Confused

[jw50]

Since it appears that alot of people missed my previous post I will do it again

I have been advised that the Community Board is "off-topic, all the time", and that colorful stories are most welcome there as long as they're clean.

Since this is the case it is clear that Mel's trip report would be welcome to continue on the CB and thus would not run into a problem with the TR forum guidelines.

This is also true for any of the other trip report writers who may wish to include information in their "trip reports" that might be considered off-topic on the TR board.

I would also like to thank the TR mods who have so graciously allowed this thread to stay open on the TR board even though it is clearly not a trip report.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

didnt read all the pages but mels Trip reports were great and many of the best ones veer off topic it wasnt hurting anyone and is sad it was closed

 

[jennymouse]

Here's my opinion, for what it's worth. Mel and many of the other great trip report writers take a report and "plus it" as Walt Disney would say. He always strived to create something extraordinary, and I feel like they apply his philosophy fabulously in their reports.

Please reconsider the rigidity of the rules on this board!

I totally agree. I'm not much of a writer myself but I've studied creative writing for many years. It's the development of characters and backstory that takes a dull trip report or story and makes it entertaining. It connects the reader and the writer together. The best trip report writers on this board (Mel, Zzub, LaLa, goferit, etc) know how to write.

The mods have a difficult unpaid job here and rarely receive thanks. We know this. But, I'm so disappointed in the mods on this decision. I have been around here long enough to know that there's no amount of tears we can shead to make them change their minds. I love the disboards but it's no democracy...

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

Why is Joe yelling?


I've started a blog. It is at www.1000thhappyhaunt.blogspot.com/

I think. Someone has GOT to show me how to post a link. Anyhow... Bonnie's post at the top of this page did it properly.

I just want to add my thanks here:

To the mods who have left this thread open and let everyone post to it. I have no hard feelings. It's your board. After all.

To everyone else who wanted my TR to continue. Thanks for the support.

To TR readers who didn't care for my trippie. At least SOME of you have taste. Thanks.

Sooooo... I will, most likely, move my OT~ TR over to the CB board. I'm just trying to sort this all out, for myself, right now.

Cheers, Mel.

P.S. I think my link worked. Wow. I'm weak with power.

 

[teentoddlermom]

Glad to see you, Mel.

 

[tiki23]

Your link worked indeed.

Ya for Mel!

 

[Master Gracie]

Let me first say that I, too, commend the moderators of this website for not only allowing this thread to remain open, but also for keeping it on the TR board.

I have read ever post on this thread and they are, on the whole, very well thought out and expressive. I commend all the posters for not allowing this thread to degenerate into a flame war or a whine-fest. In an effort to avoid conflict, I have modified my signature to remove a potentially inflaming comment that I probably should not have included in the first place.

I have read what jw50 posted and, although I have not ventured back into the community board to check, I assume that Mel has restarted, or at least resumed, her report there. I'm not sure if this was blatently suggested by a moderator, or derived from the message received by jw, but I don't think it will be allowed to live there either.

My guess is that it will either be closed or moved because it is, in fact, a trip report and there is a board for that.

I hope I am wrong.

Many people have expressed concerns over the restrictive nature of the rules on the Trip Report board. I must say that I agree. Details are what make a story interesting. They do not distract the reader, they draw him in. Let's face it, what makes the great authors great? The detail and care with which they weave their story.

George Lucas could have told the Star Wars saga in one movie, but it would have been the worse for him doing it.

J.R.R. Tolkien could have left the Barrow Downs or Tom Bombadil completely out of The Fellowship of the Ring, as was done in the movie, but they provide some of the most interesting parts of the story.

Now I realize we are not talking about novels here, although Mel's would definitely come close, but trip reports.

I understand that, but the same rule applies. If we are serious with ourselves, we can agree that 99.9% of the people that come to the DISboards have been to Walt Disney World before. Several, have probably been on multiple occasions. We have experienced the rides, the shows, and the flavor that is Disney. What we have not experienced, is those same things through the eyes of each individual trip reporter.

I doubt I would get any disagreement from anyone, including the mods, on this issue. I must assert, however, that what makes each perspective unique is the path through life that the poster has travelled to reach his particular place at that moment. I am not saying that a detailed account of the life of each reporter is required, but if they want to give it, and we want to read it, where is the harm?

If the report contains blatently offensive material, remove it. There is no argument there. But if it's only offense is it's predilection for going long and off topic, then let us decide whether or not we want to be subjected to it.

What actual harm comes from off topic discussions in the Trip Report forum?

I doubt that it makes a dent in your bandwidth, and if it does, I'm sure your sponsers would welcome the increased traffic.

It seems to be the prevailing opinion here that detailed trip reports are preferrable. If that is the case, and people know they can come to the DIS to write and read meaty trip reports, is that not a good thing? Don't you want the DIS to be known as the home of all the really good reports?

Life is about not only making mistakes, but how you conduct yourself afterward. I am not saying that you are made a mistake in your interpretation of your rules. I am saying that you made a mistake in forming that rule in the beginning.

Assuming that I am correct and the existance of Mel's report on the CB is not acceptable, then please take into consideration relaxing that rule as it applies to the Trip Report forum.

I can say that I, too, will not be posting another report here as long as this situation remains. That is not meant, in any way, as a threat or to "hurt" your website with the absence of my work. I don't think I am nearly as talented as many of the other writers here. It was mearly informational.

The DIS is a wonderful place. A place where people from all over can come to express their feelings about a special place for us all. Allow it to also be a place where, within reason, a person can be themselves. Whether that means long-winded and rambling, or not.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to post this.

 

[LegoMom3]

I didn't want throw any more fuel on this fire, but as I'm browsing the DIS boards I keep coming back to this, so here goes:

One of the things I love about reading posts on the DIS boards is because I am, like so many others here, 100% obsessed with all things Disney. When someone gets back from their "trip of a lifetime" and wants to write a report about it, we want to read it so we can live vicariously through it and dream about our upcoming trip or remember our own past trip in vivid color! There are plenty of places on the Web or in books that I can go to for "did this, saw that" or "go here, see this" info. Part of the beauty of the TRs I've read here is that they DO contain "personal" tidbits in them!!...it gives them life and context and allows the reader to relate to the story! How is this a bad thing? A PP said that if something is blatantly offensive, then by all means remove it - that's the rules on any forum here.

The best TRs on here incorporate the whole trip experience, and if that means a little "extra" info or an "aside" to clarify, put in context, or just enhance the story being told, then by all means it should be allowed! As the reader of the TR, I can decide for myself which ones I want to read, and which I don't want to bother with.

Thanks for "listening!"

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

LegoMom3, I agree wholeheartedly.

Master Gracie: Wise words.

To the Mods and Everyone Else: I hope that a compromise can be made. I do not agree with the closing of Mel's TR, but I want to move forward.

A few of the first TR's I read were a "been there, did that" report (mine is the same). Then, I found VetteChick's favorite TR thread. I found many, many TR's there that were witty, humorous, touching, sad, and happy. Many of them included asides and that is what made them great. I then started seeking out more TR's to read and spent much of my "DIS time" on the TR board. Had it not been for these very talented writers, I probably wouldn't have spent much time here at all. I mean, how many times can one actually read "I saw the Castle, I rode BTMRR, I left, etc"? The little personal stories is what keeps me coming back. Because of that, I found more writers I may never have found previously. How many people have been inspired to write their own report after reading others? It is a shame that many people do not want to write here, or even at all now becauase of the current situation. I don't want to lose these people.

Again, I thank the mods for keeping this thread open. Now if we can all come to an agreement. ..

 

[FFFlying]

To whom it may concern;

I have been to several amusement parks across this country and I prefer Disney because the rides are better. The rides are better because of the "story". That's the magic of Disney, there is always a story.

We had a chance to enjoy the "Disney" of Trip Reports, but the rules say we can only have "Six Flags" travel reports?

Bring back the magic....please.

 

[cyjmhill]

I am fairly new to the DIS and enjoy in immensely (I must check the boards at least 3 or 4 times a day)!

I must chime in on this issue. By profession I am a Regulator – I write and enforce Rules and Regulations.

Rules and Regulations have 2 parts –

* 1st being THE LETTER OF THE LAW – this is reading and enforcing the rules to exactly what the rule states (example you will not sing in the class room – if you sing at anytime you have broken the rule).

* 2nd is being the SPIRIT OF THE LAW – this is when you read into the rule and see why it was written in the first place – why did we say you can’t sing in class? Is it disrupting, etc.

Is it a violation of the rule if the Music Teacher comes into the class and leads the students in the Star Spangled Banner? No it is not!

Look at why the rule was written in the 1st place. It is not a violation of the rule because a Teacher is teaching the students the song – it’s not disruptive because everyone is singing.​

My next point is on enforcement. It has been made very clear by the posters on this thread that the enforcement of the OT rule is not being done fairly. I agree that is not being enforced fairly and across the board – it appears that an argument can be made that the enforcement is being arbitrary. In todays sue happy society that we in the US live in – if things are being enforced arbitrary you are leaving to door open for a law suit (that doesn’t apply here).

I have read several TR that mention side trips to Sea World, Dinner Shows, etc? Is this OT? I don’t think so! I think it makes it a TRUE TR – It is a report on the trip. It makes it a good read!

I think I am rambling and maybe not making much sense - so I will boil it down to this:

1. Enforce the Rules to the SPIRIT OF THE LAW – not the letter of the law.

2. Define exactly what is OT. Can we talk about side trips, feelings, the color of our rental car, etc.?

3. Please, please, please enforce the rules evenly across the board (the rules apply to all of us equally) – don’t enforce them some of the time.

Thank you for allowing me to post!

 

[eyoreswife]

I have been lurking on the Disboards on and off for the last year. (I am a regular at another Disney Board that will not be named). I always come back to the Dis for the Trip Reports.

Why?

Unlike the standard "we went on Space Mountain, we walked to Main Street" nonsense that I am perfectly capable of writing myself, the TR's here have SOUL, I find myself returning almost on a daily basis to catch the "rest of the story".

Let's face it, most of us have been to WDW many times. I KNOW what's there and have many fond memories. What brings me back time after time is hearing about the lives of fellow WDW fanatics. I want to hear how your trip brings your family together!

For my DD and I, Disneyland and WDW are our happy places. Some of my favorite memories with her and my DH are from trips that we shared. (DD was conceived during a trip in the early 80's! )

So to the moderators, in honor of my very first post: Please allow Dis'ers to discuss their trips the way they see fit. I personally want to hear the background of why WDW is so special to them. I want to hear all about the the 'boozin' and partying. I want to hear the story of why they take pictures of their rental car location. I too understand the 'battle for my wallet', because I have felt this way too.

There I'm done.

 

[ssjerauld]

The last time mel's report was "closed" (censored) I read the discussion so long that by the time I was ready to reply, the thread was closed. This time I will not make that mistake. After that incident, whenever I was reading an enjoyable trip report and personal comments or questions were asked or responded to, I began to feel nervous. Would this trip report become unacceptable to the powers that be? Would I log on after work one day to find that the report I was enjoying had disappeared? And if this was the case, why was I adding one more stress inducing activity into my life? I come to the dis to research, interact, and laugh with others who enjoy a place that I enjoy visiting. Is every forum of interest to me? No--I read and reply in those that are. Is every trip report in a style I enjoy reading or relevant to my lifestyle? No--So I read those that are. If what someone is writing is a discussion of their Disney World experience, not lewd, or disparaging of another's race, religion, etc.-- how can that be off topic? And if there is more personal info that I'm interested in---I'll go to the next report. However, in my opinion, that is what sets the best reports apart. Great work, Mel!!

 

[kpk89]

I am happy to see that the discussion continues, in a sincere and respectful way. so for now the discussion is one-sided. But I'm happy to see that the DISers commenting here are expressing their concerns nonetheless.

To the mods --- prayers to you for whatever it is you're going through. I hope that all is resolved in the best way possible, and we look forward to having you join the discussion when you're able.

It seems like the group hug smilie is gone (?!?) so I have this for you instead.

 

[mdsouth]

I just want to say that I have enjoyed reading various trip reports in the past. The ones with more personal details are the ones that I seek out.
I come back to DISboards repeatedly to read these reports. With each great trip report, my desire to return to WDW increases. These reports are the best public relations avenue that Disney has! It is free advertising for them, and I bet many of us also find ourselves checking out the sponsors sites as well. So, if that is the goal of Disney to get us to keep coming back to spend our money and to spread the money to their sponsors as well, then these insightful trip reports are doing them a service.

I missed that last entries of Mel's so, I cannot discuss on its closure.

I do know that the moderators must have a hard job. I appreciate their ability to keep the boards "clean" so that I do not have to worry about visiting this site in view of my children. Hopefully, future trip reports that share personal insights that enhance the storytelling will be allowed to remain open for the entertainment of all.

 

[mdsouth]

To show my confidence in the Trip Board, I posted my own trip report for the first time today here. It is titled To Infinity and Beyond.

 

[Goofmeister]

First if this was brought up before please skip over it.

I too am confused, and mostly because I didn't see how the trip report was getting off topic. Off topic threads are generally moved to the appropriate boards.

I have a conspiracy theory, and like most of these theories should be taken with a hefty grain of salt.

OK. Here it is: remember the salt: The thread was closed not because it was off topic, but because of the style of thread. There is some debate, and some preferences to writing a trip report in the "one chapter per thread" mode, or in the "all chapters in one long thread" style. Personally, I like the latter, but here I am in danger of getting off topic . So, I'll get back to the point. The TR was closed because it was of the one long thread variety.

Grain of Salt. But the same thing happened to another TR report. Kinda makes you wonder.

Oh, and in a trip report, how do you get to OFF TOPIC anyway. The nature of the report opens it up for pretty much anything doesn't it? As long as it adds to the report. Its been said, but I just wanted to add my ditto. That personal stories, and background information help me identify with the writer and their families. Hey, they're like me. Maybe I'd like to do that too. Or, thats why they like that, etc..

Furthermore, why is this thread open? What trip are we reporting on? Shouldn't this be on the community board?

This issues has given me such a negative feeling about The Dis. I'm heartbroken about the whole ordeal. And I guess I'm looking for justice, and clarification before I "add" any more of my own TR's.

Sincerly, ME

 

[Lisa_Belle]

I want to say how much I enjoy the trip reports. Once I got my Disney itinerary planned, the trip reports are what has kept me coming back to the DIS board.

I really enjoy the writing style of Mel, along with several others. While I agree they are somewhat lengthy, it is the character development in them that brings her trips to life. Very few people have such a talent. I am reminded of the book "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." About half of that best-selling novel probes into the lives of the primary characters before it ever tackles the plot of the story. It's what makes the book interesting. We get to know the characters. They become part of our lives. Mel's trip reports are the same way. I can see Calvin the Koala bouncing through the parks and Beth walking stoically behind rolling her eyes.

I've read and re-read Mel's posts, and I am confused as to why they were locked as I can't seem to find anything that veers too off topic. While she provides detailed background info, she ties it all back into her trip. As long as nothing offensive or off-color is written, it seems to me that those who don't care for her writing style have the option of scrolling through the parts they don't like - or even skipping the report altogether.

I can say that the trip report board had inspired me to write a report of my upcoming trip in September. I've even started with some of the pre-trip planning. Unfortunately, due to present circumstances, the only person who may get a chance to read it will be my daughter as I have no idea whatsover how to start a blog! Oh well, to each his own.

 

[Sneezie]

As many will soon come to find out... I can not keep my two cents to myself. I don't even try. So here's my thoughts on this issue.

How was what LaLa did at the end of her trip report with the pictorial of her Katrina-ravaged hometown or Lillygator's story about her grandfather taking her to Disney every year so different from Mel's story about her daughter's friend. All three told of reasons why their families found Disney so comforting. Yet Lillygator's and LaLa's trip reports are going strong.

And what about LilGrumpy, has his trip report not been locked yet because you can't tell if it's off topic or not?

It seems to me you had a knee jerk reaction to someone whom you claim "has been told repeatedly to stay on topic" and when she, in your estimation, veered slightly to the left you decided to teach her a lesson.

Just admit that it was an error on your part. Slip the key back into the lock and let us move on. However, I wouldn't blame Mel if she didn't come back and complete the story. I already have her blog in my favorites and can't wait to read the rest of her story - Disney or not

LaLa, Lillygator, and LilGrumpy, please don't think I'm picking on you. I actually thoroughly enjoying reading all of your reports.

 

[lillygator]

As much as I shouldn't...

but I think this is a losing battle everyone. Remember last time? I think the thing I have the hardest time is - every section of the board moderates differently - not uniform...ie the trip reports that were phony!!

So while it's not fair, I don't see there is much we can do about it. I wrote 'til I was blue in the face and rudely spoken to last time and it did not help nor did it answer any questions...just given the same old response....

Mods - I appreciate your jobs here...I have been a mod on other sites and I know how thankless it can be....hopefully one day you'll change your stance on the subject....