Did somebody erase the kOlam?

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 10 Jun 2007, 19:49

I was looking to post in the kOlam thread as I found a song with kOlam as a subject. It was here until yesterday. Did any mod move it elsewhere or was it totally erased? If it is the latter, why? Perhaps an accidental deletion! Sigh.....

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 11 Jun 2007, 03:09

This is rather strange indeed. I can't believe an entire thread got deleted!
My last post there was when I alerted srkris to an issue, and soon after the thread got removed. Most bizarre.
Perhaps a moderator or srkris can help us understand what's going on.

Sam Swaminathan · Post by **Sam Swaminathan** » 11 Jun 2007, 03:50

Perhaps, I should ask the same question here....who decided to close the topic on Pillai community. The thread was started with sincere intentions to study and contribute to the subject of contributions by the Pillai community to carnatic music. That, the topic, some times, leaned towards caste, was unfortunate. But this could have been easily controlled by moderators who can always bring the subject back to its original course. And that is why we have moderators. Closing the subject with out rhyme or reason purely driven by emotions is totally uncalled for.

I am extremely disappointed by this.

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 11 Jun 2007, 04:26

I second what sam swaminathan expressed here. The "piLLai community" topic was not intended (as I sensed it) to do any caste overtones. It was in appreciation of the contribution by that community. One cannot talk about their contributions without using their surnames. For example MMI stands for Madurai Mani Iyer. Would somebody close the topic about MMI saying it has caste overtones?

I personally feel nobody intended to give caste shade to that topic. Facts were mentioned without any aspersions. I felt we were ennobling the piLLais by recognizing their contributions.

chalanata · Post by **chalanata** » 11 Jun 2007, 07:55

srkris,
you have done the most sensible thing by closing the topic!

vgvindan · Post by **vgvindan** » 11 Jun 2007, 10:18

chalanata,
closing a topic is different from removing it. If the admin or moderators find something offensive or sensitive, either that particular post of the such offensive/sensitive words could have been deleted. Erasing the thread may seem to be a little extreme step, particularly because, the views expressed by members are their own and the forum admin and moderators cannot be held accountable for such views. Therefore, any controversial posts could have been appropriately commented.

At the same time, I request members also to be a little judicious in selecting names for the threads, particularly on politically and socially sensitive issues. Even in such cases, the admin or moderators may rename the thread.

I also suggest that the admin declare in the dashborad that 'the views expressed by members are their own and those running the website are not accountable for the same' or words to that effect so that they could cover themselves legally.

Sam Swaminathan · Post by **Sam Swaminathan** » 11 Jun 2007, 10:45

I have no problems about a topic being closed, for what ever reason. But before such action being taken, I request that there is some discussion from the powers to be (moderators) to the forum members and in particular to the author of the subject ( in the case of my subject "Pillai community") . I think I deserve that much courtesy, to say the least.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 11 Jun 2007, 10:57

I suppose my posts didn't help, although I was careful not to be critical or controversial.

srkris · Post by **srkris** » 11 Jun 2007, 11:39

About the kolam topic, its still there (but hidden). Please lets not discuss on things that don't concern music.

I mean its fine once in a while to stray out of the topic (in threads that were about music). But lets not create threads that have no relation to the theme of the forum. A moderator has hidden it, and I can bring it back if necessary.

About the pillai thread, again it was closed by one of the moderators fearing that it would soon get out of hand. Please note however that the moderators cannot continuously monitor all threads and do damage-control, so they get proactive at times. I'm opening this with the assumption that you guys are not going to drag caste issues into it.

mahakavi · Post by **mahakavi** » 11 Jun 2007, 19:53

srkris:
Thanks for your explanation. We are all honor-bound members of the forum and there was no intent on anybody's part to criticize any caste here--in fact it was like going over an honor list of musicians from a particular sect. A few posts which touched on caste were perhaps inadvertent and more inclined towards mentioning facts. I am sure our members do not mean any offense to any caste. But your point is taken.

As for "hiding" the kOlam thread itself I could not understand the need for such an emergent action (removing it altogether) by the moderator in question, especially when the original poster clarified his intent and made an appeal to you (as the administrator). Having said that I will concede that it is your "privilege" to decide whether to reopen it or not.

jayaram · Post by **jayaram** » 12 Jun 2007, 02:31

A moderator has hidden it, and I can bring it back if necessary.

Srkris - can you please reinstate the thread. Thank you.