Ok - I can see this is not going to lie down until a further explanation is offered. That way, those upset by a deleted thread can hopefully understand why that course of action was taken, and those who haven't a clue what this is about can assess for themselves whether or not this is indeed a dictatorship.
A couple of days ago, and I don't see the need to name names here, a member decided it would be a good topic of conversation to poke fun at the moneker (the online name) of someone who had just registered. It was dressed up with a title of "Love it", but the bottom line was that it was poking fun. Had that remained in isolation, I might have quietly had a word with the person who started the thread, and suggested it would perhaps be better to remove it. However, it did not remain in isolation, and by the time I and the other moderators spotted it, various other post had been added which had taken the thread into the realms of bad taste to say the very least (despite anything that Google may have to say on the matter of word definitions, by the way)
Anyone reading that thread (apparently apart from those posting in it) could not fail to interpret it as being derisory at best, or more likely downright offensive, and the new member concerned, from whom we have not heard since registering (nothing unusual in that) I would think would most certainly have taken offence and it would probably guarantee that we would never hear from him or her.
Given that the "fun" was at the expense of someone whom none of the posters know from a hole in the ground, after discussion a moderation decision was made to quietly delete the thread and move on. With the benefit of hindsight, it would perhaps have also been appropriate to contact those involved to explain why. (lesson learnt)
Sure enough though, a new thread appeared within hours, questioning why their original thread had disappeared, and almost but not quite repeating some of the same references from the original thread. Rather than deleting it, I edited some of the posts in that second thread to remove the references, stated in fairly strong terms a brief explanation as to why the first one had been removed, then closed the thread.
I hoped that would be enough for those involved to understand, but clearly not, as again within hours a third thread appeared, complaining about censorship and questioning why it was necessary to delete a thread. Walter immediately closed that thread too, without a great deal of explanation, as I had already stated that I was not prepared to discuss it further.
Walters statement was edited slightly this morning to offer a little more explanation, politely referring to an error of judgement, in the hope that it would again help those responsible to understand, But that has failed too.
So, that now brings us to right here. Everyone here is now aware of why certain moderation decisions were made and is fully equipped to make a decision as to whether a thread, which at best was ill advised, or at worst was downright offensive should have been allowed to prevail, taking the mickey out of someone's name whom they don't even know, and sometimes in crude terms, or whether this is indeed a dictatorship.
I'm not going to close this thread, but it would be really nice if after making up your mind, we could all either vote with our feet, or preferably just just move on and play nicely, and get on with the business of making and discussing pens. Nobody minds a bit of fun and banter - in fact I welcome it on the forum, but please, just consider before you post whether your words are likely to cause offense.
all my mentors are disappearing
but I will post anyway!
you have helped me so much I for one would miss you very much. I am sure it all could be sorted out some way, I had seen the post and thought it was just a bit of fun, its shame it has all blown out to this. I always say if you have a problem talk about it, please all count to ten and lets see if it can be sorted out, talking with your feet never works but talking to each other does . 
