Use your judgement

[Bob Keller]

The recent flap over Tony's most recent posting reminds me of a story.

When I was about 14, my sister and I pretty violently disagreed about the Vietnam war. I knew that with a few carefully crafted phrases I could tick her off soooo badly, she'd be pounding on the door to my room, ready to punch me in the nose, and, in best Bart Simpson style, this would get her in trouble with Mom.

Now, I've seen the on-line bankruptcy information. It is public information and it is pretty eye-opening. On the surface, I have no reason to doubt Tony's numbers. The last time I looked Lionel's legal expenses were getting pretty high.

But Tony has just done what I used to do to my sister.

Fifteen guys on this forum freak out and start name calling and bashing on the door to punch him in the nose. Then some minor league bomb throwers get in the act ("I hear this ...."), and it is like the bar fight in Blazing Saddles.

This doesn't make Tony's numbers less true, it just makes everyone look like a bunch of chuckleheads. Any Tony has to be laughing his rear off.

And now, here I am, acting as Mom.

We've been pretty liberal in allowing members to discuss controversial topics on this forum. That is over. If anyone even hints at a hot topic, the thread is gone and they'll be blocked from posting.

No, I'm not going to ban Tony. He should be a bit more selective in what he posts, and some forum members should be way more effective in deciding whether or not to get into a fight.

Everyone satisfied?

Oh, and my sister and I still disagree on Vietnam, though less violently. When she and I get into it over the war these days, her 30-something daughter tells us we're acting like kids.

There's a lesson in there somewhere.