The downside of 'chat threads' is...

[FlamingInfinity]

I was pretty disappointed to have the Random Thoughts thread closed as well. Just coming into the forums after work and seeing what was up in everyone else's world was a nice little community thing. People would ask questions, bitch about the day, and spell out any feelings they may have had. IMO, its a lot easier than starting a thread for every little topic.

There was a lot of good things in that thread. Rather than starting from a blank slate a la chatroom, users could go back and help a fellow CP member if they weren't online at the time of the statement/question. Things were answered relatively quickly, and the discussion would die down quite quickly. If a topic was needed to be branched off, I'm sure a member could send a message to a Mod to branch it out, but I don't ever remember that needed to happen.

All in all its up to Bingo and the rest of the owners/operators of this forum. I'd just like to have some clarification on why it was locked and all.

[kevman]

Originally Posted by 4x4

does anyone know how much a cab from kensington to the airport would cost in the middle of the night (no traffic)?

$42...

[rockstar]

Quite disappointed to hear those types of threads are being stopped. I thought they were fantastic.

They were great places to vent or say say something that was on one's mind, be it a rant, a thought, a request, a statement, etc., without clogging up the forum page with a topic that may not have warranted its own thread.

i think we may start to see the number of "crap" threads rise (which is what this decision is apparently trying to prevent).

For someone like me who is hesitant to start threads, the random thought threads were a great middle road. Ask your question, present your issue. If it's interesting or worthwhile, it will get responses and generate discussion. If it's unimportant or lacks quality, it will be lost to the depths of the thread.

Again, pretty disappointed.
Unless there was massive outcry for these things to be put down - and you'd have to ask why there would be such outcry for the termination of a thread you can avoid entirely by simply not entering it - then I really don't see a constructive reason to end them.

[awildermode]

Hey, rockstar is back!

[red sky]

Disappointing yes, but I can see it from the mods point of view. It seemed as though there was a small percentage of posters who had a majority of the posts in these threads, especially the RTT. It was almost like an online cliché to be honest however, in saying that, I have to concur with a lot of what has already been said. It is unfortunate to have it gone as it was one of the first threads I would catch up on early in the work day. I feel the informative posts far outweighed the drunken rants, work venting, etc. Even those types of posts were good for a laugh every once and a while.

[JohnnyFlame]

I'm not dissapointed whatsoever. The amount of meaningless threads in the OT section is becoming overwhelming. In fact the number of just pointless threads in the hockey section is ridiculous. The site has become the one liner, flacid thread king. The site could use an overhaul. Here are some suggestions by a longtime Calgarypuck member(I'll let you guess who) that make good sense :

1) Reorganize the site and make hockey the primary focus of half of it, promoting it accordingly. The hockey site is for hockey related discussion and nothing more. The other half is for all other stuff. Turn the OT forum into something where serious issues can be discussed. Push all other stuff into part 2.

2) Create a social networking area to the forum. They can call it CPSN (CalgaryPuckSocialNetworking). This is also a revenue stream opportunity for the site. They can force all discussion of social situations related to Calgary and the local Calgarians over to this forum and ramp up their hits in this area. This will give them opportunity to search out direct advertising opportunities that help the posters as well as local business. There are X number of CP sports teams, so a sponsorship deal with one of the local mom and pop equipment stores seems perfect (Tuxedo Sports as example). This will give the socially oriented posters an area where they can focus their energies and meet their specific goals of coming to the site.

3) Encourage the posters that can talk hockey and want serious discussion . Then they get the guys that are willing to have a lively debate back involved and they will get back the level of discussion they desire. CP used to be an incubator for story ideas in the media about the hockey team. How many times did we discuss something on the board only to see it in the papers the next couple of days?

The amount of fluff on the site is embarrassing! Calgarypuck had a rep for being a place with knowledgeable posters engaged in debate. Not threads filled with one liners, inside jokes brought over from the OT forum. I'd agree with the thoughts above that it's high time to separate the two portions of the site and concentrate on pulling up the level of debate. I'm all for a joke but not for the whole site becoming one!!!!!!!!!!!

[photon]

Some interesting ideas amongst the hyperbole.

However posting them buried in a thread isn't going to do anything.. the moderators are like police.. they enforce, but do not make the law.

Suggestions for changes of that kind should be directed to Bingo via PM or similar so he does see them.

And while there's always lots of ideas on how things should be done or changed or improved, everything requires time and getting people to take ownership and contribute the time necessary to do some things is often very difficult.

[JohnnyFlame]

Originally Posted by photon

Some interesting ideas amongst the hyperbole.

However posting them buried in a thread isn't going to do anything.. the moderators are like police.. they enforce, but do not make the law.

Suggestions for changes of that kind should be directed to Bingo via PM or similar so he does see them.

And while there's always lots of ideas on how things should be done or changed or improved, everything requires time and getting people to take ownership and contribute the time necessary to do some things is often very difficult.

The idea of posting them is just to get them out there. He does indeed have some very good points. Agreed that in any organization it's always the few who do vast majority of the work. So along with suggestions he and others should step up the plate in that area!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlame

I'm not dissapointed whatsoever. The amount of meaningless threads in the OT section is becoming overwhelming. In fact the number of just pointless threads in the hockey section is ridiculous. The site has become the one liner, flacid thread king. The site could use an overhaul. Here are some suggestions by a longtime Calgarypuck member(I'll let you guess who) that make good sense :

1) Reorganize the site and make hockey the primary focus of half of it, promoting it accordingly. The hockey site is for hockey related discussion and nothing more. The other half is for all other stuff. Turn the OT forum into something where serious issues can be discussed. Push all other stuff into part 2.

2) Create a social networking area to the forum. They can call it CPSN (CalgaryPuckSocialNetworking). This is also a revenue stream opportunity for the site. They can force all discussion of social situations related to Calgary and the local Calgarians over to this forum and ramp up their hits in this area. This will give them opportunity to search out direct advertising opportunities that help the posters as well as local business. There are X number of CP sports teams, so a sponsorship deal with one of the local mom and pop equipment stores seems perfect (Tuxedo Sports as example). This will give the socially oriented posters an area where they can focus their energies and meet their specific goals of coming to the site.

3) Encourage the posters that can talk hockey and want serious discussion . Then they get the guys that are willing to have a lively debate back involved and they will get back the level of discussion they desire. CP used to be an incubator for story ideas in the media about the hockey team. How many times did we discuss something on the board only to see it in the papers the next couple of days?

The amount of fluff on the site is embarrassing! Calgarypuck had a rep for being a place with knowledgeable posters engaged in debate. Not threads filled with one liners, inside jokes brought over from the OT forum. I'd agree with the thoughts above that it's high time to separate the two portions of the site and concentrate on pulling up the level of debate. I'm all for a joke but not for the whole site becoming one!!!!!!!!!!!

1) What are you looking for here? FoI and the Backburner are already hockey. How would you re-organize it further?

2) Interesting. Although I'm not really sure how you would localize a forum like that, or even why you would want to. There are many former Calgarians who seem to like to hear about the local happenings or take the occasional stroll down memory lane. Putting something like the Random Thoughts/Confessions/Chat type stuff in a sub-forum may not be a bad idea, but I'm still having trouble seeing how those threads "decrease the quality" of the rest of the OT forum.

3) That still happens. Regularly. You've posted before how you miss the old days when you used to be able to go at it tooth-and-nail with Lanny. Well, with a more popular website also comes more responsibility. More popularity also becomes more scrutiny. There are things you say around your small cadre of friends that you cannot say in a large group where people don't know you as well and don't know how to take you.

Ad as for the "amount of fluff", well using the wayback machine and in '04 (there was a "Calgary Stampeders" forum?) in the OT I see hard news topics like, "Seven of Nine balks at kinky sex club", "Survivor All Star Jenna Lewis Sex Tape", and "Olsen seeks treatment for eating disorder". Of course there are Election threads, healthcare threads and so on as well. The point is I don't believe those days are quite as idyllic as you make them out to be.

I'm just not sure why there was an issue. If the sheer size of the thread was the problem (and I'm not sure of the DB architecture with vBulletin) then perhaps that would be a viable reason.

It would seem that pulling a number of marginal topics into one thread would allow many of the more serious threads to stay on the first page. But it also was a place people could post their thoughts without making a big fuss. One poster thanked the thread for making him smile before heading off to his father's funeral. Why? Maybe he just wanted to share with someone, needed to say it out load, but didn't want the focus that a whole thread would have elicited. Only he knows. That is the type of thing that a "chat thread" can do. It can foster a bit stronger sense of community.

Yes this is first and foremost a hockey site. I don't think anyone would want it otherwise. But more than a few people take refuge in the OT when the hyperbole and angst in the FoI seems to get out of control. The OT is an important facet to the whole CP experience, and I believe the Random Thoughts Thread was an enhancement to that experience for many people.

[JohnnyFlame]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

1) What are you looking for here? FoI and the Backburner are already hockey. How would you re-organize it further?

2) Interesting. Although I'm not really sure how you would localize a forum like that, or even why you would want to. There are many former Calgarians who seem to like to hear about the local happenings or take the occasional stroll down memory lane. Putting something like the Random Thoughts/Confessions/Chat type stuff in a sub-forum may not be a bad idea, but I'm still having trouble seeing how those threads "decrease the quality" of the rest of the OT forum.

3) That still happens. Regularly. You've posted before how you miss the old days when you used to be able to go at it tooth-and-nail with Lanny. Well, with a more popular website also comes more responsibility. More popularity also becomes more scrutiny. There are things you say around your small cadre of friends that you cannot say in a large group where people don't know you as well and don't know how to take you.

Ad as for the "amount of fluff", well using the wayback machine and in '04 (there was a "Calgary Stampeders" forum?) in the OT I see hard news topics like, "Seven of Nine balks at kinky sex club", "Survivor All Star Jenna Lewis Sex Tape", and "Olsen seeks treatment for eating disorder". Of course there are Election threads, healthcare threads and so on as well. The point is I don't believe those days are quite as idyllic as you make them out to be.

I'm just not sure why there was an issue. If the sheer size of the thread was the problem (and I'm not sure of the DB architecture with vBulletin) then perhaps that would be a viable reason.

It would seem that pulling a number of marginal topics into one thread would allow many of the more serious threads to stay on the first page. But it also was a place people could post their thoughts without making a big fuss. One poster thanked the thread for making him smile before heading off to his father's funeral. Why? Maybe he just wanted to share with someone, needed to say it out load, but didn't want the focus that a whole thread would have elicited. Only he knows. That is the type of thing that a "chat thread" can do. It can foster a bit stronger sense of community.

Yes this is first and foremost a hockey site. I don't think anyone would want it otherwise. But more than a few people take refuge in the OT when the hyperbole and angst in the FoI seems to get out of control. The OT is an important facet to the whole CP experience, and I believe the Random Thoughts Thread was an enhancement to that experience for many people.

I along with many others started to post more often in the OT forum because of the fluff/drivel that continues to be the greater part of what you find on FOI. 50 posts in a row with another sad take on the backups name for example. So my take on what was suggested is that in that regard it's not reorganization but a renewed emphasis on hockey discussion.

There used to be a serious component to the OT as well which seems to have also moved to the backburner. Here I think it is reorganization. A serious OT section with another dedicated to chat threads etc. There was nothing wrong with a mixture but once again the fluff is becoming overwhelming.

I get the sense of community and I take full advantage of it using Calpuck as a place to do everything from buy cars to yak about all kind of things. But thread after thread after thread filled with fluff insertions. It's not community--it's annoyance.

Some renewed emphasis and some reorganization would go a long way towards restoring some balance!!!!!!!!!!

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlame

I along with many others started to post more often in the OT forum because of the fluff/drivel that continues to be the greater part of what you find on FOI. 50 posts in a row with another sad take on the backups name for example. So my take on what was suggested is that in that regard it's not reorganization but a renewed emphasis on hockey discussion.

Unfortunately, with regards to the FOI fourm, I don't think a reorganization is going to be anything more than a band-aid for a third-degree burn. It's just turned into a breeding ground for animosity and pissing matches. There always seems to be two sides that destroy any thread on that forum: the guys who crap on every player without producing anything to back up their statements; and the overly-militant Flames fans, who take personal offense to anything negative said about the team, even if it's valid.

When I first joined, I used to spend the majority of the time in FOI. I usually just lurked, but would sometimes vent when I really needed to, and praise when I felt the team deserved it. I hate to single-out specific posters, but guys like GoJetsGo are part of the reason I spend most of my time in the OT and Other Sports forums.

I think the only way the problem is going to be fixed is through a crackdown by the mods. The mods do a terrific job as is, but I think there are too few of them for a site this big. I often wonder if the reason we don't have more mods is because nobody volunteers, Bingo doesn't want too many guys with keys to the castle, or if they just simply don't see the need for it.

The biggest thing that needs to be cracked down on, IMO, is the personal attacks. I know I've been guilty of them in the past, but I'd like to see a zero-tolerance policy on calling someone stupid for having a different opinion. If you disagree with someone, back up your posts with some stats or facts. If the the person you're debating with doesn't have the stats or hockey knowledge to back their argument up, then leave it at that. You can walk away from an argument without berating the other party. The ironic part of this is you'd think the newbies would be the worst for this, but I think the veteran posters are far worse offenders. I can't count the number of times a "vet" as jumped down a new guy's throat and belittled him for saying something like '5 goals allowed in back-to-back games is unacceptable from a defense that is paid this much.' I think some of the vets should drink a little of their own medicine and start leading by example.

The other issue that needs to be dealt with are the tired cliches and attempted humour. The "I Like" threads are out of control. However, this is gets kind of tricky. Some of the funniest moments have come from threads that were "fluff" or posts that were off-topic (the "I Like Andrew Ference" thread comes to mind. All that being said, the repetitiveness of these threads and memes gets pretty tedious, and maybe handing out some warnings and/or infractions to the more blatant and obvious offenders would curb some of this.

I hope the mods don't take this as me trying to tell them how to do their jobs, because that's not what this is. Just my personal suggestions on what would improve FOI.

There used to be a serious component to the OT as well which seems to have also moved to the backburner. Here I think it is reorganization. A serious OT section with another dedicated to chat threads etc. There was nothing wrong with a mixture but once again the fluff is becoming overwhelming.

I disagree with this. The "serious" threads in OT are almost as bad as the FOI threads. Most of the serious threads just devolve into pissing matches and cheap shots between liberals and conservatives, theists and atheists, or conspiraists and non-conspiraists. I hate toilet-humour, but I'd rather wade through a million "poop" threads than some of the political threads on here.

Also, I got hit in the fruit-basket by a ball, while playing football last night. Right on the tip of the penis. It hurt like hell. It also happened to me right in front of a Danish girls soccer team. That certainly doesn't deserve its own thread, but it does fit in the RTT because it's hilariously humiliating.

P.S. If any of you Danish chicks are reading this; I'm really upset that you were all laughing at me but none of you came over to see if I was okay.

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by rockstar

Unless there was massive outcry for these things to be put down - and you'd have to ask why there would be such outcry for the termination of a thread you can avoid entirely by simply not entering it - then I really don't see a constructive reason to end them.

I don't mean to single you out rockstar, but to everyone requesting/demanding an explanation about removal of the 'chat' threads .... you seem to all be operating under the mistaken belief that CP is some kind of democracy.

It's not. It's Bingo's site and he can make or change the rules as he sees fit. He can explain changes or not, as he see's fit.

Personally, I hope it signals a move towards tighter moderation, meaning lower or zero tolerance for "your an idiot" posts and the like.

I think JohnnyFlame is on to something. Move the 'clique-y' insider posts to a new social networking forum, let the FOI regain its place at the top of all Hockey related forums and as a source for considered opinion - and as he noted, a place where hockey writers might come to look for ideas. There are too many 'panic-y' threads, too many "I like ...." threads, etc. Allow the OT forum to again become a place to talk about more serious current events and issues but provide a new forum for the kids play in their own little 'playroom'.

[Berger_4_]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Everything you said.

I used to do the same as you pretty much. Lurk, make the odd post in FoI, and then check the OT quickly then disappear. I got sick of all the bitching and fighting in FoI, and so I came over here more and more. Now I hardly ever go into FoI. I'll check it, see if there's anything remotely exciting, and then come back to ol' faithful, the OT.

I made the mistake of going into the last game thread, and jeez what that ever a mistake. To say the quality of the OT is lower than some of the drivel that's posted in there is ridiculous.

Anyways, moving on.

I think the serious component to the OT is alive and well still. Look at the threads on the ring road (other than the one Razor Ruddock destroyed). There's still lots of good discussion in here. Movie recommendations, planning trips to California, a big discussion on the positives and negatives of the H1N1 shot. Those four threads are all what you would consider serious, and that's just from looking at the first page.

The other issue is, it's an OT forum. I realize it can't be anything goes, but still. If a topic is worth discussing, it will be brought up, dealt with and disappear. If it's not worthwhile, it'll fall off the main page faster than Avery goes down after a hit by Jagr. But the thing is that the RTT was quite obviously very popular. It went through three versions, and was still going strong when it got shut down. I understand it can be tough for mod's to figure out what the hell caused a big meltdown between a couple people with the sheer size of the thread, but what I can't understand is why people felt they couldn't take part. It's was mindless thread for people to just rant a bit, make some funny comment that wouldn't be worth a new thread but was still good to read. A person didn't need to read every single page of the thread. I know I just would jump in sometimes and post without looking at what was going on before, just because I wanted to get something off my chest or whatever.

I think people might take this site a little too seriously sometimes. When it comes down to it, all most people are to everyone else is a handle and a bunch of words on a screen. I can understand why Bingo wants to keep the rep of the site up and all that. Hell, I like knowing that it's a fairly respected place. But I can't see how having a chat thread takes away from the site's reputation. Not every thread in the off-topic forum needs to be a political one, or a religion thread. It's nice to have some place to go and just post whatever you feel like (within reason obviously) at that time.

In regards to longsuffering's post:

I think the FoI is still the main focus on the site for most, but I think it's entirely unfair to say that the reason it's been so crappy lately is because of all the 'clique-y insider posts' in the OT. I think that can solely be put upon the regulars in FoI. The freak-out threads, the I Like threads, they weren't started by the OT regulars. They all seem to be started by guys who rarely come over to this side of the board. I've never seen ResAlien, or 4x4 or Locke, or GreenTeaFrappe or any of the other RTT and OT regulars start a thread proclaiming that Iginla should be traded, the Sutter's should be fired, etc.

First and foremost, this is a hockey board. I don't think we need an OT forum specifically dedicated to serious issues, and another spot where we get babysat in our 'playroom'. If anything, it'd be the religion, politics, healthcare forum that would need extra attention.

[JohnnyFlame]

Originally Posted by longsuffering

I don't mean to single you out rockstar, but to everyone requesting/demanding an explanation about removal of the 'chat' threads .... you seem to all be operating under the mistaken belief that CP is some kind of democracy.

It's not. It's Bingo's site and he can make or change the rules as he sees fit. He can explain changes or not, as he see's fit.

Personally, I hope it signals a move towards tighter moderation, meaning lower or zero tolerance for "your an idiot" posts and the like.

I think JohnnyFlame is on to something. Move the 'clique-y' insider posts to a new social networking forum, let the FOI regain its place at the top of all Hockey related forums and as a source for considered opinion - and as he noted, a place where hockey writers might come to look for ideas. There are too many 'panic-y' threads, too many "I like ...." threads, etc. Allow the OT forum to again become a place to talk about more serious current events and issues but provide a new forum for the kids play in their own little 'playroom'.

Well JohnnyFlame isn't on to something because those suggestions weren't my ideas. I took them out of an email from a longtime Calgarypuck member who no longer posts. One of those vets who needs to return and get involved again. Hopefully he will because he is on to something.

[longsuffering]

Originally Posted by Berger_4_

In regards to longsuffering's post:

I think the FoI is still the main focus on the site for most, but I think it's entirely unfair to say that the reason it's been so crappy lately is because of all the 'clique-y insider posts' in the OT. I think that can solely be put upon the regulars in FoI. The freak-out threads, the I Like threads, they weren't started by the OT regulars. They all seem to be started by guys who rarely come over to this side of the board. I've never seen ResAlien, or 4x4 or Locke, or GreenTeaFrappe or any of the other RTT and OT regulars start a thread proclaiming that Iginla should be traded, the Sutter's should be fired, etc.

If that's how my post reads, its not what I intended. I wasn't making any connection between the OT forum (or posters in that forum) and the insulting, panic-y, clique-y posts in the FOI forum.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by longsuffering

I think JohnnyFlame is on to something. Move the 'clique-y' insider posts to a new social networking forum, let the FOI regain its place at the top of all Hockey related forums and as a source for considered opinion - and as he noted, a place where hockey writers might come to look for ideas. There are too many 'panic-y' threads, too many "I like ...." threads, etc. Allow the OT forum to again become a place to talk about more serious current events and issues but provide a new forum for the kids play in their own little 'playroom'.

If you're looking at ways at making CP like it was 5 years ago, that's not going to happen. It can't because the community has grown too much. When the community is small, you can set a standard of posting that shames users who don't meet it. But that standard gets lower and lower as more and more users join the community. There will inevitably be someone who will defend someone else's poorly thought out post. And then the fight is on. It's damn hard to moderate stupidity. And the lowered standards will drive away some of the better users which causes things to get worse.

But to be honest, this place is nowhere near as bad as HF, which is a complete gong show and is a reflection of the fools who run the place.

It's also damn hard to draw a line in the sand on what constitute "serious" and what doesn't. And who said that the OT forum has to be about serious threads? You can always avoid a thread you don't want to read. And if the titles are so confusing that you're reading threads you didn't want to, you can voice your concern to the mods.

You don't have to read the Random Thoughts Thread if you don't want to. It's not a prerequisite of the site.

[JohnnyFlame]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

If you're looking at ways at making CP like it was 5 years ago, that's not going to happen. It can't because the community has grown too much. When the community is small, you can set a standard of posting that shames users who don't meet it. But that standard gets lower and lower as more and more users join the community. There will inevitably be someone who will defend someone else's poorly thought out post. And then the fight is on. It's damn hard to moderate stupidity. And the lowered standards will drive away some of the better users which causes things to get worse.

But to be honest, this place is nowhere near as bad as HF, which is a complete gong show and is a reflection of the fools who run the place.

It's also damn hard to draw a line in the sand on what constitute "serious" and what doesn't. And who said that the OT forum has to be about serious threads? You can always avoid a thread you don't want to read. And if the titles are so confusing that you're reading threads you didn't want to, you can voice your concern to the mods.

You don't have to read the Random Thoughts Thread if you don't want to. It's not a prerequisite of the site.

I have never from birth understood the "it's not as bad as somewhere/something else fallacy. It may or may not be but who in the end cares. We have made Calgarypuck our choice and are talking about it. What other sites are like is really irrelevant.

The question on the serious part is that virtually no thread is serious. Heck there are serious topics put up which are instantly derailed by dumb pics, oft repeated jokes, or an attempt to squash the topic or hit on the original poster.

It isn't the choosing between threads. It's wading through the drivel in what was supposed to be a serious thread. Not just the one joke in 20 posts but 10 jokes, five pics and 5 posts with any content.

Poster after poster saying well yeah I have to wade through a lot of crap but CP is still better than ? Shouldn't be the point. Nor should being resigned to it. How about make improvements!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[4X4]

Originally Posted by longsuffering

Allow the OT forum to again become a place to talk about more serious current events and issues but provide a new forum for the kids play in their own little 'playroom'.

Boy, this is starting to get a little bit insulting. If you prefer to be dead serious all day long, that's fine. Nobody was forcing you to enter the RTT or the confessions thread.

Bitching about "what CP has become" is like bitching about what TV has become. There are lots of channels, if you don't like what you're viewing, click.

Not every thread has to be stick-up-ass.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by JohnnyFlame

I have never from birth understood the "it's not as bad as somewhere/something else fallacy. It may or may not be but who in the end cares. We have made Calgarypuck our choice and are talking about it. What other sites are like is really irrelevant.

The question on the serious part is that virtually no thread is serious. Heck there are serious topics put up which are instantly derailed by dumb pics, oft repeated jokes, or an attempt to squash the topic or hit on the original poster.

It isn't the choosing between threads. It's wading through the drivel in what was supposed to be a serious thread. Not just the one joke in 20 posts but 10 jokes, five pics and 5 posts with any content.

Poster after poster saying well yeah I have to wade through a lot of crap but CP is still better than ? Shouldn't be the point. Nor should being resigned to it. How about make improvements!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not saying that things are okay with CP because other sites are way worse. But to say what happens at other sites is irrelevant is wrong. You can learn from the mistakes at other sites.

But maybe the issues you're having on here are just the result of a different perspective between yourself and the mods. A community is usually a reflection of those who control it and here the mods have a pretty good sense of humour. How many forums would instantly ban a user who called the owner a troll? But here it's treated like a joke and everyone just laughs about it. Maybe things here are a little too lighthearted for your liking and you'd prefer things to be more serious. But that's just a preference and not a right/wrong issue.

[JohnnyFlame]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Boy, this is starting to get a little bit insulting. If you prefer to be dead serious all day long, that's fine. Nobody was forcing you to enter the RTT or the confessions thread.

Bitching about "what CP has become" is like bitching about what TV has become. There are lots of channels, if you don't like what you're viewing, click.

Not every thread has to be stick-up-ass.

Read the above because what you say isn't true. It's hard to find a thread that the fluff merchants don't feel compelled to enter. With my TV remote I can switch from football to hockey and back again. On CP I switch from hockey to OT only to find the same channel. Growing numbers who feel duty bound to tell us the same joke for the 500th time.

What is missing is balance. There is a place for fluff and a for an original joke or at least orginal take on a joke. But not in thread after thread.

The click argument like the look at other sites argument isn't relevant.