Let's Vote

[tangerine-jack]

I don't agree with anybody on this really. Why can't we have threads that develop into BS sessions, then die natural deaths, AND still have a "coffee shop" or "tavern" or anything else you want to call it thread? A BS thread will eventually die anyway from lack of interest, as will any other. Is it not possible with all the intelligent, well bred folks on this forum to sustain both? I don’t see where there is any controversy to be had, at least none that I should spend any of my time worrying about.

This forum is set up to allow participants to post their own topics, when you do that you open the floor to whatever somebody has to say, or what is on their mind. The only alternative to this freedom of ideas is to have the moderators start topics, regulate the posts, and end the topic after a certain time or number of posts. I have been to sites that do this, and in a week there may be 2 or 3 new posts and maybe one topic.

On average a garden railroader is older and more mature, financially secure, and extremely intelligent. I had hoped that these factors would allow us all to share the thousands of thoughts and ideas each of us has every day with the online community without name calling or bickering. I do not want to involve myself in any of that behavior, and if I have, then I apologize to all the parties involved. I do, however, want to share my thoughts with those on this forum that have similar interests, train related or mostly train related, anytime I feel the need. When I posted my topic on property taxes, I enjoyed the way the thread went. We talked about taxes, and managed to slip in a little extra without any detriment to the thread. I enjoy that and I want to continue without fear of offending anybody. I also want to maintain the right to go to an “off-topic” thread, express what I have to say on the current discussion topic, and then move on when I grow tired of the thread. If others wi***o continue, then so be it. How can I in good conscious say another’s idea is bad or has no merit? Who decides what I may or may not think? Who decides what laws the Thought Police will enforce?

OK, with that said, I’m done here. Thanks for letting me share.


[oX)]

[van buren s l]

I would rather not have a coffee house thread. There only a few large scale forums and but there thousands of others out there to accommodate every conceivable interest. Among my interests besides garden railways are boats and shooting clay birds. I wouldn't dream of trying to discuss those interests on the Garden Railways Forums and clutter up things for people interested in trains. In one current thread "stupid questions" there are interesting posts about trains among all the chatter about movies and so on. I would rather not have to dig through all that stuff to get train information. Why on earth should a coffee house, which is a magnet for stuff not pertaining to trains, be in a forum dedicated to garden railways?
Bob

[Anonymous]

Vsmith
you are right about ARISTOCRAFT forum, you don't talk other trains, but their own, and you sign in your real name if not you are told about it. .ben

[vsmith]

I still say let the Open Forum sink or swim on its own accord. If you want to read it , read it, if not, skip. I'm still baffled by how hard of a concept that appears to be?

MRR forum, Trains.com forum, CCT forum ALL have them with no ill effects. MLS has an entire seperate forum with dozens of threads devoted to BS so why has ONE topic thread here that can be easily skipped the cause of such division between a relative SMALL number of overall active members? (only a relatively small number of us are active posters here -vs- the overall number of registered members)

I prefer havin a BS topic for the simple fact that it does tend to keep the BS OFF the rest of the forum, otherwise like it still happens on other forum , people will just post new topics about "what their favorite train movie" is " Did anyone see such and such TV show this weekend" and a whole host other topics that often have LITTLE or NOTHING to do with the subjuct forum. Better to keep the chat on one thread.

Also at least for me, I dont eat, breath and crap Trains, I do like my trains but I do also like other things, an open topic fosters community, freindship, and diverse interests. IMHO just restricting this forum to trains only, no other topics will be tolerated or a flame war will envelop is just plain Soviet to me.

Kalmbach has been very tolerant about what we talk about here on this forum. If you dont beleive me, go over to the Aristocraft forum and even hint of another manufacturer and see how far you get before your post gets deleted.

Let it sink or swim of its own accoard.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: I think it is easier to find materials when it is in loose threads rather than rolled into what become "superthreads." I find that the Bovinefecalometry (BS-ings) have more impact when they are a part of the natural flow in sperate threads. I've seen small isolated topics flow into full debates with humor thrown in. When that topic is done, it passed to the backpages and then, at a later date, we can revisit them and bring to the forefront with a simple response.

Honestly, my friends, this is the only issue that has ever truely divided us...let's reflect on that for a while.

Wise words Joe.Thankyou.
Troy

[TurboOne]

Jack on the poll you should add (1) no off topic threads, or (2) open a seperate section for BS stuff and only have trains on this part of forum.

Tim

[powlee]

Hey

Why can`t the people who publi***he magazines, launch a new one called something like
Station Buffet
Then it would become a forum on it`s own and we could bypass it on the way to our respective forums.

Ian P

I get ideas like this on a Sunday morning when I have watched Match of the Day,any video tape of a program I missed thru work and it`s cold and I can`t go outside to run trains,etc. etc

[Anonymous]

I think it is easier to find materials when it is in loose threads rather than rolled into what become "superthreads." I find that the Bovinefecalometry (BS-ings) have more impact when they are a part of the natural flow in sperate threads. I've seen small isolated topics flow into full debates with humor thrown in. When that topic is done, it passed to the backpages and then, at a later date, we can revisit them and bring to the forefront with a simple response.

Honestly, my friends, this is the only issue that has ever truely divided us...let's reflect on that for a while.

[TurboOne]

This last weekend was silly. This was a great idea Jack. And yes everyone knows how I voted. But calling the Tavern would be fine. Or any name. I feel it takes all non train threads and puts in one spot, so the other spots don't disappear. I read 4 or 5 pages back when I do threads.

Take care,

Tim

[Anonymous]

I voted for the coffee shop, but i don't always read what's going on in there. If you want to read it, read it, if you don't, don't.

However if the name was changed to The Tavern Thread for some reason it would upset far fewer people[:p][X-)][D)][#dots]

[Anonymous]

Open forum for me. Half of the fun is looking througha topic and finding stuff that has nothing to do with the topic. If the threads were all about the topic stated then I don't really think I would look in 99% of them, very quickly get bored and not bother.
RENE, please don't regulate us on this, let it go its course and see where we end up. If nothing else it is interesting.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[Kiwi Down Under]

I missed most of it, but at lot of off thread stuff is really only relevant to the USA. Although most garden trains are obvously in the USA, there is a lot of world out there, and is what you want to say relevant to our hobby ?. If so,no problem, if not, is it applicable to everyone anywhere or just where you are?.
Tony

[Anonymous]

Well.Guess which way I voted.
Funnily enough,I kicked off when I was actually trying to find the bit about the toy trolley thing to show my son.Never did find it!
After wading through I'd just had about as much as I could take.
Troy

[grandpopswalt]

I'd prefer to have a designated BS thread. And I'd really prefer that it not be called the "coffee shop" thread. If any of us feels like BS'ing then that's the place to go, if not, then skip it and go to any of the other train related threads. I think it would reduce the number of conflicts we've had here lately.

Walt

[Rastun]

Mikey out of 420 post you have a whole 2 of those have come into the Garden railways section in over one (1) and a half (1/2) years. Now do you post your opinion or do you just post to support a friend?

Later,

Jack

[Mikeygaw]

although i rarely stop by the Garden Railroad section, i support the Coffee shop threads as it reduces off topic threads, and imho, creates a sense of community among the users of the forums... and no one forces you to look into the threads if you don't want to

[Rastun]

Marty,

I have to say I agree that I go to other places to hear the local gossip. I have no intention on backing the powers that be into a corner, specially since I know what happens when you corner a wild animal. I just ask the question so all can get a better feel for each other and what they would like to see out of the "General Chat" at GR forums.

Jack

ps one of these days I'll type the letters my brain tells me I'm doing [:D]

[Marty Cozad]

Well It gets kind-a old weeding through all the garbage, I think it would be good to have the creators of this site state the goals and purpose that they intended. Then go by that.
Its NOT our site, its GRYs site and we use it. Why force them back into a corner where they have to pull rank.????
I come here to share and hear about trains, If I want chat or B.S. I go to the local lumber company or cafe.

[Rastun]

OK everyone enough is enough. Vote and explain. Do it.
I vote for free form it gives us each more expression to say what we feel.

Jack