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
few obsessive attention seekers.
This seems like a personal attack too. :( I hate this. I bet we lost Fortress and maybe other posters or lurkers. I am off this thread now too. It's too sad for me.
hot tubs, wine, dinner, lunch, and basically harmless jokes and sexual innuendo. I am not against some humor as many of you can attest to but I think the sexual nature of many of the posts around here was completely out of line.
And this seems like a personal attack. I don't think anyone is going to come to Swimr4Life's lurker thread now. :( I don't know if I want to anymore. Some of you are just pretty mean.
I will try to take the advice and wait for awhile.
These personal attacks are ridiculous and really need to stop.
I don't understand what more can be done to "bring back the purity" in these forums. We've admitted that maybe we took it a little over the top, have promised to watch it more in the future, and have took it to a SEPARATE CLEARLY MARKED THREAD! Honestly, what more do you want?
No one person or group is responsible for the loss of posters, except those posters themselves. If they are unwilling to read around posts that have been promised to be moved and cleaned up then that's there issues. The blame throwing needs to stop just as much as the personal attacks. Nobody's responsible for anything "bad" that has happened to these forums any more than next person.
I support Lindsay.
If this continues without some reflection and self-control
Try re-reading the first page. Pay particular attention to my post.
...and come out from behind your mask...
Please don't go away sweetgirl. Its kind of ironic that the ones that claim we are driving away newbies with our occassional NSR banter are now driving away a new super sweet poster? Didn't you guys read Fortress and Beths comments that the insults and name calling are far more likely to drive away new posters than the comedy? Why all the insulting remarks then?....Everyone was more than willing to make consessions....Rich and I (and others) have already promised to try and stay more on topic and cut down on some of the silly banter....Isn't that what you guys wanted? So why the continual insults?....I have to say that I am awfully suspicious too about all these brand new posters coming out of the woodwork in support of Geek and some of the others (like Matt)....and they all seem to want to hurl lard balls??....Very suspicious to me any way.....And Lindsay never said the forums degenerated into a chat room for some attention seekers....Lindsay is waaaaay to civil to say something like that. We may not all agree with all of Lindsay's viewpoints....but everyone here has tried to aknowledge his attempts to rectify the foruum problems and thank him for it.
Newmastersswimmer
Try re-reading the first page. Pay particular attention to my post.
and come out from behind your mask... posted by Geek
Thank you Geek....We actually were on the same page that time....Wow...maybe there is hope for all of us yet?...LOL!!
OMG its SwimStud....oops! My Bad.
Hello, your old pal Kermit here. I haven't posted in ages at least a year I'd guess. I've been around going on 3 years so I guess I'm in the old timmers category. I was very much into being silly and goofy before (*cough Soap Opera Thread *cough * cough*) HOWEVER, now that I am older and wiser ... to heck with the rules, have fun, give and recieve good advice, ask insightful questions and be kind to your fellow posters
LOVE all the icons....
I apologize unlike Blainesapprentice I am all for drinking and had a few glasses of Pinot before logging back in ... THAT'S RIGHT WINE people DEAL WITH IT!
I think this may be the stupidest thread I have ever read. But I am too busy repressing all the rude things I am thinking to say more.
i agree....well maybe not the stupidest, but up there. i couldn't find a single offensive thing in that signature. if someone says no offense was meant, can't we take them on their word?
fugetabowdit (for the bklyn girl, from the former mr. bensonhurst)
