The Last Post?

   Fellow prog fans: After careful reflection, I have decided to quit the Forums, at least for the forseeable future. A public forum that discusses/argues about religion, jihad and politics is not what I signed on for, and I fear that it would only be a matter of time before my sense of humour accidentally offends some political or religious fanatic -- I don't want any psychopaths coming after me, or to end up with a fatwa hanging over my head.

I am a family man, and in the name of integrity, I have used my real name here, but I don't feel I should be an active presence here any longer. I don't like where this new "wide open" forum is heading, and I no longer want to be a part of it. I must consider my family, and my own peace of mind.

This forum eats up too much of my time in any case -- time better spent with my family, or reading a good book, or listening to music! (I have also said perhaps all I really want to regarding "what is prog?" forum civility, and even Mariah Carey!)  I will continue, however, to write reviews for the archives. (My output should increase in that regard.)

I'll check/respond to Private Messages for a few days, to tie up any "loose ends," but from then on, see you on the reviews page.

Dude, Danbo, Jim, Joren, Storm, Velvet, Vibe, Cert, Dick, Diddy, Ivan, Cesar, etc. etc, I have enjoyed exchanging musical views and humour with you, and I wish you all the best. (I have exchanged emails with some of you, & I plan to continue with that form of communication.)

Keep proggin,' and one last piece of advice -- stick to the music (and politically correct humour) for your discussions! Who needs to be angry at strangers, or to have them angry at you?

Somewhat regretfully, but also with relief,

I remain, sincerely yours,

Peter Rideout

Peter Rideout wrote:    Fellow prog fans: After careful reflection, I have decided to quit the Forums, at least for the forseeable future. A public forum that discusses/argues about religion, jihad and politics is not what I signed on for, and I fear that it would only be a matter of time before my sense of humour accidentally offends some political or religious fanatic -- I don't want any psychopaths coming after me, or to end up with a fatwa hanging over my head. I am a family man, and in the name of integrity, I have used my real name here, but I don't feel I should be an active presence here any longer. I don't like where this new "wide open" forum is heading, and I no longer want to be a part of it. I must consider my family, and my own peace of mind. This forum eats up too much of my time in any case -- time better spent with my family, or reading a good book, or listening to music! (I have also said perhaps all I really want to regarding "what is prog?" forum civility, and even Mariah Carey!)  I will continue, however, to write reviews for the archives. (My output should increase in that regard.) I'll check/respond to Private Messages for a few days, to tie up any "loose ends," but from then on, see you on the reviews page. Dude, Danbo, Jim, Joren, Storm, Velvet, Vibe, Cert, Dick, Diddy, Ivan, Cesar, etc. etc, I have enjoyed exchanging musical views and humour with you, and I wish you all the best. (I have exchanged emails with some of you, & I plan to continue with that form of communication.) Keep proggin,' and one last piece of advice -- stick to the music (and politically correct humour) for your discussions! Who needs to be angry at strangers, or to have them angry at you? Somewhat regretfully, but also with relief, I remain, sincerely yours, Peter Rideout

I agree with you that we shouldn't discuss politics here. But as you mentioned some other reasons for your departure, I guess I can't do anything to stop you from leaving...

If I can, PLEASE tell me what it is!

I HATE to see you go!

I'm glad you put a question mark after the title, as it gives me hope that you will not do this dastardly deed. Think not of yourself but the impact you are having on others - who will Danbo taunt now? Who will reign in the wild and dangerous VelvetClown? Who else could stand up intellectually to Dick Heath?

I ask you to think twice before you unleash the Gartens, the Jorens and the Vibes on the rest of us...

(partly) in fun

Cert

I have enjoyed our private chats and understand your reasons!

i made an idiotic contribution to the recently deleted "READ THIS" THREAD for which i apologise most sincerely to everyone!!......and as a man with religious beleifs it my seem odd to say but i would prefer there be no talk of religion at all.

its just to messy.

whether we like it or not there are "taboo" subjects such as religion and politics that are really not appropriate(or relevent!) to this site and we do have to be careful of what we say, and be aware of the diverse cultural beleifs and perceptions represented here(in that regard i have made some "ripper blunders"(as we say in my country) that have got me the ocassional cyber slap on the hand)

personally i beleive there should be a code of conduct or set of guidelines that should be read by anyone wishing to join the forums, as a condition to joining.

Peter and i have had many verbal jousts(he was always a  gracious  loser) and now who will i tell my balzac jokes to??

 JIM???....to busy dancing(GO TWINKLE TOES!!)

 DANBO???......nah! he is still on that lake in the Sierras i think

VELVE???.........nope,..to fixated with Mariah

Peter:let that question mark be more than just a mark on a page.

Peter, I just want to say that in the short time that I've been here that I've found you to be a true gentleman and someone that we need more of around here. Try to ignore the offensive trolls that surface now and then. They will become bored after a while and hopefully leave.

Please reconsider.

Dude:

You said: "personally i beleive there should be a code of conduct or set of guidelines that should be read by anyone wishing to join the forums, as a condition to joining." 

I agree with you, but, as the saying goes, "be careful what you wish for."  If you read the recent "civility" thread (which appears at the top of all categories), you will see that my implementation of two reasonable guidelines met with some fairly stiff backlash.  For the most part, everyone has observed the two new guidelines.  However, I hesitate to think what might happen if I were to add further guidelines.

Still, if Peter's "bowing out" from the forums helps to get more people to follow the two basic guidelines - and, as Peter magnificently puts it, to "stick to the music" (and avoid ultimately irrelevant (and almost always inflammatory) topics like politics and religion) - then this can only be a good thing.  And Peter knows this.

Peace.

GOODBYE FOR NOW NET FREIND

LET ME KNOW HOW THINGS ARE IN YOUR PART OF THE WORLD, AT SOME STAGE(AH SUNNY ONTARIO!!!...CAMELS TREKKING ACROSS SANDY DESERTS, MILES OF DESERTED SUN DRENCHED BEACHES....TRULY AN ENCHANTED LAND!!!)

AND DONT WORRY, I WILL TAKE CARE OF GARTEN

HERE JIM .....DIN DINS!!!(WHERE IS THAT BIB?)

AMEN JIM

YOU PETER AND I, WERNT WE THE "FIRST THREE""?

HOW CAN WE FORGET DANBO AND JOREN!!!......ER, WHO IS DANBO???

IS THAT THE BLOKE IN THE BOAT??

HE SHOULD LAY OFF THE POTATO CHIPS!!!

OH DEAR i AM IN FOR IT NOW