Wow...

Vassago

Former Staff Turned AWF Retiree
Local time
Today, 17:02
Joined
Dec 26, 2002
Messages
4,748
Most users ever online was 859, 11-02-2010 at 02:37 PM.

That's around 200 more than the previous high, isn't it? I believe it was in the 600 range. That's pretty amazing!
 
Not many people posting in the Watercooler or politics forums though.

Why doesn't anyone use it like they used to? You don't log in for over a week and yet nothing has changed.

Where's all the friendly banter gone?

Dave
 
Not many people posting in the Watercooler or politics forums though.

Why doesn't anyone use it like they used to? You don't log in for over a week and yet nothing has changed.

Where's all the friendly banter gone?

Dave

One person's banter is anothers .. well I'm not sure what to call it but many seemed to get a bit hot under the collar, sure people like ColinEssex, Rich, Mike375 and even KenHiggs plus maybe others, me? could be not only a pain in the butt, but way over the top at times, but hey that is better than all being docile too afraid to speak incase you offend some over sensitive thin skinned, oops I'd better quit.

Pauldoheart and I have crossed swords a few times but we still also have friendly conversations occasionally, the latest on my birthday thread. Life is far too short to get uptight at the slightest thing much less over the comments of somebody you don't really know and who can be ignored with consummate ease.

Brian
 
One person's banter is anothers .. well I'm not sure what to call it but many seemed to get a bit hot under the collar, sure people like ColinEssex, Rich, Mike375 and even KenHiggs plus maybe others, me? could be not only a pain in the butt, but way over the top at times, but hey that is better than all being docile too afraid to speak incase you offend some over sensitive thin skinned, oops I'd better quit.

Pauldoheart and I have crossed swords a few times but we still also have friendly conversations occasionally, the latest on my birthday thread. Life is far too short to get uptight at the slightest thing much less over the comments of somebody you don't really know and who can be ignored with consummate ease.

Brian

I get banned every autumn - avoided it this year! Old age, I think.

Profile Warning
Reason: Inappropriate Language 04-09-2009 03:34 AM by DCrake 0 / Expired
Profile Infraction
Reason: Inappropriate Language 05-08-2008 09:01 AM by boblarson 1 / Expired
Profile Warning
Reason: Inappropriate Language 06-08-2007 06:49 AM by boblarson 0 / Expired


SAD.
 
Hey Paul there is still time, or is it officially winter?

I do remember you calling me a few "choice" names during one of our "discussions" so maybe i'm not surprised, but with less arguments taking place you may survive the winter. :D

Maybe I should start a discussion about Benitez. ;)

Brian
 
I get banned every autumn - avoided it this year! Old age, I think.

Profile Warning
Reason: Inappropriate Language 04-09-2009 03:34 AM by DCrake 0 / Expired
Profile Infraction
Reason: Inappropriate Language 05-08-2008 09:01 AM by boblarson 1 / Expired
Profile Warning
Reason: Inappropriate Language 06-08-2007 06:49 AM by boblarson 0 / Expired


SAD.

Hey, it'll be summer in the Southern Hemisphere soon, maybe we should aim for that? :p
 
sure people like ColinEssex, Rich, Mike375 and even KenHiggs plus maybe others, me? could be not only a pain in the butt, but way over the top at times, but hey that is better than all being docile too afraid to speak incase you offend some over sensitive thin skinned,

So why not get them back?

I see one or two of them are now banned - unban them with a warning to be less whatever. . .. Paul admits he is banned regularly, yet is still here. Others seem to be banned forever.

The way I see it is that the site here has become sterile - it seems to me that people are too afraid now to post in case they get banned. It seems the slightest thing contentious can invoke a ban now.

Those that wanted to turn down the flames of discussion have now extinguished them altogether.

What a shame. This was a good forum, way better than Utter Access.

Am I alone in thinking this?

Dave
 
I've noticed this in a few forums..

So I'm guessing its not Access forums specific just some kind of changing population thing going on.

Maybe we're all getting burnout

You've chucked the kettle the plates and the cups at each other once already not quite so good the second time round.
 
Hey Paul there is still time, or is it officially winter?

I do remember you calling me a few "choice" names during one of our "discussions" so maybe i'm not surprised, but with less arguments taking place you may survive the winter. :D


Brian

Looking at it again - it looks like my warnings are spring early summer, so hopefully I am ok this year. Damn American dates?
 
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So why not get them back?

I see one or two of them are now banned - unban them with a warning to be less whatever. . .. Paul admits he is banned regularly, yet is still here. Others seem to be banned forever.

The way I see it is that the site here has become sterile - it seems to me that people are too afraid now to post in case they get banned. It seems the slightest thing contentious can invoke a ban now.

Those that wanted to turn down the flames of discussion have now extinguished them altogether.

What a shame. This was a good forum, way better than Utter Access.

Am I alone in thinking this?

Dave

My ban(s) were deserved - I had 3 warnings 1 or 2 of which were actual bans.

--
Is that you Col?

2 Happy Birthday threads, 2 threads highlighting Cols not here? Interest in i phone apps, online selling - all in 7 posts, with nostalgia for how things used to be, and a hint you may be British?

Hmmmmm all very suspicious. Welcome back if its you! Dont wake the plummer though.
 
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The way I see it is that the site here has become sterile - it seems to me that people are too afraid now to post in case they get banned. It seems the slightest thing contentious can invoke a ban now.

Those that wanted to turn down the flames of discussion have now extinguished them altogether.

What a shame. This was a good forum, way better than Utter Access.

Am I alone in thinking this?

Dave
Personally I think the site is excellent and has cleaned up its act a bit.

Imho it comes down to what the site is about i.e. what is its objective/purpose, target audience etc. If the objective is to generate lots of traffic then this forum (the watercooler) is great. However, if the objective is to generate a reputation as a place to come for good Access/IT advice then the Watercooler rather detracts from that. There have been several periods over the last few years where activity in the watercooler has completely overshadowed the rest of the site. Obviously it is down to the site owner what the strategy should be.

I rarely get involved in the watercooler. This is not because I think I will get banned. By far the main reason for this is because it’s too difficult to have a sensible discussion without certain people dropping it to a personal level or making inappropriate or antagonistic comments. I'm not talking about a bit of gentle ribbing here. I talking about deeping offensive comments that are simply not appropriate at a football match let along in our society in general. However, things have changed so I might take a look more often.

The Access/IT forums in the site seem to be flourishing - hence Vassago's opening post. There seem to be lots of newcomers asking questions and lots of people, old and new, always ready to answer them. I think questions are generally answered very positively and friendly and diligently. I also think that members are respectful of other members’ views (even if they don’t agree). I think these are the points that set this site apart from others - not the watercooler.

Chris
 
One person's banter is anothers .. well I'm not sure what to call it but many seemed to get a bit hot under the collar, sure people like ColinEssex, Rich, Mike375 and even KenHiggs plus maybe others, me? could be not only a pain in the butt, but way over the top at times, but hey that is better than all being docile too afraid to speak incase you offend some over sensitive thin skinned, oops I'd better quit.

I agree up to a point. However the problem was that it spilled over to the access-related boards and people's personal websites. When you start giving out the banter via messages through a contact form on someone's personal website and they've asked you to stop then it starts to look like bullying. Not being thick-skinned doesn't give others' carte-blanche to harrass when they've been asked to stop.

Pauldoheart and I have crossed swords a few times but we still also have friendly conversations occasionally, the latest on my birthday thread. Life is far too short to get uptight at the slightest thing much less over the comments of somebody you don't really know and who can be ignored with consummate ease.

Everyone responds to stress differently. You can't legislate for that. There's a certain intelligence required to assess the impact of one's own behavior and adjust accordingly for the common good. The onus should be on courtesy not on individual's stress thresholds.
 
The Access/IT forums in the site seem to be flourishing - hence Vassago's opening post. There seem to be lots of newcomers asking questions and lots of people, old and new, always ready to answer them. I think questions are generally answered very positively and friendly and diligently. I also think that members are respectful of other members’ views (even if they don’t agree). I think these are the points that set this site apart from others - not the watercooler.

Chris

Interesting point. What is the purpose of the site and in reality what part does the watercooler actually play in it. The site is showing record figures.

Are the results speaking for themselves?
 
I agree up to a point. However the problem was that it spilled over to the access-related boards and people's personal websites. When you start giving out the banter via messages through a contact form on someone's personal website and they've asked you to stop then it starts to look like bullying. Not being thick-skinned doesn't give others' carte-blanche to harrass when they've been asked to stop..

I didn't know that, and agree that that is certainly wrong.

Everyone responds to stress differently. You can't legislate for that. There's a certain intelligence required to assess the impact of one's own behavior and adjust accordingly for the common good. The onus should be on courtesy not on individual's stress thresholds.

I agree in part, courtesy and a willingness to apologise and withdraw material others find offensive are essential for the Watercooler to function, but some seem to get uptight so easily, does an unknown person's opinion really cause stress ?

Brian
 
I agree in part, courtesy and a willingness to apologise and withdraw material others find offensive are essential for the Watercooler to function, but some seem to get uptight so easily, does an unknown person's opinion really cause stress ?

I think it can, I have been a part of this forum for over a year now, and I have certainly come to see this site as a community of sorts. Not the kind where I would necessarily tell you all my personal life as I would a group of friends, but certainly a community of people I respect and admire. As such I know that things on here can effect me just as much as things out there in the "real world." Given proper perspective helps me get a grip on stressful feelings but they can be there none the less (Should this be one word?).
 
I didn't know that, and agree that that is certainly wrong.

Yep, people have been complaining that the 'moderators' have been overly harsh but they were working with unrepentant individual(s) who really got up to this kind of stuff. Not nice and really can you fault some kind of response?


I agree in part, courtesy and a willingness to apologise and withdraw material others find offensive are essential for the Watercooler to function, but some seem to get uptight so easily, does an unknown person's opinion really cause stress ?

I think so. That's why we all get a little 'hot under the collar' sometimes. Like you say, it's the ability to recognize and respond to the red line that is essential. If you don't have that then you can always keep pushing until you do reach someone's stress threshold.

It doesn't mean you can't have heated debate. Just that people should always be prepared to turn the heat down if the cakes are getting burnt. :p
 
none the less (Should this be one word?).

I think it might be hyphenated, certainly not one word, but I wont get pedantic about it. Anybody out there good at English?

Brian


Oops, in the on line dictionary it is shown as 1 word :o

well it is over half a century since I was at school.

Brian
 
...things on here can effect me...
Affect - not effect :D
none the less (Should this be one word?).
hyphenated -

none-the-less

smiletongueout.jpg
 
I think it might be hyphenated, certainly not one word, but I wont get pedantic about it. Anybody out there good at English?

Brian

I've always written it as one word, who's going to google it first?
 

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