Banned..censorship…sigh

Question:

If this is a repeat, please excuse me. I was banned from the GardenWeb because I put a link to my site in a message that was inquiring about where to find info about semi-hydro growing. Actually, by itself that only garnered a warning from Spike Hernandez, but when he accused me of stealing advertising revenue by posting the link, I replied that I thought he was unreasonable, which led to further escalation of attitudes (both of ours). What really irks me, however was a recent post by someone claiming that I had lambasted her for suggesting that there was any other orchid growing method to consider other than S/H! Spike let that stand on the forum, for sure. Fortunately, several folks came to my defense – even some with whom I’ve never even done business. FWIW, I have emailed the individual directly to discuss the libelous nature of her post and possibly elicit an apology or retraction, but (gasp!) have not received a reply. Spike did remove the thread, however. My guess is that he realized that had it stayed posted, he could be held liable as well. — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I, too, got banned for questioning the definition of several of the vendors as spammers…and found myself rapidly disneyed. I have to say, I don’t miss the gardenweb forum now that I’ve left it…most of the regulars moved over to the Orchid Source forum: http://www.theorchidsource.com I also hang out at the AOS on-line forum. Wendy, After reading your post- I decide to post on the Orchid forum about banning people. In less than one day there were 16 responses and then Spike pulled it and posted a very nasty rebuttal. Today I received an email admonishing me for asking the question, and 2 emails later was asked to leave the forum. I too questioned the strange definiton of ’spamming’ that seems to be in play there. So I guess that I have joined the every growing list of rejects from the Orchid Forum. Joe D I have had to leave the Garden Forum because of the extreme censorship there. I know this has been discussed here, and my point is not to go over old ground, but to urge those of you who frequent the orchids forum there to protest the unreasonable censorship directly. Unfortunately, even my message stating that I was leaving was taken off the orchid forum, although it is still on the greenhouse forum, at least right now. And I didn’t even give a reason for leaving! Here is what happened: In one post I asked someone to look at the research on semi-hydroponic media at FirstRay.com (I have been researching it and asking people there for their advice, as well as here), and it seems that any reference to this site or person is banned by Spike, who has banned Ray for spamming. I know there are various opinions about whether there really was spam or not, and I have no desire to once again start this discussion. But whether that ban was justified or not, I certainly cannot tolerate an "information ban" that censors any reference at all to experiments, no matter who conducted them. After several back-and-forth emails with Spike, I concluded that there isn’t much I can do except refuse to participate on such a highly censored forum. It is my only form of protest, I guess. I left my email address hoping people would inquire. It’s too bad, as I really enjoyed the forums (two of them, greenhouses and orchids!).

Response:

It’s starting to sound like getting banned from GardenWeb is a badge of honor. Might be interesting to have a contest to see who can get banned in the most creative manner. deg – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If this is a repeat, please excuse me. I was banned from the GardenWeb because I put a link to my site in a message that was inquiring about where to find info about semi-hydro growing.

Response:

I, too, got banned for questioning the definition of several of the vendors as spammers…and found myself rapidly disneyed. I have to say, I don’t miss the gardenweb forum now that I’ve left it…most of the regulars moved over to the Orchid Source forum: http://www.theorchidsource.com I also hang out at the AOS on-line forum. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Wendy, After reading your post- I decide to post on the Orchid forum about banning people. In less than one day there were 16 responses and then Spike pulled it and posted a very nasty rebuttal. Today I received an email admonishing me for asking the question, and 2 emails later was asked to leave the forum. I too questioned the strange definiton of ’spamming’ that seems to be in play there. So I guess that I have joined the every growing list of rejects from the Orchid Forum. Joe D I have had to leave the Garden Forum because of the extreme censorship there. I know this has been discussed here, and my point is not to go over old ground, but to urge those of you who frequent the orchids forum there to protest the unreasonable censorship directly. Unfortunately, even my message stating that I was leaving was taken off the orchid forum, although it is still on the greenhouse forum, at least right now. And I didn’t even give a reason for leaving! Here is what happened: In one post I asked someone to look at the research on semi-hydroponic media at FirstRay.com (I have been researching it and asking people there for their advice, as well as here), and it seems that any reference to this site or person is banned by Spike, who has banned Ray for spamming. I know there are various opinions about whether there really was spam or not, and I have no desire to once again start this discussion. But whether that ban was justified or not, I certainly cannot tolerate an "information ban" that censors any reference at all to experiments, no matter who conducted them. After several back-and-forth emails with Spike, I concluded that there isn’t much I can do except refuse to participate on such a highly censored forum. It is my only form of protest, I guess. I left my email address hoping people would inquire. It’s too bad, as I really enjoyed the forums (two of them, greenhouses and orchids!).

Response:

Wendy, After reading your post- I decide to post on the Orchid forum about banning people. In less than one day there were 16 responses and then Spike pulled it and posted a very nasty rebuttal. Today I received an email admonishing me for asking the question, and 2 emails later was asked to leave the forum. I too questioned the strange definiton of ’spamming’ that seems to be in play there. So I guess that I have joined the every growing list of rejects from the Orchid Forum. Joe D

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have had to leave the Garden Forum because of the extreme censorship there. I know this has been discussed here, and my point is not to go over old ground, but to urge those of you who frequent the orchids forum there to protest the unreasonable censorship directly. Unfortunately, even my message stating that I was leaving was taken off the orchid forum, although it is still on the greenhouse forum, at least right now. And I didn’t even give a reason for leaving! Here is what happened: In one post I asked someone to look at the research on semi-hydroponic media at FirstRay.com (I have been researching it and asking people there for their advice, as well as here), and it seems that any reference to this site or person is banned by Spike, who has banned Ray for spamming. I know there are various opinions about whether there really was spam or not, and I have no desire to once again start this discussion. But whether that ban was justified or not, I certainly cannot tolerate an "information ban" that censors any reference at all to experiments, no matter who conducted them. After several back-and-forth emails with Spike, I concluded that there isn’t much I can do except refuse to participate on such a highly censored forum. It is my only form of protest, I guess. I left my email address hoping people would inquire. It’s too bad, as I really enjoyed the forums (two of them, greenhouses and orchids!).

Response:

You aren’t dating someone by the name of Lynne by any chance? Someone who flutters her eyelashes a lot??

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Heck I am actually a member over there… Dunno how many post I have ever made there though… Maybe enough to use all of my fingers on one hand… Kye. You need someone closer to home Kye – There are some nice Aussie Women on the Orchid Source Forum http://forum.theorchidsource.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi Yeap…. Still waiting on those e-mails Mick… Neeeeeeeeeeeeed some single orchid lovin’ females company to cheer me up… Heck I may even come out of "lurker" mode for ‘em… Kye. Max, Ooooo… very good! A beautiful woman on RGO who knows her history also. See, I was right. RGO chicks are much sharper than Spike’s chicks. Mick You and Groucho

Response:

Heck I am actually a member over there… Dunno how many post I have ever made there though… Maybe enough to use all of my fingers on one hand… Kye.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You need someone closer to home Kye – There are some nice Aussie Women on the Orchid Source Forum http://forum.theorchidsource.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi Yeap…. Still waiting on those e-mails Mick… Neeeeeeeeeeeeed some single orchid lovin’ females company to cheer me up… Heck I may even come out of "lurker" mode for ‘em… Kye. Max, Ooooo… very good! A beautiful woman on RGO who knows her history also. See, I was right. RGO chicks are much sharper than Spike’s chicks. Mick You and Groucho

Response:

You need someone closer to home Kye – There are some nice Aussie Women on the Orchid Source Forum http://forum.theorchidsource.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yeap…. Still waiting on those e-mails Mick… Neeeeeeeeeeeeed some single orchid lovin’ females company to cheer me up… Heck I may even come out of "lurker" mode for ‘em… Kye. Max, Ooooo… very good! A beautiful woman on RGO who knows her history also. See, I was right. RGO chicks are much sharper than Spike’s chicks. Mick You and Groucho

Response:

You and Groucho

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Jean, Hmmmm…. I don’t know if I would really want to belong to an elite club that would let me in as a member. Mick Wendy, Wendy, Wendy — anyone who’s ANYone has been banned by Spike. You’re officially in the club It’s far better here and on the AOS forum, anyway! Jean

Response:

Max, Ooooo… very good! A beautiful woman on RGO who knows her history also. See, I was right. RGO chicks are much sharper than Spike’s chicks. Mick

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – You and Groucho

Response:

Yeap…. Still waiting on those e-mails Mick… Neeeeeeeeeeeeed some single orchid lovin’ females company to cheer me up… Heck I may even come out of "lurker" mode for ‘em… Kye.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Max, Ooooo… very good! A beautiful woman on RGO who knows her history also. See, I was right. RGO chicks are much sharper than Spike’s chicks. Mick You and Groucho

Response:

Jean, Hmmmm…. I don’t know if I would really want to belong to an elite club that would let me in as a member. Mick

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Wendy, Wendy, Wendy — anyone who’s ANYone has been banned by Spike. You’re officially in the club It’s far better here and on the AOS forum, anyway! Jean

Response:

Wendy, Wendy, Wendy — anyone who’s ANYone has been banned by Spike. You’re officially in the club It’s far better here and on the AOS forum, anyway! Jean – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have had to leave the Garden Forum because of the extreme censorship there. I know this has been discussed here, and my point is not to go over old ground, but to urge those of you who frequent the orchids forum there to protest the unreasonable censorship directly. Unfortunately, even my message stating that I was leaving was taken off the orchid forum, although it is still on the greenhouse forum, at least right now. And I didn’t even give a reason for leaving! Here is what happened: In one post I asked someone to look at the research on semi-hydroponic media at FirstRay.com (I have been researching it and asking people there for their advice, as well as here), and it seems that any reference to this site or person is banned by Spike, who has banned Ray for spamming. I know there are various opinions about whether there really was spam or not, and I have no desire to once again start this discussion. But whether that ban was justified or not, I certainly cannot tolerate an "information ban" that censors any reference at all to experiments, no matter who conducted them. After several back-and-forth emails with Spike, I concluded that there isn’t much I can do except refuse to participate on such a highly censored forum. It is my only form of protest, I guess. I left my email address hoping people would inquire. It’s too bad, as I really enjoyed the forums (two of them, greenhouses and orchids!).

Response:

Kye, Only if you are finally out of lurker mode and finished with that devilish woman who jilted/betrayed you. Mick

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Ray, You are right. He will alienate some people.. but in the long run those people who boycott his "modified" newsgroup will simply be replaced by newbies like the new teeth that spring forward in a shark’s mouth as this fish breaks a few more off in his victim’s hind quarters. The newbie teeth always "roll" forward to replace the old broken teeth. And the feeding machine continues moving on to perform its singular sole function in this life. It is Spike’s "service" and it is his "forum". If people don’t want to hear his message or his slant on issues… then there is only one alternative and that is to never click on his webpage. I think Spike barred me from his group 2 years ago… I haven’t looked back and I don’t hold a grudge against him. I obviously don’t contribute to his forum and I suppose it is no big deal to anyone else including myself. So…. that’s life…. besides RGO is more fun, stimulating, and the chicks are way better looking here on RGO anyways. Mick

Response:

Now you are sending me all of those"much better looking chicks" email Kye.

Response:

There have been 2 threads on Orchid Forum about your services Ray so apparently you are not totally banned. Diane

Response:

Gee, thanks, guys! It’s a wonder how text files can convey that! :-) — Reka http://www.rolbox.it/hukari/index.html "I hate flowers – I paint them because they’re cheaper than models and they don’t move." –Georgia O’Keeffe

Response:

there. I know this has been discussed here, and my point is not to go over old ground, but to urge those of you who frequent the orchids forum there to protest the unreasonable censorship directly.

Lotsa luck. On "another forum" there for a while, we had a pool as to how long such messages would stay on the board. "Spike Hernandez" (seemingly not his real name) seems to be pretty well glued to his monitor. With exceptions that excite as much comment as Kremlinologists discussing Brezhnev’s hiccups, that sort of thing disappears within an hour or two of being posted. Has he blocked your entire network/domain yet? That’s when you know you’ve hit the big time. Michael

Response:

The primary problem, Mick, is that his gold will dwindle as he chases folks away. What a moron! (Him) — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info!

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – In large scale real estate development, which is my life’s real work… there is an old saying. "He who controls the gold, controls the deal." Spike controls the gold, therefore he controls the deal. Mick

Response:

Ray, You are right. He will alienate some people.. but in the long run those people who boycott his "modified" newsgroup will simply be replaced by newbies like the new teeth that spring forward in a shark’s mouth as this fish breaks a few more off in his victim’s hind quarters. The newbie teeth always "roll" forward to replace the old broken teeth. And the feeding machine continues moving on to perform its singular sole function in this life. It is Spike’s "service" and it is his "forum". If people don’t want to hear his message or his slant on issues… then there is only one alternative and that is to never click on his webpage. I think Spike barred me from his group 2 years ago… I haven’t looked back and I don’t hold a grudge against him. I obviously don’t contribute to his forum and I suppose it is no big deal to anyone else including myself. So…. that’s life…. besides RGO is more fun, stimulating, and the chicks are way better looking here on RGO anyways. Mick

Response:

Very true. I was "Disneyed" by "Spike" several years ago, as have many people from the orchid forums, rose forums, etc. The cycle of life continues. …. besides RGO is more fun, stimulating, and the chicks are way better looking here on RGO anyways. Mick

The man has a point… -Dave-

Response:

I do not always agree with what people say nor do I expect them to always agree with my opinion but I defend their right to say what they want or have any opinion they want. Censorship stifles thought and new ideas, some teachers practice this in schools with our children, so it should not be practiced. The 1st amendment is to protect us from censorship, let’s let people have the freedom to express themselves!!!!! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have had to leave the Garden Forum because of the extreme censorship there. I know this has been discussed here, and my point is not to go over old ground, but to urge those of you who frequent the orchids forum there to protest the unreasonable censorship directly. Unfortunately, even my message stating that I was leaving was taken off the orchid forum, although it is still on the greenhouse forum, at least right now. And I didn’t even give a reason for leaving! Here is what happened: In one post I asked someone to look at the research on semi-hydroponic media at FirstRay.com (I have been researching it and asking people there for their advice, as well as here), and it seems that any reference to this site or person is banned by Spike, who has banned Ray for spamming. I know there are various opinions about whether there really was spam or not, and I have no desire to once again start this discussion. But whether that ban was justified or not, I certainly cannot tolerate an "information ban" that censors any reference at all to experiments, no matter who conducted them. After several back-and-forth emails with Spike, I concluded that there isn’t much I can do except refuse to participate on such a highly censored forum. It is my only form of protest, I guess. I left my email address hoping people would inquire. It’s too bad, as I really enjoyed the forums (two of them, greenhouses and orchids!).

Response:

In large scale real estate development, which is my life’s real work… there is an old saying. "He who controls the gold, controls the deal." Spike controls the gold, therefore he controls the deal. Mick

Response:

Wendy, and everyone else. The forum at the Orchid Source (www.theorchidsource.com) is far superior in my opinion. What really irks me about "Spike" at garden web is his overall attitude: There was a great deal of discussion about semi-hydroponics at the garden Web, and rather than clogging up his bandwidth with a repeated litany of info, I directed people in ONE message to check out the info at my website. Spike, in his apparently usual hemorrhoidal way, accused me of stealing from him because I was not an advertiser! — Ray Barkalow < First Rays Orchids http://www.firstrays.com Secure Online Ordering & Lots of Free Info!

Response:

I have had to leave the Garden Forum because of the extreme censorship there. I know this has been discussed here, and my point is not to go over old ground, but to urge those of you who frequent the orchids forum there to protest the unreasonable censorship directly. Unfortunately, even my message stating that I was leaving was taken off the orchid forum, although it is still on the greenhouse forum, at least right now. And I didn’t even give a reason for leaving! Here is what happened: In one post I asked someone to look at the research on semi-hydroponic media at FirstRay.com (I have been researching it and asking people there for their advice, as well as here), and it seems that any reference to this site or person is banned by Spike, who has banned Ray for spamming. I know there are various opinions about whether there really was spam or not, and I have no desire to once again start this discussion. But whether that ban was justified or not, I certainly cannot tolerate an "information ban" that censors any reference at all to experiments, no matter who conducted them. After several back-and-forth emails with Spike, I concluded that there isn’t much I can do except refuse to participate on such a highly censored forum. It is my only form of protest, I guess. I left my email address hoping people would inquire. It’s too bad, as I really enjoyed the forums (two of them, greenhouses and orchids!).

Response:

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