..lost it's edge. Since the cyber-spanking we all got, not many posts or threads are coming our way here. It just doesn't cut it anymore. You think?

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Still The Most Humbly Prideful (?) Member Of The Illuminati!

Mark

[This message has been edited by skywalker (edited 10-28-2001).]

It has slowed some, but it's still a very interesting forum. I actually appreciate the slow down because I was having a hard time responding to everything before http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif


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http://www.wizardrealm.com/images/rb.gif http://www.usflag.org/animate/flagwave1.gif

"Your right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins."

I agree with you, Mark. I think the forum itself wasn't a bad idea but they way things have turned out.... I spend very little time on it as it stands, and I don't think it's really working out anymore.

The real key is to keep tempers down while discussing highly emotional issues. I think the request for people calming down resulted in people just leaving the forum. It wasn't that the opinions weren't welcome, it was that there was too much anger.

Early on, I found myself getting very angry at things I read, but now I just want to share my point of view. Now that the new is gone, the anger is to, at least for me.

It maybe time to merge this forum into something larger, like a "World Views" forum allowing for serious discussion on a wide range of topics. The war on terrorism certainly isn't the only thing going on in the world, it's just the most prominent. A "World Views" forum could allow discussions on issues completely unrelated to terrorism.

I believe there is a need for a serious issues forum at IW like this one, so GD can remain a place of fun and frolic.

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http://www.wizardrealm.com/images/rb.gif http://www.usflag.org/animate/flagwave1.gif

"Your right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins."

[This message has been edited by Ronn_Bman (edited 10-28-2001).]

Funny it is a forum about War. Tempers flare...that's what war is all about! No one should really take the flare ups too personally. But I guess that's just being human!

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Still The Most Humbly Prideful (?) Member Of The Illuminati!

Mark

Thats a good point http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...es/biggrin.gif And all the more reason to keep this type issue in a separate forum.

I have found that, since I stopped getting (so) angry, I'm able to present my point of view much better. The people reading it may not think so http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...iles/frown.gif , but I, personally, feel that now I say what I intended and explain my thinking more clearly.

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http://www.wizardrealm.com/images/rb.gif http://www.usflag.org/animate/flagwave1.gif

"Your right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins."

[This message has been edited by Ronn_Bman (edited 10-28-2001).]

I really believe that the average person simply wants everyone else to understand and agree with their view! We all want our thoughts to be accepted and respected. Sometimes it feels like if someone opposes your idea and ideals, they don't like you. That's where I think most of the anger comes in to play. It is very hard to be objective when the subject carries lots of passion. One thing I did notice was if the mods let it go long enough, we eventually doused the fires ourselves. This particular forum can never be a part of the happy family of forums. It has to be separate to be successful. A happy and considerate War Forum is an oxymoron and I'm just the moron to point it out!http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...miles/wink.gif http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...es/biggrin.gif

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Still The Most Humbly Prideful (?) Member Of The Illuminati!

Mark

Another reason I think you see a slow down in here is because many aspects of this conflict have been covered already. When something like this is new, people want to talk about every single detail, now they're not as interested in debating every point. Combine this with the hostility factor...

We've hardly covered every issue here, but a quick look back at the archives will show that all the major points have been "hit" and discussed at length.

You are completely right about people wanting their opinion validated!
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http://www.wizardrealm.com/images/rb.gif http://www.usflag.org/animate/flagwave1.gif

"Your right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins."

[This message has been edited by Ronn_Bman (edited 10-28-2001).]

You have 'improved' a lot, lol! http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...es/biggrin.gif

I agree - it shouldn't just be a war forum. A Serious Discussions forum, maybe?

I think some of the most thoughtful posters have left because they hated the anger - and of course we don't have Diogenes, who has a talent for raising though-provoking issues. (I hope Ziroc cools down and lets him back in soon).

People have become nervous of expressing their opinions, too, in case someone takes offence.
It can be difficult, sometimes, to realise you have said something in an insulting way - (I have been accused of being insulting myself, on a number of occasions, without having had a clue that I was being insulting) - so people are nervous of posting in here in case they are chucked off the board for something they didn't know they'd done....

I think it is a pity. There is nothing at all wrong with a strong and vigorous debate, so long as we are good-mannered about it. *sigh* Oh, well...




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Here be Dragons!
Proud to be Dubbed Queen of the Illuminati by Diogenes.

"If I say something to you and it can be taken two ways, and one of those ways upsets you...I meant the other one."

If that is what 'edge' was, then I'm glad it's gone. http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...miles/wink.gif I think this forum is doing just fine now.


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Ziroc™
Ironworks Webmaster
www.tgeweb.com/ironworks

[This message has been edited by Ziroc (edited 10-29-2001).]

I do too. I don't mind a good debate, and am happy to see them. But anger and hostility can build and not just from one post or a thread. The overall atmosphere gains that feeling as well. I think the forum will bounce back soon.
There was certainly a little recoil effect from last week. Time will heal things and as long as no flaming and disrespect occur I think you'll see a vigorous forum again.

Ronn, I like what you had to say on the issue. http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif


Cloudy

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http://www.wizardrealm.com/images/cloudy.gif
Raindancer of the Laughing Hyenas Clan
CloudDragon of the OHF
Storm-Queen
Raven's Cloud
StormCloud of the Black Knight: Heart Mind Soul Forever
"To sleep, perchance to dream..."

[This message has been edited by Cloudbringer (edited 10-29-2001).]

Skywalker, people needed a wake-up call. Just because we're not seeing arguments, tempers flaring, and a lot of activity here doesn't mean it's died. A hiatus such as this can give people perspective on things. Besides, I found a lot of the arguments and debates were becoming circular last week, anyway.

Give it time, and people will post - and hopefully everyone can all respect each other and learn not to take everything so personally. http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif

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http://www.angelfire.com/anime2/memnoch/memnochsig.gif http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...iles/hero2.gif

Ziroc, Cloudy, Memnoch - yes, it HAD gone over the top. And yes, many arguments had become circular - boring and pointless, just an excuse for venting anger.
We DID need a wake-up call, lol!
But it was such a very LOUD call that people ARE genuinely afraid that if they express a strong opinion that many disagree with, they are going to get chucked off. So people are keeping stum and that is not good.

The forum hasn't just been woken up, its been emasculated, imo. I don't think Skywalker was saying that anger and arrogance were what gave this forum its edge - it was the free expression of viewpoint that did that.

Having to be falling over backwards all the time in order not to offend doesn't help us to understand the other point of view at all. Polite platitudes separate people as much as rage, if not more so. Imo.
http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...s/EEhearts.gif


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http://www.angelfire.com/mi4/hclark50/flojs_14783.gif

Here be Dragons!
Proud to be Dubbed Queen of the Illuminati by Diogenes.

"If I say something to you and it can be taken two ways, and one of those ways upsets you...I meant the other one."

People may have taken it that way, but I don't believe it was ever the point. Strong opinions weren't targeted unless the stong opinion was that "so and so" was a jerk,etc., and the flaming had to end. Arguments can be held without making personal attacks.

You and I have done it frequently http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...iles/smile.gif


BTW, I have noticed we've agreed a couple of times over the weekend http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...es/biggrin.gif



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http://www.wizardrealm.com/images/rb.gif http://www.usflag.org/animate/flagwave1.gif

"Your right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins."

F, give it time. It's only been a week! http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...miles/wink.gif

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http://www.angelfire.com/anime2/memnoch/memnochsig.gif http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...iles/hero2.gif

Would it help any if I were to apologize? I am fully equiped and quite capable to grovel and agree with anyone's side in the arguement uh...i mean discussion at hand. Or, I could follow each post with "Hey, thats what I was about to say!!" Perhaps, I could reply with the simple phrase "thats what you think". You know, to be an arse. What say you?


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"I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
-Robert McCloskey
http://www.wizardrealm.com/images/hs2.gif http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...lil-ribbon.gif

<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>Token lackwit of HADB
<LI>Sycophant to the Wolf of Azure Hue
<LI>Long lost brother of DragonMage
<LI>Bearer of a work of art created by Sazerac
<LI>Jeg burde blive gennembanket for min flatulens.[/list]

I agree with this premise. No use flogging a dead horse.

I for one, hate repeating myself.


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http://www.wizardrealm.com/images/yor.gif http://www.animfactory.com/animation...ing_lg_clr.gif

Is it possible that there may be other posters who might want to give their perspective too the same "old" issues?



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Still The Most Humbly Prideful (?) Member Of The Illuminati!

Mark

Sure, I think we'll see more people coming in here wanting to discuss things they weren't here for. And as situations change, some topics will need to re-evaluated.


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http://www.wizardrealm.com/images/rb.gif http://www.usflag.org/animate/flagwave1.gif

"Your right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins."

The threads are still there. I'm sure if someone wanted to reply they would.



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http://www.wizardrealm.com/images/yor.gif http://www.animfactory.com/animation...ing_lg_clr.gif

OK! ok, already! http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no.../1grlaugh2.gif

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http://www.angelfire.com/mi4/hclark50/flojs_14783.gif

Here be Dragons!
Proud to be Dubbed Queen of the Illuminati by Diogenes.

"If I say something to you and it can be taken two ways, and one of those ways upsets you...I meant the other one."

LOL! Yes, indeedy! http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no.../xyxthumbs.gif

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http://www.angelfire.com/mi4/hclark50/flojs_14783.gif

Here be Dragons!
Proud to be Dubbed Queen of the Illuminati by Diogenes.

"If I say something to you and it can be taken two ways, and one of those ways upsets you...I meant the other one."

An excellent sugggestion IMO!

I am not likely to discuss much on the war issues since I am anti-(but so far half-impressed by)Bush, which I've learned goes against the grain with a lot of people here (of both American political parties) but I would find interest in more serious threads that may take some of the light-heartedness out of GD if they were there.



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The best thing about karma is that you create your own.

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C'mon Moni! Never be afraid to Bushwhack! You've got a friend in that right here! http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...es/biggrin.gif

Hugs Moni!



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Still The Most Humbly Prideful (?) Member Of The Illuminati!

Mark

http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...hterpurple.gif http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/noncgi/smiles/485.gif http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...s/biglaugh.gif
HUGS MARK!
http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/no...s/EEhearts.gif



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