> > is it any wonder that participation in this forum by
> > the people who used to contribute the most has dropped significantly?

> There does seem to have been a rather drastic reduction in not only
> the number of 'regulars' who hang around there during the last few
> months, but also the level of participation of some of those who
> remain.

> Since I'm not the world's most constant poster myself, I'd previously
> put this down to work-commitments on the part of others. It would
> appear though that quite a few have taken flight simply because this
> place no longer has the feelgood factor it used to and has instead
> become something of a sporadic battleground.

> There have to be some enforcable rules of conduct, not only for the
> sake of regular contributors but also the unseen masses who arrive
> here asking simple (also oftentimes complicated and frequently inane
> or silly) questions about their sites before disappearing, never to
> return, once their query has been answered or they have been suitably
> alienated.

> This place has a phenomenal visitor turnover... If it turns into
> mudslinging central, word about Google Webmaster Help being nothing
> but a war zone will get around the web at the speed of thought.

> There will always be disagreements in places like this, but by (insert
> deity here), there needs to be a way to ensure these stay civilised
> and don't get out of hand.

> I've seen things go to bits before, albeit only with a Star Wars fan-
> club, not with a Google group...
> There's madness down that road, as I said in a post in another thread
> a few days ago.

> http://groups.google.com/group/Google_Webmaster_Help-chit-chat/browse...

> So yes, I think the matter of everyone here having to stick to the
> same set of 'play nicely' rules is becoming a matter of some urgency.

> Sasch

> On May 3, 9:34 am, cass-hacks wrote:

> > Since N-H-P/John H. Gohde's  promise to "poke fun at" the people who
> > contribute the most in the Google Webmaster Help forum seems to have
> > more so turned into a threat with his idea of "poking fun" being to
> > defame people, is it any wonder that participation in this forum by
> > the people who used to contribute the most has dropped significantly?

> > Craig

> > On May 2, 9:04 pm, dockarl wrote:

> > > Hi everyone - I don't want to start another ranting Gohde thread, but
> > > I think that the time has about come for something to be done to make
> > > him realise this is no game, this isn't a place for him to come to
> > > abuse people.

> > > John has today crossed an important line. He's prgressed from personal
> > > attacks to outright defamation. That's a line at which I abruptly lose
> > > my sense of humour.

> > > Please seehttp://groups.google.com.au/group/Google_Webmaster_Help-chit-chat/bro...

> > > W.R.T. the 'half naked graphics', I think he's referring to the
> > > website of a lingerie company I direct - I don't care about that.

> > > What really concerns me is that John has implied that he thinks that
> > > I'm reponsible forhttp://www.naturalhealthperspective.net. He's
> > > implied the same various times, but never directly until now .

> > > At first, I laughed it off and told him to pull his head in, but then
> > > I thought about his post for a few minutes - these are public forums.
> > > I don't want searchable, public records painting me as someone that
> > > would devote myself to writing a hate blog.

> > > I explained to John that these days potential employers / business
> > > partners etc often do background searches on people prior to forming
> > > partnerships with them - I've even done it. I explained to John that I
> > > don't want to be known as the type of person that would write a hate
> > > blog about another person - it's just not who I am - as a person I
> > > aspire to tolerance. It's a central tenet of who I am, it's central to
> > > my being - that's why I've butted heads with him previously when he's
> > > used these forums for xenophobic and racist monologues.

> > > Regardless of the fact that I think the very fact that someone has
> > > devoted a hate blog to him speaks volumes, I will not idly stand by
> > > and let him progress from just being a pest to using these forums as a
> > > platform for overtly defamatory / slanderous comments.

> > > I've given him a chance to recant his allegation, and he has not only
> > > failed to do so, he's taken it up a notch. Enough is enough.

> > > I formally and very seriously request that the following actions be
> > > taken:-

> > > 1. The posts in question be expunged.
> > > 2. John be placed on permanent moderation or banned from these groups
> > > entirely.

> > > John has crossed a line, his statements are very clearly defamatory -
> > > and would not be tolerated in the real world - why should they be
> > > tolerated in this, a real world forum? He obviously thinks this is
> > > some sort of game.

> > > I am no longer amused.

> > > Matthew James (dockarl)

> > > On May 2, 5:55 am, Volvox777 wrote:

> > > > NHP wrote in response to my comment that the NHP.net site is not run
> > > > by me

> > > I miss read that post. :(

> > > You are NOT the hate blogger, because he is NOT mentally unstable:
> > > unlike you.

> > > I would say that dockarl  is the most likely person.  Since both have
> > > displayed a marked preference for semi-naked female graphics.- Hide quoted text -

> > - Show quoted text -