There is nothing that wrecks a good swimming related thread faster than getting into a discussion about message board etiquette. So here is a thread that people can use discuss topics related to what should and should not be posted on the message boards while allowing the other threads to stay on topic.
It seems to me that there is a spectrum of opinion on off-topic posting. On one end of the spectrum people think that threads are a mechanism specifically designed to allow people to carry on discussions on different topics and that we would all be well served if changes in topic were just done in new threads. On the other end of the spectrum people think that people should be able to post anything they want anywhere they want and that any suggestion to the contrary is censorship, a personal attack, or simply control freakish.
Pretty much everyone falls somewhere between these two extremes. Very few people object to a humorous quip inserted here and there in an otherwise serious discussion. Very few people would actually advocate that people be able to liberally sprinkle potentially offensive posts randomly through all the threads.
Have you ever been at a party where someone has decided that this is the right time and place to have a big argument or screaming match with someone? Has it ever contributed to the general enjoyment of the rest of the people there?
I would argue that posts that are essentially expressions of anger and/or are essentially personal attacks have no place on the board. They don't contribute anything positive and generally turn off 99% of the people reading the boards. Even if it seems that someone else has attacked you, does it really help anything to post an angry response?
I personally don't see the problem with starting a new thread when one wants to make an off-topic comment, a little cut and paste and/or a link makes it easy enough to carry the context into the new thread. Why is it essential to be able to carry on an unrelated discussion in a thread where some people are trying to carry on a discussion on a particular topic?
Former Member
Here lies the trajedy. I think this proves my point I stated earlier..... about the mean posts driving people away more than anything.
What I said is mean? Please. :dunno:
You know, I think everyone has made their various points. Everyone is trying to be better at being relevant, tolerant, selective, considerate etc. Why don't we put a voluntary lock on this now and get on with the Forums. Thank you Lindsay for putting the question out here. There are lots of topics out there to participate or lurk in. Let's get to it.
I'm all about second chances...even third chances. I'm standing back now.
Honestly, I feel if the humourous ones here stopped posting...informational value would go down too--I'd lay money on it. People would not post, and might not get so many tips from the newbs and vets alike. After all the majority just lurk right?
I'll take that bet in a heartbeat. The few on this forum who find themselves humorous derail most threads, use language not even suitable for a locker room, continuously toot their own horns and have driven many of the serious posters either away or hard to find. There are about four serious regular swim posters left these days (ande, knelson, lindsey, scyfreestyler). It's unfortunate what this forum has become these days, a far cry from six months ago.
It's obvious the ones that find themselves humorous have won out, both in quantity of posts and tone of the forum. I hope they are satisfied with the results. I miss the serious posters, but, to be honest, don't blame them one bit for leaving.
I know that I normally just look at the most recent page of threads.
I looked at the first page of threads. Out of 24, 4 were NSR. The others were serious SR threads.
I think there are many more serious posters than were just listed. Too many to list. I notice that the ones listed can also be humorous and post on NSR threads as well. I certainly have posted quite a few serious responses lately. I recently posted on the spinning thread, the monofin thread, the 2007 American SC Champ thread, the IM transition turn thread, the "Anyone Fast with only 1500-2000" thread, the "Results of my first meet" thread, the "Quick Question or Two" thread, the "shampoo/conditioner" thread, etc. I regularly post on Ande's threads. Yet, I clearly am a big target here.
I think mean spirited commentors may be just as likely to drive people from the board as the joksters. I believe that has happened in the past. Peter Cruise has mentioned that many women left the forum. Maybe that's the point now. To be honest, I wouldn't blame them one bit for leaving.
I think mean spirited commentors may be just as likely to drive people from the board as the joksters. I believe that has happened in the past. Peter Cruise has mentioned that many women left the forum. Maybe that's the point now. To be honest, I wouldn't blame them one bit for leaving.
So true. I left the forum for a while during the Flame Wars. My pet peeve is people who are mean for no reason-bullies have no place on the forum and I believe they drive people away more than anything.
I'm pretty new on here and I'd be the first to admit that not all of my 38 (and counting) postings have been entirely serious - but then I'm from Britain so you'll just have to put that down to my eccentric, quaint, English charm.
Anyway, the reason I originally came here and started posting was that I was drawn to the huge variety of posts and replies that appear so regularly. Some insightful, some hugely knowledgeable, some humorous, some on-topic, some off topic and some (admittedly) not worth reading.
I may be new but I really feel this board benefits from this broad range and the different views, opinions, approaches and outlooks on life that the various posters have.
Over on my side of the pond we have some masters themed forums like this, but they attract nothing like the level of activity you guys get and you should all be proud of that.
That's my two pence / cents, for what it's worth.
Viva La Difference (as we say in London).
I am happy to compromise and have done so by limiting my posting lately. I could care less whether you are man/woman, oldie/newbie, makes no difference to me. I'm happy for NSR banter but the stuff these days bothers me. I realize it doesn't bother others. There has been wine talk, lunch talk, hot tub talk, 100+ posts on movies, and then there was Valentine's Day Forum Massacre.
I have relented to the tide. I understand that NSR is fine. I recognize I have been a problem in the past. I have offended many. I'm still entitled to my opinion on the state of this place now. I do know that if I ever meet any of you folk I won't be embarassed by what I have posted.
I don't believe that post #12 by scyfreestyler on the non-swim thread about health started by Islandsox is very civil. The part about vitamins was fine, but the ISP mirror thing at the end of the post or whatever that thing is is not particularly funny nor on topic. He seems to have been attempting to mirror or make fun of my signature of "see no, hear no, speak no evil." In light of all the difficulties, I'm not sure it was really necessary at this point.
I've said my peace. I've apologized for my actions. I will reiterate that I know I have been a source of angst for many.
However, I think the forum has degenerated markedly. Others think it has improved markedly.
It's interesting that the apology and the attacks occur simultaneously. Not content with countering a point, out come the old slurs and digs that we are trying to move on from. The Valentine's Day "Massacre" had nothing ribald whatsoever. Just an outpouring of kindness and "thanks for the support" type poems among friends.
This is just another dumb fight distracting from swimming and some quipping. Enough.
:dedhorse: :dedhorse:
