Your Thought/Replies Welcome!

[_Res Ipsa]

In my opinion, the trailer park has always had a fairly harsh culture. Back in the good old days, you could see it in the critics and mopologists going at it hammer and tongs. Over time, the level of harshness ebbs and flows, depending on who is actively posting, the mood of those posting, events occurring in and around the LDS church, and the general political zeitgeist. Given the current dearth of aggressive defenders of the faith, I think some of that culture has focussed more on political rather than religious divides. Given the current political climate, that's not surprising.

When I look back on exchanges with folks like Faqs or Tobin, it's hard for me to say that the current environment is more toxic today than before. If it is, I'd attribute it to the normal swings of mood over time, combined events like the Florida school shooting that has everyone's nerves a little raw.

Ceeboo, if you're concerned that you see some of the toxicity bleeding into your own posts, I can identify. I've taken several posting breaks after reading something I've posted and saying "Why the hell am I behaving like this. This isn't me." If you're feeling like that, just take a few days off. Get out, smell the flowers, go bowling, read a good book, do something nice for widows and orphans.... Once you're feeling like yourself again, come on back. I like having you here.

[_Ceeboo]

in my opinion, this particular person consistently puts their depth of wisdom on display here. Generally speaking, I think that this is a fairly rare quality and I personally think it's extremely undervalued by many of us who participate in these discussion board communities - this community being no exception.

You think it's rare that people put their depth of wisdom on display here?

I call complete and utter B.S. on that.

Yeah - I don't blame you. I wrote it (and just read it again) and it doesn't make much sense to me either.
Hmph.

[_Res Ipsa]

Yeah - I don't blame you. I wrote it (and just read it again) and it doesn't make much sense to me either.
Hmph.

Welcome to my world.

[_Ceeboo]

I think Ceeboo complaining about shallowness is absurd.

- Doc

I think about 30% of what you write on this board is absurd - the other 70% is a mixed bag with some of it being brilliant.

[_Ceeboo]

I've also been experimenting with my own personal ignore function a little. The opening post seems determined to show he can do that by commenting on everyone's contributions but Kevin Graham's, but I thought Kevin Graham added some good points, so I will risk the opening post's wrath and quote one sentence.

Ahh, so that's why Ceeboo hasn't responded to my post that exposes the pretense of this thread. After taking his cheap shot at me late last night in the thread about Dan, he decided to put me on ignore, and then early this morning he started this thread which is nothing more than a veiled attempt to stick it to me again. So not only is he a hypocrite, but also a coward. If you want to ignore people that's perfectly fine, but leave them the hell alone when you do.

I don't have you on ignore, Kevin. I don't have anyone on ignore - never have.

[Guest]

My view is that thread content and subjects can and will select for more interesting threads versus whatever one wants to call those they don't find interesting or valuable. Sometimes, maybe often, they include strong and opposed opinions but more likely as not the interactions will seem beneficial to those reading them or participating on the fringes when the subject is interesting and the participants are providing content that seems to be adding value to the discussion. Threads where the topic is about people, the board, something stupid someone did somewhere else, or about a certain BYU professor may jump quickly to the top with much more participation and a lot of vitriol as well, but I think that is because it's easy to participate in those thread rather than one where it's not easy to offer something that takes thought and time.

To be honest, I haven't thought the board was becoming more toxic so much as I have thought the number of really engaging threads has been down while the number of subjects where one simple runs into ridiculous non-discussion "discussions" is up. I don't come here because it's a nice place to play patty cakes and I think any board that is trying to be that would suck. Suck hard. I not only don't mind some heat in a discussion but so long as it's fueled by intelligent and informative positions I think some heat is necessary to really engage subjects in ways that burn off the B.S. in order to get into the subject matter in a way that I learn from. I also am fully aware of contributing to back-and-forths that probably make people uncomfortable and there are a few I've regretted. But really? Not many. There's a certain air of disrespect that can accompany what others might see as being a nice person by not engaging. Personally, I've tried to work on not posting when I really don't have anything to add, to ask or answer.

I go back to the idea that if someone doesn't like the direction the board is going the best response is to add a quality post, ask a sincere question and then engage the answer with substance, show a willingness to learn something new. Adding quality content is kinda the point of a message board. And it also takes realizing we won't all agree on what is quality content.

[_Ceeboo]

Ceeboo, if you're concerned that you see some of the toxicity bleeding into your own posts

Yes, I do see that and it does concern me. While I may not have done the best job in expressing myself, this is one of the reasons I wrote the thread and asked for the thoughts of others.

I've taken several posting breaks after reading something I've posted and saying "Why the hell am I behaving like this. This isn't me."

I can relate.

by the way - Thanks for the other portion of your post, I thought it was interesting.

[_Bach]

You think it's rare that people put their depth of wisdom on display here?

I call complete and utter B.S. on that.

Shades, can’t tell you how appropriate and telling your response is -FINALLY!

Truth is, I completely agree with you on this one. It’s not a rare demonstration of wisdom here! It’s their best every day, in and out. It’s all they have to offer, and that’s what makes this place so sad.

You mocked me for so long in my attempt to bring to your attention the obvious lacking attribute of this board, that everyone has seen here for too long but, other than me, no one wanted to admit nor address. And it really is a cancer. How long have I suggested you need to invest in major intellectual cap ex program?

All you have here are posters who either have an education with no motivation, or a bunch of posters with no education but a ton “feel sorry for me” self depravation! There is no entrepreneurial spirit here, there is even less “get off my ass and do something” spirit here. The only spirit here is to criticize those that do.

Let’s face it, all you really got here are those that rise in the morning, miserable about their own lives and spend 24/7 on their butt behind a computer screen and pontificate their expertise and education from an I-Phone.

Seriously, when was the last time anyone here ever shared their entrepreneurial experiences of creating opportunities, jobs and lives for others, commerce and what they’ve done to make other lives better?

Instead, virtually all here just want to post about who’s made there life worse and why. Not the type of American that make any life better.

But hey, some folks just love the VIP seats at pitty parties!

[_Dr. Shades]

How long have I suggested you need to invest in major intellectual cap ex program?

A long time. But you still haven't explained what the Hell an "intellectual cap ex program" is, major or otherwise.

All you have here are posters who either have an education with no motivation, or a bunch of posters with no education but a ton “feel sorry for me” self depravation! There is no entrepreneurial spirit here, there is even less “get off my ass and do something” spirit here. The only spirit here is to criticize those that do.

And I suppose you're the sole exception to that, right?

Let’s face it, all you really got here are those that rise in the morning, miserable about their own lives and spend 24/7 on their butt behind a computer screen and pontificate their expertise and education from an I-Phone.

Unlike you, of course.

Seriously, when was the last time anyone here ever shared their entrepreneurial experiences of creating opportunities, jobs and lives for others, commerce and what they’ve done to make other lives better?

Probably the same time you did it. . . whenever that was.

Instead, virtually all here just want to post about who’s made there life worse and why. Not the type of American that make any life better.

But hey, some folks just love the VIP seats at pitty parties!

Like the person who started this thread?

[_Bach]

A long time. But you still haven't explained what the Hell an "intellectual cap ex program" is, major or otherwise

You win Shades. You may well be the only entrepreneur on this board (in a weird way). Admitting it or not!
Don’t have time (nor desire) to do the cut and paste thing on your response. But I understand why you had to go through the effort to stand up. I get it.