Can we have a moderated general discussion board that is not limited to "hobby-related" subjects wherein civilized interaction is encouraged? We could call it "Civilized Intercourse".  

I'm over on the Erotic highway, I know's it's Fisher's sand box but he likes piss.

But fear the result might be like having a string quartet play Bach outside of a rock concert.
Maybe there is just something about sex that will forever be uncivilized.
And maybe that's not such a bad thing, necessarily.

But only if TER ran it as a moderated board, kind of the reverse of P&R.  But every post would have to be read and approved by a mod to keep it "nice."  That would be a lot of work/expense for TER so I doubt they'd do it.

Tho I wouldn't want TER to have even more work just for that....so there's the conundrum,  
I have made up my mind,that I, simply can, not, post anything on my local board.
I have one guy who seems to watch for any
topic I might start and jumps on my case & unfortunately there's more then a handful that join in.  

Just don't read his posts, or even put him on "ignore" so you don't see them.  Everyone has a equal right to post, and if you let someone intimidate you to the point where you choose not to post then that's on you.  You've let him win.

"Make Love Not War" became an international quote for a very good reason. And it is one of those timeless quotes, that generations can use as a way to live a peaceful existence. Thanks Sara for putting out this idea.

Or are you complaining that the PO board is uncivilized?  

It were limited to persons who earned admission to by showing that they could not only refrain from insults and harassing posts, and that they had something of interest to discuss--maybe a short list of initial topics they'd want to discuss, and the mods and members of the board should select those who could be vouched for.

I so love love this idea for TER.  I know others have created their own discussion boards (the private, invite-only ones or the ones that were rather UTR) with great fervor to create a space like this, only to have those boards fizzle over the years.

You said yourself that these polite discussion boards tend to fizzle out over the years.  Could it be that the hostility is what fuels discussion boards so they do not fizzle out?  By hostility I mean heated discussions and arguments.  Would love to have a civilized intercourse with you about it.  Damn, but civilized intercourse is kind of a hot term.  I like it!

If my suggesting that your "girly" blather belongs on the PO board is mean spirited, then you need to figure out where you are and what you do. This is a fuck board, not the perfume of the day board. You are a hooker, not Mary Poppins.  

Thanks, Cameo! I just think we could have a lot more fun flirting and chatting with less animosity.

It would be good for everyone- the people who don't want to read our chit chat don't have to deal with it on the GD, but those who like a more civilized online dialogue have a place to come and play. I also think we'd get more posters in general. It would be fun!! I know a LOT of people who might participate in such a place but would never post on GD. The hard-core "toughen up!" guys can stay at GD, and those of us who actually enjoy conversation that goes beyond big tits, small penises, and "man-hater" and "woman-hater" conversations can enjoy ourselves where we don't have to be read. As it stands now, for any real conversation beyond ISOs (which is mostly what my local board is) have to be on the GD board. I just think a little variety would be nice and welcomed by many.

I think they fizzle out because they are not as big as TER. I think such a board on TER would be sustainable as there would be plenty of people willing to participate here. It's no use participating on a board with only a couple hundred members.

TER could simple create a "non hobby general board" or something to that effect with posting rules something along the lines of the Newbie board, but more strictly enforced.

It would not be necessary for a mod to read and approve every post, but simply to read the posts every 30 minutes or so and trim those that aren't civil.

Actually that's how the newbie board used to be run, and in the 2+ years that I moderated that board I don't recall a single train wreck thread, the moment a thread started to go down that road, I simply pulled the offending post with a warning that the next one would result in getting moderated. Every one knew that you didn't start shit on the Newbie board, so nobody did. A "friendly" off topic board could work here as well, although it sounds a bit boring to me. lol

A lot of boards here are like that, yet they stumble along just fine. There are plenty of boards where the animosity is absent, but the subject matter is rather limited, as are the participants. I think if we could create the board I envision, there would be plenty willing to participate. I see so many ladies- brilliant, funny, fascinating ladies- posting in the PO board who would no more wish to post or read the GD board than they'd wish to poke themselves in the eye with a stick. I'm sure those ladies would be happy to post on a nicer, gentler, more topically diverse board.

And I think it would be a refreshing change. Something more topically diverse, and with fewer trolls.

I can appreciate the point you are trying to make, but I do not converse with a couple hundred people in a week in the real world, yet I have been in discussions with coworkers and/or friends for hours, including heated debates about a variety of subjects.  Been doing that with the same groups of people for so many years that I've lost count. How would you explain that?  Could it be that having familiarity with those in the discussion group be the determining factor of keeping things from fizzling out?

Gee..i just wonder who they would be?

Perhaps that is the dynamic that creates cohesion in your workplace conversational engagement, and that's typical for a small group. But here, you have men and women who come here to meet each other. The men come for reviews and to research possible company. Women come here to advertise and to research and attract possible company. When there are only 200 or so members of a board, say a quarter to 35% women, the pool for both parties is pretty small. For women it's typically not worth our time to be on such a board as we will reach such a small audience. A place like TER has a much bigger available audience. More women would participate and hence more men would. Thousands of members vs hundreds- that's what would keep it going. There will inevitably be a comparatively small group of regular posters, which would equate to your workplace environment and dynamic, but there would be more women participating because they wouldn't be so turned off by some of the more... crass... attitudes we see on the GD. Likewise, our lurkers might also be encouraged to participate.  

The Newbie board operates pretty well. It would be run similarly!

As others have mentioned, this should be fairly easy to do.  The Newbie board provides a model for how to run a TER board without the personal attacks so common on the GD board.

To keep up.

but breaking the rules of a board, when the rules are plainly posted, really shouldn't be that hard to enforce

I would like to further suggest that if such a board is created, whining on the other boards should become a capital offense, and the PC Police should be tarred, feathered, and banished to whatever we decide to call this new board.

You whiners have the entire internet to moan, groan, and whine about how mean the world is to you, all the rest of us want is ONE fucking place where we can talk without worrying about the PC Police trying to muzzle us. I vote to give you whiners a place to have your little church social, and then you can leave the rest of us the fuck alone. Deal????

I would love it. On the Chicago board when I try to lighten to mood and they are cranky they rip me a new one... I still get my usual PM's who love what I have to say (in jest) or fun but I would love a board like this. I think this is a great idea.
Love
Zana

and there is nothing stopping TER from creating a board where histrionics like yours would not be allowed.

These boards survived quite nicely before you showed up, and guess what? they have done quite well without you.

TER has had "nice" boards in the past, and personally I think creating a "drama free" zone is a great idea. If you are in a gambling mood, I bet you I can stay "nice" longer than you can. Or are you all mouth once again? Name the stakes, if you have the stones that is.

Like I said before .. I think it is a great idea. I will look into it with you. If you need anything from me let me know.
Love
Zana

Deal!

I would too, of course. But as the Newbie board is pretty civil, I don't think we'd be needed.

Well, you seem to have more knowledge about it than me, so I will end the discussion by saying thank you for your thoughts.

There you have a board that doesn't have any train wrecks. Unless you think that you have exhausted marketing yourself over there, you already have what you are looking for there and with the PO board.  

I had a moderator for this board state that I was a trouble maker/rude/slanderous on this board for making a post poking fun at myself (yes at myself).  I have no idea if it is a warning or what, since admin. states they have no notes on it.  Just a heads up for you if you wish to heed it.  I am pretty much done with making posts here, as my self deprecating humor is apparently offense to others.  I like my sense of humor, so I will take it elsewhere.

if TER does decide to create a forum following SoftlySarah's suggestion, which I would like to see happen.

quoting from the Beatles song 'All You Need Is Love'

... report that user to TER. Granted, TER may not do anything, but TER may put that user on moderation and this harasser will probably have 2nd thoughts about posting against you.

it seems that TER has a double standard when it comes to enforcing the forum rules.

... TER uses double standard when it comes to enforcing the forum rules.  

... we will call it... The Non-Denominational Board

It's doing just fine, but thank you for your concern for us oldsters.  It is a "special interest" discussion with a limited demographic, thus it's understandable that the frequency of posts will be much lower than the GD discussion.  Or do you assign value to a board only by the volume of posts?

If there were ever a poster on TER who deserved to be "insulted" it would be you.

but if TER created a "friendly" board I would abstain from laughing at you out loud, I would simply snicker under my breath.

and if your memory is as short as your list of friends on P&R, I would like to remind you that you are the one who got the "time out" by the PTB, not me.

I don't think they have any plans to reinstate moderators. All moderation is done by admin.

one thing:  
TER Admin is completely inconsistent in enforcing its own rules.

i am civil and i love intercourse..balls deep if possible..

but I'd take it farther.

I see your point, MZ, but I am not looking to take over and change anyone's sandbox. It's already a well-established community with regular avid posters and its very own atmosphere. I don't want to disrupt that- it has its uses- trust me. Plus, moderating the GD board would be a full-time job.  

sign me up as a mod. I can find some time for that.

Ok, since you are a member of that group, I'll add that group to be disallowed in the forum.

... what does the word 'xoming' mean?  

And lest anyone forget, TSTTTT is an actual outed and known, real-world stalker.

I have found it's a day to day, or more accurately a post to post scenario of what is and is not allowed to stand.

I have had posts that I knew were "on the edge" be approved even while moderated, and then I have had posts like yours that could not possibly have been offensive to anybody yanked for being "negative" or the like. I have chalked it up to perhaps whoever is approving the posts not being 100% up on American nuance  where it comes to the English language as the "moderators" are no longer US based.

It also appears that threads with certain members posting in them tend to have more "tree trimming" than others. The threads with BP, BSC Taylor (and her many alter egos) and those involving the turdster seem to be the least likely to stay up any more than a few hours. I routinely wake up the next day to find half my posts gone, not because of anything that I have said, but because the underlying threads had been removed. This seems to happen more days than not.

Ex mods aren't exactly popular around here, nor have they been so for the past two years since the Euro's decided to take a more active hand in running this place.

I actually get more flack, get moderated for lesser infractions and have at least as many of my posts pulled as any other non troll here. You of course fall into the "board troll" category, which is why you were given a long time out I suppose.

BTW have you ever noticed that your "voice" seems to go up several octaves every time you talk to or about me? You might want to get that shrillness in your "voice" checked out.lmao

TSTTT.

Arguing with a troll is like trying to teach a pig to sing, and your voice is already shrill enough. Have a nice day, enjoy your little cryfest

Who do you think were moderators that are trolls now?
You are clueless as usual and trying to talk about something you know nothing about.

As for the rest, some are on other sites, others post here  but not frequently and are not involved on board drama that you so frequently incite with foolish and fact-free posts like this.  You have no clue what it was like when this place was run by volunteer mods.  So please stop opining about things you know nothing about. Oh, right, if you did that you'd have nothing to say.

Yep that GDB probably isn't good for those with PMS...



Steph

And some were entertaining...you just HAD to keep reading. But some were just outright vile but I'd say most of the train wrecks were for entertainments purposes and I *suspect* back then TER kinda encouraged it to a point to keep readership up.

Just how I see it!

Steph xoxo

Since you are such an expert on the subject, list a few of these former mods who are now the biggest trolls on TER. I bet besides me, you can't name even three ex mods that currently post on TER, much less make the case that any ex mods are board trolls.

Go ahead, besides me, name three ex TER mods that are currently active posters, either that or STFU about things you know nothing about.

the other threads- at least on the first page here. :

likelihood of this? Admin?

Mostly the S&P board does not get a lot of reads or long threads, but admin does read this board.

(Expecting admin to answer you on this thread)