Keep in touch

Question

Hey everyone,

I've done some thinking about the events of today. After over 1,300 posts, many of which I hope were useful, I've decided that it's time to take a hiatus from these boards. I am making this post primarily out of courtesy to all of the wonderful people on here that I have gotten to know during this year's application season. I did not feel that it would be appropriate to just disappear out of the blue.

For those who do not know, I made one post today which rubbed 3 of the moderators here the wrong way, and therefore I was banned from the boards for a period of time today and I eventually lost my moderator rights. This was really an insult to me after all of the time that I have spent here and the contributions that I have made. So far, these boards have been run similar to how many business school communities are run - they have been moderated and largely run by the participants (my fellow applicants).

The popular vote and the overall consensus of our community did not prevail today. It was really disturbing to see a "big brother" intervention today and it truly turned me off. The value of these boards to me has been in the ideal of free speech and the open sharing of opinions that everyone here takes part in. It is clear to me after today that many of my thoughts and opinions are not welcome.

From a personal perspective, I think I spend too much time on here as it is. Time that would certainly be better used towards improving my Round 2 applications and personal improvement. I have gained what I need to out of these forums and I am comfortable with the application process now. The incremental value of spending time on here just to be insulted and pushed around just does not add up for me.

I will continue to check in here once in a while, but my presence will now be sparse, as will be my posts. I've gotten to know many of you very well this year, and I do not mean this as an insult to you. Please feel free to PM me at any time and keep in touch - I will still be responsive. I'd be glad to provide you with any information or assistance that I can and I would love to hear about your admits when they start rolling in. I also won't be afraid to speak my mind over PM. Additionally, if someone else can take over keeping track of the Chicago Booth statistics, that would be great.

This board has been a very valuable resource for me and I appreciate the contributions of everyone. Thank you and keep in touch.

FN · Answer

OK, can you cut the drama..we want you to keep posting here..and getting your mod status taken away shouldnt be taken negatively..

btw..did you decide to apply to UCLA or no?

egy · Answer

i'm out of here too... this place is a joke.

sonibubu · Answer

agold, you can't leave a "keep in touch" post without leaving contact info so we can actually keep in touch w/ you. I guess PM is the way to go.

pguard · Answer

Sleep it off, hit the gym, brush up those apps, and get back on the forum quickly.

The big difference here is summed up in what makes bschool fun. Jallen clearly has more life experience than agold yet both of them have a lot to offer and I'd bet they could work just fine together on a team project (both enlightening the other). They might just kill each other too.

I think I'm right in between you two and I can relate to both of you--the pressures of relocating a family and the fear of debt vs. the M7 or bust attitude of a young, hyper ambitious man.

I still drink the CFA cool-aid but, three years ago, I would have told anyone who wasn't convinced it's the greatest thing in the world that they would be washing my car in the near future.....so far, I haven't seen one of them at the car wash.

The point of my soapbox comments....who really cares if two people disagreed on these boards? As someone applying to a lot of schools with agold, his research and help has been invaluable on these boards....as a 700 GMAT scorer who has a lot to offer (remember, I'm on my soapbox) and someone who understands that the vast majority of us will not attend a M7 I can see where some of jallens comments are coming from.

Whether everyone agrees with them or not, both of them have earned there status on this board and I don't think it sets a good precedent to take that status away. Jallen has enough life experience and education to know that he shouldn't have banned agold just because he found his comments offensive (a little too sensitive, jallen). And, I'm certain agold can handle jallens comments.....if he can't, he needs to rethink his career path. Sometimes, just being called an a%* is a compliment.

I'm done. Agold, I hope you stick around here through this year...no need to walk away. I definetly think your status should be reinstated though.

McDargoiowkel · Answer

Shane...come back Shane!

Praetorian · Answer

I honestly don't get it - how difficult is this? Share what you know and be nice. How many times have I tried to communicate this? What am I missing? Show me I am wrong and agold can have his mod status back. for someone with 1300 posts, don't you think they should be leading by example?

have your fun, but not by belittling someone's dreams or their opinions. jallen posted something that meant a lot to him and what did he get? who in their right mind will want to open up on the forum if they get jumped on everytime? Once I belittle someone's opinions, they stop listening to me and it defeats the whole purpose of a discussion. Why can't your opinions stand by themselves? Does everyone else have to be wrong for you to be right?

As difficult a decision this is, i need to demonstrate how serious we are about people respecting each other. this is my personal failure to communicate what gmat club is about. if that means anything. it happens every year and it tears me apart.

let me say this again - if you cannot respect what gmat club is about, you don't belong here. leave. right now. for your own good and for ours.

Raabend · Answer

Maybe Praet should have a signature line that says something like "Be nice. Zero tolerance policy for jerks."......or something similar???

pguard · Answer

How did this earn a kudos?

The kudos comes off like a guy standing outside the bar during a fight scared to go inside yet screaming, "that's what I'm talking about".

Gil · Answer

I don't know what the event that started this is and what the source of disagreement about is.

But without getting into it - I really think agold is an asset to these discussion groups and one of the most positive people I have had a chance to get to know online. It's his positive attitude and motivation that led me to share my interview experiences and I see him as a model for behaviour on the forums (and again, I have no idea what happened today).

This is one of the greatest online communities I have seen. I really think there has to be a way to work this out. I would hate to lose agold as a member here. If he did something that wen't against forum policy, I'm sure it can be worked out and won't happen again.

solaris1 · Answer

This is all getting a bit too dramatic now. I don't see why being a moderator is such a big deal that having that taken away is being perceived as a "slap on the face."

terp06 and egy, while you're free to do whatever you think is right, I know both of you have plenty of friends on the board who would love to see you stay and post as usual.

GMATClub has grown, and any community with as many members is invariably going to have minor conflicts. Are there certain members who I disagree with, and frankly couldn't stand in real life? Yes, of course, yet I choose to stay for the ones I do like.

The rest is up to you. You have our best wishes.

FN · Answer

we need a class in conflict resolution..does booth offer such a class?

kwam · Answer

In LEAD we explored conflict, briefly but we did. I believe that as a LEAD facilitator one can explore much more. Let's move on? Next Topic? :-D

Paradosso · Answer

Jailen and agold embody the sometimes conflicting traits (young Gordon Gekko and reflective/caring adult wanting the best for those around him) of a lot of thoughful b-school applicants. I have a bit of both in me and reading them has always been a pleasure and a good source of information.

Though both seem to be to have carried out actions way out of line in the infamous thread, their contribution has been and remains great and they have apologized and acknowledged their errors, something you don't see quite often on these boards.

Removal of moderator status is a fair sanction and a completely harmless one (who uses moderators power anyway? Gmatclub should never need to moderate its members!) , so I say cut it out and carry on, you both have much more to give in your respective ways. I can only wish I could give so much to the board as you do.

p.s.: kwam, the article you posted about the endless possibilities of the young international elite really spoke to me. Best short essay I read in months --and I read a lot. It has been appreciated.

pm4553 · Answer

Grow up!

agold, you have contributed a "lot" to this forum, people like me who visit this forum frequently have really have less to offer, but loads to take away.

Personally, my contribution is limited to "GMAT" since I'm planning to take one soon. However, occationally, I do glide my eyes on B-School applications and other forums, they help immensely.

We are humans with emotions (blame GOD!). I can understand why you might have chosen this route. But, all I can say is, your leaving talks a lot about who you really are. You're applying to some of the niche schools in the world, and I'm certain they wouldnt want people who give up.

Never the less, I enjoyed reading some of your posts. I hope you continue posting they way you did rather than just disappear.

Rest is up to you. Good luck, my best wishes!!

jb32 · Answer

Don't let the door hit you on the way out!

Agold, I'll miss you buddy and I wish you'd reconsider, but it's your decision to leave. Be sure to PM me when you hear about Chicago and Tuck.

fatb · Answer

agold/terp06, I just can't help but wonder that how do you know the popular vote and overall consensus of the community did not prevail?
Just because 10 or so members speak out for you doesn't mean the majority are aligned with you. It is possible that most people don't bother to post in this series of topics because they disagree but do not want to stir up more drama.

Anyways, you are free to do whatever you want, feel free to browse anonymously also. But really, don't post as if you have the proof even before any data collected. I don't think you can find a better forum than this place, so good luck with wherever you choose to hang out next. Godspeed.

kidderek · Answer

Hmmm,

I missed all the hoopla and I'm not taking sides. But I've always thought and exercised (I've had my share of run-ins w/people) that a moderator should not take moderator-actions on a topic/members of which he is involved. Other moderators should step in.

With that said, you need to respect other people's opinions, however obtuse they may be. Always.

kidmann · Answer

Can someone tell me what happened earlier?

TL · Answer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ9uCiPBIWc

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