Of course you do, but it had nothing to do with the reasons the D&D sucks and you are smart enough and have been around long enough to know that. Saying that that Kerry supporters constitute the problem is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard and I know you are much smarter than that. Of course, nothing said by conservatives on the board has EVER been a source of problems and they are just the innocent victims here. Puh-leeze. Both sides are guilty of acting like 3-year-olds on a regular basis and that is really an insult to most 3-year-olds who usually know better.
I just don't get this. I've defended this forum every time the attacks on it have come up, if I saw them. There are a very tiny number of people who cause the problems that get brought up the most. I imagine you are referring to Admins, when you say it hasn't been defended. I can only assume that. I can't speak for them, but I doubt that all of them are in agreement that this forum has no value. Will, for example, posts here from time to time, and he's quoted in here frequently. Most of Will's columns wouldn't have been seen by me, if I hadn't seen them here. The same thing could be said for a great deal of columns, articles, books, either linked, quoted, or mentioned, that I wouldn't otherwise be aware of. I've been a Rocket fan for over 20 years, and that's what brought me here, but I have had a host of other interests during, and before, that time. I've gotten a great deal of pleasure from being able to discuss some of those other interests in both Hangout forums. That we have a forum like this one, and the Hangout, is one of the things that makes this place unique. Keep this place around, and do something about the very small number of troublemakers, if you must. Some of us would be grateful. But I think a hell of a lot more members read this forum, than post in it, and I think they would miss it as well. All we have to do is keep D&D civil... at least reasonably so. And Jeff, not all of us are kids, although it may be hard to tell at times.
Jeff, that's not what Faos said. He said that Kerry supporters were the ones that wanted to shut down the D&D. He did not say that Kerry supporters constituted the problem.
I’m sure there are a lot more people that read this forum than actually participate. I for one really enjoy it and find it a very educational experience. I guess what I would like to say is don’t change a thing. I believe this forum can police itself. Thanks to all the regulars here ( on both sides ) the only thing I regret is the time wasted at work.
I think it would be a shame to end this forum simply b/c of a handful of obvious posters here who consistently aim to derail threads and incite w/ personal attacks. I am sure there are many of us here who read almost every thread even if our presence isn't made via actual posts. ChrisP, I just learned for instance, is a fellow lurker here. This is b/c amidst all the garbage and crap being flung back and forth there is indeed some very thoughtful discussion going on here by well-intended posters, such as yourself rimbaud. It would be a shame if these exchanges of news/ideas came to an end simply b/c of a few trolls.
I thought this was the whole point of the debate forum. How is there a problem here? Wasn't this what you expected? If the debate had been an intelligent discussion in the first place, why did you separate it from the regular hangout?
I have enjoyed reading the posts in this thread. Especially from the people that are lurkers. I did not start the thread as a conduit to eliminate the Dungeons and Dragons forum. Everything kinda just spilled out and I reflected on pre-D&D cc.net. I like what it can be. Not what it is. Even some of the most outlandish, partisan folks in here often have funny or relevant things to say it just gets frustrating when they spend most of their posts mudslinging and inciting. Refman - Dude how in the hell are you? Call me at the station and lets catch up.
I think the forum continues because the moderators despite not liking the tone, are like the rest of us. They, too, find it a great source of info about politics, with a smattering of religion and race that is intriguing and different from just reading, listening to or watching media.
I get serious about politics every 10 years or so. The last time was around when the CiC annnounce to the world The Axis of Evil (tm), which I forsaw leading to many bad things. I suspect no matter who wins in November that I will flip my political ignore switch for another 10 years. I might still occasionally read D&D to see what topics are getting trashed about, but I do not see myself posting regularly. Jeff, sorry about the other thread; I should have dialed it back a notch and let someone else cross the line Chance, I know of one significant case where an opinion has changed. it was from one of the most level-headed and thoughtful among us.
I think the forum serves to both illuminate extreme opinions and to allow critical examination and growth as a result of that illumination. I think that's a good thing. Especially since a lot of posters are now from different countries and cultures. I understand some people don't want to read it. So don't. Its a place where Rockets fans can explore what they do and don't have in common outside of Rocketdom. If its super expensive to maintain or whatever then sure, shut it down. Otherwise it just seems like there is more whining about how bad it is than there is bad in it.
Ah now here we can have an honest debate. Your perception is that the whining about the poo is more prevalent than the poo itself and I wholeheartedly disagree. I could support this statement by arbitrarily picking a thread and counting the poo slings and the poo-sling complaints. However I do not think this is a good use of my time. So we can agree to disagree gentlemanly.
As clarification, I was not saying that the forum should be shut down. I mostly was questioning Jeff as to why it still exists based on most of the admins making comments about how much it sucks. I now understand Jeff's reasoning so that curiosity was satiated. I, personally, am neutral on the subject. As it is now I scan or ignore the threads that look annoying but do read others with interest. If the forum went away, though, I would still love this site and bbs, and still visit daily.
You sir, are no gentleman. Sure. I'm not denying the mudslinging exists. I'm just saying I think the substantive debate and information exchange massively outnumbers the MS'ing. Whether that's worth it to Clutch is another matter entirely I guess.
