I'm a pretty easy-going person with a good sense of humor. I think the forum members will attest to that. So let's have fun and analyze a bizarre situation. 

It has to do with alleged Spam postings. I asked for your comments on this post: Is This Spam or Not? What is your opinion?   

I appreciate the votes and comments on that post. So far forum members say: 100% Spam. I trust their opinion. 

I am pretty lenient about "business" postings and tend to give people the benefit of the doubt. I like to invite ALL people to join my forum and become valued members. When they just do a "hit and run" post or two tooting their own horn it is pretty easy to figure out what is going on. I think the forum members are very perceptive about that too. 

The Story: 

* Names have been changed to protect the innocent.  

“Mr. Charming Webmaster" took offence that there might be the slightest whiff of alleged Spam about his forum posts. He threatened me with legal action for posting on my forum telling him how the forum views Spam. Mr. Charming Googled his name and is highly offended “by your misleading comments about my person on your website, and I shocked that they have been on public view without my knowledge.” 

My Comment: This is a public forum. Mr. Charming posted his own name and website on my forum. Forum members have deemed the comments as Spam. Oh, sorry, alleged Spam. Or should I call it the “S” word? Must cover all bases. 

Mr. Charming has his knickers in a knot because: “You chastise me very strongly and very publicly and label me a "spammer". I have never "spammed" anyone in my life and I am most upset…I am greatly offended.”  Mr. Charming asked me to “remove these inappropriate comments about my person from your website forthwith." 

My Comment: As I said before, I am easy-going. I generally don’t like to get into altercations with people. I would rather take the high road.In deference to his tender, hurt feelings, I removed Mr. Charming's name from the post even though he is the one who made it public by posting it on my forum in the first place. 

Mr. Charming came roaring back. That is not good enough.   "I note that you have modified your post but not deleted it. When my name is Googled the offensive material is still plainly visible for all to see. As such, you continue to infringe my rights and defame my good name.” 

Mr. Charming puts me on notice that if I don’t rectify the situation immediately he will contact his legal advisers to remedy my “inaccurate assumptions or mis-truths”. He assures me that his submissions were entirely appropriate, my observations were “offensive” and in no way did his posts smell of alleged Spam. 

My Comment: Okay, Mr. Charming. You have threatened me with legal action over my (and forum members’) perceptions of your non-Spam scented postings. I have deleted the post per your gracious request. Instead I have posted a general notice about Spam on my forum. It is directed at Spammers, not such amiable Irish webmasters as yourself.

Rule #842:  Thou Shalt Not Mention the “S” word in the presence (online or real life) of Mr. Charming. 

Well, Mr. Charming, I'm sure that this little tempest in a teapot has revealed much about various personalities and characters. Thank you for your enthusiastic comments. Forum members are free to frequent your highly acclaimed website, enjoy your Facebook page, use your Dublin architectural firm (or whatever it is) and buy your book about vintage airplanes. BTW, gotta love your Google+ photo. 

To all those Mr. Charmings out there, it might be wise to take a deep breath, calm down and stop taking yourself so seriously. Forums are public places and those who are easily offended should enter them cautiously and post with discretion. In general forums are not for crotchety, cranky people. 

(Disclaimer: my statement about easily offended, crotchety, cranky people is a general statement directed at everyone on the worldwide web and not directed to any one person!) If the shoe fits… 

Like Judge Judy says: "Don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining!" 

And as I say: "If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and flies like a duck it just may be a duck." 

I’ve decided to make lemonade out of lemons. Life is too short to for negativity. Might as well have fun with things instead. I do have to admit that my lemonade needs more sugar. My lips are puckered! And NOT with kisses. 

Michele 

P.S. Enough with such stupidity. Oh no, another “S” word!