JadedLegend3
02-24-2004, 03:16 PM
No, I’m not Jonathan Swift proposing that we eat the children-I am proposing something much less offending.
First, though, I must say that I have been guilty of contributing to some of the problems that have occurred here. Presently and henceforth, I am making a conscience effort to avoid threads and comments that upset me and cause me to say things I don’t mean. I could make countless excuses for my behavior, but my belief is that if someone says, “I’m sorry but…” then everything before the word “but” becomes null and void. So I’m not going to do that. All I’m going to do is apologize. What’s done is done. There is no going back. For me, it’s over, done, and in the past.
Having said that, I feel I can move on to suggest what I intended to suggest. I have no doubt not everyone will agree with my idea, and that’s okay. Not everyone has to. Hell, not anyone has to! It’s just my suggestion and my personal game plan.
The suspense is thrilling, isn’t it? :rollin:
The stress and anger that has been here lately has been between mostly us senior members who know each other fairly well. We know, or can predict relatively accurately, what another’s response will be. Additionally, we know what buttons to push, and we’ve pushed them relentlessly.
Therefore, I propose that anyone who wishes to discuss something that they know is inflammatory, don’t’ post it in the forum, do it via PM. For example, if I know that someone doesn’t share my exact beliefs, but I want their opinion for a good discussion that doesn’t turn into a flame war, then I will PM that person. So, if I want to talk about, for example, the death penalty, a topic which can be very inflammatory, I will henceforth take it to PM. I would PM whomever and we can discuss it privately so as to not disrupt the atmosphere of the board. I have better, more informative, and personal conversations via PM than I usually do in the forums. If you don’t know anyone, post a thread that says, “I want to talk about _______. If you want to talk about it, too, PM me.”
The argument can be made that such discussions are the “fun” of this board. To that I say, to discuss these things is not why we are here. We are here for one thing-to save Farscape! The OT’s should be a fun place where we can do silly things like play games and count posts, or even let our friends know what is going on in our lives, i.e., “I had a bad/good day today.” The OT’s for many, myself included, has become the focal reason we are here. It is not! The reason we are here is to fight for our cause! Campaign Strategizing, or rather I Have a Plan!, should have the most posts and threads of all the forums! Of course, this is just MO, and if you don’t agree that’s totally cool. J
I truly believe that we are a family here. Judith_Shakespeare is like my sister, Selena my grandma, grinner my brother, Twich my aunt, and stellar…well he’s that, “one in every family!” :P You know I love you man. I feel very close to many of you here, many who I didn’t mention, and I look forward to meeting you all at Burbank. That is half the fun for me!
However, when we fight, we don’t feel like a family to me. Last night, I was checking out the “Who’s Online?” section, which, as an aside, kinda freaks me out!, :P Very voyeuristic. Anyway, I saw that some of the guests were viewing some of the threads that have deteriorated, and I gotta tell you, I was ashamed, not just of myself, but of many of us. After reading those threads, do you really think anyone is going to register here? I surely wouldn’t have! Who’s going to read all that and say, “Wow! They seem to really hate each other and fight all the time! Where do I sign up?”.
I’m not saying that everyone has neglected their duties as I have, many of us have kept pushing on and have accomplished great things, like the ADV Thank-you baskets, the PMU foal project, and the military project, just to name a few. However, it seems to me that a lot of us have lost sight of why we are really here.
I just think we should take anything we know to be inflammatory to PM to begin with. I realize that even threads like “Pees in the Shower” can be controversial, but it was and is all said in good fun, and to my knowledge, no one has ever gotten upset by it. What I mean are the threads that deliberately are started to cause trouble. Good discussion like the “Sex ed” and “School uniform” threads are fine. People have their opinions and discussed them with out getting hostile about it. There’s a difference…a big one.
So that is what I propose. I am going to focus more of my energy on the campaign and less on the hostility that has occurred in the OT’s. When I venture there, it will be for good discussions, and silly games.
If anyone wants to discuss anything with me, feel free to PM or email! :D
I want to end with something someone said, and I can’t remember who…I want to say tribsaint, but I may be wrong…this person said, “If I said anything that can be taken two or more ways, and the way you took it offended or upset you, I meant it the other way.” That is what I am saying to you all now.
First, though, I must say that I have been guilty of contributing to some of the problems that have occurred here. Presently and henceforth, I am making a conscience effort to avoid threads and comments that upset me and cause me to say things I don’t mean. I could make countless excuses for my behavior, but my belief is that if someone says, “I’m sorry but…” then everything before the word “but” becomes null and void. So I’m not going to do that. All I’m going to do is apologize. What’s done is done. There is no going back. For me, it’s over, done, and in the past.
Having said that, I feel I can move on to suggest what I intended to suggest. I have no doubt not everyone will agree with my idea, and that’s okay. Not everyone has to. Hell, not anyone has to! It’s just my suggestion and my personal game plan.
The suspense is thrilling, isn’t it? :rollin:
The stress and anger that has been here lately has been between mostly us senior members who know each other fairly well. We know, or can predict relatively accurately, what another’s response will be. Additionally, we know what buttons to push, and we’ve pushed them relentlessly.
Therefore, I propose that anyone who wishes to discuss something that they know is inflammatory, don’t’ post it in the forum, do it via PM. For example, if I know that someone doesn’t share my exact beliefs, but I want their opinion for a good discussion that doesn’t turn into a flame war, then I will PM that person. So, if I want to talk about, for example, the death penalty, a topic which can be very inflammatory, I will henceforth take it to PM. I would PM whomever and we can discuss it privately so as to not disrupt the atmosphere of the board. I have better, more informative, and personal conversations via PM than I usually do in the forums. If you don’t know anyone, post a thread that says, “I want to talk about _______. If you want to talk about it, too, PM me.”
The argument can be made that such discussions are the “fun” of this board. To that I say, to discuss these things is not why we are here. We are here for one thing-to save Farscape! The OT’s should be a fun place where we can do silly things like play games and count posts, or even let our friends know what is going on in our lives, i.e., “I had a bad/good day today.” The OT’s for many, myself included, has become the focal reason we are here. It is not! The reason we are here is to fight for our cause! Campaign Strategizing, or rather I Have a Plan!, should have the most posts and threads of all the forums! Of course, this is just MO, and if you don’t agree that’s totally cool. J
I truly believe that we are a family here. Judith_Shakespeare is like my sister, Selena my grandma, grinner my brother, Twich my aunt, and stellar…well he’s that, “one in every family!” :P You know I love you man. I feel very close to many of you here, many who I didn’t mention, and I look forward to meeting you all at Burbank. That is half the fun for me!
However, when we fight, we don’t feel like a family to me. Last night, I was checking out the “Who’s Online?” section, which, as an aside, kinda freaks me out!, :P Very voyeuristic. Anyway, I saw that some of the guests were viewing some of the threads that have deteriorated, and I gotta tell you, I was ashamed, not just of myself, but of many of us. After reading those threads, do you really think anyone is going to register here? I surely wouldn’t have! Who’s going to read all that and say, “Wow! They seem to really hate each other and fight all the time! Where do I sign up?”.
I’m not saying that everyone has neglected their duties as I have, many of us have kept pushing on and have accomplished great things, like the ADV Thank-you baskets, the PMU foal project, and the military project, just to name a few. However, it seems to me that a lot of us have lost sight of why we are really here.
I just think we should take anything we know to be inflammatory to PM to begin with. I realize that even threads like “Pees in the Shower” can be controversial, but it was and is all said in good fun, and to my knowledge, no one has ever gotten upset by it. What I mean are the threads that deliberately are started to cause trouble. Good discussion like the “Sex ed” and “School uniform” threads are fine. People have their opinions and discussed them with out getting hostile about it. There’s a difference…a big one.
So that is what I propose. I am going to focus more of my energy on the campaign and less on the hostility that has occurred in the OT’s. When I venture there, it will be for good discussions, and silly games.
If anyone wants to discuss anything with me, feel free to PM or email! :D
I want to end with something someone said, and I can’t remember who…I want to say tribsaint, but I may be wrong…this person said, “If I said anything that can be taken two or more ways, and the way you took it offended or upset you, I meant it the other way.” That is what I am saying to you all now.