what does open chat mean to you? is it useless?

[ALBOB]

There should not be any permanant bans, one month at most (they will learn there lesson)
Most people are not complaining about the fact that foreman got banned (he deserved punishment, but not that severe IMO), but are complaining about how it was handled (permanant ban, 10s of threads deleted, infractions for bumping old foreman threads, etc.)
and now there is all these threats of bans, that would have never happened before the whole foreman thing.

I've seen a LOT of people get banned from this site. I can't give specific numbers, but I know of a few instances where the banned person has gone to Rob and made a sincere appology and promise to never repeat the behavior. In every instance I know of the person was given permission to come back. When they came back and behaved themselves it was as if the banning had never happened in the first place. If the person acted up again they were instantly banned, never to return. In other words, permanent banning has to exist because some people never learn.

 

[tucker01]

I shot him right between the eyes. Had to use the Wildey to get through that thick skull of his. Then I buried his shriveld up old ass out in the desert.

So are you going to get all pissy when I start telling you how shitty the Eagles and the Flyers are.

At least the Flyers smarted up and got rid of that douche bag Bobby Clarke.

 

[Decker]

You forgot one; they cause people to act like adults. Some people don't seem to be able to do that simply because it's the right thing to do, they have to be told to do so. When adult behavior breaks down and you get a bunch of three year olds throwing temper tantrums (or worse) the discussion you and I prize so much disappears. Along with the discussion disappearing, so do the people who enjoy that discussion. In the end you're left with nothing but the three year olds. That's the direction I saw IM heading. Hopefully it's turned around and will become what it used to be, a very enjoyable, INFORMATIONAL site.

I see your point ALBOB and it's a sensible one.

When adult interaction breaks down into childish retorts, I either leave that thread or I call the person on it. I'm of the mind that quality conversations will rise above the noise of its own volition--shaming the childish along the way---or it will fall to those that are petty. It's a crapshoot.

I see a lot of threads come and go that are worthless. That's part of free expression though. The good and the bad. Even I can gauge the ebb and flow of open chat where it's pretty obvious to me that no one is interested in discussing the finer points of geo-political peace processes and threads re jokes, farts, bad combovers, games etc. will rule the day. That's ok, sometimes life is like that.

See how long-winded I was. Why it's ban-worthy. Take the last train to Dullsville and I'll be waiting at that station.

 

[MCx2]

So are you going to get all pissy when I start telling you how shitty the Eagles and the Flyers are.

At least the Flyers smarted up and got rid of that douche bag Bobby Clarke.

Maybe not, but I am damnit!

 

[ALBOB]

So are you going to get all pissy when I start telling you how shitty the Eagles and the Flyers are.

At least the Flyers smarted up and got rid of that douche bag Bobby Clarke.

Oh man, my first day back and you go straight for my family jewels. Yeah, I guess IM is getting back to normal.

Bobby Clarke is a god. You will not blaspheme Bobby Clarke.

The Eagles can still win a wild-card spot.

 

[Decker]

for the most part i agree. however rules have to be part of the system. Prince doesnt want porn posted here, for obvious reasons. therefore there are rules. now all that has to be decided is what rules to use. the basic arguement is where the line should be drawn. some argue for liberal allowances others want a more conservative approach. all in all i feel This is Princes site, he is the one putting the effort into it. Its up to him and if we want to be a part of it, we should follow the rules. none of which are overly restrictive to a good discussion

You're right. Robert can set the tone as he sees fit. It is a private site after all. Although he missed the mark by banning porn, he has done a pretty good job otherwise. As far as setting speech policy, I would think that he'd like to keep his paying customers happy...not just elite members but those ordering the products he endorses/gets a cut of. On the same note, he has to present a product/fora that appeals to new potential customers.

 

[ALBOB]

I see your point ALBOB and it's a sensible one.

When adult interaction breaks down into childish retorts, I either leave that thread or I call the person on it. I'm of the mind that quality conversations will rise above the noise of its own volition--shaming the childish along the way---or it will fall to those that are petty. It's a crapshoot.

I see a lot of threads come and go that are worthless. That's part of free expression though. The good and the bad. Even I can gauge the ebb and flow of open chat where it's pretty obvious to me that no one is interested in discussing the finer points of geo-political peace processes and threads re jokes, farts, bad combovers, games etc. will rule the day. That's ok, sometimes life is like that.

See how long-winded I was. Why it's ban-worthy. Take the last train to Dullsville and I'll be waiting at that station.

If this were strictly a face-to-face conversation, I'd be right there with you. But you have to put it into context, IM is a business. (Of sorts) The personal attacks and general childishness were driving away customers. You can't run a business that way for long...............unless you ENJOY filing for Chapter 11.

 

[tucker01]

Oh man, my first day back and you go straight for my family jewels. Yeah, I guess IM is getting back to normal.

Bobby Clarke is a god. You will not blaspheme Bobby Clarke.

The Eagles can still win a wild-card spot.

God hahaha. He is a brain dead buffoon that did nothing but get a mediocre playoff team. Shit even the leafs did that LOL

And so can the Packers HAHAHA

 

[Decker]

If this were strictly a face-to-face conversation, I'd be right there with you. But you have to put it into context, IM is a business. (Of sorts) The personal attacks and general childishness were driving away customers. You can't run a business that way for long...............unless you ENJOY filing for Chapter 11.

That's funny b/c I just wrote a response exactly like yours and my browser shut down. Rob has to make a living. Sometimes principles of free speech are casualties of that consideration. Personally, I ignore any rules and if I happen to violate one in the ordinary course of discussion....well, then it's time for me to move on.

 

[ZECH]

The Eagles can still win a wild-card spot.

Not if they don't play better than they did yesterday.

 

[Dale Mabry]

I see your point.. In fact, I've seen it all along. I'm not objecting to the fact that Foreman got banned. He earned that distinguished title on many an occasion prior to this incident.

My whole objection was the way this was handled. Mods engaging in a even exchange of underhanded insults and ego bursting comments. Formean wouldn't back down. They wouldn't either. Both sides were behaving as equally vindictive toward one another. Both sides goading (almost daring) the other to "take it to the next level"

Foreman wanted to become a martyr and the Mods made him one. If they had simply ignored him none of this bullshit would have happened and all of this fallout could have been avoided.

Now, I do now realize that there4 are underlying details that I was completely unaware of that would have constituted foreman's "banning". I still insist that the matter should have been handled in a maner OTHER than engaging in an all-out post-war, locking threads, deleting posts, and then banning an offender. This sets an unacceptable precident that (as we can all see) leaves a great number of members with questionable thoughts and opinions about the leadership of this board.

I guess what pains me the most is the fact that I love this board and its' lesdership. You guys have done a magnificant job in maintaining what is still the best bodybuilding/fitness site on the net. It just upset me greatly to see this situation evolve and explode into what it has become. It could have been avoided.

I'm not taking sides in any arguement here. I hope someone can see my point in this manner.

Time heals all wounds. Time will heal us.

I apologize for having been so harsh on the Mods, especially Jodi.

No mod engaged Foreman other than Jodi, she closed the thread and apologized, and then he started making threads like
"the gayest signature", and put it down as Jodi's. He was warned by whoever, and kept pushing. I wish those threads were still here, they were hilarious.

Oh, and Foreman wasn't entrapped. That's like saying they entrapped the 9/11 terrorists by putting planes in the air and a tall building in the way.

 

[Decker]

God hahaha. He is a brain dead buffoon that did nothing but get a mediocre playoff team. Shit even the leafs did that LOL

And so can the Packers HAHAHA

Back off man, the Pack is back.

Hell, they were 27 plays away from being undefeated this year so far.

 

[DOMS]

No mod engaged Foreman other than Jodi, she closed the thread and apologized, and then he started making threads like
"the gayest signature", and put it down as Jodi's. He was warned by whoever, and kept pushing. I wish those threads were still here, they were hilarious.

Oh, and Foreman wasn't entrapped. That's like saying they entrapped the 9/11 terrorists by putting planes in the air and a tall building in the way.

WTF?

Foreman and Jodi were engaged?! And Foreman was in on 9/11?!!!

WTF?

 

[bio-chem]

Back off man, the Pack is back.

Hell, they were 27 plays away from being undefeated this year so far.

which 27

 

[tucker01]

Back off man, the Pack is back.

Hell, they were 27 plays away from being undefeated this year so far.

Trust me I am a Packer fan, I just hope they reach .500

 

[bio-chem]

WTF?

Foreman and Jodi were engaged?! And Foreman was in on 9/11?!!!

WTF?

thats exactly what that meant

 

[fletcher6490]

WTF?

Foreman and Jodi were engaged?! And Foreman was in on 9/11?!!!

WTF?

They sounded more like they were married.

 

[DOMS]

 

[Decker]

which 27

I meant 27% of their plays. There really was a John Facenda GB Packer rah rah film called, "7 plays away" from the Bart Starr coaching years.

It showed how a 5-11 team was "7 plays away" from making the playoffs. Pathetic.

 

[Witmaster]

Well, i suppose I can find one unique outcome from all this.

Decker and I are on the same side of a discussion

 

[Dale Mabry]

Decker and I are on the business end of a spanking

Double-

 

[ALBOB]

Decker and I are on the same side of a discussion

End it man. Just put a bun to your head and end it all right now. You can't get any lower than agreeing with Decker.

 

[viet_jon]

He was warned by whoever, and kept pushing. I wish those threads were still here, they were hilarious.

I havn't heard anyone mention this. But that night was freakin Hilarious!!!

 

[Witmaster]

Oh, and Foreman wasn't entrapped. That's like saying they entrapped the 9/11 terrorists by putting planes in the air and a tall building in the way.

Funny..... I thought the predominant arguement about 911 was the Administration's failure to act appropriately.

Again...... as Little Wing already stated. This isn't about Foreman.

 

[Witmaster]

End it man. Just put a bun to your head and end it all right now. You can't get any lower than agreeing with Decker.

yea... I was thibnking the same thing! But Decker and I agree on good scotch as well so seeing "eye-to-eye" isn't something totally new.

On a side note.... Your signature couldn't be more appropriate for this forum now.

 

[ALBOB]

yea... I was thibnking the same thing! But Decker and I agree on good scotch as well so seeing "eye-to-eye" isn't something totally new.

On a side note.... Your signature couldn't be more appropriate for this forum now.

Don't feel bad about that. Good booze is like a universal language.

 

[god hand]

I'm not sure what happened about the banning of Foreman. My two cents on the subject of the merits of Open Chat is that it should be open. No rules, no standards of temperment. I'm certain there are virulent people out there that can purposefully interfere with the operation of this website, but a difference of opinion which results in some namecalling happens. It may happen quite a bit. But that's a burden of the free exchange of ideas.

Codes for behavior in a forum like this one does one of three things: 1. absolutely nothing 2. dares people to cross THE line or 3. it chills the normal course of discussion. The effect depends on what type of person/speaker you are.

If I had a voice in the matter, I'd recommend leaving open chat an arena where anything (content-wise) goes.

Also, if there is an underlying economic consideration that banning addresses, I would like to see it.

I agree 150%. U shouldnt get an infraction for saying someone sigs sucks. I do agree there should be no porn, which was put into effect like one day after I posted a shit load of interracial pics.

 

[BigDyl]

I agree 150%. U shouldnt get an infraction for saying someone sigs sucks. I do agree there should be no porn, which was put into effect like one day after I posted a shit load of interracial pics.

True Story x 200%

 

[god hand]

No mod engaged Foreman other than Jodi, she closed the thread and apologized, and then he started making threads like
"the gayest signature", and put it down as Jodi's. He was warned by whoever, and kept pushing. I wish those threads were still here, they were hilarious.

SO WHAT! And you wonder why he talked about women the way he did! You want to ban someone for what they say about your signature? Give me a fuckin break.

 

[viet_jon]

For real. My sig got mentioned a couple times.

IT's Open Chat, everyone just needs to lighten up a bit. It's all for jokes.