Well...it wasn't THAT bad. I "inferred" that the hit was for this one user...I never came out and said it. Again...always stay just inside the posting/commuinity guidelines. The exchange was more like;
User X (male): says something related to contract killers
Me: "how much would YOU charge?"
User X: "Why? Do you have someone in mind?"
Me: "I could think of a couple."
User X: "On this very site I imagine!"
Me: "Yup. But I need to know how much this would cost me."
User X: "Based on your post about your battle with the bank over your house; you couldn't afford me. LOL!"
Me: "Oh well."
It was then buried by people posting back on topic...but one of the ladies who was not a big fan of mine...quoted it. When I asked her why she quoted it but didn't say anything...her response was one word: "evidence". And that was that. She PMd her friend...her friend PMd the friend/administrator...and my account was closed before I even returned from my lunch break.
And here's how I know the "actual threat/error on the side of caution" arguement was flawed. If you REALLY felt that a user was actively trying to take out a hit on another issue and were ACTUALLY worried enough to eject a long-time community member over it...wouldn't you also report it to the authorites?? I mean, if it was serious and you want to error on the side of caution and all.
It was well known that the threat wasn't serious. Virtually nobody even noticed it or thought it was in the LEAST bit serious. It was a convenient excuse to finally put that nail in the coffin that that site administrator had been anxious to do for some time. And I don't really go on that site....but still occasionally keep in touch with people on it...and they'll mention to me that I came up AGAIN in the forums. Many of the users weren't happy about it. But the administrator had the moderators explain briefly that it was a violation of group posting terms of service to threaten other users and therefore I was gone. Without that last nail...to just kick me off because they didn't like me....was certainly possible...but would have rubbed too many of my supporters and casual fans the wrong way. Kinda like in the "Ban Aslan Poll". Not many people liked me back then...but when it came down to actually having control over my fate...most site members united around the principle that while they don't agree with my opinions...or manners...and I'm annoying....they respect the right of a person to have those opinions so long as they aren't hurting anyone.
Oh yeah...I forgot about that one.
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