Message Boards Deleted

For the last seven years of so, I've been hosting these message/discussion boards. For all that time, some people have been abusing them. There are liars assuming the identities of others, cowards raking muck while hiding behind anonymity and just generally a bunch of people with computers acting like 4 year olds.

I know that some good has come from this, and that some real and useful discussion has happened. But it has been too many times that I've heard from people who are being harmed, or endangered or just plain unreasonably pestered.

I have enough online experience that I probably should have expected this to devolve into a cesspit of slander and immaturity. I am somewhat pleased that it took as long as it did (though that may be a matter of my ignoring it so long). I don't have the time, resources or inclination to validate identities. I don't have the energy to moderate the discussion and continually draw lines in the sand. Most importantly, I didn't want to set up a space that needed continual monitoring.

For those still wanting something of a gathering forum, there is an alumni list/group in Yahoo Groups.

Thanks and regrets,
Drew

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