Considerable uproar, name calling, inappropriate postings, cries of AuctionArms "censorship" and "You're treading on 1st Amendment rights" have been made in the AuctionArms Forums as of late.

I, and I believe the majority of our AuctionArms Forum posters/readers are getting pretty sick and tired of it. I've been pretty tolerant up 'til now, but the majority of our Forum has made it clear, it's time to stop the abuse. I agree.

1st Amendment: First off, those of you who are not Constitutional scholars might do well to re-read the 1st Amendment in the Bill of Rights and reflect on who it applies to. The First Amendment applies ONLY to the FEDERAL Government and through the 14th Amendment (the "Incorporation" clause) to State governmental entities. So far (although the current Administration is doing it's darnedest to nationalize businesses) AuctionArms is not a governmental entity. The constitution just doesn't apply.

Censorship: Yes I will censor individual posts if they are disruptive and not in the best interest of AuctionArms. I will censor entire threads if I believe the Thread Admin is laying down on the job. That is AuctionArms' sole call. If this upsets you, Sorry. This is our house and we will excuse guests who do not respect house rules from the privilege of posting on the AuctionArms Forums. If you don't like the rules find another on-line forum that better fits your needs and abides by your behaviour. Post there.

Purpose: the AuctionArms Forums are provided to our customers to seek and share information with each other and AuctionArms, to engage in lively discourse, to seek help, recommend changes and complain about AuctionArms (not each other).

"Time-Outs":We are instituting a new tool to help control this situation. This tool will allow AuctionArms staff to control disruptive posters, posters of inappropriate content, or those who just can't seem to follow the Forum rules short of kicking them completely off of the site. This tool will allow AuctionArms staff to award "time outs". Users under a "time-out" will not be able to start Threads or post comments to them. We will control disruptive posters by issuing "time-outs" to folks who act as juveniles. The period of "time-out" will at our discretion and will vary in length from a few days to "forever" depending on the seriousness of the infraction and whether previous "time-outs" have been issued. They will start small and get progressively longer.

Thread Admin: Folks who start threads will be held responsible for keeping their threads policed of inappropriate comments (name calling, foul language, baiting other users, inappropriate content IN THEIR THREADS or face being awarded a "time-out" for their inattentiveness.

Posters who continually "hijack" threads for their own agenda, insist on baiting or badmouthing other users, post inappropriate content on other's threads "threaten" other users, engage in "p*****g contests", continually violate Forum rules, or in other ways show poor judgement or bad citizenship will be placed on "time-outs".

"Time outs" will largely be transparent and will only be noticeable to the majority of our customers by a mere absence of the poster from the AuctionArms Forums for a while.

I am really sorry it has had to come to this. Most of our AuctionArms Forum participants are adults and comport themselves accordingly. I've requested in general several times that folks respect and treat one another better. For a small minority of the posters my requests apparently have gone unheeded. They, like children, keep pushing to find the limits. Ok kids you are going to have them well defined with individual "time outs". No warnings will be issued, no second chances, you'll just find yourself on a "time out". If you do find yourself the recipient of a "time out" just reflect on why, I think you'll know. We won't answer any email or entertain requests for re-consideration. "Time outs" will expire when they are over, not before.

Those of you in this minority, please consider your posts well before you click that "Post My Comments" button.

The Forums are provided to be an enhancement to the AuctionArms experience, not a liability. They will become such. Please help us make them so.