Remember folks, I never saw this board until 48 hours ago. It's gonna take me a bit of time to work out all the bugs!

Since I don't have access to Steve's e-mails, I've set up an alternative way for members to report abusers confidentially, while I'm monitoring the boards.

Until further notice, if you want to report anything, or speak to me privately, e-mail:

BackInTheBxRob@aol.com

In the mean time, I'll chime in with any warnings that need expressing, either in a reply, or in a note edited into the original post.

I'll try not to be arbitrary, but bear in mind I know next to nothing about anyone's history here. Everyone now has a blank slate as far as I'm concerned, and they've been notified (in multiple locations) to choose their words wisely, and to keep things Bronx-related as much as possible. When Steve resumes control of the boards, the final say will be his. (For example, the Tom-Cruise-on-Oprah thread will probably go, as neither celeb is from the Bronx.)

This is his forum, and this is how he wants it run. I'm just the techno-geek. I'm trying to give y'all some rope here. You can either play some nice double-dutch, or you can hang yourselves. Chaque a son gout! (To each, his own!)

If you want me to review someone's posts, give me all the ammo you've got: screen names, which forum, date, etc. I'll review the offense, and reply as soon as I can.

Questions? You know where to reach me...

Hi Rob,

I decided to respond here, where everyone can read it and my opinion, which I think, everyone would agree with.

I originally joined this board in 2002, the date posted is wrong, that's the date I had to rejoin because of the change in format at that time.

However, I digress...anyway, back then, there were maybe a couple of posts a WEEK...it wasn't until we started talking about other things besides egg creams, that the forum really opened up and I saw several posts a DAY.

I know it's Steve's playground, and he wants to play just his games only, but think of it...if I had a forum, and no one posted, I think I would change it around a little so that everybody's happy.

I'd rather have many hits a day on a website, even if it strays from the original subjects, then one or two lame ones a week.

As I mentioned somewhere else, the General Interest forum could be for those off topic discussions....I belong to many unBronx related boards and most of them have a forum called "offtopic discussion" and everyone's happy.

What do you all think???

Note to JohhnyM and LauraB: I think using the General Interest forum as the catch-all may be a great compromise, especially since I've added the other forums. I'll suggest it to Steve, and see what happens. My goal is to keep this forum hoppin', and I'll take all the helpful suggestions I can get.

Note to those who criticized me for pulling one tame example of name-calling to the forefront:

I've said it in other posts. I've only been associated with this board for 3 days. I did not go back and read the 35,000+ posts in the General Interest forum, as that's not what my employer paid me to do. I apologize if I've accidentally granted amnesty to any vile folks, but I had to start from scratch. If someone acts up, you're free to report it. If a repeat offender is banned, we ban his/her IP address, as well. Granted, that's not foolproof either. A determined idiot may still find his way back here, but we're doing the best we can.

That said, I stand by my statement. There's a difference between name-calling and debate. If someone's being an a**hole, and you want to call them on the carpet for it, fine, but there are ways to express that opinion without direct insults.

The posts I've read seem to mark you as a rather intelligent bunch. Stretch your creative muscles, and find a way to get your digs in without resorting to schoolyard tactics. It's really not a lot to ask.

Maybe this analogy will help you understand what I'm trying to accomplish here:

When you're posting on this board, think of it as being an invited guest in the home of a friend who doesn't cuss, and never has a bad word to say about anybody.

You'd respect that choice, wouldn't you?

That's Steve's goal for this board. I'm trying to help him achieve that, without alienating the posters who are making friends here, and haven't been the cause of any friction.

That sounds fair, doesn't it?

THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT BUT JUST AN OBSERVATION. IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT MOST OF THE ACTIVITY IS IN THE GENERAL INTEREST SECTION, RARELY IS ANOTHER TOPIC POSTED ON. I HOPE YOU CAN SEE THAT DOING AWAY WITH THIS SECTION WOULD BE THE DEMISE OF THIS FORUM.

I'm hoping to have Steve agree to a compromise: that the General Interest be ALL non-Bronx stuff, and channel other specific topics into separate forums.

That way, Steve can have pristine forums, and y'all can have a place to play.

Should off-topic posts appear in the Bronx-only forums, they can be moved to Gen. Interest, rather than just deleting them.

Would that work for you?

SURE WOULD, AND IT SOUNDS VERY FAIR.THANKS FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS IN TRYING TO APPEASE EVERYONE.

Ok if Steve wanted an all Bronx forum, why when the 1st non bronx topic appeared a message didn't come on saying this is not permitted. And if someone would have been watching you would have plucked the bad apples off the tree without any fanfare. Instead of sendind us all emails with the riot act. All anyone wanted was the suxual remarks to the ladies on the board to go away. Since you didn't do anything complaints came to you and now you are over reacting. By the way four letter words are just that four letter words.
Whem I 1st came here I was hoping to reconnect with people I knew in my youth. As it turns I 2 people. One from my pre teen years who was a friend of my older brother, he hasn't posted for a while. The other is a school mate of mine but we have not seen since high school, she is still posting. Of more value to me are the boys and girls on the board who have become tariffic men and women. I've never met but have become friends. I would hate to lose that. So leave well enough alone

*SIGHS*

BARRY, YOU ARE A MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART...BRAVO! ALSO, I SEE THAT THE ADMIN. IS GOING TO LEAVE THE GENERAL INTEREST FORUM FOR OFF TOPIC DISCUSSIONS. HOPEFULLY STEVE WILL BE AGREEABLE TO THIS.

AS NORIE MENTIONED, IF THE GI SECTION WASN'T HERE, NEITHER WOULD WE!

BEING A LADY (AND ANYONE WHO TRIES TO DISPUTE THAT REMARK WILL GET FLACK FROM ME!) I DON'T MIND ANY AND ALL SWEAR WORDS, AS LONG AS THEY ARE BEING USED IN THE CONTEXT OF A CONVERSATION AND NOT DIRECTED AT SOMEONE.....

I.E. WHAT THE F**K?

BAD I.E. YOU ARE SUCH A F**K!!!!

CAPEECH PAISANS?