This place has become a joke!!!

[oakland_raiders]

how has this forum went so down hill

i have been reading every now and then and to me it looks like a bunch of adults acting like kids and getting their feelings hurt over the stupid internet...everyone should act like adults and quit this and cut the crap...and what is up with this banning crap i dont understand how a word can hurt someones feelings so much since you probably do not know the person any way...to many rules to follow on here...this place reminds me of elementary school when you would get in trouble for name calling...whats next are the mods going to start sending people to the ugly chair and taking away recess or something....if you dont agree with someone you should be able to defend yourself and let off a little steam without having the risk or being banned and they are just words...act like an adult and grow some tough skin and quit acting like nobody has ever called you stupid, and idiot, a retard, an ass, and so on...what is the difference is reading a cuss word and hearing it in music or a movie

[simple man]

All the trashtalking has never been tolerated on this forum. Most folks follow the rules without any help, just a few of us get out of line from time to time. It is what makes this place better than some of the garbage you can read elsewhere.

[oakland_raiders]

i would rather hear or see what people really think or what they really have to say instead of some censored crap

if they would let go and be more open then i think this place would pick back up but until then i would say that it will never pick back up to what it use to be

[simple man]

I have to watch, but sometimes I can put a thought into words without cussing or slamming someone else.

[centennialdawg]

It is what it is, man. Nothing more, nothing less, just SSDD. I, too, actually think it is a little too conservative sometimes, but what can a person do when there are bans, threats of bans, and permanent bans being handed out so often. But on the mods' defense, some of the bull that has been going on here lately with the name calling has gotten way out of hand. Just like I said in an earlier post that is now closed, most all of the people on here that are talking crap like that wouldn't dare saying it to you in person. I was told years ago that since this forum was a forum "owned" by someone, then you really don't have a right to say what you really think. Free speech is only allowed on here to the extent that it doesn't step on toes and is politically correct. Been on here for about 5 years now, that was told to me then. I don't agree with the cursing going on here, but hey, that is just me. Don't agree with the name calling either. That is just immature. But hey, if you feel the need to attack people, then do it in person, be man enough for that. I only know of 2 people who are permanently banned from this forum and that was with the old format. Wonder what would happen if they knew they could get back on here under this format.

These are just rambling thoughts of mine, put in no certain order. My mind works that way sometimes.

[CoeburnCane]

But on the mods' defense, some of the bull that has been going on here lately with the name calling has gotten way out of hand.

That's the main thing to keep in mind here. I post on boards where you can get away with dang near anything (language, attacks, questionable links/images, etc)--on here, that's never been the case.

It's not that we stop arguments that are heated or deep-rooted between posters, it's that we don't want it descending into the "well, you're a *bleepity bleep bleep*" and away from the conversation at hand, or things getting threatening from one poster towards another. That's not what this board has ever been for, and it shouldn't be.

I only know of 2 people who are permanently banned from this forum and that was with the old format. Wonder what would happen if they knew they could get back on here under this format.

As soon as we knew who they were, they'd be banned, just like on the old board if they tried to sign-up with a new user ID. This may be a board now on HostBoard & not a stand-alone like it was, but the same stuff from the past still stands.

[Jason]

how has this forum went so down hill

i have been reading every now and then and to me it looks like a bunch of adults acting like kids and getting their feelings hurt over the stupid internet...everyone should act like adults and quit this and cut the crap...and what is up with this banning crap i dont understand how a word can hurt someones feelings so much since you probably do not know the person any way...to many rules to follow on here...this place reminds me of elementary school when you would get in trouble for name calling...whats next are the mods going to start sending people to the ugly chair and taking away recess or something....if you dont agree with someone you should be able to defend yourself and let off a little steam without having the risk or being banned and they are just words...act like an adult and grow some tough skin and quit acting like nobody has ever called you stupid, and idiot, a retard, an ass, and so on...what is the difference is reading a cuss word and hearing it in music or a movie

Some of the "Adults" are being very childish. The cuss words dont bother me but I do find it childish to enhance ones sentences with some of the ones used. As for the Moderation of the board. That definately does not bother me. I try to have the common decency to not attack others or call them names. Everyone has an opinion and should be respected for them. And to me we are all children of God so I TRY to do to those as I would want done to me.

[CoeburnCane]

I'll tell everyone this much--if you've got a problem, we've never been one to not listen to what you have to say. Honestly--ask yourself, no matter how long you've been on the board--if you've asked one of us a question, how many times did you have to ask before you got an answer? Whether it was a content issue or a technical issue--I don't think we leave people high & dry. If we know/can help, we tell you or we give a solution. If we don't know/can't help--we tell you we don't know but offer to find out or we tell you we can't help but point you in the direction of someone who can.

No matter if you're a poster that's caused no problems, or you've been one that's had to take a banning once or twice (or more), we listen and we respond to the best of our judgement. I think there's a lot of boards out there that you just won't get that out of the moderation/administration.

VERY rarely will you see us make a move w/o warning someone or letting the board know what is/isn't acceptable first. We leave it up to people to use common decency/sense and post accordingly. But, just like in real day-to-day interactions--some people just don't know how to act/don't care. That's when we have to take action. Some people take it to heart and realize they don't need to act that way to enjoy these boards. Others...well, they're gonna cause trouble no matter what b/c they get enjoyment out of ruining what others enjoy--and they get dealt with.

It's kinda like drinking at a party--you have different kinds at the party. Some folks don't drink, but still enjoy the party. Some people drink a few beers/drinks/shots, have a good time, enhance everyone's enjoyment with their antics--but don't cross any lines. Then, you have the ones that have to come in like tornado--drink as much booze as they can in the shortest time possible, get crazy doing things like throwing up, breaking stuff, offending/fighting the folks at the party--and basically don't realize they're messing things up. Then you have those that show up to the party already drunk looking to pick a fight or cause damage somehow, and don't care who they hurt.

We've got posters that fit into those "party" categories above. Some don't cuss/argue, just enjoy the tamer threads on the board and have fun. Some will drop the occasional cuss word & argue casually, but never take it to the point of ruining someone's enjoyment of the board. Some people argue at the drop of a hat, and will go overboard cussing someone out or personally attacking them before they know they've stepped over a line until they've gotten into trouble. Some people post just to rile people up, cause trouble, and will break any rule put in front of them, no matter what.

This is our party ("our" meaning all the membership). It's being held at our house ("our" here meaning mods/admins). When people get out of line, it's up to those who's house the party's at to step in and say something. Ask them to leave, tell them to tone it down, etc...and there's nothing wrong with that, because it's all about ensuring that the ones who are at the party/on the board get to have fun, and don't get it ruined by a few who are out to ruin things for us all, intentionally/unintentionally.

Crazy analogy, but I think that puts in a nutshell how things actually are on here.

[collegetrumpet2010]

One thing about this forum that has always bugged me (and this isn't the forum's fault) is the fact that some posters get on here and act all mature and they kiss someone's behind but outside of the forum they talk behind that person's back.

And just like any other forum, this forum has the group that jumps at the chance to cause trouble and they are always itching for a row.

[SunTzu]

Cane is doing what needs to be done . If you don't like the rules set forth then don't let the door hit you on the way out . This LPD forum goes back many years before alot of you ever posted your first post and several of you were still in grade school . Jim started it , Rock took it over and now it's been absorbed into Hostboard but the rules haven't changed . There are more people now that want to push the envelope in the name of the "I can do what I want" mentality and the lines were already there but some still like to cross them . Arguements are ok , disagreements are ok but keep it civil and clean , pretty simple . The mods have a difficult job and walk a fine line and must be the bad guys sometimes . Threats of banning I have no problem with , if it were me there wouldn't even be a warning , that's why I don't moderate . We have an excellent core of posters many that have been around as long as me . There is also a good group that have been here a couple of years and make solid contributions to the discussions on here . On the flip side , there are those that just have nothing better to do than stir up trouble . I guess everyone wants something different from this board . I don't live in SWVA anymore so I use it to keep up with whats happening back home (better than the coalfield) and to just enjoy some of the banter about this or that . That's my editorial and I wish everyone a great weekend .