How Many Ways Can Bonanza Find to Shut Members Up

One of the things that Bonanza seems to be very good at is finding ways to shut up the members. It is more and more obvious that unless you are spewing nonsense or how wonderful the site and boyz are, it is not wanted on the forum. Intelligent conversation, pointing out problems and concerns are just not welcome.

Some time ago they realized that to DMV and delete, lock threads on all unwanted comments would soon have the villagers at the gate with pitchforks. So, what were they to do.... find some sneaky means to leave things but not have them seen.

This first thing I will comment on isn't sneaky, it's out in the open but still not quite right IMO. Blogs by support...most are left open to comments, however, recently they have started closing some to comments. I think Alex has closed his last 3 blogs if I am not mistaken. This happens when those that have issues with whatever he is talking about are making too much sense and his responses are not changing their minds. Sorry, to single out Alex, he isn't the only one, but the last 2 blogs are his and they were closed to comment.

Now, this one is sneaky and there are still many who do not realize this is going on. Some months back when a thread was something they didn't really want people to see they came up with a way to leave it and let it die. Now, in doing this they can make themselves sound wonderful by saying "we didn't delete it, lock it or send it to the dungeon". However, what happens is most no longer see the thread and it will drop to the bottom of the forum it is posted to and die from not being seen. How is this done. Well, most of us do not go to every individual forum to read threads, most of us go to "All recent discussions" where we can see all the forums latest threads and the first part of the last comment posted to it. So, what does support do when they want a thread "out of sight" and to ultimately die. They leave it on the forum it was posted to yet remove it from the recent discussions. To find it you have to go to the forum it was posted to or know where to find it.

Shortly after this they realized that if it was a really hot topic that was not enough, most of us had a thread bookmarked or would go to the forum it was on to find it... oh my what to do now... well they came up with another way. Flagged for opinion collection:
Due to the high response volume on this topic, forum moderators have designated that responses to this topic will be directed to our support inbox, where they will be organized and considered together.
Got an opinion on this? We'd love to hear your thoughts:

What happens here is the thread is basically, locked but people can post, however, your post does not post to the thread and goes to support.  The comment about "high response volume" is carp cause some do not have a lot of post to them. Again, this happens when people start making too much sense pointing things out.

Since it is not actually being posted to, then this too will die a slow death since it is not being bumped.

They really do not want your opinions in support... when a thread is removed from the recent discussions and flagged for opinion collection  ... how are they going to get opinions when it is not on the recent discussion list and it can not be bumped... simple, they don't want your opinion, they don't want people to see it , they just want it to go away... yet by doing it this way they can say "we could have deleted it and didn't, and we are asking for your opinion"... Sorry, I wouldn't have fallen for that fairy tale as a child, darn sure wont now.

Examples

Some of us are not happy with yet another new aspect of Bonanza.. the "Bag" site

so we are not allowed to discuss why, or mention what would help or anything else... Alex closed his blog to comments

This thread was locked for opinions

http://www.bonanza.com/forums/1/topics/135262?page=14#

Sometime after that someone posted a thread asking about the bag link at the top of the page, nothing wrong with the thread, someone gave the blog link and someone gave the link to the thread... well, don't you know it was almost immediately taken from the recent discussion list

http://www.bonanza.com/forums/1/topics/135309#

I am guessing that will be the fate for any on this topic.

Just what do they think they are accomplishing by all this? What are they afraid of?

This does not make anything go away, it does not make anything better, it just pisses people off !!!

Some have rose colored glasses on all the time, others do not. Those that do not will not put them on just because the boyz think they are shutting them up.

Personally even if I like or agree with something, I like to hear the other side, I may learn something or find out something I didn't think of.

What is so wrong with different opinions and points of view? Seems wrong acting like they do not exist. Seems wrong that if it is not the "party line" then you do not have the right to be heard. Yes, it's their sandbox, and that is just what it's like, kindergarten ....spoiled kids in charge, "if I don't like what you say, you can't say it and no one else can hear it"