Re: Another voice has been silenced

[farna@xxxxxxx]

I don't know who you are, but I've been on the AMC List since its inception. It came down to a choice of banning one member or losing many, including running newcomers off. That's the bottom line. 

There were many more active list members until Randy came along. At one point about a year ago he all but shut the list down because of inflammatory personal attacks in public. I've known Randy for a few years, and have talked to him on the phone and in person. I agree, we have lost some experience and expertise without him. When he posts about engine related items he's great. But he cannot control his temperment. It has simply come down to the point that the long time listers are tired of dealing with the attitude. He has driven away MANY people, long timers and newcomers. I can't tell you how many e-mails I've received over the last few years from people asking questions that would have been better answered on the list. They didn't post for fear of being jumped on. The "flame wars" that Randy has started gives the list in particular, and the AMC hobby in general, a bad reputation for people not being able to get along, and jumping to conclusions. 90% of those wars were sta!
 rted by Randy, intentionally or not. He has walked over to many people's basic right to be treated in a civil manner, disagree or not. 

It's not a matter of Randy's point of view. I don't care about that, neither do the other long termers. He could have stated his viewpoint in a polite, civil manner, at any time. No one would have complained, disagree or not. Personal attacks in public and stating your view in a way designed specifically to offend is not tolerated on ANY on-line groups that I know of. 

It's not Randy's point of view that got him kicked off the list, it's his acerbic way of presenting it. Did you know that he was banned from the AMC Forum 2-3 years ago? That's when he came over to the AMC List. We've tolerated this long enough. I have attempted to convey to him that if he could calm down a bit there wouldn't be any problems, and several others have as well. How much pleading should we do (with only temporary results, at best) before enough is enough? There has been more than enough.

Now, can we go on with talking about AMCs and drop this? It wasn't a crusade against Randy nor an attempt to make anyone feel they can't express a different point of view. Express, just be a little courteous and respectful of others, especially when their views are different than ours.

---
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Independent 
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