Afraid to post?

[j]

Dare I speak?? j/k --- I’m an old timer here, and I’ve never really been afraid to speak my mind. I like to have fun, and this used to be a really fun place. However, I can’t say with a straight face that it is “fun” anymore. That being said, I respect both the owners of this board and think they have done an incredible job offering this public forum to so many diversified views, all the while maintaining minimal chaos.

My post numbers are way down, with a 2 week ban really cutting my legs out from under me. Was it deserved? Frankly, it doesn’t really matter what I think. This is not my board, and I don’t make the rules. I violated the rules and got punished. The board has changed significantly. To some it is better. To other’s it is worse. For me, I just don’t fit in here anymore. One of my favorite sparring partners is co-owner Chad. We used to have a blast. He knows it, and I know it. Due to circumstances beyond our control, neither one of us seems to be connected as in the past. Some people, (like myself) our not great posters, rather we feed off the other members. Once I get going I’m pretty loose lipped, and the thoughts flow freely, but that free flow doesn’t seem to be there anymore. (Maybe if I was back in the 70’s again, I would be a posting fool).

Anyway --- blah blah, blab blab --- my thoughts just don’t come easy these days. I’m a post at work guy, so that has taken it’s toll as well. These people actually expect me to work all day now! Again, they own it, they make the rules.

I miss the political forums. I am of the rather unpopular opinion that this board was better off with it. I feel that there was an overlap between political and Off Topic, and it kept people hopping to stay involved.

Mods – you are all great, even my leg cutter. Keep up the good work.

[P.K.]

Just got round to reading this thread. I have to agree with Cindy's post on the second page. I don't feel religious posts should be allowed as with political posts as this is a weather forum after all, but the forum owners of course make the rules which I respect. I moderate on a UK based forum and know how much effort does go in behind the scenes, out of people's spare time, to keep these sorts of places running smoothly.

[Dustin]

One thing that has also bothered me, is I sent out a pm disagreeing with something and within 24 hours I now cannot pm. I don't know if the mods/admins are reading pm's or if the member complained. I would pm this to a mod, but I can't pm. I should be more active during the tropical season though.

[CajunMama]

Try now Dustin...you should be able to pm now.

[GalvestonDuck]

One thing that has also bothered me, is I sent out a pm disagreeing with something and within 24 hours I now cannot pm. I don't know if the mods/admins are reading pm's or if the member complained. I would pm this to a mod, but I can't pm. I should be more active during the tropical season though.

I just sent you a PM, Dustin. Were you able to receive it and can you reply? I checked your profile also and it shows you as being able to send PM's.

Also, as far as I know, no one should be able to read your PM's but you.

[CajunMama]

I checked his profile too. It was checked to not send pm's and I enabled it to be able to send pm's.

[GalvestonDuck]

Hmmmm...okay. I don't understand why.

[Dustin]

Well it works now, Thank you very much.

[Windswept]

The "Thank you Jesus" post is a fine example of something I would be reluctant to respond to despite the fact I have much to say. Any response on my part would promptly be met with 3rd degree flaming.

Politics are banned for sound reasons ... religion should be as well.. in my opinion.

[southerngale]

I checked his profile too. It was checked to not send pm's and I enabled it to be able to send pm's.

Maybe he accidentally marked it at some point?

I'm certain it wasn't disabled because someone read your PM's, Dustin. The mods can't do that and if the admins can, they don't. They barely have time to read their own PM's and read some threads on here.

[GalvestonDuck]

He wouldn't have been able to change it...only staff has access to those magic buttons.

[southerngale]

The "Thank you Jesus" post is a fine example of something I would be reluctant to respond to despite the fact I have much to say. Any response on my part would promptly be met with 3rd degree flaming.

Politics are banned for sound reasons ... religion should be as well.. in my opinion.

I disagree. Since the board's inception, we've always been able to express our Christian views. If that is ever taken away, where I can't even say something like "Thank you, Jesus" or "Thank you, God," I don't think that I'd even feel welcome here.

Politics and religion are two very different things. Besides, we never said that we wouldn't allow anything that is debatable, just that politics weren't allowed anymore after the political forum closed.

[southerngale]

He wouldn't have been able to change it...only staff has access to those magic buttons.

Yeah, I was thinking of the notify of PM button in his profile.

[wx247]

Garrett, I have always enjoyed our conversations and your many informative, thought-provoking posts. I, too, think you would make a great moderator.

I would like to address one point that confused and concerned me:

Soon, they were informed that they could not be heavily involved in posting there (if at all). Once again, I felt betrayed.

That's a new one on me. Lots of people here post at other boards on a regular basis. The only thing I know for sure is that the admins ask that the staff here aren't also staff on other boards (loyalty and time, being the main concerns, which I understand). And speaking of loyalty and betrayal, although no one here is restricted from reading, posting, or belonging to other boards, we don't really appreciate the two-facedness displayed when members post here with shows of support and friendship and then post negative, insulting thoughts about S2K on other boards.

This point is water under the bridge essentially, but without mentioning the name of the specific moderator, they informed me via pvt message that not only could they not be a moderator or analyst (understandable) but that they were informed that they would no longer be able to post. Possibly, that could have been their nice way of cutting ties with me. Either way that left me very hurt. Whether my disappointment should have aimed at that individual or this site I will likely never know.

As far as the two-facedness, I believe that I have always displayed my displeasure via pm features either here or at other locations. If I have ever overtly destroyed the reputation of this message board, you have my most sincere apologies.

I hope that this thread brings us all closer together. I love this place!

[Yarrah]

The "Thank you Jesus" post is a fine example of something I would be reluctant to respond to despite the fact I have much to say. Any response on my part would promptly be met with 3rd degree flaming.

Politics are banned for sound reasons ... religion should be as well.. in my opinion.

It's these kind of topics that are very prone to vicious debates and conflicts between members. Why? Because one can only agree with the topic and not start a discussion about it without hurting anyones personal feelings. As PK stated before, topics about these kind of touchy subjects don't belong to a weather forum, because discussion is simply not possible.

[Regit]

I think that religion threads are perfectly fine. It's for the same reason that I think political threads are fine. If you don't like them, don't open them.

As for religion threads, going into one thread and telling people their religion is dumb are totally classless. However, this goes both ways. If someone posts a thread dealing with Christianity, atheists should keep their opinions to themselves. Similarly, if someone has a thread that mentions atheism, Christians should keep their opinions to themselves.

People of one religion are NOT going to be swayed by the opinions of others, so just let it go. On the other hand, I think friendly debates among members of the same religion are perfectly fine (for instance, Christians debating the interpretation of a certain part of the bible). I think discussions over historical facts are OK too.

As for the Good Friday thread, the next three days are the holiest in Christianity. Let people well-wish each other and don't go screw up their thread. If you want to discuss why you believe the way you do, wait a little while and start your own thread.

But, just saying "I believe this way and anybody who disagrees is a loser," shows a total lack of basic class.

[southerngale]

The "Thank you Jesus" post is a fine example of something I would be reluctant to respond to despite the fact I have much to say. Any response on my part would promptly be met with 3rd degree flaming.

Politics are banned for sound reasons ... religion should be as well.. in my opinion.

It's these kind of topics that are very prone to vicious debates and conflicts between members. Why? Because one can only agree with the topic and not start a discussion about it without hurting anyones personal feelings. As PK stated before, topics about these kind of touchy subjects don't belong to a weather forum, because discussion is simply not possible.

I see your point, but also... everything doesn't have to be a discussion. In this case, the member is just thanking Jesus at Easter time. I mean, that's why we even have Easter. He's just expressing his thanks, not asking for a debate. In cases like this, I don't see why it's hard to just pass up that thread if you don't agree. It wasn't intended for debate.

[southerngale]

I see Regit and I were posting at the same time.... good post, Regit.

[Dustin]

I have a board and religious threads seem to cause the most problems. People get really nasty, and start calling people judgmental, etc etc. It's no fun.

[JenBayles]

I think that religion threads are perfectly fine. It's for the same reason that I think political threads are fine. If you don't like them, don't open them.

As for religion threads, going into one thread and telling people their religion is dumb are totally classless. However, this goes both ways. If someone posts a thread dealing with Christianity, atheists should keep their opinions to themselves. Similarly, if someone has a thread that mentions atheism, Christians should keep their opinions to themselves.

People of one religion are NOT going to be swayed by the opinions of others, so just let it go. On the other hand, I think friendly debates among members of the same religion are perfectly fine (for instance, Christians debating the interpretation of a certain part of the bible). I think discussions over historical facts are OK too.

As for the Good Friday thread, the next three days are the holiest in Christianity. Let people well-wish each other and don't go screw up their thread. If you want to discuss why you believe the way you do, wait a little while and start your own thread.
But, just saying "I believe this way and anybody who disagrees is a loser," shows a total lack of basic class.