[starman]

So, a topic came up in Feedback about the Lounge and when its downfall began. To be honest, I don't know what started killing it slowly. It wasn't a specific person or thing (eg: Timeline overusage), but somewhere along the line, this place hasn't been as much fun as it used to be.

I was ready to leave this place for good. I was seriously considering logging out and just not coming back and then I thought it was a cowardly thing to do. You don't spend 8 years of your life talking with a group of people and just leave because you don't like what it's become. Instead, I decided last night that instead, I was going to see if maybe, MAYBE I can get some suggestions about how to bring the Lounge back to what it was: fun.

The topics used to spawn great discussions, now it's nothing more than political and/or religious crap. You can't talk about Toyotas without someone mentioning Jesus or democrats in post 4. People tend to insult each other around here much more lately. It's one thing to jab at someone in jest, and another to be outright hurtful.

People seem to want to detach "real" people from "internet" people. Since you don't have to deal with "internet" people face-to-face, it's become accepted to be a little bit meaner to them because there are no consequences. I think that's what's been happening here. I can say I've been guilty of it myself.

And yet, I'm sure the usual hijackers will come here and try to sabotage the thread. Hopefully, more people will discourage that and put these clowns on ignore. I haven't put one person on ignore in the 8 years I've been here but I'm almost ready to start doing that to make this place more enjoyable.

Thoughts?

[Dakar the Fourth]

It can't be done. The same thing happened in the old forum I used to hang out on. It got popular, more people invaded and the old feeling was lost.

Internet Forums, much like life, change, and you can't recapture the old glory anymore than you can go back to how it was like hanging out with buddies in college.

[Paco500]

I think the arguments were always vicious and personal, they were just more varied and a lot funnier. The thing I miss the most is the sense of humor.

[boots]

Rose colored glasses, my friend. There has been crap here for as long as I can remember. We used to ignore it and still have good threads. But I think we've just exhausted the novelty. If we were new to this board, it probably would look kinda fun: Heart felt railing against the Man (RIAA), half nekid chicks galore, some interesting techie things...but none of that is new to us...all those things have been done a hundred times in our tenure here.

Perhaps it's time to have a Hermit Crab Festival (as opposed to a Llama Festival) to lift the spirits a little....

[Dork.]

The quality of any discussion is a direct factor of the people involved in it. And if the people involved in it choose to bicker and insult each other, then that's what you get. All it takes is a few people bickering to derail a thread.

But then again, bickering is not all bad, and can be fun sometimes! I think the key to improving this place is for everyone to not take it too seriously, and use discretion when they post the oddball stuff. There have been times when I've started a post, but then abandoned it because I felt it wouldn't advance the discussion at all in a serious thread. Do other people do that?

Especially in the more topical threads, take the time to actually answer the content of the previous post, instead of commenting on the poster and why they offended you. I am constantly amazed at what people get offended by here. I think in my entire time here (which spans from 2000 when you include my other handle), I've seen maybe three posts (excepting spam, requests for warez, and naughty pictures, of course) that I felt contained content that was so off-base that it shouldn't be here. And yet, I see people bicker all the time over "You shouldn't have said that" type of posts....

So, my recipe would be for us all to loosen up a little and post a few silly threads, while ignoring the people who try and ruin the serious threads and not take the troll bait. Harder than it sounds, though....

[osiris]

Sort of what my arch nemesis Dakar the Fourth said - nothing lasts forever. If you want a different feeling, make it happen.

Ignore the politics - I think a good new rule would be to forbid any mention of anything political anywhere but the PL - including cheap shots like 'stupid republicans' or the random use of 'Bill Clinton'... etc

For more fun, create a name game (movies, music, favorite porn star) or a rhyme game...

The fun is still here - you just have to see it and take part in it.
Then we can take over the world.

[BRussell]

As long as I've been here, there's been a thread every 6 months or so complaining about how bad things have gotten and how nice it used to be. It's like how, in every generation since Plato, old people have complained about "the youngsters these days." It's just an illusion.

[Dakar the Fourth]

By the way, for all the complaining about how shitty things are around here, I'll be damned if I can remember the last really bad thread we had. I'm talking 5+ pages bad. Hasn't happened in quite a while.

[Chuckmcd]

the forum has changed and that can't be denied... but I can't really say what the reason is.

I think some of the people who made this forum what it was have left... mastrap for example... is he still around here? we used to have cheese threads that were awesome! I learned how to cook an incredible steak on these boards (and my wife is forever grateful).

Many of the people who mad this forum a place I came everyday just don't post anymore. Honestly I stopped checking and stopped talking because I got tired hearing people called pedophiles because they were religious and other junk. then people banned and then they come back and blah blah blah blah.

I used to enjoy discussing religion/politics/cooking and macs here... now I either lack the time or the desire.

maybe, our generation of members have just gotten too busy?

[Dork.]

Do cheese threads have semantic value?

[boots]

^ Um, yes. That you have to ask is proof enough that you should participate in the next one to come along.

Now, where did Max go....

[RAILhead]

Dude, you're just pissed that Shifuimam logs your chats with her.

End. Of. Story.

[Dork.]

Originally Posted by boots 

^ Um, yes. That you have to ask is proof enough that you should participate in the next one to come along.

Now, where did Max go....

I only ask because MacNN was on a War On Nonsense a while back, which prompted besson3c and I to go elsewhere to talk about pooping in kitchens.

[chris v]

Well, I'm sorta back, so that should help a whole lot.

[boots]

Originally Posted by Dork. 

I only ask because MacNN was on a War On Nonsense a while back, which prompted besson3c and I to go elsewhere to talk about pooping in kitchens.

Cheese, with little exception, is very serious business. The few exceptions include soy cheese and kraft imitation singles. Those belong in a thread about pooping in the kitchen.

[besson3c]

Maybe the War on Nonsense and the War on Drugs should combine resources? After all, it is a rarely understood fact that the people involved in nonsense are into drugs as well. As we speak, I'm high on paint thinner...

I've actually found the lounge more pleasant since Kevin and Railroader left, but maybe that's just me... Certainly a lot of the drama has gone, maybe people equate drama to excitement?

Other than that, I fully agree with what Dork. said above, people have to take things in stride and realize that this is just a lounge on a forum on the internet, some people take things way too intensely personal.

[RAILhead]

I had the shrimp scampi at The Cheesecake Factory yesterday, and let me tell you -- I had to scampi to a White Throne as soon as I walked in the door of our house. And believe me -- there was nothing "shrimpy" about it.

And THAT, is what it's all about.

[Laminar]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

I've actually found the lounge more pleasant since Kevin and Railroader left, but maybe that's just me... Certainly a lot of the drama has gone, maybe people equate drama to excitement?

On a totally unrelated note, I haven't had problems with gasoline since I got rid of matches.

[iMOTOR]

I'd like to see a feature where members of a certain post count can write a block of text that fresh faced n00bs cant read (until they reach that special post count).

That would make lounge a lot more fun, or maybe not.

[Laminar]

I don't think new members are a problem as much as current ones.

[xi_hyperon]

I find myself lurking here more now (and posting occasionally) than I had been over the last couple of years. I don't think things have changed that much in terms of quality or fun over time. I think it's a simple fact that some of us older members just felt the need to back away and let a new cast of characters take over, with their own brand of humor and bickering.

[xi_hyperon]

Originally Posted by chris v 

Well, I'm sorta back, so that should help a whole lot.

This does help. *waves*

Still going to make it up there one day to have some good old tex-mex for lunch with you, provided the invite is still good.

[imitchellg5]

You know, believe it or not I think part of it is due to the absence of Ca$h and Kevin. I also think posters have been taking things way to seriously.

[Dakar the Fourth]

He's talking the past year(s) here, not the past couple weeks since Kevin was Banninated.

[imitchellg5]

Yeah, but I think it's accelerated in recent weeks.

[besson3c]

I think the other factor relates to the increase I have noticed of Mac switchers coming here... It seems like every 5 minutes there is a thread along the lines of "where can I download antivirus software for my MAC?" This, of course, is not a negative thing, but it has changed the makeup of this board. There may have been users who preferred this forum when it, and the Mac itself was sort of on the fringes...

Just a wild theory.

[Dakar the Fourth]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5 

Yeah, but I think it's accelerated in recent weeks.

I gotta way disagree.

[pooka]

I dunno. Kinda seems like things started with the Pol lounge. That was amusing for a while. But that only lead to people taking things way too seriously and getting seriously shitty with one another. That and some posters are just plain retarded. Having to wade through their 4th grade level posts just made participation pointless.

But hey, chris is back so who knows.

[chris v]

Originally Posted by pooka 

But hey, chris is back so who knows.

Get thee out from behind me! (how the hell is Baton Rouge?)

[besson3c]

We also have some new mods!

[MacosNerd]

I agree with the OP things have changed and not for the good.

Some of the people who had help provide the richness of the lounge are also gone.

I also agree with imitchellg5, Kevin and ca$h certainly made the lounge a lot more exciting.
To be certain the lounge has gone down hill to a degree, due in part to some people's absence (banned or otherwise)

So while besson is happy that RR (temp banned) and Kevin (perma-banned) are gone, I think the lounge is a little worse off because of that. Ca$h when he wasn't melting down generally added to this place and when he was melting down it was like watching a train wreck - couldn't take your eyes off it.

[chris v]

Ohh, a bicker-fest about Kevin! Looks like I came back just in time!

:hurl:

glances at exit...

[Dakar the Fourth]

Originally Posted by MacosNerd 

I also agree with imitchellg5, Kevin and ca$h certainly made the lounge a lot more exciting.
To be certain the lounge has gone down hill to a degree, due in part to some people's absence (banned or otherwise)

So while besson is happy that RR (temp banned) and Kevin (perma-banned) are gone, I think the lounge is a little worse off because of that. Ca$h when he wasn't melting down generally added to this place and when he was melting down it was like watching a train wreck - couldn't take your eyes off it.

So wait, you don't like how the lounge is boring without Kevin and Cash, but when they're here and causing their weekly wars, everybody complains about that too. Make up your mind people.

[MacosNerd]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall complaining about Kevin or Ca$h. Especially for the reasons I stated.

[Dakar the Fourth]

Originally Posted by MacosNerd 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall complaining about Kevin or Ca$h. Especially for the reasons I stated.

My apologies, I was using your statement to address everyone's points as a whole.

Considering the amount of chiding and pot stirring Kevin did, I don't see how anyone can't appreciate the peace lately. I suppose if you were never on the receiving end it, but you still had to read the crap. I haven't been in a retarded (or any, really) argument since Kevin left, and I don't think that's a coincidence.

Originally Posted by chris v 

Ohh, a bicker-fest about Kevin! Looks like I came back just in time!

:hurl:

glances at exit...

Ah yes, his legacy lives on. Like a fart it lingers, long after its creator has been banished.

[MallyMal]

Maybe I'm not here enough to notice or care that there is a difference.

[osiris]

Desensitization can be a good thing.

[Dakar the Fourth]

Whoa, magic is occurring.

[Demonhood]

i've cleaned up the thread and issued infractions. that'll be quite enough. you can't just turn a thread about another subject matter into a thread about other members (which isn't allowed) or about yourself and your numerous problems.

now, back to the nostalgia and talk of cheese, llamas, rugged good looks, and the hope for new photoshopping threads.

[xi_hyperon]

I posted the magic epic-fail-guy .gif

When deployed properly, it has the effect of wiping an entire page.

[edit, after demonhood post: Damn, my powers were not as great as I thought they were.]

[Dakar the Fourth]

You know, when you guys talk about this stuff, sometimes I'm sad, because everything that you reminisce predates my existence on these forums by a good deal.

[mitchell_pgh]

I miss tooki...

[RAILhead]

Aww man. Every party needs a pooper...

ANYWAY...

Anyone have any hawt chick pics?

[Dakar the Fourth]

Originally Posted by mitchell_pgh 

I miss tooki...

I may not agree with every decision he made, but I agreed with his methods.
for the record I can't remember any decision he made, other than leaving

[osiris]

Are we back to our former glory yet?

[chris v]

Originally Posted by xi_hyperon 

This does help. *waves*

Still going to make it up there one day to have some good old tex-mex for lunch with you, provided the invite is still good.

Absolutely. I'd love to show you around. You may just go back to Houston and start packing. (I seriously have no idea why anybody lives there...)

[chris v]

Originally Posted by osiris 

Are we back to our former glory yet?

Are they issuing velour track suits and donuts at the door? No, I didn't think so.

Sorry.

[boots]

Originally Posted by osiris 

Are we back to our former glory yet?

When the Northern Monkey and Mr. "Occasionally Quoted" return, we'll take a straw poll.

[xi_hyperon]

Originally Posted by chris v 

Absolutely. I'd love to show you around. You may just go back to Houston and start packing. (I seriously have no idea why anybody lives there...)

Oh, make no mistake, I'd love to live there. I'll give you a shout for a meet up when it gets a little warmer. Beautiful place.

Right now, the wife's work is here, but that won't be forever. It does at times feel like living in a large concrete jungle though.

[subego]

Originally Posted by Dakar the Fourth 

I may not agree with every decision he made, but I agreed with his methods.
for the record I can't remember any decision he made, other than leaving

Well, he chased Max away by putting the smackdown on a cheese thread. That sucked.