But Randy....

Randy,

I think you are missing a couple of things here that are fairly important:

1. Whenever you post, regardless of how you hope or mean for people to accept what you wrote, you own it. If the post makes you look or seem foolish this is the impression you are leaving countless people with. In the mysterious world of the Internet impressions go a long way towards success or failure.

2. The board has to be moderated. I myself have a board similar to this one and if it weren't for the efforts of my moderators and I, it would just become another trash site filled with garbage post advertising all sorts of things as opposed to being a place where useful information is shared.

It isn't being a dictator; it is being a board owner. Those who own can indeed determine what is posted by those who simply visit. It is one of the most fundamental rules on Internet discussion boards. As an owner Leslie has every right to republish what you post, change it, delete it, or whatever else she wants. Once you post it here, you own the outcome but she owns the post itself.

As a visitor you do have some rights:

You have the right to post with the understanding that it might not stay on the board.

You have a right to expect that you won't be attacked personnally.

You have a right to visit, read, and not post.

You have a right to stay away if you so choose.

Leslie (or I or any other board owner) won't infringe upon your basic rights as a visitor. But don't come in expecting any special treatment either. If your post doesn't pass muster, it is likely to get nuked, flamed, or otherwise. I have had post removed more times that I can count as has anyone who comes to boards like this frequently. When it happens you move on. You don't lash out at the board, the other visitors, and the moderators. Doing so once again goes back to that all important online impression.

Ask yourself this; What impression have you left from this string upon those who do not know you? In the aftermath have you impressed people and made them want to do business with you? Or have they been left feeling otherwise?

My sincere advice is that you read up on some of the "rules of the road" when it comes to online discussion boards. There are lots of ebooks out there on the subject and in the end you might learn how to better use boards like this one to a positive end as opposed to leaving other looking at you in a negative light.