Ladies and Gentlemen,

I’ve said it before and I will state it clearly again:

Damn a conversation that cannot tolerate a little wandering!

The current obsession with remaining “On topic” is becoming most onerous and annoying beyond tolerance. It seems as if the moderators of this forum are bound and determined to stifle the very vivaciousness that has made it grow.

I accept that there should be rules of engagement in a public forum. And I don’t mind the ban on religious or political argument. But when mere mentions of Deity or political affiliation bring threats of deletion or banishment, that is going a bit far.

In point of reference, I will mention Dr. Douglas’ recent thread regarding dreams. Granted, the discussion got a bit esoteric, and both God and the Evil One were mentioned. No one that I saw offered argument, and no one proselytized. Yet a moderator saw fit to delete the whole thread. I consider this to be both heavy-handed and unreasonable.

Some one, I can’t remember whom, once said “Everything is about politics!” And he was right. It is all about politics, whether governmental, social, or sexual, it is all political. Wearing a kilt is a political statement. It says that we are Free Men and don’t give damn all for rules that are imposed without our consent.

Though I am not an evangelist, and I don’t consider anyone not of my denomination to be Hell-bound, the staunch anti-religion rule does chafe a bit. Quite frankly, I wonder how welcome I might be at a site that does not welcome God. I don’t mean that Xmarks should become a sight devoted to “Propagation of the Word” from any point of view. But not all mention of religion leads to argument.

I am afraid that such strict rules, and strict adherence to those rules will destroy the very ambiance that has made Xmarks THE kilted site on the Web.

Hank, this is your house and you make the rules. But if you want to have lots of guests, you should consider how stringently you enforce them.

If this thread steps on toes, that is all right, I intended it. But if it is to be deleted, I’d be most appreciative if Hank would do the honors personally, and I will take it as an invitation to go the hell away.