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Topic Date User

In defence of Phil Box and Bomber Pro... 16-Feb-2011 At 12:20:07 PM Winston Smith

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Something that’s been troubling me for some time is the way in which two of Chockstone’s more controversial contributors were hounded to the point where they left the group, following some admittedly intemperate comments.

It’s been almost 18 months since Bomber Pro – aka Muki Woods – farewelled “Monty’s world” after the final of a series of fiery clashes with Neil Monteith.

For Phil Box – once a moderator – it’s been about six months since he departed after insensitive comments about gay marriage.

I for one think – regardless of my personal views of them – that these guys were hard done by.

Surely the strength of the climbing community is its diversity of views and its willingness to have robust discussions both on and off topic.

The ‘Jesus thread’ has shown that despite its potential for offensive comments – which some members would say has been achieved – that our discussions can be engaging, instructive, funny, rude and poignant. On this last point thanks especially to Miguel75.

While Chockstone has a function that allows us to all, cowardly and secretly, vote for someone’s removal from the forum, it’s a sentence without a set term, probation period or right of appeal...

I dunno if Bomber or Phil felt the invisible knives or simply chose not to continue on Chockstone.

Either way I find the censorious circumstances that forced them to leave the group far more offensive than the opinions that they felt – incorrectly as it turns out – comfortable airing among their peers.