HELL forum, stay or go?

[WebSlave]

I was doing a google search on something (can't remember what right now) a few days back and stumbled onto a website run by a past member here who got banned a year ago. Man what a bunch of garbage there..... I read through some stuff over the past few days and I got to thinking about how infantile that appears and how it reflects on the site and staff in general... So then I started thinking about the HELL forum here, and I guess I started feeling embarrassed about what I am allowing within that forum. How does that reflect on this site and the staff here? Is that something I REALLY want for this site, myself, and the mods?

So let me know what you think about that forum. Should it stay or go? Basically all it has been lately is a place where one or more members can bash other members, which is not really what I had in mind with it anyway. But I hate to seem overbearing and not willing to listen to what the members want out of this site.

So please let me know your thoughts about this...

 

[Gary O]

I know where you are sitting right now. In the end............ I say it is up to you. Becuase when a person gets mad about what is said in Hell they will put blame on you no matter what. No matter what they say they will put it on Fauna which is you. Sucks that some people can not blame the person posting it.

 

[WebSlave]

I know where you are sitting right now. In the end............ I say it is up to you. Becuase when a person gets mad about what is said in Hell they will put blame on you no matter what. No matter what they say they will put it on Fauna which is you. Sucks that some people can not blame the person posting it.

I hear you, Gary. I figure you've been there before and I value your opinion on this.

Thanks.

 

[Mooing Tricycle]

Stay. I like it.

 

[Tiger Lilly]

My response has already been posted in the clubroom section:

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?p=702338#post702338

 

[Ed Clark]

Hell promotes a mean spirited and confrontational atmosphere and it often carries over.

So my vote is to make it go away.

 

[Sharpshooter]

I say stay. Many of the musician and artist forums I habitate have similar sections. Some of them have been quite successful.

Not to tell you your business, but this site is becoming a bit dowdy.

With all due respect, I like the site. The BOI rocks. Things change. You are not changing with the times.

If someone doesn't like the HELL forum, then they need not take the trouble to go there. Simple as that.

As most of us know, the BOI is the area that generates the most traffic. The BOI is a great tool. You have done a great balancing act here, but I get the feeling you're tired of juggling.

 

[Kiote_9]

It's your forum to do with as you please.

As for the "spill over", I don't think that is the case. Many forums police posts and simply edit or delete those that are inappropriate. The mods have a lot of work to do. Some forums have posters who are more respectful because of this. Other forums have a Hell like area and still have clean boards. People do here what they can get away with till they can't do it anymore.

Hell is just a place to take it to duke it out or to blow off steam in an inappropriate manner. It isn't anything important. Most people don't even seem to bother with it.

It's your baby, Rich. I'll still come here as long as I'm allowed to because I think Fauna is a valuable resource.

 

[Gary O]

I hear you, Gary. I figure you've been there before and I value your opinion on this.

Thanks.

No worries my friend.

My biggest issue was people emailing me and threatening me. I had my life threatened a few times. I know you have had threats against you also. When it came down to it the war room was just to much of a problem. It was something I could remove and not effect me at all. Well traffic did go away from my site but in the end if that was the only reason they came it did not bother me.

You also have the BOI which is IMO one of if not the best tools in the reptile industry/hobby. You get issues from that to but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. There is a underlined reason for the BOI. It helps people. So you may feel that the bumos and bruises you take having menaing and they DO!

When it comes to Hell your bumps and bruises hurt more becuase there really is no need for a place. It is not a tool it is a place people can act out and not get dinged. I think it would work if a forum was built in itself for such acting. But not a section on a well respected forum such as Fauna is. I look at Hell as what it is. I do not judge anyone for what they say in that section of fauna. I for sure do not judge you by it. But like said I have been there done that.

I will tell you though. Once the war room was gone I did not mind reading PMs and emails anymore. I actually looked forward to them lol. I put it does not matter to me.

What about starting something like my bar and grill. I think it would fit better then hell. Basicly the rules are like a bar. Have fun you can use profanity if you wish. But fight and the bouncers will kick you out. It works really well. I think you could do something like that. And I think that is what you ment for hell to be. A place you could have an agruement but all out fighting(name calling and stuff like that) would not happen.

 

[Gary O]

It's your forum to do with as you please.

As for the "spill over", I don't think that is the case. Many forums police posts and simply edit or delete those that are inappropriate. The mods have a lot of work to do. Some forums have posters who are more respectful because of this. Other forums have a Hell like area and still have clean boards. People do here what they can get away with till they can't do it anymore.

Hell is just a place to take it to duke it out or to blow off steam in an inappropriate manner. It isn't anything important. Most people don't even seem to bother with it.

It's your baby, Rich. I'll still come here as long as I'm allowed to because I think Fauna is a valuable resource.

Many sites do have the same type of areas. But not many have been around aslong as Fauna. Once the section gets bigger the problems start happeing. I have read the other sites. How many times have you seen.

Take this to such and such section?

This in itself promotes the section and fighting. It gets old.

If asmuch energy people put into fighting in sections such as hell went into fighting against laws and supporting such places as USARK and PIJAC............ This industry would be strong.

 

[Sharpshooter]

It's your forum to do with as you please.

As for the "spill over", I don't think that is the case. Many forums police posts and simply edit or delete those that are inappropriate. The mods have a lot of work to do. Some forums have posters who are more respectful because of this. Other forums have a Hell like area and still have clean boards. People do here what they can get away with till they can't do it anymore.

Hell is just a place to take it to duke it out or to blow off steam in an inappropriate manner. It isn't anything important. Most people don't even seem to bother with it.

It's your baby, Rich. I'll still come here as long as I'm allowed to because I think Fauna is a valuable resource.

Agreed. However, only the "forum police" have the authority to do this. I think Rich has assembled a fantastic crew of professionals to do the job. Dennis Hultman and Harald Moore are tops in my book.

But, back to the point... I would like to write and talk about reptiles once in a while.

 

[Ed Clark]

But, back to the point... I would like to write and talk about reptiles once in a while.

Thats exactly what this site is about repiles and amphibians.

Promoting education about repiles and amphibians is more important than having a verbal boxing ring.

 

[Kiote_9]

Agreed. However, only the "forum police" have the authority to do this. I think Rich has assembled a fantastic crew of professionals to do the job. Dennis Hultman and Harald Moore are tops in my book.

But, back to the point... I would like to write and talk about reptiles once in a while.

[F]I completely agree with everything you wrote.

I made a mistake and joined in the written bashing, but have since realized that I prefer camaraderie and sharing to arguing. I read here now, but rarely post. I have the contrary people on ignore and read mainly informative posts. Fauna IS a valuable site. [/FONT]

 

[Kiote_9]

If asmuch energy people put into fighting in sections such as hell went into fighting against laws and supporting such places as USARK and PIJAC............ This industry would be strong.

This is so true....

 

[sschind]

I voted go. I think the forum adds nothing of value to the site.

 

[hhmoore]

I voted a solid, unwavering It doesn't matter to me. Personally, I don't have much use for the **HELL** forum - I rarely read it (occasionally something catches my eye, or my curiosity gets the best of me), and even more rarely do I participate in the threads. That wasn't always the case, but I don't believe I've ever taken advantage of the fact that it is mostly unmoderated and uncensored. Don't get me wrong, I'm not offended by the things I read...and I can let fly a pretty good string of curse words under the right circumstances - I just don't have any desire to let it all hang out like that online.

My initial reaction when I saw the poll was that **HELL** doesn't really serve a purpose. Instead of responding at that moment, I let the subject churn in my mind for a bit...and realized that it does serve a purpose for some members, even if I'm not one of them (yet?). If the whole purpose for a thread, or post, is to curse, or talk crap about another member without his/her presence - I just don't see the point. It can reveal sides of people that we might not want to see. At the same time, it can be very telling. (Just look at one member's recent meltdown) Sometimes, though, as some have pointed out, it's nice to be able to let loose about something & know you've got friends that will be there.

If **HELL** were to just disappear, it would take some time for me to even notice - except for the fact that people would bring it to my attention by asking where it went. It seems to me that you've considered Hell to be something of a blemish for a while, Rich. I can understand you feeling that it doesn't fit in with your ideas of what you want for this site...but I don't know that it reflects poorly on you or the staff. (If we were in there raising hell, so to speak, that would be a different story)

 

[Dennis Hultman]

If it is no use then one would think you wouldn't want to subscribe to such a place.

At this point, I look at this way. You have to ask for a key to open that door. Before you walk in you have a big warning about what is behind that door. If you ask for that key, walk in and participate, you really have nothing to complain about.

If you don't subscribe to that forum and never posted in it you probably wouldn't give a second thought to its existence. Those that would never consider using it shouldn't be bothered that it is there. They never see what is posted there.

Rich, I wouldn't feel embarrassed about it. Those actually taking the time to subscribe to the forum want to participate or like to voyeur such places. Those that don't, have no visual complaint to protest against.

 

[ForkedTung]

I post there...mostly fun stuff, but if it's becoming more of a burden than bonus, Rich, I say "cut the fat". We all know the BOI is the meat and potatoes.

 

[xanaxez]

If it is no use then one would think you wouldn't want to subscribe to such a place.

At this point I look at this way. You have to ask for a key to open that door. Before you walk in you have a big warning about what is behind that door.
If you ask for that key, walk in and participate, you really have nothing to complain about.

If you don't subscribe to that forum and never posted in it you probably wouldn't give it a second thought to its existence. Those that would never considering using it shouldn't be bothered that it is there. They never see what is posted there.

Rich, I wouldn't feel embarrassed about it. Those actually taking the time to subscribe to the forum want to participate or like to voyeur such places. Those that don't, have no visual complaint to protest against.

Alomst my thoughts exactly. i agree with you dennis and i vote to keep it.

 

[WebSlave]

I post there...mostly fun stuff, but if it's becoming more of a burden than bonus, Rich, I say "cut the fat". We all know the BOI is the meat and potatoes.

Actually I have reason to hope that that will change sometime soon..........