We’re going down a slippery slope...

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   Recently, there have been suggestions that certain reviews or postings be deleted from this site. Doesn't Max have enough to do without also having to delete stuff? Let's be really careful here.
I think the right approach is for the admin group or the general membership to offer up guidelines from time to time as required (manni's excellent post on civility, and the ensuing debate, is an excellent case in point). We seem to have many people who quickly, and constructively, point out when someone "crosses the line", which is as it should be. Let's not make the mistake of creating a hard and fast rulebook. Next thing you know we'll have the Prog Police watching over us. I, for one, do not want to walk-on-eggshells everytime I submit something to this site.
If we're not careful, we'll be denying people their freedom to express themselves freely...censorship rears its ugly head...and then we'll miss out on the all important different point of view. The world is too narrow-minded as it is. Do we really want to get to the point where we form sub-committes to develop policy statements, a site vision, a clear mandate! Don't we all get enough of that sort of crap out in the real world?
In my opinion, loose and flexible guidelines are the safest way to go. Let's be clear - there are some lines that should never be crossed. The use of excessive, mean-spirited profanity, or the prejudiced, blanket condemnations of a member or group should not be tolerated. But let's raise the 'yellow card' (or give folks one 'strike') as an initial approach. Let's give everyone the benefit of the doubt...we all make mistakes. The site will filter out the swear words. If the offender continues the inappropriate behaviour (as defined by the guidelines), then we can take more aggressive action.
Browsing this site one quickly learns the "guidelines". For example, it's clear that it would be greatly appreciated by the majority if record reviews are written in English. Fine, I agree, its an english-langauge site. However, if someone is more comfortable expressing themselves in their native language, and really has some passion about an album and wants to share it coherently, doing so shouldn't be a crime. Some have suggested a forum specifically for reviews in languages other than english. Others feel it woul be okay if the main review is written in another tongue provided a brief summary of the main points, written in english, is also included. I'm sure we can work it out.
Not liking an artist, or stating that an album stinks, should be okay. The guidelines I've gleaned strongly suggest that such reviews must also explain why you don't like it, or how it stinks. Simply trashing something is not only improper, it's also boring, and inevitably ends up making someone angry (right em?). By all means, let's discuss, debate, even argue, but let's not fight. There's nothing like an interesting, challenging thread. If every once in a while it heats up a bit...so what...as long as it is the exception not the norm. Don't get me wrong, a thread that starts with "Mariah Carey...Selling Silicone by the Pound" is priceless, and we should be allowed to lightheatedly "dis" those artists we feel are too sappy/poppy/bubblegum or whatever (by the way, have we reached 100 pages yet?), as long as it's creative, interesting, funny, etc., and doesn't cross a line. Let's have fun with Mariah's choice of music, but in the end, let's not forget that in truth she is a incredibly talented vocalist. (Name one progger, or anyone for that matter, who has her total control of pitch in as many* octaves.)
Finally, let's also be careful not to define prog too rigidly. Prog is relative, and highly subjective, to a large degree. It really bothers me, for example, when someone states that Genesis post-Gabriel isn't prog. True, they start heading in a more commercial direction, but what do you want - "The Son of The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway", or "The re-Selling of England by the Euro"? Genesis 'lightened' up, so what - 'Duke's Travels', 'Me and Sarah Jane', 'The Bohemian' - a lot of their "trio" stuff is not only prog, it's great prog (okay, you may not like it, but it certainly ain't pop). I'm sure there are many ATTWT fans in the closet because they're afraid of what others might think (in fact, the recent post on "Random Songs" bares that out). Bruford left Yes after "Close to the Edge" because he sensed that the vibe within the group was to maintain the "formula" (that's right formula). "Tales of Topographic Oceans" has its bright moments, but Bruford was right, they should have moved on. 
This site is good because of the healthy, positive, insightful, funny, sometimes controversial, often provocative, always interesting exchange of ideas. This site is progressive! Let's keep it that way. 
*corrected 8/8/2004

Edited by Arbiter

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