No, in my opinion we don't need another Dave.
I look forward to him one day posting again but it won't suddenly
make the forum a better place to visitm thus ridding it of it's
problems. If I may, I'll give my opinion on what we need.
We need the people who post unnecessarily provocatively, looking for
arguments, trying to settle scores, making accusations without real
evidence and all that crap to kindly piss off and do it elsewhere. I
have no problem with people who have an issue against someone
else, with people who think someone else is a program user, or a
multiple identity, or a nasty person, or a squirrel lover, or whatever,
but first of all talk to that person about it, email them, challenge them
to a game, just act a little bit wisely instead of marking barbed
comments and taking cheap shots in a public forum.
We need people who have nothing positive to contribute to go and
lose themselves in their angst and insecurity and cease trying to drag
others down with them.
We need the people who never post but who check the forum list to
see if there is a new post every 10 minutes to actually go ahead and
post something, anything. Tell us your best game, tell us a joke, tell
us your favourite sandwich filling, anything. Just contribute.
We need more people who are willing to take two minutes and write a
few lines on something they feel passionate about. Most people don't
have time, many do but can't be arsed. That is fine, that is their right.
But there are some who do have time. It takes literally 5 minutes to
post who one's hero is and a short paragraph why.
I'm gonna go off on one here cos it pisses me off no end when I see
people who I count as friends hurt and upset and refusing to go back
to the forums. The forums make people very unhappy. I know you
meant well Linda and I'm soooo glad to see someone else who cares,
but Dave coming back, as undeniably good as his stories and chess
knowledge are, won't stop good threads withering or make the vast
numbers of people who refuse to go to the forums suddenly come
back.
Tim and Julia (I'm sorry to name you guys) used to post a lot, and
post very well indeed, but both have virtually totally stopped thanks to
the accusations, bickering, bitchiness, and arguing that went on and
still goes on. There are countless others too.
The best poster around by miles, maggoteer, went away because he
was disillusioned with the forums. Several players in the top 20 who
could contribute soooo much in terms of chess knowledge don't even
visit the forums and have told me why. Many, many people view the
forums as a sad joke, with petty minded people arguing and thus a
place to stay away from.
There will be those who think, oh look at T1000, naive and emotional
as ever, poor boy. Indeed, someone said that to me the other day on
here! That's fine. if you don't get what I'm trying to say and think I'm
getting carried away about a stupid little forum then great. If it's no
big deal to you then you're bound to think I'm getting carried away.
We don't need another Dave. That won't help. However some of the
people who went away will come back, and those that still visit the
forums will post more so long as people stop using it as a place to
make cheap shots and score points.
It is a public forum where people want to talk about chess and
occasionally non-chess related topics, not a primary school playground
for the immature.
Mark
The Squirrel Lover
Good post , Mark. A few thoughts. In the movie "Dances With
Wolves" there is a really poewrful scene near the end of the movie
where the lead character (Costner) realizes that he will be hunted
down and considers returning to face the consequences. The wise old
chief says that "the man they are looking for no longer exists." This
was an affirmation of his transformation in finding a place of love and
respect among his people. I wish the best for Dave and I hope the
best of him returns and also for the man transformed whom we do not
know yet, I look forward to getting to know. Kirk
- Joined
- 20 Sep 01
- Moves
- 133237
Maybe I've eaten too many of my hoarded nuts and they've gone off,
but, are you a red lover or a grey lover ?
Seriously, I agree with a lot of what you have said.
I just cannot understand how all the bickering has got so personal.
So many of the posts seem so clicky and incestuous I sometimes
wonder if there are really only 25 players here not 25000.
Martin
o'd on macadamia's and Pistachio's
This is a qustion that is often asked. I have but one answer ;o)
Posted by Acolyte [19 October 2002 13:38]
I have to ask at this point: which side are you on, Red or Grey? Or
have the Reds already died out?
Posted by T1000 [20 October 2002 04:01]
Squirrel racism is something I frown deeply upon.
Mark
The Squirrel Lover
PS But for humouring me I shall reward you and anyone else
stupid/bored enough to be reading this post with a fsf (a fascinating
squirrel fact).
In cold climates, to keep himself warm a squirrel will wrap his tail
around his face.
