RAVE! Patrick’s Joke Section Idea

[Anonymous]

Patrick – Thanks for offering up a segregated short bus for amateur satirists and sophistry.

I’ll keep to the padded room if you build it.

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[pigeonmom]

*raises hand*

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[Anonymous]

LOL! Pigeonmom, better put that tinfoil hat back on, I think they’re cloaking our transmissions.

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[CatP]

Luigililnguini, I don’t know what you have done to incur the wrath of the powers that be, because imo, you have been a breath of fresh air around here. Or more like Hercules and the little number he did on the Augean stables…

Love the avatar.

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[Anonymous]

BIZZ-UMP.

Let’s go! The Overlords are watching to see how many people actually want a separate area for humor products.

Chime in so we can have our sandbox built and I can start getting some stuff off my big hairy chest. This stuff comes and goes quickly for folks like me with xTreme ADD, and it even feels like I’m missing out on some really funny stuff here.

Turtle Poodle Soup anyone?

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[JoB]

i would vote for a separate area for unrelenting satire…

i might even play occassionally… bending reality is entertaining diversion.

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[JanS]

I like the joke section for lighter discussions, because, after all, it’s a forum…and it shouldn’t be regulated until death us do part.

My sincere honest question to the “overlords” as you call our illustrious host and hostess…does this mean that there can never be frivolity in any other thread in the forum? We are, after all, human, and sometime a little frivolity can really help. I’m totally serious about this question, as I notice lots more stuff being pulled that heretofore was not considered out of line. Are the forums here only for finding out information of a serious nature? The title “Open discussion” would therefor, then, not really be needed, as it would no longer be an open discussion, but a heavily moderated, censored one?

TR and Patrick…I’m being longwinded here, so forgive me…maybe you could spell out our requirements, limitations, etc in the forums for future use? I know I certainly wouldn’t want a thread killed because of something I was not aware was not kosher to put in that thread? get my drift? Something less than a serious answer, but still OT?

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[WSB]

Yes, we will be writing up a better document about “what to expect here.” The event I’ve been at all week, with people who host and moderate much larger online communities as well as smaller – some more fractious, some more civil – has included a suggestion of that – let people know what to expect.

But to the point of what is deleted.

Nothing we have done is different from what we have stated here time, and time, and time again.

Civility is expected. Doesn’t mean disagreement is not going to happen. But even suggesting that someone is guilty of criminal behavior, for example, even if you think it was meant in jest – nope, not going to allow that.

And posting a smart-ass answer to somebody’s legitimate request for information: No, that is not going to stand. That is NOT what this site is about. People come here for real information and help — that is the primary reason we added Forums, the primary reason they were requested (because the Reader Recommendation Requests were starting to take over the main page), and that will remain the primary reason they exist. And even if someone thinks they are being entertaining or amusing by immediately answering a legitimate “can someone tell me ..” post with something flippant, sorry, you can’t do that.

I personally think a separate humor section would be overkill. I’d like to think everybody can moderate themselves enough to know when to be helpful and when to goof off. But if someone can’t see when they’re doing the latter and should either be doing the former or else just leaving a thread alone for someone else to answer, that’s when it’s our job to protect what this is about. You have the right to disagree about what it’s for, and if you feel it’s not the right place for you any more, then we totally understand. But we will not allow it to be hijacked by anyone whose intentions are not aligned with ours.

We have listened to forum members and added sections, changed rules, etc., but there is a point when – as the founder of Fark.com, which has banned THOUSANDS of people (where we have banned here a grand total of two), said at the event I’m about to leave — “It’s like a house party. Ultimately, it’s your house, you have to make and enforce the rules.” And there are some places where we draw the line: “Not in our house.”

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[JoB]

so did i read you right???

unremitting frivolity is fine as long as it is in a frivolous thread..

but using parody and sarcasm to derail an honest inquiry is out of line?

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[Anonymous]

Okay – so no humor based section. Check. Not affording folks a mechanism or means to produce libel. Double check. Keep it civil. Triple check.

Being the paranoid person I am, I’m going to assume the “smart-a**” label was directed at me, which is fine as I admit I resemble such a moniker. However, after reviewing my own posts, I’m not seeing a pattern of indignation and not all of my posts are intended to rabble rouse. Actually, I believe I’ve had some relevant and prudent input if you exclude the initial 48 hours following my arrival.

In terms of self imposed corrective action, I’ve taken measures to throttle back the volume of replies particularly in regard to the obviously legitimate requests for guidance and help, and have done a good job of keeping things at a PG-13 level in terms of language, nuance, and suggestion. I also stopped with the random taggery as I understand it was goofing up the index, and it was not done maliciously. I heard the call and heeded the warning. Not asking for recognition, just stating the facts.

I have a penchant for free association of words and my data entry skills are superior to most and being a Gemini I never know what to expect.

So it sounds to me like you’re being fair here, especially since this is your site and you pay the bills and have a reputation to uphold; you’re obviously not trying to be West Seattle’s answer to craigslist.

Perhaps the bottom line is this site isn’t free-flowing exchange of ideas in that it is not craigslist.

I cannot guarantee that I will not make a comment that will make folks uncomfortable in the future, but you have my written word that I will not engage in any libelous behavior, will always be civil with others, and will keep the subject matter at a level no higher than PG-13 (something I can identify with directly, as the parent of two teenagers).

My mantra is and will continue to be “I like you”.

Thanks for making this site available to the community. I personally would have never known the true intent of the scent cannon had it not been for the informative and observant folks here at West Seattle Blog.

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[andrea]

and I like you Luigiliguini! as CatP and others have said, you and your humor are so refreshing to have added to the WSB mix…please continue to add your two cents when the mood strikes….you make reading these forums much more enjoyable and not so uncomfortable anymore.

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[AdamOnAlki]

This new idea is going to kill independent Adam.

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[JoB]

i think independent Adam will find that the restrictions merely broaden his scope:)

i have to say that i really appreciate it when humor defuses a particularly intense thread…

but like everything else.. moderation really is the key to staying power…

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[Anonymous]

Adam – all are welcome, and you don’t need to be independent if you don’t want to. Just be yourself.

I like you.

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[Anonymous]

What about situations like yesterday, when Patrick stated in the helicopter thread, *unless you’ve actually SEEN them for yourself*, don’t post. If we applied that rule (experienced it firsthand) to each thread, there would be zero discussion. Persons often have knowledge without direct contact. Seemed rather heavy handed.

I also believe these standards and rules are applied at random without consistency. Leaves the door open for misunderstanding, assumptions, and the appearance of favoritism.

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[JoB]

ligilinguini…

one might think you are not a discriminating individual…

i like Adam on Alki too.. but you like everyone…

I aspire to that but fail too many days to achieve it.. i am in awe…

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[Anonymous]

Oh I can discriminate if necessary but I don’t see that as being a requirement here. We’re all family.

I like you too, JoB!

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[AdamOnAlki]

Here is (in brief) my thoughts on this matter, and how I agree with staying how we are now:

As someone who performs comedy professionally, I find it FAR more enjoyable to perform my “art” (sorry, I couldn’t even stop myself on that one…) in a dive bar or a theater or the basement of a Chinese-run Taco Stand in Midtown as opposed to the standard run-of-the-mill “comedy club”.

Why?

Because when you are at at a comedy club and there are head shots all over the wall of comedy legends and wacky kitsch and artwork to your left of cartoons getting hit in the face with pies and a big goofy brick wall behind you, its pretty much “insert comedy here” comedy. Just cut and paste. Create a funny venue, add comic, laugh. The people are there to watch comedy/satire/post-modern political discourse, and the element of surprise or opportunity for true delight is taken out. Do you get better laughs in a produced atmosphere? Yes, but they aren’t as real. They came ready to laugh. You really just had to talk.

Now, at a crusted out dive bar (or forum discussion on leash laws) behind able to take the stage (or post) a humorous observation that not only is well-timed and fitting, but also a pleasantly surprising change of pace, will illicit a far more rewarding response. Maybe not as loud of a laugh and maybe not to the typically audience you are looking for, but overall better.

So in short, again, I like to just post little quips on the main board. When thrown into a little room that says “the funny is in here!” A.) there is far more pressure to perform B.) people are TRYING to be funny, as opposed to just being real and C.) all other discussions suffer as a result of people placing their wit in a controlled environment.

Or maybe I still am exhausted.

Back to watching LOST!

-Adam

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[Anonymous]

Holy wow. Well said Adam. You just altered my perception a bit, and for that I like you.

JT – You too, that was profound. I agree the policing has been inconsistent at times.

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[Anonymous]

Adam – Thank you! You are absolutely right.

I’m hoping that a more detailed explanation of the new format (or rules) will come shortly.

On a side note: I’m assuming the comment regarding “suggesting members participated in illegal activity” was directed at my discussion regarding another members story that was shared. I have to say, in response to that, no such suggestion was ever made. The details of the story shared were explored and discussed, NOT the member who shared the story.

My question now becomes, in light of this new rule, how will we know what can and cannot be discussed within a thread when people post, publicly, a personal experience? Sometimes the best discussions take off from the original topic of the thread.

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[JoB]

how about you just don’t post anything you wouldn’t want your mother or teenage kids to read?

if it’s inappropriate for them, it’s probably inappropriate for everyone else too…

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[WSB]

To a couple points raised since last I checked in.

There’s no way for rules to be applied consistently.

They are an art, not a science. And an art that’s hard to do right. Trust me, again, after listening to people who work with MUCH larger online communities, from Daily Kos to Huffington Post to Fark and beyond, same goes for them, same goes no matter how many people moderate. It’s not possible – nor would it make sense – to write rules that are absolutes. So all we can say is, here are our guidelines, please let us know if you see a violation because we don’t see every post, and we still reserve the right to delete anything, not because we particularly want to, but because SOMEONE IS ULTIMATELY ACCOUNTABLE – and that somebody is us. To carry the house party analogy by Fark’s Drew Curtis a little further, this is a party that’s happening in a big room of “our house” and we are not in that room all the time, nor do we need to be. But if we happen to check in and something’s going on that we don’t want to see going on in our house, yes, we’re going to take action — or if somebody comes to find us and says “hey, you need to know, this is happening,” same thing.

To LL’s point of “not seeing indignation.”

These threads are seen by thousands daily.

A small minority post.

Same goes for comments in our news stories – larger audience reads and comments, but similar proportions.

Those who do not post are not necessarily failing to speak up because they agree or don’t have a problem. They may not be posting, or commenting, because they are intimidated or turned off. And it’s up to us, as site owners, to keep that in mind as well.

If our idea of the kind of site we want this to be is not in keeping with the kind of site you want to be part of, we certainly understand.

You have no idea what we deal with offline – the WSB community also includes the hundreds of people we deal with via e-mail, Twitter, Facebook, telephone, even postal mail — and last but by no means least, in person. Patrick and I are out in the community every day and every night, both reporting, and just talking and listening. There are people who are part of the WSB community who you have never heard from – because they read, not comment/post – but they are no less a part of the WSB community, and what we hear from them matters as well.

It is our job to take all of that interaction and feedback into account while managing this site, as well as the intent we personally have.

We appreciate your understanding.

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[Anonymous]

Haha – I knew I’d be quoted at some point, but I didn’t expect the quote to be truncated.

I’m not pulling any punches here and have stepped up and taken responsibility for my written actions on this board. Based on the feedback I’ve received from a few folks, I seem to have provided an alternative to monotony that’s plagued this board for some time. Yep, I lurked here for a while before I came in and I’ve been looking through the archives to try and figure out what all the fuss is about in terms of my posts but I can’t seem to make a connection.

This hard line posturing and particularly the sense I get that some of this stuff is being directed at me personally (i.e. the quote) actually makes me uncomfortable, which is pretty difficult to do. This whole thing has just turned weird.

I’m not afraid to speak to things that are outside the norm or have any basis in generally accepted reality. Heaven forbid that in the midst of the worst economic crisis in modern history someone steps away from complaining about the things they can’t control and starts dabbling in non-sequiturs. Like most people out there want to face the brutal reality facing this country 24/7. Get a grip.

Perhaps while considering the silent majority that lurks this forum you consider the fact that they’re from all walks of life, and not everyone prescribes to your undocumented intent just because they choose not to speak up.

Anywho, this is getting ridiculous. If you want me to shut up then ban me, or else quit singling me out as a thorn in your side and start paying attention to some of these other folks that are pretty much downright mean and ornery on a regular basis.

Love,

“LL”

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[JoB]

i appreciate WSB providing a safe environment for the West Seattle community to meet on-line.

I have formed friendships and ventured projects that just plain couldn’t have happened without this forum… this site has successfully blended online and regional community in a way that is more groundbreaking than being just being profitable.

I am continually meeting people i already know.. or who already know me through posts on this forum.

Thanks for giving us this big rec room to hang out in…

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[JoB]

is it time for happy hour? in lieu of alcohol.. a run on chocolate will do.. or full tilt ice cream.

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[Author]

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