It's been a blast, but I'm not coming back

[maggiesdaddy]

Throughout my time on this forum I have come to know and care for many of you. I have valued your insight and learned a lot from the information that all of you have.

Recently I have had a thread deleted for being off topic, and I respect that.


However, I also had a post deleted that was full of information answering someone's question. My answer was well though out and full of personal experience on the topic. However it was deleted. I am not sure, but it was likely due to the fact that I mentioned my in-laws devotion to a deity (although I did not name their religion) and I mentioned in passing that I was spiritual. I must stress that in a long post, this was once sentence and was not preachy or specific to my beliefs.

After having ready many posts by certain people that were meant to "rile us up" and hear other people mention spiritual beliefs, I am disgusted that this forum would censor me, especially when I never even mentioned what spiritual group I am affiliated with.


I understand the point of this forum and the rules, but I will not be a member somewhere where I am censored and others are not.


Please know that I will continue my raw journey, but I will not be continuing it here.



I care for each one of you and if you need me or want my advise, please see my blog (which will be posted in more frequently when I find my digital camera).



It's been a blast!

(I'm sure this will get deleted also for being off topic.)

[Arky]

I know what you mean; it's the thing which lowers the credibility of this board dramatically - the incessant censorship. Almost like Orwell's 1984, but more RAW-well's 1984.


I left this board a while ago, because I was sick of this totalitarian censorship - I only came back because I still wanted to help others, who are not responsible for the attitude of the moderator(s).


http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthrea...ht=#post658938 (http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?64724-Looked-in-the-mirror-today-and-got-a-BIG-shock&p=658938&highlight=#post658938)


http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthrea...ht=#post661106 (http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?42893-MSM-Powder-Warning&p=661106&highlight=#post661106)


The biggest issue with this board is that it's run for a vegan audience. That's all well and good, and, in the hands of mature adults, that wouldn't be a problem, but some vegans are vegan not for health reasons or for compassionate reasons, but primarily because they have been looking for a rigid ideological belief system to take refuge within, from life's uncertainties. Thus, anyone even briefly making reference to anything non-vegan is viewed as a threat to the status quo and their threads swiftly and silently deleted, lest they 'mislead' any other readers into realising that a world may exist outside of the vegan ideological straitjacket. That's just the way some folks are.


I'll let you draw your own conclusions about that, but please just know that I'm not complicit in this totalitarianism; Like you, I have a mind that recognises there are pieces of validity in virtually any path in life and one need not attempt to compensate for psychological inadequacies by 'taking refuge' within the narrow confines of a brittle belief system, to the fearful exclusion of all others.

[gabriele]

It's a sheer miracle that these 2 posts are even still here. Censorship has ALWAYS been a central part of this site. Open-mindedness is not tolerated. There are other, better sites that encourage conversation and even debate.

[snoops]

I read your post maggiedaddy - it was not offensive and I am surprised that it was censored. I'm sorry you will not stay because you are someone whose posts I always read because you had good things to say. Perhaps we could have an explanation for its deletion??

[snoops]

Hmm maybe I didn't read your post - I thought it was the to be vegan or not to be vegan one...don't mind me:)

[streetsurfer]

God Bless! I for one will miss your input. I've enjoyed reading your posts and seeing you mature in the raw food realm.

Maybe you will reconsider leaving. That might be best. I've also noticed someone said your post is still there. Cookie problems, other internet glitches or even a mistake may have been the reason you could not find your post?

Do not let this discourage you about this way of life or the majority of the folks that follow it. It is still something you will want to carry with you for life and health. When a nutritious diet is married to ones faith, it seems it would be all that much easier to maintain it. Don't let this incident discourage you or alter your thinking, or your way of presenting yourself to the world as far as your religion is concerned either. Stay strong, be bold, stand up for what you believe in, and continue to receive the blessings you have coming because of your faith. What good is your light if it is kept under the cover of a basket?

[maggiesdaddy]

I did end up finding my post. I just logged in now to see if this thread had been deleted. I don't know if it was a computer error or if my post came back after review, either way, after seeing other posts deleted I find that there is a high level of censorship on this site. I might come online as I enjoy other peoples posts, but I am very bruised to see that this is happening.

Overall, I really disagree with the high level of censorship on this site. It is a shame. Inflammatory posts, I understand, but innocent opinion?!

I am not sure if I will be gone for good or not, but I definitely need a break from here. I like every one of you and all of your information and opinions. I just am very turned off by this censoring.

I will stay raw. It melds with my spirituality (though others similar in my spiritual ways think i am nuts) and it makes me feel good about being me.


Like I said, maybe I will come back, but I need to give it some thought. I am really bothered. We will see what time brings!

[Nathan Daniel]

I posted a wonderful thread on an amazing film about living in harmony with nature- lots of people liked it and visited it....and appreciated it - a couple days later it was gone!

Same for a thread I put up about David Wolfe...someone obviously feels the need to be uptight and keep to very stringent rules - yeah this is a raw food forum - but guess what people into healthy foods are also into LIFE - into music and art and nature and reflection -even on the great heresy of questioning if raw foods is the HOLY grail of holy grails - guess what it isn't! Doubtless this will be deleted too....

George Washington said (paraphrasing): Friend's first...don't get lost in political distinctions and parties. We first.

Scapegoats are always a breakdown of empathy and wisdom. Love is all-inclusive.

Drop the drama Mr 1984-on-an-authority trip and remember:

"At some deep level almost everyone feels insecure, afraid, separate, isolated and unsure of his own authenticity and value."

and...

"To cover up this raw state, we obtain knowledge and adopt beliefs. From these, we fabricate a particular sense of self from which we deal with life. We might feel "valuable"in the eyes of our community, but this does nothing to change our base condition". ctd - Peter Ralston

go beyond your imposed sense of self with all its rules and regulations and let people be...whoever you are I'm damned sure you live for committees...Myself I could give a flying poodle about committees - I am into dialogue - the kind that goes to the core of WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON....ah well everything is perfect as it is - even your pathetic neurosis- you will see it at some point - and go beyond - maybe not in this lifetime - but eventually...meantime let your minions that keep on topic worship at the altar of your authority trip....me I will dip and dive...for the technical info herein - but probably not expect any real substance on your watch - unless there's a miracle - which is what life's about - so I'm open ;)

[Raw Angel Mom]

I am so sorry about this. Hope you will come anyway sometime to support us or get support. You are loved and much appreciated.

Wishing you all the best and perfect health

All is well

[amoux]

I do hope you'll stay around - I enjoy reading your posts :-)

[speltrong]

You know what ticks me off? Not just that they delete helpful posts, but leave inflammatory ones, but also that they don't keep up with deleting obvious spam posts, even when some of us take the time to report them (which I finally stopped doing because it was a waste of time to try).. especially in the blog section. Totally ridiculous.

[R'Mila]

Maggiesdaddy, I do hope you reconsider, like Arky. I enjoy reading both your posts and often email them to friends and family, who are not raw (yet), but can benefit from the information. I also appreciate how you dignify others' posts by researching a little if haven't had the experience and responding to new-comers with personal experience even if their questions seems a little repetitive. I do realize you are a busy dad, husband, and student, and value to the time you contribute in making this forum enjoyable.

[maggiesdaddy]

My plan was just to log on one more time today to write down some recipes that I like. After sleeping on it, I guess I will stick around.


I really like the support here even if I disagree with Admin's decisions. Thanks everyone for talking me "off the ledge". I really can't believe the level of censorship here, but I think that I just like you all to much to leave!

[GreginND]

I do agree with a lot of what has been said here. But I tend to put this into a different perspective. It is not my board and the board has their rules. I don't have to agree with them but it's not my board. I suppose if I want a different forum I'll go look elsewhere or create my own board.

I tend to take what is good about this place and use it. What doesn't help me, I don't get upset about. I just let it go. Life is too short to get worked up about an on-line forum.

I appreciate all the good advice and information I do get here.

[belleadonna]

Yup, it's a shame to have to be so paranoid about what one writes in fear of being DELETED!!!
Discussions about different topics are not a threat to the raw foodists. It expands our horizons.

[Revvell]

What he said.... and, having said that, I began my own board. lol


I do agree with a lot of what has been said here. But I tend to put this into a different perspective. It is not my board and the board has their rules. I don't have to agree with them but it's not my board. I suppose if I want a different forum I'll go look elsewhere or create my own board.

I tend to take what is good about this place and use it. What doesn't help me, I don't get upset about. I just let it go. Life is too short to get worked up about an on-line forum.

I appreciate all the good advice and information I do get here.

[Mary Kay]

I've also been in the same boat as you Maggiesdaddy, and know a few others who have been as well. Just wanted to add a "ditto." Glad you're going to stick around.

As far as the rehab site --Penni Shelton's ...I do go there, but this one has a lot more SUBSTANCE and is attended by a lot more people. Nothing wrong with her site though....

Then there's another site that was set up in response to the censorship of this site, but one person on the site ALWAYS posted with her opinions without listening to what others had to say and many, including me, found her to be offensive and annoying. It's too bad too, because she really is knowledgeable, and the site had GREAT potential.

Looking forward to all of us continuing on our journeys. I think maybe that by the time I'm 90, I'll have the whole diet thing figured out. LOL

Mary Kay

[maggiesdaddy]

Thanks everyone!

[Aleesha Sattva]

Really sorry you thought your post was deleted Maggiesdaddy. If it was (and reinstated) it was not done by me. I'm not even sure what post you are referring to.

As many of you have noticed I'm seldom on the forum anymore. I am super busy offline and so getting online is often a challenge for me. I posted a thread about it http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?66247-Reporting-Spam letting people know that I am attempting to keep us spam-free and asking you all to keep the notifications of spam coming in. It assists me tremendously to have your assistance and for those of you who take the time to report spam... thank YOU so much!

Also I do re-instate many of the threads removed by one of our moderators but unless I'm notified by you that your thread was deleted, I don't know that it has been as I don't check every thread to see if any posts have been deleted. Since the upgrade to the forum I can't see deleted threads like I used to be able to. But... I always email members when I delete a post or thread, so if you haven't been notified... it wasn't deleted by me.

As for the rules of the forum. Every forum has them. Alissa likes this forum to be raw, vegan and without general chit-chat threads. Since it's her forum, since she's the one covering all the costs... she gets to make the rules. As Admin I am merely here to attempt to keep threads/posts within the guidelines set out by her long before I became a member. But please know... your fellow members don't agree with you that threads that aren't within the guidelines should be allowed. I get numerous notifications from members letting me know someone is posting outside the guidelines. (Remember I don't read the threads anymore... so when I do delete your thread it's because other members have notified me about your post.) So even though there are a few voices here saying it isn't fair that the site is moderated... there are many others who love that it is. Unfortunately, you can't please everyone. Wish I could... but alas, I cannot.

All I can do (and the other moderators/admin as well...) is follow the guidelines set out by Alissa and attempt to keep the forum on topic. I hope that you'll look past the aspects of the forum you may not love and instead focus on all the beautiful people and amazing information that is shared daily. This is a GREAT place and it's the members that make it so great.

Keep posting, keep sharing ideas and remember... RAW RAWKS!!!

in light,
Aleesha
Admin

[ReneeH]

Well stated Aleesha. I certainly do appreciate the work of the mods in keeping this place focused on Raw foods!

Maggiesdaddy, I left too for a while and came back after a heart to heart with Alissa. I'm so glad I came back and I'm glad you decided to also. Posting really puts your heart out there, doesn't it. It's your thoughts and feelings on screen and when people are uplifted by what you say/write, it makes you feel good. Please continue to stick around! We would totally miss you! :D