The DB Board, How do you REALLY feel?

[Teejay32]

I'm torn. On one hand I was a longtime participant who'll definitely miss the place. OTOH, some things about it were annoying. I don't think politics and the DIS are a good mix, and I fully expect to see a sudden ban on posts of a political nature sometime this year. I just like to spend a coffee break or two during the day discussing politics, past and present, preferably in a place where people leave you alone about it and it won't cause cosmic imbalance in the rest of the site. It's tempting but I don't think I'll participate in CB debates.

I'd miss the people more than the board itself...but you people haven't gone anywhere yet so I'm fine right now.

I'm also surprised to see the number of people who read the DB often but didn't post.

 

[Van Helsing]

I'm also surprised to see the number of people who read the DB often but didn't post

Well i knew i was right - i said many times on the debate that many members didn't take part because of the personal attacks and bullying

 

[Teejay32]

personal attacks and bullying aren't unique to the DB. Anytime you voice an opinion you risk offending or angering someone who thinks differently.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

personal attacks and bullying aren't unique to the DB.

Amen

Some of the nastiest personal attacks ever have happened on the CB by regular CB posters.

 

[vernon]

Well i knew i was right - i said many times on the debate that many members didn't take part because of the personal attacks and bullying

While to a degree I'm sure there were some people intimidated, in general I disagree with you . I think many people didn't post because they didn't have firm views on either side of an issue. They would read the balancing arguments and adjust their own (central) position slightly depending on the weight of the arguments made.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Could care less -- I posted there from time to time, but I'll just post elsewhere.

 

[Van Helsing]

While to a degree I'm sure there were some people intimidated

Just some

 

[AlanUK]

I think many people didn't post because they didn't have firm views on either side of an issue. They would read the balancing arguments and adjust their own (central) position slightly depending on the weight of the arguments made.

And also I think that quite often you would have to read through 5 or 6 pages of posts only to find that the original opinion that you wanted to post against had veered way off topic and it just didn't seem relevant anymore.

 

[Doug123]

Originally posted by Teejay32
...I fully expect to see a sudden ban on posts of a political nature sometime this year.

See what you get under a conservative, Republican administration?

Opps. Sorry. For a moment there I thought I was back on the Debate Board.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

Well I miss the DB I was a poster and reader of it. I do admit to not posting as much as I used to. I did feel personally attakced by a few on numerous occasions the name calling was ridiculous and I did report it. But I also found some great people who could express their views without being a meanie. Cann is great and I perosnally never had an issue with VH/JJ whatever or whoever he/she is I dont even know if they are the same person and I dont care. I very rarely saw threads closed or locked out and tried to close one I started once because I felt it had gotten out of control. For some reason I couldnt delete the thread and I sent in a message for a MOD to lock it out and it wasnt done. I will miss the debates with those who expressed themselves without such a attitude. Sad to see it go......but people need to follow rules and that wasnt happening...

 

[ToriLammy]

Originally posted by vernon
While to a degree I'm sure there were some people intimidated, in general I disagree with you . I think many people didn't post because they didn't have firm views on either side of an issue. They would read the balancing arguments and adjust their own (central) position slightly depending on the weight of the arguments made.

Originally posted by AlanUK
And also I think that quite often you would have to read through 5 or 6 pages of posts only to find that the original opinion that you wanted to post against had veered way off topic and it just didn't seem relevant anymore.

I think you are both right and would like to add a third possibility - by the time you did read all of the posts someone had already posted your opinion or something close so rather than just posting the dreaded "ITA" you just don't post I know that happened to me a lot. Some folks were so much more articulate at expressing opinions than I was

 

[Robinrs]

Originally posted by AlanUK
And also I think that quite often you would have to read through 5 or 6 pages of posts only to find that the original opinion that you wanted to post against had veered way off topic and it just didn't seem relevant anymore.

I can only speak for myself but I am also a "reader" that read mostly to see what people were thinking and believing (which was sometimes an immense SHOCK). Mostly if I heard a news item that I knew would be discussed there I would go and read what some of the people had to say.

Mostly it was very predictable as to what side the regulars would be on but I found it interesting nonetheless. I rarely posted because most of the time there would be someone who stated my case then the entire thread "veered WAY off topic" as AlanUK pointed out.

I enjoy an intelligent debate and used to be one who would battle with the best of them back in the day but now I'm OLD and tired and realize that you cannot change grown folk, only life can do that.

I guess that's what bugged me so much, the fact that so many people believed that only they were right and that if they used enough intimidation and links that they would make someone else seem just wrong. Different doesn't necessarily mean wrong, everyone has a different upbringing and viewpoint. Maybe some can be changed by a thought but I feel most adults have just about made up their minds about certain issues.

At least I hope they have!

 

[C.Ann]

I miss the DB tremendously.. I thoroughly enjoy a good debate and it's an EXCELLENT way to learn more and sometimes even change your initial opinions..

This past weekend - here at the lake - we had nightly debates around the campfire - 8 couples and myself.. Not ONCE did it get "down and dirty" - no mudslinging or name calling..

My personal opinion is that if the mods had done their jobs (the ones they volunteered for) - paid more attention to what was going on - and simply BANNED the toublemakers, then the DB would still be available..

Although this is Pete's site - and I respect his decision to do whatever he wants with it - it's my understanding (please correct me if I'm wrong) that it was the "mods" who voted to do away with the DB and then presumably presented the outcome of that vote to Pete..

If I have a "debatable" subject I will post it here - or on the appropriate board (such as sneaking kids into the parks without paying would go on the Theme Parks and Attractions board) - and I will do so well within the DIS guidelines.. If it causes a problem for those who don't wish to see these debate threads I'm sure they'll just skip over them - or complain to Pete or the Webmasters - which I believe is how the Debate Board came into existence to begin with..

It's time to "share" the CB as well as all of the other boards - let's just hope it can be accomplished without the "we" and "them" attitudes..

 

[Lucky4me]

CAnn, ITA

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by Toby'sFriend
Amen

Some of the nastiest personal attacks ever have happened on the CB by regular CB posters.

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Right on - and often went on for days and days before anyone stepped in or locked the thread..

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by Alicnwondrln
Cann is great

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Thanks for that compliment.. I like to think that I conducted myself in a dignified manner - at least for the most part - and if someone took my remarks "personally" I always made a point of going back and trying to explain that my comments were of a general "you" nature - NOT a personal attack on anyone in particular..

That's the way debates SHOULD be conducted - and COULD have been - with the proper moderating.. One warning and then BANNING - period!!

 

[katerkat]

I liked, I posted there and I miss it. That was the board that was my DIS link in my favorites.

 

[ScarlettO]

Originally posted by C.Ann

My personal opinion is that if the mods had done their jobs (the ones they volunteered for) - paid more attention to what was going on - and simply BANNED the toublemakers, then the DB would still be available..

Sorry, I disagree.

Come on-"their jobs"- most have regular "real" daytime jobs and just volunteer on their offtimes-inbetween their real lives-you know like cooking ,cleaning and parenting. It's volunteer, unpaid, and frankly not many rewards-kinda-job.

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by ScarlettO
Sorry, I disagree.

Come on-"their jobs"- most have regular "real" daytime jobs and just volunteer on their offtimes-inbetween their real lives-you know like cooking ,cleaning and parenting. It's volunteer, unpaid, and frankly not many rewards-kinda-job.

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Would you volunteer for a position not knowing what the expectations were and if you would be able to fulfill them? I wouldn't..

 

[emmagata]

Personally, I spent a lot of time there as well as some of the other boards. I would only go to certain boards during the time before a trip to WDW.

I must have really thick skin because I can't recall any dialog that I would consider personally offensive to me. Some people were quite opinionated whiles others could present the facts better. I learned a lot from there. This may sound stupid to some (but I don't care) but I think I bettered my skills at conversing/debating issues. There were plenty of times that I shook my head in disbelief and LMAO as well. It was nothing BUT a fun time for me.

In one respect "it's only a message board" but on the other hand, participating for so long there I felt like some of the people were friends in a sense.

I suppose I'll get used to trying to find similar topics that interest me here on the CB. I do like the idea of putting "debate" in the title to make it easier to spot "debates".

Lastly, is there anyone that can truly say the closing of the DB didn't have a huge impact on the regulars (and lurkers)? Otherwise, why have we been talking about the impact of it's closure going on 3 days?