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Stray Thoughts - 8/14/2008 4:38:08 AM

candystripper

Posts: 3486
Joined: 11/1/2005
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Just stray thoughts.

I don’t know if it’s because it’s a US presidential election year, or because this election has some anomalies compared to past ones, or what. But IMO, the boards have changed since I first began posting, in the summer of 2005.

In some ways, without question, the boards have changed for the better. For example *I* see fewer fantasimagorical ‘save me! save me!’ Ops. Fewer ‘you are not real if (insert criteria here)' Ops. Fewer snarky remarks about the mental health or decision making ability of a distressed member. I could go on…but my point is…I can’t say if *I* think things have gotten better or worse or stayed the same, only that change seems to have occurred, and not *all* it IMO for the better.

IME, change and evolution are the norm for these boards...probably the norm for any and all message boards.

Back in 2005 and maybe into 2006, the boards seemed *to me* to be *dominated* by highly 'intellectual', highly 'experienced' D/s types, most of whom have long since departed. It seemed *to me* most regular posters on the boards in 2005 knew who these 'dominant' members were and for the most part, shared my respect for them/what they wrote. Those that remain, like Lam and IronBear, no longer seem *to me* to occupy the same sort of 'dominant' position they once did, as a function of the fact that they no longer post *as much as it seems to me* they once did. Doubtless because they have much more important things to do.

In the main *I* no longer see people of this ilk 'dominating' the boards. That is, they no longer seem to be posting the most Ops, among other things. Perhaps I entered during a crescendo the boards were experiencing. Perhaps the members *I* recall only seemed to me to dominate because *I* felt I took away so much from reading their posts. Perhaps *I* merely miss members I had come to admire who are no longer here.

When I first joined the boards, these 'domineering types' posted about everything and anything. Lam was notorious -- and may still be -- for his ability to demonstrate a depth of knowledge about even the most arcane of subjects. Most of the others *I* group together with Lam circa 2005 weren't far behind him in that respect. *I* think you’d be hard-pressed to find a ‘single noun’ search that generated no results dating back to this period, but possibly that too is a flawed perception.

Additionally, these members posted about D/s. And here *I* do see a difference between then and now. First, those who habituate General BDSM, and to a lesser extent some of the other D/s boards, do not IN GENERAL speak *to me* with the same depth of knowledge of human interaction the old powerhouses did. The old members demonstrated in their posts a depth of experience of D/s -- not as 'play', 'a lifestyle' or the benighted 'WIITWD' -- but as a well-integrated part of their essential selves and their lives, the lives of those with whom they partnered, etc. -- that *I* no longer see very often. They *seemed to me* to be ‘educators’ in the best possible sense of the word, provoking 'aha!' moments in many readers that went to core issues.

In 2005 *I* did not post Ops as frequently as *I* do now...and *I* miss the 'quaility' of Ops posted by others on which I could post myself if I chose...it is more satisfying to me to react than it is to initate. But now, if *I* don't post more Ops, I cannot have as much of the same kind of back and forth on subjects that interest me as I had in 2005.

In 2005, there was not the political discussion to the degree, of the type, and with the motive that can be seen now. Every flipping thing that happens in the presidential race is an ‘instanty-Op’ on this board -- Off Topics. Every significant piece of world news -- well, at least some types of world news -- is again an ‘instanty-Op’. Every one of these Ops seems to include posts aimed at hijacking the thread so we can talk more about (1) what a sh*theel Bush is; (2) what a sh*theel Obama is, (3) both what a sh*theel and what a great guy McCain is, and a few other recurring themes.

Maybe it’s not a new phenom at all...merely it's only the latest incarnation of one which has always been present, and always will be. *I* certainly thought some members were habitual hijackers back in 2005. What I don't recall...and this doesn't mean it didn't happen...is the use of a fixation to hijack.

*Seems to me*, the 2005 chronic hijackers didn't much care what they used to hijack, so long as they derailed the thread. Now there *seems to me* to be a *noticeable* number of members with an irresistible urge to hijack...but always with the same subject. Usually negative. Whom (or what) it is they're hating on. Mainly in Off Topics, but to a lesser degree on some of the other boards too.

*I* feel the 'fixated hijacker' detracts from the quality of what may be read. *I* feel the 'instanty-Op' member often drives topics of interest *to me* off the first page of the boards before *I* feel they're ready to go. For the 1st time ever, I recently bumped an Op. Only from page 2 I'm pretty sure, but still, *I* dislike bumping.

*I* prefer to discuss a topic to some degree and move on. I don't care much if the topic gets reincarnated as a new Op pretty damned quick, but *I* do care whether *I* have a sense that we've *explored* the subject however fully or dismissively *I* sense we give a sh*t to at any give point in time.

*I* feel Random Stupidity has been overrun by members who cannot hold a candle to those who used to post there in 2005 in terms of wit. Wit *to me* is more than f**king 1200 pages of 'Last One to Post". It is more than a 30 day old thread about how much x loves y and y loves q and q loves d and so on, ad nauseum. (Or even worse, how much x, y, q, d all love z.)

None of this may matter or even interest anyone in any way...arguably the very existence of CollarMe doesn't 'matter'.

Anyone who can say with sincerity that if CollarMe up and disappeared forever tomorrow, their lives would be *diminished* clearly lacks both a *life* and a working knowledge of the dynamic of the 'net...because sure as the sun rises in the morning, another D/s site would soon appear, expand or else wise arise to replace CollarMe.

Nothing I’ve just written is directed *at* anyone.

Just stray thoughts generated during insomnia.

candystripper

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RE: Stray Thoughts - 8/14/2008 5:36:45 AM

bipolarber

Posts: 2792
Joined: 9/25/2004
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It's an election year, and passions are running high in those topics.

I haven't really noticed the fall off of experienced people on the site as you have. Which is actually surprising, since demographically, it seems to be gather a great many more new, and younger user.

The only guy I notice missing is Dommiguy.... and that's because this site's message boards needs every shred of humor they can muster.

(in reply to candystripper)

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RE: Stray Thoughts - 8/14/2008 6:54:13 AM

chamberqueen

Posts: 1597
Joined: 10/25/2007
From: Kalamazoo, MI
Status: offline

Wow - the muse must have really hit you! I have only been a member since last October, so I have no way to compare.

There are times when I see posts that make me roll my eyes; someone being rude just to get their jollies, those that lack empathy for the newcomer, and - of course - people posting just because they are looking for a response. I have also seen some excellent threads where people are asking questions that are important to them, and that might be the first time they are facing something that seems "natural" to others, and they get great advice. In the beginning I voraciously read everything. Now I don't have the time or patience and so I choose by titles that make it sound like the post might interest me.

I enjoy some of the posts that are put up only as teaching guides, especially if the poster adds at the bottom something like, "Comments? Agree or disagree?" and a good conversation gets going. Like in any group there are some extremely intelligent people here, and some that would rather wallow in the mire. (I've been accused of both - LOL) I see life as a learning journey, and I know I've run into some situations since I've joined that I never expected to run into and I often have no where else to turn to ask my questions. It's one thing to learn it out of a book, attend munches and talk to people, and know the mechanics vs. understanding some of the emotional surprises that pop up along the way - especially if the feelings are mixed. (For instance, the first time a sub/slave is "loaned" out to another can be exhilirating, humiliating, scary, pleasurable, disgusting, and more all rolled into one. If it happens by surprise the feelings can be intensified and they may be left reeling for a couple of days even if they are told that they have done well by their Dom/Master.)

To me, and call me shallow if you like, I would miss CM very much if it disappeared tomorrow simply because it IS often the only place I can turn to express myself. I try to put lessons in my journal which makes me feel like I am doing good for the community, I sometimes post questions, I enjoy posting responses to certain topics, and I feel like I have made "friends" here. I met my Master here and for the first time in my life I feel like I am fully in touch with myself and my own needs with no shame. It is not perfect, but no society or web site is. I am grateful for it. If it weren't for this forum, where else could you have put your so eloquently worded post?

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RE: Stray Thoughts - 8/14/2008 7:10:57 AM

sub4hire

Posts: 6775
Joined: 1/1/2004
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I agree with you to a certain extent. I never much thought of LAM as an intellect. I saw him as a face of humor.

The ones I considered intellects, true they no longer post here. Although they are not far away either and can be reached for
good conversation at any time.

The stupid section..yes I feel it has degraded. But that is the whole reason why the mods put it there to begin with.
It was stupid off topic stuff that anyone could live without. On a whim I read the TOS the other day and it appears to have drastically changed since the beginnings of the boards. There once was a time you could not trash another person or tell them how much you loved them by playing childish popularity contests on the boards. Apparently that has gone away, with a few other rules.

Frankly I don't care if a specific post has 14000 pages or not. I didn't read it on page one. I'm sure not going to read it on page 14001. I've got so much time to read posts here and I'm not going to waste my time on things I don't see valuable.

The boards have changed. Some for the better and some for the worst. You cannot stop that from happening. That is like telling a child not to grow up.

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RE: Stray Thoughts - 8/14/2008 9:45:43 PM

TheHeretic

Posts: 19100
Joined: 3/25/2007
From: California, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: candystripper

Just stray thoughts.

      Oh yes, 2005. That was when I first came to this site, under my original nic. A mere babe in the woods. It wasn't so different. Are some really amazing posters gone? Yes. Look at an old thread sometime, though, and I bet you'll find about the same percentage of smart people to stupid you had back then. Lots of people are gone. Many of them were in the latter category. There are plenty of brilliant people around now, who weren't here then.

      More politics in Off-Topic? I dunno. Plenty of gun control arguments, and the death penalty back then. Perhaps there was less Politics because the discussion was so lop-sided. Memory can be subjective, but I recall a lot more "stomp the dittohead," than the boisterous and broad debate we have today.
       But, yeah. I haven't seen a math or physics fight for a while.

    Don't knock 'Last one to post.' It's not to be read. It's a noisy, silly bar. Either have a drink and join in, or back away slowly/run fast and far. Even the much beloved Domiguy stopped in on occasion.

    It was determined that only the dread, Mark XI torpedo would drop that thread from the top few pages. It's a game, for crying out loud. Maybe it's that beach ball, making the rounds at a concert, or maybe just a balloon in a room full of stoned people.
        It's also fun to tell a subbie that the "Thing" doesn't stop/come off/come out until one hundred pages of it have been read, but they are an exception to the 'no reading' rule.

         What do you expect, Candy? It's freakin' August. It's hot.

< Message edited by TheHeretic -- 8/14/2008 10:14:38 PM >

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If you lose one sense, your other senses are enhanced.
That's why people with no sense of humor have such an inflated sense of self-importance.

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