I find this forum useful for gleaning information on all aspects of health and safety. There is often good lively debate with people offering differing opinions and challenging views held by others. I know some contributors are perhaps more forthright in their opinions than others but I was bit surprised to hear bleve has been banned from the site. I felt his contributions were quite useful. This forum has few specialists in the field of fire safety contributing to the debates. Have we lost a valuable source of information? Is it right to ban members because they are too forthright or are there other ways in which we may be able to curtail their forthright views without losing the valuable information they are able to contribute to the forum?

Shaun and Adrian, and all. Thanks for starting this off, I heard direct from Bleve that he had been banned and was quited flabbergasted to be honest. I agree that he can be quite outspoken but what's wrong with that in a debate situation when it's all about gaining the views of different people on this discussion forum? We have access to information from individuals who are new to the game, very experienced and all areas in between. I have personal experience of assistance from Bleve off forum and know he has also been helpful to many others. Personally I don't know why he has been banned but it is our loss as he is has been a mine of information re fire safety and someone who can be relied upon to be honest and speak his mind. As I said what's wrong with that?

Iosh's forum. Their game, their rules. I have had to metaphorically bite my tongue sometimes when I read some of the posts, and have had two posts removed in the past for different reasons. But when warned that if I transgressed too far over the line, I decided to be a good boy. Whatever a poster's standard of knowledge, expertise and experience, if he or she ignores the house rules too much and crosses the line, what choice do the Mods have? Can't ignore transgressions just because someone knows their onions. I respect Bleve and his posts and wish that he was not banned from the forum - first I heard about it was about 5 minutes ago - but I do not have to worry about someone else's posts causing problems for the forum's organisers. There is recent and older tribunal and other court case law regarding how those who moderate/control the content of a forum can be held accountable for the posts, and I have no doubt that the Mods did not take the decision lightly, for this and other reasons. This is no comment on this matter ie bleve, but generally speaking I have to say that if I organised a forum I may ban someone rather than allow their posts to get the forum and me sued. And apart from that, I can ask other fire experts if I have a question. Sounds harsh, but I will always listen to the likes of shaun and messy, and bleve if he is allowed back. Long live the debate - the fact that we are debating bleve's ban shows that it will hopefully continue unabated.

I also heard from Bleve to say that he had been banned from the forum. To be honest I can't say I was suprised but I was sad that it had happened. I have never been backwards in my opinion that this forum is over-moderated. I think many people on this forum can't use other forums because this forum is tame in comparison. I think it's sad that people take offence just because they are being argued with when I, like others, think that debate is healthy. Ok so Bleve could come across quite badly on some threads but I don't think he was being rude or insulting, just honest and passionate. Many years ago under the old style forum I was also banned but due to quirks with the sytem then I was able to come back under a different user name and with a different email address. Not so easy now with the whole MyIOSH (I'll probably get retrospectively banned again now!). Since coming back I have been rapped over the knuckles more times than I care to remember. And everytime I do I try to moderate even more how I write on the forum (not because I thought I was in the wrong but just becuase I didn't want to get banned form the forum again) but not matter how hard I try I still get posts removed because someone complains that I have upset their (IMO) delicate feelings. So many people must work in very 'nice' environments where no one ever disputes what they say!! I'm afraid people like us who speak our mind our always destined for trouble. I know there are people on this forum who gun for me because I speak my mind. My advice is to watch carefully those that come across all sweetness on the forum they can be ruthless off forum. I'm not saying the moderators have got an easy job but I do think that the forum rules are interpreted too literally and so heated debates are trodden on and passionate people are silenced. Such a shame. (how long until this thread gets pulled then???)

I doubt that the Mods take the decision to ban anyone lightly but when any contributor repeatedly steps way outside the rules set by the Forum's "rulers" then they are probably left with little option. Good, healthy and robust debate is very healthy and each of the previous posters on this thread are regular contributors and (IMO) almost always worth reading. Some other forum users are equally interesting and have much that I can learn from; a few are not and some are downright rude. I have formed my own opinions of regular contributors and had some time ago decided that Bleve was well-named.

Thanks Jane. It's nice to know :)

He was informed last Thursday. Jane

What I meant was perhaps the moderators should clarify with Bleve that his is suspended pending investigation and not necessarily permanently banned, as he thinks he is banned from the forum and banned from using MYIOSH etc etc.

I have never before wrote on this site, i do how ever read the comments because i find them interesting and educational. However an article lately said why are no new members appearing on these site's and i think the reason is now obvious. I like a heated debate and we all have our views, which we should be allowed to air and ask for opinions. Even those that speak loudest are not always correct but they do get me thinking. I deal alot with fire safety and reading some of the threads by bleve have helped. I do hope he comes back.

I have read the above with interest, I am surprised to say the least that in an environment such as ours where we are trying to persuade people that conducting their business in a safe manner as opposed to a cost effective one resulting in an ultimately beneficial way, without resorting to either insult or upset. How are we to influence culture change or modification of behaviour in others when we cannot modify our behavoiur to convey our knowledge or opinion without causing offence or upset? Is a forum, where people seek your opinion really the place to exercise our ego's? I joined to share my experience with people - not to demonstrate what I know. I await the slings and arrows ........................ :-)

This is a professional discussion forum, not a "chat forum". Even if contributers have strong views, one can still remain within the forum rules in context of civility etc etc. I very much doubt that threads have been pulled off because one had a particular professional opinon--it is only when it becomes personal that there is a potential to be in breach of the rules.

...above 3 (Jay you suck in while I was typing!!) PS, Personally I 'chat' with people at work as well, it helps to bond professional relationships.

I'm all for a difference of opinion, how else would I benefit from the experience of another ? The world would indeed be a very dull place if we all beleived the same thing. However, I do think that if to make a cogent argument of your opinion you resort to either derriding anothers opinion or another trait (spelling, diction, height etc. etc.) then you have a very poor command of the subject matter, or such a myopic view that you cannot permit the thought that there is another view. I prefer to state my position in as reasoned a manner as I can - post it along with the other respondents and hope that the thread originator can use a pool of responses to guide their actions. I will give no ground or quarter if discussing the cold hard facts of my industry what's a pass, and what's a fail, but I will use the facts which I command nothing else. points of interpretation - I say what I think and no more if you trust my judgement based on my knowledge and experience job done. If you trust the knowledge and experience of another job done. It's your call not mine - but remember you did ask my opinion. yours aye db

New forum available www.thesafetyconsultancy.com/forum Not that I expect this posting to last long