The debate board.. please read

[emmagata]

Originally posted by ear_poppin

If you read some of the posts there are people stating the debate board is their "right"...no it is not their right....it is a commercial operation. No one has any right to do any thing if the webmasters says no!

Care to provide a link to those that said that because I must have missed it.

 

[BrerMom]

The biggest difference for me was the that when I posted on the CB, I knew that, with the exception of one poster anyway, I would get positive responses. Everybody else would hit the back button. On the DB, I knew when I posted that if somebody didn't agree, they would tell me. I feel pretty lucky that I never got attacked on the DB (because I don't have thick skin ), but it's happened a few times on the CB.

So, the biggest challenge for me is going to be trying to figure out who is really looking for differing opinions and who is just looking for pixie dust and support. And I hope I don't get accused of attacking if I guess wrong and offer a different point of view.

It's too bad that the debate threads couldn't stay on topic. Perhaps if most every thread hadn't degerated into the same two or three tired arguments, the board would have survived.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Van Helsing, did you see my smilies? It was not a personal attack. Sheesh.

I still would like to know why CBers can put down the DB and DBers and then think they are so much better for it. Face it, you are just the same.

 

[sha_lyn]

So, the biggest challenge for me is going to be trying to figure out who is really looking for differing opinions and who is just looking for pixie dust and support. And I hope I don't get accused of attacking if I guess wrong and offer a different point of view.

Yep... seen a few of those lately.... Seen some nasty attacks just because the OP didn't like getting honest answers to the question they asked

 

[richiebaseball]

Originally posted by Son of the Morning
You know, with so many people using "Pete's site, Pete's rules" as a way to try to curb all questioning and criticism, it's no wonder they're so vehemently against a forum for debate.

Well, I'm certainly not "vehemently against a forum for debate. " as I frequented there often but I say, "Pete's site, Pete's rules".
It really sounds like some of think you have a right to a DB here on the DIS. I have an idea, start your own site and do what you want to do there. If you don't like the way this site is run you're perfectly free to leave and spend your dollars elsewhere.

Just one man's opinion.

Richard

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Originally posted by DSNY FN
I also have some PM's from Alex that are not less than admirable IMHO

Well...THAT'S good!

 

[DSNY FN]

Yes Maryann it is good some of his pm's were very nice others were not so nice but hey we are all people and people can get nasty from time to time no big deal.

 

[jrydberg]

Richard,

I guess the pont is that the reasons given for shutting down the DB can just as appropriately be applied to any number of boards on this site. The explanation given was less than satisfying. As just about all of us have said over and over, we understand it's his site. We understand he can do what he pleases with it. We understand we can go elsewhere if we don't like it.

But is it so wrong to try to make the case for the DB staying?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not losing sleep over it. But I liked the fact that this site had several different boards that I could visit (the DB being among them). I don't like it that it was eliminated. Just voicing an opinion on that in a respectful manner... what's wrong with that?

 

[year2late]

Well, count me as another "this is Pete's site" person.

But I have been more than disgusted by the DB in recent months. Folks making comments about entertaining genocide as an option to the war on terror, posters making comments about how all Muslims are in league with terrorists, posters refering to presidential candidates using word filter work arounds to slip through nasty words, let alone the "all libs this all conservatives that". Can you imagine what the mods would have had to put up with until the elections?

The board did not die, it was euthanized.

 

[C.Ann]

Wow! What a difference a day makes!

Came up here to the lake Thursday - had little to no time to spend on the DIS yesterday or last night - come back this morning and the Debate Board has gone up in smoke!

Pete's site - Pete's rules - BUT - I have a feeling he's going to have to move all of those mods to the CB now and they're going to be very, VERY busy.. It's inevitable that the "debates" will pop up here - people will always have opposing viewpoints - and if the mods felt that policing the DB was taking up too much time, the closing of it will ultimately turn a "bad dream" into an absolute nightmare!!

 

[DSNY FN]

Well said C. Ann it was a step baclwards IMHO as they are going to be alot busier over here now with absence of the DB.

 

[Penny12]

Dsny Fn...

First of all what difference would advance warning have done when the result would be the same? The posters on the Debate Board are all adults, I see no reason why such a decision needs such 'cushioning'

Second - you may not be aware of our policy, but what goes on in PM is between you and the person you are talking with and is not subject to the DIS posting guidelines, therefore it has no bearing on my comments on this thread and as you yourself pointed out is not the topic here.

Last of all - the removal of your signature. Sorry, but if you can't figure out that when you post prolifically and high profile on a what? Now about 20 page thread, with probably every WM, Tech Team Member and Moderator reading it too, <i>someone</i> is finally going to notice your illegal signature. I didn't see what was in your signature myself, there are any number of things that could have made it illegal. If you see somebody else's signature that exceeds these guidelines and it bothers you then feel free use the 'report this post' feature. However, people get busted all the time for their signatures I assure you, so no need to feel victimised

It will be business as usual with regards to moderating the CB - as Alex has stated, debates can be posted here freely (along with our other boards such 'room occupancy' on the Resorts Board or 'Cindy's breakfasts' on the Restaurant Board, etc etc) - they will only prove to be short-lived threads/posts if our Posting Guidelines are broken. Moderator coverage will not be a problem.

 

[richiebaseball]

Originally posted by jrydberg
Richard,

I guess the pont is that the reasons given for shutting down the DB can just as appropriately be applied to any number of boards on this site. The explanation given was less than satisfying. As just about all of us have said over and over, we understand it's his site. We understand he can do what he pleases with it. We understand we can go elsewhere if we don't like it.

But is it so wrong to try to make the case for the DB staying?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not losing sleep over it. But I liked the fact that this site had several different boards that I could visit (the DB being among them). I don't like it that it was eliminated. Just voicing an opinion on that in a respectful manner... what's wrong with that?

I don't think it's wrong to try to make a case for the DB staying. But there are many posters that go far beyond that. Their words do indeed sound like they feel like their pursuit for liberty has been infringed upon. And it's kinda silly.
This is Pete's "room". And he invites us in to play with his toys. If he doesn't want a particular toy here, he can remove it. Sure you can ask why but you know what? He doesn't have to give you a good reason. He doesn't have to give you a reason at all. And you can decide to keep coming in the room and complaining that he took your toy out and now you're just going to play with the other toys the same way you played with your old toy or you can find another toy to play with or you can find a new room.

Pretty simple really.

Just one man's opinion.

Richard

 

[sgtdisney]

Originally posted by richiebaseball
This is Pete's "room". And he invites us in to play with his toys. If he doesn't want a particular toy here, he can remove it.

This is very true and I can completely understand that. However, there has been a drive for people to pay to sponsor the website. Now, I have not done this and therefore my opinion is one of a 'visitor', and should be taken as such. However if I were a sponsor I would hope my opinion and wishes were taken with some consideration. Again, I realize this is a private entity and as such is managed by the owners, but I imagine there may be some sponsors who are a little displeased right now.

 

[DSNY FN]

Thaks for the reply WMP but to let those that went there know it was being shut down may not have made it seem so drastic along with maybe an explanation of the reasoning it was being closed. I am sure that would have made it a little more palitable to most of the DB regulars rather than just showing up to a locked door. Oh aas for my signature I could care less what others have intheirs or how big they are I like to read all of them so why should it matter how big the sig is?

 

[Penny12]

Originally posted by DSNY FN
Oh aas for my signature I could care less what others have intheirs or how big they are I like to read all of them so why should it matter how big the sig is?

Because when we had no, or looser, guidelines we had signatures running to half a page and huge pieces of clipart which for people with dial-up took forever to load - so it became a matter of common courtesy to our thousands of users and we made that decision. In other words it's about seeing a bigger picture - and not just the 'it's all about me' angle... I'm making a point here on more than one level you know

 

[Teejay32]

Originally posted by WebmasterPenny
First of all what difference would advance warning have done when the result would be the same? The posters on the Debate Board are all adults, I see no reason why such a decision needs such 'cushioning'

It would have been a greatly appreciated example of common courtesy, for one. For some of us, me at least, this is the end of posting on the DIS - I don't do the other boards. Nothing against it at all, but that's how it is, and it would have been nice for some time for us regulars just to finish up, say goodbye, you know, it's been fun....

This is like the fourth or fifth time over the years that I've tried to explain to management that other people have things vested in this website. Honest to God, I don't know why you guys don't grasp this already...I'm totally understanding of not wanting the DB as it was on what is essentially a Disney site. But the habitual lack of tact and occasional displays of heavyhandedness get old fast. Doesn't matter who runs the site; rules of common courtesy exist everywhere, and most people who can a) follow posting guidelines on a board, b) contribute financially to the effort when asked, and c) generally go about their business not bothering anyone, are the ones who expect simple common courtesies such as "we will be closing the DB on 6/1, our regrets, please plan accordingly."

Hope that clears up the confusion.

 

[ripleysmom]

Penny, it would be nice if those quidelines were applied uniformly.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

Hey Boston Tigger... Kels and Penny are right! This was in NO way shape or form only my decision. All of the webmasters and Pete had a say in it.
I keep seeing this comparison to "other boards" that are also not disney related. There is a huge diffrence though. Take something like the flower and garden board. It's pretty much self contained, the moderators take care of it, there is hardly ever a complaint (except for the big manure scandal!). We don't mind giving server space and bandwidth to a group of DIS'ers looking for a home.
The Debate board, on the other hand was a CONSTANT issue and has been for years. We recieve numerous complaints all the time about how it doesn't fit in with the site, it drags down the site etc etc.
It took an inordinate amount of time from both the moderators and the webmasters.
Everyone keeps saying why should have a debate board. My question is why should we keep a board around that takes up bandwidth that we pay for, takes up server space, is impossible to find moderators for and is generally viewed by the majority of DIS'ers as a negative to the site as a whole?

 

[DSNY FN]

Oh I see the point and can agree about the users with Dial up so why not have a section for dialup users lots of sites have it and it works great all it does is allow for the clipart etc to not be displayed on a dial up users machine thus loading faster for them you just enter the same site through a different door. One site for example is this one www.osrclub.com check it out you will see how well it works and how well it is done. As for the other I am pretty sure this isn't just about me it is about the DB community I just seem to be speaking up more than some is all.