A Rumble on the Message Boards

[DavidMegg]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 10:49am

I'm reading through threads that I'm interested in only to find that after a post or two, people are fighting back and forth.
And it's lame.
I realize that disagreements will come up and differences of opinions will occur, but this whole young vs. older thread posters is just a waste of energy.
The younger people MAY be "green" and ask questions. Who cares! Answer them or leave it alone. Why are certain posters ALWAYS bitter? There are some people out there who post 10% on actual theatre and 90% bashing everyone else and being so smug and "oh, I saw such and such in 197 -whatever, so I'm better..."
The bottom line is, I'm not a moderator, and I have no control, but we're all here for the same purpose.
If you don't want to read about Gypsy or What someone's picture is, then please... and I think this is common sense... avoid those discussions.
I'M not looking to make enemies here, I would assume no one does. Yet still, they're out there and I think it's really discouraging.
David. Updated On: 8/24/03 at 10:49 AM

[Albin]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 11:04am

David,

While I agree with what you write in your post, unfortunately there are those that are always going to be "a fly in the ointment" and posts such as yours only encourage their bashing etc. It's best just to ignore them.

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 11:11am

Albin is right David. We seem to have no way to stop the attacks. Our only choice is to simply Not read the posts by those to whom you refer.

[Amneris]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 11:17am

actually, the attacks here havent been THAT bad... when you compare this board to the old bway.com board...now THAT was bad. I know I have been involved in 2 or 3 little things on this board but everyone seems to have calmed down now and agree to PMing instead of a board display..so dont worry. There is a great group of people here. And if it makes ya feel better hehe I love you davidmegg =D Updated On: 8/24/03 at 11:17 AM

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 12:42pm

The instigators and troublemakers here are restricted to about 4-5 posters really. It's not THAT bad.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 1:17pm

Can somebody please explain to me when a comment is an "attack?" When is a well argued counter-point "bashing?" When is a disagreement "instigating trouble?" It's really about who is posting the counterpoints, isn't it Broadwayguy? When you make less-than-flattering comments about other posters or performers it's just you making a comment and nothing more and it's really just an opinion and this board is about opinions, right? So move on!

However, when it is one of the 4 or 5 people you have handpicked to label instigators, it is all much worse and more nefarious when they do the exact same thing. Why is that?

I would seriously like an answer to these questions, from both Broadwayguy and other people. It does seem as if there is a tendency around here to cry "you're being mean!" when somebody makes a well-argued point that refutes something the people getting upset have said they believed. Why is that?

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 1:30pm

Finding Namo- a diasgreement is not instigating trouble. A RUDE disagreement is instigating trouble. You are known on the board as a rude poster who loves to bring people down by saying rude things. At least, that's how I think of you. Here's an example. IN the "A Survey" thread, here's what you responded:
11) Which question is the one you most like being asked for the umpteenth time?
You call that a well thought out argument? I don't. Instead of saying that, you should just not say anything. If it doesn't pertain to you, DO NOT respond. It's as simple as that. There...does that answer your question?

[Cutiepie2]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 1:34pm

Whyc an't we all just be nice and agree with everyboyd else?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 1:40pm

I agree with cutiepie.

You see Billy, surveys pertain to everybody. That is what a survey is. Surveys exist to gather a wide range of feelings and opinions. That is what a survey does. My answer was my opinion. My answer may not have been everybody's, but I obviously posted a reply that resonated with other people. It is interesting that all of those opinions are discounted and somehow it is all projected onto me.

I'm sure you feel bashed by that response, Billy. Sorry in advance.

Updated On: 8/24/03 at 01:40 PM

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 1:49pm

Don't you see, Namo? Rob created the board, I repeat, to gather friendly theatergoers to discuss various topics. A survey should be answered, not made fun of, because it insults the originator of the survey, and things like this happen, where a whole thread is wasted on the negative attitudes of some people in the forum. I'm not saying you have to be overly nice and polite to people; I'm simply saying if you have nothing nice to say, don't say it! And if you insist on posting your opinion, at least make it SOUND nice, although I understand that's never your intention.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 2:39pm

Now, Billy, what is with you (and Voiceanth in another thread), catastrophizing all the way to "the whole thread is wasted." In fact, how? Can you actually show me how?

People continued to answer the questions and some people answered the parody questions and a good time was had by all. I am sure people smiled at responses to both sets of questions.

What, exactly, is the harm in that? If I were you, I would try not to project your feelings, (your antipathy to me), onto others and calling them something else (it insulted the originator of the post -- maybe, maybe not).

But really Billy, why is it you don't get on Broadwayguy when he says nasty, horrible things about performers and other people who post? I would actually listen to your criticism of me and consider it more seriously if you applied it equally to your friends on the board, some of whom we would never hear from if they followed your orders to not say anything at all if they don't have something nice to say. But until you demonstrate that you apply your rules without a double standard, it lacks too much credibility.

[DavidMegg]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 3:10pm

Namo, give it a rest.
Why are you making this personal? I'm not going on but I don't know why so much negative energy is expunged here.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 3:41pm

See? You just did it again!

I asked for clarity on what constitutes the things that people have complained about, "attacks," "bashings," etc., Billy Lawlor made it personal about me, and now you David ask me why I take it personally? Why aren't you asking Billy why he chose to say something not nice to me rather than not say anything at all?

What IS the disconect on this board? I'm still waiting for a "fair and balanced" discussion of exactly WHAT IT IS THAT CONSTITUTES THOSE INFRACTIONS THAT MADE YOU START THIS THREAD?

[CJR]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 5:02pm

Oy. Everyone go to their rooms now.

This is a message board, not everyone is going to agree and not everyone is going to get along. ESPECIALLY when you have kids as young as 12 and 13 posting here, and adults ages 40 and over... as well as ages inbetween.

Everyone take a valium, relax and have a drink... as a matter of fact, I'm on my way out for a drink at the moment -- but that is besides the point.

Chill

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 5:14pm

To CJR

Great advice

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 8:12pm

Namo- broadwayguy has never said anything rude to me, personally. That's the point I'm trying to make! If it doesn't apply to me, I don't butt in! Just like the survey obviously doesn't apply to you- than you shouldn't but in! If broadwayguy insults other people, which I rarely see happen anyway, it's none of my business. But if a poster calls me and the other young posters "kiddies" I have a right to defend myself and them, and tell them that we are not kids, we are tennagers interested in theater! If certain threads don't pertain to you, what right to you have to respond rudely just because you don't agree with the conversation? And let me explain why I think this thread is wasted- because we could be talking about theater,which is what this board is for, and things that matter instead of fighting like this because of the negativity of some people, who try to bring others down.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 10:43pm

As long as I get to play Rif- Raf and sing "Sargent Krupke".

Please folks... this is a potpourri of personalities and some of them have a history of "unpleasant" encounters. Add a good measure of young people with a handful of old croonies, like me, put them in a new playground and let the games begin. Just remember "respect works both ways".

Hey, if you've got a burr in your britiches with someone...take it to pm or e-mail. Some of us don't come here to debate personal issues or want to take sides with those making them!
I don't have the time or the interest to argue with strangers.

"Deeeeer kindly Sargent Krupke ya gotta undertand. It's just my bringing upkee that makes me outa hand. My sister wears a mustache. My brother wears a dress. Leapin lizards! That's why I'm a mess!"

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 10:45pm

Just so we're clear, a comment is just a comment unless it is about us and by somebody we don't "like?" Good. Okay. Well.

Again Billy, surveys "pertain" to everybody who reads them.

[etoile]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 10:48pm

But, Billy, if you feel this thread is "wasted" and does not deal with theater then why are you answering it instead of just the nice theater threads? And why would or should Namo not respond to a survey thread? Was it titled "To all members but FindingNamo"? And why would you presume to know why RobD created the board?

A clever comment to a survey is not rude. A difference of opinion is not rude. Asking for clarification to a comment stated as a fact is not rude. Asking for the source of a comment is not rude.

And while some here may see disagreeing comments as "lame" others may see those comments as the stuff of which great theater is made.

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 11:14pm

Excuse Me- I stand corrected. This is not a wasted thread- it's more like me wasting my time. But as much as I feel I am wasting time, I'm still going to post back until I answer all of your questions. Finding Namo is free to disagree, just not rudely. Let him disagree all he wants- I do it all the time, but I don't insult people in the process. And I didn't mean that Finding Namo shouldn't read the survey- he has every right to- he just doesnt have the right to insult and bring down everyone else who previously responded. At least that's the way I feel.
Oh, and I don't presume to know why Rob started the board. But based on what I know of Rob, he didn't create the board for people to fight like this.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 11:37pm

{{Yawn}}

Posted: 8/25/03 at 2:44pm

Officer Krupke - I'm down on my knees...

that song will ring in my head all afternoon

[mamamia sammy]

Posted: 8/25/03 at 2:57pm

Can't we all just get along?

[orion59]

Posted: 8/25/03 at 3:49pm

There's a board for us
Somewhere a message board for us
Polite people will post on it
No more bi**ching and childish sh*t

Somewhere, somwhere
We'll stick to theater news
We'll tolerate different views
Somewhere

Couln't help it. It's all the WSS refrences.
Anyway, I've visited message boards on other foprums for diffrent topics and the on ething that every single one of them has in common is that people cannot tolerate anyone disgareeing with their opinion. No matter how you put it, if you disagree with me, you are personally insulting and attacking me.

Message boards are a gathering place for people with fragile egos who are looking to connect with the world. sometimes these epople come right out and blatantly attack. Sometimes they post messages of "I'm only trying to make this board a better place by pointing out what a jerk you are" or "let me teach you how to accept other people's critism so that we can start arguing over me lecturing you".
No matter what you say or do, it's always going to come up, it's always going to be there. Why is this such a surprise to people? Have you really not seen this on every other site you visit? You can't change the behavior no matter how much you lecture and the more you lecture, the more you participate in it yourself.

If you haven't gotten used it yet and learned to ignore it and move on, you should. Don't you have better ways to spend your time tahn trying to change the behavior of a total stranger on an internet message board?

[sondheimfreak]

Posted: 8/25/03 at 3:56pm

Why all the West Side lyrics? Did I miss something? And I'm sorry that my Survey post created so much hate. I do, however, think that Namo does pick a lot of fights with the comments that are posted.