Holy Moley! I seem to have been removed for asking a perfectly legitimate question...

[Kim A]

Hadn't been on for a while. Have a blameless record up til now. Asked a question last evening about the Menu de Jour thing. Few answers. Gave an opinion or two (pretty non-contentious, I thought). This morning, blow me down with a feather the size of a spatula - question's gone, so have the answers. She sure do have powerful friends, that Menu Lady...

[ummmm]

Was it just that question removed?

[Bbbananas]

Ooh-er - I've just posted what could be seen as a derogatory comment on mercia's menu thread - am I for the push now then?

[Kim A]

Don't know. What I do know is that my stats say 5 answers were removed and my original question is nowhere to be found...

[Bbbananas]

Bytheway - love the expression Holy Moley..... ;-)

[jednbutter]

Yes i have noticed certain un named members do have lots of power over the AB mods, not sure why as some i could mention are rather extreme in there views.

[Kim A]

It's my second favourite non-sweary expression. My most recent favourite is "Miley Cyrus!", which seems to fit quite nicely into any given situation where a sweary would be needed...

Still, we'd better be careful. Being given head billing by Ed types obviously stands you in some sort of 'top banana' position on here now.

[merciasounds]

Please be assured that I do not ask for any answers be removed, you've only got to see some I've got to see that

[merciasounds]

I just saw where the answers were removed from too - shame I'd have liked to have read them

[Kim A]

Well, as I said, I asked a perfectly legitimate question about the meaning and purpose of the menu of the day. I got a few answers. I answered back. I DID opine that you appear to be channelling Marguerite Patten, twin-set and all, given the old-fashioned dinner party Hyacinth-ness of your menus and posed the question 'Is your husband the King of somewhere'?
That stemmed from someone telling me that you give these multi-facetted menus to your significant other so that he can choose what he wants to eat each day, which seemed just a wee bit twee. Other than that, which obviously offended the sensibilities of the moderator for some reason, I have no idea why I was removed. No swearing, no personal attacks, no racist/sexist/agist comments. I'm pretty good at expressing myself without resorting to any of those, so you tell me...

I await removal...

[AB Editor]

Hi Kim,

As you can see on today's menu thread I just find the constant grumbling about "oh what's the point of that" a little... Jarring. The thread was removed because it singled out a single ABer for criticism which wasn't necessarily deserved.

I generally remove threads which isolate a user for criticism. Nothing personal, it is just my job.

Hi Jed, nice username. Not sure what you're talking about? A little context would be good. Feel free to contact us here: [email protected] if you have any serious grievances.

Also, are you aware Stephen Fry calls Miley Cyrus "Smiley Virus" ... I thought it was quite good.

All the best

Spare Ed.

[pastafreak]

But Ed....that just serves to limit discussion. And then those of us who do query some users and the nature of their threads will feel we are being stifled.
Criticism is by no means a bad thing...it does serve a purpose. Hopefully those of us who are grownups learn from it.

[Kim A]

@ spare Ed. Thanks for that, but I don't think I singled out anyone. I asked a perfectly legitimate question, having obviously missed out on all the previous correspondences. I just couldn't get my head round the thing. I don't think any of my response comments would have offended, given the tenor of some replies to other questions on here at any given time...

Still, at least I can now join the ranks of the others on the 'naughty step of removal'. And I was SUCH a good child, according to my mother...

[Kim A]

And @ pastafreak - I concur. But that'll probably be wrong, too...

[AB Editor]

Criticism is fine, I've hardly stifled freedom of speech here. Respond to Mercia's thread if you really need to know otherwise it is a little akin to talking behind someone's back.

Also, what is there to criticise? "Why?" can be answered with, "Why not?" it is just intended as a "bit of fun". If you want to talk about the content of the menus - that make sense. But there is not much to be gained in questioning motives here!

All the best,

Spare Ed

P.S. I wouldn't "stifle criticism" if it was serious, but contentious, debate about Israel/Palestine or anything similarly as important and emotive.