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ORIGINAL: LadyPact

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ORIGINAL: sunshinemiss

I agree that the tone of the place has deteriorated here, and frankly it's bothersome.  However, that is the nature of large groups - things wax and wane.

Yes, it has.  My personal theory on it has a lot to do with the overload of new folks compared to the older folks.  I won't sidetrack Term's thread on the matter, but it's what I personally think.

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ORIGINAL: NuevaVida

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ORIGINAL: LadyPact

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ORIGINAL: sunshinemiss

I agree that the tone of the place has deteriorated here, and frankly it's bothersome.  However, that is the nature of large groups - things wax and wane.

Yes, it has.  My personal theory on it has a lot to do with the overload of new folks compared to the older folks.  I won't sidetrack Term's thread on the matter, but it's what I personally think.

Agreed.

But I don't think, as heartcream and LaT suggests, that we're sitting around whining about it.  I think, and I've said in other threads, discussion boards ebb and flow, and what's a flow for some is an ebb for another.  I also think those who don't like the latest turn still enjoy a lot of people here so (a) why leave? and (b) they (we) try to continue to add positive contributions to add to the enjoyability.

I don't get the "Leave if you don't like it" attitude, personally.  There are other options.  Why resort to such a limited extreme?

I do agree that we've been hearing "It was so much better before" forever.  Maybe it's nostolgia?  I dunno, I think it gets worse sometimes, and it gets better sometimes.  I personally think we're on a negative swing but I also don't believe it'll last very long. 

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ORIGINAL: sunshinemiss

There is a difference, I think NV, between nostalgia and recognition.  There have always been idiot threads, ridiculosity, wankdom.  There has even been absolute anger (remember donkey man?).  That is not what I'm responding to.  There is a decided attacking feel here at the moment.  People are currently being personally attacked on the site, and that is just a little too ... ugly?... mean-spirited?  juvenile?  for my taste.  I think there is a difference between "giving someone the eye" and saying, "look, honey" and telling them why their theory is nonsense versus calling someone ugly names.  How many of us stay out of P and R for that very reason?  I'd love to have some actual real political discussions, but things degenerate rather quickly into name calling and what I would consider verbal abuse.  Sadly, that manner of interacting has oozed out into the other parts of the boards.  I find it more difficult to have actual real discussions because of needing to navigate through the ugliness. 

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Frankly, I'm here to have actual real discussions with folks.  Deep, intense talks are often short and only 2-3 pages long, but they are the meat that keeps me coming back.  I may not always post on them, but I do often have phone convos with people about them or I just read them, nodding / shaking my head. 

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ORIGINAL: LadyPact

It is nostalgia.  I'm not saying that there aren't some real gems that come our way these days.  I'm just also recognizing that we've also had some good stuff in the past.  I've read a lot of good stuff over the years, but frankly, a number of folks just starting out don't bring that when they first sign up.  It takes a little while, which is cool, but I kind of like the meatier posts.