The quack goes on...
Now that Angel is wrapping up, everyone's favorite Buffy-n-Angel-4evah supporters—Ducks and her ducklings—continue to hope against hope that their couple will be reunited by the end of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer spin-off, regardless of recent casting news and the fact that Angel and Buffy are a fictional couple that has been over for going on five years now.

Anyway, infighting and "hate mail" forced one longtime moderator to leave the Babble Board (BB). What caused this rift? Debate over how many claddagh rings should be used in the next B/A ad in Variety? What kind of cookies to send to the Mutant Enemy office?

Nope. An advertisement in support of David Boreanaz... on another site!

That's right. Apparently someone posted information on the BB about a possible Boreanaz ad being created by another site, and some Ducklings went over to the site to check it out. More than a few got their widdle feewings huwrt. According to Ducks' moderator Margot Le Faye:
Unfortunately, when we got there, we found a torrent of negative, and to be frank, even slanderous, mud being slung at our own efforts both in the SMG thank you ad organized on this board and for the efforts many individual babblers (in concert with fans from all over the net) are making in the savingangel campaign, a completely neutral, ship-free campaign.
I understand that not every single Stranger was involved in throwing the mud. I truly appreciate the reasoned and thoughtful posts in our defence. But, the sheer number of negative posts, the seeming disinterest of the moderators in reining any of the poison in, or even in checking with our own mods to get the facts, led us to suggest to our people that they not participate in this particular effort. The thread in which the information had orginaly been posted deteriorated and was deleted by our administrator. I have no intention of allowing that to happen, again."

Tempers were SO hot that Dawny, a BB mod, up and quit.

Dawny
(3/20/04 7:34 pm)
After last night, I cannot be a part of this board. At all. I want nothing to do with it. I received hate mail after hate mail after hate mail. All over the stupid DB ad thread. All because I posted something that I thought you guys may want to participate in.
===

There's more along the same ilk (including "some quotes and paraphrases") from secret chats, and then the moderator adds: "I actually could go on and on but I don't really have the energy. I have to be honest though. I've never been so hurt or angry in my life. You wonder why the BB is cast into negative light so often? Think about it. Because ALL of the hate mail I got last night were from members of THIS board and/or B/Aers. ALL of it."

But what I find most amusing about this "saying goodbye" thread is the fact that remaining moderators are heavily editing posts. Morgan explains, "I'm going through this thread and deleting or editing anything that is not a respectful farewell to Dawn, or a moderators post. Again, this means some things that were not inappropriate will be deleted in the name of keeping this thread on track, so don't be offended if you find yourself edited or deleted." Which leads to posts like this:

cherylforba
(3/20/04 11:14 pm)
Dawny,
Sorry that you feel you have to leave the BB.
{deleted by mod}
I can not imagine someone so ignorant to send you hate mail, I can't even imagine what would cause such a thing.
On another note their has been no cheering with the news that you are leaving, quite the opposite is happening.
Most are looking around wondering what has happened NOW. It seems more and more the accusations fly.
{deleted by mod}I believe someone has lied to you which calls into question THEIR motivations, like everyone else I wish you well and am thankful for the time you put in to keep this board going.
Cheryl
Edited at my discretion.
Edited by: Margot Le Faye at: 3/21/04 1:24 pm
===

Also? "[T]his is fair warning. I have been sick since September. I may need surgery. I have had a serious Upper Respiratory Infection for six weeks and I am miserable. I am NOT in a particularly tolerant mood, and the crap being flung at me for my work in the campaigns isn't exactly sweetening my temper."

And of course, we have those on the Board who are in a league of their own.

SHAWNGF
(3/23/04 7:00 pm)
Our reservations are not petty and should not be berated and asked to be dismissed.
I am more content with giving to a non-shipper ad or one created by our incredible design team. That's my level of comfort. And when it's my money, I need trust first.
That's not petty.
===

Background on the Ducks can be found here.