i remember back in the day Options

[*Zatanna*]

wow. that was a lot of pages to read.

i like justin's idea about not just cutting away forums, but merging some of them somehow...
but i don't like the age division idea because that would create more divisions in the community and plenty of the people on here either act older or younger than their true age.

Ditto on the 'lot of pages to read.' I'm pooped.

I agree with you (and several others) that age diversity would be problematic. For one thing, you wouldn't have a 30+ group seeing as the majority of folks here are under 20 and if you did, it would just be me and one other person (and she rarely posts).

[yo pusha]

back in the day i thought jordans and a gold chain was livin it up

[*tweeak*]

Mm, I just discovered this topic, so give me a minute to reply to everything

i remember one time Jusun septaposted.

It was awesome !

Jusun multi-posts ALL THE TIME tongue:

I think also, CB has fallen into these odd cliques. The Anonymous shout-outs prevail over a lot of us.

I say down with them!

I feel Xanga is starting to die out. For the techno-smarts they will run off to wordpress and such. As with the others they seem to move off to Facebook or MySpace.
I have no idea about Tagworld...what is that? It shows on cB's adsense =P

I hate that. So much. Myspace = crap. My friends still swear by xanga, but alas, they couldn't give a damn about designing them

annoying members like paul murphy and jason. but we learn to love them, sort of. [/random]

actually, I think we all got along better when we couldn't love them. Therefore, they were actually loveable in thir hatefulness. The common enemy brouhgt us all together. Now that a few people actually try to be fair, there's more easily a division. Honestly, the Jason-bashing period was a really fun time for me, as sad as it sounds. There's essentially nothing holding me here anymore besides sheer addiction, a couple of people, and James' refusal to check his email on a consistant basis.

[*Blow_Don't_SUCK*]

haha theres a reason for all that.

lmfao you did a fine job on selecting the boys too! Most of them are attractive! *cough*Mipadi*cough*
//edit

compared to you guys I'm but a mere infant. I've only been here for a year.

[*tweeak*]

Oh my! 
I like this thread. =]

Yeah, I remember those days. We used to be more tightly-knit before all the drama and cB revolution stuff. 

Actually, long before. The revolution itself made createblog more interesting, even if it was frustrating. A lot of it only occured from createblog's social structure breaking up

maybe we ought to organize the forum by age group, rather than by general topics like we have currently. or add a new catagory with a middle school / high school / college peeps / working peeps forum.

No...the younger age groups will become filled with crap, and they'll go searching for relief in the older age groups anyway, which would defy the whole initial purpose. Then again, age groups in the first place would defy the purpose of CB. It'd be completely counterproductive as far as community building goes.

-DEAR GOD-

this is why james SHOULD NOT take a night where he doesnt get on cb. he misses things. and oddly begins to refer to himself in the third person.

- i VERY strongly oppose any sort of age division within cb. i think if the aim is to promote stronger community bonding, then this would be totally counter productive. i get on well with all age groups, and dont see a strong argument in favour of such a split.

agreed. That's what I was thinking.

seriously... i mean,  i agree with christina (i think... sorry if im wrong, ive forgotten quite a bit of the last few pages) regarding drama. yes it seems divisive, and to an extent, it is, but it also forms bonds and friendships. im a hell of a lot closer to lots of people now than i would have been without all the drama that we've dealt with.

a community isnt everyone loving each other. it's disliking some, and dealing with it. CB without drama would be an empty shell. for me, at least.

not to mention, it actually does make things interesting. It's like the whole idea of a Utopia; peace seems nice, but in reality, we'd all be bored out of our minds. (for a good read on this subject, read Orwell's essay, "Why Socialists Don't Believe in Fun" here). Sorry, but if I can't be sufficiently bitchy, it's not worth hanging around.

- i LOVELOVE the idea of personalized profiles. i had that thought the other day, actually... if there was a way to do it, that would kick ass.

I've lways like this idea, but it go pretty rejected the last time itwas proposed

I think the use of subforums was effective. One of the biggest problems on cB is that the topics don't stimulate much discussion. Look at The Lounge, for example. The topics are often a person's thoughts, but no one tries to stimulate discussion. The question is something like, "Does this ever happen to you?" or "What do you think of this?", and then everyone just posts "Yes, this happened to me" or "I think this", but no one ever comments or discusses any existing replies. Topics that do often require "too much thought" and get pushed to the back pages.

However, breaking discussion into target channels or forums encourages greater discussion. Go to one of the subforums in Interests, such as Technology or Debate—a lot more actual discussion goes on.

Why is this good? Because it is through discussion that we get to know one another on the board and develop a community. Answering basic questions and then never returning to the thread does not foster relationships. Simply responding with "I like this band" or something along those lines in a thread doesn't truly get people to know each other. But discussiing a point or an issue does. Look at many of the subforums: The users who frequent Debate, or Technology, or Writing, for example, are much closer-knit that the users who frequent The Lounge (which is pretty much everyone). I see the same happening in Digital Art and Anime, for example, although I can't comment specifically because I spend little time there myself.

That is why I am of the opinion that subforums are a good thing, and I'm sorry to see subforums like Current Events go: Subforums foster the kind of targeted discussion that allow people to easily find and communicate with others users with similar interests, and thus developer a tighter-knit community.

The complaint about the lack of discussion brings me back to my thought that anything remotely resembling a conversation is way too easily played off as spam. Not all conversation is spam. It IS community building, and a damn lot more useful than just answering simple questions and getting yelled at for saying something to someone else. I say this in the least hypocritical way I can, because while I know I have crossed the line many a time, I think there are also nearly as many times when that line had not been crossed, yet I was told I had anyway. I also honestly don't think think I was very hard on people on that particular thing as a mod, either. I do try to be fair. There are ways to keep the place running smoothly and do your job and yet still let it be fun. Recently, that hasn't been working so well. This, I think is partially because ther are cliques that other cliques don't particularly like. If the mods, for example (I'm generalizing here, don't get mad) don't like a certain group, they tend to just stay backstage and have minimal interaction with the outside community. I say this from the experience of both perspectives. I desperately miss my backstage access, and that's largely because it feels like I just don't have the oppertunity on the boards to get to know them anymore. Modsmanship, even for the best mods, often results in some withdrawal from the community. Obviously backstage cna't be public, and the mods should certainly be ableto converse, but it is quite alienating, I must say.

Well, I've gotten completely off on a tangent, but in short, I think we need to rethink our ideas of what exactly spam is.

[*Programmer*]

i miss them...

[*tweeak*]

You miss what?

[pshaa.shauna]

^He misses the good old days.(topic title) I am assuming he's just posting to post and not contribute.

I'd agree, I'd like to see the spam rules changed a bit. I've seen way too many times where a topic would get a group of people talking, and then it gets closed for spam. I'd rather see things how they are in the Anime forum. We are all on topic for the most part, or we start telling our stories and opinions and laughing, and it doesn't get closed.

[*tweeak*]

Well in that case, that really was spam. I shall now list reasons, because I'm in a mood.
1. Completely irrelevant
2. Shows no sign of even having read the first page
3. Merely states the obvious if he's referring to the topic title becuase, well duh you miss things "back in the day," because that's why there worth remembering in the first place


Anywho, my point is not to pick on Rico so much as to point out that there's a line between "spam" and spam. If you talk to another person, that is NOT spam. That makes the world of cb enjoyable. Spam is saying useless things that no one could respond relevantly to if they tried. And you know what? Occasionally we all need a topic where we have a good, light drama or just good multi-person conversation going to have a good time and keep us interested in the place. The fab five, for example, was insanely spammy, but it's those rare moments that hold us here. (Plenty of good, responsible mods and members participated in that too, and it hardly makes us any the worse for it). There was a topic a couple of week ago too...the one by Sandra that turned into being about Seon Ho and Brandon, I think? that got a little bit out of hand, but it was nice Not nice because we were all getting along, per say, but we should at least be allowed for it to run its course. It isn't fun to take things off the board. They die. It's completely anticlimactic. It's just not fun. And frankly, that's why I, (and most other members), am here. So please, please have some tact when closing topics or warning people from spamming. I'm not innocent, but it's not useful to make me resentful, especially when James is involved, because together the two of us can be insanely spiteful.

[*Programmer*]

--; why must everything i do be judged...by people who have no clue what im talking about.....people have certain ways of expressing themselves...old members that see that post...automatically know what im talking about..i don't need to go in detail because they all ready know how it was back then...im not gonna go writting a novel everytime a couple people don't get it...and please next time you try and make an example of someone get the facts first..before...accusing..

and since you went threw all that trouble i guess ill list them for you:

OLD MEMBERS
OLD FORUM TOPICS
THE DAYS THAT FORUMS GAMES COUNTED AS POSTS
THE SMALLER COMMUNITY
AND LESS HYPOCRITS


and im suprised of all people you would single me out...

[*tweeak*]

No one was "accusing" you. You did spam. There's no way around it. It was either spam because of the reasons I already provided or because no one STILL has any idea what you were talking about. We don't expect "novels" for responses, but we would like actual respoine.

And yes, I am really enjoying createblog at the moment. You (general, everyone "you") should give me cause to go on rampages more often.

[*Programmer*]

w/e nicki think what you will..im not going to get into a confrontation
with another freind...you win hands down... i give...lost enough friends for one month.

[demolished]

Omg. I cant believe you even dump heath forum to the lounge o__o They're important and people can ask for help from more experiences people than inexperience people. Yep, it's too late. whynot dump food section here, eh ?

[EddieV]

I'd like a section for role playing. That would seem fun.

[AnnahhbeL]

wah...? i dont get this...

[demolished]

Well, I'm too lazy to read the other seven pages (i will later) but... What happened to the health forum?
I always liked the idea of the health forum because it organizes all the topics relating to body, mental, etc health issues. and you don't have to do an extensive search every time.

Agreed

[*wind&fire*]

i remember back ithe day when i spammed the entire games threads w/ jeff...

not now though... dont warn me

[gelionie]

I was here at cB during the revolution period... but I can't remember a single thing about it at all. Well, I was utterly confused at that time.

[*wind&fire*]

i remeber the revolution..

i remember when there was a mass spamming of the feedback section... then an admin came and deleted the topics


gawsh that was fun

[DaTru KataLYST]

i remember back ithe day when i spammed the entire games threads w/ jeff...

not now though... dont warn me

I remember people thought of me as a forum nazi!


Woooooooooooooooooo....anyways...Torino opening ceremony was nice, I especially liked the lighting of the Olympic flame!


Beijing will be exponentially better, though!!

[racoons > you]

OH! id forgotten about the dynasty incedent...

fab five, anyone?

i miss mindy and william... and getting along with sammi.

The complaint about the lack of discussion brings me back to my thought that anything remotely resembling a conversation is way too easily played off as spam. Not all conversation is spam. It IS community building, and a damn lot more useful than just answering simple questions and getting yelled at for saying something to someone else. I say this in the least hypocritical way I can, because while I know I have crossed the line many a time, I think there are also nearly as many times when that line had not been crossed, yet I was told I had anyway. I also honestly don't think think I was very hard on people on that particular thing as a mod, either. I do try to be fair. There are ways to keep the place running smoothly and do your job and yet still let it be fun. Recently, that hasn't been working so well. This, I think is partially because ther are cliques that other cliques don't particularly like. If the mods, for example (I'm generalizing here, don't get mad) don't like a certain group, they tend to just stay backstage and have minimal interaction with the outside community. I say this from the experience of both perspectives. I desperately miss my backstage access, and that's largely because it feels like I just don't have the oppertunity on the boards to get to know them anymore. Modsmanship, even for the best mods, often results in some withdrawal from the community. Obviously backstage cna't be public, and the mods should certainly be ableto converse, but it is quite alienating, I must say.

i like you.

[crazeegirl411]

The good old days. Tell me about it...haha. Been there, done that.

Seriously though...the only forums I go to now are pictures, the lounge, and MAYBE relationships if I'm really bored. I don't bother with the subforums because I was perfectly fine without them. I was perfectly fine without that digital art forum.

I think we want so much more in cB when you can talk about health in places more appropriate than a blogging community. You can talk about health, but not with the importance of a subforum with it. Same with food and whatever subforum there was, because I have no idea.

The reason about cB not being close-knit anymore is so simple. People (mods, AND members too) caring so much about rules. Especially spamming. What's with the discussing, the big paragraph about what spamming is? Who cares? Someone talks about something irrelevant, it's only going to make the topic a post more. It's only going to make the page a little longer. It's not going to make the community any LESS better just because someone can't reply to the post, or because it doesn't induce enough conversation or discussion.

Yeah, this is seriously like a high school. Subforums are like clubs, some people are in that forum all the time and some don't go there at all. Maybe sometimes we're all together in the lounge, but it's rare because people are always somewhere else talking about things they want in seperated "cubicles." And mods enforcing rules so harshly, closing so many topics, just ruins the whole reason people come here. For fun.

I mean...school enforces rules because school isn't a place exactly aimed for fun. Rules are aimed to make sure you get your education. Createblog is supposed to be aimed to help you with blogs and FUN. Rules and fun don't go together. Regulation is needed but it's getting harsher and harsher.

Everytime I see, "Don't double post" or "don't spam," it annoys me SO much more than the person that double posted or supposedly spammed.

Everytime I see someone being mean JUST to be mean it annoys me so much more than "dumb" or "immature" people that are simply kids that will EVENTUALLY grow up. Like people that are mean just to be mean...hopefully they will EVENTUALLY grow up.

EDIT: Oh yeah, and why ask the people that are still here? Ask people that have left before or left for good. Why did they leave?

[racoons > you]

The good old days.  Tell me about it...haha.  Been there, done that.

Seriously though...the only forums I go to now are pictures, the lounge, and MAYBE relationships if I'm really bored.  I don't bother with the subforums because I was perfectly fine without them.  I was perfectly fine without that digital art forum.

I think we want so much more in cB when you can talk about health in places more appropriate than a blogging community.  You can talk about health, but not with the importance of a subforum with it.  Same with food and whatever subforum there was, because I have no idea.

The reason about cB not being close-knit anymore is so simple.  People (mods, AND members too) caring so much about rules.  Especially spamming.  What's with the discussing, the big paragraph about what spamming is?  Who cares?  Someone talks about something irrelevant, it's only going to make the topic a post more.  It's only going to make the page a little longer.  It's not going to make the community any LESS better just because someone can't reply to the post, or because it doesn't induce enough conversation or discussion.

Yeah, this is seriously like a high school.  Subforums are like clubs, some people are in that forum all the time and some don't go there at all.  Maybe sometimes we're all together in the lounge, but it's rare because people are always somewhere else talking about things they want in seperated "cubicles."  And mods enforcing rules so harshly, closing so many topics, just ruins the whole reason people come here.  For fun.

I mean...school enforces rules because school isn't a place exactly aimed for fun.  Rules are aimed to make sure you get your education.  Createblog is supposed to be aimed to help you with blogs and FUN.  Rules and fun don't go together.  Regulation is needed but it's getting harsher and harsher.

Everytime I see, "Don't double post" or "don't spam," it annoys me SO much more than the person that double posted or supposedly spammed.

Everytime I see someone being mean JUST to be mean it annoys me so much more than "dumb" or "immature" people that are simply kids that will EVENTUALLY grow up.  Like people that are mean just to be mean...hopefully they will EVENTUALLY grow up.

yes. thank you.

will someone, other than mona, because we've been there done that, explain to me why conversing in teh 'what are you listening to right now' thread is in ANYWY detrimental to the createblog community? provided of course, that during the conversation all participants are still posting the songs, so that it is still relevant to th topic.

however, i dont really understand the negative aspect of the 'subforum clubs'

cb has so many members that a close knit community among them all is not possible. ergo, the subforums provide a way for people with similar interests to form smaller communities within the whole.

[DaTru KataLYST]

sunforum clubs, haha james. =P


A less gripping hold on the rules would be nice, IMO.

[racoons > you]

lol

although, 'sunforum clubs' do sound really cheerful and friendly...

nonetheless, i shall edit