Yesterday The Byzantine Forum had quite a day. At 11:30 last night there were 55 active threads, 7,250 page views by 1,003 unique computers.

On a normal day there are between 20-30 active threads. Since Christmas readership on the Forum is up by about 12%.

At some point in the near future we will be moving the Forum to a speedier server and doing software upgrades.

Dear Admin:

Could it be that more and more RC
"controversialists" like me are hooking up of late, and then hooked up, with this great Forum of yours?

AmdG

No doubt but that many of us Latins are attracted to the depth and high quality of the discussions going on here.

Khrystyna

Dear Administrator,

Congratulations!

One of the great things about this Forum is that it avoids the pitfalls of "narrow" points of view such as are to be had on all sorts of other forums that can be characterized as, for example, "Converts-R-Us.nut" or "LatinsR4ever.orgus"

In addition, I really think your willingness to haul posters up on the carpet for this or that makes your Forum really sexy and desireable!

And it is always "Forum" and never "Bored."

Alex

Having had many bad experiences on those "Orthodox Convert" sites as well as those RC "we are the only Catholic" sites This forum has been a breath of fresh air. Many thanks to the Administrator and to those on the board who make it so special!

Alex,

Sexy? Hmmmm.... I think you may be spending way too much time on the internet. :p

Admin

Dear Administrator,

I only visit here and on EWTN as well as "Ukrainian Orthodoxy!"

It's all stimulating, but not in the way we are talking about here . . .

But you are right - I need to focus on my job-hunt.

To paraphrase Augustine when he was living in sin, "Lord convert me - but not yet!"

Alex

Dear Admin and Alex:

And this Forum could become certainly more exciting if our Admin, after "haul(ing) posters up on the carpet for this or that," allow them to stay!

Once in a while, we need the Serafins and MacAlpines to liven up things.

AmdG

Dear Amado,

Well, we can always rely on you to turn us on!

Alex

AmdG,

Since The Byzantine Forum went online in 1998 less than 20 people have had their posting privileges suspended. None of those who lost posting privileges lost them because of the opinions they presented. Each who lost posting privileges did so because of uncharitable behavior or violation of Forum rules.

Mr. John McAlpine was not banned from the Forum. He was reminded several times that he needed to abide by the Forum rules. The decision to stop participating here was his. He is most welcome to participate again as long as he abides by the rules.

Admin

Dear Admin:

I understand fully your position and I appreciate your inspired guidance of some wayward posters.

That said, and to paraphrase that old saying: should we be afraid of the "Serafins" and the
"MacAlpines"?

AmdG

AmdG,

The rules that are enforced here are those that are based upon the rule of charity in all things. I’m not sure how this can be confused with fear of ideas or people. No one is exempt from the rule of charity.

Admin

Yet another Mnohaya Lita to the Administrator...many happy and blessed posts (and I don't mean cereal )

"The rules that are enforced here are those that are based upon the rule of charity in all things. I'm not sure how this can be confused with fear of ideas or people. No one is exempt from the rule of charity.

Admin"

Having an administrator and moderators who encourage all to follow the rule of love is a powerful enabler of open and honest discussion. It makes people feel that what they say will be respected even if others disagree. Their ideas and beliefs are being analyzed and discussed. The posters are not.

It is the difference that helps to create a real cyber community of Christians as well as other humans of good will here at the Forum.

Vive la difference.

(Down Alex!)

Steve

A 'by the way' comment might fit here - I wouldn't want to start a thread on this and annoy someone - but you know I found myself getting a little confused by the new names as I saw Jenny suddenly become Janka.
Thanks to all of you who aren't busy becoming someone else quite so quickly .... !