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frank_black_francis
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
895 Posts |
 Posted - 12/23/2005 : 16:48:12
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When I first started reading and posting on this forum 3 years ago, it was great, interesting, and I felt like it was often worthwhile to check in every other day.
A lot of interesting topics and hey, Frank himself used to post here from time to time (the fact that he has been posting less frequently only seems to support the point that I am about to make)
...this site has been slowly dominated by what I'd call a 'lower common denominator' that has turned this into a kind of erratic chatroom rather than a forum. Personally, I feel that a lot of interesting and contributive forum members have slowly dwindled away and this just sucks.
There are people here that post more than 20 times a day...it kinda sucks that this forum has, as a result fell victim to members who are playing out their over-blogging issues.
My point is, and I do not want anyone to get offended, that if the forum moderators limited allowable posts to 5 a day, it would force some to think about what they write and ideally, as a result, render the dialogue a little more "interesting".
I'd hate to have to wait until someone else creates a new forum that caters to more enlightening discussion about Frank Black / Pixies.
This is essentially a great website....but is in need of some adjustment if it wants to avoid turning into an adolescent chat room. |
Edited by - frank_black_francis on 12/23/2005 16:54:30 |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2005 : 18:11:56
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Well, a limit is not the answer. I won't disagree that there's not much for interesting topics right now, and I won't even disagree that I see a trend towards stupid jokes and links rather than interesting topics. I would even say that when I DO see an interesting topic posted, I tend to notice that people are more and more interested in making a funny/hearing themselves speak then talking about the topic at hand. If it's outright derailment, that's up to you guys to point out. I can't and won't do everything. Nor can Brian. Nor any amount of moderators.
I also am not going to become a worthiness censor. There are plenty of threads _I_ personally think unworthy of being threads, but that's my own opinion. Obviously at least one person will disagree with me for every thread I could name. And a limit to 5 posts/day, I don't think would solve the problem. Assuming you have someone who posts just rubbish, limiting to 5/day will still mean all their posts are rubbish, there's just less of it. Just like if you were to limit someone who only posted the most insightful and groundbreaking things - you'd still get that, but less. And less traffic is not something we want. Which leads me to the next thing...
You have to remember this is Christmas. A lot of people will be travelling, visiting families, and otherwise busy. That's normal. It happens every year. The forum is always quiet around the end of December. The less people there are, the less people are posting interesting topics.
Finally, a thread like this comes up at least once or twice a year. And the forum will vary depending on one thing: you guys. Yes, that's right. I can make this place the prettiest, most up to date place on the web, but if nobody is posting interesting topics, or replying to them intelligently, then anything I could do it irrelevant.
So, in short, If you want interesting threads:
1) Create them.
2) When others create them and they are quickly derailed or targetted by the 'lcd' factor, say something to that effect. Point it out to them (politely), or just ignore them and carry on discussing.
 "If we hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominos will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate." |
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Superabounder
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1041 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2005 : 18:19:25
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I always love the "state of the forum" topics that periodically come up.
I will agree that the forum appears to be on a slow decline. However, I blame Frank, not people who post many times a day. If Frank were to release something inspiring as opposed to a decent but not stellar album, I think more people would be excited to come to the forum and feed their excitement. As it is, the Pixies area went through a nice growth, although I don't check it out myself, but the rest has been status quo for a while. Restricting posts will not draw in better posters, I'm afraid. In fact, I'd rather have someone, anyone, posting 20 times a day instead of no one posting at all as would be the case.
So Frank, get off your ass, get a babysitter, and release another Teenager.
I tend to think of human beings as huge rubbery test tubes, too, with chemical reactions seething inside |
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frank_black_francis
= Cult of Ray =
Canada
895 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2005 : 18:59:18
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Well thanks for the comments...I think you are right (both of you). But this was not a response to Decemeber being a slow month...I have been checking in less frequently for the last 6 months....It just seems that when topics are derailed to personal-ongoing inside chatter, its frustrating as hell, and we you check in less than once a week, that kinda crap is sooooo frustrating....you begin to lose interest in checking in at all....I'd have to say that this must be the case for many members that have stopped posting.
Well I really do hope that things get better....you moderators are doing a great job though. |
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BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2005 : 19:14:18
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But things are looking up! I checked in just earlier today and two of the few active topics were:
- What are You Drinking Right Now?
- what are you listening to riiight.....now?
That is some insightful stuff. It blew m' mind! |
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The King Of Karaoke
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
3759 Posts |
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Little Black Francis
> Teenager of the Year <
3648 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2005 : 20:58:14
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If you were going to change something about the general chat, you might break it up into some more sections, that way topics would be somewhat organized. The general chat is the only part of the forum that isn't organized by sections. Have the admins/mods come up with a scheme
something like: news, politics, sports, pop culture, media, off topic, etc. or whatever
There's a million ways to do it, just have to come up with the most relevant ones.
When Floop reads this he's going to say something along the lines that there's no need to complain about it unless you are doing something about it.
I'm still grateful to be off yahoo groups
... Childbirth is no more a miracle than eating food and a turd coming out of your ass. |
Edited by - Little Black Francis on 12/23/2005 21:03:55 |
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floop
= Wannabe Volunteer =
Mexico
15297 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2005 : 21:11:13
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| there's no need to complain about it unless you are doing something about it |
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HeywoodJablome
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
1485 Posts |
Posted - 12/23/2005 : 22:16:32
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| It's a blog. Taking it too seriously is a little weird in my opinion. |
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The King Of Karaoke
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
3759 Posts |
Posted - 12/24/2005 : 01:28:56
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It's like Saturday Night Live! Some seasons it sucks and some seasons it's classic.
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IceCream
= Quote Accumulator =
USA
1850 Posts |
Posted - 12/24/2005 : 02:13:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Cult_Of_Frank
Well, a limit is not the answer. I won't disagree that there's not much for interesting topics right now, and I won't even disagree that I see a trend towards stupid jokes and links rather than interesting topics. I would even say that when I DO see an interesting topic posted, I tend to notice that people are more and more interested in making a funny/hearing themselves speak then talking about the topic at hand. If it's outright derailment, that's up to you guys to point out. I can't and won't do everything. Nor can Brian. Nor any amount of moderators.
I also am not going to become a worthiness censor. There are plenty of threads _I_ personally think unworthy of being threads, but that's my own opinion. Obviously at least one person will disagree with me for every thread I could name. And a limit to 5 posts/day, I don't think would solve the problem. Assuming you have someone who posts just rubbish, limiting to 5/day will still mean all their posts are rubbish, there's just less of it. Just like if you were to limit someone who only posted the most insightful and groundbreaking things - you'd still get that, but less. And less traffic is not something we want. Which leads me to the next thing...
You have to remember this is Christmas. A lot of people will be travelling, visiting families, and otherwise busy. That's normal. It happens every year. The forum is always quiet around the end of December. The less people there are, the less people are posting interesting topics.
Finally, a thread like this comes up at least once or twice a year. And the forum will vary depending on one thing: you guys. Yes, that's right. I can make this place the prettiest, most up to date place on the web, but if nobody is posting interesting topics, or replying to them intelligently, then anything I could do it irrelevant.
So, in short, If you want interesting threads:
1) Create them.
2) When others create them and they are quickly derailed or targetted by the 'lcd' factor, say something to that effect. Point it out to them (politely), or just ignore them and carry on discussing.
"If we hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominos will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate."
COF's returned state improves the state of the forum. He has plenty of interesting comments. |
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chineselover
= Cult of Ray =
Ireland
348 Posts |
Posted - 12/24/2005 : 09:15:45
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Actually do you not think the reason that this forum is rather boring over the last while is because there is literally nothing happening in the actual area that this forum is about - namely Frank Black and any of his projects? I think that is the reason.. I mean there is literally nothing to talk about other than rumours of rumours.
That said, I believe there is over-posters in every forum. It seems that the take time out to actually think of topics, rather than something that just struck them in passing that might be fun to chat about here. I think some people are secretly keeping an eye on their post count!! Maybe they should be changed to ball park figures like over 200, over 3000 etc etc... This might help focus the mind of those who over-post very uninteresting subject matter
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Edited by - chineselover on 12/25/2005 09:38:55 |
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LongLiveRock
- FB Fan -
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - 12/25/2005 : 04:49:17
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Hum...I just got here. Looks like a great forum to me!
"Rap is crap." |
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pixiestu
> Teenager of the Year <
United Kingdom
2564 Posts |
Posted - 12/25/2005 : 05:04:29
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Welcome, LongLiveRock. 
Oh, and on the subject of the forum being 'lame', I really don't agree. Maybe it isn't as good as it used to be (but I wasn't around then so I can't judge), but I think it's the best FB site around and that's good enough for me!
"The arc of triumph" |
Edited by - pixiestu on 12/25/2005 05:36:43 |
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ccuadros
* Dog in the Sand *
Chile
1315 Posts |
Posted - 12/25/2005 : 10:04:03
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I like a lot this forum, I know a lot of things (FB, Pixies and other stuff) because this forum, there´s several interesting topics, for example sendmesomefrank.com where I listened many music that I couldn´t heard if this forum doesn´t exist. Frank post here....not very often...but he post..and that´s for me it´s amazing. And we speak about all the themes that I love:FB and Pixies. So, that things plus all the people here, are very friendly and gentle, makes that this forum rocks, really.
I´m glad to be a part of this community.
Salu2 |
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kfs
= Cult of Ray =
USA
889 Posts |
Posted - 12/26/2005 : 04:47:11
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quote:
Originally posted by ccuadros
I like a lot this forum, I know a lot of things (FB, Pixies and other stuff) because this forum, there´s several interesting topics, for example sendmesomefrank.com where I listened many music that I couldn´t heard if this forum doesn´t exist. Frank post here....not very often...but he post..and that´s for me it´s amazing. And we speak about all the themes that I love:FB and Pixies. So, that things plus all the people here, are very friendly and gentle, makes that this forum rocks, really.
I´m glad to be a part of this community.
Salu2
I totally agree with him. |
Edited by - kfs on 12/26/2005 04:48:10 |
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Daisy Girl
~ Abstract Brain ~
Belize
5305 Posts |
Posted - 12/26/2005 : 16:50:05
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| I am definately in COF's camp. It's the whole idea that if your not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. |
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danjersey
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
2792 Posts |
Posted - 12/26/2005 : 21:07:06
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| turning turning turning |
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BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 12/26/2005 : 21:51:15
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| "The forum's not lame" posts are especially lame. |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 12/26/2005 : 22:26:02
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Well then, in the words of Marge Simpson, "I guess I'm just a great big lame"
"If we hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominos will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate." |
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Domestiques
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
503 Posts |
Posted - 12/26/2005 : 23:28:06
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I think I agree with Frank Black Francis, topics get derailed so quickly and they become chats with injokes for pages and pages. To the point if I see a topic with more than a page I know that by page 2 it's likely it is off topic and probably a conversation between two or three posters, that I don't even bother clicking in.
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All I know there was humous. |
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starmekitten
-= Forum Pistolera =-
United Kingdom
6370 Posts |
Posted - 12/27/2005 : 10:23:05
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| It's been way worse than this, what we need now is someone who used to post long time ago to come along and tell us how their injoking drivel was far more entertaining than the current injoking drivel. |
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VoVat
>> Denizen of the Citizens Band <<
USA
9168 Posts |
Posted - 12/27/2005 : 11:01:58
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I don't know that I'd say the forum has been lame recently. It's been SLOW, and I'm not convinced that's totally because of the holidays. I think most forums tend to lose their novelty value after a while, and people don't check or post to them quite as much. In a way, I'm kind of glad it's slowed down somewhat, because it means I can read the interesting topics pretty quickly, rather than having to make sure I have a free block of two hours or so before even bothering to load the page. But I wouldn't be adverse to an increase in traffic, either.
quote:
When others create them and they are quickly derailed or targetted by the 'lcd' factor, say something to that effect. Point it out to them (politely), or just ignore them and carry on discussing.
I agree with the latter suggestion more than the former. Some people seem to have gotten it into their heads that if someone posts something irrelevant to a thread, nobody else can post anything relevant. Obviously, this makes no sense.
I'm sure I've mentioned before how I don't think topics being "derailed" is necessarily a bad thing. Making rules to try to eliminate that kind of thing strikes me as going against how conversations work. And there are some threads where I'm not interested in the subject in the least, but I'll stick check in on them occasionally in hopes that there will be some good off-topic talk.
quote:
If you were going to change something about the general chat, you might break it up into some more sections, that way topics would be somewhat organized.
I think that's a good idea. I've already suggested that there should be a separate section for discussion of (non-Frank-related) music. And I'd like for the sport threads to be isolated, so I don't keep opening them by mistake.
quote:
I think some people are secretly keeping an eye on their post count!! Maybe they should be changed to ball park figures like over 200, over 3000 etc etc...
What do you mean, secretly? I'd say it's pretty overt.
I can say that I probably wouldn't post any less if there were no post counts, and I would be willing to bet that this is also the case for other frequent posters. Granted, it would get rid of the "Congratulations to So-and-So on 5000 posts!" threads, but those hardly ever show up nowadays anyway. I do mention my post count on occasion, but I usually try to add it to a post on something else, rather than making a post simply about that.
"If you doze much longer, then life turns to dreaming. If you doze much longer, then dreams turn to nightmares." |
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Carl
- A 'Fifth' Catholic -
Ireland
11546 Posts |
Posted - 12/27/2005 : 19:10:20
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Tiny Tim was lame, yet he was a classic Dickensian character.
 "Yo! Ho Ho! Merry Christmas!" |
Edited by - Carl on 12/27/2005 19:11:12 |
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chineselover
= Cult of Ray =
Ireland
348 Posts |
Posted - 12/28/2005 : 11:34:50
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quote:
quote:
I think some people are secretly keeping an eye on their post count!! Maybe they should be changed to ball park figures like over 200, over 3000 etc etc...
What do you mean, secretly? I'd say it's pretty overt.
.... maybe i could clarify it by being a little more direct - some people post a load of old shite in what seems to be some sort of post count race, but what ever floats their boat i suppose! |
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IceCream
= Quote Accumulator =
USA
1850 Posts |
Posted - 12/28/2005 : 13:51:46
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I admit that in my younger years, I did make posts for the sole sake of raising my post count. I was the 33rd member to reach 1000. But that's all changed now. And back in 2003 (i.e. when I did do that), I think the forum was significantly less lame than it was now. We had el barto, proverbial ceral, mereubu, Dave Noisy, brackish girl, apl4eris, thecroutonfuton, and others posting at a regular basis back then. And I don't say that to degrade/downcast the 'new' guys. It's just that I knew those people. The forum was like a family then. I don't know half of the 'new' people. I don't know their personal characterists, their idiosyncracies, their greatnesses, their ages, their beliefs, anything.
I have gotten to know Darwin though. I will give you Darwin. |
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Cult_Of_Frank
= Black Noise Maker =
Canada
11687 Posts |
Posted - 12/28/2005 : 14:07:17
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I miss all those people too, but I suppose if we're around and chatting with the more recent regulars then they'll become our friends too. That is, assuming any of us can come up with interesting things to talk about...
"If we hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominos will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate." |
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The King Of Karaoke
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
3759 Posts |
Posted - 12/28/2005 : 14:29:10
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quote:
Originally posted by Cult_Of_Frank
That is, assuming any of us can come up with interesting things to talk about...
"If we hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominos will fall like a house of cards. Checkmate."
Um, hello? I have repeatedly started threads regarding the legendary albeit elusive Sasquatch and other like creatures but none have really caught on. Hello people! Whether you believe it or not, THERE ARE several cave men type beings walking around the remote regions of this planet in the year 2005. Sounds pretty interesting to me.
Dammit! I'm going over to the bigfoot forums where I don't have to witness this fact from the tops of roofs trying to get people to wake up. Those Sasquatch lovin' freaks already know the deal.
http://www.lloydpye.com/hominoids.html
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Edited by - The King Of Karaoke on 12/28/2005 14:30:03 |
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50 Pence
= Cult of Ray =
United Kingdom
284 Posts |
Posted - 12/28/2005 : 14:44:21
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Lol I believe you KoK. Really, this isnt flawless english sarcasm I am displaying here.
Blats |
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Broken Face
-= Forum Pistolero =-
USA
5155 Posts |
Posted - 12/28/2005 : 15:16:47
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this is the ___th thread about a topic that is literally unresolvable. old timers (myself included) tend to pine for the 'good old days,' newbies get turned off by the nasty sentiments and the middle grounders (who joined in 03/04) fall to either side. we all have our favorite members who post here less, or no more. but i'm sure we've also all lost a frequent poster who we couldn't stand. that is the beauty of a board like this.
the truth of the matter, as Deaner so well explained, is that if you think there are lame topics, start good ones. if you miss the old people, reach out to them and invite them back. and if you're so miserable, then we'll miss you, but move on (EDIT - this was not aimed at fbf or anyone else who posted here, just a general statement). i don't plan on posting here for the rest of my life - i'm sure at some point it will cease being relevant to me. if you have reached that point, stop back in to say hi now and again, and enjoy your day to day life.
-Brian
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TRANSMARINE
* Dog in the Sand *
USA
2002 Posts |
Posted - 12/28/2005 : 15:21:40
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Perhaps this topic has become lame, too? I also remember 2003 when I started haunting this site, and it's not much different. But as someone chimed in earlier, perhaps it's a lag in the FB career at the moment. Back then there was the newishly released DW and BLD, and the then forthcoming SMYT only to be followed a few months later by the phoenixish PIXIES, as well as two new songs, a new compilation, a dvd (a 2nd one shortly away), a slew of legit concert cd's, and FBF. We are in the midst of a hiatus, so to speak. We know there is another FB album coming, and perhaps some new Pixies work in progress. And these topics have been talked to death, with opinions expressed rampantly from left to right, up and down, positive and negative, paddle to the paddle to the side to the side, etc. etc. We are in a lull at present, and still feeling the after effects of the whole Dave Noisy fiasco a few months back...doesn't mean it won't change or that the site has lost anything important. I think, however, IMO, people seem to be a lot more sensitive now here than in the past and feelings are hurt a bit too easily. Cheer up if you feel down, keep on opening topics you feel need to be opened, and simply don't respond to the one's you feel you don't need to, and don't start crying if someone doesn't agree with you. FB.net '06 is coming! They're coming! They're coming!
Hank the 8th was a duplicated man
-bRIAN |
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starmekitten
-= Forum Pistolera =-
United Kingdom
6370 Posts |
Posted - 12/28/2005 : 15:46:55
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quote:
Originally posted by IceCream
I admit that in my younger years, I did make posts for the sole sake of raising my post count. I was the 33rd member to reach 1000. But that's all changed now. And back in 2003 (i.e. when I did do that), I think the forum was significantly less lame than it was now. We had el barto, proverbial ceral, mereubu, Dave Noisy, brackish girl, apl4eris, thecroutonfuton, and others posting at a regular basis back then. And I don't say that to degrade/downcast the 'new' guys. It's just that I knew those people. The forum was like a family then. I don't know half of the 'new' people. I don't know their personal characterists, their idiosyncracies, their greatnesses, their ages, their beliefs, anything.
I have gotten to know Darwin though. I will give you Darwin.
quote:
It's been way worse than this, what we need now is someone who used to post long time ago to come along and tell us how their injoking drivel was far more entertaining than the current injoking drivel.
Score one for me!
These threads are so predictable |
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chineselover
= Cult of Ray =
Ireland
348 Posts |
Posted - 12/28/2005 : 16:20:12
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| Yeah to be honest I have been on forums where they had there regular members - and they would all give each other cyber hugs and ask how the new job was, the kids, the granny, and muse about the happy little 'family' they are, and scoff at new members who ask how the include pics in their posts.... mmm... maybe my sarcasm has all ready given away my views on all that… |
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BLT
> Teenager of the Year <
South Sandwich Islands
4204 Posts |
Posted - 12/28/2005 : 17:37:37
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When I start to hate the forum or a politically correct cyber-moderator suspends my cyber-buddy's account, I just stop posting for a few months.
Cyberhugs are for pussies. |
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PixieSteve
> Teenager of the Year <
Poland
4698 Posts |
Posted - 12/28/2005 : 19:28:07
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i know, why don't we create a new forum for all the cool people. we could like, block everyone who makes lame posts. or something.
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The King Of Karaoke
> Teenager of the Year <
USA
3759 Posts |
Posted - 12/28/2005 : 19:31:13
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Great, and just how am I supposed to spend all of my free time once that takes effect?
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Topic |
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THIS FORUM IS TURNING LAME...
