I think maybe one of the reasons (there could be more, I dunno) that people are still debating this is because Toppscore was not universally percieved as being a moron. It's the truth, people. You can like it or not but not everyone hated him. He wasn't a jerk in every thread he posted to. Some members even considered him to be helpful. It's clear to me now that I've done a little reading that his bad behavior only manifested in the presence of some specific board members and only after he took their little jabs and it's also clear that these conflicts were dragged in here from other boards. I have now seen some of the worst examples of his behavior I can see that regardless of the fact that he was in fact provoked, there was simply no excuse for his reaction(s) and he did need to be punted ... but that's not the end of it.

As I continue to think on this situation I see very clearly he needed to be punted but I also begin to see that this board is already in danger of going the way of most of the other, older boards have gone, into the land of the good old boys club where if you're not liked you get squeezed out and you'd damned well better have the same opinion as the majority or else. What I see for sure is that conflicts from other sites were brought in here and were rekindled and new fuel was added to those fires as well as some new petty complaints over a signature picture or a wrong answer here and there. Nothing out of the ordinary on a guitar board. What I deduce from that is that since his behavior was not universal but limited to certain crowds and also that since those speaking loudest against him all seem to mention those conflicts from other web sites it stands to reason that this entire situation, although bad to start with, was made worse because some people couldn't just let it go and click the ignore button. They weren't happy until they could push his buttons until he tipped over the edge. Don't make the excuse it's all about amp safety. You simply make your post as factual as you know how and you leave it at that. I'm not say we shouldn't correct people if they give bad info. I'm saying let's try not to make things worse around here by starting small wars when there are other, easier means of dealing with this sort of thing.

You don't like somebody? Fine. Nobody's making you. Toppscore had to go because of his behavior. Nothing more. He didn't have to go because of his signature picture. Those are allowed here so suck it up buttercup. He also didn't have to go because of his post count. There are no rules against that either so suck it up some more and shut up about it already. Another thing he didn't have to get punted for was for posting some bad info. I'd bet good money that there isn't a single one here who has not at some time said something that wasn't correct. Those things are all non-issues. It was his behavior he got punted for and that behavior didn't have to happen. Sure, the man has a weakness and overreacts when provoked. Does that mean we have to provoke him?

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Maybe you would care to explain how Andybighair provoked toppscore in this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=74505&p=886132#p886132

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Bill

Wow! Never saw that one before. He was all over the place!

Art

^^^ Yes and very well said. He may have had to go but there are plenty of others who need to look at their baiting of him and general childishness.

Arjay's winding him up with his demeaning and childish Einstein comment was uncalled for and unjust. In fact it says a lot more about Arjay than it did Toppscore. Think about it.

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

Deleted

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Bill

Deleted.

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Bill

OK, so maybe he wasn't provoked every time but he was provoked a lot of the times. I'm not defending him. I'm not saying he shouldn't have been punted. I'm not pleading for his reinstatement. I'm not taking his side on any single thing. I'm simply saying that the others involved were not without fault in the way this situation came to a head. I'm saying that a full two thirds of the complaints against him were without merit because they had to do with things which there are no rules against. I'm saying there are a lot of fingers pointing at him but nobody wants to take responsibility for their own part in it. And they did have a part in it.

Go back and read my last paragraph.

You don't like somebody? Fine. Don't turn the board into a war zone over it. Leave the jackasses alone and if you don't have the fortitude to ignore them then click on the ignore button which will do at least half the job for you. There was no need for this to happen. We've had jackasses before without it coming to this. The problem is that people brought their attitudes here from skirmishes that happened someplace else and I'm sorry but I just don't want to hear about what happened somewhere else and I don't want it affecting my experience here on this board. That's their crap. I don't need it. The problem is some people simply can't let things go and let them die. It's this, "you're not gonna tell me anything," crap ... yah, like that attitude ever made a board a better place to be.

I'm going to do my part to help let it die. I've wasted enough time thinking about this. It has opened my eyes to a few things, though.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

Agree. Unsubscribing now.

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Bill

Cool. C'mon. Let's go. I'm buying.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

I get it now. I never read those posts, TS always a little off but that was ridiculous. Just the dribble he continued to babble on about was enough to convince me.

One last thing, a little respect goes a long way.

Please shut this thread down.

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Gary

I second that emotion!

Please see comments (in blue) in quote box which I posted to show my general(!!) attitude about stuff like this, NOT to defend Toppscore. This attitude was the reason for my questions.

In this certain case, several warnings can surely be seen as a proper alternative for a timely restricted ban. I did some reading and I must fully agree with Brad's decision. A ban was inevitable.

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Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

I've spoken often, over the past five years, about the need for tact in these discussions. It's a pity to have valued contributors sign off for good as a result of this.

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"Another day in paradise!"

Was he swearing at people? was he threatening anyone? was he mocking anyone's religion or sexuality?

Those are the things that should lead to a ban. Just getting into heated arguments should not be reason for someone getting banned from a forum in 2012. No one's an angel and some people have a more feisty combative nature which may come across in their posts.

From what i've read nothing he did was overly over the top and an all out ban was jumping the gun and excessive. Brad basically caving in to the wishes of some sensitive souls after they PM'd him.

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.