Suggestion - MODERATOR

It seems to me that the main beef here isn't the number of off topic threads but rather when those threads make their way into other peoples discussions. I think the best way to solve that is, if it happens, to simply ask nicely to please return to the orginal topic. I would for one would have no problem taking my discussion somewhere else when asked politely to do so.

Maybe we should just take everything to e-mail and let these boards go back to strictly swimming. I know that several of us already have taken a lot to e-mail and PM's, maybe everyone interested should just start an e-mail ring. Or....Ande just bought a website, we can take it there. :D And with all due respect, if all questions that have been asked are getting answered, and good advice is being given and recieved, I don't find it rude at all to ask someone to simply skip over a 10 word title. The title of a thread generally gives away immediately if the thread is going to be any use whatsoever to any swimming issues you may be having. If you choose to read the thread, that is a personal decision.

I can only speak for myself and that is what I am going to do here. Many….and I mean many of the posters here know me…and know me well. During the past 2 ½ years I have endured much in my life. Some good and some not so good. I have found solace and peace in these forums and posts…I have felt a genuine relief from the mundane life that I have lived these past few years through this forum. Many here witnessed what I endured, shared and darn near lost in the past few years….and… I dare say, what may not have happened if Jerry Hidenrick had an outlet or means to express himself in humor and a non-confrontational manner as I have been greatly blessed with here these past few years….In short, Jerry may still be with us today. Mr. Moose and Ralph do not exist…either in my mind or my reality, yet I have had the opportunity to bring humor and joy into my life in what still is a very, very dark time of my life…and I have done so through this forum, through Mr. Moose, Ralph and the obsurd banter granted to me within this forum. Are my posts swimming related? No, in many cases they have not been swimming related, yet in many instances I have shared my swimming experience with all that care to read them in a forth right and positive manner. For the most part I have been positive…and yes, in some instances I have not been a poster boy for positive feedback. Yet, throughout it all, I have greatly benefited and been able to come here to heal and feel a part of something that I hold very, very dear and cherished to me. While reading the posts here I often wonder what the outcome MAY have been had Jerry Hidenrick had the opportunity to share his pain in a forum not necessarily swimming related, but WITH fellow swimmers that he trusted and could relate to….. Kindest regards, Tom Ellison

I second Tom's comments- the last few months of the forum have been great, whether diversionary or not (with the single exception of the whole personal best thread). It takes a village...

And one last thing…. I have laughed myself to tears here these past few years on many occasions….and I hope that I have brought some sense of joy and humor to others here within this forum these past few years…. I have laughed at myself …..and…… I have laughed at others points of view and their points of laughter as well….and many, many, many times that was ALL the laughter and JOY I had in my life….at that time…. USMS Moderators….do what you wish, do what you think is right and in the best interests of the USMS Forum….but, do so knowing that the latitude given me here these past few years has tremendously helped me endure the journey we all call LIFE….and I am better for that…. Thank you...thank you all....

Very well put Tom, very well put.

Tom, I enjoy your posts, and I can identify so well with what you have said in the above posts. To some of us, swimming has so many benefits. Fitness, setting new goals, challenging ourselves, the health spin offs for a lifestyle that encompasses a lifetime. We can learn about the sport. We can discuss with others about the sport. We can learn a lot from others. We can be enriched by the struggles, adversity, and strength of the human spirit. We can be empathetic, motivated, inspired and educated by others. Thank you for your great sense of humour, for educating, inspiring and motivating me to overcome and challenge myself so I will reach the swimming goals I have set. Swimming is a part of my lifestyle. I appreciate the forums here, and the ability to be able to discuss and read. A year ago I didn't enjoy it as much, so I simply chose to either not read a post or if I did, then don't respond. It was peaceful for several months.... Hope you keep posting Tom! Kiwi

Originally posted by knelson How about just putting "NSR" (not swimming related) in the subject heading of these kinds of threads? Personally I don't mind them here. It's usually pretty obvious which ones aren't going to be about swimming much. The NSR will just make it that much easier for those who aren't interested to stay away. I agree with knelson, besides, when I put a swimming question on the announcement and question threads forum, nobody answer it, and when I did on the General Discussion one, I received a lot of feedback the same day.

It seems to me that people are getting bent out of shape over a "general topic discussion forum". I think what a lot of people forget when they come here (no finger pointing or anything like that), is that this isn't a Q & A site. This site isn't like you direct a question to an administrator or swimming "expert" (excluding Wayne, of course!!) and they reply. It's a discussion! There are real, every day, normal (well, normal for Mr. Moose, anyway :D ) people on this forum, who take a real delight in the social aspect of chatting with people who are just like them. I have a lot of non-swimming friends, my sister included, and they just don't get it. They don't understand the inside stuff that fellow swimmers get. I'm also one of two or three women period who swim with my team, and the only regular female, so it's nice to come here, to these boards, and have Kari, Kyra, Heather, and everybody else to relate to. Besides, how many conversations have you been to where everyone stayed on one specific topic and nobody got bored? My last one was at a botanist's convention. Not that botanists are all boring, but these people sure were! It was like a workshop for plants! I much prefer the personal stories and fun (if not slightly-ADD) conversations on these boards. My opinion is this: If you don't like it, don't read it. If you're looking for answers, ask a question. If you want a strict Q & A, e-mail Eddie Reese. The wonderful administrators here have enough work to do besides handling complaints for people who want to treat the boards like a Q&A session instead of a human conversation. Hope I didn't ruffle too many feathers, y'all....... :D

Originally posted by some_girl I've just started posting here, so my opinion may carry less weight than old timers'. ... Your opinion should carry as much weight as any other dues paying member of USMS, whose membership dollars are paying for this site, regardless of when you joined or stated posting. So please feel comfortable in sharing these opinions with the rest of us. And I don’t see anyone advocating totally removing the fun from this forum and turning it into a discussion of biomechanics, pool measurements, and dare I say VO2. Call me old fashioned, but, I for one am more interested in what we can do to make Masters Swimming more valuable to our members than I am about what Paris Hilton is wearing or who I’d take with me on a desert island. While these threads are at time quite entertaining they can make it more difficult to cull through the chaff to find the swimming. I don’t dispute Kyra’s report that 20% of the threads were non-swimming, but at times these threads accounted for over 80% of the new posts. There have been some very good suggestions regarding what if anything should be done. My question back to the group is how much are you willing to pay for this service? All of our moderators are volunteers and our web master is overwhelmed with other priority projects. So how many USMS members would pay, say, $20/year for the privilege of posting to this forum? And what would be a viable rate for non-members?