Can we have a statement (or, better, a debate, perhaps) on the editorial policy used on this board? I've noticed that a number of postings have been deleted recently - at least a couple today - in what could be seen as a rather high-handed way. OK, those posts neither added to the sum of human knowledge nor sparkled with wit (nor were they posted by me)... but in at least one case, the same was true for the original post to which it was replying. Is it the feeling of this community that inane responses should be wiped? If it is, I should like to propose that the same censorship be applied to equally inane questions.

The Top-Consultant forum is monitored and postings deemed offensive, inappropriate and irrelevant for a public forum, aimed at helping readers of the site with their questions about careers in consulting, are removed. As stated previously, we are in the process of redesigning the forum and a statement regarding the editorial policy will be posted. In the mean time, we welcome your comments and suggestions for improving the forum. <br><br>King regards, Sophia (Top-Consultant.com)

It&#39;s a fair question and a fair response. My suggestions and comments: 1. Clearly there are posts that deserve to be deleted. For example if somebody uses rude language that insults or offends, whether they realise it or not, it adds nothing positive to the forum and should be taken off. Similarly it is no good attacking race, gender or religion, whatever a contributors background, because the consulting industry is not closed to people from particular races, genders or religions, and there are ethical and legal considerations to this.2. However I have noticed some posts that are written where the contributors have attempted to bias the comment on other grounds. One route is through posting rude comment as a question as already helpfully described. Another is through feigned offense to other posts. For example if someone posts comment that runs contrary to a persons view on consulting career debates (e.g. requirements and specifics of qualifications, industry experiences, reputation of particular firms etc.) then that is not normally or necessarily inappropriate. For example if you think public sector consulting is a great way forward in career terms, you are at liberty to do so. If you think that underlying factors will create future problems for many consultants careers involved in the public sector then fair enough. Simply feigning offense because you hold a particular view or work at a consultancy with a particular reputation, is surely unacceptable if you are unable to defend a position more widely.3. Again with relevance I would like to sound a note of caution. The directly relevant is easy to differentiate from the directly irrelevant. Confused yet?! This point is that the indirectly relevant is less easy to spot from the indirectly irrelevant. This is surely often the case with careers and our hopes for the industry in the future. MESSAGE : When the redesign improves the site it would be great if it keeps what is best about the forum as well

Yes, it would be a huge shame to throw the baby out with the bath water - I trust that doesn&#39;t offend anyone? I&#39;m afraid one of the posts deleted was my mine - the rather flippant response to the question as to where could one use one&#39;s Spanish. I flippantly suggested Spain, but did include an apology in my subject line. Whilst I would not hold this up as the finest example of my wit, and some may disagree, I would like to see a board that refeclts real life - a few laughs, a few rants and a few tears and spilled blood! We&#39;re all adults, so surely heated debates should be promoted - at least then its shows the experineced and the newcomers that we do care about this industry and its people.

Hi Sophia, nice to meet you. Who are you?

The thing is you could strengthen your debate with more reasoning. A website is not exactly real life, and you have to write according to the audience. The audience here is to an extent assumed. You might be in consulting and/or looking for a move or an entry in the industry. On the other hand you might simply be a random reader/contributor. You might be both. People don&#39;t always want everything spelt out, that&#39;s not what matters here, but they do expect something that contributes positively to a careers forum. I improved my French by actually consulting with it in France. You made a fair point, but you made it sound irrelevant. It&#39;s like wanting a board with &#39;tears and spilled blood&#39;. Why do you want that? How does that actually help people develop their career in consulting?

I think it&#39;s important to keep humour and a certain amount of &quot;edginess&quot; on the site to encourage more experienced consultants to keep logging on. There&#39;s no need or excuse for racism or excess sarcasm but if the forum becomes too sterile or narrowly focused on certain groups (eg graduates or MBAs) then I, for one, probably wouldn&#39;t bother with it any more.

Oh no Pedro don&#39;t go! :-)

Hi. I’m one of the content editors at the company and I’m one of the people who monitors the forum.

Oh, nice to meet you! Are you going to be one of the superheroes we’ll look for at the Fair? And also, do you have insomnia or do you work at night?

Hi. Nice to meet you, too, although…you still remain anonymous :). I’m just in a different time zone – Toronto’s, to be more exact. I am flying back on the 7th but it all depends on traffic and things like that if I will be at the Career’s Fair. However, all the other Top-Consultant superheros will be on hand.

Sorry, it’s me, Jakie. I am experiencing a form of addiction to the site and I thought overexposure would not do me any good for next Friday, when I’ll have to show my face... I’ll look for Tony, and/or some other Top Consultants first, I hope to see you there!