Well, well. KB recently acquired a new set of Lords and Masters. A Quadrumvirate, forsooth .An "elite" they call themselves (well, Mr Hitcher does , anyway) to "take command" and provide "leadership" for the site. And ensure that the proletariat touch their forelock in approved fashion. A few weeks ago the newly Heaven Born (indeed, for now they are Augusti, and thus gods) indicated that they did not think that my opinions on matters would sit well with this Brave New World. And Dear Leader has now suggested (tactly, but they who rune may rede) that I would be more "comfortable" if I were to quietly remove myself.
Well, I'll wish them well of it. Uneasy lies the head and so on. I'm not sure that I see anyone of the stature of Diocletian here. And *he* had the legions to back him up. Kiwis generally dislike elites (unless they're rugby elites). Goes against our egalitarian, Jack's as good as master history. And bikers' don't much like being commanded. Have a tendency to poke those who try to command them with the proverbial sharp stick.
I dare say that I'd be permitted to hang around, provided I minded my Ps and Qs . And didn't use any naughty words, unsuitable for the kiddywinkies ears. And kept my unpolitically correct and unfashionably working class opinions to myself. Abided by the "consensus" as the phrase was. And followed the Rules.
But y'see, I don't really think I WANT to be Leadered. Be the Dear Leaders ever so elite. I've always ridden my own road. And my opinions have been honed and tempered over more years than many of you have been alive .Not everyone agrees with me of course. And that's not been a problem. 'Tis what debate is about. Gog has his opinion, Magog his. Both get stated and both parties can argue their case. But I'm not about to change them now (well, not unless someone persuades me by logic and debate) , and I wouldn't be "comfortable" (to use Dear Leader's term) in an environment where they would be likely to become victims of the Mysteriously Disappearing Post Disease.(been a bit of that about lately. Must be the weather).
'Twould only be a matter of time before I fell foul of a breach of most of those Rules.Never been very keen on Rules, m'self. We've not actually had many rules (Mr Spankme being a wise man) . I rather think that lamentable lack is going to rectified very soon. Amply rectified. Can't have a "chain of command" without Rules, really. Not logical. And the Heaven Born always need Rules to keep the proles up to the mark.
So, we're going to have a lot more Rules, I guess. And I note the innocuous little phrase in Mr Spankme's announcement "forum layout and content". I don't think then that I'd be too far wide of the mark if I reckoned that some of the new "List of Rules" will relate to site content. Like those Yank sites so approvingly eyed by the Heaven Born. Or, our own dear Snapd. With a Rule to define the site position on every social , political or cultural issue. Purely in the interest of leading the ignorant proles into correct and Heavenly sanctioned understanding , of course. That being the natural function of a Dear Leader .
Me, I nailed the tenets of my belief to the mast many years ago. That Red Flag flying there. I wonder how many of those tenets will be proscribed under the new "List of Rules" . Well, in a Dear Leadership , rules necessarily reflect the personal opinions of the Dear Leader .Hard to how they could be anything else. In this case one would expect to see the "List of Rules" endorse the right wing, the bourgeois, the politically correct. Supportive of the authoritarian and hostile of dissent. And, of course, proscription of the reverse of those. The ones nailed to that mast. The nails are deep driven. With the BLOODY BIG HAMMER. And there's nowhere near enough pottage here to change that.
I'm not sure if the "List of Rules and Permitted Opinions" is written yet. But I am sure that the "List of Members to be Purged" IS written. 'Tis a lengthy list, I understand. And I'm sure that the name "Ixion" is not too far down it. "Guilty of seeing four fingers".
So, I'll save them the trouble of the purge. I shan’t be too fussed. The site has changed.The communality is fading day by day. Its great quality was an extraordinary understanding of and support for free speech. And, my personal interest, encouraging the new riders. The former is quietly closing the door on its way out. And none of the Heaven Born have shown much interest in the latter so I doubt it will be high up that list of Approved Things to Post About. 'Twill be no sorrow to quit the outward shadow of things that only seem.
Though I may still pop up from time to time, like that *censored* elusive Pimpernel. Not to Break The Rules. Heaven forbid. Just a wee dart here or there, at the dicatorial and pompous . And remind folk of what used to be.
And I imagine I'll see a few of you from time to time on the road . Ride fast, ride safe. It's been a privilege to meet you (cybernautically speaking)
Les.
Originally Posted by skidmark
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