Concerning a recent removal of a member: knotimpaired

This weekend I removed the member knotimpaired. If you aren't familiar with this member, or if you haven't been involved in any of this, then feel free to ignore this thread. :) If you have been involved, however, or if you have questions, keep reading.

There are several reasons floating around for why she was removed, and lots of speculation on the part of DGers who are curious. Very few people have actually approached me directly concerning this, therefore I'm posting this thread.

Firstly, I believe that knotimpaired is intentionally misleading people regarding the reasons why she was banned.

Moreover, she is manufacturing some pretty outrageous and libelous accusations against me.

Where she comes up with this stuff, I have no idea, but it's completely unfounded. So, before believing anything you hear, you would be advised to talk to me before taking any kind of action that could jeopardize your own membership on this site.

I'm not going to allow people to use my site to trash me, the admins, or the site. DG is the best gardening site in the world because I don't allow people who act like knotimpaired acted to continue to be on the site. I get no joy from removing people from the site, but I am always ready to do it for the greater good of the thousands of great members we have here.

I removed knotimpaired because she was damaging this community with her actions, and because she made it clear to me that she had no intention to stop. I gave her warnings and plenty of time to change, but she didn't. You can't please everyone, but I feel like I've been more than fair.

For everyone I ban from the site, there are dozens who are gently led into compliance with our rules. There are many members here who could testify that I'm a very fair webmaster, ruling with a gentle and even hand.

Our acceptable use policy is very clear:

Dave, I have read a little about this from both sides. Whatever the basis in fact may be I am sure it will be beyond my ability, or desire to learn. I will miss her posts, but feel whatever decision you made was, and had to be, in light of the best operation of the site for the many thousands of users. Tough decision on all sides.
robert

Very well put Robert!

Dave, thankyou for posting this. I was sad to see Knotimpaired go as I enjoyed her posts , but if you have had to ban her then I' m sure you must have had very good reasons. I was upset by some posts that were very rude to Knotimpaired, but in the light of your post I guess there were good reasons for this too. I joined DG a few months ago and love it here, so I want to say thankyou for keeping it such a great place - I guess there are times when that isn't easy.
Maggi

I enjoyed trading with knot and will surely miss her posts.

I trust Dave did his best to handle this fairly.

Not having read her posts I do not know what this is all about but I am certain you made the right decision for the good of DG
Maria

Thank you, Dave. I trust you, too, and appreciate all of your hard work and the not-so-easy decisions you have to make to keep this forum running smoothly.

With many prayers for you and Trish,
~ Marylyn

Thanks for all the kind words, folks!

you are doing a great job. i do not know either but i know it was a very good decision to do so.. blessings.. Twyla

I agree with Dave's actions. For him to use the words "libelous" and "outrageous" leads me to believe it wasn't a rash decision on his part. I'm with you, Dave.

Thanks again, ya'll.

I am also with you Dave, because DG is the best gardening site in the world and now ther name of DG is " PEACE".
As my english is not good but want say only this "think good for others always especially the people who are living in our heart. Dave is also one of them.
Kaleem

Thanks, Kaleem! That means a lot to me.

Dave

Well as a near exile as a result of the P-ville meltdown last year let me share my melowing revelation with all.
We women sometimes hormone powered get on a tangent and let our posteriors overload our keyboards. This is not the place to solve the eco/ political/ etc proublems of the world and I savor the comraderie, and heartfelt friendships I find here.
This is an island of peace from all of those things, not a bill for agression and all that comes with it.
Dave is young and wise, a rare combination. I think I will adopt him.
Sidney

Tough decisions, and I know they're handed out infrequently, but out of curiosity, where is never-neverland? On one site it's known is Disney. Where are the DG members excommunicated sent too.

Sea World
Busch Gardens
Six Flags
or for the truly banished Week Watchi Springs

/tongue in cheek

dave I trust your judgement and support your decision
I have enjoyed some of knots post was not really into any of the conflict
She truly lived in what to me seemed liked heaven! warmth and water!!! :)

I have loved davesgarden from the very start and will to continue to love and SUPPORT our site!
hugz all
dori

ahh sugarweed, you too speak with much wisdom. those woman hormone thingys are a force to be reckon with...even something I can't even comprehend.

dave, although all your choices must be tough, they are wise.

chris, perhaps when banished one might be sent to the island of perpetual tickling..

People need limits. Dave has to set them, and adhere to them. Otherwise the comfortable-family-feel of this website would get lost. I appreciate knowing there's someone who's looking out for us.

Thanks, Dave.

Dave, I have only been here a few months, since April, but I have realized in that time that you are truly a great person, a caring one, and the best web master I have ever dealt with. Please know that most, if not all of us will support your decisions as best we can (although we don't have much choice do we? LOL )

I've been known to push buttons, but i dont think i've ever intentionally antogonized dave or admin.
In the years that i've been here, i can only remember a handful of people that have been sent to away. Not a'one of them did i question daves judgement. In fact, he let them stay on a wholeeeee lot longer than i would have. You can almost see the self-destructive patterns and worse yet the challenges. Quite a few times i came remember thinking "Ut oh, wrong thing to say"
Never, ever, challenge Dave publically, lol, i do believe you'll lose.
Thanks for a great, and entertaining, site Dave.

Howie and I appreciate how you keep DG an oasis, Dave. We can get flame wars, political pundits and all that elsewhere - DG is a safe haven that refreshes.

Yes I want to thank you also Dave. Although not knowing all the circurmstances of the few no longer here. I can not say I would have done the same. BUT I am glad you have as I need a place to come that is safe of conflict or disagreements. I get more than enough of that just living in this world.

DG is a place besides my church I am safe from all the outside caos. Rules are rules and when we signed up for membership here we agreed to abide by those rules. We made a contract that should never be taken lightly.

Thanks Dave for a place I can be free of everyday stuff.

This my sound harsh but even I if have a PMS day should just go back to bed until I can be nice even if through clenched teeth. As I don't want growled at, No one wants me to growl or bite them.

I have a wonderful friend that when I volunteered 11/2 years at her
ceramic shop told me she had to get on her knees by the bed every
morning and pray that she would not get up until her attitude changed. Otherwise she was not a very pleasant person ever. And if you knew her you would never know how her life has changed. But by getting to know her I knew she was telling me the truth because she was once a very mean person.

Life is short, Lets Live and Love. As I have found so much of here. Like no where else on earth.

Thanks DG!

No doubt about it, Dave, you have created and maintained a great place to be. Sometimes it is extremely difficult to stick by the standards that are needed to keep it that way. I certainly appreciate a great website and the opportunity to participate in.
Hugs and thank you to you and Trish.

hiya dave,

As a subscriber that has been edited and sternly warned on an occasion when I went berzerk over something that insulted my particular peculiarities, I have to say, first handed, that dave IS fair, even-handed, and shows the patience of a person with a broad philosophical perspective. I am grateful that I was given an opportunity to to stay after my exploration over the very broad line of tolerance dave and the administrators have painted. I agree with dave in the claim that this is indeed the finest site of its kind anywhere on the internet. That claim is validated by the amazing diversity in the membership of the DG community. There will always be those that pontificate and make a scene when they coherently or incoherently feel like they are being singled out. If dave decides someone should be removed, we can all bet the farm the decision was not made without calm, sober, and thoughtful consideration. I, for one, as previously mentioned, have witnessed this personally, and came away from the whole thing with an incredible respect for dave's open-mindedness and patience.

Although a vote of confidence is not needed, boy do you have mine dave.

best to you amigo,
don

edited to remove an m a t a y and an a while adding a d.......someone should remind me about the preview button...lol. Oy!!

This message was edited Nov 16, 2005 7:09 PM

LOL, Don... Well said.

I've been in the same boat and have been edited and had my hands slapped a few times. SO.... I have learned and grown by the experience. I still like it here!

Wow Don, I'm speechless. I really appreciate what you wrote. It means a tremendous lot (as does all the posts in this thread!!). I wasn't soliciting kind words, but I sure do like 'em. :-)

dave

Dave speechless.....ya sure....LOL

Dave,

You Speechless??? Or should We really ask Trish?

You are BOTH well thought of.
Even if you did kinda smack my hand once lol But it was much deserved. I consider myself blessed to be part of this family.

:-)

Speechless and using smilies! Better watch it Dave, we will be getting real smilies next! ;>)

LOL!

OMG I was just thinking that, and now, what is that ........ Dave's second LOL EVER???????

I would get in so much trouble if I posted what I'm thinking right now, so let's just leave it at...OH MY!

I know what she is thinking........ I"ll take bids on it, answer goes to the highest bidder LMAO

You!! OUT OF MY HEAD!!!

It's crowded enough in there without you running around unsupervised!

Dave is supervising...... heck, didn't you realize that we are all just in your head?

I'm afraid to think about that.

And I bet Dave is LHBO right about now. (And he thinks you are insane!)

Me? Insane? Not me. I'm the most sane person I know.

Prescription medication keeps me that way :-)

Now I'm starting to be amazed (still being quite new here) that THIS particular thread is turning into this. Control yourself people!
ROFL
Susan
=^..^=