Halx

My fellow TFPers, these days don't seem so exciting as they used to. It's time for a little change. We need to raise our standards and expectations.

It is your job as a devoted TFPer to make sure that you are getting the right experience from the board. I'm instructing you now to do the following to improve your experience here:

• Welcome newbies to the board and be informative when you speak with them. Tell them the rules. Teach them how to use features. Send them kind private messages when they mess up.
• While humor is one of the endearing qualities of the TFP, make sure your posts have substance before popping in with a whitty quip.
• When you post an article, make sure you a) post a link to the article, b) quote either all or just a section of the article in your post, and c) add your opinion to the post.
• Post topics that can be discussed. Top 5 lists, which is better, what's your favorite ...whatever, are NOT discussion topics. All they do it let people add one to their post count by piping in with a 2 word post.
• Come into the chat once in a while. Click on the chat button at the top of the page and join the peeps who hang out all day. You get to know them a lot better.
• Use the private message system to network with the TFPers whose posts you enjoy. Nothing is better than waking up one morning, checking the TFP and seeing that your work is appreciated.
• Reduce your criticism. Critics are unproductive in this community. Lead by example.
• INVITE people to the TFP. Get people interested and give them the address. Sure, you may post some "private" stuff here, but we cannot progress if we cannot push aside the stigmas of the modern society. Trust me here, it's not a big deal.

With that said, I urge you all to share YOUR impressions of the site at this time. Let me know what youre concerns are and what we can do to make the TFP a better place.

__________________
You have found this post informative.
-The Administrator
[Don't Feed The Animals]

Leviathan[NCV]

Well said Hal.

Nimbletoe

This is definitley the best message board I'VE come across on the internet. I'm glad that I was pointed here, and will continue to do so for other friends. This is a really great community, and the small things Hal mentioned can make it even better.

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Go Pistons!

DEI37

For me, this is a place to relieve the tension of the day, and see what you people have done. I agree on the bit about two word posts, and I'm guilty of it, but am trying to post quality over quantity as of late. Some things only warrant a word or two, primarily in the Humour and Titty Boards. But even there, replying with another joke, or telling us what you want to do to the hottie on the screen would be fine.

Thanks for giving a place like this...it's truly one of a kind.

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Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

Nisses

so far most people that get to a new article that is linked and not posted take care of that themselves, or so I've noticed.

I always try to be fair when giving criticism. Dunno if I succeed in it, hope I do.

As for bringing people to the TFP, so far I've gotten a couple of people here, and I generally don't mind them reading what I post here. They are friends, and read alot of disturbing things on the web, doesn't matter if I make the post or not

As far as impressions: I would have to say you are somewhat reaching your limit of what you can do to make it a better place man. It's a tight ship overall. Good organisation, an active team of mods and most of the time a mature crowd of boardees/tiltees/whatever that post around here.

Plus there is a plethora (I learned a new word today ) of fora (and now I'm even rhyming ) for every possible subject. I think the way you can make this a better place it perhaps by the hardest way of all: keeping it up the way it is at the moment.

Thank you to you, all the admins and all the mods.

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Moderation should be moderately moderated.

Church

Yeah, I've been to many forums over my years on the net, but this one has the most to offer. Firstly, there's plenty of people here to talk to, there is a set of ENFORCED rules, which I like, and there are plenty of forums to choose from. Great community, and great post Halx. I'll take your suggestions to heart.

SaltPork

The TFP is one of the best forums on the net. There is organized chaos and a when we do run afoul, and I think most of us have at one time or another, the mods have, mostly gently, reeled us in with a polite, "Cut the crap".

I have to say the best thing I ever did is to get addicted to the IRC channel. It gives those that are on during the day a chance to hear me bitch about the smoking lady and talk me in off the ledge, and at night it's a wonderful distraction from the real work I didn't get done from earlier in the day when I was IRC at work

Thanks, Hal for making and maintaining such a great forum and thanks to all the mods for all you do, both on TFP and #tfp.

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It was like that when I got here....I swear.

oberon

While I agree about the post size, I think that's treading a bit on thin ice.

Consider: Do we want to encourage TFPers to post things that don't necessarily encourage discussion, but DO brighten their day? If not, why not?

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"There are finer fish in the sea than have ever been caught." -- Irish proverb

World's King

Um...

*takes what Hal said to heart*

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heavy is the head that wears the crown

Fearless_Hyena

Well said. One thing I miss that I think might improve the overall experience and help us members to find the popular, quality posts, is the rating system for all posts, including discussion posts. Any chance we could bring that back?

battlemouth

will do, i love sharing the tfp with my friends

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like a bullet through a flock of doves

sexymama

Just invited a new friend to tfp tonight. It felt risky as I have shared more openly here then I do other places; but it also felt right. I hope we see her on soon!

And thanks for a great board, Hal!

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If you can go deeply into lovemaking, the ego disappears. That is the beauty of lovemaking, that it is another source of a glimpse of god

It's not about being perfect; it's about developing some skill at managing imperfection.

thenewguy

MY impression is that many of YOU (Hal, mods, et. al.) work many hours to keep this site running, and running well I might add. I never leave my time lurking (and occasionally posting) without the feeling that I got a little more than I gave.

That's why I DONATE. Not alot, and not very often, but more than I give to any other site on the net (seriously). I would encourage everyone who reads this to stop now and donate. [Maybe someone who is smarter than I will post a quick link to the thread that tells us how to do that.]

All that blah blah above comes as a long, winding way to say THANKS! Your work is appreciated and enjoyed.

WhoaitsZ

Cool. I am glad you posted this. It will take some effort to not post a silly comment here and there, though it will be an easy adjustment. For my sake, and some others who have intense stress, could we offer some leeway to those who, frankly, are funny but not simply fuckin annoying?

I for one am thrilled. My feelings here have been vast and up and crazy like for two months. The last two weeks has proven the quality and worthiness of the site.

As far as chat, heh, how often am I not in it?

I help people all the time. I enjoy it.

Minx

I seem to be echoing everyone's opinion when I agree that this is a very well-run site and has slowly become a little part of my life that I look forward to. The members here, for the most part, are good people with intelligent comments. I'm sure the mods work their asses off to keep TFP running so smoothly and to keep everyone in line! I, for one, really appreciate that as there are so many other forums out there that don't seem to have any respect for their fellow members which is a shame.
I agree whole-heartedly that some people should tone down a little of the critism you see here. But, sometimes an item or entry is put up just to make you smile...not necessarily to start a big discussion over it. I would hate to see some of those "infamous feel good" threads die on the vine.
Overall this is a really wonderful place. I keep meaning to poke into chat once in a while...maybe that will be my new mission in life!
Keep up the wonderful work!

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You've been a naughty boy....go to my room!

G_Whiz

I have to say that my usage of TFP has grown slowly over time. I first came here because of a link to the Titty Board (surprise, surprise). I soon started branching out and investigating the other Fora.

I have encouraged others to join whenever I can. I have family members and friends who are already members. But we all use TFP differently.

Over time my usage of TFP has been changing. As I feel "safer" here, I have revealed more of myself and participated more. I still spend a lot of my time in the Nonsense Forum. So, I would hate to see the "feel good threads" go away completely. Some of them don't belong in Nonsense, but they aren't big discussion items. I don't really have a suggestion for how to solve this problem, but I will try to be more conscious of what I post and its value to the community.

Since I have been here, I have made a couple of mistakes. The mods let me know and I have not repeated those mistakes. While I have not always agreed with some members, including some mods, I have always felt that they respected my position. I had made a friend here who was subsequently banned for not being willing to follow the rules here. But, I have to say that while I miss the friend, I am not willing to give up this community.

What we have here on TFP is unique. Halx and the mods do a lot of work to make sure that it maintains its value for all of us. I want to thank them for that.

Now, I post in different Fora, I have a journal and a webcam. So I need to start using chat more. I can only use MIRC from home, so I'll have to use the chat button when things are quiet at work.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings.

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If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?

absorbentishe

Nicely said Halx!

I've been to only a few "communities" like this, and by far TFP is head and shoulders above the rest, in quality, organization, and members. While at work, I hang out and check new posts all day, but I can't chat due to the firewall, but would love to. I've certainly found a place on the net I love to go and hang. Thanks for doing what your doing (Halx and all the mods) to keep this place going, and as clean as it is.

SiN

thanks for the post Hal

good stuff/info/goals/etc....

...and i will do my best to do my part.

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Averett

Thanks again Hal


I belong to a few forums and this has been the best by far. There are so many different areas of discussion to get into. I've honestly learned things since I've started posting here.

I've been into the chat a few times but I'm just a bit wary of it. I can easily spend far too much time there and neglect other things that I should be doing.

I think the mods do a great job. I've made mistakes here and there and they have been good enough to send me a PM and let me know. Some forums would kick you out instantly. I'm glad it's not like that here

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Absence is to love what wind is to fire. It extinguishes the small, it enkindles the great.

legolas

I have been to chat quite a few times but whenever I go there, no one is talking. When I try to talk or bring something up nothing would happen still. After a few times of this I just gave up.

__________________
"To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems."

numist

legolas - a lot of it has to do with when.

Right now the IRC channel is hopping. Im logged on 24 hrs a day, and Im actually watching the chat room about 6 hours of the day, + or - depending if I have work or not.

Just pop in and send a greeting, if you dont get a reply in 5 minutes, then try again in an hour. It just depends on when you try in. 5am in any time zone usually does not work :P

Dont give up!

Averett is right too - mods here do their job, and do it right, I owe my presence here to that too.

Dano069

I've belonged to several forums over the years. This is, by far, the best. From helping newbies become acquainted to slowly allowing access to other parts of the site, it's been a great experience. I'll try to pop into chat now and then, but, since I'm doing this at work most of the time, the interruptions do me in. Thanks again for a great place to play.

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I may look attentive, but I'm taking peeks down your blouse faster than the human eye can follow.

laconic1

As far as chat goes, I've lurked in there a few times, still getting comfortable with it. It took me a long time to become a regular poster here, and it'll take me a while to do chat. It just depends on when you're there and what they are talking about. Last night it was dead for the first 20 minutes I was there, then it was going crazy for an hour and a half.

Mango

I don't mean to criticize but this community is unproductive. If it weren't here I'd get more work done.

Mad_Gecko

Worried about the "instructing" comment.

I originally came here for the boobies, still do for that matter. I'm happy to make this a warm fuzzy place for people (which is why I now stay away from the Politics board).

However it scared me to see HALX posting such rhetoric. What brought you to such a post. I have been off-board for a little while and may have missed some of the goings on. Personally I don't want to be told what to do, but would hope most people have sense enough to do the right thing. (Yes, Naivety is one of my strong points).

The MODS aren't perfect, but they are good. This board isn't perfect but it's bloody good. We aren't perfect, but some of us are good. What happened to being good, if OK isn't enough where do we stop?

Guidelines are appreciated, but if I wanted rules I would go to school.

IMHO

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[color=bright blue]W[/color]e Stick To Glass

"If three of us travel together, I shall find two teachers."
Confucious

Halx

Gecko, are my instructions too much to ask of someone?

I feel that if I discussed this with you, it would come down to semantics. The point is this: Don't be the last in line when it comes to "Who is helping the community and who is not." As thenewguy pointed out, when you visit the TFP, you're benefiting from the hours of work that hundreds of people put into this site. Am I out of line by suggesting that any visitor may OWE a little something (be it time, be it kindness, be it support, be it money) to the community?

This is my call to all of you to make this a better place, not just accept it for "Ok" or "Good" or even "Great." If you're not into progression, then read the tag line. That's what we're all about. Evolution. Evolving into something better.

__________________
You have found this post informative.
-The Administrator
[Don't Feed The Animals]

Mad_Gecko

HALX , Any instruction from a "higher" authority can be misconstrued. I agree that this would probably boil down to an argument in interpretation. I also hope that I will never "be last in line" for anything. In fact, I know I will never miss out on anything I need!

My question was. How did this post come to be? As I understood it (my own misinterpretation), this was a forum for the freedom (and evolution) of expression. It seems as though a need has arisen for this post and these guidelines. I would like to know why, and it could be because of my ignorance.


EDIT: I will always play Devil's advocate.

Dbl EDIT: Please don't think just because I'm reacting to this one post, I don't like this board. I enjoy this community and do feel an obligation to participate and follow most of what HALX has laid out. I am grateful that there is a place I can say my mind and not become either flambe or an outcast.

I thank all members who have made this an enjoyable place to be. I just had some ?'s regarding the topic.

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[color=bright blue]W[/color]e Stick To Glass

"If three of us travel together, I shall find two teachers."
Confucious

Cycler

Gotta get back in the groove been out for awhile. Good to see the TFP still going strong.

__________________
"I'm not even supposed to be here today."

"I assure you we're open."

spectre

I'll just add my experience to what Hal has stated. I started off as a normal member here like everyone else. I lurked for a week or two, because I wasn't sure what the attitude toward newbies would be (the community was much smaller then). I started posting because I felt that I needed to give something back since I was taking from the board without really doing anything to give back. After a while, I donated because I still felt like it wasn't enough. I applied to be a mod because I was spending a lot of time here and I felt that I had to give something back. I'm an admin now, and I'm still doing all that I can to try and give back at least a little of what I've been given by the community. I don't expect everyone else to go to that extreme, but I just want to at least try to give back some of what I've received from this place.

Some see the rules, and think they are authoritarian controls. I see them and see Hal trying to bring new people closer into the community. Top five lists can't tell much about a person. Getting them to state their thoughts, ideals, and how they justify them is what gives insight into the members. His wanting to reduce negativity will only help to strengthen the community. And I've never really understood why people feel the need to be negative in some threads anyway. It's kind of sad to see people who have to bring negativity into threads that were created for the sole purpose of cheering others up.

Okay, I think I'm done rambling........for now.

__________________
"Fuck these chains
No goddamn slave
I will be different" ~ Machine Head

oberon

Well, that's just fine and dandy. I don't mind being ignored when trying to discuss something. Whatever...

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"There are finer fish in the sea than have ever been caught." -- Irish proverb

KeyserSoze

I will say this is by FAR the best forum on the web that I have ever come across

I have not been around much as of late due to work and more work


HALX what happend to our TFP Southern California get together
???

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THERE IS NO KEYSER SOZE!!

vermin

If you think before you hit the submit button, if you put a little effort into your thread starter, there's no reason you can't do both.

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If puns were sausages, this would be the wurst.

Halx

I browse the forum every day. I get a feel for how it's going. It's my job to interject when things are going downhill. If you would rather things be left alone, try an unmoderated board. I, however, have been doing this from day 1 of the TFP and I rather like what has come from all this work.

Normality (refer to: Law of Averages) seems to be a lax attitude and non-sensical posts littering forums. I am not content with normality. I have a higher standard for the TFP.

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You have found this post informative.
-The Administrator
[Don't Feed The Animals]

petergriffin24

well put I shall do my best to be a better board member

rockogre

Work has been interefering with my perusal of the TFP lately. Checking in has been a daily ritual for me as I have a much faster connection at work than at home and I sure miss it when I have to be gone.

What Halx is asking seems to me like what should be done all the time and is nothing extra. If you want to be part of the community then you have to participate.

I have found, that with so many subject broken out of "General Discussion", that I don't seem to participate as much as I did. I don't read all the topics because I don't have the time. I always scanned the "General" board and responded to things I found interesting. I usually only have time for the General, Members, Nonsense, and Humor boards so I don't see as much as I used to.

I enjoy the "structured feeling" of the TFP in that sometimes a little discipline can make for a better experience for all concerned. This is the only site on the internet that I return to with any frequency and is a very enjoyable place to hang.

__________________
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you,
Jesus Christ and the American G. I.
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom

~springrain

I whole heartedly agree. I've belonged to a number of message boards over the years, and imo, the TFP is by far the best. It is well moderated, the community is active, most members seem very sincere and are open to thoughtful discussion.

I also very much like the freedom of expression and the ability that so many have to accept people for who they are... diferences and all. This is a very diverse group, and except for the occasional "spat", I think the community does an awesome job of supporting and respecting one another.

RT complications have made me a very unactive member over the last couple of months... but I also think that occasional "rises & lulls" among members are to be expected. For many of us with children, hectic careers, etc. etc. time management can be an issue, and i personally feel that family should always come first.

That said, when we are able to contribute... we should -- regulary, whole heartedly, and with a sincere committment to support the community and everything that makes the TFP so great.

Hanxter

i had a job for 13 years that paid me $48K + a year. i processed all change paper that entered my department and assessed the priority of the change by need. to assist me in that i had 15 others help in the evaluation of each change. my department head gave me carte blanche when it came to the resolutions.

once the change was assessed it would be handed off to the proper division for resolution. following that, my group would review the revision for fit, form & function. it had to be coordinated with the various trades involved in the process.

having had a meeting with the other disciplines one day, i found that the authority vested in me was of little matter. it occurred to me that my department head had no intention of letting the program i was in charge of succeed.

i was fired for telling him, "i get more support from a jock strap than i do from you!"

i own my own business now and am entirely responsible for it's successes and failures. i have made both.

however, in this community with 29,000 + members all looking for something to relieve themselves of the mundane, i feel some sort of structure should be followed.

we, the ad's and mod's, spend countless hours striving to keep the boards in flow, not ebb. trying to keep threads on topic, moving threads to the proper forums, trying to police the needy and constantly brainstorming to find new interests is a migraine in the waiting.

what i feel Hal sees in this is growth. not just an evolution but an intelligent progression. the nonsense board is just that - billege. but it does have it's place. if it's posted in GD or politics it doesn't bring out provoking thought.

do you want stew for dinner or chateau briand?

WhoaitsZ

i am so glad to see GD getting rid of all the fucking 'how often do you poop?' or twenty thousand other stupid or silly threads here. it got to the point where i only visited GD every once in awhile a few weeks ago.

some things i think some people need to remember and i do not recall being brought up yet (if it was, i apologize):

actually the first thing has been said. there are a lot of people with full time jobs, proffesional students, owners of businessess, hell Art works around the clock!, and some of the modds/admins are married, too.

they go way the fuck out of their way to make most of us happy. they would pacify all of us if possible.

don't get me wrong; i'm not saying they are saints by any means. they fuck up like i and you do. i rarely agree with Halx on boards but we respect each others' opinions and we have a place where we can do just that: discuss with tolerable people.

if the guys who bust their ass everyday to do you a service for free and you want to have serious complaints.. pathetic.

i am always raising issues i see as wrong, but i do know that hey I am a guest in a house made for me. i can show them a mistake and they may fix it. if not, it is their place first and i think if we ever start to hate an admin or what not to such a severe degree i suggest you walk away.

nobody with a tiny shred of respect can make serious complaints against people who baby them unless you saw something downright evil happen. even after that you have to remember.... this service is hard and costly to provide. they do it for free. how much more ass kissing do you expect?

TFP has given me an emotional roller coaster ride to the highest degree. i fucking love it right now.

second: TFP is no longer, if it ever was (ahemyeahright) a site for porn. sure, you can get it, but TFP is now a huge unclosed circle of both friends and enemies who work together to offer a place for us outcasts or debators or what not to go, relax, have fun and maybe debate.

porn? sure. personally i rather have people with manners and brains.

ARTelevision

WhoaitsZ, that is a moving testimonial. It comes straight from your heart, I know. That's where it's at. Real and meaningful things aren't just about head trips - they are about human things. And humans are about Community. That's where we live. These input fields we type into are connected to our lives. You can feel that here.

This is a milestone of a thread. Thanks, Hal, for putting it out there...

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create evolution

SaltPork

I'm right with you on that one Z.

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It was like that when I got here....I swear.