivsena Bhai has himself quoted extensively from VCD* and Disc.CDs whenever he found them helpful to prove his point. So, he has no moral ground to ask other members to desist from quoting VCD*/Disc.CDs.
Not everyone has the notes to VCDs CDS, Murlis, AMs, SMs etc. (OK, there may be a depositary of the somewhere else website but members should then make an effort to put that material fully on this website so that all can see it). This means not all discussions will be balanced for if someone quotes a Murli point then the other person HAS to take your word for it. (My toilet is made of 100% gold and studded with diamonds and rubies and emeralds... well you'll have to take my word for it. If you say untowards, then you will be calling me a liar. Get the point ? you'll want me to show you a photo ). I used to post more Murli points but I have usually left it to more recent Murlis (which are edited BK ones unfortunately) which are more commonly available to all. Unless everyone has equal access to the Murlis and all materials, there is actually no valid or balanced discussion is there ?
Back to...
And I am not surprised Andrey is banned. I have often asked him on many occasions to cool down, more so in the bkinfo forum; I've had to persuade bkinfo admin many times to keep him. Saying that, I don't think anyone should ever be banned PERMANENTLY. A first ban can be a month. Then the next double to 2 months. Then the next double to 4 months and double next and so on. (i.e these are like suspensions). Admin can ban anyone, anytime, any reasons whatsoever as any reasonable member knows who is boss, and this is why you are able to use the forum. Unfortunately, this is the way it is, there is no ideal forum and admin is also another human being.... no one here is quite a diety yet. So banning will always be under the discretion of admin, a bit like the referee in a soccer match who tries but cannot always get it right. So even after one red card, the player can play a game after a short time, and after several red cards, the player will miss a season and after lots of red cards, too many seasons will be missed. If a child misbehaves, he cannot play with his friends for a day. If he misbehaves, then for a week. Then for a month.
So after a few forum bans, any member here would probably be out of the forum for several months, maybe even up to a year; if the member has 6-7 bans, he or she could be banned accumulatively for over 2 years or more ! This is a proposal I suggest for admin to consider bans with increasing term per ban.
So it is up to the banned person in this case to align to admin. It is HIS forum. ( HIS .. I have no shame about being a bit body conscious here, for if you are too soul conscious for me, then very well). I have always respected the role of admin and the invitation for being here to share amongst a fellowship of Yoga students. Admin may change in their ways too, and so do members. There is such a word called "transformation" we all know too well which applies to all.
But let me repeat, no member should be banned PERMANENTLY. Banning temporarily but with each ban a longer term will give that member time to adjust and aware. The member does not even need to ask for a reason but need to consider why he or she is banned, and admin does not even need to give a reason for the ban; for human judgements will never be precise and correct. After many bans, it may seem like permanent, but this forum is no Guantanamo nor North Korea.
Aside 1 : The only time I think a ban can be permanent is (other than swearing or illicit material) when the member makes discussions unrelated to BK or PBK life, such as introducing a new Yoga with a new guru or god, or giving sermons on other religions, unless there is a link to BK-PBK which would be considered as a splinter group.
Aside 2: "banning" - I know PBKs have been permanently banned from BK centres. Have anyone ever been banned from visiting PBK centres ?
Aside 3: After all this, maybe I should have kept away fromthis thread :D