Some animals are more equal than others?

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

I don't want to muddy this topic up with a full on discussion on thick/thin skin, other forums, etc, etc, etc.

May I ask why you seem to have no problem being right in the thick of things muddying up other topics with endless off-topic posts?

I would like admin to explain this. Why is it OK for dk to actively participate in derailing the Signature Situations topic, turning into a very long and very off-topic boys club meeting? If that behavior is alright, why get riled up when another topic veers on a tangent, and quickly split the topic when the tangental posts continue? The pattern of participation in derailing another member's topic stands in stark contrast to constant monitoring and rapid action in his own topic.

[DougP]

But why of all threads would you pick the JU meet thread to pose that question? Why not ask it in the thread in which you are concerned about?

[dk]

That signature thread died a long time ago. It's a ghost town, and the few people remaining are enjoying the leftover food. If you are interested in bringing it back and have more to say on the issue, I will happily move all off-topic posts as I have done in other threads.

That is how I justify it. If a thread has reached the point of completion, rather than locking it, I allow it to go wherever it wants to go. This has led to some amazing topics such as the Brazillian Wax thread.

[Bones]

I'll open a new thread in a minute, or so, that will address this issue eelcurb.

All I ask of you, is be patient.

NBTP

[dk]

But why of all threads would you pick the JU meet thread to pose that question? Why not ask it in the thread in which you are concerned about?
He didn't like being moderated. I took the negativity right out of that thread in real time and moved it to a brand spankin' new negativity thread where the parties involved could duke it out all they wanted without ruining the official "who is coming?" tally.

[dk]

I would like admin to explain this. Why is it OK for dk to actively participate in derailing the Signature Situations topic, turning into a very long and very off-topic boys club meeting?
Also, I just went through the thread again and it appearst that at one point or another, pretty much every single active member and moderator (aside from socalheart, smhersweetheart, and possibly a few others) participated in the derailment of that thread. It went waaaaaaaaaaay off topic, and then it branched out even further. As I said before, what needed to be said was said, and after that it made a turn for the loose and humorous.

That thread is dead, and the funeral was fun.

[socalheart]

(o.O) Huh? I missed something. I thought this was another animal rights and equality thread. Heh. I get now that it was one of those metaphor things or something... Anyhow, what didn't we do and where didn't we do it? Am I going to have to be funny again?

[dk]

Anyhow, what didn't we do and where didn't we do it? Am I going to have to be funny again?
Read my replies. :rolleyes:

[Muku]

Why is it OK for dk to actively participate in derailing the Signature Situations topic, turning into a very long and very off-topic boys club meeting?

dk equals administrator........administrator equals dk......get the picture?

[Muku]

Am I going to have to be funny again?

Sorry after reading the OP here I am getting rather sarcastic right about now, please do not take this personally.........:D


Were you funny in the first place? Isnt humor here like P Chan's artwork....subjective:-|:D:first:

[Muku]

He didn't like being moderated. I took the negativity right out of that thread in real time and moved it to a brand spankin' new negativity thread where the parties involved could duke it out all they wanted without ruining the official "who is coming?" tally.
Yup you threw a party, I came for the first 10 minutes and left....not my kind of crowd there earlier this afternoon.

People even tried to quote me on posts that dont exist:w00t:

[socalheart]

Fine! You be funny then. I have to pee anyhow. :p

I started off sarcastic, which went well with the lost separates. Am going to work in the understanding dk's replies as an accessory to the pair of patent leather uhms. ;)

[dk]

I'll open a new thread in a minute, or so, that will address this issue eelcurb.

All I ask of you, is be patient.

NBTP
If this is what I think it is, I'm going to be laughing pretty hard.

[Muku]

If this is what I think it is, I'm going to be laughing pretty hard.

I'm already laughing....why I have no idea....must be from a lack of protein in my diet......:scared:

socal sorry for the previous post.....:o

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

He didn't like being moderated. I took the negativity right out of that thread in real time and moved it to a brand spankin' new negativity thread where the parties involved could duke it out all they wanted without ruining the official "who is coming?" tally.
No sir, that isn't quite correct. I don't like double standards, whomever it is, or whatever the topic is. If you don't like people going on tangents in your topic, please don't do the same in theirs. The Golden Rule thing.

[dk]

I can understand the golden rule thing, but your thread was dead. I took the liberty. Get over it, or bring your thread back on topic.

I've already explained myself above very well. The topic was dead. I don't lock dead topics. I allow them to go into whatever direction they want before dissappearing into oblivion.

You do have the option to revive your thread, and I already mentioned that I would clean it up if you felt the urge.

[ja_Patriot]

Also, I just went through the thread again and it appearst that at one point or another, pretty much every single active member and moderator (aside from socalheart, smhersweetheart, and possibly a few others) participated in the derailment of that thread. It went waaaaaaaaaaay off topic, and then it branched out even further. As I said before, what needed to be said was said, and after that it made a turn for the loose and humorous.

That thread is dead, and the funeral was fun.


Yep, waayyyy off-topic. Like when Boost started to thank everyone and Tempestuous who claimed she never got "thanked" got a load of it.

Actually, it showed how everyone, well almost everyone, wants to contribute and make the JU forums work and run for the long term despite the difference in views.

Maturity can be also be loose and fun.

[P_chan]

Were you funny in the first place? Isnt humor here like P Chan's artwork....subjective

Hey don't hate on my rendition of the "I can has cheeseburger"cat!

[dk]

Yep, waayyyy off-topic. Like when Boost started to thank everyone and Tempestuous who claimed she never got "thanked" got a load of it.

Actually, it showed how everyone, well almost everyone, wants to contribute and make the JU forums work and run for the long term despite the difference in views.

Maturity can be also be loose and fun.
I had a good time with it. :star:

[TheNoNamedOne]

You do have the option to revive your thread, and I already mentioned that I would clean it up if you felt the urge.

I think this is a fair offer for that thread as it is now.

It is true that a lot of people made off-topic comments, but it really started going bad/waaaaay off with the good ol' back slapping and the "cool club" thing.

I think all of us have to be a little more concious and disciplined about not getting too chatty in threads and making off topic comments. The thing is, sometimes when you tell a person they are going off topic and to get back on topic, they deny it is off topic and debate about how it IS on topic, and then we end up with a debate about what is off topic or not.

Sometimes it takes waaaay toooooo much energy to get a topic back on topic when it gets chatty. I think, or I hope, when things start getting chatty, people consider taking their chat partners down into the chat room OR take the innitiative to start a new thread. The banana and cool club thing was just very chatty.

After a member says, "Let's get back on topic," but others refuse to honor that request, then that member should contact a member of the team and ask them for assistance to get their thread back on topic.

Just trying to be diplomatic here and offer some kind of solution that we can all try and guide outselves with in the future.

[dk]

I agree TP, and I'm sure if those who were involved in the actual discussion threw in a "back on topic, _______" it would have gone back on topic.

The back slapping and banana fun happened after it began to veer off. I read the whole topic this afternoon and it definitely wasn't the sole cause.

But like I said, if it's actually a problem and the OP (elle) wants to continue the discussion, have at it. Otherwise, it's just complaining that I took the liberty to have a little fun in a thread that was already dead.

[TheNoNamedOne]

Yea, I see your point, dk. But, just for future reference, I really do think we have to start trying to lessen the chattiness in discussions that start out in an OP that has a serious tone.

Another point I want to make here, I have noticed at times during a serious discussion topic someone will come on with some one or two liner comment that is pretty much off-topic and adds virtually nothing to the discussion, and then another person will call them on that as being virtually meaningless AND then that person will justify his comment with something like, "Just keeping it light," or "trying to lighten things up." Well, that kind of comment is not needed and is not justified. If the OP starter had wanted the conversation to be light, then they would have infused a lot of humourous hints within the OP.

Let's look at the style of the OP and respect the integrity of the tone and tenor the topic is being put forth with. These forums are getting so big now with topics, and growing everyday, that one does not have to bend the tone of a thread discussion to fit thier impression on how they thingk it should develope. Again, let's start giving more respect to the OP starter and what and how he wants to discuss his topic. After all, he took the innitiative to start it so that should warrant some respect.

All of us have to work harder on staying "On-topic" and respect the OP starter's point they want to discuss. Yes, topics do meander and develope, but when the OP starter wants things to get back on topic -- or anyone participating in the thread for that much -- we all have to respect that. And the team has back that up when we are asked to help get things back on topic.

[dk]

I can understand that, but I am positive this issue stemmed more from me pulling the negativity out of the Jon Jon's thread than me posting off-topic remarks in an already dead thread. If you want to discuss this further, we can in the admin/mod forum but my official view is that no harm was done to that thread because it was already dead. If there was any real wish to get that thread back on topic, the request very well could have been posted before it veered down the twilight zone.

Yes, the team has to back it up when asked to help bring a thread back on topic, but I do not recall seeing any request for help. In fact, I doubt that thread would have ever been mentioned if elle hadn't disagreed with me moving his posts.

We can discuss this more in the admin/mod forum if you'd like.

[P_chan]

Yea, I see your point, dk. But, just for future reference, I really do think we have to start trying to lessen the chattiness in discussions that start out in an OP that has a serious tone.

Another point I want to make here, I have noticed at times during a serious discussion topic someone will come on with some one or two liner comment that is pretty much off-topic and adds virtually nothing to the discussion, and then another person will call them on that as being virtually meaningless AND then that person will justify his comment with something like, "Just keeping it light," or "trying to lighten things up." Well, that kind of comment is not needed and is not justified. If the OP starter had wanted the conversation to be light, then they would have infused a lot of humourous hints within the OP.

Let's look at the style of the OP and respect the integrity of the tone and tenor the topic is being put forth with. These forums are getting so big now with topics, and growing everyday, that one does not have to bend the tone of a thread discussion to fit thier impression on how they thingk it should develope. Again, let's start giving more respect to the OP starter and what and how he wants to discuss his topic. After all, he took the innitiative to start it so that should warrant some respect.

All of us have to work harder on staying "On-topic" and respect the OP starter's point they want to discuss. Yes, topics do meander and develope, but when the OP starter wants things to get back on topic -- or anyone participating in the thread for that much -- we all have to respect that. And the team has back that up when we are asked to help get things back on topic.

I'll admit, I'm guilty of this. But I only do it in threads that start to become flame wars and people are getting all uppity about it. If it's a serious discussion about a serious topic (animal rights, religion, something else people are taking serious, etc....) then I won't throw those comments in there. So yes i do it to keep things "light" I guess you could say. Give everybody (because members not participating in flame wars get sick of seeing flammish threads) a break and get them off each other's throats.

[TheNoNamedOne]

Well, Pchan, from now on please just say "Back on topic." Thing is, you may say something funny with the intent "to keep it light" and expect that to stop the flaming, but it could invite others to come in and post on your "light" stuff and cause a major derailment -- eventhough that was not your intention.

[P_chan]

But really, do we need a thread that is just a pretense to flame other users?

[ja_Patriot]

Blessed are the peacemakers, and these come in all sorts of colors and different flavors.

Despite the difference in opinions, we're all old enough to recognize when it gets to the point of actually breaking someone's balls or put someone's dignity on the spot.

Not worth it, despite the vigor in advancing opposing views.

So, lightening things up may have an important purpose when we start to take things too seriously.

I'm with dk, p_chan, dougp and even tp and others coming in with ad lib, off-beat comments from time to time and keep the temperament of the discussion in check.

The forum party thread has to be keep positive, with discussions at times being confrontational, the wrong post could get that party easily off-track and derailed. I think that was what dk wanted to avoid.

[dk]

The forum party thread has to be keep positive, with discussions at times being confrontational, the wrong post could get that party easily off-track. I think that was what dk wanted to avoid.
Thank you. Exactly. I had a gut feeling that if I didn't put a stop to it quickly, that thread would get out of hand. I have pretty good instincts, and I don't regret moving those posts.

[TheNoNamedOne]

I'm with dk, p_chan, dougp and even tp and others coming in with ad lib, off-beat comments from time to time and keep the temperament of the discussion in check.

I am not ok with this because it invites the real possibility of derailing the topic if others reply to that ad lib in kind.

All that needs to be said if one wants the tone to step back is a direct sentence, such as "Let's lighten up and step back for a while on the personal comments/insults." That is all that needs to be said. No one needs to post some off topic point or humourous point and justify that as keeping it light.

Some discussions are made by the OP starter to be anything but light, and even being provocative is fine -- so long as it does not devolve into insults. When that does happen directly saying, "Stop the insults" or something similar is what is needed.

[dk]

I disagree a bit. I have seen very few threads that were effectively destroyed by off-topic humor. Yes, I agree that we should do our best to stay on-topic, but an occasional waaaaambulance here and there doesn't hurt. I agree to disagree.

I do not want to see this forum taken to the point where a formal "let's lighten this up" is more necessary than a random act of comedy gold. Of course, people need to exercise self-control, but these forums are a very informal place, and as long as information is being exchanged effectively and as long as these random acts of humor aren't having a huge negative effect, I really don't see much of a problem. This is not something I have even the slightest urge to clamp down on more than we are doing right now.

But pro-tip for everyone. If someone begins to go off-topic in a thread that still has some life in it or you personally have interest in, feel free to guide it back on topic.

I am not advocating active derailments, but at the same time, I am not recommending that we make any changes at this time. I do not see the forums as being harmed right now. In fact, I like the forums the way they are right now just fine.

[TheNoNamedOne]

I see your point, dk, kinda. Don't agree with it fully, though. I really don't see the reason or the value in making it tempting for a thread to be derailed with interjected humor when the topic was not made to be humourous when the problem can be solved with a direct request.

You see, if the thread starter is onlline at the time and then someone interjects with an "Whambulance (which by the way I think is so high schoolish)" or some other "humor" to lighten things up, the OP starter or another person interested in the seriousness of the topic continuing can then reply with "back on topic," and all will most likely be fine. BUT, and this is a big and important BUT, if the OP starter or another party interested in the seriousness of the topic is NOT online at the time, and then some others reply to that offtopic humor crap and then others reply to that, well.... that could just crap the whole thread by the time the OP starter or another party interested in the seriousness of the thread gets back to it to get it back on topic. And sometimes it takes a monumental effort to get it back,and then all that crap is in the middle. Yes, sure a mod can clean it up, split the thread or delete those off topic points, but man, I don't see what is the problem with telling people to respect the tone of the OP and post according to that.

IF the OP injects humor into it, then the replies are quiete fair to add humor as well. But hey, if the OP is a serious one, then respect that and keep the tone serious. Why can't this forum have the ability to do two things at the same time here on such a simple point? And it is a simple point to understand and respect the integrity of the OP.

Having that respect for the integrity of the OPs that are serious IS NOT going to turn JU forums into a fuddy duddy academic forum. There are going to be plenty of OPs with an off-beat humourous element to them. There is room to satisfy both, the more humourous light crowd and the more serious crowd. Why should the serious crowd be at the mercy of interjecting clowns whenever those kinds of posters are tempted to ply their trade?

The fair solution is to say, note the OP tone.

[dk]

The fair solution is to say, note the OP tone.
This is basically the point. I wouldn't recommend going into one of Ian's more thought out posts and following it up with a dolphin ninja nor would I recommend overanalyzing a comedic post. I'm sure both have happened (sort of) at one point or another but for the most part, the above is being followed.

Perhaps this is not the case with E's thread, but as I've already possibly said three times in this thread, that one had already died and moved on by the time us vultures invaded.

The general rule of thumb: use some self-discipline and like TP said, note the tone.

But waaaaambulance is funny, just as is roflcopter, and lolerscates. You don't have to agree. I didn't bring you on board for comedic advice. :p

[TheNoNamedOne]

But waaaaambulance is funny, just as is roflcopter, and lolerscates. You don't have to agree. I didn't bring you on board for comedic advice. :p

lol.

I think waaaambulance is different from the other two. The former is pointed at the poster more or less, or someone who may be having a legitimate complaint to make and someone is ridiculing that. The other two are joinging in on a point of something and not at someone. I think the differences are pretty obvious.

I think the underlined was an unfair comment.

[dk]

Hehehe, zing.

It was in relation to you calling waaaaambulance "high-schoolish". That alone. I'll agree, it isn't the most refined humor in the world, but it is funny. Seems kind of condescending to tell someone that something they enjoy is "high-schoolish".

Don't lose any sleep on it. It was a friendly jab.

[dk]

I think waaaambulance is different from the other two. The former is pointed at the poster more or less, or someone who may be having a legitimate complaint to make and someone is ridiculing that. The other two are joinging in on a point of something and not at someone. I think the differences are pretty obvious.
Although I agree, once again, you're overanalyzing humor, which just takes all the fun out of humor.

I need to sleep now though. I really can't stay awake any longer.

My final point: I really do not think we need to give any added energy into this other than we are already giving to try to keep threads on topic. Feel free to take an added effort to guide members to stay on topic, but as I said before, I think the forums are doing just fine. I'm not hearing any complaints about this (before this one, which had other motivations) at all. If it becomes more of a problem, we can crack down on it harder. As it is right now, communication is taking place. Everything seems to be functioning just fine.

Goodnight.

http://www.forums.court-records.net/forum/wooster_truck.gif

[TheNoNamedOne]

Nahhhh.... not losing any sleep over it (btw, right after this post I am going to sleep).

I guess when I try to judge something as high schoolish and call it such, particularly pithy one liners, I ask myself if my peers in high school or after high school were more apt to use that.

[TheNoNamedOne]

Although I agree, once again, you're overanalyzing humor, which just takes all the fun out of humor.

Good point. But you have to/should remember and make room to respect, some people have fun discussing seriously without humor. I think their version of fun, too, is worthy of respect. Wouldn't you agree that that is a fair statement?

[dk]

Good point. But you have to/should remember and make room to respect, some people have fun discussing seriously without humor. I think their version of fun, too, is worthy of respect. Wouldn't you agree that that is a fair statement?
Yep, and that's where there needs to be a balance. Attack the problem when it becomes a problem. As it stands right now, I haven't seen all THAT many serious threads thrown off-topic. There's a lot of real threads taking place on the forum every day that aren't being polluted, so like I said, I don't think we have a problem. I can appreciate that we need to respect each other, but as things are right now, I think we're doing just that for the most part.

But as is the case with anything, we all get carried away sometimes.

[TheNoNamedOne]

Fair enough, dk, for now. We may disagree here a little, and I don't think we are too far off from one another. We both see where each is coming from.

[dk]

Last Word Mine!!!! Go to sleep!! :D