Geez, here we go again...!
The way I see it is, "Casual Conversation" should not (ever) appear on the "New Posts" list, this has been causing more troubles when its worth, why...??? every time I log on to IAP (first thing in the morning) and check things out, I many many of us go straight to the "New Posts" option, this is in my view a simple way to keep tabs on new and recent stuff without having to jump from topic to topic.
Generally the titles of the threads will determine our decision to open and see what is all about, these some choice system applies to titles that we feel are political or controversial and that, WE (those who apply...!) would not go and look for them specifically, we either had the gut full of them or just don't like to do through the emotions one can get by getting involved in a argument or by simply reading things that normally (more often than not) endup upsetting us and put us in a bad mood for the rest of the day.
It would be very silly and totally nonsense to claim, none of that "stuff" will affect us...! doesn't work like that, and you should know better...! With this said, MOST of the offensive words and thoughts expressed in posts are the result of that "mood" someone put us on, and I just don't believe that someone can be so thick skinned that would completely and totally be unaffected by being offended or being "walked" on, HUMANS do not have that capability, period...!
So, do I believe "Casual Conversation" topic which basically means to some, "right to shoot to kill" should be allowed on IAP, absolutely not. There are many other forums out there that "specialize" on those matters/issues, and that's where people should go...! Unfortunately for many of us, these type threads are basically thrown in our faces and being humans with a dangerous and most of the times hurtful since of curiosity, we click on these things just to have a look, which rapidly become a lot more than that. I would not go to Casual Conversation at all, in any other circumstances, certainly not after realising what issues are allowed to be discussed in there...!
The big problem with all this is while everyone realises that, while we may be responsible for the influx of new members and people that want to start making pens, and this is the result of the amount of unique information, assistance and materials sources available to anyone, this is the right recipe to attract or put the turning "bug" on anyone. But while we do this (the older members, age not relevant...!), we destroy their interest in participate and be part of the group.
We are certainly not giving a good example to all these new members (again age not relevant), in fact, while they try gathering as much information as they can, they prefer to stay in the "shadows" and not get caught/involved in something that they don't know or can handle,
and this my friends is what is wrong...! I put myself in the shoes of many people, right here, right now, and opening the IAP this morning has put me in a pass that I didn't expect or wanted, clicking on "new posts" that was suppose to be about pen turning/making, I found myself spending well over 1 1/2 hours reading this whole thread, and finding myself with the need to say to everyone, enough is enough peoples...!
For 1 1/2 hours this morning I have not learnt or seen anything that I like or wished to see, I haven't discussed or shared anything to do with pens, and apart from giving another headache, I don't feel that I start the day the way I would prefer, these things give me a knot in my gut and upsets me considerably, something that I don't get, by the contrary, when I'm discussing things that really matter...!
I have spent lately a lot more time involved with these issues than I like and or though possible/desirable, in an International forum about pen making/turning or that is what it was suppose to be and reason why I joined so, myself and I believe many others out there in this forum, are reaching breaking point about these damaging and time consuming issues...!
So my friends, old and new, "what's happening to IAP" is simple really, you still leave in the same house and street but the neighbours keep changing...! Each one of those neighbours is different than the previous one, you have to adapt to those changes and more importantly you have to respect those differences. The friendships or the "association" you had previously, will be established if you give yourself the time to know who is around you now, scaring them and make them be all defensive and hide in the shadows, will not help you a bit, unless you prefer to be ignored all together.
This "mood" has to change and the very first step I would be doing if I was in Jeff's position, was to keep this and any identical topics where it/they belong(s), if he decides to keep it, there is in a place where you only go there if you so wish and not thrown into peoples faces on the "New Posts" threads selection...! It has consumed all my IAP time this morning, and I'm not that happy about it, nor I should...!
I apologise for anything said that may make some feel upset by, and for another one of my normal long posts, I wish that I had the ability to use words the way some were do, including our very own
DCBluesman that has expressed beautifully in his last post (#30) the essence and deep reality of one of the facts that is affecting lots of people in our days, and that has a lot to do with
LandfillLumber's question...!
Cheers
George
:tongue:
