Basil's reaction didn't help, I agree; but I think he was feeling belittled for the opinion expressed in the very first post, and we aren't true to ourselves when we feel threatened. Treat a man like a dick, he'll act like one. Treat a man well and, well, who knows what might happen.

But that's the thing with MB. Everyone gets treated like a dick at first. It's kinda like boot camp. Can't deal with it? Leave.

Learn how to adapt and you're in. And once your in it's all worth it. I love this place for the diversity of *******s who post on a regular basis, and for those who only pop in now and then. Whatever Dude and Franco Pepe Kelly I'm looking at you. And where's LIL????? Carpe needs to come back too.

This is like The Island of Misfit Toys.

Don't know about everyone.
I try to be nice to people, especially to new members.
Only engage them if I either see they can take a joke, or if they are being dickish themselves.

That's kinda what I meant.

I prefer the album version in this instance.

Vinyl > 110100010001111000100010101000010111110101

But you see, that's it. Nobody was dickish to him in the start. Ok, he probably wasn't used to Urban's gruff humour, but it was one f-bomb for flip's sake! He kept harping on and on about that, and that really didn't help. The next round of insults was all on him. I even wrote a supposedly helpful "minutes" of what happened in the thread and explained to him why people were treating him as they were. Result? A snarky one-liner that meant precisely nothing.

Other than those who come to troll, we all come here for discussion and to meet our friends, and expound upon our latest hobby horse. If we see someone acting like a dick, we'll tell him or her (her? Who am I kidding?) but if they refuse to be warned, directed, guided or taught, then in all likelihood we'll probably see them as fair game and all jump in. We're known for it. Well, I don't think I did, but when your suggestions are basically ignored and the guy keeps on like an idiot, getting more and more obnoxious and harder to deal with with every post, what are you supposed to do? There was too much of that "ignore them they'll go away" during Sansa's time, and it led to a whole lot of bad feeling and accusations of favouritism (Hi tore!) so I don't think we want that again.

Frownland was right to ban him. At least he warned him, but BCT3 just dared him, a la JWB. What can a guy do in those circumstances? I don't come here to waste my time on idiots; there are enough of us here already. So forgive me if I don't cry over his departure, and hope not to see his return.

But not everybody sees the funny side in being treated like a dick. Not everybody appreciates it. Or enjoys it. And newcomers certainly can't be expected to understand it's not a personal attack.

True diversity means accepting thin skinned people too. 'Deal or leave' ain't being very diverse. ;)

Necrobump with a two-fer from the same band...