Aint what it used to be.

[Bergs]

The forum, particularly CE, a place where I used to go and blow off steam having intelligent debates with people like Droog, Shade, Instigator, Nocturnal, BigMatt (before he took retard pills), and the like has turned into a place where I really dont want to waste my time. The intelligent posts from both sides of the tables have become less and less and been replaced by mindless drivel, complete ignorance, and pointless attacks on groups or idealogies. Some would say you should try to argue back, but you'll quickly be anonymously bad repped for even the slighest deviation in opinion, regardless of how intelligent the post was, and personally attacked by a host of ignorant morons who have no interest in actually hearing you out and discussing anything anymore. Where there used to be a handful of fucktards that were quickly weeded out such as Socialist and Rikimaru, even though he lingered on with his annoying other names for what seemed like an eternity, there now exists a million jerkfaces, viceroys, nibors, krackels, and benedictines. There are also others who try to post civily but are just plain unintelligent such as puppyroach. In short, this used to be a great place, but now it fucking sucks.

How to fix it?
1) Creat a ban for just CE, while allowing full use of the rest of the forum, if someone proves that they are incapable of intelligent debate about real topics other than "Conservatives/Liberals are stupid parts 1,2,3,4" or "creationists suck" or "liberals are gay" then ban them from CE.
2) Dont let the ignorant masses decide who should become premium users by rep point numbers, let moderators recommend individuals who have actually earned it.
3) Get rid of anonymous rep points and punish people who use them for the purpose of anonymously flaming someone for what others would agree was an intelligent, good post, regardless of the position one takes.

[Jacksplat]

I was wondering why you didn't post in there as much.
I dont post in there, but I do read alot of the threads in there, I enjoy reading good debates when there is some going on.

About your ideals Good Luck we have been asking for a sports forum for awhile now.

[Stupified]

I still browse and post here somewhat, But I was "turned off" by the forum when I was banned for replying with a 3 word post, and quite frankly I don't give a shit anymore. I swear, These forum-nazis are strict. :insane:

I bet I'll get banned now because freedom of speech is prohibited in the Ebaums World forum. :rolleyes:

It's really not what it used to be, At least when I joined.

[wils0646]

I hear ya Bergs. I know CE isn't what it used to be. I remember last year and it was so much better (in content and discourse). I still try and post a bit in it, but there are so many threads that are Anti-Bush, Illuminati :rolleyes: (dead :D) taking over the world, or how Fox News is ruining America. I really don't know what should be done because these people do sign up and they do have a right to post in CE. I think it's driven some people away like Instigator and Nocturnal. I've seen them a few times, but not as much as before.

[screamingtoast]

Anonymous reps are definitely abused. Gettig an anonymous good rep is kinda nice, and people don't give good rep unless it's deserved. But bad rep is abused by some of the more immature members. Just look at my rep for today:

-5 points total Latest Reputation Received
Thread Date Comment
Making children cry is ... 11-23-2004 04:50 PM
Making children cry is ... 11-23-2004 04:46 PM fag.........hahahahhaha
Making children cry is ... 11-23-2004 03:45 PM De-repping people isn't cool, so i decided to rep you.
Making children cry is ... 11-23-2004 03:22 PM QUIT YO BITCHIN FAG.AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Making children cry is ... 11-23-2004 02:46 PM That is one great picture! -Awesome Andrew

And one more that just said "fag"

It's outta cotrol.

[sharpemark]

I think the biggest problem is that a majority of threads are not based on mainstream current events but instead obscure stories that are far under the radar. While these issues are important, I believe its not what most posters want to discuss. I like your idea of having a exclusive CE ban though.

[anjroo11688]

I like you ideas Bergs, heres what I propose: If you want to be eligible to post in CE you would have to fill out a form with various questions about politics his/her stance on issues, etc. It would be reviewed by someone of higher authority, like droog and it he thinks the poster is "sane" they would be allowed to post in teh current events forum. That way the Ce-ers would not have to wade through bullshit and bush-hater threads. Another one of my ideas: If anyone makes a bullshit/flaming/"Joke" news story threads, their poster privileges in the current events forum should be taken away. Once all of that is under control, the debate threads should be brought back, those were always the highlight of the Current Events forum and need to be brought back. I used to like reading that forum but as of late in has gone straight to hell, and I hope one day that forum would be back to normal, debating about politics, intelligently.

[YouEnjoyMyself]

Bergs, get off your high horse. Just because you don't like what I'm saying, doesn't mean im on retard pills.

You guys take reps too seriously. So what if you get neg repped without a name? Is it going to hurt you anywhere else besides your control panel? Do you really care how many green boxes you have?

I agree with points one and two. But people need to get thicker skin when it comes to neg reps. I got a PM from bubba e (actually, multiple PMs) the other day accusing me of not signing my neg rep. Then, he neg reps me. Doesn't bother me, just an example of people needing thicker skin.

[bschizz]

You guys take reps too seriously. So what if you get neg repped without a name? Is it going to hurt you anywhere else besides your control panel? Do you really care how many green boxes you have?

I agree with points one and two. But people need to get thicker skin when it comes to neg reps. I got a PM from bubba e (actually, multiple PMs) the other day accusing me of not signing my neg rep. Then, he neg reps me. Doesn't bother me, just an example of people needing thicker skin.

Wow, that is ridiculously self-contradictory after your previous actions. I remember repping you long while back, and you getting all hot about it.


"You're in the red now, pussy. Don't fuck with me!"

Those were your exact words. So why don't YOU get over yourself and stop taking them so seriously?? :rolleyes:

[MrDeliquent85]

I am not the most intellegent person but i do however have an opinion and that can make a good debate. I have several times tried and failed to go in to CE and discuss anything serious because there was nothing to discuss.

I dont agree with the neg repping shit, its means nothing. Shade is probably one of the most intellegent people on this forum and probably the most respected in CE but he doesnt have loads of green boxes.

I think sharpemark hit the nail on the head when he said the real issue is the lack of good topics to debate, if Bush farts by mistake then there would be a 100 page thread about it.

[Ace Hippie]

I would agree that some of the topics are way, way too common, and that the forum would do better if we had fewer topics about each and every angle of a few stories...we must have dozens and dozens of threads about whether the Iraq war is good or bad for America, etc. I would also agree that there seem to be some posters who stick to the "OMG [insert party] SUCKS" type argument, but I think that is partly to be expected.

As for repping...personally I haven't had that problem, though I guess it's in part because I try to avoid making statements that would inflame someone who disagrees with me. I think negative repping could be seen as a potential problem throughout the forum, in any case, not just in CE.

EDIT: As the above post says, reps are a poor indicator of post quality in CE anyway. I tend to get repped more for inane posts outside that forum, even though I think my best posts are there.

[sharpemark]

I was so bored tonight I did this hyper-critical analysis of CE as of right now:

(thoughts?)

[bschizz]

Doesn't bother me, just an example of people needing thicker skin.

Do you not realize that your unsigned neg rep in response to me calling you out, just proved my point? "Retard pills" is a relatively civil explanation for your idiotic double standard.

[Tool]

i think your mistake is looking for intelligent conversations when most people that visit these forums are 13-16 years old.

[sharpemark]

i think your mistake is looking for intelligent conversations when most people that visit these forums are 13-16 years old.Excellent point; it's always the first thing that comes to my mind. I think the average poster's age has been going down throughout the year.

[shade]

I have been too busy lately to waste my time in CE. I have not seen anything new and/or worthy to talk about most of the times I checked in. Lots of the same old, but dumbed down more than usual.

[gigatonblast]

William Jefferson Clinton.
Theres a guy who made all his decisions based on whats popular. And everyone whos posted in this thread has pretty much the same feeling as I do on Slick Willy....I see this thread based on popularity....Rep points ? Childish behavoir ? This is a forum based on humor. And we have a lot of stray dogs who feel the need to add their occasional 2 cents worth of kiddie input.

So by whinning about C/E ..are you doing anything to benefit it ? No. Did Limbaugh give up in 1992 ...1996 ? No. Should the liberals who post here give up ? No. Let em keep rolling. It amuses the shit out of me at the utter raw stupidity of the left. You/we conservatives have got to remember what liberals are becoming: Hate mongers and fear starters. They have no hope for the future of the United States Of America....Their lives are filled with doom and gloom. As long as you let the kids of the forum get you down....You have stooped to their level.

My second point of contention. The War ....There aint NOBODY on this planet who likes a war. But we are in one. We need to keep up moral. We need to beat the FACTS into the heads of the idiotic morons who feel the need to call the USA a fear factory of death and destruction. But we also need to keep our sense of humor.

Action in words. That is what I would strongly suggest to counter the malcontents of the forum. The only thing I'd like to see in C/E changed is built in "speel czech" :D

Changing the rules of C/E is the equal of doing away with the electoral college.... Or letting the world vote for President Of The United States.

The 2004 election may go down in tha annuls of history as the first election that was won with the help of bloggers. I'd like to think that some of us may have swayed the election by FOUR MILLION VOTES. That our insight...Our determination ....Our facts ....did in fact do it. If was not for us,some of the BS we countered may in fact have become gospel.

Keep blogging !!! We still have a war....We still have myths to bust....We still hearts and minds to win. Just remember that brilliant point you thought of....That you really want to post...but dont. Maybe the point may be needed to sway that kid in Kokomo to a whole different realm in his thought process.

[Bergs]

Bergs, get off your high horse. Just because you don't like what I'm saying, doesn't mean im on retard pills.

You guys take reps too seriously. So what if you get neg repped without a name? Is it going to hurt you anywhere else besides your control panel? Do you really care how many green boxes you have?

I agree with points one and two. But people need to get thicker skin when it comes to neg reps. I got a PM from bubba e (actually, multiple PMs) the other day accusing me of not signing my neg rep. Then, he neg reps me. Doesn't bother me, just an example of people needing thicker skin.

I never liked what you had to say much. But atleast you used to be sane. Now you just sound like a whiny dellusional ultra liberal that doesnt give a shit about this country other than how it can be turned back towards the left at all costs.

I could really care less about the rep points except for the fact that more points entitles you to certain premium services that would otherwise need to be paid for so therefore it is an issue. The middle schoolers on the board can call me a fag all they want, one day their stupid ass will be working for me.

[YouEnjoyMyself]

I never liked what you had to say much. But atleast you used to be sane. Now you just sound like a whiny dellusional ultra liberal that doesnt give a shit about this country other than how it can be turned back towards the left at all costs.


Whiny?

Dellusional?

Bullshit.

I'm more sane then I ever was, and certainly more sane then half of the blindly conservative folks in CE who would follow GW no matter what.

I care about my country, that is why I have a dissenting opinion. The way you guys rant, it seems you don't give a shit about this country or it's soldiers.

[Bergs]

No, clearly you dont care about our soldiers because you want a to draft a bunch of people who dont want to be there simply for the reason that it will create a Vietnam style backlash against the administration, the government, and the military in general. Even though not only is it stupid, its entirely unnecessary and the military even says so! In addition you have stated that you want this country to go through worse times, just for the sake of getting Bush out and turning the country back towards the Democrats. I used to respect you, now I think youre a selfish little brainwashed leftist.

And dont lump me with the blind idiots ranting on conservative ideologies in the forum. They are just as guilty as the liberals for polluting the intellectual environment of CE.

[YouEnjoyMyself]

No, clearly you dont care about our soldiers because you want a to draft a bunch of people who dont want to be there simply for the reason that it will create a Vietnam style backlash against the administration, the government, and the military in general. Even though not only is it stupid, its entirely unnecessary and the military even says so! In addition you have stated that you want this country to go through worse times, just for the sake of getting Bush out and turning the country back towards the Democrats. I used to respect you, now I think youre a selfish little brainwashed leftist.

And dont lump me with the blind idiots ranting on conservative ideologies in the forum. They are just as guilty as the liberals for polluting the intellectual environment of CE.

Glad to see you know everything.

Take care, enjoy the Army.