Does This Qualify As A Random Personal Attack?

please understand that I am not challenging you or trying to put you on the defensive--you're right to bring this up, this certainly was not a nice thing for Marcello to do, and I know your history (on-board at least)--but my question is, what would be acomplished by removing that post? I do totally see your point about escalation, though--if that thread becomes about this issue, I could lock it. (or I could ban just you two from just that thread, but that doesn't mean that others won't derail it.) How does that sound?

I just really feel like right now Marcello is going out of his way to make ILX as unpleasant an experience as possible for me. I do occasionally need to have a little whine or mope and let off a bit of steam, and I do actually see the "why are you unhappy" threads as a place to do that in a friendly and supportive (yeah, optimist me) environment.

It's quite distressing for me to feel like one person is specficially out there, almost like he's waiting for me to post something personal so he can jump on me and attack what I say. I know that I'm paranoid, and he acts that way with *everyone* but I'm feeling very creeped out and almost... stalked at this point.

Locking the thread or banning us both wouldn't accomplish anything except making me feel *more* shit, like I'm saying or doing something that I shouldn't - when all I'm doing is using the thread for its specific purpose.

I think that's it not acceptible for people to use ILX for direct personal attacks, and that is exactly what that post is. I guess what I think it would accomplish is a slap on the wrists from a moderator saying "Look, she's asked you to stop multiple times, what you are doing now is harrassment and borderline stalking, now quit it."

If you don't think that would have the desired effect, then fair enough. I suppose deleting one post is the culmination of months, even years of pent up frustration. I just don't know any clearer way to say "LEAVE ME ALONE YOU STALKER FREAK" - which is what I'd really like to say.

In fact, maybe even starting this thread was "responding to the bait" and will only earn me another diatribe. So maybe you should delete *this* thread instead of the other post, if you don't think it's right to delete it.

I don't have mod powers over this board! one of those funny things.

I think right now that thread is sinking to the bottom of new answers and you're doing the right thing by just ignoring it. If I removed the post at this point nobody would notice. I actually think that in general M has been more reasonable on the board than usual, and giving him a yellow flag (a rarely-used mod function that he would notice) would just push him back into being really abusive. You're absolutely right, you're using the thread for its purpose, but there will be others.

Ignoring it is the best thing, Kate. Any response = victory for the troller.

Why is Marcello tolerated again?

Marcello sez "you'll never kill yourself, you haven't got the guts", all but egging someone on, (stopping just shy of, "Come on, do it! I dare you!") and apparently because there's that elephant in the room that no one talks about (but he alludes to whenever trying to excuse his misanthropy/get the sympathy vote like he accuses Kate of doing), he's given free rein?

I don't think he's being given free rein any more than any other longstanding poster. I think people are paying him more attention than they should. If you feel someone is behaving trollishly, ignore them.

I think it's useful to have that screed out on the public record, and I'll hold him to this statement:
i'm now going to shut up and i'm not going to say another word to kate, either on or off these boards. i'm leaving you alone now. have a nice life. bye.

I've just deleted an enormous post on this subject because I didn't think it'd be constructive.

Suffice it to say its not you being paranoid Kate, Marcello does single you out more than anyone else, but I actually think this particular post is mild by his standards. Maybe its a straw/camel's back thing but really all you can do is ignore it. I know this sounds incredibly trite and there's a higher level of emotional involvement here than simple trolling. But short of banning Marcello altogether, which wouldn't work and would probably be counterproductive, what can anyone actually do?

What we actually need is a Dr C-bot that automatically goes "stop it Marcello, you're being a dick again" every time he goes into flame mode.

Thanks Matt, I've emailed you.

And thanks, Teeny. I will hold you to that, though as carte blanche to have him deleted if he says so much as a word to me on ILX again... ;-)

wah wah wah

There's a lot I could say about the above but I said I wasn't going to get dragged into this again and I'm going to keep my word. All I'm going to say here is that accusing someone of being a "stalker freak" is, strictly speaking, libel, and if I read such things on this board again from anyone, they'll be hearing from my solicitors.

End of message.

How about you're fucking lame Marcello? Is that libelous?

Marcello Carlin is a stalker freak though. This is hardly the first time, and it's not like we don't know the stories of various 'incidents' off thread. Dude's a stalker freak. Ain't no shame though. He's hardly AaronHz yet.

You sure you're not mixing me up with the late Rick James?

But hey, if you want to think of me as a "stalker freak" then maybe it's time I went off to another messageboard where people still feel that the only way forward for humanity is to treat each other with respect. Bye!

Ain't no shame in being a stalker freak Marc! Better that than a drama queen right?

Wow, was it really that easy to get rid of him? (Ans: No.)