Well done all concerned! I am fairly patient in general, but there are areas of these very boards which push me to the limit. I have just got back after a couple of days and just assumed that people here would be mature enough to discuss wargaming sensibly.
So, I am closing this, an in addition I will not be responding to any PMs that I have had in the last few days.
In general, I think that Magnus has the series of events pretty much nailed down - possibly also including the fact that this board, and specifically I, handled it badly. I had hoped that we could could get along without explicit or implicit flaming.
Since all parties seem determined to drag their viewpoints into the open, that is where they will end.
dafrca - Please, stop making subtle and not so subtle digs at Maksim. If you have a problem then let myself or one of the Mod team know. It is not your place to reprimand him.
Maksim - If someone does not acknowledge your posts, then they probably dont want to, and making another post to try to force the issue does not help. In addition, if you feel targetted and slighted by myself or the boards, then please let me know and we can discuss it. Complaining about a post due to regulations, and then creating an identicle one after the original is closed as a result of your request does not do anyone any favours. Then reporting your own post really is just trying to irritate people. I understand that your original post was made during difficult times, and that it was started to generate support. However, it then went on...
Israel treats Arabs better than they do in their own countries (Women vote, homosexuals are not persecuted, Bedouins and other Middle Eastern minorities are full memebrs of society, etc.). Almost noone recognizes Israel's charity work all over the world (Teaching farming in Africa, disaster relief, many peace programs, etc.).
If I have handled any of this situation badly, then I apologise. I acknowledge Magnus's comments, and specifically that the 'regulations' post was targetted at Maksim. You are partially correct. The post was aimed at the community in general, but clearly prompted by recent events. Perhaps I should have either made this clear, or made more effort to keep it general. If Magnus, Maksim or others were upset by this, then I sincerely apologise.
To reiterate - politics threads are not welcomed here. Remberance threads will be extremely closely watched. Threads which attempt to present a viewpoint will be locked and in some cases removed. Stating that 'people do not have to read it if they dont like it' is not valid.
My sincere hope is that the rules will be adhered to, people will drop explosive subjects and one subject beyond the scope of what these boards are meant to cover will not tear them apart.