Not pointless complaining. I started a discussion and as often happens the reason for the problem was revealed, and thanks to a suggestion from a contributor who otherwise may not have been included in the discussion, the reason for my objection has been greatly improved. My thanks to everyone who participated and to site management for their rational productive response. I apologise for any comments I made that, in retrospect, seem excessive.

I agree. I'm not posting for points. It's unfortunate for the producers that they can't get our votes for their points but I don't want to put up with trolls and their abuse.

Amen. This policy change irks me. It is akin to the TSA's heavy-handed methods that punish all because of the misdeeds of the few.

If I don't have anything to add to the discussion I don't think a post that adds to my points is a good method. I want to give credit to the poster that makes a good argument, not to add to my own points.It's probably not an important issue to most people.

Having to be a producer in order to vote is a restriction imposed because there are one or more members who took it upon themselves to censor what was being seen on the site. generating multiple members then using them to attack posters whose opinions and ideas they didn't like is a abuse of the system and a abuse of the freedom normally given on voting sites.
Restricting the voting right is an answer to the issue. If the troll wants multiple identities, at least he is paying a price for it.
There are other ways of stoping the troll behavior, but all take time, money and people. something that this site does not have. Most sites don't have this feature (controls on trolls).

If you don't like Scott's solution, devise one yourself and give it to him to implement (after close and careful review). Not an easy task to do and someone will complain about it also.

Once the reason for the change is given it is a reasonable temporary measure. With no explanation it was not. As often happens in a public venue, a one size fits all solution is only fitting for the troll and inappropriate for everyone else... like demanding every gun owner sacrifice his rights because of a single madman. It uunfortunately proves that we aren't yet in the real gulch.

I'd like to know why your posts always start with a comment score of 0? I do look at your comments and don't feel that most of them are out of place. Since it's not my site, I have to grin and bear it.

I didn't mean that I was leaving the site. I should have said that I'll contribute material when it moves me. I've also made it a point to not contribute to all political emails I get. I'd go broke making my feelings known financially so I inform people on the important issues and let their hearts guide their pockets. We used to sponsor a child through Compassion Int'l but had to stop after years of doing it.

Don't post it here. Why don't you write to the owners and ask if they track how much your posts generate. Offer to promote your posts on their site via social media. See if they'll agree to pay you and/or give you voting access if you hit certain goals.

Maybe they'll say no b/c that would encourage sensational attention-getting posts that would ultimately undermine the site. Maybe they'll say something different. Start the dialog, esp if you think your posts are bringing in a lot of readers and therefore ad revenue.

I have nothing to say against your Obama inspired "you did not make that" argument. The whole idea of no one creates anything society creates everything is morally repugnant to me, so you win by virtue of my unwillingness to play anymore.

The admins do not read all the posts. In fact, there is no way of knowing they have read this one. What happened last night was a major disruption and several people evidently flagged comments, which the admins then acted upon.
I am sorry to hear that both you and your wife are on disability, gonzo. Take care

Sorry, above should have said "and do you treat them with respect?"

If you have such an issue with it why not just leave? Why the drama queen routine of the self-persecution complex on display? Should they have announced the change? Maybe. I would have done so, but that does not change the fact that the rules on a privately own enterprise have changed. We either stay or leave. It is a simple choice that has nothing to do with the freedom of anything.

I understand your concern. It happened on a Saturday night. I 'm not sure informing everyone is in the site' s best interest at this time. In the meantime, you can still comment to those posts you would like to vote on. You also can flag if need be and you can control your posts' comments.

Do you know if it was a computer that did the deed? I can understand the need to try to understand and prevent an electronic attack from reoccurring. An email to all users explaining this would have prevented this topic submission.

So do you warn people before you take away their shoes, or do you treat them with respect?
(Rhetorical question, just making a point that you would treat people better than the site masters did.)

Instead of providing creative content that is compelling enough to encourage producership the site 'masters' restrict the voice of the proles.

I guess I have spent too much time participating here. Better to use my time producing elsewhere.
Find me on popular voip as iamjohngalt. Kind regards to all rational producers.

Freedom,
Last night we had some unusual activity in the gulch which included massive downpointing. The admins were able to trace it but there was nothing to stop it from re-occuring. It 's possible voting will be restored to guests, just give them some time to look into things. Thanks for all your production.

This site is the product of someone’s mind. It is their property, and that should be respected as any other property right. It is no different than if I were to decide people should remove their shoes before walking on the carpet in my house. If I were to set that rule people would have the choice not to enter my house or to enter it and take off their shoes. It has no bearing on their right to wear or not wear shoes, just their conduct within my own house. Whatever rules the owners decide on for this forum it has no impact on a person’s rights to self-expression, although it may impact their choice of whether or not they walk into this house.

It's my response to an unannounced unilateral reduction of liberty on a site that is supposed to value liberty and productive contribution. I expected that contributors would be treated with respect by site management.

Don't get me wrong. I do not presume to judge the reasons people have for becoming or not becoming "producers" on this site. That was not my intention at all.

If the admins are reading the posts, then they can volunteer their reasoning for others to read. I, for one, can't afford extras being on Social Security Disability along with my wife. I'll contribute when it moves me.

That I did not know. It does not change the fact that this post could have been used to ask those same clarifying questions.