People, I have let the thread re: the french survival knife run it's course. Alain seems to be holding his own with great Elan' ( thats french talk for style and class.) Mike has been mustered out. Aardwolf gets to stay. He may push some buttons, but the ability to apologise shows sentience of falability- a quality we all need. There actually is a french survival knife. It is a oversized folder with a few Swiss Army knife type accessories; corkscrew, awl,saw,can opener, spearpoint blade. They were written up @ a year ago in a knife magazine. Importation to the USA soon followed, but the price dissuaded me <img src="images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />. Please ,please, everyone calm down. Nobody is going to win any great moral victories here.This isn't the place anyway. War in all it's horror has enough casualties.

I still think people should be able to speak their mind as long as there are no obsenities or threats involved, after all, isn't that what Freedom Of Speech is all about? I know you are the moderator of these forums, but censorship sucks, it is communistic and very controlling. Everyone just needs to chill out on the French Knife picture, it was a joke. I know that you like to keep the forums clean and that's cool and all but banning and deleting posts that contains nothing more than a person's POV or opinion is oppresion. I guess when it comes down to it, the authority has the last say so and their is no democracy present here at these forums. Don't get me wrong; I still like them, they are extremely informative and I will continue to be an active member, but now I know where the proverbial tripwire lies. Have a good day! <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Aw, Chris! How about just a cooling off lock out instead of tossing Mike? Methinks you're being a bit hasty to show how egalitarian us uhmuricans kin be... because he generally "defended" an act or two of the USA. Or so it strikes me. Just a thought - you're the boss here, and no need to debate it.

Alain didn't need any help, as you point out - and he's still here, despite provocation. Bravo.

I think it's commendable of the entire forum that there has been so LITTLE diatribe about what nations do here.

Let's hear some more about Tom Brown's classes from those who have attended - I remain intrigued by that!

Regards,

Tom

<<...isn't that what Freedom Of Speech is all about?>>

Eh? No offense, but no, it is not. This is a private group which absolutely has the right to establish rules of behavior. Also, my rights end precisely where someone else's begin.

No one has a "right" to be here in the ETS forums. And there are rules. Someone is in charge of enforcing the rules (Chris and Doug).

Not trying to chastise or embarass you - your statement is a very common misunderstanding of the 1st amendment - even some judges clearly misunderstand it (or else they are criminals - take your pick).

I'm not tarring and feathering you, LoL - but please be more judicious with the "jokes" in the future, OK?

Regards,

Tom

The rules are the rules, and the boss is the boss. Hey guys, have I mentioned how much I love my Swiss Card? Blah, blah, blah.......... sorry, was that me snoring? Guess I'll turn on CNN. Aur revoir, Keys

I received an email from Doug over a week ago regarding this issue. Mike's posts went beyond all courtesy. He was warned, he was advised an apology was in order, by Doug. I was instructed to bann him if he couldn't comply. Mike posted a vulgar and insulting final post against Doug.Nobody is exempt from DOUG'S RULES, including ME. DOUG pays the bills, writes the articles, sues the infringing parties and tries to make this worthwile. Doug fully intended to drop the entire forum feature from the website at one time. I volunteered to moderate and keep it active. The rules and site focus are clearly written on the mainpage.

Chris, for what its worth, I totally agree with Doug / Your stand. If I want demonical racist ranting there are probably loads of places on the web I could find it. I use this site / fora (plural of forum for all you ignorant Yanks LOL) because I value the even-keeled impartial advice the members give to each other - lets keep it like that. (And before anyone disses me I'm totally pro-war and I want ass kicked as much as the next man, but (and its a big but (not butt)) even I drew the line when one of our UK newspapers described President Chirac as "Saddam Husseins Pimp" - well out of order.

There's nothing in the Constitution that gives anyone the right to be an ass with impunity. I for one am amazed that ANY web site can maintain a discussion board for any length of time, because moderating such a board is one of life's truely thankless tasks - right up there with being a parent or a webmaster. The bottom line with a moderated board of this type is - the person who owns the site makes the rules. If you want to start making rules, go get your own site.