Starting fresh

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

I think Loss is doing allright. He's not spazing out over things or anything he's asking for people's opinions. big difference.

[IllustriousOne 0]

I side with Loss on this one. He's taking a very "user friendly" approach to this.

[Use Your Illusion 0]

Jesus Christ, I've mostly been ignoring all this drama, because I don't care to be honest, but Loss, how anal are you? You're picking apart every little post! Phil Jackson is considered a great coach because he let's his player play. A message board is nothing without the personalities that post there, and whether you like it or not, these are the personalities that post here. Not every post is going to be profound. I myself find great entertainment in the various one liners, insults and witisisms here at TSM. Just let things play out. If I see a thread that I feel isn't worth my time to continue reading, I push the back button and don't return to the thread! It's THAT simple. A lot of the time, threads I decide not to read anymore, continue to have replies added. Why? Because even if I don't find an interest in the thread, others obviously do. Maybe they're having fun. That's why I visit this place, IT'S FUN. It's a place to discuss topics relating to wrestling and pop culture and be as cynical and creative as you want! They might be whining, but it should say something that the posters complaining the most are Downhome, Anglesault and RRR, who post DAILY in the WWE folder and keep topics going. If someone is being an ass the other posters will let them know. Let it play out. Eventually someone will get tired of arguing. If someone doesn't like it, they don't have to read the thread! Moderators should exist to take care of blatant trolls and excessive flaming. Otherwise, there's no need to be picking apart every thread. OMG SOMEONE ONLY HAD A ONE WORD REPLY!!!!1111 I don't get into these issues very often but as a long time poster I felt the need to speak up. Don't ruin what's fun about this place.

Well shit.

 

What he said.

 

UYI

[Guest Loss]

Jesus Christ, I've mostly been ignoring all this drama, because I don't care to be honest, but Loss, how anal are you?

I'm trying to improve the folder and I'm asking for feedback on how to do it. You'd probably think I was anal if I just did what I wanted and didn't care what the reaction was, which means everything mentioned here would result in a closed topic, deleted topic, deleted posts or warnings. I don't want to do that if I don't have to, which is why I'm asking for suggestions.

 

You're picking apart every little post!

 

No, I'm not. There have been far more posts made in the WWE folder than what I've mentioned here. I will, however, start posting what I consider good threads here too so the view isn't so lopsided.

 

*snip*

 

A message board is nothing without the personalities that post there, and whether you like it or not, these are the personalities that post here.

 

There is nothing wrong with most of the posters that are here. We all just tend to be a product of our environments at some point and need to be reminded why we're here anyway. If I promote a good folder, good will come out of it for the most part. There will still be problems occasionally, but I'm not expecting to have to be so hands-on after about a month of this. These things just take time. And yes, a message board is nothing without the personalities that post on it.

 

Not every post is going to be profound.

 

No. But most posts should strive to be. I'm going to keep saying this until it's finally grasped what I mean by it.

 

If you have nothing to say, don't say anything.

 

Some would be better off lurking than "contributing" at this point.

 

I myself find great entertainment in the various one liners, insults and witisisms here at TSM.

 

This is what's driven away a lot of the regulars that used to post here when this was the Smarks board. This is okay occasionally, especially when it's funny. When it takes over at least half of the threads on the board, there's a problem.

 

I'm already seeing things start to improve in there, and there's less of this than there was.

 

Just let things play out.

 

That's exactly what I'm doing right now and will continue to do until the self-imposed 03/15 date. At that point, the rules will be the rules and they will be strictly enforced. This is a chance for those who want to provide feedback to step in and provide it before that time.

 

If I see a thread that I feel isn't worth my time to continue reading, I push the back button and don't return to the thread! It's THAT simple. A lot of the time, threads I decide not to read anymore, continue to have replies added. Why? Because even if I don't find an interest in the thread, others obviously do. Maybe they're having fun. That's why I visit this place, IT'S FUN. It's a place to discuss topics relating to wrestling and pop culture and be as cynical and creative as you want!

 

This is true. But the problem is that we don't get nearly enough of that. We get arguments that are basically.

 

What I said.

-------

What I said.

 

Idiot.

 

That type of thing needs to be curbed. Threads that are creative, "fun" or are merely cynical do not fit that category.

 

They might be whining, but it should say something that the posters complaining the most are Downhome, Anglesault and RRR, who post DAILY in the WWE folder and keep topics going.

 

They complained a lot in the other folder, but none of them have even popped up in this one, except for Anglesault, who wasn't complaining. I've cited specific examples of things that are problems in that folder and have yet to hear from them.

 

If someone is being an ass the other posters will let them know. Let it play out. Eventually someone will get tired of arguing. If someone doesn't like it, they don't have to read the thread! Moderators should exist to take care of blatant trolls and excessive flaming. Otherwise, there's no need to be picking apart every thread. OMG SOMEONE ONLY HAD A ONE WORD REPLY!!!!1111 I don't get into these issues very often but as a long time poster I felt the need to speak up. Don't ruin what's fun about this place.

 

I'm not trying to ruin what's "fun" about this place, but I'm trying to not let the board embarrass itself either. Quality, not quantity. That's what I'm preaching.

[Damaramu 0]

Here's an idea. Fix the problem where someone lays out his complaint about what he sees on TV and he has about 30 guys breathing down his neck telling him to just be happy and telling him what he thinks then flamebaiting him constantly by making little smarmy remarks and such. That'll make me really happy. I see something I don't like. I voice my complaint. I have about 5 different guys tell me why I'm wrong to complain and then turn it into a huge ordeal.

That shit needs to stop.

[CanadianChris 0]

Here's an idea. Fix the problem where someone lays out his complaint about what he sees on TV and he has about 30 guys breathing down his neck telling him to just be happy and telling him what he thinks then flamebaiting him constantly by making little smarmy remarks and such. That'll make me really happy. I see something I don't like. I voice my complaint. I have about 5 different guys tell me why I'm wrong to complain and then turn it into a huge ordeal.

That shit needs to stop.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

 

Like that time you complained about a match that you wouldn't see on TV for another month? That was a real logical one right there.

 

Fact is, you complain so often and so vociferously about so many different things, that it gets to the point where people stop listening to what you have to say and just want you to stop typing for a little while.

[Guest cobainwasmurdered]

a LITTLE while?

[Damaramu 0]

Here's an idea. Fix the problem where someone lays out his complaint about what he sees on TV and he has about 30 guys breathing down his neck telling him to just be happy and telling him what he thinks then flamebaiting him constantly by making little smarmy remarks and such. That'll make me really happy. I see something I don't like. I voice my complaint. I have about 5 different guys tell me why I'm wrong to complain and then turn it into a huge ordeal.

That shit needs to stop.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

 

Like that time you complained about a match that you wouldn't see on TV for another month? That was a real logical one right there.

 

Fact is, you complain so often and so vociferously about so many different things, that it gets to the point where people stop listening to what you have to say and just want you to stop typing for a little while.

Nope. Don't think so. I only bitch about things I don't like. I can't help it if those things happen a lot.

And I was making a projection on what would happen based off what happens now.

 

It's funny that people can make fun of me in every post in any folder and continue to flame bait me and make snyde remarks to me with no trouble. But if I were to go off on then I'd be in big trouble. Funny how that works.

 

Loss I suggest you do something about the constant flame baiting and the assholes following me around into every thread looking for a fight. Or else you may just have a board wide flamewar. And judging from your posts you don't want that.

[CanadianChris 0]

a LITTLE while?

I was being somewhat polite.

[CanadianChris 0]

Loss I suggest you do something about the constant flame baiting and the assholes following me around into every thread looking for a fight. Or else you may just have a board wide flamewar. And judging from your posts you don't want that.

No worries here...I don't do flame wars. They're a pointless waste of my time. If I decide someone is too annoying or stubborn to argue with, I just ignore that poster and move on. If you expect me to "debate" asinine statements like "Shawn Michaels isn't even in the top 50 of WWE workers" for four pages, you're sadly mistaken.

[Damaramu 0]

Loss I suggest you do something about the constant flame baiting and the assholes following me around into every thread looking for a fight. Or else you may just have a board wide flamewar. And judging from your posts you don't want that.

No worries here...I don't do flame wars. They're a pointless waste of my time. If I decide someone is too annoying or stubborn to argue with, I just ignore that poster and move on. If you expect me to "debate" asinine statements like "Shawn Michaels isn't even in the top 50 of WWE workers" for four pages, you're sadly mistaken.

Hey I don't think my claim was crazy nor do I think that I was wrong. I thought my points were perfectly fine and his were crazy.

See that's the problem with the board and one I don't think can be fixed. Whoever thinks they're right will continue to make their points because they believe those are the correct valid points and that the other person is full of it. And there's no changing the others mind.

I can tell you from the outset of that thread about HBK that I thought I was right and wasn't going to change what I was thinking and I thought my points were the correct ones and that NY was full of shit and was making weak arguments. Meanwhile he thought the same thing about me.

 

See I don't know how to fix that problem. We both could've gone on about how the other was wrong until we were blue in the face(which we did) but it wouldn't change how the other felt.

[Guest Loss]

I don't know that there is a way to fix that problem, and I'll be the first to acknowledge it as a problem. The only suggestion I can make is that the more people who lead in the folder by looking at wrestling with an open mind, the more people will go in that direction and start doing the same.

 

The posters set the mood for the folder. I think there are too many extremists (on both sides) in there, but I can't really ban them or censor them for their views. I can only step in when it interferes with discussion, whether that's through flaming, trolling, or gimmickry.

 

Also, and I think this is a big lesson we could all stand to remember sometimes:

 

The point of a message board debate isn't to change the minds of those around you, but rather make your viewpoint clear, both through your initial point and through discourse. And even the goal of the argument should be to make your point fully and totally understood more than it should be to prove the other wrong.

 

'S my take anyway.

Edited February 17, 2004 by Loss4Words

[Damaramu 0]

I don't know that there is a way to fix that problem, and I'll be the first to acknowledge it as a problem. The only suggestion I can make is that the more people who lead in the folder by looking at wrestling with an open mind, the more people will go in that direction and start doing the same.

 

The posters set the mood for the folder. I think there are too many extremists (on both sides) in there, but I can't really ban them or censor them for their views. I can only step in when it interferes with discussion, whether that's through flaming, trolling, or gimmickry.

Yeah well it's annoying whenever I voice discontent and someone turns it into a big deal(as in the RAW thread) then it turns into pages upon pages of me and the other guy repeating the same thing.

It's also annoying when someone realizes the other person isn't going to back down and really believes what they are saying so they start picking at them and slowly flamebaiting them.

That's god damn annoying now.

[Guest Loss]

Well, honestly, if you're just as stubborn as those who you hate are being so stubborn, you may be part of the problem and not the solution. Treat others like you want to be treated in the folder, and respect their thoughts the same way you'd like yours respected. I think you'll find the success rate on that approach is pretty high.

[k thx 0]

I agree with Loss. Once you've made your point of view clear and put across all your reasons why you believe what you believe, there's no point in continuing your arguement. You'll just be repeating what you said and, more often than not, trolling.

 

And the notion of trying to change the opinion of a stranger you'll never meet in real life has always been strange to me. More often than not, if someone disagrees with you, it's not worth trying to change their mind.

[Guest Loss]

Oh, and by the way, I've seen a strong improvement in the WWE folder over the last couple of days. There have been a few threads or posters that I've seen as problems, but they're the same *types* of problems mentioned above so I won't bother being redundant, as those things will be dealt with in time. But for the most part, good stuff. Congrats!

[Guest Repo Man Reborn]

This will be the thread where I'll cite examples of what I see as issues in the folder and you guys tell me what you think.

 

http://forums.thesmartmarks.com/index.php?...opic=50006&st=0

 

Is this type of thread a problem?

 

I don't see "He's a cock" as adding much to a topic personally, but you tell me. It's your board.

 

Questionable posts in this thread:

 

BionicRedneck wrote:

He's a cock.

 

*Does this add anything to the discussion at all? Is it post whoring?*

 

Choken One wrote:

Well, Let's face it...

 

 

You, for one, Can't stand anyone.

 

*Is this trolling RavishingRickRudo or is this an actual point?*

 

The rest of the thread, while not really saying anything of merit, is inoffensive enough. Some things I'd rather not see, but I'm not the only person here.

 

Feedback?

Does this post label Loss4Words as insane?

 

 

Feedback, please.

[k thx 0]

Whats your point RMR?

[Guest Repo Man Reborn]

The ironic nature of this thread.

 

 

Loss is trying to clean up the crap while dumping at the same time.

[Damaramu 0]

Well when you make a post and voice your complaint about something and then you get NY and MikeSC following you around and flamebaiting you and calling you names and such it gets kind of hard to just move on.

I would state my opinion and move on if I didn't have to listen to that.

"Oh man.......I did not like the end of that match."

"SHUT UP! ALL YOU DO IS BITCH! BITCH!"

 

See what I mean? And that causes me to respond in a bad way. Maybe it should be a rule now not to jump down someone's throat because you don't like there complaining.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

If it's an actual problem that you really truly care about and think merits consideration, just PM the mods and let them do their thing. Otherwise you shouldn't complain so actively about how much it bothers you or even bother responding - you'll just be giving the jump-down-throat crowd more ammunition every day.

 

It's the kid getting picked on at lunch and people keeping it up because he yells and throws his juice box. Sip that juice box gently and the world shall open up before you. Yep.

[Guest HungryJack]

That's all well and good, but instead of JUST complaining , why don't you be constructive and say, put forth ideas that you think might be better?

 

 

I'd rather see someone do that than complain for the sake of being heard, which it would seem you do quite often.

[Guest Loss]

The ironic nature of this thread.

 

 

Loss is trying to clean up the crap while dumping at the same time.

That would be ironic if it were true. Since it's not, it's a witticism without a home. I wonder if there's a charity for that.

[Guest FrigidSoul]

It's the kid getting picked on at lunch and people keeping it up because he yells and throws his juice box. Sip that juice box gently and the world shall open up before you. Yep.

Fuck that, if its grape juice you spray that shit all over somebody's new clothes and then when they have a shocked look on their face punch'em in the nose. You get detention but people don't laugh at you anymore.

 

We are talking about the Code of the SchoolYard right?

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

WARNINGS FOR ALL.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

Calm down guys, Rajah reworded the story and took it in another direction. It was originally reported on the Torch website that HHH wanted to move away from a program with Benoit after Wrestlemania and work with Edge. The rest was ad-libbed by Rajah.

 

Neither the Observer nor the Torch, nor 1Wrestling or PWInsider for that matter, has reported that HHH is scheduled to retain the title. In fact, Meltzer just reported that current plans are for Benoit to win, but Bret not to be involved because it would overshadow Benoit's moment.

 

Just wanted to clear that up.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

I'll believe it when one of the Big 3 confirm it.

 

I don't want to get my hopes up yet.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Thank you for being smarter than the sheep...I mean everyone else.

 

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I love how everyone questions anything from Meltzer, but believes fucking RAJAHWWF??

 

----------------------------------------------------------------

 

I can't believe that if you have a semi credible website and post news like that then people want kill HHH. I'd wait till Wrestlemania in order to past judgment.

 

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Didn't you know? Rumors = Truth @ TSM.

 

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Rajah appeals to popular prejudice, people buy it. Typical.

 

Last year they didn't want both titles to change hands, the same thing is happening this year. Eddie will retain and the PPV will go off the air with Benoit holding his gold. Yes, it's a good thing. Yes, it's happening in WWE. I understand doubting WWE's ability to do anything right, but sometimes it's just insane.

 

Of course, watch HBK win now that I've said that...

 

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Another day, another volley of HHHate. You just know it's gonna happen. Like the sunrise.

 

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Whoa. We need more mods like you.

 

Anyway, HHH or no HHH, I've always figured that Benoit will never win the title, so there's really no anger or rage from me here.

 

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I believe this report is complete and total fiction.

 

Afterall, I don't need a report to tell me HHH is going to win. I already know that.

 

Seriously, I like Benoit, but the guy is too much of a nice guy. He's all, "I'll work hard and be loyal, and I'm bound to be appreciated." While being nice will keep you in the company, it won't stop others from walking all over you. Just ask Bret Hart.

 

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The Voice of Reason in this thread!

 

----------------------------------------------------

 

For the love of Christ...everyone completely no sold Loss's explaination.

 

Rajah doesn't have it's own news...they always steal it from somewhere.

 

This was taken from the Torch.

 

Direct your anger at the validity of them...not the Rajah which is only a hub that gathers all the other crap.

 

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I was about to post this in the thread (http://forums.thesmartmarks.com/index.php?showtopic=50329) but then I realized that I would be doing the same thing I would be posting against. My god, dear god, I think the people above are much, much worse than those who speak about the rumours because at least the people who talk about the rumours are talking about the WWE rather than the board itself. Some of the posts above are completely condescending and serve no purpose other than to stroke the posters own ego as if he is above it all. I have no problem with L4W's post because it brought clearification, but everything else here is worthless. Absolutely worthless.

 

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH DISCUSSING AN IDEA.

[Guest FrigidSoul]

*presses the Red Button that sets off the alarms and The Independant Thought Police come and take RRR away*

 

Cop 1: You won't be influencing any more uprises now buster

[Guest Goodear]

Here's the thing Damaramu. If I were to post a thread about how perfectly wonderful RAW was and that I thought the main event was the best ever... I would totally and completely expect people to come after me in the message board kind of way. By having strong opinions (which I think you'll admit that you do), you always will have people unwilling to agree with your points and try to counter them. This does not equate to flame baiting. This equates to discussion. And sometimes if your opinion is really strong or away from the norm, you have to debate the point with 4 different people... it happens. Not taking everything so personally will do wonders as far as enjoying yourself here. Hell, I disagree with Rudo about 15 times a day but it never resorts to flaming because neither one of us takes it the least bit personally. Unless he curses my name while sitting around his house, which I don't care about since I don't live there.

[Guest Loss]

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH DISCUSSING AN IDEA.

 

I totally agree. This is why I left the thread open, because HHH could very well retain the title at Wrestlemania and immediately move on to something else. It's a real possibility, so discussing it is relevant.

 

I just wanted to explain that the Torch website did not report that HHH was retaining, despite Rajah claiming they did.

 

I actually sent RajahWWF an e-mail telling them to try to keep their facts in order.

 

In the past, I have implied and in some cases outright said that I am against discussing rumors. I have seen the light on that issue and there is no problem with it, as long as it's clear that the information has or hasn't been reported.

 

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

We agree, now ban Goodear.