I wonder

[Pony]

How many members who were at one time frequent posters have left the boards because of how ridiculous Dockside has gotten?

I wish I had been around for longer when the Dockside Chat was really a cool place. When it was filled with jokes, humor, and overall friendly banter. Like many I came here with an engine problem, and never looked at DC. I sold my boat, and bought a new one. As a result I came back here and realized there were forums beyond the help ones. Read some of Dockside and thought it looked like a great place to enjoy friendly conversation, posted here and there and kept posting at night when I got home from work or if I was home and the weather wasnt cooperating enough for me to fish or get work done outside.

Back when I first got here there were some really nice people here and this place was great. Ya just felt like you had to read every thread. I miss that.

Gradually Dockside has become a breeding ground of personal insult and ridicule. I am not trying to kiss up, I am not trying to seem all high and mighty, I just wish some of you would just GROW UP and let this place get back to the type of place that brings people in. Right now it just turns people away. I know I personaly havent posted here much at all lately, and for now it will mostly stay that way. I have learned a lot from the engine forums and make feable attempts to help where I can. This place motivated me to restore a motor, a very rewarding thing. BUT the Dockside Chat is no longer a place from which positive things come from. Sorry guys, just had to vent........................I know I have had quarrels with some here and hope I havent offended anyone. I will now expect a slurry of posts about how I should shut my mouth and deal with the political fights and name calling. So be it. Maybe I just need to learn to change............

 

[CJY]

Re: I wonder

Pony,

I have only been here a bit over a year. I probably missed those days, I may have even helped eliminate them...I don't know.

I'm sure the last thing you wanted to have posted in here is politics. The fact of the matter is that there is much turmoil in the world and we all want things to be peaceful. We all want to pay a buck for a gallon of gas and have a secure job, and on and on. With things as they are in the world right now, there is great stress. Stress caused by people dying, stress caused by leadership decisions, whether you are for or against and on and on.

We bring the stress here sometimes as a way to vent I guess. We have opinions and when we air them, there is bound to be someone that disagrees. A person says something that may be or may not be intended as it was taken....and we are off to the races. When we speak of world issues, they are usually very very serious topics. Topics that people are very passionate over.

I believe if we were all sitting on a bar stool face to face, it would be much easier to communicate w/o anger and frustration. When something is typed and posted, body language, facial expressions cannot be read. It is difficult to read the feeling or intent of a post not seeing the person say it. This leads to feelings being hurt, and people saying things that would probably never have been said, if they could have only been able to read body language.

I don't see things changing in the world too quickly, unfortunately.

 

[Pony]

Re: I wonder

CJY,

I am not against talking about politics and world issues at all..............I take dockside chat to mean talking about stuff you might talk to your buddies about while fishiing etc.

I agree that these issues are important and emotive for all of us. The difference, and the part that I think mucks up the iboats waters, is when at any given time you have 3 or 4 Bush bashing threads or 10 threads with the same content being spewed by the same people over and over again. I just wish we could have the discussions without the bashing, without the name calling, without the putting down of others. That isnt chat, or how I would communicate with someone sitting next to me in a bar.

 

[Plainsman]

Re: I wonder

"I just wish we could have the discussions without the bashing, without the name calling, without the putting down of others."

I agree. It would be nice if there was civil discussion. I have only been here a few months so I guess I missed out on the good old days as well.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: I wonder

Great comments! That is why I wrote the Open Apology thread. Things were getting rough.

Bob

 

[CJY]

Re: I wonder

Pony, I see what you are saying. But try to see the other side as well. When you say "Bush bashing," and "spewed" those words add fuel to the fire. You are entitled to say or voice those words, but the problem is there will be a reaction to them. The only way we will ever talk politics here without some passion being displayed is when we all agree. I feel safe in saying, it won't happen. W is not being bashed for the sake of it. At least not in all cases. Some of us truly dislike the direction he is taking us. If we could not voice our opinion as an American, we would be getting along very well with Kim Jong Il right now. That would not be a good thing.

I think part of the issue here on iboats may be that this cite is not entirely dominated by reps/cons as it use to be. There have been many many step up to voice their dem/lib opinions just in the year or so that I have been here.

Just my thoughts. Discard as needed.

 

[JRJ]

Re: I wonder

Its just fun and games. There really is no right or wrong Political experts are like a crap game. No one cares if you buy in or not. Relax and have fun. No one else's opinion really matters to anyone else. Its just nice to know people that think and agree with our opinions8)

 

[chugger]

Re: I wonder

I like it the way it is. After a while you start to get an insight into how various members think and can predict who's going to post what on any given topic. Once you reach that point you can filter out the chaff from the wheat. You can tell a troll from a point of view. Every now and then I'll take a break from reading posts from certain members because I just don't feel like dealing with their hate or anger but for the most part there's a lot of good information here that goes beyond boating. Other times I look forward to reading their post because they make me feel better about my own shortcommings. On days when I feel I've mistreated someone I come here read a few post and think to myself, hey I'm not that bad.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: I wonder

[colour=blue]The 'good old days' had the same trolls and name calling, it just seems worse now because of what is maybe seen as a no win situation in the middle east. Gotta blame someone, gotta vent somewhere..................................

There where many more threads a couple of years ago, a good mix of jokes, politics, religion, light bulbs (or is that light globes?) and trivia.

 

[Pony]

Re: I wonder

Pony, I see what you are saying. But try to see the other side as well. When you say "Bush bashing," and "spewed" those words add fuel to the fire. You are entitled to say or voice those words, but the problem is there will be a reaction to them.

I definately agree with "spewed"....but......what else can you call a series of threads about Bush in which even in the title he or those who voted for him are "dummies"?? I'm not saying I am for or against him.....just commenting on the threads that pop up on a regular basis.

Plain and simple a few members clearly are out just to get a reaction out of everyone. Trolls galore. After awhile it becomes (to me at least) annoying.

Maybe its just growing pains........................................... and the issues are ineviteable.

There has always been trolls and some name calling, but it doesnt seem as civil as it was before.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: I wonder

"believe if we were all sitting on a bar stool face to face, it would be much easier to communicate w/o anger and frustration. "

You can bet that some would keep their mouths shut too.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: I wonder

I have been around for a little while too Pony, and have noticed changes...but that's OK.....just roll with the punches and accept everyone for what they are.
I do understand your position, but change is inevitable, so take the best from it and leave the rest.
And hey Kenneth, I reckon I could name a couple who wouldn't turn up......but I bet all the good guys would.
Cheers
Phillip

 

[Link]

Re: I wonder

I have been around for a little while too Pony, and have noticed changes...but that's OK.....just roll with the punches and accept everyone for what they are.
I do understand your position, but change is inevitable, so take the best from it and leave the rest.
And hey Kenneth, I reckon I could name a couple who wouldn't turn up......but I bet all the good guys would.
Cheers
Phillip

You said a lot there my friend.
See my post "Per SBNs Request"

Your SIG text says alot!

 

[Link]

Re: I wonder

Hate Lag time for double posts that can not be deleted by user!

 

[12Footer]

Re: I wonder

I've been here since iboats opened it. And everything is relative. You should've been around shortly after 9/11.... We were united ,with the exception of one terrorist who got banned. The only one i can think of who WAS banned.
My point (outside of "theory of relativity"), is people can pretty much say what they want here, without being banned, as long as they are cival. One banned member sine 2001??? The mods can verify this, as i am not certain of it -- yet, where else has this been accomplished online?
We had a great boat/fish blog down here in Florida. It's still around, but the inmates now run the asylum there. Sad really, as I miss all my buds on that site.
The same can't happen here. We wont stand for it.
So cowboy-up, mate. These things too, shall pass

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: I wonder

Like 12Footer, I've been around here about the same amount of time. Rarely have I gone a month without checking in, but still lurked everyday.

Awhile back I posted a topic about the old timers. Was glad to see that some are still with us. I do know that some have left because of the bantering and name calling.

Keep in mind that if you see name calling going on, REPORT IT! It just may get the message across that it won't be permitted. There is plenty of ways to get a message across without being offensive. Thanks and have a great day............SS

 

[LadyFish]

Re: I wonder

You know I agree with what you say Pony but I also know that a discussion board is what the members make it. By that I mean its up to us to post interesting, funny, or light hearted stuff in order to change the flavor of the board. If we just read what others post and don't contribute then it is what it is. I'm guilty of not posting the light hearted stuff like I used to. I guess for awhile I thought members would rather discuss politics than read a silly post from me.

Let's all start contributing again. Rest assured the board will be as fun as we make it.:}

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: I wonder

Oh, don't get me started back.:devil::devil:

 

[PW2]

Re: I wonder

I've been here a long time, and I think you have a romanticized a version of dockside that never existed.

Sure, pre-Iraq war there were few opinions dared to be expressed on the left side of the spectrum, but they were there, and only a few dared to express them.

All in all, it is a well moderated forum, IMHO, and while juvenile behavior occasionally rears up, a person can avoid them if he wishes.

Frankly, it would be incredibly boring if we only allowed PC discussions, or if we expected everyone to agree with everyone else.

 

[technostingray]

Re: I wonder

common denominator. The fact that the dock is Reactionary heavy, coupled with the interpretaition of rules, means a more volitile atmosphere.
you dirty liberal you The overriding influence and direction that threads take is dictated by concurrence rather than a just analysis. Peace, My Bruthah
Edited version (self this time)