HROARR -Resources for the Historical European Martial Arts community

Roger Norling
Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 8:34 am

Randall Pleasant

Roger Norling

Btw, just curious why you removed the line about who is analyzing it? Was mentioning their names really against the forum rules?

I assume there is some old conflict or something involved here, but it seems odd to completely eliminate their names from other people's posts.

Roger

I do deeply regret having to edit any one's posts but sometimes we find it necessary. The line did not violated any forum rule. However, both of those people listed in the line were dismiss from ARMA for bad behavior and poor character. One of them engaged in extremely bad behavior! Since that time both of them have been openly hostile against the ARMA organization, the ARMA membership, and especially the ARMA director. Therefore, we cannot allow any mention of them or their endeavor on the ARMA fourm. At his point I must declare this issue closed and will not allow any further debate on it.

Thanks for your understanding.

I won't be debating this any further, but since you made your argument here, I will also say briefly what I have to say.

In any conflict there are always two perspectives and I am sure they feel equally strongly about the reasons why they acted the way they did. Apparently they also had some support within what ARMA was at the time.

No matter what the reasons for the conflict were/are I really have nothing to do with it. What I DO know is that these fellows do amazing work in HEMA research and that they are now analyzing the Verolini manual, which is why I mentioned them in the post.

Having the post censored here, in my opinion, reflects badly on the board and on ARMA as an organization. Censorship, to a limited degree, is necessary, but should be used rarely and only with great consideration.

Free speaking is vital for any organization, especially one who wants to promote serious research. It is not the kind of reputation any serious organization wants to build. This censoring seems more personal, based on old conflicts, more than anything else and I object to it.

This kind of censorship, if ever repeated, will make me reconsider sharing material with the ARMA again, which is unfortunate since I consider ARMA an important organization within the much larger HEMA community.

I sincerely hope this post will not be censored!

Randall Pleasant
Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 3:42 pm

Roger

You were told specifically that the issue was closed and no further debate allowed. Yet I fine another post from you discussing the ex-members. I find this is highly disrespectful of our foum. Let me be very clear with you, what triggered the bad behavior by the ex-members was their own lack of character and their perspective on their bad behavior is of no concern to us. If censoreship and fair treatment is of real concern to you then I assume we can expect you to voice your concerns on other HEMA forums where ARMA members are regularly insulted, censored, and band.

Now, understand that this is the FINAL WARING, attempting to discuss the ex-members, the reasons for their dismissal, or ARMA's internal membership politices will result in the posts being deleted and you being band from this forum.

At this point you are still most welcome to make post about Western Martial Arts and Western history as it applies to those arts.

Roger Norling
Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 3:55 pm

Sincerely, I mean no disrespect. But being censored when not breaking any forum rules is odd. I can understand your reasons why though. But with your censoring you drag your conflict into a post which has nothing to do with it.

Do note, that I am not taking any sides here. Just stating that I object to this censoring. I am not the least interested in debating your old conflict. There are simply too many conflicts within the HEMA community to keep track of them all and I can't post with such considerations in mind. I expect my posts to remain intact unless I break any rules though.

And of course I am against censoring, or unfair treatment on other forums. I oppose opinions expressed by ARMA members sometimes. But I also defend them now and then, when unfairly criticized, at least when the person criticized is unable to meet the criticism him- or herself.

Roger Norling
Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 4:21 pm

I am registered on well over 20 boards, half of which are HEMA-related. I have never been banned thus far and never, ever have I had any posts censored, despite having had some quite heated and even infected arguments. I think this is vital for any healthy board to only very rarely censor posts and only for breaking forum rules.

But fair enough, if you don't feel the same. I think it is a shame and quite sad, since I think that the ARMA board will be poorer due to this.