STOP ALL THIS NOW!

Bravely said, Emma! If anything needs to be done - it's certainly not a return to swapping insults and libellous accusations on the threads. I've noticed that the 'usual suspects' have set up alternate personnas ready for the in-fighting. Some of the best talent has already left the site (or stopped posting) having noticed that things on the threads are decending back to how they were before. What's the point of all the new changes to the site if it is allowed to return to a battle-ground of hate?

Just dawned on me that many who do not read the other threads may not know what this is all about... Forget it and consider this instead: How happy is the blameless Vestal's lot! The world forgetting, by the world forgot. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd. 'Eloisa to Abelard', Alexander Pope.

I get the impression that you feel I disagree with you, Liana... in the main I don't. I just do NOT want to see the return of libellous accusations. They ususally turn out to be unfounded, malicious, hearsay - designed to blacken the character of their victim. This is a very evil technique that relies on the 'no smoke without fire' principle. It's no good allowing one side to use it while jumping on the other! I just think that NO-ONE should be allowed to do it or what is the point of the new rules for posting?

Mykle, I'm sure no one wants to see anyone libel anyone. These boards were a lot more hairy a while back, but despite the abuse chucked around (I was by no means innocent), at least they were interesting. The forums now are a dank, sterile wasteland and it is self evident why this is. What Jasper/Nikaya does is deeply unpleasant and has nearly killed this place. " How I long to pop in and find something witty, entertaining or informative... *sigh*" You're not alone. I used to love coming on here and having fun. Now most don't bother and the diss writing forum is no longer used for its purpose. Let's hope a solution can be found forthwith.

Ok Emma, you've had your say, but on several issues you're way off the mark. Whatever your personal opinion of jasper is, he is NOT liked on the site by any but those that don't know his modus operandi ie. new members such as yourself. He is a self-confessed attempted murderer (something I don't actually believe, he's making claims of violent notoriety to increase his self-esteem and to convince others here he is not a man to be trifled with. Yeah right!). Either way he's a psychopath that should be locked up for the greater good of the human race. (I wouldn't take too much notice of Mykle/Slimey either, he's done his share of harrassing women here too) ' ...people like Mississippi, are fuelling Nikaya999, also the editors, by belittling everything he writes... ' I've been on this site since it's inception and during that time I've witnessed (and in some cases been a party to) many rows. Most of these have resolved themselves because in the main they are between decent (if vociferous) members. No one has EVER tried to dominate or shape the site like jasper. he will fail as have the others who have attempted similar things. WHY? Because the hard core of long time members and the management won't put up with his bullying techniques. I have my enemies here (I don't see jasper as an enemy because he is not really even a 'proper' member, just a johnny-come-lately that thinks he can impress us. He's only semi-literate after all, and I rather pity people like him, so could never see him as a worthy opponent). I can guarantee you that I will not sit by why the prat wrecks this site. It isn't going to happen. End of story. So on that count you may as well save your energy. I also don't really care what you think of me. ' ...site is not a standard open forum, people join it seeking support in their writing, and if people want a gritty discussion may I suggest yahoo chat... ' Wrong again. The General Discussion forum is for the discussion of EVERYTHING BUT writing. If you don't like / can't handle 'gritty discussion' may I suggest you don't join in. ' ...you all think Nikaya999 pounces on new writers and befriends them, well do you know what, whether it be malicious or not he is the main person to have offered me continuous feedback on my ... ' I'm afraid that as you say, 'Nikaya999 pounces on new writers and befriends them'. Yes he does, and he does it because he sees them as impressionable people that don't know his sad history. In slightly different circumstances he would be seen as 'grooming' new, young and impressionable people. He tries to brush it aside and claims that it's untrue but he HAS been involved in stalking women in Australia (if I'm wrong he can sue me ), he has at any rate told the police it is his intention to murder someone which is just as bad. He is in my opinion, disgusting. ' ...I guess the success of this site and its future will be down to new members - hence me!... ' You kid yourself my dear, the success of this site is down to the long-term members and the management. You ARE an important ingredient, but don't kid yourself the future of the site is in your hands, anymore than it's in mine, or indeed those of any individual or group. ' ...I am not naive or unrealistic... ' That is the most naive of your comments. ' ...If I leave this site because of something, it would be because of those that encourage this... ' Whether or not you leave is entirely up to you, but don't think you can come along and straight off demand the site changes to suit you. That is what jasper has tried to do. Like him, you will fail. It's better if you try to adjust to the way it is and become a part of the group. Your input WILL be considered along with that of others, but please don't think you can impose your ideas. ' ...I again am telling it through my eyes. Whether i’m wrong or not is indifferent,... ' I suspect you mean 'unimportant' as opposed to 'indifferent'. Whether or not you are right or wrong ISN'T unimportant, if that were the case your argument would be pointless now, wouldn't it? ' ...I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU READ THIS AND TAKE IT SERIOUSLY... ' Well I COULD say ditto, but I guess you already have your mind made up about this so please yourself.

Emma, I really don't give a shit what you think. There, is THAT what you want? I didn't liken you to jasper, I merely said that on that point there are similarities. If you are going to take people to task at least please try to understand what it is they are saying. You claim to speak for others, well we could all include those we believe concur with our points of view, couldn't we. In fact we DO. I haven't undone anything of yours either, you come here and start shouting about what you don't want to read. I have the answer. Don't read it. You will NOT change human nature, trust me on that, I'm a failure.

Yes my dear, very trying.

Emma, what Liana says is right. The worst possible thing you can do here if you don't want an argument is to start a thread such as this. If you don't wish a reaction from me then don't bring me into your argument, as the context of my name in your opening post was not going to pass by unanswered. Let's get this straight for once and for all; jasper/nikaya/whatever is a total and absolute sack of shit, and the sooner he's banned from this site the sooner it can get back to being the moderately nice place it has been over the past five years. I don't need any lectures/advice/whatever from you. I have no personal problem with you and i'm sure you will stay, for a while at least. This isn't just a 'writers' site, it's a microcosm of real life, with all it's attendant foibles, accept it as such and life becomes less troublesome here. I might add it's not troublesome to me.

You may not think you need this mississippi but you do. Well done Emma, I applaud your courage in standing your ground. I agree that the editors should slap the wrists of anyone who flouts the ethos of the theads. Everyone knows you can't shut people out. So just grow up and get on with writing and encouraging new talent to flourish rather than run for cover when they visit this site. Say what you want about Jasper, but he does pick out some good work and give reasonable feedback. Jasper! Please try not to bite. Each time you do, is another step for peace. Mississippi and you other bunch of babies out there,!take heed from Emma, she has a right to speak her mind without you lot trying to twist her words...and I'm backing her now! Tai, pulling no punches!

View from an apparently appallingly behaved baby (see name calling works both ways): Oh God. Here we go again. Emma and Tai, I sympathise with your view I really do, but in effect you’re vilifying a lot of us for not being able to wipe the slate clean every week or so, just in case a new member joins. I’m right with you on the, it looks appalling to onlookers thing. It does. When I first started frequenting this site, the fact that some people seemed to be having their heads bitten off for no apparent reason was a complete turn off. I found it intimidating – I didn’t dare to post and left the site. However, on return a long time later, it transpired that I had just tuned in at a very unfortunate time. The spat between two individuals had calmed down and it became apparent that it was only between the two of them and it didn’t affect anybody else. So I gave it another go. Since then this site has been one of the warmest, most supportive and most helpful communities of REAL people I could hope to meet. The Jasper situation is completely different. Although it may still appear to new arrivals that he is the one who is being got at, the fact remains that it is his very presence that causes schisms and upset and frustration amongst the community here and already, many respected and well liked members have left because of him. Unfortunately, we cannot compel Jasper to supply newcomers with a complete resume of how vile and vitriolic and downright obscene he can be to people who cross him, I can only add my witness to the fact that I have never, ever in my life had so much jaw-droppingly upsetting vitriol thrown in my personal direction, by whatever means, as I have by Nikaya 999 or whatever he chooses to call himself. If I can only continue to use this site by treating him as if he’s a benign being than I’ll go too. But hang on – why the hell should I? You know nothing about this person. I do.

Tai, no one here wants to deny Emma her say, and you know what? She's had it. I also have the right to mine and I do. Emma is obviously a gentle soul though how anyone that can write a seedy dialogue such as 'I want to be a pornstar' and then complain about swearing is beyond me. Anyway, she said her piece, and I among others have responded. As Lou says, you have no experience of the wanker and others here have. Whatever you think, do we REALLY want a person here who claims he is hell-bent on murdering another person? That alone is reason enough to ostracise him. Telling people they need to grow up says more about yourself than those you address. It's a response regularly thrown at people one disagrees with and yet have no proper argument to offer. Jasper is, and always will be, a destructive moron. There are places for people like him, eg. Moreton Bay, Botany Bay etc. Apart from generating hatred for himself he is not really successful at anything as far as I can see. He even claims to be an 'attempted muderer', so he wasn't even very successful at what he said is his mission in life was he? Sooner or later he will over-step the mark and he'll end up in prison. I hope it's sooner.

Wow, 24 hours of page cannot be displayed and I miss everything! Emma, I agree that the recent arguments on here have been rather disheartening. However, I have to disagree with some of your comments. I, like you, am also a recent newcomer, and like yourself was overwhelmed by Jasper/ Nikaya's praise of my work and thought he must be a pretty decent person to continually flag up newbies work and praise it to the skies. Unfortunately, my opinion was soon to change. Firstly he diregarded the terms and conditions of the site and deleted a thread about one of my poems, something that upset me greatly, then I made the mistake of having an opinion of my own, that differed from his and immediately I was told by him, to shut up, called stupid etc etc...Since then I have sat back and watched with interest as he flagged up newcomers in a seemingly friendly way, but then ridiculed them if at anytime they dared to disagree with his sometimes bizarre opinions. I hope more than anything that from now on the site can get better, I do however feel that your rather naive post has not contributed to its recovery in the slightest.

This is the challenge. Agree to disagree. But you Jasper, have to behave in a civilised way. We are all tempted to knee jerk at some time or another. We just have to learn not to. Jesus Christ, what hope do we have in this world if we cannot bring peace to a flocking Writers site?lol Time out is best for all concerned with with keeping this site up and racing. Tai, oh so bored with this bullshit.

Emma, I agree with a lot of what you say. I too really really wish that arguments and bickering would just cease. I also agree that ignoring them often makes them go away. I've had words on many occasions with those here who leap on someone and insult them. It only aggravates them and doesn't help anyone. Jasper/Nikaya/Mojo has persistently broken our code of conduct and hence the request for him to leave. If other persistent offenders who choose to insult before thinking care to carry on in that vein then they too will be asked to back off. In the past that has always worked and no further action has been deemed necessary. I believe that the new members are the future of the site. It's absolutely necessary for us to grow and grow and grow - and then ABC tales can have the success it deserves. It's always a fine line in these matters and I try to control things with a very faint touch - but sometimes it is necessary to act.

I considered saying something... :-/ ...but then I chose not to... :-) ABC tales is great! :-)) I ignore everything about it I don't like... :- ...& write... .......................................... "P"

Well said! Bravo P....!! Emma, don't take it all so serious, just walk on with your lovely camel and enjoy the countryside (and keep on writing of course!)

Well said, Yutka! Nothing like a bout of mutual backslapping eh? Now how does that prayer go...? "Lord, grant me the Serenity to accept The things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And Wisdom to know the difference." "P"