Sally wrote:I just wanted to set the record straight as to why I ceased some time ago posting on this forum.
... believe in free speech within reason and I strongly believe that a section such as Hot Topics shouldn't be a haven for hiding away discussions and debate which may be of value to the general public, who come to this forum to read without becoming a member ...
I would have thought that the section regarding Non CD Topics is the place where such subjects are discussed and debated openly, and if there was any postings which were out of order then it's easy enough for them to be deleted by the moderators.
I quite realise that I could easily be admitted to the Hot Topic area and indeed Gracie has over time previously asked me more than once if I wished to do so, but I've always refused on the grounds that I believe it's undemocratic, too selective and restrictive in the society we live in today. ...
[... I discussed this with Gracie in private several times ... I believe one can become too trigger happy in striving for good governance ... topics of great interest to everyone anywhere in the world as they touch our lives on a daily basis.]
Hi Sally,
Tnx for expanding, and consequently 'allowing' me the opportunity to extract a few points for my own 'pondering' in 'public view' - my food for thought ...
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As clear as your message is (normally)
[productive, respectful, valuable, 'untangled']
I'm not sure I have a 'worthy' reply
[concise, comprehensive - that lives up to/honours the integrity/richness of your statement(s) = Quality Comments Invite Quality Consideration & Responses]
However, you have triggered the recollection of a recent and increasingly common event in my neighbourhood; which for decades, until only a year ago, was considered to be quite safe and friendly ...
- witness a young, attractive, and athletic female (thief/)prostitute doing a well strategized grab'n-run purse snatching on an old woman alone on the sidewalk in broad daylight and plain view late one calm, sunny afternoon
- the general situation is that a neighbouring 'down & dirty' sub-community, historically known as the 'lightbulb' for the 'moths', has recently undergone a major, BIG$$$ redevelopment = "the moths have lost their traditional lightbulb and been forced into open fluttering"
- while the topic is openly avoided, this is neither unexpected nor unknown to the local 'government'
- the recent local election focused on the "Increase in Crime" and the underlying campaign arguments raised the "political" issues of 'law enforcement budget shortages and manipulations'
- meanwhile the parties and powers all sit comfortably at the table of governance with selectively plugged ears, blinded eyes, and crossed arms with index fingers quite naturally pointed toward the "honourable member(s) next"
In simple and summary terms, the BIG$$$ developers, in accordance with history, have routinely and ever more skillfully redirected the attention of the public authorities ... everyone accepts that it's easier to be reelected to public office on the popularity of visible and visual efforts to glamorize the smooth and thriving surface image of the community, than on dealing with the dirty, less visible realities of the community's troubled, blistered and evermore-festering underbelly ...
It's not so different from the mall security model I saw applied when I managed retail environments in major "shoplifting" centres = mall management unofficially objects to a visible and effective
*Security*
presence because that signals to the community that the mall is an unsafe place to be - and that would be
*Bad For Business*
...
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In the context of your reply and this forum ...
I also "... believe in free speech within reason and I strongly believe that a section such as Hot Topics shouldn't be a haven for hiding away discussions and debate which may be of value to the general public ..."
Suggestion: perhaps there's a 'Different & More Open' way of "Identifying & Assigning/Qualifying Access" (Read Only / Read-Write) to a Forum section where readily identifiable or commonly known 'Hot Topics' (ie. religion, politics) are to be expected ...
- and perhaps we're not so far from this; which can be done simply enough
In the context of the unfortunate old lady above ...
Perhaps our city council would open the public discussion "Dirty Business" to plain view - that in the "Interests of Economic Development", we've "uprooted / displaced the legendary crime / (anti)social elements in neighbourhood #SE276" and until further notice, all community members in neighbourhoods #SWxxx, #NWxxx and #NExxx are advised to warn their women (& m>fCrossdressers) about ie. increased reports or expectations of "successful purse grab'n-runs"
- ForeWarned is ForeArmed
- then, my neighbours and I can openly and rationally reassess if we wish to stay or move / fight or flight
- if we decide to stay and fight, then we may be entitled to more open and direct engagement with the governing parties; but we should expect to learn and live up to rules, responsibilities and accountabilities of engagement
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In the context of your reply and this forum ...
I respect your view "[... I discussed this with Gracie in private several times ... I believe one can become too trigger happy in striving for good governance ... topics of great interest to everyone anywhere in the world as they touch our lives on a daily basis.]"
In the context of the unfortunate old lady above ...
Perhaps our city officials would look even better at reelection time if they were perceived to be less cozy with BIG$$$ developers and more open / direct and less "politically correct" about the realities of modern urban and social development issues
Perhaps the BIG$$$ folks would benefit in unexpected and equally profitale ways by negotiating more relevant and innovative structures for altering the visible and invisible characteristics / attributes of developing communities ie. including more 'active' and realistic 'sponsored safehouse / dropin locations' for 'unfortunates' in their business and property development ("displacement") plans
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I realize that all of this (my mental meanderings) may seem a 'stretch' for members and guests, perhaps my point can be summarized
- our *Forum Direction* discussion may not be so different from my neighbourhood's Urban & Social Development discussion
- here at our Crossdressers-Forum, we *Crossdressers* all seem to admit in some way that we feel *Vulnerable* in the 'outer' world because of our 'special' and usually 'secret' feelings / interests
- we all find some value in having a "safe", albeit "structured" environment ("haven") where we can gather, play out *our* human realities, and at least 'maintain' if not 'grow'
- it seems reasonable to assume that we feel our environment to be "safe" very much because of the planned and managed "structure"
- as with human matters and creations, the dynamic of our continuously expanding and unfolding "structure" requires continuous observation, assessment and adjustments as we proceed
- perhaps we're not so far from determining and applying a few 'adjustments'; a finer-tuning toward becoming one of the more productive, valuable, and respectable models of an online resource for "structurally vulnerable" people
- perhaps here at *Crossdressers-Forum*, because of how and who *we* Crossdressers are (and are not), we're closer than we think or imagined to actually helping the 'outer' world become a more 'people friendly' environment
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Maybe, as girls pain in becoming women, our present feelings and observations signal the continuously refreshing view of our forum's growth - our direction and destination
A particular hope at this time, is that Gracie / (Beauty), in the line of duty, and after such solid, steady and significant contributions to the 'flight and safety of this ship' has not been 'burned, bent or broken' by the effects of 'atmospheric' turbulence
~
/Marda
Of course they are!! 
(The only down side is that I kind of enjoyed being a goddess, so the new title is probably gonna take some getting used to). 
Actually, when I first started dressing and going out at night, you would have had a good reason to be scared of me. I was pretty scary looking with my poor makeup skills and ill fitting clothing, haphazard barettes (no proper wig) and totally clueless in femme deportment department. (Try saying THAT after a few 
). Thankfully, these days, I've progressed somewhat 
and gotten used to people being much more comfortable around me. Hope that continues here.
), then I will wear the badge proudly. 
I am honoured, also, to be given the opportunity to moderate!
)
who hopefully is not banned yet.
I may be long-winded but at least I'm not short-sighted. 
The thing, Eva, about having to publicly defend oneself from one person who has a bone to pick with us is that it plays into a frame of mind where you (as the defendant) will have to start thinking that it's possible to please everyone. Well, it isn't. Some people will be pissed (and some people will always be pissed all of the time); there's no helping that. The comparison to Mr. Bush's situation doesn't hold up; Mr. Bush was chosen by people and people have a right to demand he justify his actions publicly. Forum moderators are appointed and they're accountable to the admins, not to the members. We listen (often with long-winded empathy) to the suggestions, demands, and requirements of the members and we do all we can to take their needs and wishes into account within the guidelines set before us; having members undermine our authority (for whatever reason) by questioning our judgment without valid reason, merely as a matter of principle, only makes our task that much more unpleasant. Although it may be true that "unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth," I think it's also true that thoughtful respect for authority can be truth's greatest ally.
???'
so you might acyually find the secretary a preferable alternative. 
BTW, no apologies for being Canadian either...too proud for that! 
