I need to break my intended silence owing to the above exchange. I had resolved to stay silent for the time being and just read posts. Not that bad an idea - I feel I do tend to dominate things a bit, and maybe give other people a chance... nice to sit back and watch the dynamics of others.
I'm obliged though to classic codger for speaking up in my defence, and the repost by Bob_C mod makes it difficult for me to keep quiet when others are in trouble.
I suspect, either as a consequence of the Digital services Manager's article in "Your Autism Magazine" Winter 2015 p41, or part and parcel with it, that NAS wants the forum to be squeaky clean, as NAS clearly wants the forum to be more public ("and someone is discussing their love of cupcake baking" a post I obviously missed).
I can understand NAS's concern that maybe some of us are not appreciative enough and often irreverent, though I think the over-policing runs a high risk of scaring too many people away. Forums don't work well if the participants feel they cannot express themselves for fear of a reprimand.
I got two particular reprimands. One was on the thread about an adult trying to get a diagnosis under General Chat. It is true I'm very uncomfortable about the frequency with which the moderators keep referring people to the website, when as I keep pointing out, the website doesn't contain any relevant information. I do look at the website when this happens. I made a comment about the keepers coming to change my straw... etc. which contained both my frustration with this policy, and my feeling stemming from the article, that we are just on show for people to gawp at.
Fair enough Avi Mod gave me a reprimand for this three days later on 10th November- "Hi Longman, we value your input, however the tone of some of your recent posts is coming across quite critical and judgemental"
However it was apparent to me from subsequent posts that that upset people. I'm broad shouldered I think. Fair enough if Mods feel I was rude. But Mods need to think long term about what messages they are sending out. Will people go along with it?
The other reprimand the same day was on the thread "I haven't said this in years but please would you help me with my CBT" under living on the spectrum, posted by felineaut. A swear word used by another poster had been rectified, and I was astonished enough to comment. Consequently Avi Mod reprimanded me.
OK the Mods want a clean non-critical room. There are ways of going about this change. Treating us like little children (well some of us are on the spectrum and must expect to be treated as less than adult), which I also felt was the drift of the article, in my view is unwise tactics.
I therefore decided to stay off the forum for the time being (this posting an exception) It is not that I feel vilified (but thanks classic codger for speaking up), or excluded. It is just I cannot be reconciled with the new squeaky clean forum.
I will be overjoyed if everyone else is able to conform with this new image, and everything goes swimmingly again. Just its not my thing. My feelings don't matter here. But I am having trouble continuing when I risk being reprimanded for my critical tone.
Also to Bob_C Mod. This is a forum to support parents of people on the spectrum and people on the spectrum. When you talk of very serious accusations which you have to look into, that does confirm to me that my time on this forum is over.
Don't worry about me. I feel sorry for everyone else. Squeaky clean it seems it will have to be from now on.
I need to break my intended silence owing to the above exchange. I had resolved to stay silent for the time being and just read posts. Not that bad an idea - I feel I do tend to dominate things a bit, and maybe give other people a chance... nice to sit back and watch the dynamics of others.
I'm obliged though to classic codger for speaking up in my defence, and the repost by Bob_C mod makes it difficult for me to keep quiet when others are in trouble.
I suspect, either as a consequence of the Digital services Manager's article in "Your Autism Magazine" Winter 2015 p41, or part and parcel with it, that NAS wants the forum to be squeaky clean, as NAS clearly wants the forum to be more public ("and someone is discussing their love of cupcake baking" a post I obviously missed).
I can understand NAS's concern that maybe some of us are not appreciative enough and often irreverent, though I think the over-policing runs a high risk of scaring too many people away. Forums don't work well if the participants feel they cannot express themselves for fear of a reprimand.
I got two particular reprimands. One was on the thread about an adult trying to get a diagnosis under General Chat. It is true I'm very uncomfortable about the frequency with which the moderators keep referring people to the website, when as I keep pointing out, the website doesn't contain any relevant information. I do look at the website when this happens. I made a comment about the keepers coming to change my straw... etc. which contained both my frustration with this policy, and my feeling stemming from the article, that we are just on show for people to gawp at.
Fair enough Avi Mod gave me a reprimand for this three days later on 10th November- "Hi Longman, we value your input, however the tone of some of your recent posts is coming across quite critical and judgemental"
However it was apparent to me from subsequent posts that that upset people. I'm broad shouldered I think. Fair enough if Mods feel I was rude. But Mods need to think long term about what messages they are sending out. Will people go along with it?
The other reprimand the same day was on the thread "I haven't said this in years but please would you help me with my CBT" under living on the spectrum, posted by felineaut. A swear word used by another poster had been rectified, and I was astonished enough to comment. Consequently Avi Mod reprimanded me.
OK the Mods want a clean non-critical room. There are ways of going about this change. Treating us like little children (well some of us are on the spectrum and must expect to be treated as less than adult), which I also felt was the drift of the article, in my view is unwise tactics.
I therefore decided to stay off the forum for the time being (this posting an exception) It is not that I feel vilified (but thanks classic codger for speaking up), or excluded. It is just I cannot be reconciled with the new squeaky clean forum.
I will be overjoyed if everyone else is able to conform with this new image, and everything goes swimmingly again. Just its not my thing. My feelings don't matter here. But I am having trouble continuing when I risk being reprimanded for my critical tone.
Also to Bob_C Mod. This is a forum to support parents of people on the spectrum and people on the spectrum. When you talk of very serious accusations which you have to look into, that does confirm to me that my time on this forum is over.
Don't worry about me. I feel sorry for everyone else. Squeaky clean it seems it will have to be from now on.
