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[John Shaw]

It's hard to always remember these tips, so I'm writing them down for my use and yours. I have violated all of them on occassion, and so have you, but let's try to remember 'em anyhow.


1. Post interesting new topics.

2. Don't shit on threads.

3. Stay somewhat on topic.

4. Come up with new ideas rather than complain about other people's bad ideas.

5. Get real. Let the shield slip a bit. The hottest area of the BBS apart from General has been Serious Business, because people can be honest and open without being attacked, and most people actually DO care about each other.

6. Posts that are nothing but a news article usually end up making for lame threads. Everyone makes 'em, including me, but today's news is tomorrow's old news. Talk about the core of an issue and cite an article, but don't just post a link and expect a bunch of people to say much beyond "Well that sucks" or "Those fucking assholes!"

7. Stop fucking fighting and attacking other users and mods. The flame wars have *Got* to fucking stop or people stay away. You have a beef, send a PM and talk it out directly or if you can't be bothered walk away from it. I know this one is fucking hard.

8. Try to be aware of the "Narcissism of small differences". Almost everyone who comes here (Apart from trolls and political noobs) is interested in getting government out of their lives to one degree or another. Sure, "More" is better, but "Some" is still pretty good. Yes, I don't see the point of voting or giving money to politicians, but no, I shouldn't bash other people who do. Same for you.

9. Make threads that ask questions. Those ones seem to do well. Curiosity creates conversation. I've seen weird and goofy threads lead to great conversations, and I've seen very serious threads devolve into boring shitstorms. If the mood is light, people open up.

10. Accept that the site is moderated now and quit bitching about it. Go to /b/ if you want random insanity with random people who you'll never know or care about and with zero accountability.

11. Stop complaining about me, John Shaw, personally. When I am left alone I participate, and frankly, and I say this with no egotism intended, I start many of the threads that people want to converse in. It's not because I'm a mod and that makes me some sort of fucking leader or some bullshit. I had just as big an effect before I was a mod and long timers here will attest to that. Apply this rule to any other user who adds more than they take. Don't bite the hand that feeds you and you'll get fat. If you haven't noticed, every time someone starts shit with me nowadays I'll engage for a little bit and then leave for several days. There is a reason for this. You don't get what small or large benefit I bring to the table if you treat me badly. The same goes for other people as well, but maybe they don't have the temerity to say it out loud. I notice Joy and Dale and a bunch of the cooler people posting more when shit isn't flying everywhere.

12. Stop bitching about the lack of volume and speak up about shit. Stop fucking cursing the darkness and light a goddamned candle already.

[Diogenes The Cynic]

Thank you for saying this.

[hellbilly]

I'll add one -

When someone has walked away from an issue, the other party involved should drop it.

There have been several occasions where I'm the one who walks away only to return and find my name brought up in an effort to stir up more drama.

[John Shaw]

I have violated all of them on occasion, and so have you, but let's try to remember 'em anyhow.

That thing you just did, Hellbilly? Stop it. Seriously. You can't take a shot while making a post about how people shouldn't be taking shots.

[hellbilly]

.... the drama just doesn't stop eh?

I referred to no one by name and didn't even have you in mind when I typed that.

No shot was taken.

You and a few others here are absolutely fucking determined to be offended by something. I don't know if if's paranoia or drama overload but ease up.

[anarchir]

.... the drama just doesn't stop eh?

I referred to no one by name and didn't even have you in mind when I typed that.

No shot was taken.

You and a few others here are absolutely fucking determined to be offended by something. I don't know if if's paranoia or drama overload but ease up.

You sayin I'm paranoid? Huh? HUH? Just because I fill my vaporizer with chemtrails and eat fake lunar dust for breakfast.

[hellbilly]

STOP POKIN THA BARE!!

speaking of lunar dust though, did you see the metal ball that fell from the sky in the news last week?

Propellant tank. Not something from an alien space colony.

[Turd Ferguson]

Propellant tank. Not something from an alien space colony.

HUH??

Awwwwww!!

[mikehz]

For a long time, I visited this BBS several times a day. I pretty much abandoned it when the place degenerated into just a playground for trolls.

[hellbilly]

Propellant tank. Not something from an alien space colony.

HUH??

Awwwwww!!

Hated to break it to ya. Felt like a moment from Ol Yeller.

[Turd Ferguson]

Propellant tank. Not something from an alien space colony.

HUH??

Awwwwww!!

Hated to break it to ya. Felt like a moment from Ol Yeller.

I just wish you would have let me go on believing. 

[JDW]

For a long time, I visited this BBS several times a day. I pretty much abandoned it when the place degenerated into just a playground for trolls.

Might I suggest we buy some goats, goats kick trolls butts.

[alaric89]

Did you mean this:

vs. this?

Uh yeah. Otherwise I don't get it.

[anarchir]

The Three Billy Goats Gruff


Once upon a time there were three billy goats, who were to go up to the hillside to make themselves fat, and the name of all three was "Gruff."

On the way up was a bridge over a cascading stream they had to cross; and under the bridge lived a great ugly troll , with eyes as big as saucers, and a nose as long as a poker.

So first of all came the youngest Billy Goat Gruff to cross the bridge.

"Trip, trap, trip, trap! " went the bridge.

"Who's that tripping over my bridge?" roared the troll .

"Oh, it is only I, the tiniest Billy Goat Gruff , and I'm going up to the hillside to make myself fat," said the billy goat, with such a small voice.

"Now, I'm coming to gobble you up," said the troll.

"Oh, no! pray don't take me. I'm too little, that I am," said the billy goat. "Wait a bit till the second Billy Goat Gruff comes. He's much bigger."

"Well, be off with you," said the troll.

A little while after came the second Billy Goat Gruff to cross the bridge.

Trip, trap, trip, trap, trip, trap, went the bridge.

"Who's that tripping over my bridge?" roared the troll.

"Oh, it's the second Billy Goat Gruff , and I'm going up to the hillside to make myself fat," said the billy goat, who hadn't such a small voice.

"Now I'm coming to gobble you up," said the troll.

"Oh, no! Don't take me. Wait a little till the big Billy Goat Gruff comes. He's much bigger."

"Very well! Be off with you," said the troll.

But just then up came the big Billy Goat Gruff .

Trip, trap, trip, trap, trip, trap! went the bridge, for the billy goat was so heavy that the bridge creaked and groaned under him.

"Who's that tramping over my bridge?" roared the troll.

"It's I! The big Billy Goat Gruff ," said the billy goat, who had an ugly hoarse voice of his own.

"Now I 'm coming to gobble you up," roared the troll.

Well, come along! I've got two spears,
And I'll poke your eyeballs out at your ears;
I've got besides two curling-stones,
And I'll crush you to bits, body and bones.

That was what the big billy goat said. And then he flew at the troll, and poked his eyes out with his horns, and crushed him to bits, body and bones, and tossed him out into the cascade, and after that he went up to the hillside. There the billy goats got so fat they were scarcely able to walk home again. And if the fat hasn't fallen off them, why, they're still fat; and so,

Snip, snap, snout.
This tale's told out.

[alaric89]

Oh. 
Feeling a little ignorant right now.