Can someone point out a situation where anything like the bold section above was actually used as a reason to excuse clearly probation worthy behavior?
I can't remember a situation where someone was clearly in the wrong and then given a pass because of who they drank with, can anyone else?
These boards can be swift and unrelenting and unforgiving but usually it is this way to the ones truly deserving it's ire.
There is a process and a patience necessary to truly get to the bottom of a situation and to discover who wronged whom. That is undeniable. However, I have never experienced these boards defended the wrong party. I don't think that's accurate.
I can think of at least one. Either way, I agree with bob. If I tried to bring a complaint against a well established boardie, everyone would trip over each other to defend them. If the roles were reversed, I'd be burned at the stake for screwing over a longtime boardie. I recently had an issue with a boardie but there's no possible way I can bring it up given who he is and who I am in relation to Standing on the boards. If I had done to them what happened to me though, I'd be on the probation list in 5 seconds IMO.
Anyone who swallows a bad deal because the person on the other side of the deal is part of some perceived "in crowd" or "boy's club" is a low-self-esteem, self-flagellating insufficiently_thoughtful_person.