Where did all the fun go?
05-12-12 | 04:47 PM
#101
I need more cowbell.
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,182
Likes: 0
From: Reno, Nevada
Bikes: 2015 Specialized Sirrus Elite
I've reported your Jack Daniels thread on the basis that it was contrived to include cycling content and really was best suited to Foo, and to illustrate just how ridiculous this whole thing is going to get once the thread police really get their teeth into this (which is my way of saying, nothing personal about you).
I beg to differ. It is personal. It is dumb. It's a freakin' silly thread. You don't like it? Don't read it.
If this is what people are trying to say about what's happening to the forum, I finally understand. And I'm beginning to see the light as to why so many people are leaving or talking about leaving.
__________________
2015 Sirrus Elite
Proud member of the original Club Tombay
2015 Sirrus Elite
Proud member of the original Club Tombay
05-12-12 | 04:49 PM
#102
Don't mince words
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,971
Likes: 5
From: Vacaville, CA
Bikes: '16 BH Quartz, 2017 Calfeecustom carbon tandem, Fuji D6 TT bike
C.O.D. and Denver,
I sincerely hope that neither of you stop posting. I had considered giving up on 50+ myself, but found I would truly miss the likes of you two and many of the other members . I decided that rather than stop visiting or posting, I would simply not read or respond to the posts of those I find to be consistently combative, disrespectful, or possessing a "holier than thou" attitude. If it means skipping a whole thread, that's okay.
I come here for cycling advice and information, the camaraderie of fellow cyclists, and the entertainment provided by some of the wits, story tellers, and photographers here. If I wanted to be involved in a useless donnybrook, I could just tell my husband I forgot to pay the mortgage on time last month.
I have found this forum to be a wealth of cycling information that has helped a great deal since I've started riding and while I wouldn't come here for medical advice,
, many posters, through their experience and, ahem, maturity, have some interesting and insightful things to say, not all bike related, but I value that, too.
I understand the forum evolves as new members come and others leave, but I don't think the basic personality of this forum must change as a result of a few that feel they must insist they know more than the rest of us. Leaving the forum isn't going to change that. I understand how the contention caused by a few angry birds can make one weary, but there are many here that value sharing the vulnerabilities, trials, and tribulations as well as the joys and triumphs of those that are not "perfect."
I sincerely hope that neither of you stop posting. I had considered giving up on 50+ myself, but found I would truly miss the likes of you two and many of the other members . I decided that rather than stop visiting or posting, I would simply not read or respond to the posts of those I find to be consistently combative, disrespectful, or possessing a "holier than thou" attitude. If it means skipping a whole thread, that's okay.
I come here for cycling advice and information, the camaraderie of fellow cyclists, and the entertainment provided by some of the wits, story tellers, and photographers here. If I wanted to be involved in a useless donnybrook, I could just tell my husband I forgot to pay the mortgage on time last month.
I have found this forum to be a wealth of cycling information that has helped a great deal since I've started riding and while I wouldn't come here for medical advice,
, many posters, through their experience and, ahem, maturity, have some interesting and insightful things to say, not all bike related, but I value that, too. I understand the forum evolves as new members come and others leave, but I don't think the basic personality of this forum must change as a result of a few that feel they must insist they know more than the rest of us. Leaving the forum isn't going to change that. I understand how the contention caused by a few angry birds can make one weary, but there are many here that value sharing the vulnerabilities, trials, and tribulations as well as the joys and triumphs of those that are not "perfect."
In fact, let me thank you now for your well-written post.
Next time we're in Jersey we will meet,even if for the enjoyment of one another's company and pie.
As leob said: Jersey girls-best in the world!
05-12-12 | 04:50 PM
#103
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
From: Seattle
Bikes: Marin MTB
I'm pretty much a noob here, but I confess to being surprised by the tone of some of the posters. Some poor kid got flamed then nuked on one of the threads...I actually replied to the kid with an opinion about his topic, then I also got ripped a new one. I mean, how can my opinion be so important as to make someone feel they need to say something mean to me? It starts to feel like this an elitist club to which I don't belong. Hello? We ride BIKES. I filter out the rude people, but it is tiresome.
05-12-12 | 04:56 PM
#104
Banned.
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 8,651
Likes: 3
From: Uncertain
And they - we - tended to say what we thought, as opposed to what others might wish us to think. And some of us come from environments in which differences of opinion are not regarded as impolite, but as part of the business of being alive. Sorry about that.
05-12-12 | 05:14 PM
#105
Banned.
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,915
Likes: 13
I can hazard a guess. There were fewer posters here years ago, and they became accustomed to one another, and to the idea that this forum belonged to them. But to incomers, it felt more like this:
And they - we - tended to say what we thought, as opposed to what others might wish us to think. And some of us come from environments in which differences of opinion are not regarded as impolite, but as part of the business of being alive. Sorry about that.
And they - we - tended to say what we thought, as opposed to what others might wish us to think. And some of us come from environments in which differences of opinion are not regarded as impolite, but as part of the business of being alive. Sorry about that.
Enjoy your forum. You have created one now just like all the rest. Nothing special here now.
Bye bye.
05-12-12 | 05:16 PM
#106
Saved by Grace
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 740
Likes: 1
From: The slow guy in the back
Bikes: Only one at a time; currently a 2012 Specialized Tricross Sport
And although there are reasonable limits (like most things), I've enjoyed the inherent "OT-ness" of the forum ever since I joined.
05-12-12 | 05:16 PM
#107
Banned.
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 20,915
Likes: 13
Huh? You reported my thread to illustrate how ridiculous this thing is going to get once the thread police get their teeth into it? I don't know who those thread police are, but it sounds like you're a cadet at least. And "it's nothing personal."
I beg to differ. It is personal. It is dumb. It's a freakin' silly thread. You don't like it? Don't read it.
If this is what people are trying to say about what's happening to the forum, I finally understand. And I'm beginning to see the light as to why so many people are leaving or talking about leaving.
I beg to differ. It is personal. It is dumb. It's a freakin' silly thread. You don't like it? Don't read it.
If this is what people are trying to say about what's happening to the forum, I finally understand. And I'm beginning to see the light as to why so many people are leaving or talking about leaving.
05-12-12 | 05:20 PM
#108
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 16,767
Likes: 85
Huh? You reported my thread to illustrate how ridiculous this thing is going to get once the thread police get their teeth into it? I don't know who those thread police are, but it sounds like you're a cadet at least. And "it's nothing personal."
I beg to differ. It is personal. It is dumb. It's a freakin' silly thread. You don't like it? Don't read it.
If this is what people are trying to say about what's happening to the forum, I finally understand. And I'm beginning to see the light as to why so many people are leaving or talking about leaving.
I beg to differ. It is personal. It is dumb. It's a freakin' silly thread. You don't like it? Don't read it.
If this is what people are trying to say about what's happening to the forum, I finally understand. And I'm beginning to see the light as to why so many people are leaving or talking about leaving.
And just to be clear on this so you don't get any angrier than you already obviously are, I otherwise very very rarely report the behaviour of anyone unless they are significantly obscene or violent towards posters, or the post is obvious spam.
05-12-12 | 05:31 PM
#109
Banned.
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 8,651
Likes: 3
From: Uncertain
There are, of course, cultural differences here. Someone apologised for "offending" me recently after I said that something was more complicated than they had suggested. It had never occurred to me that I was taking, or giving, offence. That isn't just about tact, it's about very different expectations.
05-12-12 | 05:35 PM
#110
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,073
Likes: 16
From: Minnesota/Arizona and between
Bikes: Bike Friday All-Day (ebike), Terry Classic, Serotta FIerte, Trek Cali carbon hardtail, 1969 Schwinn Collegiate, Kona Explosif hardtail, Catrike VIllager
I believe I got reported once on the C/A forum for linking to an article about sex and cylists. Post disappeared into never never land.
A dash of OT is good for forum cohesiveness. A little edginess is good too. Telling people how stupid they are is not helpful and can cause people to not post on certain topics.
BTW, I went on my Amish country ride again today, leaving my bike unlocked on the porch outside the Mennonite grocery. Helmet and gloves on the seat. I really enjoyed my 50 cent ice cream cone. Waffle cone no less!
A dash of OT is good for forum cohesiveness. A little edginess is good too. Telling people how stupid they are is not helpful and can cause people to not post on certain topics.
BTW, I went on my Amish country ride again today, leaving my bike unlocked on the porch outside the Mennonite grocery. Helmet and gloves on the seat. I really enjoyed my 50 cent ice cream cone. Waffle cone no less!
05-12-12 | 05:37 PM
#111
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
From: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Bikes: 88 Schwinn World Sport
+7
Seems like just in the past few months the tone of this forum has changed. Maybe the young ones (50 somthings) just have a different attitude than some of us really old folks. IMHO, If you want to flame someone, do it in another forum and let's keep this one friendly and helpful.
Seems like just in the past few months the tone of this forum has changed. Maybe the young ones (50 somthings) just have a different attitude than some of us really old folks. IMHO, If you want to flame someone, do it in another forum and let's keep this one friendly and helpful.
05-12-12 | 06:07 PM
#112
Saved by Grace
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 740
Likes: 1
From: The slow guy in the back
Bikes: Only one at a time; currently a 2012 Specialized Tricross Sport
And just to clarify my remarks, since I all-too-often have a propensity it seems for being misunderstood (not specifically here but in general), my comments weren't pointed at you. They were just a reflection of my desired for us to be able to agreeably disagree and move forward. Online communication is somewhat impersonal even at best, since there's no way to read mood, expression, body language, etc., so I guess it's inevitable that the train occasionally runs afoul of the tracks, as it were.
05-12-12 | 06:21 PM
#113
Banned.
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 8,651
Likes: 3
From: Uncertain
Maybe (and I'm just guessing here, since I don't know others' minds) there's a fondness for that very fact and a desire to keep it even lower on the 'heated' scale? Maybe, maybe not. ??
And just to clarify my remarks, since I all-too-often have a propensity it seems for being misunderstood (not specifically here but in general), my comments weren't pointed at you. They were just a reflection of my desired for us to be able to agreeably disagree and move forward. Online communication is somewhat impersonal even at best, since there's no way to read mood, expression, body language, etc., so I guess it's inevitable that the train occasionally runs afoul of the tracks, as it were.
And just to clarify my remarks, since I all-too-often have a propensity it seems for being misunderstood (not specifically here but in general), my comments weren't pointed at you. They were just a reflection of my desired for us to be able to agreeably disagree and move forward. Online communication is somewhat impersonal even at best, since there's no way to read mood, expression, body language, etc., so I guess it's inevitable that the train occasionally runs afoul of the tracks, as it were.
05-12-12 | 06:35 PM
#114
I need more cowbell.
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 8,182
Likes: 0
From: Reno, Nevada
Bikes: 2015 Specialized Sirrus Elite
Well, at least I am up front about reporting it. And I can separate personal from principle.
And just to be clear on this so you don't get any angrier than you already obviously are, I otherwise very very rarely report the behaviour of anyone unless they are significantly obscene or violent towards posters, or the post is obvious spam.
And just to be clear on this so you don't get any angrier than you already obviously are, I otherwise very very rarely report the behaviour of anyone unless they are significantly obscene or violent towards posters, or the post is obvious spam.
__________________
2015 Sirrus Elite
Proud member of the original Club Tombay
2015 Sirrus Elite
Proud member of the original Club Tombay
05-12-12 | 06:50 PM
#115
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 12,560
Likes: 799
From: Middle of da Mitten
Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Bacchetta Quattro, Catrike Speed
Wow! I had my 'puter turned off for two days so I could re-do my computer room, and a storm blowed in! Was it something I said? Or misspelled?
BTW, the room looks nice, but it still needs some clean-up.
BTW, the room looks nice, but it still needs some clean-up.
05-12-12 | 08:05 PM
#118
rebmeM roineS
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,231
Likes: 366
From: Metro Indy, IN
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
This has gone far beyond Lighten Up, Francis territory.
Think I'm gonna quit posting here for five minutes.
Think I'm gonna quit posting here for five minutes.
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
05-12-12 | 08:21 PM
#119
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,721
Likes: 101
From: Katy Texas
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix
05-12-12 | 11:49 PM
#121
invisible friend
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 955
Likes: 0
From: Decatur, Alabama
Bikes: Gary Fisher Tassajara hardtail mtb, '01 Rans Wave, '98 Raleigh R700, Mid-80's Takara Professional, '91 Bianchi Alfana
Shows you how closely I pay attention. I'm disturbed to find that tsl isn't posting here lately, I think the world of him. I don't understand blocking posters and didn't even know that could be done. I still learn a lot from the posts I read, though, and I'm still having fun both on this forum and on my bike.
05-13-12 | 05:43 AM
#123
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,714
Likes: 13
From: Normal, Illinois
Bikes: Trek 600 ,1980Raleigh Competition G.S., 1986 Schwinn Passage, Facet Biotour 2000, Falcon San Remo 531,Schwinn Sierra, Sun Seeker tricycle recumbent,1985 Bianchi Squadra
I believe I got reported once on the C/A forum for linking to an article about sex and cylists. Post disappeared into never never land.
A dash of OT is good for forum cohesiveness. A little edginess is good too. Telling people how stupid they are is not helpful and can cause people to not post on certain topics.
BTW, I went on my Amish country ride again today, leaving my bike unlocked on the porch outside the Mennonite grocery. Helmet and gloves on the seat. I really enjoyed my 50 cent ice cream cone. Waffle cone no less!
A dash of OT is good for forum cohesiveness. A little edginess is good too. Telling people how stupid they are is not helpful and can cause people to not post on certain topics.
BTW, I went on my Amish country ride again today, leaving my bike unlocked on the porch outside the Mennonite grocery. Helmet and gloves on the seat. I really enjoyed my 50 cent ice cream cone. Waffle cone no less!
05-13-12 | 06:03 AM
#124
gone ride'n
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,050
Likes: 2
From: Upstate NY
Bikes: Simoncini, Gary Fisher, Specialized Tarmac
05-13-12 | 06:15 AM
#125
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 30,225
Likes: 649
From: St Peters, Missouri
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
If you went to a party with a hundred or more people, you'd probably drift from group to group until you found one whose personality matched yours. The same thing is true here. We have posters who ONLY want to talk about where they rode last week and how they can ride faster. We also have posters who think of 50+ as a kind of a tavern where riders get together after the ride to just chat about whatever. The problem comes when somebody drifts into a group that doesn't match their personality and demands that everybody else change.
I almost didn't open the Jack Daniels thread because - well - I don't drink and I'm not comfortable listening to people talk about getting drunk. In the end I opened it because I really like the Deege and I wanted to see what he had to say. Ultimately I participated and other posters responded favorably to what I had to say.