One forum member is now banned

[Bernie]

Dear forum members,

If it's one thing I can't tolerate is someone who repeatedly abuses the hospitality of the community here at the DiscoMusic.com forums and contributes nothing useful to a conversation. One such person has been Fantomas a. k. a. ClassicDisco.

As of this morning I have banned Fantomas from the forums. Please note that banning a person does not mean he won't reappear since he can re-register under another name or find a way around the ban. As such, should he make a reappearance it is upon all of YOU to not engage him in any discussions. It is safe to say that he had been given numerous opportunities to respect others and be a part of the community, but he chose otherwise.

[markydefad]

Wow, Bernie I don't know quite what to say.

I guess the biggest surprise is that Fantomas was actually ClassicDisco. (This is like Toto pulling back the curtain and revealing who the REAL Wizard is!!!). They were both posting at the same time, so I thought they were actually two different people, no matter how closely the tone of their posts aligned.

When you initially banned Classic after he upset you over promoting that other music website, Fantomas contacted myself and others, I'm sure, by private e-mail. He asked us to protest on Classic Disco's behalf, if I remember correctly.

I ignored him cause I was so tired of all that baiting and arrogant, sneering attitude, ("You people know nothing. Only I know the real disco music and I own every piece of it and I refuse to tell you anything about until you beg me and kiss my ass and tell me how wonderful I am, etc." SORRY, I digress ) but Fantomas remained, sooo, I just thought they were kindred souls--NOT THE SAME DAMN GUY.

I apologize for escalating this last contretemps. I just got fed up and snapped. Childish on my part, I realize. I hope I didn't give you any gray hairs.

[Graham_Start]

On 2002-07-02 13:46, markydefad wrote:
Wow, Bernie I don't know quite what to say.

I do. And it's a big "Thank you Bernie!"

I guess the biggest surprise is that Fantomas was actually ClassicDisco.

I didn't realize that he was using both names at the same time. I thought he had just changed names when Bernie updated to the new board. But regardless, it was pretty obvious -- the same self-righteous, moralistic, elitist attitude, the "anything that came within spitting distance of the top 40 is crap" mentality, the whole "(insert song or act here) isn't real disco" shtick...

But most of all, his tendency to attack the views or opinions of others without provocation, and when people responded in kind, to then bemoan that his intolerant views weren't tolerated here and how unfair that was, and how others were shoving their "agendas" down his throat (whatever).

[markydefad]

Is it insensitive to request a chorus of:

"Ding! Dong! The Witch Is Dead" OR

"Dancing In The Streets"????

OK, I KNOW. I'm pushing it. Sorry. :lol:

[Boodikka]

Bernie, I'm not sure exactly which post got your goat, as he has been in rare form the past couple of days, especially trying to screw up the South American thread, but thank you.
I don't know how these php boards work, but my EZboard has a fairly simple function for blocking an IP, no matter how the name is changed. Of course, if someone has more than one IP address, they can't be stopped.
I truly DO believe that this person was only here on a mission to destroy this site, and the snide post in the Parade thread is proof positive.

_________________
"Is it this sexual RODEO that has you in this STATE?"

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Boodikka on 2002-07-02 21:05 ]</font>

[Outsider]

I wish those old Inside The Web message boards had that feature, because I would have banned Death from that one board I used to post at since I also owned that particular board (for those who either forgot or don't know, Death is that asshole who started that fight with me). And apparently GuestGear guestbooks don't have that feature either.

As for Fantomas, I personally never objected to his messages. I agree with some things he said and disagree with others. I didn't necessarily agree with his tactics, but I think with some things he was only trying to give his point of view. Keep in mind that I'm not defending him. I'm only giving my two cents worth, and I have as much right to my views as much as anyone else.

It seems that Fantomas's view of music is similar to Death's, as Death also says that all music that is considered mainstream (but in his case, it's all music that isn't death metal) is crap, as if taste in music isn't subjective. Of course, I totally disagree with all of those things. After all, I don't feel that all mainstream music is crap, and I think that taste in music is subjective.

[Outsider]

I looks like to many people here, Fantomas is the Death of this message board.

[keefelc]

On 2002-07-02 15:59, Boodikka wrote:

I truly do believe that this person was only here on a mission to destroy this site, and the snide post in the Parade thread is proof positive.

Boodikka: Thank you for posting this comment about the remark on the Parade post! I was upset when I first saw it but I figured it would be best to ignore him. It was such an obvious ploy to get some attention for himself. However, I did wonder how others felt.

Bernie: Thank you for all of your efforts to make the Forums a comfortable place for open minded, intelligent, music lovers to post!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: keefelc on 2002-07-02 21:26 ]</font>

[Boodikka]

Mea Maxima Culpa: I meant to say that I believe this person DID mean to destroy this site, and I corrected it as such.

[keefelc]

On 2002-07-02 21:07, Boodikka wrote:
Mea Maxima Culpa: I meant to say that I believe this person DID mean to destroy this site, and I corrected it as such.

Not to worry, my dear, I think most of us knew what you meant say. I always wonder how does a person like that get along with people in the outside world?

[Funky Dude]

Oh my god. I had absolutely no idea he was Classicdisco. I remember sometime late last year when Bernie changed the forum appearence, Classic promoted that disco site which the bloke who ran it did not promote Bernie's site and there was a big blue over it and I remember Classic emailing me saying he was quitting the forum. What I thought of Classicdisco, basically he was basically arguing about the music and I saw him as a disco purist as in he's fussy about what is and what isn't disco but I thought he was okay. But after a few emails he disappeared in the ether i.e. I've emailed him a few times and he did not reply.

Now with Fantomas (Classicdisco) I did not see any problem with him until that post about "is there a better civilisation" which really upsetted Hustlebaby because the content had really struck a homophobic and racial chord and I was wondering is he really racist and homophobic or is he just telling the articles as they are. Then he whacked up a post saying he's telling the facts as they are, sure enough I believed him.

At the same time he kindly sent me some great disco MP3's which I thought he was a nice guy. I was really concerned about the fighting between him and Hustlebaby.

Maybe Hustlebaby is right, he's not such a great guy afterall, although I still thank him for the MP3s though. I'm pissed off that he never mentioned he was really Classicdisco, I've bloody emailed him several times and never received a reply. What kind of game is he playing at telling me he's not going to post on the forum anymore when he was Classicdisco and then posting messages as Fantomas. Well all I can say is I'm very disappointed in him.

Fantomas and Classicdisco being the same bloke, tsk tsk tsk.

[Blaxman]

Well, If everything posted here about Fantomas is true, I wish him peace.

I mean, rest in peace!

[Ricardo_Mata]

I have to begin by saying that since I am a relative newcomer to these boards I don't know the whole story about ClassicDisco/Fantomas and what he may or may have not said. With that in mind, here I go...

First, I want to say that this is Bernie's site. If Bernie kicks somebody out of here, with or without reason, I respect his decision. I can't say if Bernie was right or wrong in banning Fantomas because I don't have enough information to form a definite opinion.

I do have enough information to say that I am sorry to see the boards deteriorating to this point. Somebody called Fantomas a "Semi-literate Cuban immigrant" and, as I understand it, he responded with very strong and perhaps innapropriate language. I don't blame him; I would probably have done the same thing. Perhaps with different language but I would have responded in very strong and clear terms.

The problem, as I have said several times, is that once somebody gets started with a few nasty words or phrases, things go down hill very quickly. When I ask people to please watch their language and the content of their messages it is not because I intend to impose any kind of censorship on these boards or because I want to be their moral authority. I do not have any intentions in that sense. I do it because I have seen situations like this many times before and I know what the end result is going to be. At the end, EVERYBODY loses.

I am also sorry to see Fantomas go. As I said in a previous message, I didn't always agree with his points of view but I tended to more often than not. He and I share the same values and beliefs as far as God, country and family are concerned. The difference is that he is more outspoken than I. It may not be my style but I respect it.

I also see an interesting situation (double standard?) developing here. I have read messages with a content that is much more offensive, both in form and substance, than anything I have read from Fantomas. Granted, perhaps Fantomas's "nasty" messages have been deleted before I have had a chance to read them.

I have seen many people upset about Fantomas's "censorship" and attempts to express his points of view, particularly from among the gay community in these forums. Shouldn't the same principles apply to those who want to talk, in very explicit terms, about their sex life? I have read messages with a content that is just short of an adult magazine. Why not ban those members too?

Let me make very clear that I respect everybody's sexual orientation, freedom of speech and other essential issues. Whatever you do in bed, with whomever you choose, is your business. Please, exercise some common sense and keep it that way.

Let me close with these two issues. The worst comment I have seen from Fantomas is his calling gays "sinners" in the "I love a parade" topic. Under that same topic there is a comment from another member who witnessed somebody masturbating in public view during a gay/lesbian parade. What is worse? Calling somebody a sinner is not a crime; talking about seeing somebody masturbating in public isn't either. Masturbating in public sure is, and it is a crime because it violates the principles that lead to a decent society. What is wrong with trying to protect those principles?

Fantomas stands for God, country, and family values. From what I have seen after visiting his web site, I am sure he is ready and willing to sacrifice his life for those values. So do I. Curiously enough, neither he nor I were born in this country and I am not even a U.S citizen yet. (I'm in that process) How many of you would be willing to grab an M-16 and die for the U.S? Please, don't give me the phrase of "I'd rather make love than war" This is a serious conversation.

My friends, I am happy to share with you thoughts, ideas, stories, and information about disco music. But if there ever came a time for me to choose between you and what Fantomas and I believe in, I'll stand by Fantomas's side. Time and time again. No doubt about that.

Let's pray that that time never comes. Let's have a wonderful 4th of July and let's thank The Lord for this outstanding country in which we are fortunate to live.

May God bless you all.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Ricardo_Mata on 2002-07-03 11:24 ]</font>

[Boodikka]

Ricardo, I'm quite sure I've been quite clear in supporting you and your opinions, and I enjoy discussing/debating the South American topic with you. I even saw your point in regards to needless profanity and have tried to personally clean up my own language in response to it.
HOWEVER:
In the matter of this particular person, his behavior goes back for MONTHS! By your own admission you haven't been here long enough to know the full story. I'm sure that you haven't heard any other history of his behavior other than his own, yet it appears you choose to give his version credence WITHOUT ANY QUESTION. Did you know he was subverting Bernie's board behing his back months ago? Never mind all the homophobic, racist and sexist tripe and baiting constantly posted, ANY OTHER BOARD OPERATOR WOULD HAVE BANNED HIM MONTHS AGO FOR SUBVERTING THE SITE!
I have stated that I believe that you have a value system based in your religious beliefs, but this person's beliefs ran as deep as "how can I get a rise out of these people?" Like a fool, I left the boards for a bit because he got to me.
I am quite sure he stays in contact with you. When you first wrote that you supported him (shortly before he was banned), I couldn't believe it, because attempting to annoy people with buffoonish diatribe constantly can't be a Christian concept, therefore it couldn't be something you would agree with. Now, seeing what the majority, if not all, of the people think about him, you REITERATE your support for him? As opposed to supporting someone like an Outsider or FunkyDude who stay outside of the arguing and fighting, you choose to support the person CREATING the maelstrom? I wonder what that says about what you think about the rest of us. I'm starting to get a clear picture about that.
Ricardo, when you left the boards the last time, I posted that I hoped you would return. However, when you post that you would take that person's side over ours in a pinch, well, have fun over at his website..........

[Ricardo_Mata]

Hi Boodika! Thanks for your message. Please understand that I'm not taking sides in this issue because, as I said, I haven't been here long enough. I have no idea how long this situation has been going and, quite frankly, I am not keeping track.

Am I defending Fantomas? No, I am not. I'm sure he is perfectly capable of defending himself.

Am I taking his side? No, I am not taking his side. I am taking the side of what I believe to be right and just and, in this case, I believe right and fair means that the same principles apply to everybody. Why should Fantomas be banned when, during the time I have participated here, others have posted comments far worse in content and form?

Of course, Bernie's decision was to ban Fantomas and, as I said, I respect that decision. I am sure Bernie had his reasons. Honestly I feel sorry for Bernie having to deal with situations like this.

What do I think about the members of this community? Just like in any situation there are great people and some not so geat. That is life.

I enjoy sharing with people like Jazz_Pilgrim, Blaxman, Nano, Funky Dude, you and many others. That's why I am here right now!

Yes, I have visited Fantomas's web site. I visited a site that deals with love for the U.S., family, and other moral issues that I share with Fantomas and with many others. If Fantomas has other web sites I do not know about them.

Do I stand by Fantomas? Yes and no. Yes, I stand by him when we share values and principles that are dear to us. No, I wouldn't stand by him if he gave me reasons not to. So far, he hasn't and I doubt he will. He may not be the smoothest, nicest guy in the world but at least I know where I stand with him. There are no gray areas with a guy like Fantomas. There are many gray areas with some other members of these boards.

Peace to all of you my friends.