When Did it Come to This?

WTF-ever.






;)










Sorry, bad taste for this serious thread, but it seemed so perfect!

Uhmm....sorry Trig, I read on and saw you ain't in a happy place right now. Sorry. ...............But think of it this way you don't have a sinus problem.:)
 
Ok now, with all due respect.

Are you really coming on here asking this, when you yourself, ripped off a newbies head and basically told him to stuff it because you didn't like his opinion?:rolleyes:

You did say this in the other thread, right?



Don't be ripping people's heads off one day and then wonder why the forum isn't more peaceful without looking at yourself first.

rep it:thumbup:
 
Nope, that was how I posted it. If I am editing...then it is usually to fix a grammatical error, or to add to a post. I am friendly, so it was not edited for that reason...if I really 'go off' on someone, it was because I was provoked.

Off course, 'Superstar' and 'mia' (aka pharaoh68) know this, and 'mia' is a huge provocateur, and always has been...and takes great delight in pushing my buttons. They are both JA members who take great delight in taking pot-shots at me here. Again...the school-yard bully mentality prevails.

Lisa

I'm not sure if mentioning my former screen-name was some sort of grand attempt to 'out' me. The truth is, many people here know who I am... including Dave Wilson. And he seems to be ok with my presence here. So if you were trying to expose me, ya kinda failed. But that's beside the point.

Here is where I'm lost. This is a forum. Its a place for ALL walks of life to gather together from ALL corners of the globe under one metaphorical 'roof'. The reason this place exists is for anyone and everyone who share the same common denominator (pool) to discuss just about anything that comes to mind. That being said, debate and differences of opinion should be welcome by one and all. You can't throw 20,000+ individuals into the same 'room' and NOT expect disagreements. And to cram that many people into one space where differences of opinion are to be accepted, its utterly ridiculous to expect EVERYONE to handle disagreement in a diplomatic matter. What's diplomatic to you may be harsh or extreme to another. So if you don't like how disagreements are treated in an open forum... STAY AWAY FROM THE FORUM!

But I get lost even further when you do things like this! John Barton was banned. And I get it! You like him. He's nice to you. Thus, you consider him a 'friend'. As such, you are quick to defend him when someone else questions whether or not he should be allowed back. You don't see past the friend aspect to recognize what's beyond that... John Barton is and always has been one of the contraversial 'button pushers' you refered to to earlier. John has a history of flaming and controversy; a rap sheet longer than MOST others on this forum. But because he's your friend, you felt a need to pick on the new guy who was just voicing HIS opinion. You felt a need to lecture him. You attacked someone that shared his opinion because YOU disagreed with him and his style. Then you claim that its people like HIM, myself, SUPERSTAR, etc. that are dragging this place down. (You see the irony there?) You threw the newbie card in his face as if join date, number of posts, or rep points have ANY bearing on the importance of what an individual has to say. And why? Because you chose to defend your friend... regardless of your friend's track record for controversy.

Your next move was to start a new thread about what a terrible state of affairs this site finds itself in lately because of individuals like myself (been a member for YEARS) and SUPERSTAR (also been a member for years) and others like us who are overly opinionated and often call people on their bullsh*t (sounds kind of like your friend John Barton, no? Who has also been a member here for years). So this terrible state that the site finds itself in as of late is based on the few names that have been here since back in the day when you loved the site so much. I find that odd. But what I find even more odd was how you claim that you were baited and that you foolishly bit the hook. Correct me if I'm wrong but some guy you had never heard of or seen before made a post about NOT you and then YOU took it upon yourself to chastise and scold him, basically putting him in his place. Then you went a step further to start a new thread (complete with your copy of Strunk & White in tow) asking why this place you once loved so much is filled with so many naysayers and instigators. You didn't really think that no one would respond did you? Are you REALLY that naive??? No. You knew what you were doing. You knew you'd get this response. YOU baited the hook Lisa. No one else. And like you've done many times before, you feel hurt and picked on and so, you're walking away for a while.

You are right, Lisa. We've had MANY a run-in before, both here and on JA. Frankly I'm not sure why you felt the need to mention JA (a site that you have touted as great in the past) but perhaps your view of that place has changed. Yet every time we have these little run-ins, I say the exact same thing: grow up and get a life. People here butt heads all the time. When it happens, most of us can take a bit of comfort in knowing this: its just an online forum and there is life beyond this. Ross, Eric, Jim, even your buddy John Barton... we have ALL butted heads with one another before. None of us have ever stormed off. None of us have ever said 'why oh why has it come to this?!' If you don't like the state of the forum(s) today, I can only suggest this...

1) Recognize that you contribute to both the positive AND the negative aspects of it all, just like the rest of us. You have pushed buttons. You voiced and defended your opinions. You stand firm in your views and defend them to the bone. You're no different than any other person here.

2) Grow some thicker skin and maybe lose the blinders. I get that you were just making a point and expressing your opinion, but the reality is that is exactly what the guy you laced into was doing. Why is he not allowed to speak his mind without being put in his place, but you are above being called out?

3) Stop visiting the forums. It may be the only way to avoid having these run-ins that you clearly don't have the thick skin to deal with or the clear sight to see your role in it all.

- B <--------- thinks you can stop using his 'screen-name' and start referring to him by his real name
 
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Lisa, I have been trying to mandate decency for years...and it's a lot like beating my head on a wall.

One day the wall might crumble before my head explodes....but I have my doubts.

People get very brave when they have a mask of anonymity, They will try and berate you, speak down to you even threaten you. All things they most likely don't have the balls to do in person.

Once you've managed to wade through the internet tough guys, cyber punks and the know-it-alls, there are some very decent people here who make the trouble worth it.

My .02
 
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The eagle turns left at midnight.

That is all.

Scott-ski
 
Lisa, I have been trying to mandate decency for years...and it's a lot like beating my head on a wall.

One day the wall might crumble before my head explodes....but I have my doubts.

People get very brave when they have a mask of anonymity, They will try and berate you, speak down to you even threaten you. All things they most likely don't have the balls to do in person.

Once you've managed to wade through the internet tough guys, cyber punks and the know-it-alls, there are some very decent people here who make the trouble worth it.

My .02

Absolutely nothing against you guys, you've pretty much done what you could and you can't please everyone. The "Ignore" feature works just fine until somebody can't resist quoting. I've been guilty of it myself:o
 
When did it

Absolutely nothing against you guys, you've pretty much done what you could and you can't please everyone. The "Ignore" feature works just fine until somebody can't resist quoting. I've been guilty of it myself:o

Theres an ignore Button? I wish I had known that sooner lol.
 
Usually , it is best to remember that these are just words on a screen - they mean no more than that ( unless , of course , you're messin' with sumbuddy's iTrader - but even he man'd up & sed sorry ! ) and there's going to be some good natured ribbing and semi-personal attacks .
Sides ? of course there's gonna be sides - nobody wants to be told what to do by some Uppity Blue-State Unisex Swingle Tryin' To Destroy America By Using a CTE System With His Low-Deflection Shaft On a Counterfeit Balabushka on a Diamond Vs. GoldCrown Table That Banks Improperly Whether Using Aramith OR Duramith Balls That He/She Still Hasn't Recieved From Unknown Ungodly Billiards Who May Be Dying or Out Of Business Although They Might Still Be Impounded By Customs Or Mistakenly Delivered To FaBigFellows Mansion . So of course there's gonna be sides - just like in anything else .
So , what I propose is , once a month we all converge at a central location , have a group hug , and sing Kumbaya !
( NO! must be Hakuna Matada ! but I want UP WITH PEOPLE . . .No! I sed Kumbaya , dad gummit !)
why can't we all just get along:love::love::smash:

You forgot about using Master vs. Blue Diamond that might wear the ferule out but give better grip
 
Define irony ... When a member posts a thread revealing her fear that the forum is collapsing to arguments, and that thread leads to, yep, you guessed it, arguments.
 
this thread is what's wrong with pool. It gives pool a bad name.

(I often wondered what it would feel like to make one of the "this is what's wrong with pool" posts you see every day..... hmmmm.... I feel a fleeting increase of heart activity, like one would get if travelling thru the desert with no water, then you think you see water in the distance):D
 
With all due respect this is pretty funny.

Certain members complain about the nature of the NPR side of the forum and yet the main forum in its own way is just as bad.

If you really want some opinionated arguments where you dont have feel bad and rarely make an apology, I suggest you join the fray in NPR to blow off some steam.
 
Lisa, I have been trying to mandate decency for years...and it's a lot like beating my head on a wall.

One day the wall might crumble before my head explodes....but I have my doubts.

People get very brave when they have a mask of anonymity, They will try and berate you, speak down to you even threaten you. All things they most likely don't have the balls to do in person.

Once you've managed to wade through the internet tough guys, cyber punks and the know-it-alls, there are some very decent people here who make the trouble worth it.

My .02

Why thanks Mike.
Its good to know you think so highly of me. I'm always glad to be there for you to make your days on AZ worthwhile and amusing.

Keep up the good work.

And as Billy Crystal said. Ju looooook Maaaarvelous!!!!

Cheers!!!
 
Arguments have taken center-stage over pool, and AZB has a cavernous rift running through it. Common decency and respect are all but gone. On any given day, members are choosing up sides like they're getting ready for a school-yard brawl. As the du juor antagonists face-off...you can hear the collective chant of 'Fight, fight, fight!' echoing throughout. It's as if our once common love of the game has degraded to a blood-sport.

No longer is it 'okay' to have differing opinions, and to move on. It has become an imperative that there be a triumphant. The reality is, there are no winners in such actions...as the wounds inflicted begin to fester until eventually, the entirety is compromised beyond reversal.

In the past, I have looked to AZB as a respite...where I could share thoughts about the game I love, where I could research and learn new things, where I could find out the latest on the players we revere so, see new products and cues...and to share a smile. It is less of that now than it has ever been...and I feel like I am losing an old friend.

Lisa

You said some thing to deserve a Greenie, and members have become silent, or left the forum who once were contributors!:smash:
 
You are correct, but....

Arguments have taken center-stage over pool, and AZB has a cavernous rift running through it. Common decency and respect are all but gone. On any given day, members are choosing up sides like they're getting ready for a school-yard brawl. As the du juor antagonists face-off...you can hear the collective chant of 'Fight, fight, fight!' echoing throughout. It's as if our once common love of the game has degraded to a blood-sport.

No longer is it 'okay' to have differing opinions, and to move on. It has become an imperative that there be a triumphant. The reality is, there are no winners in such actions...as the wounds inflicted begin to fester until eventually, the entirety is compromised beyond reversal.

In the past, I have looked to AZB as a respite...where I could share thoughts about the game I love, where I could research and learn new things, where I could find out the latest on the players we revere so, see new products and cues...and to share a smile. It is less of that now than it has ever been...and I feel like I am losing an old friend.

Lisa

It is summer(slowest time for cue sales), the whole economy is in the toilet, and many people are unemployed with no end in sight. So that makes for a great mixture of stress, worry, and too much time to spend doing what people do best - SCREW WITH OTHERS, in order to make themselves feel better.
And yes, it seems that it is happening all over AZB, in every sub-forum. Nobody can post without having an attack made by another for their comment, quote, post, item for sale, etc. AZB is just an microcosm of the World as a whole, and people just outright SUCK, especially now. People cannot seem to interact with respect in the everyday world anymore. There are more trolls on here now than found at a JRR TOLKIEN convention. It is just sad, and I can understand where you are coming from.
And I commend you on your post, knowing trolls would pop up just to refute your opinion, and screw with you. But do not hold it against them, they are just doing what trolls do.

Here is a good explanation of Internet Trolls.

JMHO - Michael
 
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