Notice and Warning

[Red]

Good Morning,

Some of the mods and admin have determined that this forum is almost completely out of hand. The hateful name calling, the petulant temper tantrums and the absolute bully mentality that some people have here is beyond absurd and not something that we have to put up with. This is going to end.

We've let some of you get away with so damn much here over the last two years, it's not funny, and I'm not laughing. I'm tired of the thugs, I'm tired of the arguments, I'm tired of the whining.

This is a Farscape board. This is a board for the campaign to save Farscape and to get new viewers to Farscape. The Off Topic forum is here as a convenience to the users of the board, but it is absolutely not essential to the running of this site or for anybody's participation in the campaign. The attitude of this forum is starting to bleed out onto the rest of the board, and that's unacceptable.

Things are looking nastier and nastier every single day and they're only going to get worse as November approaches. I don't have time to deal with this garbage, none of the other mods or admin do either, do you know why? Because we're working on getting new viewers for Farscape because that is the purpose of this board and the purpose of this site. Some of you have clearly forgotten why you are here.

When new people visit our website I don't want them to wander into this forum and see the absurdly juvenile name-calling, pathetically partisan hackery, the tired polemics from so very many sides, because apparently some people here are completely incapable of discussing ANYTHING in a civil, logical, and rational manner, particularly when interacting with people with whom they fail to agree on every single, solitary, point, no matter how trivial, on anything, anywhere in this universe.

We've warned you time and again, but you argued or ignored us and carried on your way. That's over with now.

Here's what's going to happen. I am going to close this forum for a short period of time. I am going to delete all the garbage in here, and then I'm going to post a fresh list of rules for this forum and you're going to abide by them if you want to play here. If you don't abide by them, then I'll start doing what I've avoided doing for two years in all but the most drastic cases, I'll start banning people.

Some people here have made this forum a miserable, hateful, unwelcoming place. It makes me sick, it makes me angry, and it makes me disappointed as all hell. People look to this board for Farscape news, information, discussion, and hope. This forum has become a wastehole of flame wars.

These political threads in particular. They are deliberately inflammatory and please don't try to pretend they're not. When they're posted, the poster finds exactly what suits them to post, exactly what makes their already established point, and they aren't looking for reasoned, rational debate, they're posting them for the echo-chamber of immediate agreement. "See? This proves Bush is an evil, chimp monster of death." "See? This proves Kerry is a lying, Commie-loving, frog." That's not even close to rational political debate. Likewise, the people who don't agree with the thread, instead of debating rationally, they hop in with the mud-slinging, name calling, flame-throwing.

Sure, a debate might start out civilly, rationally, logically, fairly, equitably reasoned, but by the time one or two specific posters gets to the thread it'll go straight to hell.

I don't want to close this forum permanently, as some folks would have me do, because I want you to continue to have a place to discuss your cats, your family, to ask for support from your fellow Scapers in trying times, to play games, to have a laugh, to post bizarre stories, or interesting articles. I want you to have that. But the ad hominem attacks, the sickening attitudes of moral superiority, and the swaggering self-righteousness, is intolerable.

Those of you who absolutely must have political news and debate, try starting at The Command Post (http://www.command-post.org/).

So, this week marks a sea change in the history of this particular forum. The OT forum will close at some point this week, I'll leave it open long enough for most folks to read this post. Then there will be rules. And, by the way, nothing I said in this thread and none of the rules will be open for argument or debate.

I've got a damn busy two months ahead of me and if some of you could quit with the personal attacks and petty foot-stomping, perhaps we could all be about the business we're truly here for.

[scaperbuddy]

You are correct some of it has gotten out of hand.

[SabaceanBabe]

Huh. I haven't seen much of that here, but then I don't go to the political posts. :shrug:

[Sponge]

I can't say I didn't see it coming. There's been a few political threads I've seen that would get the American Scapers annoyed - I find it quite amusing sometimes as I live in Australia. There's beeen one or two about Christianity I found rather offensive as well.

Much though I'd rather avoid it, perhaps political and religious threads will have to join the war and abortion on the banned topic list. The only problem, at least if the site is hosted in the USA, is a possible Constitutional conflict over freedom of speech - someone may decide to sue if you decide to stop them posting what they like in an off-topic forum.

[JadedLegend3]

I had an idea while in the shower after I'd read this. It may be dumb, but it's an idea. And it has nothing to do with the political threads, I know. :)

What if some of the games...like Word Association Game and New Word Game were moved or reset up in the Talkin' Farscape forum. That would at least get more people over there. I think the OTs should be the least visited place, although I will be the first to admit that I spend most of my time here...generally for firvolous discussion such as the Pees in the Shower thread. :lol

At any rate, if more people start to frequent the other forums and let this forum cool down at least until after November, maybe that would help. Just my small contribution, for what it's worth.

[generic_screenname]

I think I'm done with this place for a few months.

[Sponge]

We could have a subforum, under talkin' Farscape, for all the game threads. It'll ceratainly make it easier to find them than it is now. I know I'd spend more time over there if the games were close by.

[JadedLegend3]

That's an idea, Sponge. There used to be some games in there, but now I can't find them. They must be buried.

[Red]

The only problem, at least if the site is hosted in the USA, is a possible Constitutional conflict over freedom of speech - someone may decide to sue if you decide to stop them posting what they like in an off-topic forum.
Freedom of speech does not extend to private property, which is what this board is.

It is the attitude of a few posters that tends to turn certain types of threads into obnoxiously hateful argument.

g_s, you're done with this place because of my post? I'm sorry to hear that. However, I think a few ground rules need to be established here, particularly as election season heats up, and threads become more and more vitriolic. The best way I can see to do that is close this forum for a brief period of time, clean it up, and then post some very clear guidelines. I'm sorry if you don't like that.

[Red]

I've been thinking of moving the games to the Trivia forum and changing the name and purpose of that forum. That'll no doubt be part of the cleaning.

[LT Garrix]

Sponge, there's no worries about freedom of speech. This is essentially private property. Others are paying for this service, and those others have the right to limit it to what they deem appropriate.

I have to admit, I'm not entirely surprised. Some of the threads, mostly political, were getting pretty juveneille and discussion was not really discussion. There were many resorts to profanity and name calling. As much as I hate to say it, those topics probably should joined the banned topics since we've proven we can't be civil.

I generally avoid the religious one and stop posting in the political ones once it goes south.

I agree that some of the irreverant threads should stay and it is nice to have a place to share some little gem, like a cat using a crosswalk, with everyone. I also agree that some seem to have forgotten the purpose of the board.

Red, I stand behind you and the others.

[grinner]

I've been thinking of moving the games to the Trivia forum and changing the name and purpose of that forum. That'll no doubt be part of the cleaning.
That is a very good idea.

_____________________

I will not disagree that I have been one of the more vocal... member's who have posted things to bait other people. Yes, I fully admit that some of the political posts that I have posted have been only done to get a response from some of the other members. I see the type of shite that my actions have caused and... I regret a lot of it. I apologize to those that have been offended and angered by my actions. It was very juvenile and definitally has no place on this... FarScape forum.

[stellar]

Major housecleaning, while not unwarranted, would still be somewhat ineffective. It's not the forums, but the posters - including me.

I'd suggest restricting the more vitriolic posters by forum (if possible) or banning them, including me, to reduce offensiveness. I wouldn't take offense and would still lurk the Farscape threads. I mostly lurk the Farscape stuff anyway which is abhorent to me since I love it so much.

I could say I'm sorry for the occasional outburst. And I trully am. But I'll do it again if the occasion invites it, and eventually that occasion will arise.

Don't punish the theater for the bickering of the actors.

[grinner]

For the Republicans, the forums of The Free Republic (http://www.freerepublic.com).

ironically enough... some Free Republics are more free than others.

<------ Banned by JimRob for posting... above message.

[Red]

well done

[jespere]

Red,

Sorry you're going through so much stress! I don't bother reading the political threads (most people posting have their minds already made up.)

I've been avoiding reading the talking Farscape areas to avoid spoilers -this section is normally safe as is the convention one.

Thanks for all your hard work -I think I'm overdue for a contribution to the funds!

[NebariNookiee]

Hey -- I've been a good boy as of late -- I've been avoiding the political threads like the plague! But I have to say something -- regardless of how bad it has gotten on this board over the past few months -- we are still infinitely more civil than practically all other message boards. I don’t think anything has ever degraded into an out-and-out flame war here which is usually a daily occurrence on any other board.. You’ve got to at least admire that.

[Lord Loser]

Too bad Red. But I suppose I am one of the exceptions from what you describe. I can seperate the wheat from the chaff, the honest inquisitions from the rhetorical. It is your board and you can do with it as you wish, heaven knows I don't agree with some of the things you mods have done or said in the past, but it is your board. However, in your deliberations, don't forget to weigh what impacts your decision will have on this board. Many of us hang mostly in the OT's, and if it's too restricted or non-existant, we won't be visiting anymore. The purpose of the OT's is not to give us a place to come off of the rest of the board to post frivilous stories of man bites dog, but rather to use those stories to attract people and then turn them onto the main purpose of this board. Weigh it in your decision.

[buggabboo]

NN -- i had noticed your good behavior and it's much appreciated.

that said, i don't care if this board has been "better" than other boards. it's still really bad in some places and it's just sooo not worth the stress for the four of us who are quasi-actively modding. we have other things that we need to be focusing on right now.

[buggabboo]

Too bad Red. But I suppose I am one of the exceptions from what you describe. I can seperate the wheat from the chaff, the honest inquisitions from the rhetorical. It is your board and you can do with it as you wish, heaven knows I don't agree with some of the things you mods have done or said in the past, but it is your board. However, in your deliberations, don't forget to weigh what impacts your decision will have on this board. Many of us hang mostly in the OT's, and if it's too restricted or non-existant, we won't be visiting anymore. The purpose of the OT's is not to give us a place to come off of the rest of the board to post frivilous stories of man bites dog, but rather to use those stories to attract people and then turn them onto the main purpose of this board. Weigh it in your decision.


that may be YOUR purpose for it, but it's not ours.

if you choose to not come to the board at all because one forum is restricted, then that's your own choice.

and just as a little aside to anyone, there's all kinds of board software out there and you can get hosting relatively cheap.

if you all want a free for all ot forum, one option you can take is to make one for yourselves. one where there isn't a worry about how one forum will reflect on an entire site/board.

[trinamick]

I'm sure we're are all adult enough to respect the decision of the mods on a board we all enjoy. We wouldn't have this to enjoy without you!

[RedKarma]

I refer a lot of newbies here, and so do many others. That means we should always be putting our best face forward. It's time to become a community again folks, and remember why we're here.

[Selena]

We have become a community because of the friendliness of the OT forum. Many people have posted here for the first time because they have found something humorous or controversial that has given them the courage to stop lurking.

Closing down this forum (even for a short time) will drive away exactly the people you're trying to attract - the newbies and those who want somewhere to come and network.

Why punish all the people who enjoy the OT forum just because a few people feel they want to pursue a specific agenda? That just does not make any sense.

Many of our campaing ideas were born in the OT forums and those ideas then migrated into the I Have a Plan forum and the many other areas where the ideas grow into full bloom - we all know how creative Scapers are and this move just stifles that creativity.

This is not my board, it's Red's - she has made that very clear on more than one occasion, so she can do whatever she wants with it. But this move is really a bad idea. Why not move all the "political and religious" topics etc into a forum or sub forum of their own which will leave the rest of the OTs for the mayhem that makes it such an enjoyable place to visit most of the time.

To think that the OT forum does not contribute to the creativity of the rest of the save Farscape effort is just not true. This is where we all come when we need a place to rest, to rejuvenate and to get comfort and support from our fellow scapers and to come up with the next plan that takes off.

I can understand generic_screenname's sentiment ... there will be many others who will follow him. Do we really want to push people away right at the time when we desperately need every single one of us to help get more viewers for Farscape?:shrug:

[zap]

I agree with Selena

[Judith]

Well, I'll miss this place while it's closed down. I'll admit that I post mostly over here. That's not to say I don't visit the other sections, and that's not to say I don't recognize the real purpose of FMD. I don't post a lot in the campaign section, but I do read it all the time, and I also like the "Talkin' Farscape" section. So I'll be hanging out over in those sections while this is down. But I do love the OT forums because I get to talk to all you really cool people I've met while I'm here...even if sometimes I'm talking about nothing in particular.

But I can see why it needs to be done, and I respect that. And I'd respect this decision anyway, even if I didn't agree with it...cause you know what? It's not my house.

I do hope that this forum is able to stay open after some new ground rules are established for it. I really enjoy talking to you guys in here...sometimes venting about life away from here...sometimes just goofing off. (And I love to share pics of my cats...and the rats too!) If anyone wants to talk to me while they take this down...PM me! I'd love to hear from you guys!

[Boron]

I hope I didn't do anything to bring this on, I don't think I did, but if I did, I'm sorry. I enjoy this forum as much if not more than most of you.

[Clarsax]

It's a pity. This is one of my favorite forums to visit, but I understand the need. Some of these thread are totally out of hand with the name calling and attacking each other's personal beliefs. There is no need for this - we are adults here and we should act like it, not like a bunch of kids on a playground throwing rocks at each other. I will miss this forum while it's gone but I hope it will help those of us who do frequent the more heated threads to cool off and remember to treat other members of the community with respect. I will miss the OT but hopefully this will lead to improvement in this part of our community. And for any nasty things I might have said in these threads myself, I apologise. Some of these discussions have gotten way out of hand and I know I've said some pretty hurtful things that I felt really bad about later.

[scrape_medic]

I know that I have posted in some of the religious threads lately, I hope too that I have not said anything to upset anyone. There has been times where I have winced at some of the replies but I guess that knowing the people involved (mostly) means that I know too that alot is said to stimulate further debate, not all though.
But I can understand if someone alights on the board, comes across some of those arguments and reads them, that they may get entirely the wrong opinion.

Having said that, I do agree in its entirity with Selena's reply above. The OT's is a place to hang out and make good friends, something that would be difficult, nay inappropriate anywhere else. Having looked at other fan sites, this has been the friendliest most welcoming site I have ever visited, and more so, has prompted me to not only de-lurk on this site, but to de-lurk on the entire world wide web. (I have posted at other boards once or twice, but never felt the welcome that I got here.)

That I think was entirely due to the OT's and the great people that hang out here.

Okay, shut it down, for a short while if needs be, but don't be too harsh with the broom.

ETA: 6776 members can't be bad, or all Ben for that matter

[Judith]

Well, on the bright side (for me) maybe while this is closed down, I'll get in the habit of not turning the computer on before I go to work. Cause...you know...I have to be there in 15 minutes...and I'm still in pajamas!

Oh well, at least my boss isn't in today.

[norweigan_scaper]

i am indeed very sad to see the OT section disappear, i delurked about 3 weeks ago and i have really enjoyed spending time on the games thread and the occasional news related item. i have noticed that things do get heated in the political threads, but i have found this to be a very friendly place, i've gotten to know lots of people here, through games and the like, and i will definately miss the social dynamic that the OT thread brings to FMD.


The bottom line is that FMD is a place i really enjoy spending time on, and i hope that this shut down doesn't result in an exodus of the people who make this place what it is :)


just my two cents

[LiLOrion]

Well everyone I'm sure will be glad to know that I'll still be here. :P :lol

[Selena]

If a lot of people disappear LiLOrion, you might be talking to yourself :lol


I was just wondering if the people who are causing the problems have been sent warnings to cease and desist? Why have the controversial and upsetting threads not been deleted? Or have they? I am really puzzled about closing down the whole OT forum (even for a short time) when it's just a few people who are causing the problems. That's like throwing the baby out with the bath water. Or is Red suggesting that a majority of us are unfriendly?

I see very little of the nasty stuff that is being referred to here. When I visit a new thread, I read the first post and if it's something I know is going to push my buttons I don't go back to it. If it has really upset me, I will PM the person who posted it and let them know how it affected me. That always gets results. But I agree that there are a few people here, who like to upset others and also like to deliberately post things that are going to be controversial and create divided camps. Why not stop that from the first post instead of allowing it to go on for days and then accusing everyone else of taking sides?

Each one of us is here because of Farscape and if we haven't brought a new viewer to Farscape or aren't a Farscape fan then what the frell are we doing here in the first place? The new people who have only recently found the courage to delurk and try to get to know FMD as a 'community' take a long time to get up the courage to venture into the other forums as some of them seem so intimidating.

And we all know that sniping goes on in every forum - not just the OTs - it's the nature of the beast. If I personally find comments made by someone upsetting - be it the tone of what they say or the content of the comments - I stay away from those threads. But I know that not everyone does that. Some feel the urge to defend one point of view or another. Sadly, I find many of those kinds of threads in the campaigning and Farscape Discussion forums which are every bit as heated as the OT forum can be and at times even more so.

The other forums (outside of the OTs) can be a very intimidating place to a newcomer. Frell, it sure intimidates me and I've been around for quite a while. Many of the Campaigning threads can feel inaccessible and frightening to newcomers as the people that are involved in a campaign venture appear to have it so together and not in need of anyone else's (except a select group's) input.

For the most part, in the campaigning threads, unless we (the oldies) actively pull a newbie into a campaign to help, it appears that the only thing we want from Scapers is their money. I'm not saying that this is necessarily correct but the thread can give those not in the know that impression. It is often in the OT forum that the newbies learn that they can contribute something other than their cash and then find the courage to leap into the deep end of the pool. I suspect that's why many newbies hang out in the OTs as it is a more welcoming place than the other forums as a whole and we are not demanding anything of them except their companionship.

If we are going to do some housekeeping, perhaps we need to spring clean all the forums not just the OTs.

[Judith]

That's like throwing the baby out with the bath water. Or is Red suggesting that a majority of us are unfriendly?

But I agree that there are a few people here, who like to upset others and also like to deliberately post things that are going to be controversial and create divided camps. Why not stop that from the first post instead of allowing it to go on for days and then accusing everyone else of taking sides?




I didn't read Red's post as saying most of us are unfriendly. In the past, when some of us are acting up here, she doesn't hint around. She tells us what she thinks. (That's not a bad thing, Red). Because of that, I'm not going to spend my time looking for a hidden message in her notice.

I think the reason they don't plan on shutting offensive threads down the minute they start is because it would be impossible and unfair for us to ask the mods and admins of this board to moniter every thread as it starts.

[LiLOrion]

If a lot of people disappear LiLOrion, you might be talking to yourself :lol


Well that wouldnt be a big change seeing as I do that already...err... :eh: :D


For the most part, in the campaigning threads, unless we (the oldies) actively pull a newbie into a campaign to help, it appears that the only thing we want from Scapers is their money. I'm not saying that this is necessarily correct but the thread can give those not in the know that impression. It is often in the OT forum that the newbies learn that they can contribute something other than their cash

I could ask for blood as well if you would like. Although I dont think they could send that via Paypal. :lol

[grinner]

curious... are all the threads going to be deleted? If yes, could you do me one small favor... don't delete the Speculative Fiction and Cartoon lists that are stickied to the top. The Cartoon list isn't as big of a deal, but the Speculative Fiction list was a lot of hard work and searching done by me and a couple other members. I continue to add shows to the list whenever I find them, and would rather not have to start over. I do have the entire list saved if it needs to be wiped out... but...

[mfa96]

I don't think the whole OT forum deserves to be deleted. There are the aforementioned games. There's the what are you reading, what are you listening to threads that pop up periodically which are fun too. I also like the weird news items that are posted. Maybe just politics should be banned, and new rules posted. I agree with the not throwing out the baby wih the bathwater approach.

[Judith]

Personally, I don't think banning politics is a great idea. Largely because it seems like it would be a whole lot of work to determine what is and what isn't politics...cause it seems to me like most things boil down to politics.

[Darth Buddha]

Breaking my silence to endorse the idea.

I asked for this a while ago because I got really sick of the avalanche of conservative leaning threads, and posts. (SEE THE LINK TO THE POLL BELOW) I was aware of a LOT of offline complaints and folks who said they were "driven from the OT board" by such threads and the beating they took when they tried to debate them ... why I was a designated ear for this, I'm not entirely sure.

My intent when I drug the ball into the conservative end of the field and posted an avalanche of threads noxious to those very conservatives and then played post whore was to prove a point: that those on the right aren't going to enjoy that kind of treatment either. I had realized a ban was a possible outcome, but I would much rather have had a truce declared among the most vociferous of us.

I won't miss the far right propagandist thread titles when I hit "new posts," and now that the favor has been returned, I doubt the right will miss equally inflammatory posts against the far right, the religious right, or George W. Bush in general.

For myself, I need to take a break. Keeping up with the right on a tit for tat basis sucked. The deliberately hardball defense of the many anti-conservative threads I've posted in the last week or so was worse. I thought it wouldn't affect me. I was wrong. I'm sour as hell from the exercise. I'm not really fit to argue online right now, nor really discuss politics in the real world for a while either. I thought it wouldn't affect me. I was wrong.

For those I was undeservedly rough with outside of the political posts, I apologize.

See you guys in a few weeks or months.

edited to add:

Deleted those threads I started that probably fit the bill... though I left the bulk of the argument posts (thosee in conservative dominated threads) alone to be deleted when they go. I hope that simplifies housecleaning at little.

edited a second time:

Don't anyone think my vacation is a mod plot, nobody leaned on me, though I probably deserved it... I started my break before Red posted this, and as of the time of this edit, my vacation is voluntary.

[Judith]

I won't miss the far right propagandist thread titles when I hit "new posts," and now that the favor has been returned, I doubt the right will miss equally inflammatory posts against the far right, the religious right, or George W. Bush in general.




All of us, conservative and liberal, should be capable of not responding to threads if we can't find a polite and appropriate response.

[Antrobus]

I deleted the majority of the post I made which I believe was one of the offensive ones being mentioned here.

I was angry at the time I wrote it. I should have risen above the thread and ignored it.

I am by nature a person with strong opinions on certain matters. There are other people here with strong opinions as well, and these opinions often clash.
Politics and religion seem to be the major "hot topics" that illicit the most vitriolic dialogue.

I will no longer be posting anything regarding those two topics nor will I be reading anything regarding those two topics. All in all, I would prefer to come to FMD for fun and diversion - while trying to be a small help in the Farscape campaign.

So, I will call for a truce. I think everyone who gets hot under the collar in certain threads knows who they are and if folks would agree to stop posting things that they know will get under other's skin, it would be a step in the right direction in bringing this forum back to a more friendly place.

I don't want the members here who get enjoyment out of the OT thread to be the losers because of me and things I may say, so out of respect I will desist posting or writing anything I think is controversial.

I am also sensitive to the fact that there are many outsiders who frequent this site and I don't want myself attached to such things as I wrote last night.

....and with that, I've had my say!

[Digital>X<Anarchist]

Good Morning,

Some of the mods and admin have determined that this forum is almost completely out of hand. The hateful name calling, the petulant temper tantrums and the absolute bully mentality that some people have here is beyond absurd and not something that we have to put up with. This is going to end.

We've let some of you get away with so damn much here over the last two years, it's not funny, and I'm not laughing. I'm tired of the thugs, I'm tired of the arguments, I'm tired of the whining.

This is a Farscape board. This is a board for the campaign to save Farscape and to get new viewers to Farscape. The Off Topic forum is here as a convenience to the users of the board, but it is absolutely not essential to the running of this site or for anybody's participation in the campaign. The attitude of this forum is starting to bleed out onto the rest of the board, and that's unacceptable.

Things are looking nastier and nastier every single day and they're only going to get worse as November approaches. I don't have time to deal with this garbage, none of the other mods or admin do either, do you know why? Because we're working on getting new viewers for Farscape because that is the purpose of this board and the purpose of this site. Some of you have clearly forgotten why you are here.

When new people visit our website I don't want them to wander into this forum and see the absurdly juvenile name-calling, pathetically partisan hackery, the tired polemics from so very many sides, because apparently some people here are completely incapable of discussing ANYTHING in a civil, logical, and rational manner, particularly when interacting with people with whom they fail to agree on every single, solitary, point, no matter how trivial, on anything, anywhere in this universe.

We've warned you time and again, but you argued or ignored us and carried on your way. That's over with now.

Here's what's going to happen. I am going to close this forum for a short period of time. I am going to delete all the garbage in here, and then I'm going to post a fresh list of rules for this forum and you're going to abide by them if you want to play here. If you don't abide by them, then I'll start doing what I've avoided doing for two years in all but the most drastic cases, I'll start banning people.

Some people here have made this forum a miserable, hateful, unwelcoming place. It makes me sick, it makes me angry, and it makes me disappointed as all hell. People look to this board for Farscape news, information, discussion, and hope. This forum has become a wastehole of flame wars.

These political threads in particular. They are deliberately inflammatory and please don't try to pretend they're not. When they're posted, the poster finds exactly what suits them to post, exactly what makes their already established point, and they aren't looking for reasoned, rational debate, they're posting them for the echo-chamber of immediate agreement. "See? This proves Bush is an evil, chimp monster of death." "See? This proves Kerry is a lying, Commie-loving, frog." That's not even close to rational political debate. Likewise, the people who don't agree with the thread, instead of debating rationally, they hop in with the mud-slinging, name calling, flame-throwing.

Sure, a debate might start out civilly, rationally, logically, fairly, equitably reasoned, but by the time one or two specific posters gets to the thread it'll go straight to hell.

I don't want to close this forum permanently, as some folks would have me do, because I want you to continue to have a place to discuss your cats, your family, to ask for support from your fellow Scapers in trying times, to play games, to have a laugh, to post bizarre stories, or interesting articles. I want you to have that. But the ad hominem attacks, the sickening attitudes of moral superiority, and the swaggering self-righteousness, is intolerable.

Those of you who absolutely must have political news and debate, try starting at The Command Post (http://www.command-post.org/).

So, this week marks a sea change in the history of this particular forum. The OT forum will close at some point this week, I'll leave it open long enough for most folks to read this post. Then there will be rules. And, by the way, nothing I said in this thread and none of the rules will be open for argument or debate.

I've got a damn busy two months ahead of me and if some of you could quit with the personal attacks and petty foot-stomping, perhaps we could all be about the business we're truly here for.

Thank You Red, for all of your hard work and dedication.
It is appreciated.

[Digger]

I didn't realize things had gotten so bad, but then again I avoid most of those threads. It saddens me, though, to think that people will leave the board just because the OT section will be down for a short time while some housecleaning is done. Every day I see more and more people coming to the board. In the months prior to ComicCon and the Teaser Trailer I was used to seeing 60-80 people here, and sometimes less. Now I see 100-120 people fairly often, and sometimes more. I think that's a great thing, and hope that these numbers continue to rise along with membership as we get nearer to the mini instead of seeing them decrease because people leave because of the closing of the OT forum or because of the content of some of the threads in that forum.

[AgentSun]

i appreciate all the work that is being put into the forums and all the work that is being done to help the situation...

however....i agree with selena. politcs are a passion of many of us, and though i disagree with a lot of views here, i'll be the first to defend grinner, stellar, buddha, antrobus, and a lot of others who have posted here expression their views. they have said a lot of things that don't agree with each other, but at the end of the day, when all is said and done, no one hates anyone else. we are all here in the OT's for a reason: to talk about off topic things. there's been bickering and inflammatory things, yes, but at the end of the day, even though we might not all agree, we can still hang out and coexist. tempers flare and there's a clash of viewpoints, but it doesn't make it a hateful place, it doesn't make it a horrible place to be.

give the political threads their own little forum and post a warning, if you like. that's a good idea. banning would do no good...it only takes away some of what makes this forum special. this forum is special because i might not agree with the views, but i respect the people making them, because other boards are littered with inane threads about absolutely nothing, and here we're discussing important issues that concern our world. and it brings us together... i mean, people from all over the world can contribute to something that is impacting one nation, or one family. it's a look into culture. taking that away would be taking away a lot of what makes this board intelligent to begin with.

as for newbies, i agree that many of them might not get a good taste of the board from some politically oriented threads...however, there is a difference between putting on a "good face" and being "fake". we say things others don't like...does it make it any better if we say them in private? newbies who come here should understand that the board is diverse and that views are diverse. if they come and then choose to leave based on one or two members whose political opinions they disagree with, then that's a shame. but our intentions should be honest, to present an honest view of our forum, because that is what makes us special, our diversity. thank goodness we don't all agree on everything!

i read a lot of the political threads...lately, i think it's gotten better. people do make comments that do get others riled up, but i think it comes down to personal responsibility and i've seen a lot of members take responsibility for the things they say. if there is a mistake made, they apologize. that wouldn't have happened a few months ago. i think we've made progress.

i do have another suggestion...and mods and admins, you guys might not like it, and that's okay :shrug: i just want to find a solution to all of this without being drastic. my suggestion is that you get more mods to patrol the boards. i know that many members spend a lot of time here, and that these people are responsible. political differences will happen, can't stop that. but the thing is, i'd rather see a brawl than no political views expressed. it's important and vital for us to discuss these things that impact our world. we don't just live with farscape, we have a very real and dangerous world. and it has given me a lot of insight and comfort to know that when there's a story online, i can come here and i can get more information from people who know more about it than i do, and i can also get personal experiences. regardless of whether i agree or disagree with certain people here, i still respect them, and as much as i disagree sometimes, i would rather they be expressed than not at all. it's been bad, but that's not because of the topic, that's because of the catalyst of people. the reason it's gotten so far is simply because you guys are working so hard all the time and you're not getting any time off. would you consider getting more mods to patrol the forums?

i came to this board because the dom was a hostile place. this board has been nothing but friendly. not a day goes by, regardless of the political bickering that goes on, that i don't want to visit and post. i like it here, and i'm going to stay here, as long as it's welcoming. i like the politics, whether i agree or not. i like to be able to be silly and then be serious also...it's important to talk about things that are going on in the real world. this board is a very good place to do it, because we are a family. like a family, we argue, but at the end of the day, we're still a family.

thus concludes my speech..bottom line, i'd rather not see the political threads deleted, taken off, etc. i'd rather we see more structure (and that might mean more mods), instead of complete banning.

edited to correct stellar's name :)

[stellar]

:)

[Selena]

AgentSun http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_28_100.gif

[AgentSun]

well thanks, i've never been appaulded for correcting stellar's name before!

[Selena]

AgentSun http://www.gallery.fatdogexchange.com/albums/albuo48/slap.thumb.gif

[AgentSun]

did you have something else to add to that post or am i supposed to solve a riddle? :)

[I-am-so-Johns-girl]

My whole reason for coming to this board was to help save Farscape. I avoid the political threads or any thread who's title isn't interesting. I've been so eager to read any of the new ideas that Scapers have come up with to get more eyeballs for the show and the Mini. When things are going quiet in that area, I will read what's posted in the OT's forum. I've joined in some of the fun threads and really enjoyed them and had some very good laughs!

When I first sign into FMD, I go to the "new posts" button to see what's current. I've noticed, to my dismay, that over the past few months the majority of the new posts are in the OT forum and hardly any discussions about Farscape. There's nothing wrong with a little diverstion of OT threads, some of them have been very funny and cute and I've enjoyed them. But, I always thought that we were all gathered here for Farscape or things related to Farscape.

As it has been mentioned before by others, I too wish that some of these Scapers would channel that energy into doing things for this campaign. It's like most people took a coffee break from Farscape related topics but never returned. They're hanging around the water cooler but never returned to work. We need to get focused again on why we are here. There's nothing wrong with having some fun....I do it too...but after your break, you need to get back to the work at hand.

Since I don't go to this "hot topic" threads, I had no idea that this was going on and am dismayed at finding this out now. We need to keep this place friendly for all those wonderful newbies that are coming here. We need to nurture them and make them feel comfortable and needed.

Soooo, now that I've said this much, I agree that the political or any heated, personel opinion threads need to stop. :duck: I'm sure there are lots of political boards all over the internet that people who need to voice their opinions can go to do so. Please understand that this is just my 2 cents. I would also like to say that I enjoy the OT forum for fun and relaxation and comradery. It does help this community stay together and enjoy being here.

I cherish the friendships I have made here and want them to continue and grow and I think most people feel the same but that can't happen if we're fighting amongst ourselves. Let's remember that the world knows us as a friendly, well organized and savy community!!!

Girlie :curtsey:

[Kurt_eh]

Whenever I've posted stuff that I personally thought may be edgy, I've tried to remember to send it to a mod first.

Most of the time they've given me the okay to post it, but there were one or two that they asked me to keep under the hat (especially when the topic was close to one of the unmentionable topics), and I've always respected their decision.

Moderating a forum is difficult work, something I personally wouldn't be able to do and I applaud their effort for doing it.

[stellar]

My whole reason for coming to this board was to help save Farscape. I avoid the political threads or any thread who's title isn't interesting. I've been so eager to read any of the new ideas that Scapers have come up with to get more eyeballs for the show and the Mini. When things are going quiet in that area, I will read what's posted in the OT's forum.

I agree. But this is more than an organization. It's a community. A community more multi-faceted than any I've been exposed to on the Internet. I've got maybe a dozen posts at Kansas. It's a great forum. It's fun. But I lurk there. I don't here. The difference is the OTs. Like it or not it's a big part of this community.

[JadedLegend3]

Red, would this close be temporary (I think you said yes, but I can't remember now :) )? And, I second grinner's question about whether all the threads would be deleted or just the "bad" ones. <--"bad" used for lack of better word.

Additionally, can you give us a heads up when this will take place and how long it will happen for (if it is temporary)?

Thanks. I support you guys in all. :)

[AgentSun]

i-am-so-johns-girl, i get what you mean totally...i have made 99% of my posts here, in the OT forum. this is simply because ...well...the important things in my life, when you get down to it, are real life situations. farscape is great and all, but it's still just a show. people dying, politics, peeing in the shower, those are real life things that affect us on a very basic level. i like talking about those things in the OT forum. when the mini arrives, you can bet that i'll be in the farscape forum 24/7, but it doesn't mean that the real things in my life are ignored.

[LiLOrion]

farscape is great and all, but it's still just a show.


Well it must be just a tad more than "just a show" to you (and others) for you (and everyone else here) to come looking for a Farscape board online in the first place. :)

[Lex]

i-am-so-johns-girl I agree with you. I came to this site as a new farscape fan looking for conversations about this wonderfull show. Lately I've been dissappointed in the lack of Farscape - I understand that many have been friends on this site for years and have developed relationships that have gone beyond Farscape; however, it is a little exclusive for new fans. There was a thread today about why guests weren't signing up... maybe if there were more conversations about Farscape?

[AgentSun]

well, LilOrion, i meant compared to all the things going on in the world. it is a very important show...it's shaped the way i think about scifi and it's raised the bar on scifi. but there are things that impact me more than farscape does, and the OTs are where those things are discussed.

Lex, welcome to the board...not sure if i've said it before, but if i haven't welcome! the talkin' farscape forum is one of the largest on this board. that's where the majority of farscape goes on...in the OT's, it's precisely what it is--the OT's. we're not expected to talk about farscape. we do that in the other forums. the lack of farscape i suspect is due to the fact that there aren't any new episodes, and any speculation regarding to the mini could be a "spoiler". and discussions of past episodes has already happened--when the episode aired. so what's new? well there's the campaign. that's always new. the exclusivity is most likely due to all of us being long time members and being aware of the past posts and the "old" stuff that we've talked about in the past. sorry we haven't been the most open, but we do let it know that newbies can come and join us all they want.

[LiLOrion]

well, LilOrion, i meant compared to all the things going on in the world.


I know, I was just saying is all. :D

[grinner]

i-am-so-johns-girl I agree with you. I came to this site as a new farscape fan looking for conversations about this wonderfull show. Lately I've been dissappointed in the lack of Farscape - I understand that many have been friends on this site for years and have developed relationships that have gone beyond Farscape; however, it is a little exclusive for new fans. There was a thread today about why guests weren't signing up... maybe if there were more conversations about Farscape?
Lack of FarScape discussions? There is an entire sub-forum called Talking Farscape (http://www.watchfarscape.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=52) that is nothing but FarScape discussions.

[scrape_medic]

i-am-so-johns-girl I agree with you. I came to this site as a new farscape fan looking for conversations about this wonderfull show. Lately I've been dissappointed in the lack of Farscape - I understand that many have been friends on this site for years and have developed relationships that have gone beyond Farscape; however, it is a little exclusive for new fans. There was a thread today about why guests weren't signing up... maybe if there were more conversations about Farscape?Hey Lex, did I not welcome you to FMD....
well I will now...:hi:

And you talk like we have all been here for years.....I only joined last november.....but thats the point.......it doesn't take long to get to know people round here a I am sorry if it seems a little intimidating but its not really.

[Judith]

A word to those who wish to converse more about Farscape...go ahead! Start some threads about the stuff you want to talk about. I've heard a lot of new people say that they're afraid to start new posts because they worry that stuff has already been discussed before. I know at a lot of other places, people get kind of bitchy when newbies post threads that have already been discussed. But I've never seen that happen here. Sometimes people will refer you to an old thread, but they do it very nicely, and I get the impression that people point those old threads out so newbies can see all the cool points other people have brought up in the past...not to chastise you for bringing up something that has already been discussed. Additionally, I think most people here recognize that there are new people coming in every day...even if something has already been discussed it can't hurt to rehash it because someone who wasn't here the first time around might have a very valuable perspective that no one had thought of yet.

So if you want good Farscape discussions...don't be shy! Start a good Farscape discussion!

[Farscape Forever]

I've been on the board since last September it must be now.. and i'm still scared to go into half the threads. I'm not overly aggresive by nature.. i'm Canadian afterall ;)

Consolidating all the game threads into one place is probably a good idea, the Story game I started in talking Farscape doesn't get used hardly. It's just me and Speidonkel mostly.. not that there's anything wrong with that :D

[SaraD]

My contribution to this discussion will be short: my sincere thanks to Red and the other mods for the work they do for us as a community. I am very happy to follow whatever guidelines they decide to put in place, and like I-am-so-John's-girl and Lex, I would be very happy if the forum shifted back towards a place where discussions of FS were the rule rather than the exception. Also, if I've contributed at all to the unhappiness, I apologize.

[grinner]

I would be very happy if the forum shifted back towards a place where discussions of FS were the rule rather than the exception. Also, if I've contributed at all to the unhappiness, I apologize.
Not that I am going against you on your opinion... but... what do you mean by the exception rather than the rule? The OT hasn't been about FarScape discussions... that is what the Talking FarScape section has been about. There are thousands of threads of FarScape discussions over there. The OT's have been about... everything and nothing since I have been here.

[Lex]

Thank you everyone for the Welcome.

I really do like this site :) and so far everyone on it. I'll have to spend more time in the talking farscape forum (I usually just go for the most recent posts)

I apoligize if I offended anyone, and look forward to learning more about Farcape and it's fans on this site.

[Jul]

there's been bickering and inflammatory things, yes, but at the end of the day, even though we might not all agree, we can still hang out and coexist. tempers flare and there's a clash of viewpoints, but it doesn't make it a hateful place, it doesn't make it a horrible place to be.

give the political threads their own little forum and post a warning, if you like. that's a good idea. banning would do no good...it only takes away some of what makes this forum special. this forum is special because i might not agree with the views, but i respect the people making them, because other boards are littered with inane threads about absolutely nothing, and here we're discussing important issues that concern our world. and it brings us together... i mean, people from all over the world can contribute to something that is impacting one nation, or one family. it's a look into culture. taking that away would be taking away a lot of what makes this board intelligent to begin with.

as for newbies, i agree that many of them might not get a good taste of the board from some politically oriented threads...however, there is a difference between putting on a "good face" and being "fake". we say things others don't like...does it make it any better if we say them in private? newbies who come here should understand that the board is diverse and that views are diverse. if they come and then choose to leave based on one or two members whose political opinions they disagree with, then that's a shame. but our intentions should be honest, to present an honest view of our forum, because that is what makes us special, our diversity. thank goodness we don't all agree on everything!

i read a lot of the political threads...lately, i think it's gotten better. people do make comments that do get others riled up, but i think it comes down to personal responsibility and i've seen a lot of members take responsibility for the things they say. if there is a mistake made, they apologize. that wouldn't have happened a few months ago. i think we've made progress.

i do have another suggestion...and mods and admins, you guys might not like it, and that's okay :shrug: i just want to find a solution to all of this without being drastic. my suggestion is that you get more mods to patrol the boards. i know that many members spend a lot of time here, and that these people are responsible. political differences will happen, can't stop that. but the thing is, i'd rather see a brawl than no political views expressed. it's important and vital for us to discuss these things that impact our world. we don't just live with farscape, we have a very real and dangerous world. and it has given me a lot of insight and comfort to know that when there's a story online, i can come here and i can get more information from people who know more about it than i do, and i can also get personal experiences. regardless of whether i agree or disagree with certain people here, i still respect them, and as much as i disagree sometimes, i would rather they be expressed than not at all. it's been bad, but that's not because of the topic, that's because of the catalyst of people. the reason it's gotten so far is simply because you guys are working so hard all the time and you're not getting any time off. would you consider getting more mods to patrol the forums?

i came to this board because the dom was a hostile place. this board has been nothing but friendly. not a day goes by, regardless of the political bickering that goes on, that i don't want to visit and post. i like it here, and i'm going to stay here, as long as it's welcoming. i like the politics, whether i agree or not. i like to be able to be silly and then be serious also...it's important to talk about things that are going on in the real world. this board is a very good place to do it, because we are a family. like a family, we argue, but at the end of the day, we're still a family.

thus concludes my speech..bottom line, i'd rather not see the political threads deleted, taken off, etc. i'd rather we see more structure (and that might mean more mods), instead of complete banning.

edited to correct stellar's name :)

As somebody that has participated in this forum a lot, especially in the political discussions, I have to disagree with you. Recently, the political discussions have gotten completely out of hand with lots of name calling and ad hominem attacks. The thread can't go one page without arguments (not logical debates) occurring and we've had to start closing threads more often. And this type of behavior is beginning to leak onto other parts of the board, and that is completely unacceptable.

For you, and for the many people that inhabit this part of the forums, you're comfortable in this because relationships have been built, and this type of behavior has been ratcheting up slowly... For others, it's a slap in the face, While you say that this website is friendly, when newbies see things like that, it's scary. and makes this place unwelcoming. People that have been here a very long time say that this place is becoming like a car accident that people slow down to watch out of their morbid curiousity, but never respond because it's bad... Do you want this place to be described like that? I sure don't. If we don't take the time to put in a stop gap now, then it will be a horrible, hateful place, and we refuse to allow this place to become that way.

we're not telling you not to post serious news... This place is here for you and for this community, to give you a place to hang out, chat, get support, etc... it's not a place to pummel each other with your political viewpoints - which never change no matter how much you argue - and scare off everybody else. but, the political infighting is more than any mods can take (they've said as much, and there are a lot of mods, we're not the only ones modding around here) and it's going to stop because it's getting in the way of the ultimate purpose of this website - Farscape. As Red mentioned, there are tons of other political websites where you can commune and get lots of different opinions on politics... opinions that are even more varied than you get around here, and it might be to your benefit to hear those as well.

And like all families, there are some places one just should not go, because those discussions tend to go badly. It's something you learn from experience. I don't talk to my uncle about politics because we don't see eye to eye and it tends to being to involve the whole family, and then people start getting kicked out of the house.. not a good thing.. We've come to a place in our watchfarscape.com house where the people not involved in the arguments but are in the room are getting really uncomfortable... and some of the people involved are getting uncomfortable, because it's going too far.

and the closing of the ot forum will only be for a few days max.

[Jul]

Thank you everyone for the Welcome.

I really do like this site :) and so far everyone on it. I'll have to spend more time in the talking farscape forum (I usually just go for the most recent posts)

I apoligize if I offended anyone, and look forward to learning more about Farcape and it's fans on this site.

Lex, welcome to the site :D you've offended nobody and I hope that you'll enjoy your time here.

[Selena]

A few comments to those who are new to FMD and some words about us "oldies"

Yes, some of us have been here for a number of years - it's hard to think that our beloved show was cancelled so long ago ... but we are always ready to embrace new people.

The Farscape discussions are there but many of us "oldies" have discussed the topics that are now up for discussion many, many months ago and don't know what else we can add that has not already been said in those threads. It is also difficult for those of us who are "oldies" to not throw an unintentional spoiler into the discussions when we're having a discussion about a seasonal episode as we already know what is coming up next - so for the most part, if you're new you need to start your own Farscape episode discussions so that you attract new blood to those threads - people who are new to the site and new to the episodes.

Many of us have dissected every episode into minute details and probably don't want to do so again. One can only cover so much ground without repeating oneself. It is also good for us "oldies" to get out of the way so that those of you who are seeing Farscape for the first time are allowed to experience the joy and the wonder that grabbed us in the beginning and still does as we rewatch the episodes.

We will never stop loving Farscape but many of us are channeling our passions into the campaign and into making the Cons fun for the first time attendees and newbies. This takes a lot of energy and a lot of hard work and many of us need the OTs to just unwind and kick back from our labors. It's the place where we can just relax (to a certain extent). It is not a meaningless forum where nothing creative happens. All of it is related to Farscape in some way - it's part of the Farscape organism and if it is excised it will harm the body.

That's why we chose the title Out Of Their Minds ... it was a kind of play on the words in that we're nuts in that forum and we also come up with incredible ideas and campaign slogans that migrate to the other forums and become part of the saving Farscape and promoting Farscape campaign. We use each other as sounding boards and we feel comfortable with each other because we've had time to get to know each other so our thoughts and remarks flow - sometimes in weird ways and other times in mind blowingly incredible ways.

That can be intimidating to newbies, but if you ever dive into one of the "game" threads like "The Line Above" game of the "Word Association" or even into the "Join me in 2004 campaign" thread you'll be instantly accepted and never treated as an outsider and you will see that a lot more goes on than just a game - you'll be amazed at how accepting we are and how much Scaper love we dish out to newbies. There's even a thread called "Bad Timing - Rhyming" where you can have your say about anything as long as it's in rhyme. We try to encourage creativity that is channeled to saving and promoting Farscape and not to just OT topics that are seemingly meaningless.

Don't let us scare you off - if you want Farscape Discussion put in a search - click on SEARCH and type in a few key words and you'll see just how many threads there are where Farscape is discussed. And if you don't find the right thread, then start one of your own. You will have all the discussion you can handle and more.

Happy Scaping "newbies" we love you and want you here not as a distant observer but hip deep in the Farscape campaign. That can only happen if you dip your toes in first and test the water and see that it's fine to come on in. :hugz:

[scrape_medic]

I've got to say that was very well put Selena

from someone <------ who is niether an oldie or a newbie.......maybe an inbetweenie..:shrug:

[AgentSun]

while i never want this place to be described in such a way as becoming unfriendly, it seems to me that for the sake of being friendly, it might end up that we are supposed to forgo discussing things that might make blood boil. well, here in lies the problem...we can post things that have nothing to do with politics, and yet politics will enter into play. this is simply because a lot of things we discuss relate on some level to politics. you can't prevent people from having opinions, but if the opinions are going to make each other mad (and that causes the name caling), then it seems to be the problem with the members, not with the topic. some of us (like someone said here) just can't agree to disagree. this isn't the fault of the topic at hand, it's the problem with the individual members. in that case, i understand the need to create more structure...but i'm just trying to make sure that things don't get banned...because the attacks of a few should not mean that those of us who can discuss things without getting angry shouldn't be able to discuss them. new rules, stricter structure, i appreciate and support those things...i just don't want politics to be banned.

[Jul]

because the attacks of a few should not mean that those of us who can discuss things without getting angry shouldn't be able to discuss them. new rules, stricter structure, i appreciate and support those things...i just don't want politics to be banned.

Well then, I guess there's a choice to make... either the topic gets banned or the people that can't discuss it without getting angry, stooping to insults, and can't limit themselves get banned... I can honestly tell you it would be a lot of people... do you want to be the one to make that kind of decision???

I can tell you that's the option, and we've decided to make it the topic and not the people...

[AgentSun]

.a lot of people who have been the perpetrators of a lot of things in the threads have admitted to not being able to avoid creating or contributing to conflict. that in itself is a testament to personal responsibility, owning up to the fact that you are sometimes inflammatory. would i want to see these members go? no, not at all. i might disagree with them, but i don't dislike them. it's just that banning the topic of politics is very general, and if you were to ban something, it could be specific, like things relating to the election, or the presidency, but i hope that it wouldn't be all things relating to politics, like the FCC regulations that we are all concerned about, and the things like the government's role in a certain news story. there are stories being posted that are obviously going to go down the drain...if you choose to ban something, ban those. if a story is obviously going to cause a conflict, then i would advocate a stop to those. but there are a lot of things going on right now, not relating to the election, to democrats, republicans, or anything like that, that warrant discussion, and those are not directly related to politics, but are still somewhat related. and i would hope that those topics are not banned, because they require real discussion and real opinions and those are the ones that often do not end up in a brawl.

[scrape_medic]

You could always redecorate them.....:)

[waltersgirl]

just a reiteration of something, and a clarification of something else.

we aren't telling people they can't have opinions. go re-read red's post. and then, while there, re-read the part about where this isn't debatable.

we, the mods and admin, have too much work to do for the campaign to waste time playing referee in this forum. many of us work a couple of "day jobs" on top of our work here at FMD. our time is already split nine ways from sunday. October is too important to divert our attention any more.

[Jul]

I try... they get burned to a crisp... do you know how expensive it gets to redecorate in here?? ;)

[AgentSun]

huh? i think i confuse easily today.

[scrape_medic]

Its all that satin and chandeliers.........well we could get the cheap stuff.....IKEA has a sale on right now.

[stellar]

People skirt banned topics now. Why not ban the offenders.

[AgentSun]

still fuzzy on the decorating thing...but stellar has a point. except i like the members here, for the most part. but personal responsibility is personal responsibility.

[Judith]

Thank you everyone for the Welcome.

I really do like this site :) and so far everyone on it. I'll have to spend more time in the talking farscape forum (I usually just go for the most recent posts)

I apoligize if I offended anyone, and look forward to learning more about Farcape and it's fans on this site.


Lex, I hope my post didn't make you think I was offended in any way. That's not what I intended.

I did forget to welcome you...I was finishing up at work and was in a hurry. Well...better late than never, right? WELCOME!!! I hope you like it here.

[TheBladeRoden]

We should just have a separate "Politics & Religion" forum. with a notice that says Warning: Some material in this forum may offend. Usual forum rules apply.

Forums are like a city. Sewers may be unpleasant, but every city needs them. Cause if you don't have any sewers then the crap just piles up on the street.

It's my same philosophy as to why IGN needs the vestibule, to keep the mindless spam out of the other forums. Not to say it's 100% effective though.

[AgentSun]

OT, but i love the word "vestibule"...it's so fun! TBR has a point also. in fact, a lot of people are making the same points i made, except they did it in one sentence...i think i get long winded sometimes. no wonder my post is long :)

along the lines of stellar's post, though...i don't want to see members banned. but rules are rules and if you can't handle yourself and you can't control yourself, to at least hash out what you really think on PMs or over an email, then banning a person is what has to happen. i'm not going to quote uncle ben, but there is great responsibility in having a privilege to post in a board.

[Judith]

I've been on the board since last September it must be now.. and i'm still scared to go into half the threads. I'm not overly aggresive by nature.. i'm Canadian afterall ;)

Consolidating all the game threads into one place is probably a good idea, the Story game I started in talking Farscape doesn't get used hardly. It's just me and Speidonkel mostly.. not that there's anything wrong with that :D


Welcome Farscape Forever. I hope you get more comfortable here soon. I'm glad that you're here.

[stellar]

Maybe we wouldn't have all of this trouble if we would have renamed the OTs something more festive... like Stellarland... or Stellarvegas.

[JadedLegend3]

:rolleyes:

[NYPinTA]

Oh no! Didn't you try that when they were renaming all the forums?!? :eh: :lol

[AgentSun]

if we want festive, we could've named it festiveland. :P

but stellarland has just too many l's. maybe if we changed them to o's they'd be more pleasant. steooaroand.

[Judith]

i'm not going to quote uncle ben, but there is great responsibility in having a privilege to post in a board.

At first I thought you were talking about the rice dude.

[stellar]

Stereoland?

[Jul]

Its all that satin and chandeliers.........well we could get the cheap stuff.....IKEA has a sale on right now.

yeah, but the ikea stuff is kinda light.. i'm afraid they'll use it to hurt each other.. imagine the medical bills :elol:

[scrape_medic]

I would hate to see anyone get banned from the site, (unless every post was turely offensive) it would be like banning someone from the fringes of society because thier view did not tie in with the majority. It just doesn't seem right some how. If banning topics prevents that then ban the topics, but I too would like to see more specific detail of what topics should be banned, like elections, or highly contenscious issues, rather than blanket banning of politics.

I would hate for there to be a blanket ban on religion, I would never have been able to put up the summer soltice greeting thread if there was, and that thread went swimmingly with no flaming or otherwise. You can discuss and greet and welcome all at the same time. But I guess if I had put up a thread on why I think pagans have got it right over the rest then that would have been a different kettle of fish.

My point is blanket bans could kill parts of this community stone dead, and that would be a great shame.

[AgentSun]

why don't you go modern and just put 50 lb. metal marbles into the room. then again, if they roll around everywhere... :eek:

[NYPinTA]

Ouch. :lol


Edit: my above comment was to the thought of Ikea furniture being used as weapons... but 50 lbs marble balls would hurt too... I suppose.

[waltersgirl]

People skirt banned topics now. Why not ban the offenders.

because this board exists to save Farscape. this isn't a standard fan site. it's a campaign site. those posters that get out of control about hot-button issues came here originally because they are fans of Farscape and Farscape needs their help. banning them is not so much with the helpful.

[AgentSun]

could it be on a forum by forum basis then? :shrug: i don't know if that's even a good idea, just throwing it out there.

[scrape_medic]

yeah, but the ikea stuff is kinda light.. i'm afraid they'll use it to hurt each other.. imagine the medical bills :elol:It might but that would keep me in business....:lol

[AgentSun]

Edit: my above comment was to the thought of Ikea furniture being used as weapons... but 50 lbs marble balls would hurt too.

and THAT is why i used the word "marbles" by itself and not "balls"...because now i'm laughing uncontrollably.

[LiLOrion]

we aren't telling people they can't have opinions. go re-read red's post. and then, while there, re-read the part about where this isn't debatable.


:spew: You just have a way...with words. :aok:

[stellar]

...a different kettle of fish.

Well that's a horse of a different color.

...banning them is not so much with the helpful.

Firefly... I dig it.

[AgentSun]

eww. kettles of fish. blegh... i'll never boil water again.

[scrape_medic]

Sorry was I being too english again...:lol

[NYPinTA]

and THAT is why i used the word "marbles" by itself and not "balls"...because now i'm laughing uncontrollably.


oops. :innocent:

[AgentSun]

hahahahaha. it's my immature humor side coming out.

[mfa96]

and THAT is why i used the word "marbles" by itself and not "balls"...because now i'm laughing uncontrollably.

If they roll too far, won't we lose our marbles?

But seriously folks, I think there is a need for personal repsonsibility if the OT's are going to remain. I know I have been in a couple of the scrapes that have gone on. I did not mean to make this forum seem unwelcoming- just got caught up in the moment so to speak- and I apologize for when I have been out of line. This is my first, and only campaign, and board. I will keep it civil from now on, and attempt to avoid getting in those situations to begin with.

[jespere]

Mods,

Is it also possible to have the "New Posts" button just work within each forum? I never noticed it before, or used it, but if it's something that is causing a problem with newbies, maybe it's not really needed?

Each forum will show which thread has the latest posts-people can just click on what interests them, and it will keep any crazy posts from carrying too much weight.

p.s. thanks again for all your hard work!

[waltersgirl]

Firefly... I dig it.

loves me The Whedon.

[scrape_medic]

I like the fact that the new post button works for all posts.........I use it so much that it has worn out on my screen.

It gives me the chance to see what else is going on outside of the OT's which is admittedly where I do most of my postings, but I do like to read what else is going on, and watch out for newbies introducing themselves.

[AgentSun]

loves me The Whedon.

is it me or did you sound very dawn-esque there...sounds like something she'd say. like mmm cookies.

i like the new posts button too. i look at other forums to see what is interesting. i tend to gravitate more here though, because of certain threads i always post in. and a lot of things i post go here, though i've been reading more farscape related things, so i'll post some of those when i see them.

[waltersgirl]

it's a pretty standard Wedonesque speech pattern. and i've been saying, mmmmm....[fill in the word] for quite a long time. i wonder if that was subliminal from The Whedon.

ohmigod, it's...it's....mind control!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they're, they're, they're programming our brains! what to think! what to buy! what to think! it's a conspiracy!!!!! argggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!

/stark

mmmmmmm, stark.

[AgentSun]

hahahahahhahahaahhahahahahaha!!! was that too many "ha"'s?

hahahahahahahahhahaahahahaha! that was funny funny stuff. i have a very whedonesque speech pattern too. mine takes more after buffy and her quips. i blame the first 4 seasons!

[stellar]

ohmigod, it's...it's....mind control!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they're, they're, they're programming our brains! what to think! what to buy! what to think! it's a conspiracy!!!!! argggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!

/stark


That may be a hybrid Buffy/Stark... Bark, or Stuffy.

[Judith]

it's a pretty standard Wedonesque speech pattern. and i've been saying, mmmmm....[fill in the word] for quite a long time. i wonder if that was subliminal from The Whedon.




I dunno. I've been doing that for years too, and I attribute it to the Simpsons.

[LT Garrix]

.a lot of people who have been the perpetrators of a lot of things in the threads have admitted to not being able to avoid creating or contributing to conflict. that in itself is a testament to personal responsibility, owning up to the fact that you are sometimes inflammatory.

It's great that they can own up to it, I applaud them for admitting to it. Unfortunately admitting to it, doesn't mean that it didn't happen. As you said, some have admitted that it is not something they can control. That's why these controls are being put in place.

I personally don't like coming into a thread and seeing personal attacks littered with profanity. I think I have seen at least four in the last two days and that's just the profanity laden ones. I've lost track of the number of personal attacks I've seen in the last week.

The mods/admin are doing what they need to keep this friendly and family friendly. True, some of the younger board members will probably steer clear of the political topics, but not all.

We had the opportunity to police ourselves and failed. Over the last two weeks I have seen numerous warnings to play nice, but they have been repeatedly ignored as the same parties get into with each other thread after thread as threads are shut down.

I have no doubt the new guidelines will be well thought out and very clear. If they aren't I'm sure we can ask questions.

Yes, the OT's provide outlet and way to share what we see as important or funny news and to relax. I'm sure that will not be curtailed.

[Bandana Girl]

So I guess no one hangs in "I have a plan!!"? To be honest I always go there first and have never felt intimidated to post a new thread there. I actually find it very encouraging for people. It has a "do something yourself, it's easy" type of attitude. I don't really freqeunt the OT's because well I usually don't feel in an OT mood (unless it's about new knickers ;) )

Newbies should honestly feel free to start new threads. On ather boards I'm on they don't allow that and it really stifles conversation and new ideas.

Frankly I skip political threads and I feel they should be banned. Seeing a thread that starts with the lies of Micheal Moore is really gonna turn people away. Some may not beleive that but it does. Thats a part of why I avoid OT's in the UT's and sometimes the movie section. I've been on for 2 years and it turns me away, imagine a newbie. It just gives me the feeling of unfriendliness. I know it isn't really that way, but it comes across that way.

THere are 2 subjects banned and I really wouldn't mind a third being politics, concerning religion I'm hoping people can be civil enough, but hey if it has to banned to so be it. Just the nature of politics is dividing and no one is gonna change anyones mind.

Possibly since the OT's section will be closed, people which actually check other forums *cough* I have a Plan *cough* There are less then 2 months left till the Mini and Skiffy has basically put the ball in our court, and I don't see much going on I feel (this is just my opinion) that a lot of people leave it up to certain people to do the saving FArscape stuff while everyone just hangs. Lets just say I found this ALOT in FS activities I did in my local area, and I'm finding it here too. When there is 20 people saying we like scape, but they look to 3 people to do all the work and organizing, not much is gonna happen, but if those 20 people offer to pitch in with the 3 people alot more can get done. (sorry that example was from personal experience I'm still recovering).
There are some names I've seen in other forums that I NEVER SEE in the campaigning section. I'm sure these people have lots of energy and ideas, which is whats needed. Maybe something could be put on the front page telling people that they can contribute ideas or write letters if they don't have money. I contributed to saving scape without sending any money 'till about 8 months ago. Frankly there is more to the FMD then the OT's in the UT's, and I suggest to people instead of leaving go checking other forums.

So basically what I'm saying is checkout I have a plan if you don't have any new ideas, see what you can do to support existing ideas. I had an idea for the sticker project, but I couldn't implement it, thankfully LilOrion decided to head up the project (woohoo thanks :hug: ) The gift basket for Space I couldn't set up since I was too busy already as were some other Canadian scapers, but JA_Shipper decided to run with it.

I'm really sorry but the FMD did not implode because we couldn't discuss abortion or the War. I think it helped us stay a community. Also it stopped some people for speaking for whole groups of people who may or may not agree but didn't want to get into an argument which is what discussing the war leads to.

Also one of the great things about the FMD is that it is lightly modded. When asking for more mods it's a double edged sword. I'm on a board which is heavily modded and it's very stifling. I've even heard from the person who runs that board and talks about problems they have with attitudes of mods since there are so many and each has their own idea of what a mod should do. You don't want that. Banning one or 2 topics saves the mods a lot of work and a lot of grief instead of going through each thread with a fine toothed comb. Only until I went through Toronto Trek did I understand what it was like to be chained to a computer.

OK I've had my say. Keep in mind what I've said is my opinion and I didn't mean to offend. Go check out I have a plan. And please don't take the cleaning up of the OT's as Red trying to go after you guys or hurt you or something. That is the feeling I get from some people. Frankly leaving the FMD because the OT's is temporarily closed isn't gonna hurt Red, she frankly has more important things to do (like she said) then worrying about a few posters who have some kind of quibble. Your just gonna cut yourself off from great people, amd remember some boards don't even have an Off Topic section, so consider yourselves lucky.

[grinner]

Not attempting a conflict with you Bandana Girl, but, just because one doesn't post in the Campaign Strategizing thread doesn't mean that they don't read that forum. For you to make the claim that you never see someone's handle posting in that forum means that they don't attempt anything and only go into the OT's is a very high handed remark. I know of a couple people who have posted things in that forum, only to be 'put down' which is why they usually only post in the OT's and other NON-Strategizing forums. Are they any less members because they don't post in that forum? Why does it matter where one posts? There have been more than a couple ideas that have been thought out in the OT's that were transfered over to the strategizing section. Ideas that came about from a group of people just frelling around and having a lark. Are those ideas any less important because they didn't originate in the "Campaign Strategizing" section?
I also know people that only post in their 'Region' section of "where on Erp are you"... are they less important? You appear to be denigrating those that are denizens of the OT's for being 'less' of Scaper's or something. You're *cough... Cough* is a prime example. Why is that section more important? Because you're strategizing? :rolleyes:

[AgentSun]

i go into the i have a plan forum once in a while.

[Judith]

I don't want to fan any flames, in this thread of all places, but I do hope that people realize that just because some of us post here a lot, it doesn't mean we're not attempting to draw new viewers to Farscape.

[waltersgirl]

I don't want to fan any flames, in this thread of all places, but I do hope that people realize that just because some of us post here a lot, it doesn't mean we're not attempting to draw new viewers to Farscape.

and truly, no one is suggesting that such is the case. there is no effort that is "too small" in the fight for Farscape. none.

[waltersgirl]

Not attempting a conflict with you Bandana Girl, but, just because one doesn't post in the Campaign Strategizing thread doesn't mean that they don't read that forum. For you to make the claim that you never see someone's handle posting in that forum means that they don't attempt anything and only go into the OT's is a very high handed remark. I know of a couple people who have posted things in that forum, only to be 'put down' which is why they usually only post in the OT's and other NON-Strategizing forums. Are they any less members because they don't post in that forum? Why does it matter where one posts? There have been more than a couple ideas that have been thought out in the OT's that were transfered over to the strategizing section. Ideas that came about from a group of people just frelling around and having a lark. Are those ideas any less important because they didn't originate in the "Campaign Strategizing" section?
I also know people that only post in their 'Region' section of "where on Erp are you"... are they less important? You appear to be denigrating those that are denizens of the OT's for being 'less' of Scaper's or something. You're *cough... Cough* is a prime example. Why is that section more important? Because you're strategizing? :rolleyes:


she was simply expressing her opinion, grinner.

[scrape_medic]

thank you g, you saved me saying it.

I tend to stay out of Talkin Farscape, sepecially with the mini approaching, cause I really don't want to stray into the PKW forum by mistake.

And as for the Campaign, well to be honest there isn't alot of things that necessarily apply to europeans. I have had it pointed out that Neilson figures on which the shows survivabilitiy depends, applies only to american veiwers and damn the rest of us. Where I can help, I have, donations and even buying tatoos to wear (which are great btw) even help out with the rather unsuccessful UK:Library Project, though we still have some hope for it.

But does that mean then I need to post everyday in Campaign just to prove my worth.

Rhetorical question so please don't answer it

[grinner]

as was I. I am just asking why she is of the opinion that the 'strategizing' forums are more important than any others.

[waltersgirl]

because, to her, they are. please don't pick a fight.

[DRD2001]

Sometimes, I really don't see a need for me to go into the I Have A Plan forum because... I'm out of money.

I'm not trying to knock anyone, but so many posts there are give money to this, give money to that. I realize finances are very important, but I'm tapped out right now. I even tried to start a thread for the cash strapped. And there is not much point in going into Group Hugs (conventions) either, cause I cannot go to Dragon*Con or Burbank. And those are the two thread topics dominating the forum. There really isn't much convention talk otherwise. Not much in the way of con reports posted. And I'm with Selena on the Farscape discussions. I've discussed it already. And again. And many other forums follow the same routine for me. I can tell someone their artwork is nice, but after that, what is there to say. And I don't read fan fic. The last one I tried to read was so way off on Crichton's character. It was just disturbing.

Sorry.

But this is Red's house, first and foremost, and I'll follow whatever rules are set down.

[waltersgirl]

But does that mean then I need to post everyday in Campaign just to prove my worth.

here is a perfect example of how stuff goes sideways. and scrape_medic i use your quote specifically because you don't tend to have hot-button issues with everything. you chose to interpret what she wrote as a dig and got defensive, and then replied in kind. (something, btw, i am hugely guilty of.) and she tried very hard to be polite and to point out that it was her opinion. if you know that you are doing whatever you can be doing for Farscape, then why would this offend you?

[grinner]

wg, it is things like this (http://www.watchfarscape.com/forums/showthread.php?p=531177#post531177)...HI Jul- was wondering if anyone saw this thread! Oh well- maybe I should PM all the usual suspects with your idea, since I somewhat skeptical they'll actually read this.

actually, I'm wrong- grinner will read this, especially if I use his name like that... that makes me wonder at times. I am not attempting to start a fight... it just goes to what I was attempting to say.

[Mike0812]

grinner, well said big guy. I think it's unfair to judge by who doesn't post very often in one forum or another. We're all here for Farscape and we do what we can with the resources and/or time that is available to us. I know that's what I try to do, to the best of my available resources at any particular time or my ability.

Further, I see this forum as more than just a Campaign forum. Outside of FMD or Kansas, there's nowhere else to go to get together with SCAPERS and either talk about the show, try to help save it, just goof off with fellow SCAPERS or attempt to have semi-serious conversations and debates about both serious and not-so serious topics.


That may be a hybrid Buffy/Stark... Bark, or Stuffy.

He said Stuffy :snicker:

Hey what about Stellarpolis or Stellarpalooza? :shrug:

I agree with the personal responsibility thingie. I know I've taken part in some of those threads, but everytime I post, I try to keep in mind Obi-Wan's advice which is why it's at the top of my sig :D. And I try to debate a person's arguements and points and not the person itself. However, if I've ever gone over the line, I apologize. Maybe you can put a "PLEASE DO NOT USE PERSONAL INSULTS" or some kind of zen-like calming thing that can serve as a constant reminder to the more stubborn members. Or a three strikes and you lose your cookie priviliges :dunno:...:rolleyes:

Seriously, though I understand why you guys are tired of policing some of the topics or posts, I don't think banning them altogether would be the right remedy. How 'bout a separate forum within FMD with strict guidelines, principles and codes of behavior? :dunno: I wish there was some kind of compromise solution. All I know is that I've learned quite a few things from so many members here in the last few months since I've decided to delurk. I'd be a shame to have our topics of discussion further limited. Again, I'll respect whatever you guys decide :), maybe it can be a temporary thing till the mini airs or something. JMHO, as always FWIW :)

[waltersgirl]

Sometimes, I really don't see a need for me to go into the I Have A Plan forum because... I'm out of money.

I'm not trying to knock anyone, but so many posts there are give money to this, give money to that. I realize finances are very important, but I'm tapped out right now. I even tried to start a thread for the cash strapped. And there is not much point in going into Group Hugs (conventions) either, cause I cannot go to Dragon*Con or Burbank. And those are the two thread topics dominating the forum. There really isn't much convention talk otherwise. Not much in the way of con reports posted. And I'm with Selena on the Farscape discussions. I've discussed it already. And again. And many other forums follow the same routine for me. I can tell someone their artwork is nice, but after that, what is there to say. And I don't read fan fic. The last one I tried to read was so way off on Crichton's character. It was just disturbing.

Sorry.

But this is Red's house, first and foremost, and I'll follow whatever rules are set down.


and this is precisely why the Off Topic forum was created, so members of the board could have a place to kick it. but that place shouldn't be off-putting, either.

[waltersgirl]

How 'bout a separate forum within FMD with strict guidelines, principles and codes of behavior?

uhm, yes, that's exactly what red is doing. it's this forum. and it's going to have rules.

[waltersgirl]

wg, it is things like this (http://www.watchfarscape.com/forums/showthread.php?p=531177#post531177)... that makes me wonder at times. I am not attempting to start a fight... it just goes to what I was attempting to say.


she wasn't insulting you. we've had this conversation, in which you AGREED that she wasn't insulting you, so why did you just bring it up?

[Judith]

Maybe you can put a "PLEASE DO NOT USE PERSONAL INSULTS" or some kind of zen-like calming thing that can serve as a constant reminder to the more stubborn members.



Maybe the mods could just revamp the board so it smells faintly of lavendar?

I guess there are other herbs that would also work.



How 'bout a separate forum within FMD with strict guidelines, principles and codes of behavior?


That would probably create even more work for them.

[AgentSun]

"herbs" like the stuff that goes into native american peace pipes?

[scrape_medic]

wg, I am not in the least bit offended by her comments, and she is allowed to make them. I just wanted to point out that there are active members on the board that don't necessarilly shout about it or have to post everytime they scape someone. Nor do I have useful comments to make every time I visit the campaign threads, maybe I am just not that imaginative (English see, we always put ourselves down :) ).

I do my bit where I can, trying merrily to scape the entire London Ambulance Service is where I am starting. But thats not necessarily what others on the board want to read.

[Mike0812]

uhm, yes, that's exactly what red is doing. it's this forum. and it's going to have rules.

:bonnie: :O OK. Will suspend further comments till then :) I appreciate all your hard work over the last few years so again, whatever you guys decide is cool. Just some last ditch pleading I guess :)

[Bandana Girl]

Hey well at least I had you look which was my point ;) I almost didn't post that but that is the way i felt. I'm just trying to point out that the OT's section is not the only section worth looking at on the FMD. That is the impression I was getting from reading the posts here. Sure newbies come here, but what about the newbies section? Every one seems so heartbroken that it will be temporarily closed. Maybe a break would be good for everyone. I hope for those of you who do love this forum that it comes back before the election, but from what I gather, people have been warned and frankly Red is fed up and I think she has enough on her plate. Also from what I gather there must be a lot of complaints that everyone isn't seeing.

People point out there isn't much discussion in Talkin Farscape, well folks go post there.

I do check out the regional section occaissionally and have been educated on Australian television. I know me myself and I have never shut anyone down who is willing to post a new idea. There is even a thread in "I have a plan" which mention all the political fights and now people are comming up with Chrighton Sun camaign section.

I'm just saying there is more to the FMD then the OT's section. Heck I always say to myself I should go to the welcoming section and welcome more newbies, but I don't do it, but hey I should start ;)

Like I said it was my opinion and keep in mind like I said in my post I'm still recovering from Toronto Trek and a lot of my feelings on that subject come from there. A part of the reason I mention it is because I felt that well since no one else really cares why should I (for goodness sakes I had to bribe people into volunteering). I came very close to giving up on doing anymore FS activities after T Trek. The mods and other people don't have time (like Red) to deal with political fights when at times they are directly dealing with Henson and setting up TV ads and blah, blah. There are not many people in charge of administration (I guess you could call it that) and and I feel they are being spread real thin. (this is my opinion, so folks correct me if I'm wrong) I know I felt I was spread real thin at T Trek.

[Judith]

"herbs" like the stuff that goes into native american peace pipes?


I wouldn't say peyote is necessarily calming. But close.

[grinner]

she wasn't insulting you. we've had this conversation, in which you AGREED that she wasn't insulting you, so why did you just bring it up?
I know we had this discussion. But the thing of it is that B thought that by using my name would bring me into that forum... when I already go thru that forum and read pretty much everything that is on there. It leads to the idea that one section is more important than others. People have told me that before. That when I post the wierd news articles and the like, that I am hurting the campaign. That what I do isn't worth as much as the others. I know that I am a lightning rod and that I draw out some very strong opinions and reactions from people. But the vast majority of the time, I am just attempting to creat discourse. The world is complicated enough without adding more.

I have admitted that I have baited some members of this forum into arguments... and yes, that is immature. But by doing that, doesn't mean that all the other humorous/trivial/whatever posts are worth less than some of the petty disagreements that occur in the Campaign/FarScape discussion threads. I have received a couple PM's today, since this announcement, from people hoping that I will have to go away now. That I won't be allowed to post news stories... and I understand that not everyone likes me... but come on.

[AgentSun]

scrape_medic, you absolutely just simply, rock. :)

[Judith]

Heck I always say to myself I should go to the welcoming section and welcome more newbies, but I don't do it, but hey I should start ;)




I've been meaning to do that too...good reminder...I'm checking it out now.

[Red]

A few points -

1 - the forum will only be closed temporarily while I clean it. temporary = not forever. A day or two at most.

2 - there will be guidelines and they will be enforced, but for those of you who fear "stifling", please note the more rules we have the more time I have to spend enforcing them. That is not something I'm particularly keen on. I'm more than content to let people mostly go about their business. With some exceptions.

3 - I'm not going to create another forum just for religious and politcial discussion because then that's one more forum we'd have to mod and it's going to have the exact same problems we're having right here right now. It's entirely possible it will be even worse because there won't be anything else in the forum to distract people from their right/left battlefield.

4 - I am not deleting every thread in this forum. I never said I was.

5 - What we choose to ban, or how we choose to set up the rules for discussion of hot topics is, again, not up for debate.

6 - Yes, it would be fantastic if people could take the personal responsibilty and decide not to post to threads that piss them off. It would similarly be fantastic if people would not post threads for the sole purpose of pissing certain people off. I'm all about personal responsiblity. Unfortunately, some people cannot or are not willing to do that. How many times do we have to warn people to knock it off, before we get to take action?

7 - If this decision makes you leave the forums, I'm sorry to hear that. However, far more people are leaving because of the attitudes and atmosphere in here. There should not be a part of this board that people are afraid to post to or a forum people are afraid to enter.

8 - Despite what some people think, I take no joy and have no desire to go on banning sprees. However, I am aware that there are a handful of individuals here who just can't seem to control themselves when it comes to disagreements. Disagreement is fine, it's the name calling and the hateful mudslinging that seems to stem from that, that isn't fine.

We'll start with a clean forum, a hopefully clear set of guidelines, everybody will have a blank slate concerning their behavior, and we'll go from there.

[waltersgirl]

wg, I am not in the least bit offended by her comments, and she is allowed to make them. I just wanted to point out that there are active members on the board that don't necessarilly shout about it or have to post everytime they scape someone. Nor do I have useful comments to make every time I visit the campaign threads, maybe I am just not that imaginative (English see, we always put ourselves down :) ).

I do my bit where I can, trying merrily to scape the entire London Ambulance Service is where I am starting. But thats not necessarily what others on the board want to read.

there are active members of this campaign that don't post anywhere on this board, and there are active members of this campaign who aren't members of any board. they aren't registered anywhere. they just go out and make it happen and aren't "into" being online. no way is better than any other way. no effort is more or less valuable.

[AgentSun]

Every one seems so heartbroken that it will be temporarily closed. Maybe a break would be good for everyone.

well, i don't think we were really crying over the fact that it's going to be down for a few days, it's whats going to happen in those few days that we had got concerns over. i'm all for a clean up, don't think i'm not. but i'm concerned over how the future is, and how the future rules and such will impact our ability to speak our minds and talk about things that really matter in our lives, things like government and laws and regulations all over the world. but i don't think we're in trouble here, it's just a few things that needed to be cleared up that red did just now.

[DRD2001]

Like I said it was my opinion and keep in mind like I said in my post I'm still recovering from Toronto Trek and a lot of my feelings on that subject come from there. A part of the reason I mention it is because I felt that well since no one else really cares why should I (for goodness sakes I had to bribe people into volunteering). I came very close to giving up on doing anymore FS activities after T Trek.
Don't worry, next year will be better. I've finally figured out customs. :D

[grinner]

I'm just trying to point out that the OT's section is not the only section worth looking at on the FMD. That is the impression I was getting from reading the posts here.
I don't think that anyone here has stated that the OT's are the most important part of FMD. The OT's are just that... off topic. The focus of this forum is Saving/Watching FarScape. I agree and understand that 100%. However, my point is, is that as you stated... the political threads did create a really cool idea of modifying campaign bumperstickers. The Scaper calender started in this section as a total goof. But it isn't the be all, end all. If there are rules that prevent many things... so be it. I will still come here... throughout the entire forum and post.

[waltersgirl]

and how the future rules and such will impact our ability to speak our minds and talk about things that really matter in our lives, things like government and laws and regulations all over the world

and there are literally millions of places to do that all over the internet. and people can get in all the fights they want in pm's and in chat rooms. it just ain't happenin' here anymore.




moving on.

[scrape_medic]

there are active members of this campaign that don't post anywhere on this board, and there are active members of this campaign who aren't members of any board. they aren't registered anywhere. they just go out and make it happen and aren't "into" being online. no way is better than any other way. no effort is more or less valuable.
I think we can agree on that.

[Third EYe]

I'm shocked, and will be mispelling words as I state some things.

I'm clearly an offender, and I have no apologies. I don't beleive in making an apology if I cannot be certain that I will not repeat the behavior. (I'm experiencing deja vu) I have no excuses, no defendable reasons, and if I did, they wouldn't matter.

I read every single post in the thread, and when they are this long, I rarely do. I may get confused, so bare with me.

I don't think in general that they conversations are all that bad, some get heated yet very few, and I can count them on one finger are really hateful. I see individuals accuse some others at times of being hateful or disgusting, I do this, accuse that is, and it probably isn't warranted. I've seen threads shut down and could not figure out why. Perhaps since I don't spend every minute of everyday (some days I do) I may have missed the offensive posts. I wish I hadn't.

Just recently, on this thread, grinner stated an opinion concerning someone's elses opinions and got chastized for it.

I personally don't post in the other forums that often, if at all, because I'm bored with all those discussions. I do visit some of them for infomration, like the plan and the eye candy, but I have nothing to ad in those places so I don't.

To those who are "affraid" to enter certain threads.............come on! They are words for crying out loud. I live in a convenant controlled community (I know, I never thought I would either) and we got rules, lots of them. You know what else we got? Busy bodies, people who can't keep their nose in thier own business. My community is fortunate that we have a board that is not tolerant of that behavior. I was on a board (where the hell is this idiot going with this?) , the architectual commitee. We took requests from people to make alterations to thier property. (communism, in a microcosme) We had a few people go way overboard prior to getting approval. They spend thousands of dollars on "additions" that were against the rules, so they had to pay thousands to change them back. ( is he there yet?) I was one of the individuals who got to tell some of these people of thier error and that they had to fix it at thier expense.

Now these people were angry, they were spewing hate and calling names. One lady almost attacked me, but I'm big, so she thought better of it. Good for her. It's not fun being told your wrong, or have done wrong. Sometimes you lash out. Sometimes I lash out. It's normal.

I had a woman at work report me to my boss cause I said something she thought was offensive. it wasn't, I used the F word, but the content of my message was not offensive. however, since my comment was directed at her, she lost it. Understandable, and I had no problem with that. Once in my bosses office, she told her version of the event, and I mine, they did not difer. My boss was confused, she didn't understand why my coworker was so bent. She finally said that nobody had ever spoken to her like that before. SHE'S FIFTY!!!!!!!! She's said far worse about people, and my comment was about an action, not a personal attack.

My boss handled it well and that was that. She and I are best buddies now, of course, and she keeps calling people names thinking nobody knows, or it is acceptable cause she's so sweet, otherwise.

I'm sweet too dammit. OK, not too sweet. Really, I'm a nice guy and will do a great deal for another person, even if I don't like them. I'm a passionate guy, and I'm a serious guy, extremely serious with a wacked sense of humor. I'm not a butterfly. I noticed that most people who post often are similar to me in those respsects. I like this.

The suggestion to make a sub forum was done a long time ago. I never understood if it was thought to be a bad idea, forgotten, or ignored. I only know it wasn't done. I think it would be a great idea, for those of us who want to speak about things not so mundane and don't mind getting our feathers ruffled.

Don't misunderstand me, I like mundane, I'm all for it, I'm accused of being it. I just like other stuff too. There are many threads in this one forum that have nothing to do with politics and or religion. I'm sure one of them must offend someone. It wouldn't matter...

I blame the Canadians for keeping all the trully cool air up there.

People are diferent.

Don't apologize for what you can't or won't change, it's meaningless as soon as you repeat yourself, and you will.

Don't promise anything you can't follow through on.

Not everyone who has an opinion diferent than yours, is being offensive.

Stop pickin on grinner.

[AgentSun]

just because we speak our minds about things does not mean that we get riled up and into fights. not all of us do that. and it doesn't mean that we (us who don't get mad) can't do it without getting into conflict with each other. and just because there are millions of places to go, it doesn't mean this place is like those... it's special here, the people are more intelligent than the ones i've spoken to in other boards. i go here because i know people are well informed and i can get different opinions and personal experiences. i also like the silly banter.

[zap]

Third EYe, I hear ya man!

I think we should all just stop picking on each other in general.....

[Third EYe]

I think some people speak their minds, and that's all they do, and other's take offense. They beleive that opinion to be a personal attack.

[Red]

not all of us do that.
Nobody said that all of you did.

[Bandana Girl]

I'm glad my post at least got people thinking about ather forums which was my main point. I must say I rarely post even in my fav forum. (I never posted a story on scaping anyone and I have NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO money. zip nada nothingzillch, no moolah, also I'm Canadian and we don't count either but I still writ e letters even if it just goes in the trash) but encouragement is good. Examples you posted grinner are good. I never felt there was an inside clique, but that's just me and my opinion. I'm just for encouragement and I don't really see that anymore and like I said I almost comepletely gave up on my scaper activities. According to everyone here time spent in campaign stratgizing is worhtless (yes people reply away), time spent in the graphics section and encouraging artists to do more work is worthless too :dunno:

I'd just like to point out there is more to the FMD then the OT section

I live in a very smaller scaper community and when even one or 2 people decide not to do things anymore it has a trickle down effect. Alot of my feelings on campaign strategizing come from there. With a group so small it makes a HUGE difference if someone actually decides to call a video store or heck even say "you folks are doing a good job"

[Spedoinkel]

Yes some of this is out of hand, but could you please save the games, and the Late Night thread.

[AgentSun]

Nobody said that all of you did.

no, but it does seem like things might end up being that we are all forced to follow rules that a few have abused. i don't like that people have abused the rules and guidelines (the "no insult" rule in particular) but i just didn't want to see a lot of us who haven't done that be stopped from talking about things in a civil matter, knowing our tempers won't escalate.

spedoinkel, red proably won't delete the "harmless" stuff, like the pees in shower thread and the games and stuff. probably the lot of the political stuff, but not the fun things.

[waltersgirl]

Yes some of this is out of hand, but could you please save the games, and the Late Night thread.

she's already said in this thread that she will.

[Red]

Yes some of this is out of hand, but could you please save the games, and the Late Night thread.
I won't delete stuff like that. There's no need to. I won't delete the speculative fiction thread. Heck, I probably won't delete 80% of the threads in here, unless I get to just general pruning of stuff nobody's looked at for a year. Honest.

[AgentSun]

you mean we'll still get to pee in the shower?

[Red]

no, but it does seem like things might end up being that we are all forced to follow rules that a few have abused. i don't like that people have abused the rules and guidelines (the "no insult" rule in particular) but i just didn't want to see a lot of us who haven't done that be stopped from talking about things in a civil matter, knowing our tempers won't escalate.

Then you actually probably need to take that up with the people who have abused the use of this forum.

[Spedoinkel]

she's already said in this thread that she will.
Well it was a quick request, and since I just found this thing 10 pages of possible whining dosen't seem to interesting.

[Red]

you mean we'll still get to pee in the shower?

Well, first, ick, and second, I don't need the details, but every person's personal showertime is their own. Who am I to tell them not to pee in the shower?

[scrape_medic]

Quick everyone....go back and look at stuff that hasn't been looked at in a year...:lol







Sorry, I'm not helping much am I

[AgentSun]

holy frell you post quickly. red, was there text in that post or is my computer going wonky again?

haha that was mad funny, scrape_medic.

[Red]

my computer went wonky and decided to post before I was done. bad mal, bad!

[AgentSun]

did you name it mal after firefly or is it just mal for another reason? yes! you said "wonky"!

[StarsGoBlue]

my computer went wonky and decided to post before I was done. bad mal, bad!


that's what you get for letting Lathan lurk at FMD... :P

[waltersgirl]

it's the very least she can do before the poor former pk bites it.

[AgentSun]

lathan?

[Red]

did you name it mal after firefly
after firefly because I was horrifically unimaginative when chosing a name. Of course, it gets all latin-jokey when you say "bad mal! bad!" and, as I always say, you just can't go wrong with stupid latin jokes.

[Red]

Lathan is a character in two of my fan fics. and I don't let him lurk here, thankyouverymuch.

[waltersgirl]

after firefly because I was horrifically unimaginative when chosing a name. Of course, it gets all latin-jokey when you say "bad mal! bad!" and, as I always say, you just can't go wrong with stupid latin jokes.



:lol:lol:lol :roflmao:

[Spedoinkel]

after firefly because I was horrifically unimaginative when chosing a name. Of course, it gets all latin-jokey when you say "bad mal! bad!" and, as I always say, you just can't go wrong with stupid latin jokes.
For some reason I feel I've read that post before.

[Judith]

as I always say, you just can't go wrong with stupid latin jokes.


Pee jokes, latin jokes, you say potato, I say potato.

Huh.

I guess that's one of those sayings you just have to hear out loud.

[waltersgirl]

mal is latin for "bad".

[StarsGoBlue]

Lathan is a character in two of my fan fics. and I don't let him lurk here, thankyouverymuch.

:elol: whoops. must have confused Lathan and Ben. :P



Lathan go BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!! :D

[waltersgirl]

:elol: whoops. must have confused Lathan and Ben. :P



Lathan go BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!! :D

you know, the ingenue is not a role i think you can pull off convincingly. :flee:

[Mike0812]

Lathan is a character in two of my fan fics. and I don't let him lurk here, thankyouverymuch.

Isn't he from UFO, the PK earthdude or have I said too much? :(

[AgentSun]

anyone else immediately pronounce the second "potato", "potahto", if we really do pronouce the word "potatoe" normally? cause regardless of the text, if that phrase is used, i'll read it in my head as "potato, potahto."

[Red]

Isn't he from UFO, the PK earthdude or have I said too much?
No, he's from I Don't Like Mondays aka Tuesday Fic (http://www.wdsection.com/redsplace/library/idlm.txt) and the currently on-going Shut That Frell Upward aka Wednesday Fic (http://www.livejournal.com/users/randomdayfic/). Some people are far too attached to Lathan. It's unhealthy. Mostly for Lathan.

[AgentSun]

i think i might have to find out more about lathan and this unhealthiness.

[Judith]

No, he's from I Don't Like Mondays aka Tuesday Fic (http://www.wdsection.com/redsplace/library/idlm.txt) and the currently on-going Shut That Frell Upward aka Wednesday Fic (http://www.livejournal.com/users/randomdayfic/).


Yay Boomtown Rats reference!

(And that's NOT because I'm rat crazed)

[StarsGoBlue]

No, he's from I Don't Like Mondays aka Tuesday Fic (http://www.wdsection.com/redsplace/library/idlm.txt) and the currently on-going Shut That Frell Upward aka Wednesday Fic (http://www.livejournal.com/users/randomdayfic/). Some people are far too attached to Lathan. It's unhealthy. Mostly for Lathan.

:lol He's safe from you for the moment. He's still locked in the bathroom on the Centauri vessel, 'cause Aeryn hasn't found him yet. So there. :P

Maybe he'll want to stay with Aeryn, fetch and carry for her, lift heavy things... :D

[StarsGoBlue]

And hey, anyone know what day it is today? :innocent:

[Red]

i think i might have to find out more about lathan and this unhealthiness.

Well he's got his own Protection Society (http://www.livejournal.com/users/simplystars/56962.html). Some people. :rolleyes: I'd say they need hobbies, but, well, then they go and get them and do things like that.

[Selena]

:help:

As almost everyone is hanging out here at present perhaps some one might be able to help us with a small piece of research ... does anyone recall a thread where everyone posted a few paragraphs of a Farscape story some even posted a chapter ... we have looked in the Realized Imagination forum but can't find it - is there an archive for the "deleted" fiction threads?
We can't remember what the thread was called but it had something to do with Farscape Story thread or game or something. When I did a search on that name I got the wrong thread.

[Bandana Girl]

Here is what B sharp said in the I have a plan section. Basically a really nice version of what I said.

So I was reading through the threads today (right after watching our favorite show for 3 hours rather than working like I should have been), and I was struck by three things:

1. There's seems to be another spate of contentious threads where politics are the theme.

2. There's a lot of cool projects that can really help increase viewership that still can use help, like the ones in this great thread by stlscape: http://www.watchfarscape.com/forums...ead.php?t=22456

3. If we've got the energy to get into heated debate on politics, etc., then there's got to be some energy left to brainstorm a few new ideas to get some more 'casual viewer' eyeballs for the mini that we can pull off with the time we have left...

I mean, after all, we're the family that's best in a crunch! The best / wildest / craziest stuff always seems to happen at the desperate last second (sound familiar?), and although things don't always go exactly according to plan, amazing wonderful things have happened- and we can do it again!

So- I figured I'd post a thread to see if we can use the energy floating around here to generate a couple of new, wild, last minute projects - you know, the ones we do so well.

Fire away if you dare-

Oh and Hallmark likes international views so we matter to someone ;)
__________________

[Red]

Yay Boomtown Rats reference!
Dude! You are the only person who has ever gotten the reference. :lol Good one. :aok:

[waltersgirl]

:lol He's safe from you for the moment. He's still locked in the bathroom on the Centauri vessel, 'cause Aeryn hasn't found him yet. So there. :P

Maybe he'll want to stay with Aeryn, fetch and carry for her, lift heavy things... :D

stars likes to dream, doesn't she? :elol:


Lathan the Pet. there's a slash fic waitin' to happen.

[Bandana Girl]

I think I remember what you are talking about, but I don't remember the title. :headbang:

[Red]

is there an archive for the "deleted" fiction threads?
If it was in the fic section, then it probably wasn't ever deleted in prunings. The only forums pruned were the Campaign Strat forum and this one, as they both generate the most posts.

[Mike0812]

No, he's from I Don't Like Mondays aka Tuesday Fic (http://www.wdsection.com/redsplace/library/idlm.txt) and the currently on-going Shut That Frell Upward aka Wednesday Fic (http://www.livejournal.com/users/randomdayfic/). Some people are far too attached to Lathan. It's unhealthy. Mostly for Lathan.


Yeah, I knew he sounded familiar though :D

[StarsGoBlue]

Well he's got his own Protection Society (http://www.livejournal.com/users/simplystars/56962.html). Some people. :rolleyes: I'd say they need hobbies, but, well, then they go and get them and do things like that.

Yeah... lookit the hobby YOU went and took up. :P

[StarsGoBlue]

There is an active Farscape Story Thread, or at least there was last night. I was just looking at it. :dunno: Unless the author deleted it...

[waltersgirl]

Yeah... lookit the hobby YOU went and took up. :P

aw, that dren ain't right.

[Selena]

Did you post in it BG???

[AgentSun]

where?

[Red]

Yeah... lookit the hobby YOU went and took up.
My deep lack of sanity has never been a question.

here lathan, lathan. there's a good boy. c'mere lathan. *BOOOM*

[waltersgirl]

:bub:

[Selena]

There is an active Farscape Story Thread, or at least there was last night. I was just looking at it. :dunno: Unless the author deleted it...
was it one started last year sometime Stars - because there's a couple I believe. I just can't find the one I'm looking for.
This one had a lot of different people contribute to it

[StarsGoBlue]

here lathan, lathan. there's a good boy. c'mere lathan. *BOOOM*

:bub:


:cry2: alas poor lathan... we'd hardly started messing with your mind... :P

but hey, at least he didn't get shot in the ass by an evil DRD. :lol crichton is pouting and demanding an icepack. :rolleyes:

[Bandana Girl]

no I didn't but I think I remember

[waltersgirl]

:
but hey, at least he didn't get shot in the ass by an evil DRD. :lol crichton is pouting and demanding an icepack. :rolleyes:

won'tletbraingothere. won'tletbraingothere. won'tletbraingothere.

[kernezelda]

He is not pouting.

[Christiarc]

red, jul...I've said this before and will repeat it here...this is your bus, we all love the ride, but you must do what YOU feel is best. I don't come here feeling this site "owes" me the right to post. I'ts a gift which was offered to me, a stranger, at no charge. As long as I can play nice, I'm always welcome.

After my one brief experience with the SciFi bboard, I was so-o-o able to appreciate the feeling of community here. It took me FOREVER to feel secure enough in this community to actually add in my 2 cents, here and there. I have made wonderful friends and have had an overall rewarding experience.

I have visited these threads, from time to time, but have not been interested in the sarcasm, harsh words, or insults. (Don't jump all over me, not ALL of it has been this way, but enough for a casual and infrequent visitor to notice) I prefer the energy and positive outlook in the FS areas of this FARSCAPE site.

If this was a democracy, which it is not, I would have to vote for supporting the mods and admins on this. BG said it best when she pointed out...this board did not become vacant or crash and burn because the two topics were banned...if they ban 'politics' the apocalypse will still be unrealized.

[waltersgirl]

He is not pouting.

dude? he cries like a big, fat, hairy girl.

[StarsGoBlue]

was it one started last year sometime Stars - because there's a couple I believe. I just can't find the one I'm looking for.
This one had a lot of different people contribute to it

Selena, it's here: http://www.watchfarscape.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26186



He is not pouting.

:lol Oh, c'mon. You KNOW he is. He just wants Aeryn and not Lathan to bring him the ice and make it feel all better. :P

[Red]

Good thing, because Lathan categorically refuses to bring Crichton an ice pack for his posterior. Now if it was Aeryn with the sore heinie, maybe ... (well, really no maybe about it, but it would end in bloodshed and tears. mostly bloodshed.)

[waltersgirl]

:lol Oh, c'mon. You KNOW he is. He just wants Aeryn and not Lathan to bring him the ice and make it feel all better. :P

well, yeah. he's not sthoopid.

well, okay, he is, but only a little bit.

[kernezelda]

Last time I saw John, he was gallantly retrieving a Prowler for Aeryn. No tears in sight.

;P

[StarsGoBlue]

Now if it was Aeryn with the sore heinie, maybe ... (well, really no maybe about it, but it would end in bloodshed and tears. mostly bloodshed.)


:eh: Dude. You have no idea. Plus, she's already rather bloody, at the moment. And very, very short-tempered. She didn't get to space Scorpius, and she's a little bit cranky about it. :P

[waltersgirl]

Last time I saw John, he was gallantly retrieving a Prowler for Aeryn. No tears in sight.

;P

awww. he's such a pushover.


buthestillcrieslikeabigfathairygirl. :flee:

[StarsGoBlue]

Last time I saw John, he was gallantly retrieving a Prowler for Aeryn. No tears in sight.

:P


*snort* Gallantly retrieving, is it? All I recall reading is "Guys, take that ship in tow."

:rolleyes: Now if he'd put on a suit and gone EVA and piloted it back himself, you could talk to me about gallant.

[Judith]

awww. he's such a pushover.


buthestillcrieslikeabigfathairygirl.

Your posts are getting more and more e.e. cummings.

[Red]

All I recall reading is "Guys, take that ship in tow."
Maybe he said it real gallant-like, though.

[waltersgirl]

they've never been anything but, really. ;)

[kernezelda]

John cries less messily than Aeryn. Plus, he's wounded. No going EVA until the bleeding stops.

[waltersgirl]

Last time I saw John, he was gallantly retrieving a Prowler for Aeryn. No tears in sight.

:P


*snort* Gallantly retrieving, is it? All I recall reading is "Guys, take that ship in tow."

:rolleyes: Now if he'd put on a suit and gone EVA and piloted it back himself, you could talk to me about gallant.

ain't they fun?

[waltersgirl]

John cries less messily than Aeryn. Plus, he's wounded. No going EVA until the bleeding stops.


skates to center ice and throws off her gloves

[StarsGoBlue]

John cries less messily than Aeryn. Plus, he's wounded. No going EVA until the bleeding stops.

Let me get this straight. John cries less messily than Aeryn? And John cries like a big fat hairy girl?

Ergo... what you're really saying is that Aeryn is bigger and fatter and hairier than John??? :eh:

Dude. He is in so. much. trouble. now. :P

[Red]

No going EVA until the bleeding stops.
Can't he just be a man and suck it up, for cryin' out loud? Aeryn would. Suck it up, I mean, not be a man on account of the whole she's female thing.

[kernezelda]

Aeryn's a tough ex-PK. John's learned to accept his natural human inferiority. Ergo, no going EVA for a Prowler for his fiancee when there are crew to do it for him. He has nothing to prove.

[waltersgirl]

Aeryn's a tough ex-PK. John's learned to accept his natural human inferiority. Ergo, no going EVA for a Prowler for his fiancee when there are crew to do it for him. He has nothing to prove.


picks up gloves, skates over to bench, sits down and picks up bag of popcorn to enjoy the festivities.

[Red]

I admire that he's at peace with that.

And now, I've got to leave my hijacked thread and go do harm to Lathan. I mean, go write at someplace with a/c.

To everybody who replied to this thread seriously, I do appreciate your thoughts and I don't want this to become an uncomfortable place for anybody. Sadly, I'll never succeed in making everybody happy, so I'm going to have to do what I believe will at least ease a few of the problems going on.

Thanks.

[StarsGoBlue]

John's learned to accept his natural human inferiority.

I am quoting this because I *know* it will come in handy one day. :P

And damn, if you aren't good at wiggling out of trouble. I hate how well you do it. ;)



:D ETA: And now I will go play not-nice with Kerne in chat. We return you to your regularly-unhijacked thread.

[kernezelda]

Was someone in trouble? I think you just like to see John squirm.


Red, you make me happy.

[Mrelia]

I'm kinda bummed to be loosing our Ot forum.

As others have said, I've hashed out the details and plot twists of FS many times and on several forums. I never tire of my favorite show, but I haven't seen much in the discussion forums that inspire me to debate, so I lurk.

I watch the "I Have a Plan" forum for cool ideas and to gather the addresses I need for my monthly letters. I've been gathering promotion ideas and have been busily hoarding printing supplies for my Waco-area guerilla advertising campaign. I haven't had any original ideas, so I lurk.

I've enjoyed the OT forum as a place to hang out with other crazy people and have always tried to be friendly, silly and civil. (I hope I've succeeded.)

I feel that the OT forum does give us an opportunity to build a community beyond the campaign. Where else would someone be able to organize a baby shower? Or send birthday wishes? I'm virtually isolated Scape-wise and SF-wise out here (there are few local fans and conventions are far, far away and expensive) and enjoy the feeling of visiting someplace were I'm not considered freaky for being who I am. I've visited and registered at other boards, but I haven't gotten as warm a reception anyplace else as I have here.

If there are certain discussions that get out of hand, I'd love to see them relegated to a "Danger Room" or even banned, just so long as we have a cool place to hang out in between campaign projects. Besides, maybe if the folks who enjoy taking potshots at each other take a look around sometime and realize they're alone in their forum, they'll be ready to call a truce and rejoin the larger Scaper community.

[Jul]

Mrelia - you're not losing the OT Forum... it's just going to be closed for a couple of days for cleaning...

[Jul]

I noticed this way back in the pages of this thread and I wanted to comment on it...

I have received a couple PM's today, since this announcement, from people hoping that I will have to go away now. That I won't be allowed to post news stories...

That's seriously fucked up.... not cool at all... I'm disgusted to hear people did that...

[Bandana Girl]

I have to say I don't post everyday on I have a plan and I don't have a new idea everyday either. Sometimes a good bump can do a world of good (even a bouncie or a woohoo)
Anyone have a reason not to welcome newbies?

[Bandana Girl]

Can you guys survive 2 days without OT in UT's :eek2:

[grinner]

probably not. will have to make the attempt.

[Bandana Girl]

Ah

[Bandana Girl]

OK I honestly don't get it ( I know some people will hate me for this) please tell me whats so special about the forum that you can't handle 2 days without it. Do you feel tingly. Does it make you levitate? what?

[Judith]

OK I honestly don't get it ( I know some people will hate me for this) please tell me whats so special about the forum that you can't handle 2 days without it. Do you feel tingly. Does it make you levitate? what?


Okay, it honestly seems like you're baiting us now.

[grinner]

OK I honestly don't get it ( I know some people will hate me for this) please tell me whats so special about the forum that you can't handle 2 days without it. Do you feel tingly. Does it make you levitate? what?
why does it matter to you? I enjoy the conversations that I have with people here. I am, at this time, still without a job. I spend a lot of time here... so that I don't go out and spend money that I don't have. I work on my cars... and spend money. I work on my house... and spend money. I come here and converse with people and don't spend money.

Are you positing this question because you are mocking/baiting us?

[Bandana Girl]

Actually no I just wanted to know and you have explained yourself. I can NOW finally understand why this forum would mean so much to some people and why there wer 10 pages of comments on it. I just couldn't understand why the Red's post would incite such a huge response, but I'm slowly started to understand why since you've explained some things I wouln't have known if I didn't ask. I guess after 2 years I'm a troll. I guess I'll be the first to be banned then

[Mrelia]

Mrelia - you're not losing the OT Forum... it's just going to be closed for a couple of days for cleaning...

*breathes a huge sigh of relief*

Maybe I'll celebrate the re-opening with a new avatar!



ETA - To quote the steel mill worker on "The Simpsons" - "Oh, be nice!"

[scrape_medic]

hey, new avatars thats a good idea!

[Judith]

*breathes a huge sigh of relief*

Maybe I'll celebrate the re-opening with a new avatar!



ETA - To quote the steel mill worker on "The Simpsons" - "Oh, be nice!"

*Whines* But I LIKE the avatar you have NOW!

Keep reaching for that rainbow, Mrelia.

[grinner]

*breathes a huge sigh of relief*

Maybe I'll celebrate the re-opening with a new avatar!



ETA - To quote the steel mill worker on "The Simpsons" - "Oh, be nice!"
you mean... we're supposed to keep the same avatars... all the time...
oh my... I am so doing the wrong thing. :D

[scrape_medic]

That one you got at the mo grinner would make a great tattoo..:)

[grinner]

Actually no I just wanted to know and you have explained yourself. I can NOW finally understand why this forum would mean so much to some people and why there wer 10 pages of comments on it. I just couldn't understand why the Red's post would incite such a huge response, but I'm slowly started to understand why since you've explained some things I wouln't have known if I didn't ask. I guess after 2 years I'm a troll. I guess I'll be the first to be banned then
no one's calling you a troll. Why would you suggest that?

[grinner]

That one you got at the mo grinner would make a great tattoo..:)
that was the tattoo I almost did get... around 10 years ago.

[Third EYe]

So...what's going on now?

[scrape_medic]

to save you reading the whole thread again
A few points -

1 - the forum will only be closed temporarily while I clean it. temporary = not forever. A day or two at most.

2 - there will be guidelines and they will be enforced, but for those of you who fear "stifling", please note the more rules we have the more time I have to spend enforcing them. That is not something I'm particularly keen on. I'm more than content to let people mostly go about their business. With some exceptions.

3 - I'm not going to create another forum just for religious and politcial discussion because then that's one more forum we'd have to mod and it's going to have the exact same problems we're having right here right now. It's entirely possible it will be even worse because there won't be anything else in the forum to distract people from their right/left battlefield.

4 - I am not deleting every thread in this forum. I never said I was.

5 - What we choose to ban, or how we choose to set up the rules for discussion of hot topics is, again, not up for debate.

6 - Yes, it would be fantastic if people could take the personal responsibilty and decide not to post to threads that piss them off. It would similarly be fantastic if people would not post threads for the sole purpose of pissing certain people off. I'm all about personal responsiblity. Unfortunately, some people cannot or are not willing to do that. How many times do we have to warn people to knock it off, before we get to take action?

7 - If this decision makes you leave the forums, I'm sorry to hear that. However, far more people are leaving because of the attitudes and atmosphere in here. There should not be a part of this board that people are afraid to post to or a forum people are afraid to enter.

8 - Despite what some people think, I take no joy and have no desire to go on banning sprees. However, I am aware that there are a handful of individuals here who just can't seem to control themselves when it comes to disagreements. Disagreement is fine, it's the name calling and the hateful mudslinging that seems to stem from that, that isn't fine.

We'll start with a clean forum, a hopefully clear set of guidelines, everybody will have a blank slate concerning their behavior, and we'll go from there.

[Third EYe]

too late, I read it twice, cause it was so nice.


*food didn't work*

[RustySlinky]

There's a forum that Bandana Girl once mentioned, called *tolkien online . com*.

This place is special because the political discussions there are of very high quality, considerate, and civil, sometimes cordial.

Registration membership there is free.

Postings must stay on issue, without judgement on the people who are doing the posting.

Link: http://www.tolkienonline.com

[Mike0812]

There's a forum that Bandana Girl once mentioned, called *tolkien online . com*.

This place is special because the political discussions here are of very high quality, considerate, and civil, sometimes cordial.

Link: http://www.tolkienonline.com


Problem is, it's not discussion between Scapers but between Tolkien fans which is good and fine, but that's why I'm here and not there. Cause I consider myself a Scaper first and I wanna goof off or have serious conversations with Scapers :). I'm not a member of any other fandom, nor do I see myself investing what I've invested in Farscape for any other fandom.

[BlackThorn]

OK I honestly don't get it ( I know some people will hate me for this) please tell me whats so special about the forum that you can't handle 2 days without it. Do you feel tingly. Does it make you levitate? what?

Tone of that post aside . . .

Many people here have formed a family type of bond. This is the place they can touch bases with that family. Farscape and FMD brought them together, and it extended to beyond just Farscape. A lot of people here care for each other. So knowing they won't be able to touch bases with their family for a few days the way they have everyday for however long they've been here can be upsetting. For me, this gives me a place to stay in touch with the scapers I've gotten know over the last two years. It gives me a place to unwind with people I know and get my mind off work for a while, because, as a few people here know, life went boom for me, and I've been swamped over the last couple weeks. When I'm not here or not sleeping, I've been working -- nonstop.

As for why I, personally, stopped posting much in "I Have a Plan" . . . well, it was the tone of many of the discussions over there that started frustrating me, and I have too much stress right now to take on more. Mind you, I check that forum 2-3 times a day when I come to this board. I see something interesting, I read it . . . because I'm still campaigning in my own way, and I know I might see an idea that'll help me do what I'm doing. Off the board, I'm helping with a major project and I'm still working to spread the word of Farscape and PKW where I go. I'm currently working with someone on a fundraiser for the campaign that sprouted from some silliness here. When I have something to say on either of those, I will be posting there to let people know. But probably only then because it was made crystal clear to me what happens when I do offer thoughts and opinions there. And that stress only makes me feel like throwing in the towel -- which I swore I wouldn't do until the very end. So keeping silent is my way of still finding the drive to participate.

As for the Farscape discussions, I don't have much to say. I've never had a whole to say there. I've made a few comments here and there, but discussion Farscape doesn't interest me much. I'd rather watch Farscape, watch new Farscape, work for new Farscape, and get to know the other people who happen to enjoy the same show as I.


As for this whole fiasco . . . I don't particularly care one way or another. I don't think it'll help the board in general. I don't think much of anything will help. Scapers do what scapers do. The mods will do what they have to do in their situation, posters here will do what they'll do based on their personalities, and I'll do what I do. And we'll see how the chips fall in the end, wherever that may be.

[Third EYe]

I like chips, prefer baked and not the kind you find in the field.

just had to say that

I can survive until I die without this forum. It's not the point. I can survive without popsicles too, but I'm not gonna.

BlackThorn said it well.

[RustySlinky]

Problem is, it's not discussion between Scapers but between Tolkien fans which is good and fine, but that's why I'm here and not there. Cause I consider myself a Scaper first and I wanna goof off or have serious conversations with Scapers :). I'm not a member of any other fandom, nor do I see myself investing what I've invested in Farscape for any other fandom.
Understood. My posting is edited for clarification. The tolkien site is referenced to as a possible model to build upon - and to show that civil discourse does exist elsewhere.

Unrealized Reality.

[grinner]

I was once heavily involved in the Doctor Who fandom. I used to get bi-monthly mailings. When they went onto a BBS, I followed. I had been involved with it from 1988 to 1995. When I finally left the 'Fandom', I was burnt out. I told myself that I would never get involved with another fandom.
I was pissed off at many a network for cancelling shows that I felt were amazing. My brother introduced me to FarScape with Revenging Angel. That was the first episode I saw, and I was hooked. Shortly after that aired, Skiffy played every episode that had been shown. I was amazed that anything this... good could be on TV... on a cable channel even. It wasn't until the 'Chat' that I even thought of joining the Scaper community. But I was so angry that I needed to vent. I joined up and it wasn't until December of 2002 that I really started to post to this forum. By March/April of 2003, I was already spending more time here than at my bigger passion, rally.

I am a member of the FarScape Fandom. Not any other. I am a Scaper. Why wouldn't I want to discuss things that are important to US in REAL LIFE? Why would I want to go elsewhere when I would rather converse with my fellow Scapers.
I used to post at FreeRepublic as GTXfan and/or grinner... but I haven't been there in months. It isn't fun over there. It is fun here.

That is why the OT's are important. They are special. They are all Scapers here.

[AgentSun]

:applaud: :signbravo: