It takes awhile to read 58 posts, but then it's only a few minutes. ThomasBarnes posted things he shouldn't have and is now banned. He had plenty of time to edit them and didn't. Thad is no longer a moderator. I made a mistake in choosing him over bwildman, and I can't undo it now. bwildman is no longer interested in being a moderator. Cerebro was mentioned to me by an opponent of mine in Gothic Chess. It turns out that I had played him a few months back and he seemed level headed, balanced, and liked to play Gothic Chess. I wrote him and asked if he'd like to try being a moderator on this discussion board. He said he'd give it a try. I'm impressed with him so far. He's done nothing and taken no actions as yet. Imagine that, all that power at his finger tips and he's touched no buttons! I think that's a good start and perhaps we'll have the moderator that some have been clammoring for. Just because someone disagrees with me doesn't mean they won't be a good moderator or that we can't work together. He's still studying the old posts and reading the current ones, I assume. After he does his research of the old files we'll work out some ground rules.

I might yet switch the MODE to "Approve all posts" as has been suggested in some recent posts. I think a really helpful option for Fencer to add to the moderator's toolbox would be one that allows certain users to be placed on approved messages only. It could be placed next to the Banned and Hidden users windows are. The way it's set up now, it's all or none. The overwhelming majority of posters cause no problems with their posts and add to the dialogue in the discussion boards. Those few that cause trouble really make it bad for everyone else. It forces the moderators to either put up with everything or completely restrict everything. Yes, banning the trouble makers will work, but not when some of the banned people have a vocal group of supporters that flame the board the moment that action is taken.

I'm going to post a lot less often or very rarely to this board for now on. That should allay the concerns of those that I worried when I carried on the other day. Someone, harley it is, mentioned making mistakes. I certainly have made some of late. This way of communicating is lots different than talking to someone face to face or on the telephone. I'm learning quick. Apparently this board has created a stir in other places, just from the sudden appearance of people that haven't posted here at all or in a long time.

This board is for Gothic Chess and related subjects. Patents in and of themselves are not what this board is about. Gothic Chess being unique in the respect that it is patented and the game itself has a history of how it came into being has caused the two subjects to come together in a clash of wills on the subject. Ed has a proprietary stake involved and feels he must guard it. Seeing how some companies have lost their trademark or patent from not doing so, it's hard to fault him for it. (Like the name, Aspirin, for example). Some of my posts about it have certainly shaken that up, especially when others have given their opinion on it that furthers the discussion against his ownership of it. Why he threatens lawsuits when all that we're doing is talking is beyond me, but that more or less is what all the recent commotion on this board has been about. Aside from this last post concerning my interpretation of recent events, I will no longer post about patents. I hope this helps with the flaming. And since I will rarely post at all from now on, I know it'll help. I will continue to moderate this board for the time being. I have mentioned to Fencer that I might step down from the job. I have more or less enjoyed the job, though it certainly has some drawbacks. In a week or two we'll see how it goes and I'll let you all know. I asked one other person yesterday if he'd like to try his hand at it. After I got home from work today, I had received two replies from him. The first said yes, he'd give it a go. The second one said he'd reconsidered and was turning it down. Perhaps the 53 messages between the two letters got him thinking? So it'll be Cerebro and I for the time being.

Thank you for your support and understanding,
Walter