The Degeneration of the Forum

(If they were they would notice it is a small number of accounts making a majority of the attack posts. But the attack posts are starting to overwhelm the discussions and today I noticed vulgarity joining the attacks.)


I agree Alabamason.

Wouldn't surprise me if Decatur Daily shuts down the forums.

When you allow certain words to be in the screen names (and I can think of at least two that have graphic and vulgar references to feces/flatulence), then you can't expect posters of that strata to refrain from using such gross vulgarities in the body of their posts.

The filter is a joke (and, yes, all filters are basically tremendous failures).

Perhaps if we automatically posted a quote questioning the intelligence of those who use such language and attack without merit, it would shame these wonderful specimens of humanity into cleaning up their act.

Note to anyone/everyone: Calling someone a name is not a logical rebuttal--think about it.

AlabamaSon, you are so right. It's gotten hard for some people to post anything without a handful of haters always seeming to infiltrate and hijack those threads. I am sorry that I haven't done very well in keeping quiet in some of those instances. I promise to do better.

Most topics are now getting off the subject on page two. They usually turn personal on page 3 or 4.

quote:

Originally posted by flotown79:
Most topics are now getting off the subject on page two. They usually turn personal on page 3 or 4.

True , by page 2 the monet gang is there to ruin it .

quote:

Originally posted by flotown79:
Most topics are now getting off the subject on page two. They usually turn personal on page 3 or 4.

The reason why so many controversial subjects get off topic by the second page is that there are too many people on these forums who have no respect for the fundamental principles of informed debate. A typical example of diversion from topic occurs when a poster can not refute what has been put up about some foible or even some criminal activity of one of his/her political champions and, instead of addressing that topic, attempts to deflect from it by pointing out alleged miscreant behavior of some public figure from the other end of the ideological spectrum. Get this, folks: the sins of one political figure do not cancel out those of another. If you wish to put up a separate post about some kind of offensive behavior by a public figure, by all means go ahead and do it. But do not do it in a misguided effort to neutralize something posted about someone you voted for or idealize. Stick to TOPIC!

You would think the Trolls would go away...oh wait, that's right -- you keep arguing with them and continuing the debate? If you would put them on ignore or just simply not read and respond to their posts - they would get tired and go away. If you let them name call and bash and get ugly and just report their posts to the mods -- and let them spin their wheels alone without continuing the chaos -- they would do enough to get banned or would just go away...take it from Joy -- we've already been down this road with Trolls several times and all they want is attention...DON'T FEED THE TROLLS! It works...starve them to death!

DC, I did have a few of these trolls blocked, but they keep coming back with new screen names. I just haven't blocked this most recent group yet. I'd bet you that if everybody blocks them, you'll just see a bunch of new trolls. It's a shame the "hide" feature can't block one's own posts from being seen by the trolls. That might keep them from all the aliases.

I'm a firm believer that most of this has happened because the moderation here, is lacking.

There are trolls on all forums of the internet. The only difference in many of the places, is that there are moderators, monitors or admins that nip the problem in the bud as soon as it appears. Either through mediating the problem or banning the person or people causing the problem.

On here, it is very easy for a troll just to create another account when they are banned. So, the ignore system, doesn't really stave off the problem too much.

Not feeding them is a solution, but eventually someone is going to say something to them. If it's not one of the regulars, it might be a newer person. It's just the way forums work. Someone will counter them, and their fun will begin all over again.

The ONLY solution is moderating more efficiently. I try to keep from responding to them, and only do so, if I feel strongly about something being said. Otherwise, the whole monet/whatever the heck is going on drama, isn't what I come to the forum to be a part of.

This forum has been turning meaner and meaner for awhile. Those of us that enjoy it, have even been mean at times. It doesn't mean those that do aren't good people, or respectible people, just tired of the really weird stuff going on right now.

I still don't understand how all this factors into a group of, what I assume are ladies, spending an immense amount of time trolling on here. Even sort of figuring out the back story to part of it- still, doesn't make much sense.

This forum has a good thing going. They just need more moderating, or at least consistency when it comes to how they handle the situations. They get paid to moderate on here, it should be better than what they are doing.

I know, on the site I help admin for (and I'm sure a few of you are tired of me saying this, but it's an important point); we do so voluntarily. We don't get paid to help the site out, we do it because we enjoy the site. We get in there with our members and treat them as equals. We make friends with everyone that comes across our paths, and our site, for the most part is troll free. We've had to go to extra lengths in order to get there over the years, but we have. It's mostly peaceful on there, and fun.

I don't see why the times daily people can't do the same thing. Why don't the mods come out and chat- get to know the people they have authority over at all? I assume it's because moderating the forums isn't their /only/ job for the TD, but hey, fill the need. I'm sure there are plenty of people willing to spend time helping- if this place were more stable.

Once upon a time, I might would have wanted to, but as it is my plate is full, so I don't mean me, in that.

Anyway, I do hope they are able to figure something else, besides closing this forum down, to help make this place more enjoyable. That's my two cents.



~Amanda

quote:

Originally posted by Marie Laveau's Hubby:
True , by page 2 the monet gang is there to ruin it .

Excellent example here. If you can't think of anything else to say always go back to the "Monet gang". I'm sure I've been made an honorary member by MLH, aka....who knows.

How about CEO?

quote:

Originally posted by yankeegramma:
How about CEO?

yankeegramma, how about a truce?

Not worth it, niether is this reply to you. Bye.

quote:

Originally posted by yankeegramma:
Not worth it, niether is this reply to you. Bye.

slap

Thanks, I needed that.

As had been suggested, a banning of IP address would cut down on 'new' people, and standing in the 'virtual' corner would help as well, another suggestion. As it is, I gave up trying to guess who is who and to prevent nasty pms, I set my preferences to none. Much more peaceful that way. If you want to call me names, you have to do it in public.

I guess I have been fortunate. I've not ever received an ugly "PM".

quote:

Originally posted by jjuliesmiles:
I guess I have been fortunate. I've not ever received an ugly "PM".

That was the first negative pm I've received.

Attention forum users. This is the only warning to be posted.

The hostile posts are to end. Immediately.

Anyone continuing to engage in hostile activity on this forum will be banned. No questions asked, and no excuse accepted.