Aside from all the bitchin' and whining, and crying and tattle-telling ... this forum has become quite the opposite of what it used to be.

All the new sanctions appear to have been evoked to drive the fun out of this place. This forum has definitely lost its edge.

What was, at one time, a cutting edge forum (PG-13ish), has turned into a kindergarten playground with nothing more than a G/PG rating.

The mods have been ordered to regulate anything from an eye-roll, to abreviated swearing words. Most of them were being made in jest.

Geoff, what did you do to this place!?

:(

He founded it. And what did you do?

Ah, care for a resume?

He supports it, and he often has insightful and thoughtful posts, so please don't just dismiss Soup so cavalierly.

There has been a definite pall over this place lately, much like a somewhat overactive classroom that has just been yelled at by the principal. It'll bounce back, the fun will return, but it won't be the same as it was.

Soup, no offense but you have been whining about how bad this forum has been getting for some time now. I will be the first to agree that DVD-Talk just isn't what it used to be but whining about it isn't going to change anything.

If DVD-Talk is going to continue to evolve, we have to evolve with it, if not then it may be time to leave.

I too have begun wondering why I still come here. I came here originally for "DVD Talk" and "DVD Bargains". Well, the bargains are all gone, nothing but risky scams left and DVD Talk has gotten really slow lately.... all these new forums are spreading out the interesting discussion to realms many of us don't even go.

It seems like every other post that pops up in the "DVD Talk" forum is a rehash of an old thread that some newbie never read or a "DVD Talk Allstar" failed to notice because he/she was too busy padding their post count in the "Other Forum".

Okay, I could rant on but I am sure you would all rather I not. :D

Game On! :lol:

Thanks Bandoman.

TK's attitude-ridden quip didn't offend me. There's an old saying in the Military ... CTS. Consider The Source ...

Soup -

Point taken, I'm not surprised that my cracking down has had a real effect on the Other forum.

My intent was never to take the FUN out of the Forum but to try to do a reset and stop some of the activities there which were resulting in Moderators quitting and members leaving.

I agree that in a short amount of time the fun will bounce back.

I thank you for taking the time to read the message, and respond in a thoughtful manner. Someone else in this thread obviously couldn't find it in him/her to do the same ...

Hey Soup - you forgot to put "WTF" in the thread's title... ;)

Geoff, please do not pander to the minority.

Soup and about 4 or 5 other "young" minds here have no idea what they're talking about. They all showed up here less than a year ago - about the time the Great Pad Fest was on, and they have no idea what this site used to be like.

For someone who's been here since July of 2000 to say things like, "This forum has become quite the opposite of what it used to be" is a joke. Soup has no idea what a real edge is. Because he wasn't here when this place was at it's best. He unfortunately thinks that an "edge" means just mindless, random, repetitive posting. -rolleyes-

This is YOUR site, Geoff. Run it however you see fit. But I would wager that the majority of your 19K members are pretty happy with how and what you do.

Soup - Here's the answer to your problem: IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT HERE, LEAVE.

BoatDrinks - I'm not sure we "young minds" completely understand your position. Are you saying that anyone who has been here for less time that you can not have a valid opinion about recent changes to this site?

Soup merely stated that he sees a difference between the forums now and the forums when he first joined, and he does not feel that the changes are positive. You can't negate his view by claiming that he doesn't know what the forums were like before he joined.

I also think that the Other Forum, in particular, has lost its edge, but only temporarily. I think it will bounce back, and it will be fun again, even if it isn't exactly the same kind of fun as before the recent changes.

I've heard the knee-jerk "if you don't like it, leave" reaction all too often. Anyone who values this site won't run away at the first sign of trouble, but will stick around to try to affect positive changes. You can certainly disagree with Soup or me or anybody else, but please respect my right to state my view, just as I respect yours. I know full well that I don't have to visit DVD-Talk if I don't want to. Neither do you.


[Edited by Bandoman on 04-27-01 at 01:05 PM]

Boatdrinks wow you have been registered since Jan, and so have I, and I was on months before that in fact I have probably been on here since Sept 99, but that doesn't mean jack. Soup has a very valid point, and I think he is right, and I also think Geoff is right and it will bounce back, and your post pretty much made the point that Soup was trying to make. I still like dvdtalk, and I'm not going anywhere, adn to be honest with the addition of videgame, and tv forum I will be here more (like I wasn't here enough). I am not referring to Boatdrinks when I say this, but I get the impression from some of the members that they almost want less members here, and have a nice little community of people who are like minded. I think some of you who are on here a lot kind of see the same thing, it's not a lot of members(off the top of my head I coudln't name one, but I have seen posts that make me feel this way), but they still hurt the forum, and they are the ones that I truly worry about. Also Soup speak your mind I am sure there are plenty of people that agree with you.

BoatDrinks makes a very good point. Us who have been around here since the earlier days of the forum have been able to see a clear evolution of how things are conducted. Newer members may be used to alot of the sarcasm, inane posts, and general lack of respect for other members that has been somewhat commonplace here as of late.

Trust me, there was alot of fun in the early days and people here actually got along and were willing to help each other out more so than today. Geoff is taking a great stance on this subject. Hey, if a few members leave beacuse they can no longer pad, post pornography, make sarcastic comments etc, and you consider that losing the fun on the board, then I am all for no fun. There is a happy medium that can and will be found, where users can post intelligently and still have fun while doing so.

J

Exactly.


To Bandoman and Spicolli, just what "point" does Soup make? Here's his quote:



What is cutting edge? And regardless of how long someone has been here - if you think it is now kindergarten because of these new "rules" then what has it been for the past 10 months???

Come on, these changes have been in effect for how long? A week? 2? Tell just me how "different" this place is than before? Other than some fewer worthless/rude/mean posts? Can Soup or Bandoman or anyone tell me?

And what's the complaint exactly? That Geoff has cracked down on people being rude or crass? Is that why you were here in the first place???

And don't give me that stuff about "The rules say no more eyerolls" or whatever. The rules have said no padding from the beginning but how much was that enforced. They are meant to be a guide, not to be taken verbatim.

Geoff is simply trying to lean out this place. He has stated on numerous occasions that the site can get overloaded. But you all seem to want some place to just go nuts and not be responsible, not answer to anyone. Well, guess what? This isn't a publicly owned site. It's Geoff's. He could start changing any money any time he wants.

Maybe he should charge money? Maybe that would put an end to all this crap. I mean - Complaining because you've been asked to cut down on worthless posts???? I'm sorry, I just don't understand what you're talking about.



[Edited by BoatDrinks on 04-27-01 at 02:55 PM]

Well I've been here since May '99 and completely agree with Soup Nazi. This forum just isn't the fun it used to be. I guess this is to be expected as the more members we have the more rotten apples there are to spoil the overall enjoyment of discussion. I think if you polled the members who joined earlier on like I did, assuming you could even get a hold of them as many have moved on, you'd find that it's the consensus that this place has went downhill. I'm not saying it's all bad, just that the interested threads are few and far between these days. :( I think more people need to realize that DVDTalk isn't a matter of life and death but more a place to come together and enjoy sharing their enthusiasm for all things DVD. :)

You either missed my point, or I failed to drive it home. When you settle down, I'll have a mature discussion with you ...

Great posts BoatDrinks and I completely agree with everything you said.

There was a time when, believe it or not, the Talk forum had more posts than the Other forum. But since this IS a DVD site, what else would we expect. Then, at some point (I'm thinking when the bargains started to dry up), people started heading to the Other forum. And, much like a city experiencing a huge population explosion, bad stuff started to happen: padding, fighting, flaming, "porn shops," etc. What I hope the new rules do is bring the site back to how it REALLY used to be - pre Other forum explosion. While I could (and often do) just avoid the Other forum completely, much of what goes on over there spills into the other, more important DVD related forums (such as padding in the Talk and Bargain forums - IBTL, "Nice Bargain", etc.)

One last point, I really liked the new forum software and wish it would return. If it couldn't handle the traffic, here's a suggestion - why not just get rid of the Other forum? :D That would be sweet.


Lint

So how long does one have to be a member here for their suggestions to be deemed "worthy"? -rolleyes-

CTS, my friend ...

CTS ...

Consider The Source(s) ...

well since I have been here longer than Boatdrinks i guess I am entitled to an opinion.

First I think a post negating another persons view only based on the time they have been here is one of the reasons people have left this website. The constant battle between members who resent new members who they believe padded themselves into respectability, and the newer members who resent the I got 3 dvd's for a dollar crowd is growing tiresome :(

I understand that some members who have been at this site for awhile felt like the oldtimers where being pushed aside by newcomers. I do not think it is true. Although it is clear people think this.

We got rid of post counts so now maybe we need to eliminate the date joined field so that a person's posts will be considered for content not by how long they have been here.

Do you really want to know where the problems are- NO DEALS

It is easy to get along when you are spending half or more of your time getting great bargains on dvd's or other items. Now when we have no real deals to keep us here we need to find other reasons to stay at Dvdtalk.

Geoff has tried to add as much content as he can like reviews and new forums in an attempt to maintain and increase the membership list.

In reality the traffic to this site has i bet changed. People no longer checking for deals first but going to other forums that hold their interest.

Geoff has said that the Other Forum does not click onto links and support this site as much as it should. I think we need to spend more time finding deals that will appeal to the other forum.

I mean the same deals appear on the top of every page. We need to target deals. I suggested signing up for Crucial as an affiliate and putting it on the top of the Other bargains and pc hardware forum.

Get rid of the dogs like Bigstar- who shops at bigstar any more. Lets find new affiliates- any other ideas anyone?

Find links that will get the other forum interested. They like pics of women. See if you can get playboy or penthouse to provide a low price subscription signup link that pays some money I bet some will buy. If the deal pays more if you renew i bet you an count on continued income since we Others do like our pics.

We need to look for solutions . Many have offered to pay Geoff money to keep this site running better. I understand Geoff did not want to do this( I frankly think it might be too late to get many to do this now :( ) . We need to try and find a new source for money than the same ole signup for these deals.

I did the ones i could now what?

Get a Tshirt and charge a few bucks more to profit by it. People have been asking about this and even agreeing to do this for Dvdtalk for over a year.

Let's do this now! and put some money into Dvdtalk. At $5 dollars profit on each I bet we could sell 1000 tshirts or polo shirts. That is another $5000 to Dvdtalk. Not much I know but a start.

Rip us off if we want our names on them for another $5 profit each.

Come on Geoff take us to the cleaners :D


Last- I like Soup and really think people may feel free to disagree with him. However all members are entitled to an opinion.

Even if Geoff is the only one that counts.

[Edited by gcribbs on 04-27-01 at 04:08 PM]

Well I've only been here since October 2000, and my "young mind" clicks on the threads that interest or entertain me. Boatdrinks, the same applies to your statement "If you don't like it, leave". If you don't want to look at "porn", don't click on mature threads. If you don't want to read about Shaggy's roommate adventures, don't click on the thread. I don't really care for political or religious threads. I have posted one post in one political thread. Do you see me complaining that all these "old minds" clutter up the forum with politics? No. I simply don't post in them. If myself and Soup and whoever else want to participate in a Mature thread, who is it hurting? No one. It's not hurting anyone anymore than an abortion or religous debate does. Tempers flare like a pack of hemmoroids in those threads. The mature threads are usually easy going. Not too many flame wars in a mature thread, are there? "Young minds" is a ridiculous statement. I prefer you refer to me as "someone with different tastes than yours".

As for the clicking of ads. I know Geoff has stated time & time again that he won't charge for this site. That being said, I think he should set up a Paypal account and accept voluntary contributions. The TiVo forum did this and got over $5,000 for a new server, etc. A mandatory charge was never even mentioned. People did this because they were happy to help a place they love to visit. Personally, even after all this bull that has ocurred, I'd still rather Paypal Geoff $10 or $15 than click on ads. I don't buy squat online anymore, because it's cheaper to buy it at a B&M. I know I'm not the only one, either. This cannot possibly help this site earn money. Geoff, I plead to you that you consider this option. T-Shirts are another great idea as well. I'm sure you could be very surprised to see what a community like this can do.

I also agree with Soup on this one. I have been posting on a consistant basis now in the "other" forum for about 6 months now because it was alot of fun talking to the people in there. I used to frequent the "dvdtalk" forum alot, but stopped because there were so many rude, and just mean people in there. So I one day stumbled into the other forum and was really impressed how it was in there. Everyone joking around with each other and having fun, which was the appeal to me. I think that the crack down needs to be on the "dvdtalk" forum moreso than the "other" forum, cause rarely do I see any hard feelings going on in the other forum.

dbrink, try not to be so hard on Boatdrinks ...

Remember, he really doesn't know any better ...

:rolleyes:

gcribbs, you make some good points also. During the bargains hayday, that is what truly drove this forum and got users here for the most part. Though we will probably never see anything close to along the lines of how the deals used to be, I do think we can still capture some of the attitude from that time period.

From everything Geoff has said, it does not sound one bit like he wants to do away with the fun, or kill the other forum. I understand his reasons for cutting down on pad threads, because there are only so many resources to go around for this site, and not enough income in realtion to what is going on in the other forum to support the traffic.

What it does sound like is that he wants to increase the quality of posts, and general attitude around here. There is no need to bicker and be cynical when the reason we are all here in the first place is to share in the wonderful hobby of DVD. A little respect for one and other will really go a long way.

J

Soup, I don't think you are doing much for your complaint/argument by posting exactly how geoff asked members to stop doing. It is fine to disagree but taking it farther than that is what causes so many problems here.

J

I agree whole-heartedly ...

I'm just responding to a jab, by throwing one ...

That must be what you meant about this place having turned into a "kindergarten playground."

Ah, another lovely comment by scott27 ...

:)

Moreover, I lay off throwing jabs in retaliation - just as often as you do ...

that is exactly why we need to think of new ways to generate income while increasing membership.

I am really all for doing anything that we can to make it easy on people. tshirts, paypal or other way to donate. for some of us it is easier to give a few bucks than click on a bunch of offers.

I never joined e#ates or other sites like it because i wanted to help this site. those that do those programs might still be willing to help this site. they need another way to do it.

by the way i can not believe e b a t e s is a banned word . even in a discussion :(



[Edited by gcribbs on 04-27-01 at 05:36 PM]

I think KENWOOD leaving has affected things much more than Geoff or anyone else would care to admit.

I don't want to put words into anyone's mouth but i'm sure Geoff is thinking

"How dare those ingrate SOBs drive one of my best Mods away!, who the F do they think they are ? i'm gonna have to crack down on their sorry behinds and whip them back into line !"

Yes i know Geoff wouldn't say or think that exactly but it's the right jist

Soupy, it can still be a fun place, use your imagination

you do have to change with the times. Don't let the middle aged old foggies drive you out matey ! I just wouldn't dare give them the satisfaction.

the "Young , Dum and full of Cum" brigade is still in da house !

I think it says volumes that the only thing I posted that is being attacked is the "young minds" comment - And it's being taken out of context by everyone who has responded to it.

If look at the post closely you see that the "young minds" is pointed at the very few members who have turned this place into a free-for-all the past several months and are now complaining that their hands are being tied.

Please show me where in my post that I said anyone who registered less than a year ago was "Young." Can any of you who responded do that? You have made yourselves look bad by responding to something that was never there. I said "Soup and the 4 or 5 others..." They know who they are, Soup knows who they are. So far, not one of those folks has responded here.

The thing maybe some of you don't realize (unless you have been long enough to see the posts/threads created by Soup, and by all those before and after him) is that the "fun" he is referring to is the mindless junk that take up about 75-80% of his posts. Sometimes Soup can be funny, insightful, or smart, but most of his stuff is just the type of thing that Geoff was trying to lessen - just the type of stuff that garnered so many complaints of late - Soup has given you several examples of it in this thread.

I asked several questions in my previous posts and still not one of them have been answered.

I'm not surprised.

Your attempt at taking the high road, is not fooling me. I am well-aware of your former identity ...

I'm not surprised at your tactics ...

DTSC here. Stats: Lurked Nov 1999 - Apr 2000, Member from Apr 2000 onward (different username).

Thus, because I've been posting for over a year and lurking even longer, I offer my educated opinion on this subject:

Shut up already.


I'm glad pads are gone. I'm glad post counts are gone. Now lets start some good discussion threads and cut back on the posts that are merely made to see your own name on the screen.

Just for the record Boatdrinky matey, i didn't even read your reply before i made mine. I had no idea that anyone had made any 'young minds' comment

I read SOupy's first post then i replied straight away because i knew what soupy was on about

now i've read the whole thread i see how things look with my reply

So am I. As a matter of fact, there are numerous discussion threads on this topic that I stated just that. It was never about padding, it was about fun ...

Come on Jason, you totally missed the point ...

Well, I've been here for about a year and a 1/2, so I'm not really a "old timer", but at the same time I'm not one of these "young minds". I guess I'm a lost generation. If the problem really comes down to what is a "quality" post, and what is a "padded" or silly post, who's to make that decision? Only Geoff.

I stumbled across this place back in Dec. 1999, and signed up the following Jan. I didn't sign up because I had some hot deal to share, or even to ask a question about DVDs. I signed up because I was pulled into the lighthearted comedy of the OTHER. I found myself coming back here to read what people were talking about, because they made me laugh. I slowly started posting a little in this forum, a little in that one, but other became my "home base". Like I said in previous posts, I felt that the OTHER had a "edge" to it. This edge as I call it isn't one specific thing. It's not the nude pics, it's not the flame wars, it's not even the debate threads (where I've seen it get a lot more heated than silly threads). This 'edge' was just the way <B>people</B> posted, and the way they felt.

The other felt like a place where you could start a thread on almost ANY subject and get some else to reply. Were all these threads garbage? Nope. Were all the threads on religion or politics of great importance? Absolutely not. The thing was that there were <B>BOTH</B> there, and <B>I</B> had the choice on what threads I wanted to be a part of.

Now of course there was, and always will be "padding" so to say. It's not as big of a problem as many like to make it to be, and lets be honest, does it really hurt YOU if someone else sits in front of their computer and posts 100 times a day? Granted the <B>[PAD]</B> replies were uncalled for, but I've even seen MODS get into the fun on these. It was "FUNNY", and as long as none of us crossed a line it remained funny. I can remember Kenwood and his pictures of women’s' <B>PADS</B> and the <B>[BAN]</b> roll on he use to use.

In fact, it was Kenwood, who use to put up all the animated GIFs and STARTED the Congrats threads. Did these threads hurt anyone, not at all. Many enjoyed them. Did they promote padding? maybe. I felt that the congrats threads were a way the OTHER said "Hey you, you're one of us", and I liked it. Kenwood started my 1000k congrats thread, and it felt good when I seen all the people throwing wise cracks at me.

This brings us to people having a "hard" skin. This is a forum, everyone’s never going to agree on anything, (can we all agree on that at least)? Probably not. If you can't take a comment in a forum, then you're going to have a hard time in this world. I'm not saying it's fine to say "F$#k you" or something like that, but we're all adults here. If someone or something really bothers you, it's easy to just not reply to that person, or not go into that thread.

Not all threads are going to interest everyone, but taking away a certain type because it helps people "pad" is ridiculous. I liked the word association & picture threads. Granted I can go to same game site to play word games, and if I really wanted to see nudity, I could go to a password site and site for hours looking at 100s of pictures..... but that's not what I wanted. That wasn't the attraction to this thing we call OTHER. I liked that there was a little bit of everything here. Posting in the word assoc. thread doesn't make me a padder, and opening Cidmos thread doesn't make me "right click save" freak. The same way that posting a reply in a religious, or political thread doesn't make someone intellectual. Different strokes, people. It all comes down to "If it doesn't interest you, don't open the thread. It's just that easy. It's just ridiculous that people will make a stink about something that doesn't even affect them.

One thing that kind of sums up my feelings.... Does anyone remember Paul3rd's "Another forum is attacking us" thread. We all posted links, pictures, animated GIFs, etc? That was one of the funniest threads I think I've ever seen here. Granted the thread wasn't interesting to everyone, but to us that were a part of it was pure entertainment. There were <B>MODS</B> posting in it along with us "common" folk, and we just were "letting loose" having a good time. Unfortunately, I can't picture that under the NEW other, maybe in the future, but not now. Everyone on both sides of the fence is too uptight.

To be honest, I won't miss any of the changes that were made.

Post counts gone: fine
Nudity gone: I'll survive
Word Association: O well.
Padding: Who cares

etc, etc.

I won't miss those things at all, but I will tell you what I will miss. I'll miss that feeling of "hang out, have fun, and don't worry" that the OTHER gave me. Right now, it seems like everyone's a little uptight, and worried. (At least the posters who enjoyed anything the has been taken away).

I'll remain part of this forum (sorry guys, can't get rid of me that easy), and hopefully grow with it. Like I originally said, it's was the people and the "edgy fun" that brought me here. I'm sure we can get it back, overtime.

Geoff, if the webspace and resources is the reason behind why the forum is cracking down on what some feel are "space wasting threads" (word association per say), couldn't you just look into threads on the "back end" falling off the server in a short amount of time? Just a thought.

I just think it is really hard to tell people what is "okay" and what is "fluff" when you're talking about something like OTHER.

Other was about fun, and hopefully it'll feel that way again.

Sorry for the length.

[Edited by Keyser Soze on 04-27-01 at 11:21 PM]

ok here is your post- you say For someone who's been here since July of 2000 to say things like, "This forum has become quite the opposite of what it used to be" is a joke.

This seesm to me to negate any one who has been here since that date from saying they disagree with the changes to this site- you are wrong. the time in which people join has no effect on their abilty to give an opinion. That opinion should be based on the persons content not the date in which they joined.


you say-He unfortunately thinks that an "edge" means just mindless, random, repetitive posting. -rolleyes-

How is this constructive. One persons mindless posting is anothers persons fun. if you want to know what he thinks an edge is why not ask him to define it for you. instead of saying something that you should know will change the tone of the discussion in a nonpositive way.

How do you think someone who is being attacked in this way will respond.

The "young" comment seemed to me to be used to attack people who you disagree with. How do you want them to reply to you. In a friendly manner.


Lastly you make assumptions that the members who liked the other forum the way it was are a minority.

are you really sure of that. I think the fear that some people have is that it is the majority feeling.

For the record, the "I'm glad post counts.." comment was off the cuff and wasn't really pertaining to anyone's post, I just felt like throwing it in. I got the point.

Keyser Soze, gcribbs, amongst others ...

I share your sentiments ...

It was about fun and edginess ...

Not about padding and nudity ...

Thanks for being open-minded, err ... rather reading what was wrote ...

:)