Requesting clemency after serving time in solitary confinement

(I'm sending this to all super-moderators and a few randomly selected admins, mostly because I don't really know any of you personally)

(Following some follow-up guidance from admin Zg Sash, I’m opening this thread here on the PŽK so the moderation team can weigh in)

To the esteemed panel, 🙂

I am writing to formally request that you overturn the discriminatory partial ban currently placed on my participation regarding religion and spirituality.😢

Here is the context:

I’ve been a part of this community for about a decade. My contributions include roughly 300 threads and nearly 5,000 posts, many of which involved deep research or translating extensive texts.
Unfortunately, following a shift in the moderation structure back around 2008—specifically a clash of worldviews where two out of three moderators became atheists—I was banned simply for expressing my views on religion.

Then last year, I faced restrictions regarding spirituality due to a debate with moderator druid , which resulted in both of us being banned, though he eventually had his moderator status revoked. In the end, druid ban was lifted for him, but mine remains. This feels incredibly unfair given that druid was actually the primary instigator in that specific argument, losing his cool and prompting the admins to step in—an entire situation that can be reviewed via this link.

In what seems to be a strange attempt at "balance," my own access was restricted under the justification that my writing style is provocative.

I truly believe that permanently censoring users for sharing ideas—or due to the personal intolerance of a moderator—goes against everything this forum stands for. I am asking you to lift these partial bans on religion and spirituality, as I feel I have more than served my time. If even violent criminals can receive pardons, then surely "intellectual provocateurs" who happen to rub a certain moderator the wrong way deserve a similar amnesty after some time has passed.

It's not like I went around hurting anyone or breaking rules. I was simply presenting my thoughts and perspectives. I have NEVER personally insulted my interlocutors; that just isn't how I operate, and anyone can verify that by looking through my post history.
Censoring people for expressing ideas that a specific moderator dislikes on a specific sub-forum is both unprincipled and undemocratic.

The moderators and this forum as a whole should strive to live by that famous Volterov principle regarding freedom of speech:

"I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"!🙂

Best regards, 👋

Just wanted to throw my support behind hiddenpuma75

I mean, look—if we aren't willing to stand up for the right to speak when it comes to the people we absolutely can't stand, then we don't actually believe in free speech, do we? It's kind of a hollow gesture otherwise. - Chomsky

Daniel Ward87 said:So, after sitting down and having a long talk with the moderators, supermods, and the rest of the admin team, we’ve reached a decision: the partial ruling stands.

Finally! And of all days, it actually happens today! 😲 I just happened to catch your response.
Since I didn't get a response to my request for three months, I decided to just leave this thread alone.

Please consider this my response to you all, along with a formal request for clemency based on some newly surfaced evidence.
Noted for the attention of the forum administration and the jury.

(I would appreciate it if this post remains in this specific thread for the sake of the administration's future records and the forum's history —basically, so it doesn't get lost in a sea of questions; individual inquiries for the admin)

--------------------------------------------
I am requesting answers from the administration regarding the following questions in relation to my recent complaint
and more broadly, regarding the unchecked and unfair principle of perpetual CENSORSHIP on this forum

1) Why did the moderator in the religion section (username ego) send me a private message (after banning me) stating "that I am not welcome on this forum"

2) Who, specifically, am I not welcome by? Is it that moderator or the forum itself? And why am I unwelcome? Is it because my worldview clashes with his, and the fate of writers and ideas on this forum is decided behind closed doors?

3) I have been posting on this forum for 10 years.
How is it that my contributions across more than 300 open threads up until roughly 2008 were considered good?
Then, around 2008 (maybe 2009?), a moderator appeared who dislikes my writing because it conflicts with his own views, and he decided to solve the problem through a permanent ban and the censorship of ideas that don't suit his taste
And this is a moderator who hasn't even started a single thread in the religion section himself 🙄

4) How is it possible for a public forum to censor writing and the expression of ideas? 😲
The moderator in question claims that if he ever held political office, he would liberalize laws and allow things like sibling or parent-child marriages, yet in practice, he bans ideas and people on a public forum simply because they aren't his ideas. 😲
Oh, the hypocrisy—and the other moderators support it by staying silent out of friendship or simple indifference

If you were to ask them personally, 99 out of 100 moderators claim to be against all forms of dictatorship, corrupt government, censorship, and for freedom, yet SOME of them act in their moderation exactly like the very authorities they condemn—be it the government, the church, or any political party they dislike 😉

5) Why was the partial ban lifted for the former moderator druid , but mine remains? My partial ban was merely collateral damage because he insulted me, whereas I, IN NO WAY, insulted him.
Even back then, I argued that nothing should be done to him because the man just lost his temper; we shouldn't prevent people from expressing ideas or judge them for voicing opinions about VIRTUAL ANONYMOUS CHARACTERS.

In some strange attempt at "balance," my lack of knowledge was banned under the pretext that my writing is provocative. 🙄
But while druid had his partial ban removed from the spirituality section, mine stays. Why are you committing such an obvious injustice?

6) Through sheer ambition and weak regulatory safeguards within the forum (driven by backroom deals and forum connections), you all became moderators.
You’ve acquired power that YOU HIMSELF SOUGHT, and you use it without any possibility of accountability when you commit errors or injustices.

Why abuse this "virtual power"? Because of personal animosities, you are unable to act according to the eternal Volterov rule:

"I disagree with your ideas, but I will defend to the death your right to express them!" 🙂

If I’m allowed to play judge and jury here, you’ve got my vote for letting him go. Just leave the guy alone and let him write whatever he wants, however he wants to do it.

JUSTICE!

I’m throwing my full support behind hiddenpuma75 in his fight to get that partial ban lifted. Honestly, if you look at how it all went down, that whole restriction was just the result of some actions taken by druid, who—as we all know—is already banned himself.
Let me be perfectly clear about one thing: when it comes to the discussions on religion and alternative belief systems, nobody here is nearly as well-read or intellectually equipped as our very own hiddenpuma75.
So, yeah, he has my absolute, unwavering support.

Even though I’ve just been lurking and haven't really jumped into the fray on this forum yet, looking at the arguments the OP laid out, it's pretty clear a huge chunk of people are on his side. More importantly, even the ADMIN saw things were getting unfair and stepped in to set the record straight.

As far as I'm concerned, that's more than enough reason to scrap the partials.

rustydrifter10 said:If you actually have some concrete arguments—either pros or cons—then by all means, lay them out. But PŽK isn't some place where you just toss out blind support or start throwing accusations around without any actual substance behind them.

Look, I’ve already gone on about why I think our guy hiddenpuma75 is great. As for his downsides? Well, there was that one thread where he got into it with druid, one of the moderators. They both ended up getting banned, though if you ask me, hiddenpuma75 definitely got the short end of the stick in that mess. 😁 Honestly, I haven't the slightest clue why 🤷

hiddenpuma75 has definitely had a few more run-ins than I have, though my own decade on this forum has been pretty steady. That said, I’m not voting to lift the ban. If we do, that specific brand of personality will just inevitably drag us right back to where we started. 😁

bluemason3 said:hiddenpuma75 has dealt with a few more incidents than I have during my ten years on this forum, so I’m definitely against lifting the ban. If we do, that signature style of his will undoubtedly bring us right back to where we started. 😁

1. You’re making things up and speaking in generalities without any proof!
I can say with certainty that prior to 2008 (or maybe 2009?), when the new moderator team took over the spirituality section, I never had a single issue or even a partial ban on this forum. I’m not sure if the forum archives can be checked to prove that you’re just making stuff up and speaking in vague generalities—which seems to be your specialty given your habit of "writing half as a joke and half seriously" (allowing you to cherry-pick whatever suits you whenever an argument breaks out). 🙄?

2) But the past doesn't matter; it's the present reality and these two specific cases that count, so why won't you address them?😉

3) Over in spirituality, both the druid moderator and I received partial bans. Even though the admin personally apologized to me, the druid decided to delete and completely gut my best thread after three or four days of incredible debate, essentially nuking it so it could never be reconstructed while I was right in the middle of a creative flow.

4) So, why was the druid's partial ban lifted in the spirituality section while mine remains?🤷

It’s a textbook example of unfairness and double standards. I didn't insult anyone in that thread, nor do I ever insult people—that's simply not how I operate.
Just because some moderators find my writing style provocative 🙄 certainly isn't a valid reason for them to arbitrarily issue a permanent ban against a writer just because they don't like his ideas.

5) This partial ban on religious topics is a textbook case of censorship, driven by the personal animosity of the moderator (Nick ego) toward my writing and the perspectives I share that don't align with his specific worldview.

6) The reality is quite simple: I was an active contributor to this forum back in 2008 and 2009 without any issues whatsoever. Even after 2008, I continued to engage and post using the exact same style, but following a change in moderation, I started facing censorship and a selective ban on discussing religion.
The fact alone—that everything was perfectly fine until 2008/2009—proves that we are dealing with discrimination and the sheer whims of the moderator (Nick ego).
This discrimination feels particularly unjust because this very same moderator, Ego, openly states that if he ever held political power, he would advocate for such extreme liberalization of laws that it would even allow marriage between siblings or parents and their children.😲 🙄


Yet, according to the ultra-liberal moderator Ego in the forum lounge, my writing is such a heinous crime that it deserves a permanent ban and strict censorship.

(I loooove it 😂)

and I cry

as I think about the other moderators who just sit there silently watching this happen, presumably terrified of upsetting their little lounge companion.😉

If you were to ask them, they all claim to be great liberals and progressives. They all swear they are fair-minded and stand against dictators, censorship, the church, corrupt politicians, taxes, recessions, and even slow loading speeds on the forum...

But wouldn't you know it! These grand principles our moderators hold dear seem to vanish the moment they step into the very forums they moderate.😉

Give anyone a shred of authority—whether it’s running a small online community or leading a nation—and you will immediately see what kind of parent, politician, or leader they truly are, 😉 especially when they face absolutely no consequences for the injustices they commit.😉

7) It is honestly sad to see a public forum discriminate against writers who have contributed to discussions for years (I've started over 300 threads!) simply to censor ideas that a certain moderator finds distasteful.
This goes against the spirit of the forum and certainly violates those famous Voltairean guidelines for moderators:

"I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

Pars, just stick to the forum rules like everyone else. No getting personal or calling people out in your posts. One slip-up like that and you'll find yourself back in the penalty box.

Look, I've always maintained that you're capable of this, even if you sometimes miss the mark when it comes to spirituality. The admin takes my word for it, and in return, I promised to step in and handle any tricky situations if they arise—though I really hope it doesn't come to that. So, welcome back.

edit:
14:32
So, there's my simultaneous response.

Brenda Cook4 said:Pars, just stick to the forum rules like everyone else—namely, don't turn discussions into personal attacks or call people out by name in your posts. If you do it once, you're heading straight back to the penalty box.

Look, I’m telling you, you're capable of following them, but you're clearly lacking in spirituality. The admin takes my word for it, and in exchange, I had to promise that if any messy situations pop up, I'll be the one to handle them—though, fingers crossed, we won't actually need to go down that road... so, welcome back.

edit:
14:32
so, a simultaneous response

So, is hiddenpuma75 actually back or what? I see there's been some weird drama involving someone named Prometaja1, who is supposedly a clone of hiddenpuma75. The whole thing feels a little sketchy to me. 😕🤷

Benjamin Taylor6 said:So, is hiddenpuma75 back or what? I’ve been hearing all this weird chatter about some Prometaja1 being an alleged clone of hiddenpuma75. Honestly, the whole thing feels a little sketchy to me. 😕🤷

Yeah, he’s back—though if you look at those heavy-duty clones he was posting alongside while he was "solo," it's almost like he never really left... but let's not get sidetracked. He can be himself again, the hiddenpuma75 we all know. There’s no conspiracy here. He might be running low on creative fuel for a bit, but hey, that's just how it goes with him.😁

Daniel Ward87 said:Parsifal,

I just finished chatting with the moderators over at Spirituality, and we all decided it’s time to lift your partial ban there. Just a heads-up though: the mods and admins don't really care about how many threads you start. What matters is how you act and the way you talk to people. Try to keep that in mind moving forward.

Alright, fine. So what's the deal with getting my partial ban lifted on History? I've been stuck with that one for three years now.