The old days

I can remember the old days when this was a place of discussion. Now it seems that when i am on here, i spend most f my time just trying to find a forum that isn't full of repetitive post, ex."Alien invasion, TPAM #??,Masquarade Ball #??"

I remember having some very good debates on this site, many that INCLUDED mods. Such as Bob. Now it seems that every one on this site wants to argue with the mods, just open a thread for chating, or just post plain pointless stuff instead of having a good conversation or deabte?

Does any one else miss the old days???

<3 Bianca

Yes I enjoy a good clean debate, but have indulged in online mud wrestling in an un-moderated forum and times have found it difficult to control my passion for debating
I don't think a member of my club would mind me quoting him from "Not for the religious" topic in this forum
"You guy's are kind of blending chaos theory and entropy together and applying it to something it was never meant to be applied to. Thermodynamics has little to do with human qualifications of morality and crime, so theories of how matter should react in a closed system seem a little silly to bring up. I always see people trying to apply both entropy and the chaos theory to scenarios that they have no bearance on."

Although Thermodynamics may have little to with human qualifications, I believe it is unfair to label a forum "other " limiting it to objective thinking. A poetry site should encourage abstract concepts that do not deny the passionate flame having a bearing on Thermodynamics in a heated discussion

Yeah, I really miss the old conversation that use to go on on these boards. Now, the place seems practically dead, hence why I don't come around as much as I use to.

I do like debating and having serious conversations, but I don't like doing that all the time. I like to mix, chatting, being silly and having serious conversations. You could still start a thread with something serious and have a great outcome out of it, I would deffinatly comment in it and go on with the conversation, still, it never hurts to have silly fun once in a while and go wild with your imagination.

Some people don't know how to have a clean debate. I think that might be some of the reason why there aren't many debates anymore.

Ever thing that has been said is very true. Alot of the deabting on this site got pretty out of hand. I very much miss the old debats and convo.s :( And alot of the old members that seem to not be here anymore.

I'd love to hear what some of the olds mods (who were here around 2004-2005 ish) have to say!

<3 Bianca

As stated, there used to be a lot of debates and good topics generally in the past. Many people used to be very active on the forums: starting, discussing, and debating on threads. Myself included.

I think the main reason we don't see this anymore is the sheer fear of getting penalties (since many people don't know how to debate cleanly, they end up getting in trouble with us Mods for not following the rules.)

As for the repetitive threads, it is something I personally will be looking into to try and fix (along with a lot of other stuff on this site).

I'd also like to add, that we encourage debates as long as they are clean and not all out brawls against eachother. In the long run, depending on what the debate is about, many people in the end may walk away with a knowledge that they didn't have when they started the debate. Debates are a huge learning arena, in which you and everyone including myself can potentially learn something.

Also on a side note for the repeat topics, if there is a stickied thread at the top of the forum on the same subject, please use that thread, do not recreate a thread which is stickied at the top of the forum. Example: The movie thread. or the sadness and depression thread which deals with suicide and cutting...

I think a lot of times someone will post something and another member says something back that might be a tad bit offensive and then that member feels like a plain idiot for ever saying anything in the first place so they either shy away from ever being in a debate or get angry for looking stupid and attack the other member. I'll admit that's why I've never been one to debate. Everyone's smarter than me.

^^

Second time he's stated what I was thinking. Freaking psychic man.

But, I also think people are too uptight about the subjects they care about too, however, that isn't just on this site, and nothing can really be done about it. Thats just the society we live in.

Before we can truly have any constructive debates, you've got to have constructive debatees - and those are few and far between now. A good example is what TPAM said about the abortion topic and slinging "Idiot" around. If people could just learn to keep the elementary school crap at the door, we could potentially have something.

I've actually been considering starting a debate on the legalization of marijuana lately, but have refrained solely because I'm not going to spend an hour thinking out my response, typing it out, and putting it out there, for someone to just roll in and say "Drugs are bad, idiot" or something to that effect. Thats why we no longer have any real discussions.

(Also, to add to what I said: Im against legalization. However, most people will just enter the thread and post their opinion without reading what the original poster said.)

I was just reflecting on the same notion. I joined this site 5 years ago and it was an awesome place. The level of intelligence and variety was actually admirable.

Now the place is SO DULL. I read most of this thread but not the massive block posts by Amanda and such. I think the main reasons are:

-Mods creating a 'nanny state'-like atmosphere/culture

-Creation of poetry clubs and other better sites that cater for more knowledgeable/experienced poets => the demand for these forums has become largely obsolete, at least by the target market we have in mind.

Skilled poets seek poetry sites with other skilled poets. Intelligent people seek other intelligent people. This presently is not the place to seek these people, at least not as much as it used to be.

Leth the Rattlehead--
I would actually enjoy a debate over wether marijuana should be legalized. i think that would be interesting. Also the aspect of it being used for medical reasons.

but over all, i really think that most old members miss the old forums. I dont come on here much any more becuase of the fact that it is more just people who put a few poems up, and some dont even bother. They are jsut here to socialize.

<3 Bianca

Oh trust me, I have PLENTY of ideas for debates I'd like to see go on here on the forums, its just the lack of true debatees that keeps me from posting them. I honestly think there be a 'Debate Forum'. But thats just me. Then again, it would put alot of uneeded stress on the mods, I'm sure, so, mayby its not as good of an idea as I think it is :P

I went ahead and posted the debate topic. I'll just roll with it and try and temporarily fill the need for debate.

I remember when I first started coming to this website, there were so many different people getting along and able to have discussions, and your right now iti's hard to find a place to even be interested in.