What is Happening to the Friendship and Friendly Discussions?

[admin]

@CortezAttic - you're freakin' hilarious!
@Nsfisher - thanks for starting what turned out to be a nice thread.
@HerbineDave - It's a challenge trying to keep the right level of moderation. We frequently hear that other forums are "over-moderated", and we are not, and that is one of the reasons people like this forum better. However, in trying to not be heavy handed with the moderation, sometimes threads may go further than they would otherwise.
I have been involved in different Internet-based businesses and forums since 2001. In my 11-years of experience, and being either a moderator, admin, and / or owner of several different forums, it's interesting that I have always received the same compliments on every one of them. I am always told, when comparing the forum I maintain to others in the same area of interest -
"This is the friendliest and most fun forum of all."
I don't mean to be self-congratulatory, but I think it is an interesting observation.
It does get more challenging as the forums get bigger, but if most of us can remember that this is supposed to be "the friendliest and most fun forum of all", then it will hopefully stay that way.

 

[jonahtke]

I have felt welcome here since my very first post. I think a great part of what has really sparked my drive to try new tobacco's and new pipes, has been the pleasure of sharing my experiences with all of you. Otherwise it is entirely possible that I'd have grabbed a bag of drug store blend, and never tried anything new.
Pipe smoking has become a social experience for me (even though I frequently smoke alone). Assuming that other pipe smokers are like me, they do it because they want to be different and more distinguished than the average man. In that pursuit, they also make other efforts to live up to the image of the gentlemanly pipe smoker. Which usually leaves you with the kind of men (and women)that I've met here. You are all gentlemen and scholars and it is my profound honor to be included among your ranks.

 

[tiltjlp]

The problem with this and every other forum of any kind is the same. A few people decide they are self-important, several need to feed their egos, and then there are always a few who simply like to stir up trouble. When any of these sorts feel they aren't being paid enough attention, they throw a fit, stomp their feet, and act like fools, in hopes of getting noticed. If they are noticed, they settle down, if not, they either leave in a snit or end up banned. I've been on the Internet for roughly 20 years, and it's always been that way.

 

[markw4mms]

I've been here at PM for almost a year now, and I have to agree with what has been said so far about this forum generally a very friendly place. I don't remember ever having a problem with anyone here.

 

[papipeguy]

Here in good ole Pennsylvania we follow the Amish rule of "shunning" folks who are genrally disagreeable. I simply don't get involved in volitile discussions. I've become a blend of my north Jersey & Pennsyvania living experiences. If someone is a dick the choices are whack 'em or shun 'em. One is fun and one is civil.

 

[jrtaster]

personally i find myself here more often than several other sites and i suppose it's because it's neither over- or under-moderated. posters tend to be knowledgeable as well as civil. i have initiated few threads but the respondents have universally been helpful,polite, and tolerant of my inexperience/ignorance and the validity of other respondents' suggestions.

i watched with sadness a formerly vivacious and active site rapidly degenerate into a one-man show....an uber moderator who so insulted and challenged posters that fewer and fewer people seemed willing to face his nearly belligerent attitude. and a shame because the moderator of the repair and maintenance forum was/is really expert and helpful. now hardly anyone seems to post there nowadays.

i was "banned" from a single "group" within another pipesmoking website; i was never told the reason or the supposed offense i committed despite several p.m.'s to the group's moderator (tho he bashed me publicly in the forum), so perhaps i unintentionally commited some infraction for which i probably would have apologized if given the opportunity. hard to believe, however, that my conduct within one group resulted in being banned while i had zero problems in several other groups on the same forum. to me the moderator used/uses poor judgement

i guess my point is moderators operating within our community are key to communicating, promoting and maintaining

"the soul and spirit" of our group. newcomers probably rarely read the "stickys" designed to ease their way onto the forum and unless they've lurked here a while before posting, the subtleties of what makes pipes magazine what it is may escape them. gentle nudges from a moderator may facilitate their integration into the community. some will never quite grasp the essence of what we're about; my guess is that most of those will probably fade away. but all of us can help by monitoring our own posts, both in terms of substance and tone. setting a good example may be the best educator of all.

a very wordy response, but felt compelled to offer my thoughts with the hope that something therein may strike home! thanks for listening....

jr/john

 

[tobakenist]

I blame the Americans, us English are a very friendly lot :nana: :puffpipe:

 

[matchstickman]

I think we should have a stickie like: Why I've had it "up to here", and I'm gone for good!

I was gonna be the candidate for June 2012, but Kevin reminded me that I still had the blog on this site, so it looks like I'm stuck here :mrgreen:

 

[crpntr1]

As soon as I unload sell the last of my inventory I'm outta here!

no ones quit this month...just sayin :nana:

 

[tbradsim1]

I"ll tell you what kind of people we have on this site. A while back I told people how I was helping an old man to start the pipe, he had no money, kind man, a gentleman on this site mailers good quantity of tobacco to my house for this man, I will not mention his name he might not want that, but I believe that is the kind of people we have on this site. You will always have misfits, (nice word) but by in large we have a good community

 

[irishsmoker]

Well I find it to be a friendly atmosphere here! When my entire collection was stolen everyone pitched in to help me restart!

 

[waznyf]

I've noticed this with one of my more recent threads in regards to how long we have to stock up.

I don't understand why a community with a common interest is having so many conflicts. How can we expect to ever get past societies prejudices against smoking, when we have conflict amongst our own people? I can only hope that it will pass with time. I have no issue with anyone on this forum, and I will not let this anger overcome me.

Hope you can all say the same!

 

[cortezattic]

jrtaster said

moderators ... are key to ..."the soul and spirit" of our group.

One of ours wears a chicken hat

Uh, OK, I can see that. :rofl:

 

[nsfisher]

@waznyf
It's all good! I have aquired several awsome pipes here in the last several months, and recieved much info on good baccy's as well. That's what it's for mate. Just think, without this site, why, I may have saved myself about $1000.00. hahahahah

 

[baronsamedi]

All mods should be issued a chicken hat and required to wear it in their avatar.

 

[bentmike]

I'll second the chicken hat motion.

 

[irishsmoker]

Here here! Aye to the chicken hats!

 

[waznyf]

Aye to the chicken hat! Can't say I'd rock one very well but others might.

In case my last post was misinterpreted, I'd like to say that this forum has become a second home for me. With most of my friends left behind along with my past, I honestly don't spend too much time with people so I really do look forward to seeing everyone's posts here. It's a goofy bunch and I feel right at home when I log on!

Can't say enough good things about all of you!

Although there have been some conflicts recently, I don't think anyone should be held liable for starting anything. Everyone is subject to his or her own opinion and sometimes when opinions clash there is friction. We just need to be able to keep it civil and not let it become a heated argument.

 

[jwp159]

I have been around here since 2010 and it always has been a great and friendly forum. Once in a while something or someone would get heated but it would pass quickly. The occasional trouble maker would wonder in but they never stay long. The Mod's here have done a great job. It's still the best and friendliest place on the net to hang out and puff a few bowls. ::

 

[cajunguy]

I find that this forum is very friendly. I do notice some of the more controversial conversations, but I tend to steer clear of those. The reason is this: I'm here to have fun, post amongst my pipe smoking peers, crack a few jokes, and increase my knowledge. If I really wanted to get into an argument, there are more appropriate places for me to go find one. And, even then, I believe that intense discussions should be conducted in a gentlemanly and considerate manner.
On many of the "gamer" message forums, they have a saying: "Don't feed the trolls," with "troll" defined as someone looking for an argument. Essentially, the best way to kill those types of discussions is to completely ignore them.