The writing is on the wall...

[graylocks]

Black wrote:
[quote=graylocks]
jimmypoo made an alternate forum too but maybe that was Tempe's also. i can't remember the name.

Jimmypoo made this forum.
well, yeah, but there was another place he set up also. i seem recall the design theme was blue. maybe.

[RgrF]

davester wrote:
[quote=Black]
If a forum like this was set up on a remote site, would you folks register and frequent it?
I can't help but think of the other two phorums that were set up around big exodus time.

There were two? I only knew about AppleSwitcher.
As I recall there were three attempts to deliver a DM alternative. Two were non-commercial and then this. AppleSwitcher prevailed due to Matt's perseverance, the other (I'd have to fire up the old G3 to recall the site name now) never really got off the ground.

MR absorbed most of the DM refugees while AppleSwitcher assumed the burden of the really political and/or deranged amongst us. Both have been moribund when it comes to new users and will probably remain so.

Most of the original impetus to join a Mac specific forum disappeared when Apple went Intel, that's not likely to return. The other impetus, being a Machead in a windows world evaporated with the ascension of Apple itself. We are no longer a besieged minority.

[Mac-A-Matic]

Black wrote:
The forum ownership very likely sympathizes with the right wing foot soldiers who have been intent on making it go away, so they win.

That's a very paranoid and narrow-minded point of view. Maybe you're seeing Black Helicopters out your window?

[RgrF]

Mac-A-Matic wrote:
[quote=Black]
The forum ownership very likely sympathizes with the right wing foot soldiers who have been intent on making it go away, so they win.

That's a very paranoid and narrow-minded point of view. Maybe you're seeing Black Helicopters out your window?
This exchange is like stumbling into an alternate universe.

[max]

The parallel universe starts with Howard's fantasy and as an attempt to divert any attention from where that problem actually originated.....

Black wrote:
The forum ownership very likely sympathizes with the right wing foot soldiers who have been intent on making it go away, so they win.

[Ted King]

Believe it or not I don't like confrontation most of the time. That kept me from coming to this side for some time. But by the later Bush II presidency I was so frustrated that I felt a strong need to vent and there seemed to be a fair number of like-minded people here I could share my frustration with. But I have always tried to carefully consider the points made by people I may not agree with and I have learned quite a few things I wouldn't have if I hadn't tried. It's true that I haven't changed my positions much (because I'm usually right, of course, just like everybody else ), but it's still good, I think, to get a better understanding of those with whom I may disagree.

After a while, I realized that the main thing I was getting out of the forum other than a place to vent is that it provides an opportunity for me to help keep my critical thinking skills in some areas (what little skills of those I have) tuned up. That's why I tend to go off on riffs that are too long and/or involved for many people here - it's a way to exercise my brain. I get that those riffs bug some people and that is regrettable but then it should be easy enough to just ignore me if I bug someone, so I don't feel badly enough about it to stop.

I will admit, though, to having this fantasy that if I try hard to be reasonable and try to not do personal attacks that such efforts may help induce more thoughtful discussions from others in this forum. That fantasy regularly gets stomped on, but for some reason it's a pretty resilient fantasy, so I haven't given up yet.

I have looked for political forums that are better, but the sad thing is that they were all pretty much worse. I would miss this forum if Larry understandably decides he's had enough of it.

[Acer]

If this forum gets axed, I'm going wherever Ted goes.

[Black]

Mac-A-Matic wrote:
[quote=Black]
The forum ownership very likely sympathizes with the right wing foot soldiers who have been intent on making it go away, so they win.

That's a very paranoid and narrow-minded point of view. Maybe you're seeing Black Helicopters out your window?
No way to carry on a discussion without insults?
There are political contributions on public record that support my statement. That's all you get.

[$tevie]

Acer wrote:
I'm pretty sure my 'Friendly' link goes to some alternate universe, because I just don't get the "I never go there because it's so..." sentiment I hear on the Tips side.

I am amazed at how some people describe this side. It would be funny if it wasn't part of what's causing its potential demise.

[Black]

$tevie wrote:
[quote=Acer]
I'm pretty sure my 'Friendly' link goes to some alternate universe, because I just don't get the "I never go there because it's so..." sentiment I hear on the Tips side.

I am amazed at how some people describe this side. It would be funny if it wasn't part of what's causing its potential demise.
My guess is that most of them scan the post counts and immediately click on the ones with 40 or 60 posts (which are usually the most contentuous), peek briefly, and then leave.

But don't forget we have a few individuals here who have been working to disappear this forum, so not everybody who casts this side in a negative light is being genuine.