Time to move on - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Jul 21, 2005

Time to move on

Date: Jul 21, 2005

Robert,

I truly hope you'll reconsider. Ironically, if you cease posting, the trolls who have been attacking you will have achieved their primary objective. They have singled you out for attack precisely because you have been such an effective spokesman for your point of view -- a point of view shared by most of the people on this board. I think your presence here is invaluable, since your presence helps remind everyone that the issues at stake at USM go far beyond USM. I urge you in the strongest possible terms to reconsider.

Date: Jul 21, 2005

Come back, Robert. You are needed here. Your perspective from the outside has been priceless. Please don't leave us.

Date: Jul 21, 2005

Robert,

If you leave who will educate the trolls? Please stay, just don't feed them the trolls, just like going to the zoo.

Date: Jul 21, 2005

Robert Campbell wrote:

I have reached diminishing returns, perhaps negative returns, as far as my contributions to this board are concerned. ...The last thing I would want to do is help him destroy this board.

I sure wish you would reconsider, Robert. We are dealing with ideas here and you sure helped provide direction. I believe your leaving would do damage to this board rather than your staying.

Date: Jul 21, 2005

Dr. Campbell, I have read just about every one of your post. I learned a lot from them, both facts and logical reasoning. This board will most certainly suffer from you absence. Please reconsider.

Date: Jul 21, 2005

Robert,

You are losing this vote by an even bigger margin than Shelby usually does! The people have spoken: you must stay,

Date: Jul 21, 2005

Retirement from the website is not so bad, just never say never.

Date: Jul 21, 2005

Robert:

I think I got all of the posts authored by "Robert Campbell's Risk Manager," but let me know if you see others.

I also join others in hoping that you will not leave the message board entirely.

WM

Date: Jul 21, 2005

Robert,

I too have profited from reading your reportage and commentary on the USM woes, perhaps moreso than others since I'm not on campus and rely heavily on written accounts for information. I hope you'll continue to post, but would echo the advice of an earlier respondent who counseled against further exchanges with antagonists. It's a waste of your time, and only encourages them to continue the mud-slinging. I should close with a pithy quote from Bobby Dylan, but am in a hurry and will leave that chore for the estimable Dr. Invictus.

Rock on,

AE

Date: Jul 21, 2005

USM Sympathizer wrote:

I think your presence here is invaluable, since your presence helps remind everyone that the issues at stake at USM go far beyond USM. I urge you in the strongest possible terms to reconsider.

Robert:

It's summer. Take a break and relax. Then re-read what USMS said above and remember that you are fighting for the larger cause. USM is just the tip of the iceberg, and the forces of oppression are on the march everywhere. Your contribution here has been, and continues to be, crucial to our effort. When our battle is over, I'm sure some of us will want to follow your example and lend support to the next institution under assault. This is a never-ending struggle, and you have established yourself as a leader in it. The fascists win by just wearing us down. Please help us keep the spirit alive.

Date: Jul 21, 2005

Robert,

I am also active on this board as an outsider. Like you, I try to keep posters aware that mine is an external viewpoint . Generally, I speak up if I can bring something additional to the table or if something is too funny to pass up.

Unlike you, I have not identified myself. Unlike you I have not sunk a tremendous amount of additional time and effort into gathering additional data, tracking true sources, and generally trying to show everyone what a light at the end of the tunnel looks like.

I hoe you will stay active on this board and in this fight.

Date: Jul 21, 2005

Thanks for everything you've done for us on Liberty and Power! I'm with everyone else--I hope you will continue to drop in occasionally. I've learned lots from you, and I'm sure so have many others.

Date: Jul 21, 2005

Dr. Campbell,

I regret that you feel compelled to back out of active posting, but I certainly understand how it feels to discover that you've been "rasslin' a pig." (I've done my fair share of it!) I look forward to regular Liberty & Power updates, and I sincerely hope that you won't be a total stranger in these parts. You've certainly gone the second mile supporting your colleagues at USM.

This is the quote that the Rev. Dr. Austin Eagle asked me to post:

"Every foe that ever I faced,
The cause was there before we came.
And every cause that ever I fought,
I fought it full without regret or shame."

Date: Jul 21, 2005

Ok, RC, I totally understand the need for hiatus. But we really need your voice!

(I'd have been the first one to protest this morning, but was away from the computer till now.)

Date: Jul 21, 2005

Robert:

I agree with Voter in particular and the sentiments expressed in general: give yourself some space but please don't go away. You have been an important element in this Board, in our ongoing dialogue, and in a certain aspect of the intellectual life on this campus. It would be sad (and we will be losing an excellent voice) if your frustration (undertandably) provokes your withdrawl at a time when we actually need continue good analysis and continuity.

Date: Jul 21, 2005

You are needed more than ever now. Please consider staying--after a brief vacation.

Date: Jul 21, 2005

This kind of chest thumping is not appropriate on this board. It isn't appropriate in a university. If you want to engage in it -- please take it to the street where it belongs. You are not engaging in conversation, discourse and reasonable disputation -- you are engaging in yelling fire in a movie theatre.

I'd be happy to meet with you off this board and discuss your obvious problem. My office location is no secret and you don't have to attack me for being an outsider -- which is where you started in your attack on Robert.

Date: Jul 21, 2005

Obviously addressed to ATM --- in case there was any confusion.

Date: Jul 21, 2005

Mr. Campbell,

I normally don't say alot on this board as I am an outsider, like you and others. Basically, I feel most days I have nothing of substance to offer. I also know that you have made your decision and nothing we say will change it. However, I wish to add this to the other comments made.

If you leave here because of the pig rasslin with Above the Mire, then ATM has won. Its like dealing with terriorists, you can't let them win. If you leave because you feel like you have nothing more to offer us, you,sir are full of it. You have much more to offer than say I do, as I have no experience in academia. I don't always understand the politics of higher education, where as you do. You are a valuable asset to this board, and the thought that a troll has succeeded in running you off, makes my blood boil. Your blogs have always given me food for thought and have given the rest of the world a view into the problems at USM.

The good people on this board, minus a few trolls, need your voice. Consider staying, if nothing more than to irritate the hell out of the trolls .

Thank you for your support to USM, I'm sure the folks there really appreciate it. I know I do and I'm not a part of the university.

Date: Jul 21, 2005

I don't for one moment accept the notion that AtM has "run off" Robert Campbell. Dr. Campbell is not the sort to be "run off" by a troll. I do understand that Dr. Campbell is facing the beginning of a new term and has invested considerable energy and thought in our cause, and may now simply be worn out with it. I see it simply as a decision to move on to more pressing things.

I will not for one moment accept any idea that AtM or his ilk have "won" anything at all. In fact, they are losing and losing badly, as they must always lose.

Don't just "speak truth to power" friends, speak it to stupidity, arrogance and ignorance as well.

Date: Jul 21, 2005

Dr. Campbell--

Thank you for all your contributions and for what you may yet contribute.

Peace on ya, bud.

Date: Jul 21, 2005

LVN wrote:

Don't just "speak truth to power" friends, speak it to stupidity, arrogance and ignorance as well.

Mr. Wonderful and friends, are you still around?

Date: Jul 22, 2005

foot soldier wrote:

LVN wrote: Don't just "speak truth to power" friends, speak it to stupidity, arrogance and ignorance as well.

foot soldier wrote: Mr. Wonderful and friends, are you still around?

Present and accounted for, foot soldier.

Date: Jul 22, 2005

So what's your excuse for being on a board that you think so little of Mac?

Date: Jul 22, 2005

disgusted student wrote:

So what's your excuse for being on a board that you think so little of Mac?

It's good to see you're still hanging in there with us, ds.

Date: Jul 22, 2005

Thank you, roll call. I'm still here.

Dr. Campbell, if you will stay with us I'll handle the flame part for you.

Date: Jul 22, 2005

Above the Mire wrote:

If you can guide me to the messages on this board that demonstrate the characteristics that I have highlighted above, and if I can't show you a greater number of messages that demonstrate traits that are much less noble, then I'll swear to never post another message on this board. You are living in a fantasy world. There is little about this message board that is worth defending.

AtM is and admitted troll. AtM's goal is to end free speach on this board. Don't feed the troll.

Date: Jul 22, 2005

Robert:

Obviously, it's your choice whether to keep posting or not. But it would be sad for this community if you decided to stop posting only because of the cowardly trolls. I have learned to ignore them, for the most part, and be wary of any new posters until they prove their intelligence and willingness to play nice.

We hope you'll reconsider,

Truth

Date: Jul 22, 2005

Robert Campbell wrote:

I have reached diminishing returns, perhaps negative returns, as far as my contributions to this board are concerned.

Allowing myself to get pulled into a flame war by Above the Mire is a clear sign of that. The last thing I would want to do is help him destroy this board.

I am confident that the various faculty bodies at USM know how to proceed, during Thames' lame-duckitude. They will be able to contribute to the rebuilding process without commentary or exhortations from outside the institution.

I will occasionally report what is happening at USM on Liberty and Power, and I will notify the board when a Liberty and Power entry is ready. Otherwise I do not plan to post here again.

Anyone who wishes to reach me directly can do so at campber at clemson dot edu.

Robert Campbell

PS. I have one request of the Webmaster--please delete the posts from Robert Campbell's Risk Manager. Impersonating another poster has to be beyond the pale, even on an anonymous board.

Campbell

Stop your grandstanding, you'll be back and everyone knows it. I say less than five days, and you'll be posting here again.

Playing the martyr is very unbecoming of you.