What's a forum without a flame?

I have been perusing over past threads that I have missed in my not so absent absence and I have noticed one thing.

There are rarely any flames. What flames there were are locked by folks who don't see a 'need' or perhaps refuse to deal with the flame at hand. Unfortunatly, some folks don't realize that a forum community, such as this one has a beating heart. Excitement, resentment, love, hate, anger...all emotions that fuel this community.

Since becoming part of this community almost 2 years ago, I have been one to say my peice and not really worry about the consequences. Why? Because the owner of this forum understands that I am a person who speaks his mind and doesn't stand for bull****.

Just a couple days ago, a thread was started that had the potential for great conversation. As much as some folks don't want to see to people ranting at one another back and forth like school children, it is part of a community.

We can't all 'just get along'. It's not possible. There are too many personalities that in 'the real world' as someone so eloquently put it, would clash just because of their differences. What most can agree on is that healthy debate and conversation, no matter how heated only helps to strengthen a community. The members of this forum have turn this place into a living, breathing thing. It has a pulse. If you can't see that, you are blind.

Now, I'm not recommending someone start a thread purly to name-call or make fun of someone's work, but jesus...heated discussion does nothing wrong. I think there should be more or less a majority rule on whether closing a thread is a good idea. Just because you, someone who pank has bestowed a great responsibility upon, doesn't enjoy a good flame doesn't mean it's a bad thing.

I am no singling one moderator out of the rest. Of course, cybling probably realizes I am talking about him, I won't even try to veil that. However, moderators here tend to want to cool down discussions that have a great opportunity of involving everyone and discussing real issues. Not just a stupid sattelite that will return to Earth in 50,000 years...Something NONE of us will ever see.

So let's have it. Real discussion. After all, this is a Misc. Section of an online community. Doesn't make alot of sense to only talk about graphics.

I actually do agree with ya Ax, but in that sence the discussions/debate/anger-exchange/hateful comments :D should be about what we think, what perspectives we have to certain things, views related to actual topics...Not taken out of the blue accusations without any grounds. That's just childish and fills no purpose what so ever, I'm sure you agree.

Debate and discussions are healthy and builds plp characters, they help you to understand both yourself and others, but as I already stated, I think they should be about real topic's. As for the example you mentioned...If the topic wasbootlegging and pirating in general I would have no opinions 'bout closing the thread what so ever, then everybody could speak their mind 'bout it and flame on, but that wasn't the issue here, now was it ;)

Then again I totally understand the mods for checking the threads and closing down the ones wich might go to far, 'cuz there are so many forums out there where one can go and flame, just for the flaming. It could actually be that way, if the mods allowed just about anything, that we would have another teenage-flaming-sh*tty-hackerz-go to and flame site here...They would have to spend every modding minute here banning people.
We, don't want that, now do we ?

I, for one, am totally happy with the forum as it is, it's a pleasant and nice atmosphere here, we're all trying to get along. And at those times we don't, we get to say our stuff and then someone steps in telling us we're outta line. We can either accept it and say, I'm sorry-had a bad day, or we can persist in our yelling. the only thing I would like a change in here is the fact that the mods could post "- Now I wanna close this thread due to...blablabla" and then others involved would have a saying wether to do that or not...How's that for an suggestion...?

it's funny how on the board Axiom sounds so mature, but in IRC he blurts out random, insignificant things.

i.e.

[19:11:18] <.Cookie> im older than some freshmen
[19:11:25] <.Sturm> we just turned 14
[19:11:26] <.PowerfulSquid> msz just turned 13 and hes going into 8th grade :/
[19:11:27] <.Cookie> june here
[19:11:31] <.Cookie> rofl
[19:11:32] <.Cookie> no way
[19:11:33] <.Cookie> no way
[19:11:35] <.Axiom> BELCH
[19:11:36] <.PowerfulSquid> then you should be in HS
[19:11:38] <.PowerfulSquid> lol yes way
[19:11:43] <.Cookie> i thought he was in 6th
[19:11:47] <.PowerfulSquid> 6thy?
[19:11:49] <.PowerfulSquid> 6th
[19:11:50] <.PowerfulSquid> lmao
[19:11:51] <.PowerfulSquid> no way
[19:11:53] <.Cookie> lol

just found it humorous :D

i agree! let's not sanitize everything to the point of boredom!

on the other hand, how can you have intelligent debates with a bunch of 6th graders? no offense, but this forum has gotten to be really young lately and it shows.

and if you think 'debating' in an online forum builds character, you are nuts.

Thre rule "I" try to stick to is heated discussion gets me going. I love it. It starts going too far when it gets to the point of "personal" attacks.

Disagreements happen, part of life. As long as things don't get too personal I don't mind a good discussion...

That discussion was turning into a heated argument in which the topic of piracy was emerging...Obviously you feel i'm not doing a great job, so if you all want to make a poll on whether to sack Cybling Boy, go right ahead.

I think you are doing a great job! It was to the point that I was going to close it myself. You just beat me to the punch...

So if cybling goes I go!

YAY FOR PANK LEAVING!

err no wait.

Actually, it has nothing to do with whether you are doing your job or not. You do what you feel you have to. But next time someone starts a discussion that starts to get a little warm, let it ride for a little longer. If people just start out by calling names and arguing with no basis to support their stance, by all means, close the thread.

I didn't see where the other thread was causing that much trouble. Infact, the name calling had begun, but I don't think it was bad enough to close the thread.

I personally don't want to get in the sack with cyb-boy...

There's a reason you don't have unadultered 1st amendment rights in an 'online community', one of the foremost of which is anonymity. When people can hide behind a persona, they aren't bound to the normal social norms that are defined by "actions and consequences". I mean, who the heck is Charm anyways?

Charm is my love slave...