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Chatterbox: Down to Earth
@Admins/Everyone
@Admins/Everyone
What have we become?
What will we become?
Admins, you have banished us
Our beliefs, ideas
A single comment removed
Yet filled with only one question:
"Why?"
Others become protestors
Organized in many ways
Others, broken, crying
Awake for days
Admins, sitting, pondering
Ideas flowing out of their heads
What to do, what to do?
They ask themselves again
A legacy left not long ago
His name was Gared, oh to show
Not until change came would he return
Change wouldn't come
At least, not without more
More heartbreak
More sorrow
More heads under beds
More hatred
More anger
More deleted threads
More fights
More voices
More broken memories
It was over, they said
This war was over
But not yet
The hurt would come out
Stare at the sun and smile
For it was a new day
They would join arms
With those who raised their voices
And silently protest to gain
Freedom for all
Freedom for all, they call
"Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness"
"All men are created equal"
These are the chants they call, over and over
It won't end
We, the heart of the CB
The blood and the brain and the lungs
The muscles, skin, bones
We beg of you
To change the CB.
Admins. Please.
Signed,
A Heartbroken Person
submitted by A Heartbroken Person
(July 7, 2017 - 11:45 am)
(July 7, 2017 - 11:45 am)
First of all, please don't get so mad at the Admins. They do their best, every day, to do what's right for everybody on the CB. Don't forget, we have some younger people on here.
Second, the Admins didn't banish you. If they've deleted posts or threads, it's because it's not appropriate for CB. End of story.
Maybe, some freedom just is not appropriate for the CB. Again, we have nine-year-olds and maybe even younger people on the CB. Some things have to have a limit, you know? If you think the Admins aren't doing a good job on here, maybe the CB isn't mature enough for you and you need to find some other website where you can speak more freely. Because, the CB is meant to be friendly to all ages and some topics...just are too much for it, okay? Also, all you people have already been allowed LGT+ things on here, I think you should be satisfied and stop pushing for more. We don't need more change. Sure, Gared left. Have you also forgotten Cho and Daisy? Also legacies. They left, too. I don't see you complaining about them.
(July 7, 2017 - 2:17 pm)
*Sigh* I was hoping you'd see the same, Leafy...
I mean, it is okay that you don't. You are bright and wonderful in so many ways! I just was hoping that out of everyone here you would agree. Kind of see the hurt that I see in others? Yes, I wrote that poem. I mean, I understand that came off a tad bit too... harsh? Rude? Poetry can do that. I don't want to argue with you, I understand your views. I have all sorts of things I could bring up, but that breaks the fact that we aren't supposed to discuss LGBTQA+ as an issue. So don't mind me.
Leafy, I value you and everyone else here. Even the Admins, even though it doesn't seem like that at the moment. And I mean, if you really think this place isn't mature enough for me, I can leave. I've said that already. As much as it pains me to, I can and will leave if people don't want me here.
I value your opinion. I won't leave. Maybe I will, I don't know. But I just want you to see it from my perspective, okay? Thanks, Leafy, keep on being amazing.
Ashlee, no one has ever been banished from Chatterbox.
Admin
(July 7, 2017 - 6:02 pm)
No one has ever been banned from Chatterbox. We evaluate each comment against our guidelines.
Admin
(July 10, 2017 - 9:20 pm)
Amen, Leafepool. Well said.
(July 7, 2017 - 7:20 pm)
You mean Darth Daisy? >:-(
(July 8, 2017 - 12:33 pm)
Daisy, I understand that you don't want to change your name. That doesn't change the fact there was a CBer here earlier also called Daisy. Yes, sometimes she went by Darth Daisy, but she also went by just plain Daisy. It wasn't wrong of Leeli (? It was her, right?) to refer to her as Daisy.
(July 8, 2017 - 9:14 pm)
The Admins run this website, and the company Cricket owns it. We, the CBers, may use the website, but we're only visitors. And while we might have some say in what direction the CB goes, when the Admins have put their foot down on a certain discussion, I believe we should respect that and stop pushing the argument. Cricket isn't ours, it's theirs, and I'm humbled in the sense that without them, we never would have come together; would never have been able to write with each other. Without the Chatterbox, I never would've become an author.
The Chatterbox is a place whose main focus is on creative works of art and literature. Just because the Admins don't allow discussion of LGBTQA+ things on the CB doesn't mean they're discriminating against them, it just means they want to keep the main focus of the Chatterbox in view. I don't think the Admins are being less accepting towards certian groups of people; the purpose of the Chatterbox is to explore and enjoy our creativity and the creativity of others in a way appropriate for the given age range of the Chatterbox.
It's as simple as that. There is a time and place for everything, and the CB is just not that place. We must accept this! You can't force an apple to become an orange, and just the same, the CB was never created for this.
(July 8, 2017 - 8:47 am)
We may not be able to turn an apple into an orange, but we can turn a piece of clay into a bowl.
The Chatterbox may have started just for writing, but it has grown to mean much, much more. It's a safe haven for nerds and a place to explore the world through comments and writing! But when exploring the world, we must include the whole world. All aspects of the community. Everyone.
And actually, if you look at the oldest threads, you’ll see that very few were about writing.
You are absolutely right that the Admins should be respected. After all, they created this place of wonder, this safe haven. As amazing as this place is, it can be improved, and we want to.
You might say: “Why don't you go to a different website?” Sometimes, in a state or (democratic) country, there might be a law that people don't like. Of course, they could just move to another country, but instead, they work to improve it for everyone by writing to the government, creating and signing petitions, and voting. The CB is like a home to many of us.
How would allowing LGBTQ+ discussion improve the Chatterbox? It would broaden our horizons, something everyone wants to accomplish. But we hardly need to travel to do so when we have friends around the country, all chatting on a wonderful site. It would expand our minds to new issues, which increases IQ and makes us smarter. For the younger CBers, it would foster tolerance and acceptance at an early age.
But it's inappropriate for the younger kids, you and the Admins are thinking. Actually, LGBTQ+ topics are registered as PG, not PG-13. Although a four-year-old may be too young to talk about these issues and ideas, a nine-year-old who is able to navigate this site is able to understand what gay, lesbian, biromantic, and so on means.
As my last point, think of what is must be like to be an “inappropriate” person. For your identity to be talked about in hushed voices. To cause controversy for simply living the Constitution (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness). To have been oppressed for centuries, and still, even on the most beautiful of websites, to be a banned subject.
The CB is always changing, always improving. Although it may take time and effort from everyone, it will continue to do so, for the good of everyone.
(July 10, 2017 - 6:57 am)
Wow, thanks for saying that, Mei! You took a lot of what I've been trying to express and put it into well-formed and kind words - thank you! I mean, even a lot of your points (like the higher IQ) part are new to me but make nice sense. I really appreciate you writing that.
(July 10, 2017 - 6:11 pm)
Yes, thank you! And I'm glad the admins posted it. It was well worded and well said. (I didn't know about the IQ part either!)
(July 10, 2017 - 8:12 pm)
Thanks, Mei. :) That was respectful and well-written.
(July 10, 2017 - 10:15 pm)
Okay, I do get the point of the poem, but I have a comment:
Both sides have had comments deleted.
(July 8, 2017 - 11:04 am)
Leafpool couldn't have said it better. She spoke my thoughts.
I'm thinking about taking a break, waiting for this to blow over. And if and when it does blow over, I'm afraid things won't be the same. Can we just have our old CB, the way it used to be?
Ashlee, you are an amazing, kind, sweet, creative, wonderful person, and I don't want to lose you even though you have different opinions than me.
It seems this is blowing over. We've limited further discussion and moving on.
Admin
(July 9, 2017 - 10:36 am)
Thank you, Admin. I just wanted to say how well you all are taking this, dealing with all these angry people, and not getting angry, but sticking to your guidelines. Thank you for making this site safe. Sometimes you don't get all the credit you deserve, especially recently. So I just wanted to say, Thank You.
You're all very welcome. We're here for all of you. Thank you, Leeli, for taking time to express your appreciation.
Admin
(July 10, 2017 - 8:43 am)