hm...
well that was interesting.
yes ...the guys could have handled that a little more diplomatically.
Sure the fellow was asking an exorbitant sum, but that is his right to do so.
But the fellas could have handled it better, in the end it even drove the op to lash out rudely.

Interestingly, I have a good long list of folks on my ignore list.
Folks who have in the past exhibited behaviour that isn't changing but have been reliably and consistently rude.
I figured it the best way to deal with them.

The thing is though, it doesn't solve the problems of the forum, merely masks them by putting blinders on. So I have no idea what is going on with the uglier half of the forums posts.

It isn't really an answer or solution, not even a stop gap.

If councils and moderators are suffering from community ennui, are tired, or the place is so bloody huge an unwieldy now that it is difficult to manage, or are having a hard time for whatever reason ..in doing their duties, then we need to address that first, and then we have the ability to get this place sorted out.

Otherwise ..if we have no oversight, no management, then it is not a good sign. And things will only get worse.

As you said wicket, it is heading to the place where coming here isn't on the top of the "I really want to be here" list.

If the councils and moderators cannot do the job.
Then perhaps a forum schism is necessary.
or at worst
a forum wide purge of everything not maemo and clean this place up.
and continue with the mandate of this being "Talk Maemo".

But I will be damned before this place is taken over by rude and ignorant upstarts, whose interests have nothing to do with maemo whatsoever, and who should be reminded that they and their subject matter have been here under "sufferance" and a wish by the maemo community to be inclusive.

Point blank.
I think everyone here knows I have our community's interests at heart.

Whoever has them,
Give me the keys to the place for 30 minutes.
I will clean this place up.
As well, the implementing of a "3 strikes" , regardless of elapsed time between offences, or whether or not it occurred in the same thread ,
then a temp. banning, followed by a permanent banning for offenders who don't get the hint if they continue, that "civil" and kind behaviour is mandatory here.
Rooted member "behavioural issues" have no place here.
They should be seeking "professional help" outside of this forum in their personal life for their issues and get them dealt with,
before coming here to poison this place.

We may get fewer folks coming and going, possibly.
But they will be here to talk about what the forum was originally mandated for, topics on Maemo and devices that run the os's.