Close Encounter

This post is to acknowledge all the comments and remarks for improving the interact space on Chowk. We believe the combination of following two recommendations will be most effective and have clearly stated how these will be enforced. Please be informed.

1. Each interactor should use a single identity on Chowk
2. Chowk guidelines should be enforced more rigorously

Here is how we plan to enforce these guidelines:

1. Multiple ids of registered interactors will be removed
2. Posts containing crude language will be filtered and removed in extreme cases
3. Interactors posting abuse, attacks, and hate etc. against other members will have their interacting privileges suspended for a short period and the specific comments will be filtered or removed

We invite and welcome you to share this responsibility and enable us to apply these guidelines by informing us (using the feedback form) of specific instances with references of user ids, article names, and interact numbers.

The feedback link to send can be found in the footer of each page as well as on top of the interact box.

Now, let us move forward from here.

Re: # 298

[Here is how we plan to enforce these guidelines:

1. Multiple ids of registered interactors will be removed
2. Posts containing crude language will be filtered and removed in extreme cases
3. Interactors posting abuse, attacks, and hate etc. against other members will have their interacting privileges suspended for a short period and the specific comments will be filtered or removed ]

Chowk-Administration (I do not like to write ``Staff``)

I recommend that you allow at least 24 hours for substantive feedback from your subscribers before approving a new legislation in the rowdy and chaotic halls of Chowk Assembly. Some of us have long working hour plus commute plus workout activities therefore we are not aware of the latest and greatest happenings here. We need some time to go over the current affairs on Chowk :)

I would like to add to the (3) item on the list:
I agree with you that interactors inciting members against other members should have their interacting privileges revisited. On the other hand, those who are easily influenced by the hate-mongers need to be treated in-kind for their gullibility.

Re: # 298
Chowk-staff you got to be kidding right. Seriously, this whole is is a result of people not using their faculties - you have ignore lists ets. People have never ever used these. In fact I know of one person who started this whole thing and has never used it.
Then filters.

You are asking some people to be grown up. But really I question whether they can be grown up or are grown up. Indeed, they need their daily fill of abusing and being abused.

There is very little that you can do - you will have peace for a few hours before normal service resumes. I said this when you introduced ignore features and the filters.

Let us see how long this will last. I am sure the Grand dame of Chowk will start the ball rolling with her first abuse soon - even before you can say hello. I am looking forward to being disabused of this notion though, and it will be a welcome thing.

Things will never be the same for Mr.Tempral again...he will never be even half the man he was .....(not that he was much of a man before...)....

Salim ,

this is impressive. Temporal tried to discredit you , humiliate you , mock you , but ended up getting himself castrated in full public view (metaphorically of course) .....

Re: # 294
Gujju,
As we all know, your noble act in taking accountability for the pictures was the point of reversal. Thanks to Godot, Romair, and especially Mr. Soulat who persisted with the specific questions. We need to give credit to Temporal Bhai for his guarded candor in admitting the ``volunteer`` aspect of his dual nature on Chowk.
Thanks for your consistent support. Let`s hope for a better environment where you can dazzle us with all those stats. :)
Salim

mannu404: ``Romair dost,......Does that mean that you don`t support the idea of finding out what happened to Jamil?.....How do you feel about Shaista`s fate? Should Jack be explained in more detail?``

First of all, Jamil deserves everything that is happening to him. The guy doesn`t even know, in which city he went to college. Obviously, the feds are going to go after him. I am as opposed as anyone, to the ridiculous self-righteous double-standards the USA has on terrorism. But, if the Mexican US immigration officer, in his broken Spanish-English accent, ever asks me the city where my university was located, and I cannot reply, then he has every right to lock me up, strip me naked and beat the crap out of me till i yell, ``Hamidm is my Uncle.``

Secondly, what kind of desi student studies atmospheric engineering. That is almost as useless, for a desi, as studying English literature. If for no other reason, Jamil deserves to be in jail, for his choice of major alone.........

Jack, being an gora American, will get a trial, despite his long beard, much like the gora American Taliban who was caught in Afghanistan got a trial. Jamil, not being a gora, will be sent to Guantanomo, without a trial; which is where he belongs.....

I think part II should concentrate solely on Shaista......She seems to have potential......It could be turned into an Indian movie titled, ``Shiasta, magar Aahista.`` However, as they say, the sequel is never as good as the original. So I am not sure, how good it will be........

Re: # 291 {``It could be turned into an Indian movie titled, ``Shiasta, magar Aahista.`` However, as they say, the sequel is never as good as the original. So I am not sure, how good it will be........ ``}

Romair, my friend
That was a kiss of death if anything. :) So much for Temporal Bhai`s aspirations at replacing Dickens. Perhaps we can suggest ways of spicing up his disastrous debut.
Sticking with his passion for credibility and knowledge of geography, I suggest the following makeover for Shaista:

How about casting her as a Calcutta-born Chinawomen of Jewish religious orientation? After migrating to Pakistan, she graduates from Islamia University located on Zaibun Nisa Street (formerly called Drigh Road) in Lalukhet. She learns French while serving in the Foreign Legion in the French colony of Tandoo Adam. While serving as the chauffeur cum fung shuei consultant for the Tahmed family, she picks up fluency in Poorbhi. She applies for an asylum visa to the US based on her persecuted religious category. Arriving in the States, she meets our hero Jamil in a PSA gathering in Edison, NC and the two fall madly in love. Following her conversion and marriage, Shaista dons the Hijab only to have the events of 9/11 turn her happy life upside down.

Temporal Bhai can take it from there. I hope he is dutifully attending his writing classes in Houston, Ontario. We expect a much better product this time. :) I hope the almost triple century in feedback doesn`t go to his head.

Salim

Re: # 292 salim do I detect a note of admiration or is it a note of self-congratulation when you say

`` I hope the almost triple century in feedback doesn`t go to his head. ``

Re: # 293
Dotty,
It is purely congratulatory in nature conditioned by a plea for balance despite the admiration. :)
I think he is an OK guy - just became too partisan. Obviously there is significant amity among some Chowkies, especially this bunch. Friendship is great, but I think that it should never be at the expense of others. :)
Thanks,

hamidm:
#284

there’s a difference between using an “f” word or the “d” word to string a sentence together and interacts like #263 which lead to escalations of the bottomless pit kind.

as much as we`d like everyone to develop a thick skin, there are sensibilities to consider.

salim did the right thing there by taking the high road.

m

Re: # 289 {``salim did the right thing there by taking the high road. ``}

Thank you miriam behen,

Encouragement like yours will remind me that taking the high road is more rewarding :)

It`s not easy, but I am learning. Being an American, I was taught to always give back tenfold. It`s not necessarily a good policy.

Thanks,

Salim

in praise of the f word ................

.......... having spent many many years in industry, i am convinced that you cannot manufacture anything - from paper clip to automobile - without using the f word ........... everyone, including women who work on the line and plant managers, whose sole mission in life is to ``get`` the union chairman, use the f word to get the job done ........ it is an integral part of the process - just like material, labor and overhead .........

....... similarly, it is not possible to have a meaningful discourse on the chowk without the use of some profanity and abuse ........ given the choice between a site that starts every post with ``bismillah er rehman ur rahim``, and a site that allows the irreverent posters to chew each other out like the honorable men and women who live in the shadow of the badshahi masjid, i will take the later ............ i think chowk staff should think twice before trying to police the use of colorful language ............ the plebeians have rights too .....

Re: # 284
Hamid Sahib,
Just as you are a proponent of the ``f`` word, there are some who cannot utter a five words without using the ``a`` word. Then the ``b`` word is a favorite of some, while I respond with the ``c`` word. Everyone uses the ``d`` word and I can`t remember the ``e`` one. The ``s`` and ``t`` words are a real turn-off and frankly stink too much. Where will it end? Every letter of the soup has some word that is not permissible in polite environments. ``h, l, m, n, p, r, ...``and so on.

Re: # 286

salim,

here is what george carlin (ra) has to say about words :

dirty words

Re: # 287

Hamid Sahib,
George Carlin is hilarious, especially on TV. But Izzard is my favorite. I love his version of history. :)
Salim