I've been lingering about this forum for roughly three years now, playing witness to its evolution along the way.

In the past it was common place to read posts that obscured what I - and probably most of you - believe to be the intent of this forum (a place free from personal attack of ones personal opinion).

Gone are those days of endless flame wars irrelevant, in my opinion, to the purpose of any thread. Sure flame wars have errupted here and there, from time to time, lately but they're snuffed out and stifled, maintaining what I - and probably most of you - believe to be the intent of this forum.

Moderators deserve credit for this. :cool:

*applause*

Wow...Porfiry..do you see this?...someone not complaining about something pointless.

This liquior is good.

fireguy brings up a good point. I've been here nearly two years (a year and a half if you take away the six months I was away for) and when I first came it was 'bitch' this and 'whore' that. It was like a flame warzone. Flamers have been found earlier and earlier and I think that the members here as a whole have matured somewhat. Plaster me crazy, but I also have to congratulate the mods on this.

And apologies to Porf , I changed me avatar

I agree: I popped in every now and then and found the boards deteriorating badly. I hadn't completely given up though, and when I recently took a peek things were back to how they were when I joined. Bravo to the persons responsible. I've always believed this forum was about the exchange of opinions and ideas and petty bickering had no place here, so I'm glad I didn't completely give up.

Cheers
Teri

The moderators can take all the credit for that. I don't do much moderating myself, these days - too busy.

Perhaps some of the participants have grown more mature and realised that they can talk about more important things rather than the mundane. By evolving into a more understanding individual we all become more aware of our actions and how what we say shows how much intelligence we have.

Thanks for the bit of positive feedback, fireguy. It is appreciated. Cosmictraveler makes a valid point as well, and I have seen members change over the years. Another factor that occasionally comes into play is "peer" pressure. There are, although rare, occasions when the response to flaming and trolling is like howitzer shells being fired at a clay garden gnome. I have seen precise retaliation send several would-be distractions running for the hills. So the general membership should take a bow as well.

Despite the few bad apples that will always be a part of large forums, we continue to be a community.

;) Peace.

Coolskill?? You been at that whacky tabbacy again?

OOOOOPS! Post edited. :D

Thanks for the bit of positive feedback, fireguy. It is appreciated. Cosmictraveler makes a valid point as well, and I have seen members change over the years. Another factor that occasionally comes into play is "peer" pressure. There are, although rare, occasions when the response to flaming and trolling is like howitzer shells being fired at a clay garden gnome. I have seen precise retaliation send several would-be distractions running for the hills. So the general membership should take a bow as well.

Despite the few bad apples that will always be a part of large forums, we continue to be a community.

;) Peace.

absolutely correct.

and, when someone gets out of line, we can put them on ignore.

unfortunately, it's sometimes a moderator that's out of line, the bad apple, and we can't put them on ignore. what a shame.

pish posh, she's not that bad.

Actually, paulsamual:

unfortunately, it's sometimes a person you disagree with that's out of line, the bad apple, and we can't put them on ignore. what a shame.
It sounds better and more truthful when you put it like that.