| Author | Message | ||
     Dave Ross Citizen Username: Dave Post Number: 6015 Registered: 4-1998  |
After watching more or less the same conversations happen again and again over the past year with the same empty platitudes, attacks and virtual smashing of clubs over heads, I'm giving serious consideration to a 2nd Soapbox that would be either real name based (probably not), invite-only, possibly small annual fee-based to ensure some level of compliance and for regular mail sending of passwords, and/or more moderated (definitely a zero tolerance level for personal attacks). The original Soapbox would remain as-is. Thoughts? | ||
| bobk Citizen Username: Bobk Post Number: 4151 Registered: 5-2001 |
Someone suggested splitting the Soapbox into National and Local sections. Most of the attack dogs and shock jocks post mostly on National issues and even this relatively minor change might work. The real name experiment didn't work because to few of us were willing to leave the message board closet. | ||
| wharfrat Citizen Username: Wharfrat Post Number: 892 Registered: 6-2001 |
Dave, FWIW, if people want to maintain the somewhat anonymous username system, back-up a zero tolerance for personal attacks with a fee for reactivating a password after a suspension. BTW, your suggestion of a pay-for-soapbox indirectly reminds me of the Simpson's family therapy episode, where they pay big bucks to electric shock one another. | ||
| Jerseyfabulous Citizen Username: Jerseyfabulous Post Number: 53 Registered: 9-2003 |
"possibly small annual fee-based to ensure some level of compliance " Look @ Dave trying to make another dollar. Now we are going to sensor opinions to cater to those who can afford to express said opinion? Who is running this board Straw? | ||
| jfburch Citizen Username: Jfburch Post Number: 1182 Registered: 6-2001 |
FWIW, I predict that a clean soapbox (or any separate/double section) will look a lot like the old real names section. | ||
| Nohero Citizen Username: Nohero Post Number: 2615 Registered: 10-1999  |
The unfortunate side-effect of the free and open debate, is that some people will abuse the privilege (as they verbally abuse fellow posters). I think any of the suggestions to control or limit access, would impair that free and open debate. Maybe we here in the cheap seats could do our part. After all, it's not necessary to respond to every post "trolling" for angry responses. Is there a well-recognized short-hand we could use for the thought: "Once again, I think you're absolutely wrong, but I'm not going to waste my time repeating what I've typed before"? The zero tolerance for personal attacks is essential. And, I hope Dave sticks to his guns on suspensions; don't give in even if a crowd forms shouting for the release of the latest wrong-doer. All-in-all, even with some of the negatives, this open forum is a terrific resource which the Ross brothers make available for us. | ||
| ML1 Citizen Username: Ml1 Post Number: 1432 Registered: 5-2002  |
Dave, I think you're doing a great job refereeing the current Sandbox (er, Soapbox). I don't know if you need to change anything. The non-controversial areas of the board like "Please Help" and "Virtual Cafe" are fine and it's a lot of fun to participate in them. If someone doesn't like the tone of a Soapbox thread, they can stay out. Maybe you just need to change the heading to give people fair warning. Get rid of the cow, and replace it with a stove. "If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the Soapbox."  | ||
| tjohn Citizen Username: Tjohn Post Number: 2010 Registered: 12-2001  |
I think the idea of a reinstatement fine has a lot of merit. This is not an infringement of free speech but rather, a control of vulgar speech and mean speech. While this distinction may be to controversial for the Supreme Court to define, certainly Dave can handle it in this little ole Soapbox. | ||
| United Strawberry of America Citizen Username: Strawberry Post Number: 1651 Registered: 10-2001  |
A private soapbox?? You mean a place where Communists and liberals can discuss the price of an egg until the end of time?? Sounds silly and far fetched to me. Now, on the other hand if it's a way for Dave to earn some more money, you have my blessings. Afterall despite what most here on MOL think, Dave is a capitalist and a damn good one. "We won't always have the strongest military" --Howard Dean "Most competent and qualified kindergarden teachers can tell you who the 5 kids are in his or her class likely to wind up in prison 15 - 20 years from now." --Howard Dean | ||
| Ukealalio Citizen Username: Ukealalio Post Number: 315 Registered: 6-2003 |
Senator StrawCarthy, Just where are all these commies you are talking about?. I see some paranoia creeping in there buddy. Next thing you know, you'll be investigating who put the red in the Stars and Bars. | ||
| United Strawberry of America Citizen Username: Strawberry Post Number: 1655 Registered: 10-2001 |
We have quite a few Communists here on MOL. I would name them but Dave would ban me for making a personal attack, so I won't. little hint though. One of them stopped posting about a year ago after crashing and burning on line. He's come back a few times using different names. The last time, it was to attack Mem for some stupid reason. The guy's insane. "We won't always have the strongest military" --Howard Dean "Most competent and qualified kindergarden teachers can tell you who the 5 kids are in his or her class likely to wind up in prison 15 - 20 years from now." --Howard Dean | ||
| Ukealalio Citizen Username: Ukealalio Post Number: 319 Registered: 6-2003 |
Hey Straw, Are you the reincarnation of Roy Cohn ?. | ||
| bobk Citizen Username: Bobk Post Number: 4154 Registered: 5-2001 |
"I have in my hand a list of 200 MOL posters who are certified communists and are still allowed to post on this board. My fellow Maplewoodians, this is an outrage and can not be allowed to continue!!" Senator Joseph (Waistgunner Joe) Strawberry, Republican, Wisconsin.  | ||
| Ukealalio Citizen Username: Ukealalio Post Number: 320 Registered: 6-2003 |
Fellow Maplewoodians and South Orangers, Senator StrawCarthy will be holding hearings at the Town Hall. If you want to keep you career and avoid being blacklisted, it's best you start naming names, now!!!. That neighbor who bought the red car (when you know other color options were available), GUILTY, did you have a picture of Old St. Nick in your abode ? (with his RED suit and Red nose), GUILTY, that family of red heads down the block, GUILTY. Lets help Senator StrawCarthy rid our quaint old towns of the RED THREAT NOW!!!!. | ||
| United Strawberry of America Citizen Username: Strawberry Post Number: 1658 Registered: 10-2001 |
no threat to me. Heck, in a town filled with bleeding heart liberals I'll take a commie here and there instead any day. "We won't always have the strongest military" --Howard Dean "Most competent and qualified kindergarden teachers can tell you who the 5 kids are in his or her class likely to wind up in prison 15 - 20 years from now." --Howard Dean | ||
| Ukealalio Citizen Username: Ukealalio Post Number: 321 Registered: 6-2003 |
"in a town filled with bleeding heart liberals". The question ya gotta ask yourself is, Why would a saviour of the free world like Straw choose to live amongst subversives and enemies of the free United States ?. Is he infiltrating enemy territory, or is he actually a double agent ?. Stay tuned....... | ||
| United Strawberry of America Citizen Username: Strawberry Post Number: 1660 Registered: 10-2001 |
why do I live here? Cause I'm loaded and can afford to pay a crap load in taxes thanks to the failed democratic leadership Maplewood's been stuck with for 10 years. "We won't always have the strongest military" --Howard Dean "Most competent and qualified kindergarden teachers can tell you who the 5 kids are in his or her class likely to wind up in prison 15 - 20 years from now." --Howard Dean | ||
| Ukealalio Citizen Username: Ukealalio Post Number: 323 Registered: 6-2003 |
Well that answers the question about being a double agent. "thanks to the failed democratic leadership Maplewood's been stuck with for 10 years",didn't I see a past post where you admitted to voting for that democratic leadership?. The great Senator Homer StrawCarthy has spoken. | ||
| Dave Ross Citizen Username: Dave Post Number: 6016 Registered: 4-1998 |
This turned out to be an incorrect guess on everyone's part. If you're at all interested in the truth and not conducting mean-spirited witch hunts (of which you accuse others of doing to you), you'd stop now. | ||
| Tom Reingold the prissy-pants Citizen Username: Noglider Post Number: 1546 Registered: 1-2003  |
I don't think you'd have many takers to a private soapbox. It's easy to find other fora (is that the plural of forum? ) for talking politics. And wharfrat's idea of a paid penalty wouldn't do much good. People would just get new anonymous identities (if that's not an oxymoron). Several people have told me that they're scared off of MOL because of the tone. I think that's a shame. I would like to see a solution, though, and I hope we come up with a useful proposal here. Bear in mind that people often post in the "wrong" section, so the rules should be the same in all sections. Tom Reingold There is nothing |
