A Respectful Goodbye

[scem0]

Please mods, don't close this thread, I'm not going to argue about whether or not the GayWay should have been closed, that is now what this thread is about. It would be very tasteless to close or wasteland this thread given how long I've been here.

This thread is about me. I started posting here more than 3 years ago. Since then I have mosted over 6,000 times, and I'll admit, I was trying to increase my postcount the first year of posting. I have long since abandoned such frivolities. I absolutely love MacRumors, but there just isn't anything to keep me here any longer. I don't prefer Macs to PCs or vice versa, I think that now-days, they are pretty much the exact same thing. I don't even use/like computers that much anymore.

I have become rather attached to many of the members here, if you want to talk to me feel free to email me at emomac at gmail dot com or you can find me at the relocated Gayway: http://com1.runboard.com/bthegayway as EmersonM.

Thank you for being my homepage for the past 3 years, community discussion, but I am now departing. There are no hard feelings against 99.9% of the members here, I am leaving peacefully and respectfully.

6,426 is the new 0,

_Emerson

[Guitarius]

Well, there comes a time in every man's life where he must move on to new things. Now is that time for you. So goodbye, and good luck. Such is life I guess. These things happen.

Have fun in NYC. Be safe. Be careful.

[Sdashiki]

Like im sure you will never come back to MR

just as im sure you wont ever post here again,

I mean 6000+ posts is nice, but jeez man what makes you "mr so special" u need a 21 gun salute as you "leave" the forums.

[WinterMute]

See you Scem0, have fun wherever you go.

[liketom]

all this over the mods closing that gayway thread ?

sad to see you go , but a little of a drama queen i think.

Macrumors will always be here if you fancy coming back

[Flying Llama]

I have always hated those long goodbyes in the movies, even though I knew that sometimes it must be done. :(
But thank you for saying goodbye, instead of just leaving. Have a great time, scem0

llama

[leekohler]

Don't know how much I'll be around here either anymore to tell the truth. That was what kept me coming back often. That and I always love discussing upgrades and and the latest OS X versions. It just won't be as much a part of my life anymore. But that's cool, whatever. It's not our site. I have met some great new friends face to face, such as PlaceofDis and Chip NovaMac. Most likely you're next scem0 and maybe iGary at some point. BTW- you know this isn't goodbye between you and me scem0, it's just the beginning of hello. :)

[robbieduncan]

It's always sad to see a long time member leave. I've no idea why that thread was closed, it wasn't one I was involved with. I'm sure you'll be back sometime!

Take it easy :)

[Zaid]

I'll be joining Lee and Scem0. I doubt I'll be posting here anymore.

To all of the gang that made the gay way thread so much fun please join up at the site scem0 mentioned.

[Blue Velvet]

Like im sure you will never come back to MR

just as im sure you wont ever post here again,

I mean 6000+ posts is nice, but jeez man what makes you "mr so special" u need a 21 gun salute as you "leave" the forums.


Charming. :rolleyes:


See you around, scem0. Don't do anything I wouldn't do... :)
BV
x

[Sdashiki]

Wow, I just realized (after reading other threads not this one) that you are leaving because of some sort of gay thread bashing done? Wow, someone is really taking it personally.

6000+ posts in one thread isnt reason enough to bring another thread to the forefront with the same peeple going back and forth with comments.

IMO, i hate post whores. So I self hate.

edit: so I re-read your first post again and again, and it seems you think that being here 3+ years makes you "special"? Also the only thing keeping you on a MACINTOSH COMPUTER forum was the gay threads? Jeez thats so silly.

[efoto]

Sad to see you all leave, especially you scem0. There were a lot of threads I saw you in and I always appreciated your insight and comments.

Have fun on this new chapter of internet-life, hopefully you remember MR fondly. :o

Bonne nuit, and good luck ;)

[jsw]

Bye for now at least, schem0! We'll miss you...

[efoto]

Wow, I just realized (after reading other threads not this one) that you are leaving because of some sort of gay thread bashing done? Wow, someone is really taking it personally.

6000+ posts in one thread isnt reason enough to bring another thread to the forefront with the same peeple going back and forth with comments.

IMO, i hate post whores. So I self hate.

edit: so I re-read your first post again and again, and it seems you think that being here 3+ years makes you "special"? Also the only thing keeping you on a MACINTOSH COMPUTER forum was the gay threads? Jeez thats so silly.

If you hate post whores so much, stop being one. This thread obviously has no meaning for you and unless you're saying goodbye there is no point for you to post in it....other than gaining some posts *cough whore cough* :rolleyes:

If you happen to care, there are a lot of people on these forums who interact with each other for more than just a "what OS are you running" type conversation. Saying goodbye was a nice gesture on scem0's part. Sadly, you couldn't follow suit and keep your mouth shut on a topic you personally disagree with.

[njmac]

Goodbye Emerson. I will miss you here at MR. I loved reading about your adventures.... and I'm rooting for you and Lee to finally get together;)

[Koodauw]

well miss ya. Take care.

[jefhatfield]

i hope you have fun in nyc and at parsons (great school), and if for some chance, you get bored for an hour or so, do come back

in all the years i have seen ambitiouslemon, mischief, john123, spikey, kela, ensign paris, and eyelikeart (and many others) disappear or greatly reduce their posts here, and it's kind of sad to see any oldtimer of macrumors go

[Deepdale]

... I mean 6000+ posts is nice, but jeez man what makes you "mr so special" u need a 21 gun salute as you "leave" the forum

If, as you suggest, Emerson’s final post was intended to be the equivalent of a 21-gun salute, then it must be said that he failed miserably. However, he did not fail inasmuch as his message was totally in line with the title he selected – namely, it was a respectful goodbye.

There was no misdirected animus, harsh sarcasm nor was an opportunity used to get on a soapbox. A member should be entitled to express personal displeasure with the closing of a particularly meaningful thread (GayWay), and share thoughts with those he came to know well over the course of 3 years plus. Good luck to you, Emerson … be well.

[Sdashiki]

leaving is an ambiguous word when you talk about "online"

he'll be back. everyone comes crawling back.


cough cough, if you looked in the quote of what I said, I said I AM A POST whore, so yer COUGH COUGH sarcasm is not well founded.

[angelneo]

I would read that thread from time to time, kinda of happy to see that thread bought those people closer. I'm not surprised that the thread was closed down, seeing how things are run here. Anyway, sad to see you go. Hope you would come back soon, emerson

[jelloshotsrule]

take care, emerson

get a life, sdashiki

[watcher2001]

I thikn one of the mods went on a post trashing binge. The picture association game got wastelanded as well. You will be missed, take care.

[Peterkro]

Take care Emerson,although I didn't take part in the Gayway thread I thought the fact it existed said good things about MacRumors.Have lots of fun.:)

[angelneo]

Wow, I just realized (after reading other threads not this one) that you are leaving because of some sort of gay thread bashing done? Wow, someone is really taking it personally.

6000+ posts in one thread isnt reason enough to bring another thread to the forefront with the same peeple going back and forth with comments.

IMO, i hate post whores. So I self hate.

edit: so I re-read your first post again and again, and it seems you think that being here 3+ years makes you "special"? Also the only thing keeping you on a MACINTOSH COMPUTER forum was the gay threads? Jeez thats so silly.
I don't think they were post whores. I believe they have formed a strong bond among the participants to a point that they were just conversing in that thread, which I think this forum weren't equiped to handle. I would imagine his disappointment because in no way, which the mod has announced, that any thread relating to that is to be brought back. so in a way those participants were not allowed to converse on that level anymore.

[Will Cheyney]

See you next week!

[Sdashiki]

maybe im new to this whole "conversational threads" but I never understand threads that are just like an instant message.

if you have stuff to say there is no reason to show the whole world by posting it online unless you want to. thats what forums are for. But turning or starting any thread as a conversation is kinda silly. Use your AIM for that, I dont need to read about how you and whatshisname are going to eat at McDs in an hour.

but basically scem0 seems to only liked MR for the gay threads. kinda stupid to be on a mac site and leave when they close one thread.

[jsw]

Sdashiki, is it really necessary to contribute roughly 1/5 of the posts in the entire thread commenting on how unnecessary you think it is? If you don't care for it, fine, noted, move on.

[Sdashiki]

Sdashiki, is it really necessary to contribute roughly 1/5 of the posts in the entire thread commenting on how unnecessary you think it is? If you don't care for it, fine, noted, move on.

its called playful irony.

[efoto]

maybe im new to this whole "conversational threads" but I never understand threads that are just like an instant message.

if you have stuff to say there is no reason to show the whole world by posting it online unless you want to. thats what forums are for. But turning or starting any thread as a conversation is kinda silly. Use your AIM for that, I dont need to read about how you and whatshisname are going to eat at McDs in an hour.

but basically scem0 seems to only liked MR for the gay threads. kinda stupid to be on a mac site and leave when they close one thread.

You've made your point, everyone has heard it so how about you cease and desist now okay?

If you are so completely against posting IM-like threads or reading them, then don't and don't, simple as that. Many people have stated that MR is such a great forum because it not only has a wonderful wealth of Mac knowledge and rumors but also has a vast community, both for threads and users. Many members of MR have met other members in real life, and those bonds continue to prosper online. If you aren't into that, well then you aren't, no one is forcing you to see things 'that' way, but there is no point in throwing mud into a goodbye thread for someone that some of us call a friend, regardless if it's online or not.

[efoto]

its called playful irony.

It's called being a nuisance, nothing more.

[Onizuka]

It's called being a nuisance, nothing more.

Word. I never communicated with this scem0, but having the decency to say goodbye and move on is well noted.

If you're such a forum expert, sdashiki, go start your own forum and rule it with your own ideals. This is a community which thrives on its members' relating to each other. It is not a place for you to decide what is right or wrong, that is reserved for the moderators and admins to do so. Suffice to say, I think YOU'RE starting off your stay at this community with a very negative stance. If you don't care for a topic which someone felt they needed to post, then don't post in it.

[leekohler]

its called playful irony.

Your "playful irony" isn't making you any friends. Knock it off.

[raggedjimmi]

I dont really understand leaving on an internet forum. dont ask why or anything, I dont know myself! It just seems daft. you probably have all your online mates from here on a messenger service so meh. ill shuttup now

Take care and all that! as my mates say "ava good un"

[~Shard~]

Let's just forget about Sdashiki guys, his disrespectful posts do not deserve anymore attention and too much effort has already been wasted responding to his disruptive posts - this thread isn't about him, it's about scem0. :cool:

And I, for one, will miss ya buddy. Although I never participated in the aforementioned thread (not being gay and all! ;)) I did always enjoy interacting with you in the Pictures thread and the like. I think this farewell message was very well done, (especially compared to some I've seen!), and is an appropriate goodbye for someone with your overall good-naturedness (Is that a word?...) and positive attitude.

Anyway, all the best to you my friend, and drop in from time to time if you can.

Take care. :cool:

[vniow]

Sdashiki: Shut it.

Emerson: It sucks the the thread was shut down, regardless of the fact that it has strayed off topic (which was a silly reason to close it), I know it meant a lot to the posters inside of it. I remember back a couple years ago when we would get into smiley wars when we were both bored on the weekends which was a load of fun.

I hate to say it but I'll mis that gawd-awful head-spinning avatar of yesteryear...

See ya...

-Ani

[Diatribe]

Yeah, same here. Although I have never participated in aforementioned thread, I think it's sad to see you leave. Well I guess if this was the only thing that kept you here it is time to move on. Nothing is meant to last forever. Have fun and be safe. :)

[noaccess]

You can add me to the list of members who have lost interest in MR. The forum has permanently lost at least one of its faithful members, and I mean Emerson, because of the IMO (no offense) irational decision to suddenly close the gay thread. I hope that, in the future, the admins will think twice before making decisions such as these.

PS: Good to see Sdashiki was able to keep his comments to himself for the last 2 hours. Keep it up, and we might forget all about your rants in a few years.

[EGT]

I don't really know you or why you're leaving (haven't read that thread you mentioned) but I feel I have to say ... those juggling and back flip vids were pretty impressive! hehe :D

Take care, Emerson. :) It's sad seeing respectable members leaving. It's what makes this community so great,

[fistful]

So long and good luck! :)

Now back to being a fly on the wall...

[~Shard~]

You can add me to the list of members who have lost interest in MR. The forum has permanently lost at least one of its faithful members, and I mean Emerson, because of the IMO (no offense) irational decision to suddenly close the gay thread. I hope that, in the future, the admins will think twice before making decisions such as these.

I think we need to keep in mind that although one of the great attributes of MacRumors is the community itself and the resulting “community-based discussions”, that is not the sole purpose of MacRumors – it is, in fact, to discuss Mac-related topics. ;) :cool:

Although I enjoy participating in certain general topic threads which have nothing to do with Macs or the industry as a whole from time to time, I don’t think that too much emphasis should be made regarding a particular non-Mac related thread being shut down. Sure, I know it helps make MacRumors a more “well-rounded” place and helps members to get to know each other better, and I know those kinds of threads have their followers and many members become attached to them, but in the grand scheme of things...

All I’m saying is that it’s too bad scem0 chose to leave, but if his sole interest was essentially a community discussion thread which has nothing to do with Macs, we should keep this all in perspective, and perhaps it's time to move on. If I participated only in the “Official Family Guy“ thread, and that’s all I ever posted in at MacRumors, and then the thread got shut down, I wouldn’t exactly have much grounds for complaining. ;) And I’m not saying scem0 was complaining at all, don’t get me wrong, I’m just trying to make a point. :) On the contrary, I think he handled everything very well, as can be seen in his initial post in this thread – many people would throw a fit, burn their bridges, and leave MacRumors on a low – not scem0 though, which I for one appreciate. :cool:

[Lacero]

The 'Any Gays Here?' thread was a good thread filled with many insightful posts. I learned more about the inner workings of the gay mind than anywhere else on the internet. :D Was I sad to see it go? Yes... however,

It started going downhill after the name change to GayWay, it became less about gay discussions and more about a place to chat, most of the latter posts better suited in the environment of a chat room. Closing it was the proper thing to do.

If scemo is leaving propagated by the closure, he's welcome to come back and talk Mac rumors.

[BakedBeans]

Like im sure you will never come back to MR

just as im sure you wont ever post here again,

I mean 6000+ posts is nice, but jeez man what makes you "mr so special" u need a 21 gun salute as you "leave" the forums.

God damn thats funny... AND pretty much how i feel.

[CanadaRAM]

The 'Any Gays Here?' thread was a good thread filled with many insightful posts. I learned more about the inner workings of the gay mind than anywhere else on the internet. :D Was I sad to see it go? Yes... however,

It started going downhill after the name change to GayWay, it became less about gay discussions and more about a place to chat, most of the latter posts better suited in the environment of a chat room. Closing it was the proper thing to do.
OMG I agree with Lacero? :eek: :D :D

Yes, sad to see it go, sad to see you go as well, Emo. Thank you as well for your post saying goodbye, I much prefer that than wondering what happened.

All the best to you and Keep Dancin!

[2nyRiggz]

goodbye fella....didnt know u and i cant say that i'll miss your threads but have fun in whatever u do.


Respect.

[Jon'sLightBulbs]

Solution: revive the Any Heteros Here thread!

[leekohler]

Solution: revive the Any Heteros Here thread!

Did it ever go away?

[Patmian212]

Well emo what can I say,
You will be missed. You gave me tons of help about a year back when I was choosing my first mac and I owe you many thanks. You were a very insightful member and rarely posted answer such as "yes" and "no". Sad to see you go. Feel free too comback every once and a while.
Have a good one.
Pat

[Roger1]

Did it ever go away?

Yeah. We all go bored, so we left and joined the Gay way thread. :p

[iBlue]

hahaha CanadaRAM, i thought the same thing (good post there lacero) and to you too ~Shard~ - you guys saved me some typing, thanks :)

scem0 i've felt really disappointed by a decision made by "the powers that be" at random forums too; on the same note i've also been on the other side (being the decision maker) and had a lot of angry / hurt people wanting to burn me at the stake or wanting to leave based on said decision. there really is no easy way to handle things sometimes. i am sure it was not personal and probably meant with the best of intentions. it's a bummer to see a good thread go but it's a bigger bummer to see a good person go as a result.
i suppose if that (thread) is the primary reason you stuck with macrumors then it makes sense to go, if not, and you still see the other good in the forums here - then perhaps you can reconsider your outlook on this.
either way i wish you the best. :)

[leekohler]

Yeah. We all go bored, so we left and joined the Gay way thread. :p

Of course! ;)

[CubaTBird]

just a thought.. how can you miss someone you never met? :confused: :o

[Patmian212]

just a thought.. how can you miss someone you never met? :confused: :o
Through their comments, after a while you kinda know how they think and you miss that, but meh what do I know I talk out of my arse 99% of the time.:D

[Abstract]

You don't need to bond face to face to miss someone.

How can I miss people I have only met 2 or 3 times?

its called playful irony.

Not really. Nobody posted repeatedly in the GayWay thread to whine.

This whole forum is off-topic, so I don't see the big deal if we stray way off topic in any particular thread. I know some people will tell me that it's because they didn't discuss anything related to the thread title, but does it really matter in the grand scem0 of things? The Community forum is really just a forum for bonding. Its not about Macs, and it's not needed at all. So they were chatting and discussing many different things.

Signs of a healthy forum and board, possibly. However, watch the entire place go downhill if this Community forum was closed.

Good luck with everything you do later. Come by sometime and post once in a while, won't you? ;) I'm glad that you posted a goodbye thread. Its better than leaving abruptly and never knowing where people left or why they disappeared. :(

[ohcrap]

just a thought.. how can you miss someone you never met? :confused: :o
Still trying to figure that out myself.. :rolleyes:

[Grey Beard]

I for one will miss your insightful postings Emerson, and it simply amazes me that so called intelligent people can claim that your 6,426 posts were in regard to that one thread. In fact if they'd looked before posting a diatribe of venom against you and the GayWay thread, that you'd only posted 543 times.

I shall miss you on the boards as I shall miss the thread 'that dare's not speak it's name' That thread was my introduction to the MR, and like any first love, it will not be soon forgotten. Both you and the thread helped me so very much in coming to terms with death, and with life as well. Y'all have made me a better person for it. Thank you scemO.

Grey Beard

[gwuMACaddict]

best wishes

hope you're not just leaving because of "the" thread closure of the day...

[lilstewart]

So long scem0... I'll miss seeing ya on the forums... :(

Later dude...

[MarkCollette]

I think that anyone who leaves a discussion board should have their goodbye. This way some effort can be taken to fix whatever made them leave, which may improve things for others.

Plus, haven't you all wondered what happens when someone dies, and so they never post again. Wouldn't you worry, if someone online disappeared, if something bad had happenned? Much better for someone to say goodbye, so we know they're ok.

[Mike Teezie]

Gah, bummer.

Take it easy, wherever you make it Emerson. Maybe I'll bump into you in NYC sometime this winter.

Not that you would know me if you did....but....whatever.

Take care.

[mkrishnan]

Well, you know you'll be missed. *Hugs* and *kind thoughts*!

[ohcrap]

I'm leaving too, is 555 posts enough to be considered important?

Will anyone miss me!? :rolleyes: :D

[2nyRiggz]

^nope i dont think so......unless u brought cake to the party.


Bless

[zach]

seeya later scem0, good luck in your post macrumors life ;)

[gwuMACaddict]

according to his profile, he's logged in and viewing other threads right now... :rolleyes:

[~Shard~]

according to his profile, he's logged in and viewing other threads right now... :rolleyes:

He's probably just reading the comments in this thread, and viewing other threads that catch his interest. I realize this isn't truly leaving then, but if he doesn't plan on posting anymore, that's fair enough. Perhaps he'll just revert back to a lurker, as we all once were... :cool:

[Sun Baked]

I'm leaving too, is 555 posts enough to be considered important?

Will anyone miss me!? :rolleyes: :DNope, but you might want to change your username once again.

See ya, beenflushed

:p

[Chip NoVaMac]

just a thought.. how can you miss someone you never met? :confused: :o

I have not met a lot of the people that I have come to know here on MR, just a few. But that does not mean that there can't be a closeness to that person - all without face-to-face contact.

It is a sign of the times. Hell, I know more about some members her than I do about my co-workers. And look forward to their "conversations" more.

{In order to comply with not wanting to be a "spam and/or count whore, I will address general comments about scem0's and some others choice in leaving MR.}

Evidently there has been some heat on the Mod's over the GayWay thread. Some of it was addressed within that thread. And the first concerns about the GayWay thread's survival was addressed by the posters in that thread.

The friendly banter between "friends" in that thread did run up post counts. There were those of us -I share some of the blame - but at the same point tried to keep the thread more or less on topic.

Rightly or wrongly, some took the last dust up personally. And little time was allowed for the situation to correct itself as it did in the past.

There is a sense of community that brought many of us in to the MR family. MR has become for many people a "one-stop-shop" for everything Mac and for what is important in our lives - from births, illnesses, marriages, breakups, death, and everything else in between.

The loss of people like scem0 and others over the GayWay is regrettable. For the GayWay was a part of their (and my) posting on MR. But what about those that quit without saying anything?

It brings about the question that MR needs to address, just who is a contributer. Is it by post counts? Is it becoming a Demi-God/Goddess? MR is successful because of its membership. But which members should have a say in how things are run by the Mods?

Some of the more vocal people on that MR is a Mac board, and should relate only to the Mac - are the ones that have not contributed financially to MR. Or may have more than their fair share of posts in non-Mac related threads.

I am not happy that the GayWay was closed. Only because that thread attracted not just the Gay/Lesbian (ok, few Lesbians posted - but they were always welcomed), but others that contributed to the fabric of life. Just as some of the threads I started were answered and helped by many voices coming to answer the question at hand.

I posted a question on the possibility of a separate "Gay" thread to answer some concerns that the GayWay had. This was soundly beaten down even by the Gay/Lesbian community here. Segregation it seemed was not the answer at that time. But mixed messages from Mods (according to some), and heated tempers by GayWay members have lead just to that end.

Unlike others, I have not (yet) chosen to leave MR. But at the same point I wonder how posts about my (ex)lover being sent to the hospital or my posts about my breakup with my (ex)lover would be handled in the current climate.

Maybe it is time for MR to move to a two forum system. A Mac forum, where posts count. And a community forum, where posts don't count. Remove from the front page any links to threads that don't deal with Mac's specifically.

Something like this may address the concerns that some voiced about the GayWay and other non-Mac threads here on MR. And maybe allow for a sense of community that draws so many to MR.

Otherwise there might be other goodbyes, or where did they goes.

[zelmo]

Have to say I agree with ~Shard~ and Lacero, both of whom posted quite eloquently.

scem0, you will be missed. I hope you will check in from time to time to let us know how you are doing.

May your iPod socks never fade.:)

[CanadaRAM]

There is a sense of community that brought many of us in to the MR family. MR has become for many people a "one-stop-shop" for everything Mac and for what is important in our lives - from births, illnesses, marriages, breakups, death, and everything else in between.
....
Unlike others, I have not (yet) chosen to leave MR. But at the same point I wonder how posts about my (ex)lover being sent to the hospital or my posts about my breakup with my (ex)lover would be handled in the current climate.

Post it Chip, and I'll read it, and respond, wherever it may be - I was moved by your ongoing experience and your bravery in sharing it with us. I don't give a flip about anatomical preference, the GayWay thread was valuable to me... well, not the thread per se, but the people, their posts and the honesty. There was IMO some of the best Community posting in the entire MR there.

Is what doomed the thread the difference between "Discussion" and "Social"? Don't know. Also don't know how anyone'd keep a thread on topic if there were a separation between "Discussion of issues" and "general social interaction"

[Abercrombieboy]

Hey I liked that thread and scem0 is a good guy. It was getting so hard to keep up with however so I only jumped in here and there in it's final days. Just reading some of those posts changed the way I feel about things.

Scem0, I know you say you won't come back, but maybe in a few days you will cool down and decide to come back and at least let us know how you are doing.

[Chip NoVaMac]

Post it Chip, and I'll read it, and respond, wherever it may be - I was moved by your ongoing experience and your bravery in sharing it with us. I don't give a flip about anatomical preference, the GayWay thread was valuable to me... well, not the thread per se, but the people, their posts and the honesty. There was IMO some of the best Community posting in the entire MR there.

Thanks. I think it was Jay in Phili and his wife's cheating that drew me in to the sense of family here on MR. Sure he was married to a woman, but there were somethings that I shared something in common with him. And this was before my berak-up!

I have shared a lot in his thread, and MacDawg's job and family threads. And in StuBeef's many triumphs and trials. Ed H's love and support and offer to give my beloved Chewey a home at all costs. Makisushi's support on freelancing, when my job was downsized. To FFTT and On The Brink who came to visit at work. And so many others that can not name.

The GayWay provided some of us a place to hang our hat on MR. Is it any different than threads here on F1 racing? Or any of the "top" six threads in non-Mac related "communities" here?

So far I have chosen not to leave. But with some "voices" now gone, It will be hard to double post in two forums and get a "clear" picture to the questions I ask.

As long as non-Mac related posts in the "open" forums are accepted, then there needs to be equal application of the rules and policies. Sure the picture association thread was killed too. But I think we can agree there are so many other threads that deserve to be closed or wastelanded too.

In the end rest assured that when I feel the need for comment form my MR family, I will post. Some may note that my posts have become more positive on the personal side after June. Asking for advice on SF and Chicago travel.

Hell, I procrastinated in asking about travel to Iceland in January or February in the GayWay thread after a freezing reception. <g> So there might be a tread post on that soon. In part to to the support on my other issues and posts here, my life is moving on.

Is what doomed the thread the difference between "Discussion" and "Social"? Don't know. Also don't know how anyone'd keep a thread on topic if there were a separation between "Discussion of issues" and "general social interaction"

There was a desire in the GayWay thread "members" to be able to discuss "issues" that were deemed important by the participants. This led to a wide range of posts. And at times the posts did seem to be nothing more than PM's between friends. But is that any different than other threads here?

I posted a "request" thread here for a Gay/Lesibian sub group. It was beaten down by both sides. It seems that has won, and one has lost. For I saw at the time that the GayWay thread was doomed. Too broad and too "hot" for the Mods to be able to handle by themselves.

I think you hit on a message that I support, and that is the "general social action". I know that I have learned a lot from the Political Forums, though I don't post much there much any more. Though I do read it on a regular basis.

Again thanks for the words of support on my many threads here. I posted out of need at the time, and I shared so others that might stumble on them might find comfort in my pain and concern at the time. And the many words of love and support that I have gotten.

Chip

[Chip NoVaMac]

Hey I liked that thread and scem0 is a good guy. It was getting so hard to keep up with however so I only jumped in here and there in it's final days. Just reading some of those posts changed the way I feel about things.

It is a post like yours that causes me concern about the turn of events. I liked your posts. They provided a new look on topics. With the closing of the GayWay, we have lost voices like yours. We might have not ended up agreeing, but maybe in the end learning from each other.

[neildmitchell]

WTF!

I get back from School, Gayway thread is closed.

"due to this just being a thread full of mostly nonsense posts in an effort to raise post counts, this thread is closed."

Then I want all non-mac related forums closed, if that is your reason.

Whats with Post counts anyways? Who freeakin cares about post counts.
OOOOO Im somebody cause I have 1,000,000 posts, GET REAL!
THATS A SORRY EXCUSE IF I HAVE EVER HEARD ONE.

Emerson, I hope you and Lee ...??? ... Whatever you two have ....???
Best wishes :)



:confused:

:(

[Capt Underpants]

I remember when I first joined the forums, you were one of the posters that I looked up to. It's sad to see you go, even though we never really talked. You'll be remembered.

Much love <3

[janey]

goodbye scem0 :(
you'll be missed...but from MacRumors :)

I'll try my best to hang out in the forums you guys set up :cool:

[angelneo]

WTF!

I get back from School, Gayway thread is closed.

"due to this just being a thread full of mostly nonsense posts in an effort to raise post counts, this thread is closed."

Then I want all non-mac related forums closed, if that is your reason.

Whats with Post counts anyways? Who freeakin cares about post counts.
OOOOO Im somebody cause I have 1,000,000 posts, GET REAL!
THATS A SORRY EXCUSE IF I HAVE EVER HEARD ONE.

Emerson, I hope you and Lee ...??? ... Whatever you two have ....???
Best wishes :)



:confused:

:(I shared your sentiments but I think we best have our emotions in check here or else this thread would be wastelanded too.

Anyway, has Grey beard made any appearances yet? kinda of worried about him.

[solvs]

I'm re-thinking my position on a gay thread. Seems it would be quite popular. As long as it doesn't become dirty or just a place for online dating. Which I guess it would be. Which is probably why the gay thread was closed. Which is kinda sad.

Sorry to see you go. Hope you come back to visit.

[nospleen]

Hey scem0. I am sad to see you go, and hope you do post again one day. If not, best of luck to you and I hope you have a fantastic life.

[neildmitchell]

Anyway, has Grey beard made any appearances yet? kinda of worried about him.
No? I was wondering what happened to him? :confused:

[iGary]

You know guys, enough.

The thread was closed, scem0 and the rest of us have a place to post now, so it's all good.

What's done is done, just let it go and let's talk about how stupid Steve is for switching to Intel.

I've had enough drama for one day.

Move along. :D

[~Shard~]

Have to say I agree with ~Shard~ and Lacero, both of whom posted quite eloquently.

Thanks zelmo, it's appreciated. I'm glad my sentiments came off that way, as scem0 deserves nothing less. :cool:

May your iPod socks never fade.:)

Well said, I'll have to remember that one... ;)

[jsw]

I understand that these forums were originally founded to discuss Mac-related topics, but my excavations into the earliest accessible threads show a great deal of non-Mac discussions, as well as huge amounts of what would now be considered spam... done by some now-respected members in high positions.

I understand the need to remove posts and threads which would likely be considered offensive by an average reader (I don't consider the GayWay thread to be an example of such a thread, although there have been some posts I think were justifiably removed, as is the case in many other threads). I understand the desire to eliminate spam and to pressure people to not post purely in order to have an avatar.

What I fail to understand is what seems, to me, to be a relatively recent push to consolidate posts, to lock or wasteland long-standing threads, to pick apart the need for a given post to have been written, etc.

To me, these forums serve a few distinct purposes (and "Mac" is used by me for anything Apple-related):

(1) Mac rumors. Obviously. However, this is of the least concern to me, as it's like trying to predict the weather next month. It's hard to do accurately, and it doesn't much matter until next month arrives.

(2) Mac-related discussion/opinions. Although somewhat noob and waste-post ridden, this is enjoyable for me to read and helpful at times. What products are good, what problems have been seen, comparisons, etc. This part is what originally drew me in.

(3) Mac-related help. I feel most useful when I post correct solutions to someone's cry for help, and I am very glad we can help others in this way.

(4) Marketplace. To me, inconsequential. Maybe I'll sell something there someday, probably not.

(5) The community forums - i.e., everything else. To me, this is the soul of MR and why we have people who keep coming back. There are many places to find rumors, discussions, and help, and there's always eBay for sales. But the community forums (and private ones as well) are why I visit day after day after day. GayWay was one such thread that kept a lot of people on the forums, and, to me, someone on the forums is someone who might, between posts, help someone else out. They're also friends of a sort, even though most of us never meet any of the others. I've only ever seen two other MR people and spoken with an additional two, but there are many more people than that with whom I feel a bond.

Is the death of the GayWay thread going to affect me? Not directly. I had, I think, 3 posts there (although I read it frequently). However, I feel like a number of very interesting MR members post there, and I will feel a loss if more of those members leave due to the lack of a thread in which they can congregate.

MR, to me, is nothing without its members and is weakened by the loss of any member who contributes positively to the forums.

I understand the need to keep order, and I'm not familiar enough with the reasons the GayWay thread was locked to form a real opinion as to whether that action was justified (not that it matters, I can't alter anything).

However, I would certainly hope that efforts are made to keep and promote the sense of community as an overall goal which is more important than the desire to limit post counts or keep threads "on target" or decide which threads are "appropriate" (with the obvious exception of offending posts and threads).

To me, way too many interesting threads get Wastelanded or locked when the more appropriate response would be to eliminate certain posts within those threads.

But hey, I pay less than 7 cents a day to "belong" here. I have no authority.

Just MHO. I just hope we don't lose too many more good members, and I hope scem0 comes back.

[barneygumble]

You know guys, enough.

The thread was closed, scem0 and the rest of us have a place to post now, so it's all good.

What's done is done, just let it go and let's talk about how stupid Steve is for switching to Intel.

I've had enough drama for one day.

Move along. :D

No longer a Demi:eek:

[jsw]

You know guys, enough.

The thread was closed, scem0 and the rest of us have a place to post now, so it's all good.

What's done is done, just let it go and let's talk about how stupid Steve is for switching to Intel.

I've had enough drama for one day.

Move along. :D
Geez, this is where I come for drama. ;)

So we're going back to wondering when the nanos will support video and arguing about why games suck on Macs?

Man....

[mac-er]

I really have little sympathy, and I will say what I think.

Sure, this site has some "off-topic" community posts. Heck, the most publicity the site has ever had in the national media came from a thread about two cheerleaders having sex in a bathroom.

But, if your only reason for coming to a Mac site is to post in a gay thread, and then you get mad and leave when a way off-topic thread is closed, I say good riddance.

That is like the 5 year old on the playground who runs home with his ball when he doesn't get his way.

I hope Emerson will stay and continue posting, but don't run off when you don't get your way.

[840quadra]

I remember when I first joined the forums, you were one of the posters that I looked up to. It's sad to see you go, even though we never really talked. You'll be remembered.

Much love <3

Well said!

Scem0

I have enjoyed our little online interactions in threads, and enjoyed reading about your life, and some of the issues you were going through. The "Any Gay's Here" thread was one I enjoyed reading, and even posting in (at first accidentally and caught by iGary).

I also hope that leekoler decides to stick around Macrumors, as both his and your contributions to the mood and feelings in this forum have been a part of what keeps me coming back to Macrumors.

Take care, and I hope we do see you bop back in from time to time :)

[MarkCollette]

To whoever may feel that community discussions are less important than Mac rumor discussions, I'd like to remind you that there are sometimes long stretches of time between new Mac rumors or announcements, where the only thing this site has to offer are the community discussions.

I don't care if some people have many posts and some have a few. That doesn't affect me at all. Hell, I don't even know how many posts I've made. So why would anyone remove/censor posts just to lower someone's count?

[thedude110]

But, if your only reason for coming to a Mac site is to post in a gay thread, and then you get mad and leave when a way off-topic thread is closed, I say good riddance.

Wow. The reason I went from lurker to poster on these forums was because of the sense of community that's so apparent.

I dunno. For me this is more than just a Mac site, and while you might say "If your only reason for coming to MacRumors is to post in a gay thread," I might say "Why would you only come to MacRumors to post in Apple related threads?" These forums, to me, are much more.

[mac-er]

Wow. The reason I went from lurker to poster on these forums was because of the sense of community that's so apparent.

To whoever may feel that community discussions are less important than Mac rumor discussions, I'd like to remind you that there are sometimes long stretches of time between new Mac rumors or announcements, where the only thing this site has to offer are the community discussions.


I certainly don't think there is anything wrong with community posts. They are the posts that make the site fun.

My problem is with someone getting mad and running off when they don't get their way. And, with no one calling him on it (until now).

[Chip NoVaMac]

But, if your only reason for coming to a Mac site is to post in a gay thread, and then you get mad and leave when a way off-topic thread is closed, I say good riddance.

That is like the 5 year old on the playground who runs home with his ball when he doesn't get his way.

I hope Emerson will stay and continue posting, but don't run off when you don't get your way.

You may not have seen the contributing posts by those like scem0 and others that are "ticked-off" right now. They did not solely post in the GayWay.

As to "That is like the 5 year old on the playground who runs home with his ball when he doesn't get his way.". The first post to current problems was made at 11/7 Monday at 10:41AM. Less than 24 hours the thread was closed. All I will say is that we as MR members will never be told the real reasons behind the closing. Too many mixed messages being told between too many members.

I and others did not come to MR to post in the GayWay. It was a reason to sit and stay awhile. Just how many scratched nano threads can one answer? Same way for PPC vs. MacIntel threads can one answer before your head explodes? Berating someone for speeding (or telling them to fight the ticket) provides some diversion.

Some may have in the GayWay resorted to posting as if it were PM's, but it provided some content for some of us to comment on. I was shot down by both sides for a Gay/Lesbian Forum here on MR. And IIRC as long as we kept it clean, the GayWay could find a life here.

Sure it was a "social club" at times. And maybe in hindsight benefited from being its own forum, like the Political Forum. But we as both post contributing and financial contributing members were happy with the rambling thread that all parties seemed to be happy with at the time. Even with restrictions.

In some ways your comments sound like the 7 yo who feels that they are older and wiser than the 5 yo's.

[leekohler]

You may not have seen the contributing posts by those like scem0 and others that are "ticked-off" right now. They did not solely post in the GayWay.

As to "That is like the 5 year old on the playground who runs home with his ball when he doesn't get his way.". The first post to current problems was made at 11/7 Monday at 10:41AM. Less than 24 hours the thread was closed. All I will say is that we as MR members will never be told the real reasons behind the closing. Too many mixed messages being told between too many members.

I and others did not come to MR to post in the GayWay. It was a reason to sit and stay awhile. Just how many scratched nano threads can one answer? Same way for PPC vs. MacIntel threads can one answer before your head explodes? Berating someone for speeding (or telling them to fight the ticket) provides some diversion.

Some may have in the GayWay resorted to posting as if it were PM's, but it provided some content for some of us to comment on. I was shot down by both sides for a Gay/Lesbian Forum here on MR. And IIRC as long as we kept it clean, the GayWay could find a life here.

Sure it was a "social club" at times. And maybe in hindsight benefited from being its own forum, like the Political Forum. But we as both post contributing and financial contributing members were happy with the rambling thread that all parties seemed to be happy with at the time. Even with restrictions.

In some ways your comments sound like the 7 yo who feels that they are older and wiser than the 5 yo's.

I agree with you Chip. My biggest problem was the manner in which the closing was handled. I have to tell you that I will definitely be wary of posting anything related to the "G" word from now on for fear of being banned. Like I've said before, this is a private website and people can close threads as they see fit and I'm not arguing it should be reopened. But I also thought that this was a place where people, brought together by a common interest (Macs), could discuss anything they pleased within reason. I don't feel that way anymore. Had I a crystal ball back when you asked for a separate forum, I would have supported you. I did not foresee such an abrupt end to the thread as there didn't seem to be cause for it. I'm sorry I didn't see it sooner. But hey- we're all here now and I for one, promise not to inconvenience anyone with any details they may find objectionable. I apologize to all those offended by our honesty.

[mac-er]

You may not have seen the contributing posts by those like scem0 and others that are "ticked-off" right now. They did not solely post in the GayWay.
The only person who has run off is scem0, and looking at his post contributions, 8/10 of them have been in GayWay.


As to "That is like the 5 year old on the playground who runs home with his ball when he doesn't get his way.". The first post to current problems was made at 11/7 Monday at 10:41AM. Less than 24 hours the thread was closed. All I will say is that we as MR members will never be told the real reasons behind the closing. Too many mixed messages being told between too many members.

It doesn't matter why the post was closed. They are the mods and we aren't. And, if you are leaving the site simply because a particular thread was closed...that is being a bit immature.


I and others did not come to MR to post in the GayWay. It was a reason to sit and stay awhile. Just how many scratched nano threads can one answer? Same way for PPC vs. MacIntel threads can one answer before your head explodes? Berating someone for speeding (or telling them to fight the ticket) provides some diversion.
See my first comment in this response. Chip, you and most others do post a lot in other threads. Scem0 really didn't. And, you haven't run off.


In some ways your comments sound like the 7 yo who feels that they are older and wiser than the 5 yo's.

If that is your opinion, but I certainly don't act immature and leave when I don't get my way.

[vniow]

*snappy mode off*

I think most of the other posters have touched on this but I'll expand and add another voice since this sems to be of a concern as of late.

This is the Community section. Its called that for a reason. If you take the community out of the Community section then it becomes a barren soulless forum. And that is exactly why the GayWay thread stuck around so long and why some are making a big deal about the fact that its no longer around and any attempt to make a similar thread will almost be shot down before its posted make some of us question the way future community building threads like that will be handled in the future. Regardless about anyone's personal feelings about the thread (which as far as I'm concerned, if it botthers you that much don't click on the bloody thing, then its your own damn fault and we shouldn't have to clean up your mess) it built up a community of members who had something in common. Most of those members came to the site for the Macs and stuck around for the community. Its what makes this board different than the comments section on a news site for example. People build relationships here and obviously they're meaningful on some level because this thread has been created. I mean, several regular posters have left and one has requested his money back from contributing to the site.
That tells you something right there, if someone is so dissatisfied and/or pissed off at the way things were handles that he wants a measly $25 refund from an online forums site then something's wrong.

Where will the line be drawn next time? 1000 posts? 2000 posts? 3000 posts? How many members will have to stick around by the time it reaches X number of posts in orser for it to be considered just a big chat thread and be shut down?

This site has grown a lot in the 3 years I've been here. I think its about time for the community to be allowed to grow as well. After all, even though I've been in and out of Mac ownership, the community has been what keeps me around as I spend most of my time in this forum, you take the community away, you kill the site.

[Chip NoVaMac]

The only person who has run off is scem0, and looking at his post contributions, 8/10 of them have been in GayWay.

You are wrong that only scem0 "has run off". iGary gave up his Demi-God status, and many others are relooking at their participation on MR at this point.

I trust that you had the time to count each post in the Gay Way. With over 3700 post before the closing, the thread has been alive for over 6 months. That is about 20 posts a day. At a 8/10 split that means that scem0 was doing 16 post a day in that thread. That means prior to the GayWay his posts were under 3700 since 2002.

As witnessed by the heartfelt goodbyes by others, he has not just had an impact on the GayWay as you seem to indicate. If the Mods provide stats to back up your claims, since I will not waste time counting each post, as you seem to indicate that you have.

It doesn't matter why the post was closed. They are the mods and we aren't. And, if you are leaving the site simply because a particular thread was closed...that is being a bit immature.

See my first comment in this response. Chip, you and most others do post a lot in other threads. Scem0 really didn't. And, you haven't run off.

the issue is the what is looked upon as uneven applying of rules on MR when it came to the GayWay. They may be Mods, but we are the members. Some of us contributed not just words but real money. In either case as members we should be able to talk honestly about the direction and moderation here.

A simple member search indicates that scem0 started at least 125 individual threads. I haven't gone yet because I understood the first post by a Mod requesting a change in how we posted in the GayWay. But in less than 24 hours the thread was closed.

With out seeing all emails and PM's you and I can only guess as to what really happened. I do know first hand that the GayWay had caused concern by some members to the Mods over content. Some was the graphic nature that was there, and some was due to allowing a platform for Gays to even converse "cleanly". Yet a father taking his son to Hooters was still allowed to stand. Among other threads....

If that is your opinion, but I certainly don't act immature and leave when I don't get my way.

If you were to look at when the Mods did go in with comments on the GayWay, the members there did ask questions; but did calm down and tried to live within the rules. The issue is that the Mods seem to have waited till things got out of hand, then only then tried to reel in the chaos.

If anything scem0 and others are now acting out of principles. I have left other forums for similar reasons in the past. I speak out both in defense and criticism of what has gone on because I found a family here. And because of that I put my money where my words are/were.

[MacNut]

Ok not to add lighter fluid to the fire but if a thread goes off topic it gets closed, what's to say a thread is kept opened just because its been around for a long time if it gets off topic it gets closed. Rules are in place for a reason and why should one thread be above the rules from any others. Now I don't know what was said in the thread to get it closed because I never read any posts but looking at it from the outside why should one thread be exempt from the rules.

[janey]

exactly what _is_ "on topic" in community dicussion?

Edit: lemme make it more clear. Three points from the rules.
from http://forums.macrumors.com/announcement.php?f=20
1) Off-topic posts in the non-Community discussion areas. Keep it free of off topic posts. Off-topic posts will be deleted/edited.
2) Spam. The real thing... not just being a prolific poster. ie. Someone posting the same exact post in 10 different threads. Someone posting multiple pointless posts in the same thread....
3) Keep posts ontopic - Especially in the News/Rumors discussion. Off-topic posts in that area will likely get deleted without warning. Other forums are usually less strict, though a completely off-topic thread will likely get closed. Community discussion is pretty unregulated in this respect. Please direct idle chit-chat to that forum.

[MacNut]

exactly what _is_ "on topic" in community dicussion?then why are any threads in community closed then?

[MacNut]

I think the bigger issue is not that a thread was closed but what exactly has to happen to close a thread, are there written rules in place or is it a moderators discretion.

[pivo6]

I think the bigger issue is not that a thread was closed but what exactly has to happen to close a thread, are there written rules in place or is it a moderators discretion.

There are rules written, but they seem to be arbitrarily applied.

[janey]

then why are any threads in community closed then?
isnt that the big question here?

sometimes its obvious - pyramid schemes, people looking for computer help (in the wrong forum) and such, and for flagrantly breaking the rules (insulting people, et cetera).

Other times, its not. But really, ...

[njmac]

It might be a good idea to start a new thread on this topic. I would hate to see Emerson's goodbye thread wastelanded because of off topic posts.

[MacNut]

1) Off-topic posts in the non-Community discussion areas. Keep it free of off topic posts. Off-topic posts will be deleted/edited.
Now if its in the community forum isn't it in theory off topic of mac related rumors, isn't that the idea of the community forum to have off topic discussion?

[Sun Baked]

*snappy mode off*

I think most of the other posters have touched on this but I'll expand and add another voice since this sems to be of a concern as of late.

This is the Community section. Its called that for a reason. If you take the community out of the Community section then it becomes a barren soulless forum. And that is exactly why the GayWay thread stuck around so long and why some are making a big deal about the fact that its no longer around and any attempt to make a similar thread will almost be shot down before its posted make some of us question the way future community building threads like that will be handled in the future.

...

This site has grown a lot in the 3 years I've been here. I think its about time for the community to be allowed to grow as well. After all, even though I've been in and out of Mac ownership, the community has been what keeps me around as I spend most of my time in this forum, you take the community away, you kill the site.
But alas, a single thread doesn't make for a community either.

This has happened time and again with some of these threads -- at some point they will get closed. And it's time to move on.

If you have too much of yourself invested in a single thread, you aren't enjoying the community and seeing what other people have to say.

Maybe it is time to move on.

---

Plus, we all know how problematic threads like these goodbye threads can be ... :(

[Chip NoVaMac]

But alas, a single thread doesn't make for a community either.

This has happened time and again with some of these threads -- at some point they will get closed. And it's time to move on.

If you have too much of yourself invested in a single thread, you aren't enjoying the community and seeing what other people have to say.

Maybe it is time to move on.

---

Plus, we all know how problematic threads like these goodbye threads can be ... :(

If you looked at the posts and who did them in that thread, you will see that many of us did make posts otherwise in the general community of MR.

[feakbeak]

I'm pretty sure I posted once or twice in the GayWay thread early on but lost interest when it became clicky and random. It didn't bother me though. I still followed the thread a little bit now and again to see where it was meandering. It seemed to get inappropriate at times (and no, that comment has nothing to do with the topic of the thread).

The mods seemed to have to do extra work to keep that thread in check. It wasn't all the time, but several times. I wouldn't blame the mods for closing it just so they didn't have the additional policing work. The thread ran a long time and I can understand why those who posted in it often became attached but there are many other threads in the community forum and much more content in the forums as a whole. I think it is perfectly understandable why the thread was closed. I have to agree with some posters in this thread that if the only thing keeping you coming back to a Mac forum is a thread based on one's sexual preference and what was mostly a conversation between a small number of people it is probably time to move on. I understand the point that the community aspect of MR is important but staying on the site for one thread seems a bit extreme, IMO... then again opinions are like a$sholes... ... everyone has one. It is just too bad we're losing some long-time MR members over it, many of whom posted in a lot of other threads with some useful/insightful posts. It's a shame, but these things happen.

Good luck with whatever you do Scem0. Perhaps we'll see you around here again sometime.

[generik]

So what's his disagreement all about? And what's gayway?

[CanadaRAM]

Suggestion:
Part of the problem, methinks, is that when a thread goes unstable, if it gets killed the EVERYthing gets tossed out with the bathwater. So in losing the last bits of GayWay, we also lost Chip's Ex saga, Greybeard's introduction, and numerous other posts I really liked.

Would it not make sense to periodically split long-running threads and lock last month's version, for example? So instead of a single 3700 post "Whatever" thread, we have
Whatever (1) locked at 700 posts followed by Whatever (2) which grows to a reasonable size and then is locked, followed by...

The first and last posts in the closed threads can link to the previous/new installments. Locking and opening of a new thread can be based on # of posts, or on a shift in topic, perhaps.


generik: if I can paraphrase, GayWay was a long-standing thread started to allow gay and lesbian members to introduce themselves to the MR Membership. It grew to gargantuan proportions, had avid participation by a core group of MR members and high readership in general, attacted a bit of disciplinary action for occasionally getting too 'detailed', and was recently closed for good - which occasioned this discussion, as follow-on to one member leaving the forum (see post 1 of 124). Whew.

[Blue Velvet]

I've just woken up to catch up on what's been going on over the past few hours before I head off to work... demis taking refunds, more people saying they're pissed off, others snitching on others.

Now I'm depressed.

Given the amount of emotional investment that people had in the existence of that thread, I feel its closure could have been handled a little more diplomatically.

I'm not going to enter the debate about whether it should have been closed because many people have already posted eloquent and heartfelt comments about this — I have nothing further to add.

Still, it's been done. It's not coming back and I would ask anyone here who may be considering leaving because of these events not to, because you'll leave this place much the poorer.

And for those of you who don't 'get' it or understand what all the fuss is about, couldn't you just have the courtesy to keep your unwelcome opinions to yourself? A lot of regulars are really upset about this — and making inflammatory or deliberately obtuse comments is just so crass and ill-mannered, it makes my skin crawl.

[solvs]

After all, even though I've been in and out of Mac ownership, the community has been what keeps me around as I spend most of my time in this forum, you take the community away, you kill the site.

Bingo. Remember, for better or worse, the mods are only human. It is a private forum, so we do have to abide by their rules for the sake of keeping the forums as good as they are. But I have to respectfully disagree with how this was handled. I'm not going to cry homophobia, or worry that I'm going to be banned, but I'm hoping we can all just kiss and make up over this one.

[dops7107]

Man, it looks like you have to keep in touch with this forum every day or you miss something, and fast. I have a couple of questions to clear up some confusion:

1) Is a closed thread the same as a wastelanded thread?
2) If not, what's the difference?
3) And also if not, what happens to your post count if a thread you have participated in gets closed? I understand you lose posts in a wastelanded thread.

I don't think Emerson was getting upset because he lost posts, was he? More about the prinicple, surely? Personally, I've not been here long enough to make friends here, and I don't really spend enough time here either - but the atmosphere at MR is generally wam and welcoming, and the discussion interesting. However, I respect the mods' decision on this - some things come to their natural end.

[angelneo]

Man, it looks like you have to keep in touch with this forum every day or you miss something, and fast. I have a couple of questions to clear up some confusion:

1) Is a closed thread the same as a wastelanded thread?
2) If not, what's the difference?
3) And also if not, what happens to your post count if a thread you have participated in gets closed? I understand you lose posts in a wastelanded thread.

I don't think Emerson was getting upset because he lost posts, was he? More about the prinicple, surely? Personally, I've not been here long enough to make friends here, and I don't really spend enough time here either - but the atmosphere at MR is generally wam and welcoming, and the discussion interesting. However, I respect the mods' decision on this - some things come to their natural end.
You are right that it was not about lost post or post counts. It was how the whole situation was handled and how certain attitudes were bestowed. Personally, I would have closed that thread and asked the participants to start a new one since it has gotten too big but it's not my forum. Anyway, I do like the idea that posting in community section would not contribute to the post count. I figure most of the members chatting there couldn't care about that anyway.

EDIT: Would it be wise to start a new thread discussing this instead of hijacking Emerson thread as njmac said. I wouldn't dare to start one for fear of being banned.

[WinterMute]

I have to tell you that I will definitely be wary of posting anything related to the "G" word from now on for fear of being banned.

I am only going to say this once, mudbug has stated this too.

Gayway was emphatically not closed because it was a gay thread, it was closed because it became too time intensive to police correctly and had been moderated on more than one occasion.

No-one on this forum should have any fear of posting about their sexual, political or social orientation, I think our actions in the past to defend gay members (female members, or any other group that is being unfairly treated) speak for themselves, and I, for one, find the intimation of homophobia in your post both offensive and upsetting.

(edit)I apologize to all those offended by our honesty.

Honesty is not offensive unless it's being used as a cover for offensiveness, your comments about "fear of being banned" simply for posting on gay issues are unwelcome and unhelpful. The majority of posts to gay related threads are fine and the general populace of MR treats them with the respect they deserve. All I ask is for that respect to be reciprocated.

[Bern]

I think that thread just ran it's course. MR has so many other juicy threads going on, get into some of them and move on.

[angelneo]

Honesty is not offensive unless it's being used as a cover for offensiveness, your comments about "fear of being banned" simply for posting on gay issues are unwelcome and unhelpful. The majority of posts to gay related threads are fine and the general populace of MR treats them with the respect they deserve. All I ask is for that respect to be reciprocated.
Sorry to intrude, but didn't Mudbug says that all threads relating to that "previous thread" faces a 5 day suspension?

[WinterMute]

Sorry to intrude, but didn't Mudbug says that all threads relating to that "previous thread" faces a 5 day suspension?

No, he said that any thread asking for the re-instatment of the Gayway thread or posting inflammatory PM's will be suspended.

Incidentally, no-one has lost any post count, the thread is still in Community, it hasn't been wastelanded. Closed threads still count.

[whocares]

I think we should start b****in' about the Drunk (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=6144) and Official Poop (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=12317&page=30) threads being closed.




^^^sarcasm ;)



I wasn't involved in the GayWay thread, nor have I looked into the way it was closed. From what I understand and the few last posts I read in it, it seems to me it was heading the same way as the aforementioned drunk and poop threads (both started by eye :p ): spam heaven (or at least idle discussion that doesn't serve the community). Both aforementioned threads were well under 3,000 posts, so I don't think the mods are being unreasonable here (at least in the closing of the thread).
I suggest that those interested start new threads to discuss some of the topics from the thread or use IRC. I believe MR as an IRC channel?

I also believe that leaving MR because of this is a bit of an over-reaction. I don't personnaly believe that anything as changed; on the whole it seems like a much more liberal place than it was when I joined. I'd suggest sticking around for a few weeks/months and if it still seems to you then that it's a less liberal, leave.

my 2¢

[liketom]

scrap it... not important
i just do not understand why people are getting so uptight about this Gayway thread ?

i never posted in it but i did have a read of it and felt it was abit full on for my taste - but each to there own .

can we not just let it be ... and get on with what matters around here.

all this negativity might put new members and existing members off from posting on these boards.

[MacDawg]

In light of everything else I've observed on the MR board, I really can't believe that the thread was closed just because it was a Gay thread. There were undoubtedly a number of other issues involved, some of which have been explored in this thread. Not having been privy to the Mod's discussions on the matter, I don't have enough info to have an opinion one way or another about the closing. Threads come and they go. Other threads about gayness will emerge in time, and will be treated with respect by some, disdain by others. As someone once told me, 'life's tough, get a helmet'. We all deal with discrimination, disappointment, challenges, struggles, regardless of sexual orientation or other factors. Its part of being human.

I do think that MR is much bigger than one thread, or even some members. I value all of you, from all backgrounds, gay/straight, black/white, American/European, et.al, liberal/conservative and so on and so forth. Yet one issue does not make or break the community.

I valued scem0, heck, I even used the gradient creator for my signature! I also value a number of others here like iGary, Chip, Lee and so forth. I think the real challenge is not to take your toys and go home when disappointed, but to learn to play well with others in the midst of your disappointment. Those lessons will serve you well in your future relationships, your career, and achieving your goals and dreams.

I would encourage all of you who are disappointed, hurt, or even angry, to step back, take a deep breath and reflect on the value of this community. If you have found value here, then stay. If there is no value to you any more, then maybe it is time to leave. But we will be diminished as you leave, because we lose your perspective. I would encourage you to stay, and let your perspective and voice be a part of the community in other ways. None of you were confined to the GW thread, you all post outside of it, and contribute with great value. I don't want to lose that.

I don't have any gay friends (except here). I don't ever hear a gay perspective, except here. Leave, and I will lose that.

I don't believe this has been about gay bashing or homophobia. I choose to believe it was about managment and administration of the board. I don't agree with all of the decisions my boss makes or my wife makes. Heck, I don't even agree with my own some of the time. But we all have to move on in our lives over the bumps and bruises.

I choose to heal and move on. I hope all of you will too. Regardless, best wishes to all of you.

Woof, Woof – Dawg http://homepage.mac.com/k.j.vinson/pawprint.gif

[iGary]

You know guys, I'd just encourage this to end.

It is what it is, the moderators did what they thought was best at the time.

Cheers. :o

[Chundles]

You know guys, I'd just encourage this to end.

It is what it is, the moderators did what they thought was best at the time.

Cheers. :o


Post a photo of your set-up, that'll drop jaws long enough for it to end.

[iGary]

http://homepage.mac.com/garybooberry/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2005-10-07%2013.58.32%20-0700/Image-D222880A377411DA.jpg


:D :D :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

[MacDawg]

That's just wrong
You know, there just might be something about the Gay Way.
No wife to say "no" (on so many levels)

Woof, Woof – Dawg http://homepage.mac.com/k.j.vinson/pawprint.gif

[thedude110]

I think our actions in the past to defend gay members (female members, or any other group that is being unfairly treated) speak for themselves, and I, for one, find the intimation of homophobia in your post both offensive and upsetting.


I think you're absolutely justified in saying this -- MR, as a whole, generally does not seem homophobic (and that's a credit to its members and its mods).

But it's also important to keep in mind the impact of closing this thread on those who enjoyed it. Homosexuals are socially disempowered, and this sort of action creates difficult resonances with that disempowerment. Severe emotional reactions are to be expected.

This is not to say the thread should or should not have been closed. But I'm worried that many seem to have absolutlist positions (I'm not regarding you, here, WinterMute) without seeing the psychology and reality of the other side of the argument.

Were the Mods justiified in closing this thread? Probably. Is the degree to which people are upset over its closure justified? Absolutely.

[mad jew]

Nice one iGary.

What were we talking about again?



Is a community thread off-topic if it relates to Mac pr0n? :D

[iGary]

Nice one iGary.

What were we talking about again?



Is a community thread off-topic if it relates to Mac pr0n? :D

A guy I just got to switch IM'd me yesterday and asked me how my $3,000 2.7 GHz paperweight was yesterday.

Smart ass. :rolleyes: :D

[liketom]

A guy I just got to switch IM'd me yesterday and asked me how my $3,000 2.7 GHz paperweight was yesterday.

Smart ass. :rolleyes: :D
but if it was a paper weight , at least it would do it well :)

/droooling over iGarys Display
//drooooling over iGarys G5

[MacDawg]

A guy I just got to switch IM'd me yesterday and asked me how my $3,000 2.7 GHz paperweight was yesterday.

Smart ass. :rolleyes: :D

Using it as a paperweight is at least one way to think different

Woof, Woof – Dawg http://homepage.mac.com/k.j.vinson/pawprint.gif

[Chundles]

See, told you it would work. Gosh-o-gee I'm smart.




I am, my Mum told me so.



And I might have a degree in two weeks.

iGary's setup is cool, but he didn't make his own laptop stand out of styrofoam did he? Noooo......

[barneygumble]

A guy I just got to switch IM'd me yesterday and asked me how my $3,000 2.7 GHz paperweight was yesterday.

Smart ass. :rolleyes: :D

Everytime i see your setup i get insanely jealous, please don't go, cos then we will all miss the updates to the best setup on the site:D :D :D

[iGary]

Using it as a paperweight is at least one way to think different

Woof, Woof – Dawg http://homepage.mac.com/k.j.vinson/pawprint.gif

LOL :D

Hey, and just so everyone knows, and I do not speak for everyone that participated in "that" thread, I think the main issue, especially for those of us who contribute(d) to the site, is that we are concerned about an equal application of the rules around MR lately.

I for one do not think "that" thread was closed or singled out because it was about the "G" word. It was prominent, active, and yes, a bit out of hand at times. I do believe the board ownership/moderation staff probably got a lot of complaints about it, too.

I guess the way I feel, is that if there can be a Keira Knightly thread where guys can talk about banging women and where one member has nearly 200 posts attributed to it alone, then the very abrupt end to "that" thread wasn't a really fair application of the rules, in my opinion. And that is just my opinion.

Having been a moderator and even an owner of other discussion boards - being a moderator stinks and sometimes you get called on decisions you make and it sucks. It goes with the turf, fair or not. Like I said, I think they did what they thought was right at the time. Some of us, especially those of us who contribute were not happy with the 5-day suspension ultimatum we got yesterday, but in the end, the board has to be kept under control, orthe whole place will go out of control.

There was a thread here last night talking about lesbian bathroom sex that flourished for hours last night until I said something about it.

Some of us have been accused of posting in "that" thread when other threads here have members with 170, 220 or more individual posts in it, yet they go unchecked.

I'm fine with explicit stuff not being on tis site, or people not post whoring to all hell, but can we at least be consistent and get some guidelines...please?

I contributed to this site because I LOVE IT. It's a great place for me to take a break during my very long days behind a monitor proofing pictures, and I like an awful lot of you people here, including most all of the moderator staff and ownership.

I slept on it overnight, and I'm still not happy about what happened, but that's life. I can pack up and leave if I want to. I'd rather stay and keep contributing to what I think is a great place, in general.

With that said, I have about 5 billion pictures to edit today. Blah. Off I go.

:D

[MacSA]

gaydar.co.uk has a gay macuser chat room :D

[MacSA]

LOL :D


I guess the way I feel, is that if there can be a Keira Knightly thread where guys can talk about banging women and where one member has nearly 200 posts attributed to it alone, then the very abrupt end to "that" thread wasn't a really fair application of the rules, in my opinion. And that is just my opinion.


Dont forget the "post your desktop" thread.......bordering on pornographic I would say .... lots of slutty looking ladies with their *** out.

[leekohler]

*snappy mode off*

I think most of the other posters have touched on this but I'll expand and add another voice since this sems to be of a concern as of late.

This is the Community section. Its called that for a reason. If you take the community out of the Community section then it becomes a barren soulless forum. And that is exactly why the GayWay thread stuck around so long and why some are making a big deal about the fact that its no longer around and any attempt to make a similar thread will almost be shot down before its posted make some of us question the way future community building threads like that will be handled in the future.


This has bothered me as well. Would it not follow that any mention of the word "gay" in a thread at this point will be looked at as attempt to bring the Gayway back? Wouldn't that thread then get shut down? Seems to me, given the situation, that would be the case. So, in a sense, any discussion of the subject would seem to be off-limits at this point, which for me causes concern and a certain amount of disappointment.

[Diatribe]

What I don't understand is why threads get wastelanded AND locked. Wouldn't it make more sense to let the thread continue in wasteland if the members choose to?
Or just have a real *community forum* where posts don't count towards the post count. Exclude news discussion, etc. and just have threads like gay thread or the drunk thread in those... don't know, I never participated that much in really off-topic threads anyway but for the people that do I think this might be a viable option.

[edesignuk]

What I don't understand is why threads get wastelanded AND locked. Wouldn't it make more sense to let the thread continue in wasteland if the members choose to?That's impossible. There is no posting in the wasteland, full stop. If a thread in wasteland is locked or not it makes no difference. The ones that are locked are usually so just because it's been quicker to close them (you can do this as you reply to a thread), before then moving them off to wasteland (a separate operation).

[Diatribe]

That's impossible. There is no posting in the wasteland, full stop. If a thread in wasteland is locked or not it makes no difference. The ones that are locked are usually so just because it's been quicker to close them (you can do this as you reply to a thread), before then moving them off to wasteland (a separate operation).

Ah, thanks for clearing that up. I guess the only possibility then is to have a forum where posts don't count but I guess closing the threads was not only an issue of post counts but another...
My take on this is live and let live, I couldn't care less about people posting in those threads, so what if they're off topic or have a higher post count than me because of this, to me it's not important but then again I don't run this site either...

[mcadam]

This has bothered me as well. Would it not follow that any mention of the word "gay" in a thread at this point will be looked at as attempt to bring the Gayway back? Wouldn't that thread then get shut down? Seems to me, given the situation, that would be the case. So, in a sense, any discussion of the subject would seem to be off-limits at this point, which for me causes concern and a certain amount of disappointment.

Ehm, lee, shouldn't you get back to the real world rather than carrying on with crap like this. To claim that the word and subject "gay" has been made off-limits by the mods is ridiculous. To low. Give them a break. And perhaps give yourself one - rather than burn all bridges while your pissed off.

A

[leekohler]

Ehm, lee, shouldn't you get back to the real world rather than carrying on with crap like this. To claim that the word and subject "gay" has been made off-limits by the mods is ridiculous. To low. Give them a break. And perhaps give yourself one - rather than burn all bridges while your pissed off.

A

I'm honestly not trying to burn bridges, just trying to figure out how to proceed at this point.

[gwuMACaddict]

I'm honestly not trying to burn bridges, just trying to figure out how to proceed at this point.

probably by posting the way you did before...:confused:

closing one thread doesn't change all that much around here...

[edesignuk]

closing one thread doesn't change all that much around here...EXACTLY. There's really no need to think how to proceed :rolleyes: Keep the 3,000+ chit chat threads down and carry on as 'normal'.

[gekko513]

probably by posting the way you did before...:confused:

closing one thread doesn't change all that much around here...
But where do I post the things that I used to post before? Should I post a new thread just about me the next time I need advice on how to handle a strange "gay" situation at work? Perhaps that would be a good idea as there would be more potential for good feedback, but then again if all the issues we went through in the gayway thread should have it's own thread there would be a whole lot of gay threads around this place.

[edesignuk]

But where do I post the things that I used to post before? Should I post a new thread just about me the next time I need advice on how to handle a strange "gay" situation at work? Perhaps that would be a good idea as there would be more potential for good feedback, but then again if all the issues we went through in the gayway thread should have it's own thread there would be a whole lot of gay threads around this place.
The new, improved, unmoderated (?) Super GayWay (http://com1.runboard.com/bthegayway).

I stand corrected, there's a newer new gay way!

The new new, improved, unmoderated (?) Super GayWay (http://austintrash.com/gayway/index.php).

[Sdashiki]

EXACTLY. There's really no need to think how to proceed :rolleyes: Keep the 3,000+ chit chat threads down and carry on as 'normal'.

thats exactly what I said at the beginning of THIS thread.

21 gun salute.... for nothing.

also, I too resent anyone for thinking that there is some sort of homophobia in this thread, what the hell are you talking about? I see this thread has turned slightly away from a "Goodbye" and more into "why the gayway closed", and I say, who cares, let it die.

[leekohler]

But where do I post the things that I used to post before? Should I post a new thread just about me the next time I need advice on how to handle a strange "gay" situation at work? Perhaps that would be a good idea as there would be more potential for good feedback, but then again if all the issues we went through in the gayway thread should have it's own thread there would be a whole lot of gay threads around this place.

Ha-ha! As usual I'm not expressing myself clearly. This was exactly what I was trying to say before. Thanks Gekko. And edesignuk- you know I love you! Give me a hug buddy. ;)

[gwuMACaddict]

But where do I post the things that I used to post before? Should I post a new thread just about me the next time I need advice on how to handle a strange "gay" situation at work?


start a new thread!! i dont care if you have trouble dating GOATS or WHATEVER at work!! Lord knows we have enough "i have girl problem" threads!

the POINT is that your thread would HAVE a point- asking for HELP about a specific SITUATION...

not just post whoring and chit chat...

guys... i'm not that bright, but i totally get the reasoning here... whats everyone elses deal?:confused:

[leekohler]

The new, improved, unmoderated (?) Super GayWay (http://com1.runboard.com/bthegayway).

Ha-ha! :)

[mcadam]

But where do I post the things that I used to post before? Should I post a new thread just about me the next time I need advice on how to handle a strange "gay" situation at work? Perhaps that would be a good idea as there would be more potential for good feedback, but then again if all the issues we went through in the gayway thread should have it's own thread there would be a whole lot of gay threads around this place.

...why not - there's already quite a lot threads from people needing advice on how to handle "strange" girl situations in highschool. They seem to get quite good response.

A

[angelneo]

start a new thread!! i dont care if you have trouble dating GOATS or WHATEVER at work!! Lord knows we have enough "i have girl problem" threads!

the POINT is that your thread would HAVE a point- asking for HELP about a specific SITUATION...

not just post whoring and chit chat...

guys... i'm not that bright, but i totally get the reasoning here... whats everyone elses deal?:confused:
Actually I think community discussion is just about idle chit chat, as mentioned in the rules, but I think we need a new method of monitoring if need be on these community threads. It's pretty easy for a single thread to grow up to a few thousand post as we can see from the drunk, edesignuk, and picture association threads. I suggest instead of locking those threads and forbid people from posting to those topics again, allow them to post on a new thread once a thread has come to a limit of perhaps 1,000 post.

[whocares]

I guess the way I feel, is that if there can be a Keira Knightly thread where guys can talk about banging women and where one member has nearly 200 posts attributed to it alone, then the very abrupt end to "that" thread wasn't a really fair application of the rules, in my opinion. And that is just my opinion.

Hmmmm, good point. But more importantly: you seem ashamed of your wintel box. Why the heck do you only have one paperweight on your desk? :confused: :confused:







:p :D :D :D

[feakbeak]

But where do I post the things that I used to post before? Should I post a new thread just about me the next time I need advice on how to handle a strange "gay" situation at work? Perhaps that would be a good idea as there would be more potential for good feedback, but then again if all the issues we went through in the gayway thread should have it's own thread there would be a whole lot of gay threads around this place.It is not uncommon to have threads about relationship advice in the community forum - maybe one a week or so, that I notice at least. How often were these topics coming up in the GayWay thread? I followed it, but not too closely after the first several pages. If it were very often, like every other day perhaps it would be better for the frequent posters of that thread to also decide to sign up on a relationship message board, or a gay message board as well as I'm sure threads like that could live indefinitely since it suited to the site. If it is these specific members that you enjoy discussing the issue with you just PM them and if you want a forum-styled venue couldn't you setup a Yahoo group or have a member setup your own message board using phpBB or some freeware tool. I'm just throwing out suggestions because I do think there are ways for those members who miss that thread to continue its spirit in some fashion.

I noticed that the Kiera thread has been closed too. I think this is a good thing as it shows a little more consistency with the rules being applied. I can understand why such threads are closed though. When threads go on and on forever that are not related to the Mac/Apple, even in the community forum it can start to change the direction of the site. The GayWay thread could draw a bunch of gay members to MR, or the Kiera thread could draw a bunch of pervs looking for softcore pr0n or that old March Maddess or whatever basketball thread was could draw a bunch of sports fans. It can change the composition and focus of this site and the owners/mods may want to keep it more Mac focused - that is their prerogative. I think the community forum is there for off-topic threads but they probably just don't one any one topic to start dominating the site be it politics, religion, sports, relationships, etc.

Still, I hope that many of the members who disagree with these happenings do not leave just because of this incident. As I said in the beginning of my post there are other avenues to keep the spirit of that thread going, it will just have to be in a new form.

[njmac]

The topics probably could've been handled by the members of the GayWay a little better. For example:

Keep the GayWay, any gays here? thread open for macrumors members to see whos in there, who's gay, and even a little small talk and pictures.

Now when someone from the GayWay community wants to talk about something they could've started a new thread like this:
GayWay: What music do you listen to? or GayWay: I'm coming out! advice? or GayWay: Help, All my friends are straight

Then it could have been kept tidy, and if a thread was insulting or causing the mods headaches, then just that thread could've been trashed as the GayWay lives on.

By the way edesignuk, I think the new, new GayWay is here (austintrash.com/gayway/index.php). And for the love of god, if you are not gay do not to to thegayway.com. :eek: :eek: (that is not Emerson's new forum, its gay pr0n!)

edit: seperate threads could be ignored by anyone who was not interested in gayWay topics, but OTH, other non-gay macrumors members might have seen a topic that they had some advice for or learned a little something themselves that would have been lost in the mega-thread.

[gekko513]

guys... i'm not that bright, but i totally get the reasoning here... whats everyone elses deal?:confused:
I guess you can consider my situation as being similar to a dog that has had it's dog bone taken away and hasn't yet realised that the master just moved it from the carpet in the living room to the kitchen where it belongs. The situation isn't getting better when some of the other dogs that has had their bones taken away are growling at the master and the master is twisting their ears.

[mac-er]

And for the love of god, if you are not gay do not to to thegayway.com. :eek: :eek:


EDIT: confusion reins

[iGary]

Hmmmm, good point. But more importantly: you seem ashamed of your wintel box. Why the heck do you only have one paperweight on your desk? :confused: :confused:







:p :D :D :D

The gay computer (the Dell) is on the floor where it belongs. :p

[njmac]

So, I see how it is. It is alright for some people to accuse mods of being homophobic for closing the gay thread, but someone cannot go to that thread? That is the pot calling the kettle black.

YIKES, :o :o ,no, no, no. Emerson's GayWay at austintrash.com/gayway/index.php is a great forum! I plan to check on that thread from time to time, I enjoyed the GayWay here on MR.

TheGayWay.com is a pornographic site.

[rdowns]

The new, improved, unmoderated (?) Super GayWay (http://com1.runboard.com/bthegayway).

I stand corrected, there's a newer new gay way!

The new new, improved, unmoderated (?) Super GayWay (http://austintrash.com/gayway/index.php).

Lordy, I thought gay people had a much better sense of color than that.

[angelneo]

So, I see how it is. It is alright for some people to accuse mods of being homophobic for closing the gay thread, but someone cannot go to that thread? That is the pot calling the kettle black.
Err... I think you have mistaken. thegayway.com is an actual pron site

[whocares]

The gay computer (the Dell) is on the floor where it belongs. :p

It's not gay, it's Dull. :p :p :p




Oh boy!, that was a really bad joke :o :o :o :p

[rdowns]

It's not gay, it's Dull. :p :p :p




Oh boy!, that was a really bad joke :o :o :o :p

OT: How did you do that to your location?

Location: :noit??o?

Well, copy and paste gives me the ?'s.

[janey]

im trying hard not to add more fuel to ...the more subtle flaming, but..this is really annoying me...

To those people suggesting that community discussion posts should not be added to overall post count: YOU MISSED THE FREAKING BOAT

The point is not that someone's crying because he/she just lost like 40000000000 posts - making post count irrelevant in community discussions is a moot point because it was about community than about post count (as if you couldn't spam in the rumor threads already arguing with someone else?). On the other hand, it was about how the whole thing happened - not accusing anyone of being homophobic or anything, but in hindsight there were like one or two things that could have been handled differently by both the members and the moderators.

And to the mods - I'm sorry if I'm making your job harder than it should be adding my 2 cents to the conversation, but having dealt with a huge amount of **** from all sorts of people lately, I feel for ya. Get flamed and blamed and shunned no matter what you do. C'est la vie.

I don't see what the big fuss is though, everyone's over at the GayWay forums. *shrug* :confused:

[whocares]

OT: How did you do that to your location?

Location: :noit??o?

Well, copy and paste gives me the ?'s.

You mean this: Location: :noitаɔo˩? You have to copy the html, not what you see in the browser (just like for the apple symbol).

I basically looked for the unicode characters and converted their value to a value html understands (hex->dec). I'm still looking for inverted a, t and n. I gave up looking for an inverted o :mad: :p :p

[Sun Baked]

EXACTLY. There's really no need to think how to proceed :rolleyes: Keep the 3,000+ chit chat threads down and carry on as 'normal'.If a large chit chat thread is about the only reason you are here these days, maybe some of the people should move onto their own site -- where their singular interests can grow unchecked.

These threads get closed ... Sometime they end cleanly, sometimes not.

Hopefully the mods will give a hint from now on that one of these thread is coming to a close.

But there really isn't a big need to make the warning either, since many of the posters will have seen these threads end time and again.

This thread had ample warning from the outside that it was coming to an end.

If the mods hadn't stepped on a lot of the threads about the "bring it back" it would have bounced back and forth like the Geek thread wasting everyones time.

As for the discussion about negating the post count in the Community Forum, that unfortunately will just toss spam into the rest of the forum.

Remember, we have a couple areas that require a specific post count to play around in.

---

Have fun scem0 ...

Sort of sad that there are soo many hurt feeling about a threads end. :(

[camomac]

goodbye scem0, take care.
i didn't get to interact with you much, but i think it is sad when somebody decides to leave a place they were so comfortable spending time in.

good luck.

[efoto]

After reading through this entire thread, all five pages now, I see many more viewpoints than I previously saw. Many threads 'deserve' to be closed to have equal distribution of the rules, and some have been. The KK 'tar thread was dead, especially since edesign started....well never mind ;), and The Picture Association Game was probably the single largest space-taker on the entire board (maybe not due to linked content vs. attached content)! Repeats were nearly an every-other page experience. Given the life of the game/thread, it wasn't overly surprising that it was time to come to an end.

This community is huge, and great because of it's vast member base and each person's unique input to the site. The problem is, as we gain more and more members, it becomes increasingly hard for MR staff (administration, moderation, whomever runs the show) to keep up with everything they have stated they should. You have to remember this site is run by people in their spare time (no one is professionally running this site are they? :eek: ) and thusly having a strong police force can be hard to find. Do we need more moderators? Has the sheer quantity of members/posts become too much for the current moderation staff? Perhaps, and perhaps not. The point is, we are all guests here and we need to respect what our hosts choose to do.

Some may disagree with the closing of particular threads, I for one am not happy that the KK 'tar thread closed but I see the reasoning behind it. I found it to be very fun and enjoyable to post/joke there, however I realize it spiraled away for its initial purpose and became a breeding ground for nothingness. Some of you are arguing that other threads deserve to be closed/moderated, as GayWay was, to feel that the application of rules is being equally dispersed. Perhaps that is the case. I'm not sure if moderation status is by application or invitation, but offer to help out if you feel so strongly about this. The people keeping this site well oiled can only do so much. As a strong community, we should police ourselves and let other members know when they have gone too far (either off topic or explicit content). We aren't children (most of us :) ), we should take some responsibility into our own hands instead of relying on 'moddy and addy' to take care of us.

scem0 and other members who chose to leave will certainly be missed. Their unique voices and opinions cannot be replaced. I hope scem0 continues to lurk at MR, especially this thread, to see that he was well respected and will be missed. I always appreciated his comments even if I disagreed with them. Part of a strong community is vast diversity, I hope we don't loose our entire homosexual crowd over this. I value their opinions in many different topics of life and on many threads here at MR.

[zap2]

if you ever need another mod well i here


( goes and keeps refeshing his PM box waiting for him Mod invite;) )

[cr2sh]

schem0... don' let the door hit you on your way out.

:rolleyes:

[Abstract]

.....is that we are concerned about an equal application of the rules around MR lately.....

I for one do not think "that" thread was closed or singled out because it was about the "G" word. It was prominent, active, and yes, a bit out of hand at times.....

I guess the way I feel, is that if there can be a Keira Knightly thread where guys can talk about banging women and where one member has nearly 200 posts attributed to it alone, then the very abrupt end to "that" thread wasn't a really fair application of the rules, in my opinion. And that is just my opinion.


As long as they kept talking about banging bony, slightly attractive english girls, then they were on topic. In fact, if they posted photos of other women and commented on whether they were as *cough*"hot" as Keira was, then it was still on topic. However, it did stray, and then closed. That thread was probably as "on topic" as the GayWay thread (on an overall level), and they were BOTH closed.

I don't think that's being unfair.

When you start talking about learning chinese in a "Gay" thread, then yeah, it's time to close up shop.

[Abstract]

This has bothered me as well. Would it not follow that any mention of the word "gay" in a thread at this point will be looked at as attempt to bring the Gayway back? Wouldn't that thread then get shut down? Seems to me, given the situation, that would be the case. So, in a sense, any discussion of the subject would seem to be off-limits at this point, which for me causes concern and a certain amount of disappointment.

I wish the GayWay thread wasn't closed down, as general off-topic banter in long threads is expected, and is ok with me.

However, I think you're acting like a drama-queen, and WinterMute is definitely right. That's just stirring up isht when it isn't true. Post a gay related thread and don't treat it like an instant messaging thread for homosexuals, and surely it won't be closed down.

"Oh, but now we can't post the word "Gay" because an admittedly random, and off-topic thread was closed......" Bah!!!!

[leekohler]

I wish the GayWay thread wasn't closed down, as general off-topic banter in long threads is expected, and is ok with me.

However, I think you're acting like a drama-queen, and WinterMute is definitely right. That's just stirring up isht when it isn't true. Post a gay related thread and don't treat it like an instant messaging thread for homosexuals, and surely it won't be closed down.

"Oh, but now we can't post the word "Gay" because an admittedly random, and off-topic thread was closed......" Bah!!!!

Please read the rest of the thread. :)

[iGary]

*snore*

[freeny]

Jesus! GOODBYE ALREADY!!! 171 freekin posts for a goodbye?

[Johnny Rico]

At least now scem0 won't be posting unwarranted straightedge comments on threads about smoking pot and drinking booze. Good riddance.

[edesignuk]

I think we are probably done here now. Hope the closure of this doesn't ruffle any feathers, but it's time to move on. I think everyone that wanted to say something has done so by now.