Where has Portia gone?

Where has Portia gone?

Didn't find your answer?

I hope it's only temporary...

Replies (153)

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By mrme89
24th Apr 2015 17:04

I hope a moderator can explain why all Portia's comments have changed to (no subject). 

 

Their technical comments were always spot, so if they have removed these, it is just complete stupidity. 

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Out of my mind
By runningmate
24th Apr 2015 17:01

My guess is that Portia herself has deleted all her comments & her profile.

RM

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By Marion Hayes
24th Apr 2015 17:06

Technical input

Why have Portia's posts disappeared indeed.

Her profile now says former contributor unwilling to accept selective censorship.

Her legislation quotes were always useful and I was just trying to get back to one from the other day - bad decision Aweb if this is on purpose

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Replying to lionofludesch:
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By andy.partridge
24th Apr 2015 17:17

Yours will too . .

Marion Hayes wrote:

Why have Portia's posts disappeared indeed.


When AWeb takes this thread down. Mind you it's Friday, I expect they are all down the pub texting each other.
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Replying to Insolvency Practitioner:
By mrme89
24th Apr 2015 17:14

.

andy.partridge wrote:

Marion Hayes wrote:

Why have Portia's posts disappeared indeed.


When AWeb takes this thread down.

 

They might see this thread after dinner on Monday. In the meantime, it will probably provoke plenty a lot of discussion. 

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By buttercup books
24th Apr 2015 17:15

Come back Portia - all is forgiven .... pleeeeeeease

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By Bungo
24th Apr 2015 17:20

Shame
To see such a helpful member leave.

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By ShirleyM
24th Apr 2015 17:22

Please come back, Portia

I found you very entertaining, as well as being extremely knowledgeable and helpful.

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By Marion Hayes
24th Apr 2015 17:23

@runningmate

Surely that would have taken days - would she have the patience?

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Replying to meadowsaw227:
Red Leader
By Red Leader
24th Apr 2015 17:28

roll call

Portia Nina Levin

George Attazder

Steve Kesby

P.S. That last one has to be a made up name, surely?

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Stepurhan
By stepurhan
24th Apr 2015 17:34

Probably not a hack then

Previously the profile said. "Former contributor. Contributions not welcome". That made me think this might be a hack by someone Portia had upset asserting they did not welcome her comments. This new heading makes it look like it is indeed Portia doing the deleting.

She can be extremely acerbic, but her technical knowledge is formidable. Losing that knowledge for the future would be a great loss. Losing the historical contributions as well would be horrendous. As they have been deleted one by one, only a fraction of recent posts have gone so far, and hopefully it will stop there.

As for her reference to "selective censorship" that has been a topic that has come up for debate a number of times recently. The fact that threads and posts raising that very issue have often got deleted is not helping dispel that impression. Nor does the fact that a series of blog posts that clearly breach site rules (being duplicated word for word elsewhere) have been allowed to stand unaltered. Like auditors, moderators must be seen to be impartial.

It's Sift Media's site to run as they see fit, but if they don't address these issues they risk not having an audience to run it for.

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Replying to Duggimon:
By ShirleyM
24th Apr 2015 17:48

I've always wondered about the criteria myself, Stepurhan

stepurhan wrote:

As for her reference to "selective censorship" that has been a topic that has come up for debate a number of times recently. The fact that threads and posts raising that very issue have often got deleted is not helping dispel that impression. Nor does the fact that a series of blog posts that clearly breach site rules (being duplicated word for word elsewhere) have been allowed to stand unaltered. Like auditors, moderators must be seen to be impartial.

It's Sift Media's site to run as they see fit, but if they don't address these issues they risk not having an audience to run it for.

Why some people are allowed to ignore/break the rules with impunity (and actually seem to be protected/defended by the mods), while others are forced to obey the rules!

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By User deleted
24th Apr 2015 17:39

Miss the wit

Portia had a cracking sense of humour and was the master of the putdown. (No doubt also helpful technically but that was wasted on me!)

Selective censorship will keep coming up until they employ impartial moderators. Never going to happen.

So that's another reason for reading AWeb gone. It's not what it used to be.

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By andy.partridge
24th Apr 2015 17:40

Contradictory

AWeb is a lovely cuddly community when it suits Sift, but they seem to have a cold vicious streak on occasion. I've lost sight of what this site is about and who it is for. Consistent answers are not forthcoming.

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Replying to meadowsaw227:
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By I'msorryIhaven'taclue
02nd May 2015 12:33

Fair to Moderate

andy.partridge wrote:

AWeb is a lovely cuddly community when it suits Sift, but they seem to have a cold vicious streak on occasion. I've lost sight of what this site is about and who it is for. Consistent answers are not forthcoming.

AWeb moderators are relatively polite and non-malicious Andy - I had a nice email from Rachael only yesterday explaining why my post was being censored because I wasn't allowed to make fun of the 18 East Europeans who hand-washed my car for a fiver.

On SIFT's sister site at UKBF the moderators are hard work - I had one particular UKBF mod stalk me, closely scrutinising everything I wrote, and issuing "strikes" at every gnit-picking opportunity. Innocent remarks were trumped up into warnings and charges, to the point that I gave up using UKBF. The Mod would post comments after mine in just about every thread I participated, presumably to provoke argument or a reaction (which worked, as I toyed with the idea of loosening his wheelnuts).

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By Justin Bryant
24th Apr 2015 17:42

Portia is doing the deleting
As of now, all her comments prior to this Thu, 16/04/2015 - 10:50 one are still there: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/anyanswers/question/what-base-cost-asset...

And all her thanked posts prior to this Wed, 15/04/2015 - 10:26 one are still there: https://www.accountingweb.co.uk/anyanswers/question/wedding-service-abro...

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By Anne Robinson
24th Apr 2015 17:49

I would guess that builder has buried her in the basement after one sarky comment too many.

I loved her humour so let's hope it is only temporary

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By mrme89
24th Apr 2015 17:50

.

Stepurhan has summed it up brilliantly.

 

Their are some great characters here on Accounting Web, but I can only see Sift's bizarre approach to moderation driving them away eventually. 

I and I know others have, have contemplated deleting our accounts as of late. I won't be missed, but once people like Portia start to leave and take their superior knowledge with them, Any Answers won't be worth visiting. 

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By andy.partridge
24th Apr 2015 17:54

Soon . . .

Soon every question will be:

'I have just spent £2,000 on a shiny new Sage product, but just one thing is bothering me. How do I get it out the box?. Only someone who has had the same problem reply. No guessing PLEASE!!!!!!'

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paddle steamer
By DJKL
24th Apr 2015 20:23

To preserve would quoting work

 

To preserve her input would quoting her work?

If I make a post quoting someone else I presume that even if they then delete the original post my quoted version , being part of my post, remains until I delete it, or is that not how the site works? (Deletion in effect only deletes the original post not the quote of same)

If that is the case (and I am not sure it is) then surely there is a race against time.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to quote all memorable Portia posts before Portia manages to delete same. (Sounds like the plot of something with Sandra Bullock in it)

If she is withdrawing from A Web she will be a real loss and I would really like to thank her for her input.

 

 

 

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By Tim Vane
24th Apr 2015 20:43

Yes indeed, the moderation on this site lacks transparency and consistency.

If you dare to criticise a poster, you run the risk of blanket censorship with no warning.

Sometimes you just think you are going mad. You're certain you posted on a thread but there is no sign of your post. Then you notice another post that refers to your post but your post is just not there, and you realise there's nothing wrong with your memory, you are just living in somebody else's dictatorship.

Add to that the utterly inane so-called news items that have been appearing recently and you have to despair. "Here's an article we've extracted from somebody's press release and edited poorly. Enjoy!". or "A man in Birmingham was prosecuted for mistreating his dog - not particularly newsworthy, but he is a qualified accountant so it popped up on our automated news feed filter".

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Replying to Gillian Mill:
By ShirleyM
24th Apr 2015 21:17

Have I understood correctly?

Tim Vane wrote:

Yes indeed, the moderation on this site lacks transparency and consistency.

If you dare to criticise a poster, you run the risk of blanket censorship with no warning.

Sometimes you just think you are going mad. You're certain you posted on a thread but there is no sign of your post. Then you notice another post that refers to your post but your post is just not there, and you realise there's nothing wrong with your memory, you are just living in somebody else's dictatorship.

Don't the mod's contact you? I thought they would at least explain why your comment was moderated, and give you opportunity to either amend the post yourself, or explain why you think the comment was justified. Do they just amend it/delete it without explanation?

No wonder Portia is p*ssed off!

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By carnmores
24th Apr 2015 20:59

a most helpful contributor

who also specialised in wonderful irony , maybe Portia has gone to Venice 

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By mikeyban
24th Apr 2015 21:46

Who is Portia
I always found this person interesting and amazing knowledge!

Who are you Portia?

Is that picture the lady on Rising Damp?

If yes reveal yourself!

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By Anne Robinson
24th Apr 2015 22:24

The big problem now is that all the old posts are now appearing under latest answers.

Hopefully she is on her sixth G&T and more mellow so may reconsider her decision (assuming it was her decision)

Or someone could tempt her back with a whopper of a question which she just couldn't resist

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Replying to Crouchy:
By mrme89
24th Apr 2015 22:32

Not

Anne Robinson wrote:
The big problem now is that all the old posts are now appearing under latest answers.

on my computer.

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By johngroganjga
25th Apr 2015 07:16

I hate to disagree. I found Portia's tone deeply unpleasant. It was hardly ever directed at me. If the moderators have now taken some action, I am sorry to say that she has had it coming for a long time.

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By ShirleyM
25th Apr 2015 08:18

Fair comment, John

I think Portia's saving grace was that she was rude to everyone, and it wasn't personal.

Still, she can always create a Wordpress blog, and publicly spout endless criticism and demands of AWeb and it's members (while denying everyone the right to reply). She will still be welcomed back with open arms and allowed to flout whatever rule she wants and the regular members will be made to toe the line. When that's achieved, she can repeat the same tactic on her suppliers. It does appear to be a very successful tactic .....  but none of this is to be recommended as it p*sses off the regular members

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By cheekychappy
25th Apr 2015 08:17

Rude,yes. Personal, no.

People need to take the 'rude' comments for what they were; entertainment.

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By User deleted
25th Apr 2015 08:31

No Shirley they don't always contact you these days. I had several posts amended or removed without the courtesy of an explanation. If they had bothered I'd have pointed out that all I was doing was repeating remarks that the subject of the posts (in the loosest sense) had themselves made publicly originally! So it really is a case of picking favourites.

And Portia was even-handed with the abuse :) I wouldn't have thought that anyone really took it personally because it (to me) wasn't intended that way. Surely it would be a status thing - 'Did you see? I was Portia'd yesterday!' 'Oh you lucky thing, I wish Portia would abuse me too!'

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Replying to philaccountant:
By ShirleyM
25th Apr 2015 08:55

Really!

Flash Gordon wrote:

No Shirley they don't always contact you these days. I had several posts amended or removed without the courtesy of an explanation. 

There was I, smugly thinking that none of my comments have been moderated, but it may be that I just haven't noticed. Why should members cooperate if their comments are just amended/deleted without explanation, or even receive the common courtesy of being informed? I can now understand why Tim describes it as a dictatorship, and Portia has skipped town.

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By mrme89
25th Apr 2015 09:21

I thought the removal of comments with no explanation was just me going mad. Glad to see I am somewhat sane. 

 

Another thread has come about due to Sift's actions. This thread will be gone by Monday afternoon, possibly Tuesday. But until Sift address the issues their members have, threads like this will only continue to resurface. I'm still not sure if it is arrogance, ignorance or just contempt why they don't want to listen to their members.

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By chewmac
25th Apr 2015 09:28

This is a shame
I visit AA more than any other section of the site and I visit for informed discussion. This is a big blow to that. Thanks Portia for previous replies. But at least I won't be so worried about my grammar in future!

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By johngroganjga
25th Apr 2015 09:28

I agree that Portia's unpleasantness wasn't personal, but in my opinion many of her criticisms of others were unfair. The unpleasantness was quite unnecessary and added nothing to her contributions. I am baffled by those who say they found it entertaining - in the same way as [***] fighting or bear baiting perhaps? "As ye sow so shall ye reap" is the phrase that comes to mind.

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Replying to Smokoe Joe:
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By thehaggis
25th Apr 2015 11:40

Thanks John

johngroganjga wrote:
I agree that Portia's unpleasantness wasn't personal, but in my opinion many of her criticisms of others were unfair. The unpleasantness was quite unnecessary and added nothing to her contributions. I am baffled by those who say they found it entertaining - in the same way as [***] fighting or bear baiting perhaps? "As ye sow so shall ye reap" is the phrase that comes to mind.

I am glad I am not the only one. I don't understand this love-in with what only can be described as as rude narcissistic bully.  That behaviour would not be tolerated in the real world, so why should we tolerate it here?

PNL's knowledge is undisputed, but it was primarily used to belittle others.and present an air of superiority.  Most of the replies were "The answer is X and if you don't know why you aren't as good as me".

The sensible contributions will be missed. The persona will not.

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By ShirleyM
25th Apr 2015 09:42

I didn't think Portia's comments were nasty

It was like watching a comedian taking the mick out of politicians, but Portia chose accountancy, as that is where her extensive knowledge lies.

Maybe she did go over the top at times, but quite often there was an element of truth in her acerbic comments. Maybe it's because I'm a blunt Yorkshire lass, but I think we are all too often afraid of saying what we think.

In other words, John, I didn't take the rudeness seriously, and just accepted it as part of Portia's personality.

I do respect your opinion, though, John. I like to hear other peoples opinions, views and thoughts, even if they don't match mine.

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By User deleted
25th Apr 2015 09:43

Different senses of humour

Different things entertain different people. Personally I don't find many so-called comedians entertaining and a lot of the tv comedies leave me cold. I prefer a bit of clever word use - something that makes my brain work a bit and where it requires a bit more skill. I always thought that Portia was pretty good at that. 

[***] fighting and bear baiting are just cruelty to animals. Bull-fighting can be entertaining - when the bull gores someone trying to provoke it. I find it a shame when the papers say 'luckily the injuries (to the person) weren't serious' when the picture shows the bull with one of its horns precariously close to a delicate part of anatomy.

 

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By User deleted
25th Apr 2015 09:44

@ chewmac

Let good grammar be Portia's legacy :)

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By cheekychappy
25th Apr 2015 09:45

Entertainment is subjective

Frankie Boyle vs Michael McIntyre, for instance.

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By User deleted
25th Apr 2015 09:54

Exactly!

Precisely. I'm sure Benny Hill appealed to a lot of people but not to me. 

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By Jekyll and Hyde
25th Apr 2015 10:05

a sad day for aweb

I felt the vast majority of her comments were honest, accurate and indeed sometimes hard hitting, but nether the less correct. 

What some people forget on this site is that we are accountants and some of the questions asked (or perhaps the way they are asked) are simply not fit for purpose questions (including sometimes my own). Portia was only pointing this out.

Indeed a sad day for A web and I hope that Portia comes back. What ever happens I wish her/him the very best for the future And every success.

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By andy.partridge
25th Apr 2015 10:08

Waste of time

I find it strange that PNL is personally deleting their posts. That's a little worrying?

Certainly there is no need to do so. I officially resigned my membership (andypartridge, as opposed to andy(dot)partriridge) a few years back. Saved me the trouble. The process was a bit like trying to cancel your Sky subscription but I got there in the end.

I am not recommending that course of action, but it is a better than sitting alone manually deleting things (with a half-empty bottle of vodka or worse).

Incidentally, I happen to think that PNL does in fact choose targets, perhaps those perceived to be weaker in terms of intellect or skill. Established members can enjoy the wit, but it must be unpleasant for an unsuspecting newbie.

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By andy.partridge
25th Apr 2015 11:55

Price

Interesting point.

The price most of us expect to pay for receiving information from fellow members is to give information back. Not so with PNL. With PNL the price was to be ridiculed or humiliated. Individual members can judge if that was a price worth paying.

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Replying to Wanderer:
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By User deleted
25th Apr 2015 12:02

Some people

andy.partridge wrote:

Interesting point.

The price most of us expect to pay for receiving information from fellow members is to give information back. Not so with PNL. With PNL the price was to be ridiculed or humiliated. Individual members can judge if that was a price worth paying.

Some people pay for that sort of treatment - or so I'm told! 

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By ShirleyM
25th Apr 2015 12:17

Portia didn't ask for anything in return though

I can understand that Portia's persona would not suit everyone (especially newbies who wouldn't realise that she was rude to everyone), but she wasn't a 'taker' in the sense that she wanted lots of help and advice from others, but wouldn't help in return. She gave massively, and maybe she enjoyed the challenge of being 'challenged'?

Sightly off track, but I wonder what tipped Portia over the edge and made her pack in helping.

Like her, or loathe her, she gave some really good advice, and we can't expect our much loved regular experts to be constantly available. The more experts we have on AWeb ... the better.

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Replying to Southwestbeancounter:
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By thehaggis
25th Apr 2015 13:00

What is a newbie?

ShirleyM wrote:

I can understand that Portia's persona would not suit everyone (especially newbies who wouldn't realise that she was rude to everyone), 

I wonder what constitutes a "newbie". PNL was a member for less than a year. The first post was a sarcastic one, suggesting that it was not the first. Newbies tend to test the water first.  I wonder what nom de plume was used prior to this particular reincarnation.

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Replying to Ruth Pringle:
By mwngiol
27th Apr 2015 09:35

PNL

thehaggis wrote:

ShirleyM wrote:

I can understand that Portia's persona would not suit everyone (especially newbies who wouldn't realise that she was rude to everyone), 

I wonder what constitutes a "newbie". PNL was a member for less than a year. The first post was a sarcastic one, suggesting that it was not the first. Newbies tend to test the water first.  I wonder what nom de plume was used prior to this particular reincarnation.

I always assumed that PNL was Jim FromTezzco. Or something like that.

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By cheekychappy
25th Apr 2015 14:07

Why are people so easily offended? It's a few not so nice, but entertaining comments made by someone you have never met, and you usually get your desire answer. 

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Replying to Beach Accountancy:
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By andy.partridge
25th Apr 2015 14:25

Why?

cheekychappy wrote:

Why are people so easily offended? It's a few not so nice, but entertaining comments made by someone you have never met, and you usually get your desire answer. 

Why are some people so thick skinned that it makes no difference to them that they are insulted? Answer is, of course, we are all different and that is to be welcomed. The sensitive or vulnerable should be protected in a civilised society. I would be wary of saying that PNL's vitriolic brand of humour should be tolerated simply because of the good that is done elsewhere with technical excellence. I think that has become known as the Savile defence (no remotely closer parallel intended).

Given PNL's apparent current behaviour (in systematically deleting posts) it would seem that we possibly have a brilliant but complex personality that deserves sensitive handling. Bully or victim? Quite possibly both.

On reflection, I am not sure this thread is helpful to PNL. Shall we all delete our posts accordingly. Might send a nice message to Sift on Monday morning? 

 

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RLI
By lionofludesch
25th Apr 2015 14:17

Price to pay

I can accept a bit of bad manners from someone who - nearly - always comes up with the right answer.

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