Is the OT Forum a community in decline?

[Capmaster]

Hello,
Capmaster -

yoda - do or do not, there is no try

Visit the off topic forum:
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=6
(some material may be unsuitable for younger members)

Is that ok or not enough of a warning? Also, how do I make a word include a hyperlink? You know like making offtopic contain the actual link for the page? I've seen it done but I don't know how. Thanks.

Kevin

Here's an example of the syntax used. In this case the text that shows is "Smart Ripper":

[ url=https://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=54#comments]Smart Ripper[/url]

Just take the space out that's before the first "u" in "URL and it'll show up as "Smart Ripper" with a link. You can use the "URL" button when you post to start.

[yoda313]

Hello,
Thanks, never saw that button, oops.
Kevin

[indolikaa]

How-Dee, Sheep-Fuckers!


I've been working a lot more hours than I prefer to. My boss is ill, and I'm picking up what slack I can due to his illness. Add that to the upcoming football (proper and American) schedule and, well, I won't be 24/7 quite as much as normal.

I think some of us are burned out a little on OT. Maybe we need to step away from the keyboard for a couple of weeks and recharge.


This place still kicks ass. It just goes in cycles, that's all. I'm sure once northcat is back to staring up skirts, it will all return to normal.

[The village idiot]

We need more posts like this.

http://discuss.big-o-software.com/viewtopic.php?t=5607

HA! I was right, they were getting ready to spam us.

[makntraks]

I think this forum is in a bit of a depression, but I'm sure that now it's been noticed the tone will be picked up a bit. Once that happens, maybe we'll see some new users venturing in.

No I disagree that things will pick up here. Hope it does for those still around but for the most part the "heyday" I can appreciate was several months of fun and flames (still have my 2 yellow cards ), hearing from Jeex and Will amongst many others. North and Indo make things interesting but I think they are even getting a little long in the tooth to keep up the pace the've set.
Times change and as much as we'd like it ti not... inevitably it does and we move on....

makntraks

p.s. I still check back several times a week... you never know what you might find.... or flame

[stiltman]

Posted it in another thread somewhere that i think it's changed this summer. Yes I was part of the change too. Guess most of us fell a couple of rungs on the ladder

[Capmaster]

Posted it in another thread somewhere that i think it's changed this summer. Yes I was part of the change too. Guess most of us fell a couple of rungs on the ladder

It's infectious when there's a gradual shift like that. I look at some of my posts and wonder what I was thinking ...

[flaninacupboard]

We're going through a quiet spell and the threads aren't as varied or stimulating as they used to be.
communities both online and offline are very weird, they work best when there's conflict. look at england during ww2, everyone just accepted "there's a war on" when there was reduced rations, no luxuries and women were forced to manufacture weapons. when there is no conflict you get big personalities and pointless squabbles.
same with ot.
When there's a Gina or NG it's great fun, you chase round the forum to find and belittle them and boast to everyone else of your conquest. when they get banned you cheer, but then..... emptiness.


*Hopes he hasn't inadvertently lowered the tone by inviting a "filling the void" response to the thread...*

[yoda313]

Hello,

I look at some of my posts and wonder what I was thinking ...

You're not alone!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kevin

--Shhh, I'm going into hiding now. Got to watch out for mod sniper fire. Ouch, that hurt!----

[stiltman]

I dug up a thread from when the OT had more class. This is one of my favorite Ot threads. Check out all the people in that thread who are no longer around This thread had a lot of class, was interesting, and many people participated - not just a few ultra post-whores

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=205899&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

And ....this thread has posts I made with my original user name, and as "Capmaster". See if you can spot my original handle

I think I'll bump it and get it going again In fact, in the interest of getting the OT out of the doldrums, I think I'll go back to the earlier days and find some interesting threads that have been forgotten. Maybe we can inject some new enthusiasm into the OT.

Wow, I feel honored

[Capmaster]

It was one of the better threads stilt.

[Guest]

You look like a "kevin"

[yoda313]

Hello,

You look like a "kevin"

Huh??? Somebody talkin' to me?

Kevin

[Guest]

Hello,

You look like a "kevin"

Huh??? Somebody talkin' to me?

Kevin

No talkin to Kevin abq

[Guest]

No looking to bail,just need to broaden my horizons a bit.That tivo ot wont do it.No adult content and your avatar has to be a photo of you.

See I've already found sometime useful.

[Ripper2860]

I'm kind of sitting on the fence, bit does it seem like the OT forum is in decline? Nothing against Capmaster and I'm certainly not saying that there has been a significant decline recently, but it just does not seem the same.

It's kind of lost it's edge -- which is something that I thoroughly enjoyed in the past. Indo and Northcat seem to post less frequesntly and the froum seems more cliqueish (sp?). The personalities that once gave this forum it's "brashness" seems to have diminished. I know that folks come and go and the forums exhibit an ebb and flow, but it seems like the tide amy be going turning on this forum at this time.

F**K YOU Rippper...quit your damn "nobody will play with me" whinney ass bullshit...suck it up and be a ******* man for goodness sake :P (is that better Rip?)

I think the forum is in decline, but hell after a while everyone has heard everything everyone else has to say. I know personally I go back to work on tuesday and with football season thrown on top of that, I won't be around much for the next 10-12 weeks. But will be around occasionally.

Relax Ripper, it goes in cycles. Maintaining those high expectations are nearly impossible...it will pick up.

I really don't care if anybody "plays" with me, I have lots of fun playing with myself!!

OK -- that didn't come out right.

What I'm personally having diffculty getting a handle on is if this forum will be the same with Capmaster as a Mod. Don't get me wrong, I don't think he will be a bad Mod, I'm afraid he will be a good one. I just think that one of the greatest personalities in this forum now has to walk a different line and start thinking about what he is posting as the expectations are that a Mod must behave -- at least most of the time.

It is no secret that you (Northcat) and Indo have established a "friendship" with each other and Capmaster. Would one of you now re-think or modify your posting behavior so as not to put your moderator friend in the awkward position of taking action? If so, there go 2 more rebel personalities. Are there others that think highly enough of Capmaster in order to avoid controversy? How will it affect their posts and the forum.

I'm not upset with any one and I'm not saying that this forum is in the crapper or that is going in the crapper. I'm just saying that it is on a decline -- for now.

I'm happy for Capmaster and wish him the best as this is something he really wanted. I just hate to see the personality of the forum change. It's kinda like a buddy you worked with and cut-up with for years, all of a sudden got a promotion as your boss. The relationship can't remain the same. It will be different. The environment and work atmosphere will definitley be altered. Whether it is better or worse than it was, is the question.

No sour grapes. Not whinning. Just pondering.

[tekkieman]

I'm kind of sitting on the fence, bit does it seem like the OT forum is in decline? Nothing against Capmaster and I'm certainly not saying that there has been a significant decline recently, but it just does not seem the same.

It's kind of lost it's edge -- which is something that I thoroughly enjoyed in the past. Indo and Northcat seem to post less frequesntly and the froum seems more cliqueish (sp?). The personalities that once gave this forum it's "brashness" seems to have diminished. I know that folks come and go and the forums exhibit an ebb and flow, but it seems like the tide amy be going turning on this forum at this time.

F**K YOU Rippper...quit your damn "nobody will play with me" whinney ass bullshit...suck it up and be a ******* man for goodness sake :P (is that better Rip?)...

...What I'm personally having diffculty getting a handle on is if this forum will be the same with Capmaster as a Mod. Don't get me wrong, I don't think he will be a bad Mod, I'm afraid he will be a good one. I just think that one of the greatest personalities in this forum now has to walk a different line and start thinking about what he is posting as the expectations are that a Mod must behave -- at least most of the time.

.....

I'm happy for Capmaster and wish him the best as this is something he really wanted. I just hate to see the personality of the forum change. It's kinda like a buddy you worked with and cut-up with for years, all of a sudden got a promotion as your boss. The relationship can't remain the same. It will be different. The environment and work atmosphere will definitley be altered. Whether it is better or worse than it was, is the question. .

....and then getting bitch slapped for the same kind of crap that they have done in the past....(example left in the quote section)...

[Capmaster]

What I'm personally having diffculty getting a handle on is if this forum will be the same with Capmaster as a Mod. Don't get me wrong, I don't think he will be a bad Mod, I'm afraid he will be a good one. I just think that one of the greatest personalities in this forum now has to walk a different line and start thinking about what he is posting as the expectations are that a Mod must behave -- at least most of the time.

It is no secret that you (Northcat) and Indo have established a "friendship" with each other and Capmaster. Would one of you now re-think or modify your posting behavior so as not to put your moderator friend in the awkward of taking action? If so, there go 2 more rebel personalities. Are there others that think highly enough of Capmaster in order to avoid controversy? How will it affect their posts and the forum.

I'm not upset with any one and I'm not saying that this forum is in the crapper or that is going in the crapper. I'm just saying that it is on a decline -- for now.

I'm happy for Capmaster and wish him the best as this is something he really wanted. I just hate to see the personality of the forum change. It's kinda like a buddy you worked with and cut-up with for years, all of a sudden got a promotion as your boss. The relationship can't remain the same. It will be different. The environment and work atmosphere will definitley be altered. Whether it is better or worse than it was, is the question. The job

No sour grapes. Not whinning. Just pondering.

What a great post Ripper. I got chills reading it because those are precisely the same concerns I've had all summer since requesting I be considered for a mod position. I wondered how you managed to tap into my brain.

Short answer: Even with the recent policy adjustment of acceptable OT behavior, has anything changed? I've put up hundreds of posts in the past week, many right here in OT. Have they changed? Aside from warning others here about the impending "attitude adjustment" coming, has anything changed? I've changed my posting habits to reflect the desires of the powers that be, just like you have. I've warnedthose who needed warning. Is that any different than before? Have not Indolikaa or Will or yourself warned those that "needed a special"?

Don't read this wrong ...I'm not pissed about your post. I'm flattered, and I'm happy that you have given this so much thought and have come to the same comclusions I have...namely, it would be a shame if our friendships here changed. A damn shame. Other than the required reminders by me, dictated by board policy, has anything changed? No. I'm still here. I'm here more than ever, actually.

I undertand the concern, and again, I'm flattered that you consider me one of the "greatest personalities in this forum". Relax ...nothing has changed. I can be a good mod, and a good friend too. It's not like yellow cards fly around here in OT. Quite the opposite. Considering the wide range of topics there is very little discipline needed here. There are far more often violations in the DVD threads than here. Being a moderator won't put anyone in an uncomfortable situation unless you all become ******** overnight and need "yellow-cardin' up the ying-yang" Not bloody likely

[gitreel]

To be honest, I have had the same concerns as ripper.

It kind of felt like I lost a family member or something.

In the short amount of time that I have been here, I have unfortunately made some enemies. I can attribute that to my add.

I sometimes fly off the handle and say things without thinking while later wondering why I said that.

It has never been easy for me to make friends because I have always been somewhat of a loner, but
Cap, I consider you a friend.

I have sometimes also thought of leaving the forum for feelings that I didn't belong. I have expressed those feelings to indo and he was very kind; However this is the first time y'all have been clued in.

[Ripper2860]

Cap --

Maybe I missed it, but you made it sound like the OT Forum was in Jeopardy and came VERY close to being shut down. Was there a line drawn by Baldrick? Are you now a Moderator as an attempt at reigning this forum in and saving it?

I can see where you as a mod, someone whom most here like and respect, could provide "guidence" and gradual reform without creating a shit-storm. Is this what is happening?

[gitreel]

Offline,

We got off to a rough start as well but I consider you a friend as well.

[offline]

Thanks Gitreel. I feel the same.

[Capmaster]

It has never been easy for me to make friends because I have always been somewhat of a loner, but
Cap, I consider you a friend.

Thanks gitreel. We got off to a bumpy start too, but it didn't take you long to find a home in OT. And right back at ya, friend

Maybe I missed it, but you made it sound like the OT Forum was in Jeopardy and came VERY close to being shut down. Was there a line drawn by Baldrick? Are you now a Moderator as an attempt at reigning this forum in and saving it?

I can see where you as a mod, someone whom most here like and respect, could provide "guidence" and gradual reform without creating a shit-storm. Is this what is happening?

On the first part, no line had been drawn in the sand. But there were those who were getting concerned that OT closure might be imminent. I won't violate the confidentiality of the mod forum by elaborating any more than that.

No, my moderator status was granted without any specific forums targeted.

On the second part .....

Do you have mod forum access after all? That is EXACTLY what I was doing ...dropping subtle hints, dropping not-so-subtle hints when the subtle ones didn't seem to be working ...but not hammering anyone over the head with it, dragging up older, more interesting threads that had sunk too fast IMHO, starting threads that likely wouldn't venture into the realm of the ultra-gross, etc. Very perceptive Ripper

[Ripper2860]

So now we're resorting to Child Psychology and Positive Reinforcement in order to reform OT Forum participants ??

Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child !! What we need around here is a little corporal punishment, as Dr. Gee is inferring.





Hey, Cap!! You let this one slip by! This IS Gross !!!

[Capmaster]

Ripper,
Yes.

Slap that hiney!

[jeex]

the problem with the OT forum is the post whores trying to become OT regulars.. just because you have 3000+ posts in 2 months doesnt mean you're an off-topic regular (thanks word ass. thread).. not to mention the volume of threads, and stupidity of them (i was driving to work and i saw a cat!! - 46 replies).. its been taken over by nuubs & post whores..

vcdhelp was always a good place for information.. the OT thread was a good place to carry on non-technical conversations.. but with the advent of dual layer recording, there isnt much of a challenge in backing up your dvd's anymore.. but still, the OT forum was cool... was

i'm mainly hanging out in the ps2 scene where there is new & exciting stuff happening.. and of course the warez scene.. i'd rather burn my money than pay for software. yes, i know its wrong, i dont give a ****. i'm special, jesus says so.

i still visit this site once in a while, but nowhere near the amount i used to.

a solution you say? good question. i dont know. close the OT forum? for a couple of months to weed out the nuubs.. sounds like a good idea to me..

a different solution? mod me with powers slightly less than baldricks.. give me 2 weeks, i'll clean up the OT forum.. you ever heard that song "the nightmares in my sleep that become reality"? no, i didnt think so, i just made it up.. but the title should be enough to describe the havoc i would dispense upon the nuubs. will i be modded? doubtful.

i really dont care that much though, vcdhelp isnt an addiction for me like it seems for some of the 'members' of this site..

[Capmaster]

jeex - you're back, and just as cheerful as ever

[Faustus]

a different solution? mod me with powers slightly less than baldricks.. give me 2 weeks, i'll clean up the OT forum.. you ever heard that song "the nightmares in my sleep that become reality"? no, i didnt think so, i just made it up.. but the title should be enough to describe the havoc i would dispense upon the nuubs. will i be modded? doubtful.

I offered this same service once to the forum and was turned down. But oh its the stuff of dreams I say....

[jeex]

i still think the best solution to clean up vcdhelp would be close the OT forum for a couple of months.. maybe even a quarter..

i've heard the theory the o-zone could repair itself in 10 years if all pollution was stopped.. i think its just a theory, but just hearing the simple solution makes sense.

[Capmaster]

i still think the best solution to clean up vcdhelp would be close the OT forum for a couple of months.. maybe even a quarter..

i've heard the theory the o-zone could repair itself in 10 years if all pollution was stopped.. i think its just a theory, but just hearing the simple solution makes sense.

Easy for you to say now that you're no longer a post whore of late :P