posted on May 24, 2008 05:25:20 PM new
niel35, since I'm about the only one that's posted here today, are you referring to the topic I started on survivalists as nasty? Or do you think it's not appropriate for this forum?
As long as I've been here the round table has covered all kinds of topics and hasn't only focused on poems and jokes. Right now I see a variety of topics covering politics, ebay selling, recipes, polygamy, same sex marriage, shopping at Steve & Barrys and global warming.
I don't see where it is nasty and have always thought that everyone is welcome to join in with more content that they're interested in, that may also be of interest to others.
I guess I'm slightly amused that those who rarely post and only lurk expect to be entertained by subjects that only they approve of. I apologize if my topic has offended you.
posted on May 24, 2008 07:03:01 PM new
Kiara: I could be wrong, but I honestly don't think Neva (Niel) was referring to your post about survivalists here. My guess it's other cranky folks that turn her off. ~Adele
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posted on May 24, 2008 07:19:35 PM new
Kiara, I have been taunted for posting recipes, Have been called a dictator for suggesting the roundtable should be more than politics and daring to suggest that we should be civil to each other. I know noone was referring to your posts. Edited to add: in each case, it was Mingotree. If you really want to make Roundtable a friendlier place, talk to her.
[ edited by pixiamom on May 25, 2008 12:10 AM ]
posted on May 24, 2008 09:18:09 PM new
No, Kiara - I was not referring to your post on survivalists but a previous post where members verbally attack one another. I found your post very interesting and something to think about.
Sorry if I offended you.........
Helen, I'll have to back and look for that post about the fox, or maybe it was a wolf. Been a while back and my memory often fails me this late in life.
posted on May 25, 2008 12:56:29 AM new
niel35, you certainly didn't offend me. I've usually considered the RT a place to kick back, relax and have fun and I've mostly enjoyed reading comments of others - guess I don't see the occasional bickering as nasty as others may?
pixiamom, I've had my share of taunting and many others have also. It happens on other boards all the time so it's not just the round table or one particular person. It may be wrong but it goes with the territory as not all people in RL get along either.
in each case, it was Mingotree. If you really want to make Roundtable a friendlier place, talk to her.
Mingo is who she is and I doubt she's going to change and I'm probably the last person here that wants her or anyone else to change. lol
Speaking of a friendlier place, I moved to a city where lots of my old friends live and am now planning to leave again after just a few months because I can't stand this friendliness anymore. I should have followed my gut instincts at the time and we should have headed in the other direction.
posted on May 25, 2008 05:06:04 AM new
If you can't stand friendly and live on confrontation, I can see that that roundtable is comfortable territory for you. For those of us used to EO, Roundtable is a bit hostile place to post off-topic postings.
The tension of opposites in topics and posters makes a successful board. Too much fluffy stuff bores the hell out of most people...Balance is key.
Every successful board needs a little bit of everything with at least one good troll and oh, yes....someone who is off the wall dipshit crazy livens things up a bit too. Mix in a tiny bit of ignorance with a little bit of clever repartee, add a preponderance of good posters who know what's going on and a few who do not with an intelligent leader who can tie it all together....fighters and peacemakers, someone to hate, someone to love. That sort of mix makes a forum interesting and one that will survive.
posted on May 25, 2008 05:28:04 AM new
Perhaps Vendio needs to have a separate forum where EO posters feel comfortable to visit and post OT. A number of folks on EO have stated that they will not venture into the hostile territoey of the RT, although, by all rights, it is their board, too. How you can say this is a successful board when only a few choose to post on it and the rest are intimidated to visit it is beyond me.
[ edited by pixiamom on May 25, 2008 05:30 AM ]
posted on May 25, 2008 06:27:14 AM new "How you can say this is a successful board when only a few choose to post on it and the rest are intimidated to visit it is beyond me."
Pixia, If you are referring to my post, where did I suggest that this is a successful board? It was popular several years ago but certainly not right now.
Online communication anywhere occassionally involves some hostility. Even Ebay Outlook sometimes travels that kind of rough terrain.
posted on May 25, 2008 07:46:09 AM new
I can't imagine that there's anything OT here. Unless maybe someone accidentally posted an Ebay question or comment but even then, so what? I think some of the folks in the EO are still under the impression that there's a bar fight going on all the time here. That hasn't been the case since Linda and her ilk were shown the door. Now would be a really good time for some EO folks to come on over.
posted on May 25, 2008 09:09:10 AM newIf you can't stand friendly and live on confrontation, I can see that that roundtable is comfortable territory for you. For those of us used to EO, Roundtable is a bit hostile place to post off-topic postings.
Pixiamom, you misunderstand what I meant with a fun comment about friends and took a giant leap to conclude that I live on confrontation so I'll make myself more clear. My friends in this city are very social and I've never felt comfortable endlessly shopping and entertaining as they do and find it a struggle trying to keep up with "too much friendliness". They are different than most friends we have in other areas where we've lived and they certainly aren't the only reason we choose to move on again.
I agree with Helen about what makes a successful board and I've always thought the combination of differing personalities, opinions and lifestyles make for a good mix. Perhaps the only boards where people are allowed to gather who never have conflicts or hostility are private boards where membership is approved based on what others deem similar personalities and views. If it's a public board there is always a risk that someone will post in a controversial manner which will upset someone else.
Looking back at the other topic where you and Mingo clashed, she hadn't even addressed you. If you don't want hostility or confrontation with her why bother starting it again and then complaining about it?
posted on May 25, 2008 09:17:43 AM new "I can't imagine that there's anything OT here. Unless maybe someone accidentally posted an Ebay question or comment but even then, so what? I think some of the folks in the EO are still under the impression that there's a bar fight going on all the time here. That hasn't been the case since Linda and her ilk were shown the door. Now would be a really good time for some EO folks to come on over.
Exactly right, Profe!
The Round Table was originally formed in order to accomodate a variety of topics so that Ebay Outlook could be limited to business related topics.
posted on May 25, 2008 05:25:00 PM new Niel, I finally found the thread that you mentioned. I have the ability to search every word that I have written here for the last several years but I couldn't find "fox" associated with "lady". Neither was "wolf". So then I searched your posts here and voila! there was the thread about a lady and a "coyote"! That must be the thread that you asked about. I'm so sorry that I had forgotten about it.
The thread was started by Pixiamom and the title was Stupid Cat Pranks. In that thread, I mentioned a blog which had became very popular about a woman who lived alone with a coyote who, like Pixia's cat, couldn't leave his food in the bowl.
The blog about her latest adventure after her home burned down is called "Vespa Vagabond" about her trip across the country from San Francisco to New York on the small Vespa motorcycle alone.
Here, she tells her mother about her plans.
When I told my mother I was planning to ride my Vespa from San Francisco to New York, she gasped. She was not alone in her horror - I soon learned the common reaction was one of shock and fear. Many people expressed concern over every horrible thing that might happen to me on the road. One way of looking at my decision to go is that our freedom can be taken, in various ways, without warning - so why allow one's fear to take it? And everything "bad" that could have happened to me on the trip could happen to me anywhere, anytime, in the most seemingly benign environment. However, the deeper truth that the fire helped me to learn was this: bad things happen to give us the opportunity to realize there are no bad things. To not have gone would have been to turn my back on faith (plus, I'll take any occasion to wear leather pants).
Incidentally, I was never harmed. I rode through lightning, got chased by buffalo, spent the night with at least one felon, and got lost every day... but I was never harmed, or hurt, and nothing bad happened.
posted on May 25, 2008 05:42:25 PM new
How about that Helen. Thanks. - That was a great story. Geez, I forgot, thot it was a fox or wolf and didn't think about a coyote.
I really enjoy reading her blog. Never thought about looking for my posts to track her down.
When you read "The tension of opposites in topics and posters makes a successful board.",
how do you conclude that we have the tension of opposites that I described in that remark?
You would have to be an idiot to believe that an occasional comment from you, squirrel and bear offers the sufficient tension of opposites that I believe makes a successful board.
Let's see, currently posting on a fairly regular basis we have, in alphabetical order, Coincoach, Helen, Kiara, Kraftdinner, Neglus, Pixiamom, Profe, Roadsmith and Shagmidmod...all generally in political agreement.
Your weak posts along with a few words from Bear and Squirrel does not begin to contribute to the tension of opposites that I described in my post earlier.
In other words, this board lacks the success that it might have if there were more spirited discussions between people with differing opinions and interests.
posted on May 26, 2008 12:26:14 PM new
Well said Helen, but those are might big words for Coldstone and lots of 'em too. He has a logical hole in his mitt, and you just pitched him a fastball.
posted on May 26, 2008 02:58:25 PM new
I guess I don't buy into the statement that tension is what makes a board good and that people have to be in disagreement to make a board successful. EO has had it's tiffs, but all-in-all people read it for handy ideas, eBay advice, help ID-ing items, etc. It would be nice to have a forum to discuss non-eBay issues in a non-confrontational manner.
I agree with you Pixiamom that some non confrontational threads should be included but not to the exclusion of some topics that may be contentious such as political topics . Do you agree with that?
posted on May 26, 2008 08:24:44 PM new
I think the political threads affect other posts in this forum. Offline - I don't necessarily agree with the people I enjoy most on politics or religion. We politely avoid those topics. On Roundtable, there is a tendency to align a poster of any topic, along their political lines. Some folks thrive on name calling, LOL'ing themselves silly. I'm not suggesting we ban these postings. They are quite attractive to most posters on the RT. I'm suggesting that we have another forum, to post non-eBay, non-political threads.
posted on May 26, 2008 09:15:52 PM new
Oh my, I do declare I sense a tad bit of TENSION in this thread!
Hey, Profe...naughty , naughty comments about stonebrain....SOME in here actually like the his vulgarity, think he's a lovely guy! So if you dare to comment on him be sure to use nice soft gentle kid gloves.
I think there would be more posters in here if there was some LIVELY debate! But that's just sweet little me.
WhooEEE! had a tornado go through my backyard yesterday and I guess I'm still twirling around....hope this ain't Kansas!!!
posted on May 26, 2008 09:54:39 PM newI'm suggesting that we have another forum, to post non-eBay, non-political threads.
I disagree as I think there is plenty of room here for anyone to start any topic that is of interest to them. Those who aren't interested in political discussions have the freedom to not respond to them or even read them for that matter if they find them too touchy. Right now the topics on this page seem to be about half and half - maybe more non-political and I still don't see the hostility and confrontation that was mentioned as if it's polluting the entire forum.
Has there been a vote taken on the EO showing that most are scared to come over here and want another forum?
Pixiamom, I believe that you do the Ebay Outlook posters an injustice by suggesting that they fear posting on a chatboard such as this one and that they possess delicate sensibilities which might be rattled by reading an occassional political thread. Do you believe that you have some kind of bravado and intellectual moderation that they do not possess?
When I read Ebay Outlook I see intelligent people who are interested primarily in their business right now and I also see people on that board engaging in disagreements who can handle their responses just as well as you and in some cases better than you can. I hope that when they have the time and inclination they will join us here too.
There is room for any topic here. You had no problem, for example, posting a thread about your cat or about your child's education.
posted on May 27, 2008 07:23:32 AM new
Helen, I appreciate the help I have gotten from the Round Table. I have tried to use the forum for postings that would be OT on EO. Others haven't followed me. I think, in part, it is because of the tone of the board. Regular RT posters may find nicey-nice is boring, for others, nicey-nice is our comfort zone. Vendio has enough unused forums to make room for all.
So, why are you still posting here if the tone bothers you so much? Get in touch with Vendio and tell them that you need a private board where you can be the moderator.
I should have followed my gut instincts at the time and we should have headed in the other direction.
