• Responding to email notices you receive.
    **************************************************
    In short, DON'T! Email notices are to ONLY alert you of a reply to your private message or your ad on this site. Replying to the email just wastes your time as it goes NOWHERE, and probably pisses off the person you thought you replied to when they think you just ignored them. So instead of complaining to me about your messages not being replied to from this site via email, please READ that email notice that plainly states what you need to do in order to reply to who you are trying to converse with.

  • IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ!! About the Google Adsense ads being displayed

    =====================
    Posted 08/15/2025
    =====================


    Yeah, I know. They are a pain in the butt. But they pay the bills to keep my server running. Just a fact of life, I am afraid.

    Want to get rid of them? Simple. Just become a Contributor level member or above and they will be gone. -> Please click HERE."

    Is that too much for me to ask of you to keep this site running? Well, sorry about that. I too wish I could get everything for free. But alas.....

    =====================
    Addendum: 01/10/2026
    =====================


    Google Adsense ad revenue for December, 2025 was just $30 over the cost of the lease for the server running this site. So, in effect, the money providing the incentive for me to continue running this site is coming SOLELY from the paid memberships and sponsorships here. Which honestly ain't much....

The wild, wild, west!

M

Mike Greathouse

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To quote an old movie:

People who really want to have a good time won't come to a slaughterhouse.
We've got entirely too many troublemakers here. Too many 40 year old adolescents, felons, power drinkers, and trustees of modern chemistry.
Click to expand...

I, for one, would like to see a return to a more "moderated" Board of Inquiry.
This site-wide "Hell" forum does not appeal to me, and I feel that it detracts from the dignity and original purpose of this site.

just venting....
 
Well it proved to be too much work, not enough pay, made me the target of untold numbers of hate emails and PMs, and in the end proved to be detrimental to the BOI in general by not allowing people's TRUE personality show through.

I caught an incredible amount of antagonism and abuse from people who felt they had a RIGHT to post derogatory and abusive messages on this site. I have been belittled and maligned for requiring paid members only to have the ability to post on the BOI in order to filter out most (if not all) of the false registrations that plagued it before and after, in an effort to make it more credible. And quite frankly the pittance I received did help pay for some of the effort I had to expend in order to do the cleanup, if not in the amount, but the gestures made by the people paying the fee. I saw plain and obvious signs that traffic was declining because of people just flat out refusing to pay the minimum $10 in order to help fund the effort required to do what I felt was needed to be done. When I noted the number of people declining to renew their paid memberships, it was a clear signal to me, that the value of the BOI to them, as I was trying to make it in my cleanup efforts, was not quite the price I had set.

I can't say you are all getting what you want here, but you ARE getting what your (in a broad general sense, no one in particular) actions have indicated you asked for. Yes, I am not happy with the way the BOI has become at all, and I know it could be "better". But from the results of the required paid memberships and the flak I caught because of it, the effort needed to reach that goal is not worth the pain it would take (on my part, for free) to get there.

I have learned my lesson, and I can see absolutely no reason whatsoever to repeat that attempt again.

Again, this is not directed at any one person. This is the result of a balance sheet of factors covering every aspect of this site and the conclusions I had to come to based on those factors.
 
Rich,
I doubt that many will argue that the gains (not necessarily monetary gains) of running this board are overshadowed by the hassle factor. However, with all of the supporters that have stepped up, is there not a happy median somewhere?

The current "flavor" of this site is far and away from what it once was and could be again.

I have been a loyal supporter of this site for a long time, but in all honesty, I find myself spending less and less time here, as a good number of the threads are barely more then sophomoric pissing matches.

It would seem that with just a small amount of moderation, some of this could be held in check. I personally feel that those who want a wide open forum to express themselves are the minority and not the majority. This would seem to be supported by the comments being made in several threads recently questioning the direction of this site.

Of course, I will not discount the possibility that I am the minority and perhaps I am trying to save something that does not want to be saved.

Either way, I have stated my opinion.

Thank you for listening.
 
Rich, I understand a little of what you have dealt with re. this site (the BOI) because I have been here for a while, but new people who visit the site and view the "top" threads on the BOI would probably agree with Mike, they seem to be nothing more than "pissing" matches by a few people who have too much time on their hands and have no vested interest in seeing this site thrive. I have pm'd one or two people who seem to try to "bully" others with insults, etc., and they as a rule become more antagonistic.
I agree with Mike, it would be nice to find a "middle ground." Lots of us have always supported your decisions and I am sure it will continue.
 
Yep, and a lot have fought every decision I have made. No matter what it was.

Sorry, but there is no way to draw a line in the sand ANYWHERE without someone saying it is too far in their direction and unfair. And others will say "I saw Johnnie cross that line and didn't get punished, so why was I?" Been there, done that.

I've been doing this BOI thing for what, 7 years or more? Heck, the last few years have been like one eternal root canal........
 
Rich

I have supported this sight and all of the changes that it has been through....my thought are that we are American's, that being said, there is way too much sensorship in our world to begin with...were we not founded on freedom of speech? No I do not condone the behaviors of all of the members here, and have recently outed a person for lying and bypassing their fine and suspension. I was not tickled pink to do it, however, when I was put to the test of the integrity of this sight I choose to do so out of loyalty to you and the people that I have come to know as family.

You have a very rare and wonderful thing here and I am not just trying to blow smoke here. You have said it before....give someone enough rope and they will eventually hang by it. I have seen this happen most recently.

I was proud to be a moderator here, made a hasty decision and have regretted it ever since. There are a lot of good people here and it would be a real shame and loss to the reptile industry to loose this sight. I will always pony up my coin because I believe in what it stands for. Thank you so much.

And Connie....thank you for sharing your husband with us. You have put up with more grief than most would and I for one will be ever grateful
 
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I AM LEAVING THIS SITE COMPLETELY. I have another site that I frequent because the people there are good and ARE ALWAYS willing to help others.Profanity-laced attacks are not tolerated and smear campaigns do not happen. I would really like this site to succeed and I hope all the decent people will ignore the a-holes that are on here.Do'nt reply to anything they post.It drives them CRAZY :notallthe If this site could be as accountable as Bob Clarks forums, it would continue to grow.But I feel that it is too far down the drain now for that to happen.And that is a shame.I hope all of you enjoy your day.

:wavey:
 
bamasmith said:
I AM LEAVING THIS SITE COMPLETELY. I have another site that I frequent because the people there are good and ARE ALWAYS willing to help others.Profanity-laced attacks are not tolerated and smear campaigns do not happen. I would really like this site to succeed and I hope all the decent people will ignore the a-holes that are on here.Do'nt reply to anything they post.It drives them CRAZY :notallthe If this site could be as accountable as Bob Clarks forums, it would continue to grow.But I feel that it is too far down the drain now for that to happen.And that is a shame.I hope all of you enjoy your day.

:wavey:
Click to expand...

The BIG double doors to your left are the quickest way out, please do not hesitate to use them.

Oh, the one on the left swings shut REALLY fast, don't let it hit you on the ass on your way out.

How is Evan's prostate, by the way? Nice and cuddly?
 
Justin

Although this sight may be known for the BOI, there is much more to it than just that. Have you been to any of the other forums here and asked for help on a given subject?? Have you offered any help?

Bob Clark's forums may be okay, but I never receive spam from this sight! Just some things to think about.


bamasmith said:
I AM LEAVING THIS SITE COMPLETELY. I have another site that I frequent because the people there are good and ARE ALWAYS willing to help others.Profanity-laced attacks are not tolerated and smear campaigns do not happen. I would really like this site to succeed and I hope all the decent people will ignore the a-holes that are on here.Do'nt reply to anything they post.It drives them CRAZY :notallthe If this site could be as accountable as Bob Clarks forums, it would continue to grow.But I feel that it is too far down the drain now for that to happen.And that is a shame.I hope all of you enjoy your day.

:wavey:
Click to expand...
 
I know it isn't possible but it would be nice if people were limited to the amount of posts in the Boi per day. Kind of like the karma, after you have posted (for example 5) in one day you won't be able post any more until the next day. Then people would have to really consider and put thought into where they post and the shotgun posting of every thread would be greatly diminished. Maybe also make some walk away and think some more before they type again.
 
bamasmith said:
I AM LEAVING THIS SITE COMPLETELY. I have another site that I frequent because the people there are good and ARE ALWAYS willing to help others.Profanity-laced attacks are not tolerated and smear campaigns do not happen. I would really like this site to succeed and I hope all the decent people will ignore the a-holes that are on here.Do'nt reply to anything they post.It drives them CRAZY :notallthe If this site could be as accountable as Bob Clarks forums, it would continue to grow.But I feel that it is too far down the drain now for that to happen.And that is a shame.I hope all of you enjoy your day.:wavey:
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:wavey: Come back soon now ya hear..OK I tried to be polite to you in the other thread, Now you done pissed me off. This is home to alot of us good, bad, or indifferent, But the man who owns this place does his best to keep it going,Over the years there have been many changes some good and some bad but over all, This place is still a good place to be, And if you want to move on I hope you find that perfect little world your in search of.But remember always stay on the utopia pavement, There are no piles of B.S there, But if you want to live in the real world B.S is a part of life, B.S is around every turn.
 
bamasmith said:
Profanity-laced attacks are not tolerated and smear campaigns do not happen. I would really like this site to succeed and I hope all the decent people will ignore the a-holes that are on here.
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OK, first he decries "profanity-laced attacks" and then refers to the "a-holes" but the best irony is posted below.

Pot, Kettle, Black. Put them in a sentence bama boy.
 

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WebSlave said:
Yep, and a lot have fought every decision I have made. No matter what it was.

Sorry, but there is no way to draw a line in the sand ANYWHERE without someone saying it is too far in their direction and unfair. And others will say "I saw Johnnie cross that line and didn't get punished, so why was I?" Been there, done that.

I've been doing this BOI thing for what, 7 years or more? Heck, the last few years have been like one eternal root canal........
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Rich,
That's exactly my point.
You cannot possibly please everyone here - ever. So why not please yourself?
You have stated in numerous threads what you want this site to be and what you want it to represent. There are plenty of people willing to help. If you need more moderators - just ask. I'm sure that you would receive more then enough offers. You do not have to do this alone.

In my opinion (and I'll stress, my opinion) the BOI as it exists today, does not represent the dream that you had for it seven years ago. There are untold numbers of good people here that have shown their willingness to help others. I'm sure that this help would extend itself to you if you only asked or even showed that you still care about what happens here.

I think it's time for the Absentee Landlord to re-establish his residence here.
 
Mike every time the rules change here up pops a thread like this one.

You can't please all the people all the time so Rich just please yourself here and leave it at that. Randy
 
I know it isn't possible but it would be nice if people were limited to the amount of posts in the Boi per day. Kind of like the karma, after you have posted (for example 5) in one day you won't be able post any more until the next day. Then people would have to really consider and put thought into where they post and the shotgun posting of every thread would be greatly diminished. Maybe also make some walk away and think some more before they type again.
Click to expand...

Why isn't it possible? This actually sounds like a very good idea to me.
 
It does sound like it would help the quality of posting. But what would stop someone from registering under an alter ego to keep talking, or talk through a friend. Who would monitor?

Every time there's a good idea, it might BE a good idea, but then there is the time cost of enforcement to consider.
 
ravensgait said:
Mike every time the rules change here up pops a thread like this one.

You can't please all the people all the time so Rich just please yourself here and leave it at that. Randy
Click to expand...

Well actually for now, THIS pleases me. A whole lot less work and stress for me. I don't need the headaches, stress, hassles, arguments, hate mail, and just general BS I had to suffer trying to make this MY ideal of what it should be. Screw that. If I am going to get bashed no matter what I do, then why the hell not take the easy route anyway?

And I did try more moderators a while back. Anyone remember the fiasco that some of my choices foisted on me? Yeah, that was a WHOLE lot of fun for me............ not....
 
Well, here's my $.02. Practicality dictates that it is not worth Rich's time to police this place with a magnifying glass. For him to do that would require that there be some compensation attached, and he has tried that, and the pay was too low. Its simple math, and Rich has better uses for his time other then community service, unless court-ordered :D

There is also no doubt that many view here for the drama. A few of us decide to enter the ring, but we all see the number of non-participating viewers who want to see a smack-down. So long as the mod's control a few very basic rules and modest policing, as they have, the forum can function.

People who come to the BOI with valid complaints and stick to the facts have a pretty free ride of it. Those that want to get antsy with their keyboards better be ready to rumble, and many are not (eh Evan ?). Sometimes, when a slightly bad-guy is identified, might he then be crucified ? Yes, but usually only when he/she throws a log on the fire they would otherwise rather see doused. Its "jungle rules" here, and it is effective. Despite all its shortcomings ... and you have to take the good with the bad .... bad guys are certainly outed here. For those who have not spent time in real courtroom environment depositions and actual trial, the accuser gets no break. And the bad guy does real time.

As a last point, there is no argument by most that the tit-for-tats that prolong a thread for dozens if not hundreds of posts serve little function. But the first 20 posts of the thread usually frame things up enough for anyone doing research to get an idea. People need not subscribe, read, or participate once they feel it no longer productive. That's probably the toughest discipline mastered here.
 
You know, I've got a question.

What's wrong with coming here for the drama?

Do you guys watch TV?

Do you go to the movies?

Do you read periodicals, books, trade journals, what have you to pass time and maybe get a laugh?

What's the big deal if some come here just to see who's kicking sand at whom?

The bad guys do get outed and if a mistake is made along the way, the ones who really care, will step up and say, "oops, my bad," and take responsibility.

Can you really ask for much more when it's free?

I think all those who say fauna is just drama are somewhat narrowminded and that's ok, no problem at all. However, just because some choose to be that way does not obligate anyone else to follow suit.

Unless you're in The Brotherhood. I hear they have very strict rules and regulations.
 
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