Whatever happened to the quality? - No Spam

[Mr Sleep]

Originally posted by Yshania


Please excuse my commenting on the relevant part to me, it goes without saying that it has all been done. I think we are pretty close to all books having been written and all songs having been sung...it is the personal application that makes the difference..and if we are lethargic, we will never find something new More is not more content, more is more of the same from a different view point, with an occasional piece of brilliance thrown in. Occasionally we meet inspirational characters, people that will forever stand out, but these people are fewer than those who just go looking for others to entertain...whether humourously or seriously...

Good point regarding more.

I am sorry if i gave the impression that i expect everyone to entertain me, how ridiculously conceited and arrogant that must sound Frankly all of this will fade with time, i will forget this as i forget everything else, to be honest if i was to die tomorrow then there would be a week's (if that) lamentation and things would return to normal, would i want anything else....no. If i have some fun along the way then i that gets me through the day.

And it is not my fault!!!

Yes it is

Part of my problem might be linked to my moderating....i basically have to read nearly every post, i can't just ignore what i don't want to read.

[KidD01]

I'm not trying to SPAM here, Sleepy - but what happen with smilies on your reply ? How come it's not shown in graphics like others ?

[Mr Sleep]

Originally posted by KidD01
I'm not trying to SPAM here, Sleepy - but what happen with smilies on your reply ? How come it's not shown in graphics like others ?

I turned them off because i couldn't be bothered to go back selectively deleting them since i put them in where i wanted them

[Mr Sleep]

Originally posted by Waverly
Basically, Buck doesn’t limit the number of threads, and says very little about the way in which we participate in them. That being the case, the forum is what you make of it. If you are need of a laugh, bemoaning the good ol’ days is a lot less useful than posting a fun topic and encouraging people to have a good time with it.

Hmmm, you make it sound like i make a habit of this kind of post. I looked at all the threads this morning and i couldn't find anything interesting, i waded through a lot of it as part of my moderating... and i posted these comments, most people won't pay attention to them (as they didn't pay attention to our SYM rules) i spoke my mind on what i noticed. Do i think that everyone will even care what i have said in this thread, no.

In the end i have tried to be entertaining in the past, i hope i have done that, it is my wish that all of this that has evolved over years into a decent forum doesn't stop being just that.

[Yshania]

@Sleepy *hug* it wasn't your post, it was my own general interpretation of what I thought to be a very good point I didn't for a minute see this as any kind of selfish trip. It is very easy to feel this way if you have to spend a lot of time in one place, and as a mod...with all it's expectations ...this is inevitable.

For instance...I get the same opinion re work, I spend time there...I take it home...there are times I look at these people and ask them to give me a reason for hanging around...we spend more time at work than we do with our loved ones, and sometimes when what was once pleasurable, becomes a task...*shrugs*

And I can see how having to read every single post as laborious...*another hug to make up for lack of happy smilies *

I will hug, but I will not accept responsibility!

[Mr Sleep]

Originally posted by Yshania
@Sleepy *hug* it wasn't your post, it was my own general interpretation of what I thought to be a very good point I didn't for a minute see this as any kind of selfish trip. It is very easy to feel this way if you have to spend a lot of time in one place, and as a mod...with all it's expectations ...this is inevitable.

For instance...I get the same opinion re work, I spend time there...I take it home...there are times I look at these people and ask them to give me a reason for hanging around...we spend more time at work than we do with our loved ones, and sometimes when what was once pleasurable, becomes a task...*shrugs*p

Exactly, i just do this because i enjoy myself, i stay as a moderator because i hope i can do some good to keep it enjoyable for others, if it isn't enjoyable it becomes a task, sometimes i enjoy my job more than i do GB ( )

And I can see how having to read every single post as laborious...*another hug to make up for lack of happy smilies *

Perhaps i just shouldn't bother reading every post but i wouldn't want to leave my moderating partners with that job.

I will hug, but I will not accept responsibility!

I suppose that will have to do

[Waverly]

Sleep: I wasn't condemning your post, I was merely taking issue with some of it. I probably wouldn't have bothered, but you must have noticed that these 'SYM isn't what it used to be' thoughts are far from rare. You just happen to be the one who made it a topic of discussion.

[McBane]

I think there have been some very good threads, both entertaining and educational.... 3 off the top of my head are Kneel and be knighted, post your picture, and Fas's Q & A on Islam.

Although I have been a member since 12/00, I was not around in SYM until May of last year. Pre May, was there ever any time where there seemed to be a lull in posting? There have certainly been lulls since May.....Maybe its like the economy, nice and cyclical...

As for the No spam threads, there has been a huge increase in the amount of abuse to this....I think it is up to the mods to remind everyone, (threaten, whatever) to please adhere to it. I very seldom post in the NO Spam threads, but only because I am intimidated by the knowledge of our esteemed members, and do not feel as though I would add anything of value. However, I enjoy lurking them, as it has been educational...

BTW, I don't think it is Ysh's fault either....and if it will make you feel better sleepy, I'll give you a hug too....( if you really want one )

[Mr Sleep]

Originally posted by Waverly
Sleep: I wasn't condemning your post, I was merely taking issue with some of it. I probably wouldn't have bothered, but you must have noticed that these 'SYM isn't what it used to be' thoughts are far from rare. You just happen to be the one who made it a topic of discussion.

Okay, i did over react a little and yes you have a point.

@McBane, as i said post your picture was excellent We posted our rules on spam in "No Spam" threads, and a lot of people kind of ignored them. It can get very frustrating to just keep reminding everyone all the time and them just ignoring you.

If you insist on giving me a hug then so be it

[AbysmalNature]

Since I am under the impression that there has been a general loss of quality, I will make up for it by posting one thread a day, other then my usually completely crazy and inane posts, dealing with some topic which might I hope interest some of the SYMers here, maybe we need a bit of educational programming for SYM, I shall see which topic floats and which does not.

[Aegis]

I could be that us original SYMer's are begining to lose interest in the forum. If you look back at the past six months, many of the people who around since the begining have dissappeared. Perhaps we are feeling that the quality has become depleted, because we have lost people that helped with it. I'm saying that the ones who are here don't post any quality, I'm just saying it's a different kind of quality. While we started off with the threads like Goody, the original Aerie bashing thread, and many more, we no longer find them as amusing/entertaining/interesting as before, because we have literally been there, and bought the t-shirt.

I, though it may not seem like it all the time, believe there is a little too much useless spam going on these days, and I know I am partially responsibly, as is a few other of the originals, but when that is all that is being posted, how else do you respond? Last night, AR and I went on a bit of a rampage. He would post a seemingly irrelevant post, and I would respond in kind. Why? Because I had nothing else to do. Though I commit acts of useless spam from time to time, I still try to make it somewhat relevant, and I still try for humour (though I know many who think I had none).

One thing, though, I feel is ruining a bit of the feeling SYM once had is the beligerant teasing of a few members. It seems that a few are singled out as being teasible, and then are teased ad nauseum, while other, more liked members, are maybe teased once in awhile. this sort of thing might be giving the wrong messege to people, making them think if they post something that others aren't interested in, they would become teased (though that doesn't stop some of us... )

I don't know, those are just a few of my thoughts on the matter.

[Demis]

For my part, as you may have noticed, i rarely post to SYM, because i cannot find so many threads that interest me. Many threads are just fun which i don't thing is bad and i enjoy reading but i don't what to get active in these discussions, some serious semi-serious or interesting threads will always be found in the SYM but i think we got the quality thing wrong, the members are rapidly increasing each day so the *fun* threads will increase too.

For the old members it might seem that the quality is dropping since you all have experienced a similar thread, but think of a new member and how it feels, they are drawn here because they like it and they post because IMO they what to be like the old members,(not copying them but became a part of the 'family') they what to get to know the members and the attention of the SYMers, some may try this with the wrong ways but each person has its own personality. For the oldies i think you should be proud of this, for creating this unique environment which again IMO the new members are trying to achieve.

[Aegis]

Demis does have a point. We are members of one of the most unique forums around.

[der Moench]

Aegis questioning spam - ?!

Wow. I never thought I would see the day when Aegis admits that his spamming is out of control. Aegis, my friend, "admission is the first step."

As to Mr. Sleep's dilemma: I dunno. I have no idea what these "good old days" everyone is talking about were, though I have been here over one year, now - which I think is a long time. I still think this board is exceedingly unique ... where else do the members actually post photos of themselves? I like the debates - even the long-winded fable, CE, HLD, Lazarus ones. And I still find humor here.

Anyway, Weasel did try to show you all the path away from useless spam and into the light of Comm. Sadly, it was not to be.

[Weasel]

Thanks der Moench

I read this topic and wasn't even going to reply. Why waste my time anymore. The path was chosen and now I and everyone else will live it.


I don't reply to NO SPAM topics unless what I have to say deals with the topic.

But if anyone here needs someone to blame..I will take it.

[CM]

Weasel why blame one man for the acts of many?
I try to reply to many of the no spam threads, but i get scared off by the level of discussion. With people like CE, Fable, Lazaurus etc I have very little to say for or against the topic. There is also the time factor, i don't have the time to reply to many of these posts as aegis and many more have posted, the 10 posts in one thread are large enough for a thesis. I visit 2 other web forums, 1 on cricket and the other on politics a pakistani site but we cover all forums of politics. I try to limit my time on the net as well. After debating and discussing on 2 other forums i don't have the stamina or intellectual capacity to post in the majority of the no spam threads. I specifically try to avoid any and all political topics due to my views.

On other issues like the enviornment, i have no clue what to say, as it is not something i know something about. Religion is too close to the heart and i rather not discuss it. There are many topics i would have liked to get involved in, but due to time and other constraints i could not.

Also i have been spamming a great deal for the past couple of days, something which I will stop. Now on to that UN thread fable started, get more of these no spam topics up.

[Gruntboy]

Re: Thanks der Moench

Originally posted by Weasel
But if anyone here needs someone to blame..I will take it.

Its all your fault, scapegoat-boy.

I think humans have a natural capacity for moaning and complaining, lets think of this as a biotch *ahem* session after a cruddy meeting at work....

I know *I* haven't been the same over the past six months. Not to sound trite, but I think that had a lot to do with things. You just have to look at the number of 9/11, Afghan, Muslim, Terrorist, Dubya, and "I pour scorn on the USA" topics to realise how un-funny this place was for a while.

I certainly used to come here to get away from that political tosh and ignore the political threads. That was impossible for a while. Maybe everyone will lighten up a bit in the future?

[C Elegans]

Originally posted by Mr Sleep
@CE, You must have a bad memory I don't think it should be forced either, but saying that the current standing isn't particularly good shoudn't be a problem either, one person says that spam is fun then there is no reason why there can't be a person saying the opposite just like our departed friend Curdis did so well

My memory must be bad indeed - I'm not sure what you mean here. What I meant was anyway that the kind of personal dynamics between certain individuals (like Waverly, DP and Foul in the old days) can't be replicated intentionally, or by force. So there will IMO be no way to bring back the type of threads that were common in SYM in the "good old days".

However, am I the only one who don't miss the good old days at all although I've been here more than a year? I actually like the changing nature of SYM, the fact that members come and go and the type of humour as well as the type of serious discussion changes. Seriously, I would be bored with SYM if new users didn't arrive frequently - I mean, how many times can I and Eminem discuss the nature of christianity in different contexts? And how many times is a certain jargon between certain members funny to read? I liked SYM a lot when I came here, that's why I've stayed - and I still like it as much although I have less time to spend here now than I had the first few months when my lab was still closed.

posted by Grunt
I certainly used to come here to get away from that political tosh and ignore the political threads. That was impossible for a while. Maybe everyone will lighten up a bit in the future?

Contrary to you, I enjoy discussing policial stuff here for a special reason: the mix of people. People in different ages from various countries with different political, religious and cultural background - this is to me the perfect setting to discusss politics in. So I certainly hope political threads will not disappear, but of course there should ideally be a good mix between debate, discussion and socal and funny spam.

[Gruntboy]

That mix is what keeps me here, Miss Elegans.

If you want to check on the the politiking, one is able to. If you want to ignore it, there's that choice too.

[Mr Sleep]

Originally posted by C Elegans
My memory must be bad indeed - I'm not sure what you mean here.

You think i do?!?

Actually i was just saying that there has to be a balance, where as one person says that spam/debates/flames are all great there ideally should be a person on the other side of the fence who doesn't agree, i was just acting as that person