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HAMSEXY DOT COM - YOUR SOURCE FOR HAMSEXYNESS COAST TO COAST NOW AVAILABLE ON THE INTERWEB AND 23 KILOCYCLES (LOWER MIDDLE SIDEBAND) (your mileage may vary) Week 15 Archives

Monday, September 13th 2004
Update by: VE3HBD

Good Monday to you all...

Listen... folks.. The last thing I want this site to become is a one-issue soapbox. Such a thing is never good for any sort of institution (if I may be so bold in calling Hamsexy an 'institution'... it isn't really, it's just a site that a few people seem to like, but that's beside the point).

Take the Howard Stern show for example. Stern's been a guilty pleasure of mine for close to seven years. Although I don't agree with everything he says, it's always worth a good chuckle. Lately, though - the show's become unlistenable. He's turned it from an amusing hallmark of morning radio to a non-stop Bush-bashing machine. Not only is it the same things OVER and OVER again, the double standard that it represents is sickening. Stern was a HUGE Bush supporter after 9/11, and spent most of his time on the air defending Bush and the war on terror. Stern, in listening to some old airchecks I've collected, was at times FRIGHTENINGLY pro-war. Since the FCC crackdown on indecency, though - he's suddenly turned from Bush's best buddy to the poster-child for getting Bush elected out of office.... all on a single issue.

But really, I digress... My whole point was that it was this single-mindednes towards a single issue that makes me turn to the all-news channel during my morning commute to work - and that's the last thing I want to happen here. Of course, I'm talking about the whole QRZ debacle.

Now, I agree... the fact this issue has appeared in the past three updates on this site is somewhat gratuitous. Just because I'm the one physically responsible for updating the site I get the honor of monopolizing it with my own petty whining. Truth be told, I really don't post on QRZ.COM all that much. In fact, in the years I've been lurking on the site i only posted 25 times before my access was removed - and even then I only signed up for posting access in May of this year. but, here we go again.. and unless we get some major development in this story, this'll be the LAST TIME you'll hear from me on this issue.

I must say that I was surprised to see that there's been some open debate on this very issue on the QRZ forums. Although it started with the sometimes amusing W3SY talking about fuckqrz.com, the topic soon turned to the QRZ moderators summarily removing my posting privileges. Check out the thread, it's actually quite interesting.

K9STH, one of the moderators, even decided to chime in with his two cents. Although he doesn't address my situation specifically, he does make several claims that might make it sound like he was referencing me. Here is what I'm taking about in this case.....

KB1DIW posted a message (not only supportive of this site, but my situation as well) that said: "I think the suspension of VE3HBD's posting privileges were a little overboard. I don't think that a "preemptive" strike is in the best interests of the general population here. Kinda goes against the spirit of ham radio."

2 messages later, K9STH (Glen) writes: "When people are banned from this site it is for good reason and not 'pre-emptive'. Sometimes the post that was the "final straw" was so offensive that one of the staff members deleted it...... before taking the staff of this site to "task" everyone must realize that there is a lot more to the situation than meets the eye. We try to maintain a balance where posting privileges are concerned. Yes, there can definitely be a "gray" area where it becomes a personal judgement as to whether or not to go ahead and ban a person. But, when someone just cannot seem to get the "idea" as to what is allowed and what is not allowed, and after they have been warned, then the only alternative is to "ban" that person."

That's all fine and good... heck, it's the best way to run a board. I moderate a few other forums outside of Hamsexy, and quickly learned that forums work best when run like a tight ship. Message boards aren't democratic forums, and run best when the aren't. But.. look.. Glen.... you see, the problem is this... Not only was I banned without warning, I was not even given a reason. I mean, with only 25 posts in close to six months, we're not talking about a large amount of messages to set off this fire. How can banning me be a last straw when I wasn't pushing any limits in the first place? STH makes it sound like QRZ admins were going nuts trying to reign my out-of-control butt in, and finally had no choice in curbing my wild ways but to ban me. NOTHING could be further from the truth. Other than messages exchanged in public, I have NEVER corresponded with STH or anyone from QRZ admin - other than the message I sent them asking for an explanation when I realized I couldn't edit my QRZ.COM profile page (of which I've gotten no reply, by the way).

Although Glen's message doesn't mention me at all, the repeat of the term 'pre-emptive' from DIW's message might give people that impression. I want to assure you, in the only forum open to me (as obviously I can't rebutt anything directly on QRZ, and I'm way above skirting QRZ's policies by going on and posting under an alias), that NONE of the scenarios that STH mentioned in his message applied to me and my situation. There were no instances of any off-forum intimidation or harassment performed by me. There were no warning e-mails from QRZ admin or scores of deleted messages posted by me.

From my perspective, I was banned with no explanation, and no real idea why. I have never posted ANYTHING on QRZ.COM that would warrant being summarily banned as was explained in Glen's message. If advertising our "BIGASS CONTEST" on their announcements forum wasn't appreciate (which is what I suspect was caused this whole mess), I would then like a explanation as to why that was "the last straw" in STH's words. If it was offensive to use the word "ass" in my message (the term was a colloquial term meaning "very big", not a contest of large posteriors as we were giving away an expensive and darn nice prize), then where was the "hey, we deleted your message, please don't use the word ass in the forum" warning? That would have been cool... I would have said "sorry man my bad" and that would have been the end of it. But BANNING ME?? With no explanation? That stinks, people... It's a terrible double-standard and I think whoever is responsible for it owes the users of QRZ.COM an explanation. It's an uneven application of the rules - and it should be addressed. If they don't want people from hamsexy on their site, come on.. have the balls to say it. Just don't silence us and hope that we'll shut up about it.

Again, forum mods on QRZ... I issue you this challenge: Tell me why I was banned, and provide me the message or the circumstances as to why it happened. Meet me on the same level as I have met you on this, and it'll go a long way in showing the world you aren't the draconian forum-nazis that others have painted you as. i've given my side of the story - it's all in the open for all to see and scrutinize. NOTHING has been left out. I invite the QRZ staff to do the same.

Making tough decisions and getting flak for them are all par for the course, really. It's all part of being in the moderator's chair. Although no effective message forum is a democracy, a good moderator needs to stand behind their decisions and be prepared to answer for them when their users start declaring shenanigans. STH and his counterparts certainly have the right to ignore this issue, but one's true colours are always shown in the actions they take today. Be aware, people.. you might find yourself in the same boat.

I must give QRZ.COM credit, though for not only keeping that thread up, but also to STH for at least acknowledging the issue. Thanks also to those who not only supported me, but the site as well. Any comments on this issue are always welcome... [email protected]

And if you choose to comment on this issue on QRZ, please don't be an idiot and troll them. If you have a point to make, make it in a mature and concise manner. if you want to say "hey fuk u QRZ u suk d000d ll0l0ll0", you sure won't be doing anyone involved a favour. Eventhough we may not agree with QRZ and their practices, we can honor their choices and not muddy up their forums with useless crap.

I'll end it with this: QRZ banned me for no good reason. There was no correspondence off the forum with ANYONE. There were no WARNINGS ISSUED regarding impending banning due to inaproppriate message content. I posted no message on QRZ that warranted summary execution of my posting abilities. The ball's in QRZ's court. Either they explain why they did it, or this will remain to be a mystery issue. This is the heart of the matter: I was banned for reasons totally unrelated to anything occurring on QRZ.COM. I was banned because I run Hamsexy.com. This is fair warning to anyone else.... it can happen to you too. Is it fair? Hell no. But.. c'est la vie. I'm sure I'll find a way to pick up the pieces and go on with my life.

Friday, September 10th 2004
Update by: VE3HBD

Well, it's been since Monday, and I've heard no word from QRZ.COM as to why my posting privileges have been removed. So, without any word from them, I have no choice but to come to the conclusion that QRZ.COM REMOVED MY POSTING ACCESS FOR ONLY ONE REASON: MY ASSOCIATION WITH HAMSEXY.COM

So - I put the warning out to everyone who either submits items to this site or participates in the Hamsexy Forums... QRZ.COM has shown their blatent bias towards all those who don't fit their narrow view of what Ham Radio is. If you associate yourself with this site, your posting privileges on QRZ.COM is AT RISK. I feel terrible about this, as we created this site to be a free forum for Ham Radio enthusiasts, and now we find out that QRZ's bias against us might mean that our friends and associates might be denied access to one of the web's largest ham radio communities.

is this unfair? Hell yeah.

If you have any funny or tragic QRZ.COM stories, e-mail us at [email protected] and I'll post it here. Be aware that QRZ.COM's management will probably kick you off their site for making your views known, so feel free to request we not use your name or alias.

Monday, September 6th 2004
Update by: VE3HBD

Hey everyone... Happy September everyone!! Summer's over, and with the end of the most funnest of seasons, only one question is left on our minds...

I logged on to QRZ.COM today to respond to a message regarding a technical question someone had, and hit the brick wall of BANNINATION. So.. here it is.... Bryan VE3HBD, webmaster of Hamsexy dot com, has been BANNED from QRZ for absolutley no reason.

It's a clear-cut case of censorship..... It's yet another example of the inconsistent and unfair moderation practices of the QRZ.COM forums. Before this happened, I never really had a problem with QRZ.COM's management. They had a hard job, moderating a forum full of mostly malcontent, lonely and know-it-all hamfreaks. This has finally proven to me that ham radio, at least for it's normal citizens, has no real use for QRZ.COM.

I'm not the only one that have had problems with QRZ..... As a result of some of QRZ's more questionable practices a disillusioned ham created the site FUCKQRZ.COM, a venomous attack on QRZ's hypocrisy and it's questionable management.

I have sent a letter to QRZ.com requesting they justify their actions. I am interested to see what they have to say, if they choose to respond at all. (I seriously doubt they will, however).

Truth be told, quite a number of hams (mostly the old-school and overly nerdy ones) feel very threatened by this site and all it stands for - it would seem that removing the posting access of myself and others associated with the site is an extent ion of this.

For those who no longer feel that QRZ is for them or have also been unfairly and summarily banned from the forums, might i suggest you pay a visit to the HAMSEXY FORUMS. Our forums are home to a diverse, vibrant and entertaining group of radio enthusiasts (we don't discriminate against non-hams like those on QRZ.COM's forums) - are you are invited to take part.

I will keep you all posted on what happens, and if I get any response from QRZ management I will post it here.

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