Standards

[*AQuietPlace*]

Originally Posted by MarshBea

The admins wouldn't ban me, even though I asked them to.

You didn't give us time to discuss it.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by MarshBea

BTW:Posting someone's full name on a public forum is real class. Standards was meant to be a joke and I never intended to hurt anyone. I realize that I made a fool out of myself and I would ask you all to forgive me. I posted that last thread in order to get banned. The admins wouldn't ban me, even though I asked them to. I am very sorry for offending you. Please accept my humble apologie. I am an idiot and I'm not afraid to admit it. I like to joke around and have fun. I have a weird sense of humor as you can see. As Timmy has stated, the Standards bit got old. I am very sorry.

OK, if you really want forgiveness, we offer two options to receive it.

1. The first is the RCC method
if you are sincerely penitent and can repeat while pounding on your chest, "mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa" then put $25 in the poor box, purchase and light 3 candles, pray the "Our Father" 10 times and the "Hail Mary" 30 times

2. The second is the UPC (quite closely related to RCC) method
If you are sincerely repentant, go to the altar, cry, pray, spit, snot, and sweat until you speak in tongues (pray through), then get rebaptized but it only counts if the proper words are spoken and you are completely submerged, then consistently pay 10 percent of your gross earnings or receipts as a tithe and add at least 5 percent as an offering, do not miss a single church service, function, or outing, and be sure you wear no jewelry or ornamental type accessories or clothing, be sure your hair is the "proper" length depending on your gender, and be sure your body is hidden from sight by clothing that adequately covers and is loose enough not to reveal any body contours, and unquestionably obey any rules of your pastor.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Heyyyy, forgettaboutit.

No. It was a deliberate provocation. He talked about it, people tried to talk him out of it and to act in a mature fashion. He made a deliberate choice to take the actions that he did.

Stan: Just where do you stand on the issue of standards and grace?

Some of the guys here have collected some sermons you have preached including video so we all can know what you look like. Can they be posted?

A good online friend of this forum is known as "KansasPreacher." You have an audio sermon up on KP's site. How is KP going to react when he sees a copy of your postings here?

[pelathais]

Timmy, for all of us to enjoy the good measure of freedom that we enjoy here we must also exercise a commensurate level of maturity and responsibility. "Standards'" behavior threatens all of our freedoms. If admins have to "clamp down" because other boneheads follow his lead, Standards will have succeeded in robbing us all of something that we have worked so hard and for so long to achieve - a free and open Apostolic forum.

We have all been attacked by "Standards'" actions. There really have to be consequences. He has shown a way that "the other side" can now infiltrate and accomplish what they couldn't accomplish with censorship when they called the shots here.

"Standards'" "joking around" is really what's on the hearts of many people who can't stand to see an open debate and dialog.

[Timmy]

Well, I didn't mean his Standards ID should be unbanned! He repented and asked forgiveness. He (as all of us) will be held responsible for his behavior in his other persona. (I just hope the forgiveness count doesn't have to get anywhere near 70 x 7. )

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Well, I didn't mean his Standards ID should be unbanned! He repented and asked forgiveness. He (as all of us) will be held responsible for his behavior in his other persona. (I just hope the forgiveness count doesn't have to get anywhere near 70 x 7. )

Forum rules were deliberately flouted, and now the forum rules haven't even been applied (yet) as punishment. It's not a "screen name" or "online persona" that erred. It was a human being. The ban applies to the human being, or at least it should. That's the way it's always been done. Maybe "Stan" has a more revealing explanation that sufficed to others? Dunno.

[Timmy]

Originally Posted by pelathais

Forum rules were deliberately flouted, and now the forum rules haven't even been applied (yet) as punishment. It's not a "screen name" or "online persona" that erred. It was a human being. The ban applies to the human being, or at least it should. That's the way it's always been done. Maybe "Stan" has a more revealing explanation that sufficed to others? Dunno.

Yeah, I wondered about that, too. MOW said all the IDs would be banned. But I'm not going to question him about that, since that's against the rules.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Yeah, I wondered about that, too. MOW said all the IDs would be banned. But I'm not going to question him about that, since that's against the rules.

I didn't "question" - I just speculated that there may have been some explanation behind the scenes that I couldn't possibly be aware of. I then expressed my own opinion on the dangers of allowing this type of infiltration and deliberate abuse to go on.

I could create a literal storm of "identities" all with separate IP addresses - with the IP addys coming from pools all around the world. Then what?

Nothing in that kind of behavior would actually help me in "pushing my agenda" here - my "agenda" is about openness, frankness and honesty. But, I can see how those who want to bring this board down could do so by emulating "Stan's" behavior if unchecked.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by MarshBea

BTW:Posting someone's full name on a public forum is real class. Standards was meant to be a joke and I never intended to hurt anyone. I realize that I made a fool out of myself and I would ask you all to forgive me. I posted that last thread in order to get banned. The admins wouldn't ban me, even though I asked them to. I am very sorry for offending you. Please accept my humble apologie. I am an idiot and I'm not afraid to admit it. I like to joke around and have fun. I have a weird sense of humor as you can see. As Timmy has stated, the Standards bit got old. I am very sorry.

Did someone post your "real name?" I must have missed that. I am willing to post your sermons and links to other websites that have your preaching posted there.

Whether you realized it or not, your "real" identity was actually known among the forum's extended family. When you told me, all I had to do was to load a friends page and he already knew. From there your sermons and videos have been collected. Others joined in as well.

The "Apostolic world" is really a microcosm. You and I, even though we've never apparently met, have just "one degree of separation." I stood in one pulpit that I saw you in - though many years ago before the "fancy upgrades." You've preached for people I know and folks who have been friends in years gone by.

Why would you possibly want to deliberately harm the relationships you have built over the years?

The only person hurt by this was a friend of mine - you. You really ought to lay off that guy and give him a break.

[notofworks]

Rather than doing a thread that will seem self-serving, I'll just post this here and "Let It Be" as Paul McCartney would say.





"Standards" was a real person.

Out of nowhere yesterday morning, he PMed me and said, "Are you _____ _______?"

Whether he was right or wrong about my identity, I freaked. I have never revealed my identity to anyone unless I trusted them completely. As it turns out, someone that does not like me at all and believes he knows who I am has "outed" me, or at least, believes he has. I've told a number of you before how protective I am with my ID because of certain personal reasons. If anyone is anywhere NEAR knowing my ID, I can't continue to be here.

So I was EXTREMELY upset and got in touch with Renda right away. In the meantime, he (Standards) apologized to me and said he was going to do something that would get him banned (kinda like AFF suicide) and then comeback with a fresh start.

I told him that wasn't the way to do it but he didn't listen, of course, and sent a note to many AFFers as well as Admin letting them know what he was going to do (kinda like his AFF suicide note). He then went on the SEU thread and said something like, "All you people do is gossip, you bunch of _______s". In his "parting note" he emphasized that what he was going to say did not represent his personality or character and I believe him.

I'm still trying to find out who is "outing me" but in the meantime, "NOW" is permanently retired. Maybe I'll try something else a few months from now, or maybe this is just a good way to break my AFF addiction!

But for anyone here who feels the need to guess at or to positively identify other members.....Shame on you!!! Regardless of your personal feelings toward me or others, you have no right to dishonor the discretion of AFFers who wish to remain anonymous. Anonymity is sacrosanct in a setting like this and vital to the success of a good Forum. While some are freely "Out" with who they are, there are others like me who have strong reasons for desiring to remain behind a bit of a curtain. How dare you take matters into your own hands and break the sanctity of another persons wishes. If you don't like what someone says, PM them and talk, don't be a snake, go behind the scenes, and start telling others who you think someone is.

I have shared who I am with several and have made lifelong friends. I've spent countless hours on the phone talking to some AMAZING friends about grace!! "Timmy" has become one of my closest friends and in some scary moments, it's been "Timmy" that I've reached out to first. I wanted to point him out because of the occasional vilification he receives because of his "beliefs" or "lack thereof".

This board is filled with some WONDERFUL people, and Renda, you know very well that's NOT what I thought at first. But the writings of Pelathais made me stay...I learned more from him than my college years combined...and I'm SO glad I stayed. Without AFF, I would have missed out on some of the greatest friends I've ever had.

Standards....this isn't on you and if I've said more than you wanted me to reveal, please accept my apologies. But there are many great friends I have here and felt I needed to explain. Again, I want to emphasize that "Standards" is not the bad guy in this story...unless he was trying to find out who I was, and I have no indication he was. But someone here...and I have a good idea who....has violated one of the basics of safety and I can't risk continuing.

I'm leaving my account active and wouldn't want to lose all the PM's I have so I'll be PMing those I don't keep in touch with outside the Forum.

I love you all deeply and I'll see you around.

NotofWorks~