The best and worst experience you've ever had on a discussion board?

[Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin']

What's the best experience you've ever had on a discussion board, chatroom, forum, email, etc.? What is the worst?

Mine would have to be when I found this site ( :D ) and possibly chatting with my friends at Myspace.

Other than the myspace forums, where some people can get a little rude from time to time I don't think so I've had a bad one.

[brink-]

I think the best is meeting all the people who have at least (or only) one thing in common with each other.
The worst is when the political and/or religious posts appear on a benign forum. Not only rude but disrespectful to the group as a whole. General interest topics rule.

[ March 27, 2006, 18:52: Message edited by: brink- ]

[LSH]

I'll have to agree with brink on this one. This board is a place where everyone should feel comfortable. For most people, it's a time out, time away from the worries and stresses of life.
Some subjects are too volatile, too open for debate to be on forum that is here for anyone from any walk of life.

[Sydney Steve]

This site is the very first discussion board/chatroom I ever came into when a got a new PC and connected to the net about 13 months ago.
It has mainly been a delight..- I've copped a bit of (mostly deserved) flak along the way for being a naughty boy/rude and stuff but that is life (and me ).
I have made some lovely friends along the way too, so this site wll always be a bit special to me and would therefore rate as (finally gets to his point), the best experience I have had in that respect. Member # 366 (the lady with a dash ??) is one of a number of exceedingly generous people who I really appreciate.(I didn't even know one person from the States 13 months ago!)

A Dash of Class wrote:

The worst is when the political and/or religious posts appear on a benign forum. Not only rude but disrespectful to the group as a whole.

The only time I have been involved in a "serious" argument with anyone on line was because of precisely this issue. There are countless forums for discussions on matters of politics +/or religion.
I have been chipped for rudeness as I have said before mostly deservedly.
I can't think of anything more out of kilter with the subject matter related to a GL fansite than the barrow pushing of a religious agenda or political propaganda.
(Gee I sound like a preacher! I'm defeating my own argument . Ain't that one rich little irony!) :D

Sydney Steve,

I find your occasional barbs to be entertaining. There's a place for irreverence everywhere.

Since we're in the small talk forum, I ask this question : Are you familiar with Paul Kelly ?

RMD

[Ophelia]

I have recently left a board devoted to a TV show I have been watching regularly for five seasons now (it is about to end permanently). The board used to be lots of fun, but lately it has been taken over by teenyboppers (or adults who act like teenyboppers; I'm not sure which). They have the dumbest arguments you can imagine, and at 47 I am just too old for that stuff.

[ March 28, 2006, 00:31: Message edited by: Ophelia ]

[Restless]

It appears we're still allowed to sneak religion and politics into our profile signatures!

[SilverHeels]

<<Some subjects are too volatile, too open for debate to be on forum that is here for anyone from any walk of life. >>

I have to go along with this and while we are talking good and bad ... Do any of you get as aggrieved as I do when finding a clutch of uninvited 'God' emails in my mailbox, promising me earthly and Heavenly delights only to then threaten to curse me for ten years if I do not forward this 'Blessing'. The ways of the internet continue to amaze me.

[Sydney Steve]

Are you familiar with Paul Kelly ?

RMD

Well as I specialise in off topic all readers who haven't already averted their gaze once they saw the name of the author , please let your eyes glaze overwhile I respond.

If you are referring to the Australian musician/wordsmith/balladeer Paul Kelly, eg "Before Too Long", "To Her Door" and most people's favourite "Dumb Things", then most Aussies with any musical interest are very familiar with his work - or at least his bigger hits which (I think) have never quite cracked it in the big overseas markets.
Not only am I familiar but am a great fan of his work...rather than drone on though I would be happy to discuss via a PM.
(He is yet another native of Mike Dixon & Joveski's home town of Melbourne, Aus.)
PS I have long felt his work would appeal to Lightheads as there are many similarities.

Thanks for the response, Sydney Steve.

Yes, that is the Paul Kelly I was referring to. There's probably no need to elongate the discussion, so I will simply say my favorite album of his is "Deeper Water", and leave it at that.

Thanks again,

RMD

[joveski]

i remember having a right old fight on dylanpool a few years ago... but it was alcohol talking :D

as for paul kelly, i met once a few years back after a gig i saw.... nice chap...

[Borderstone]

Let's see,best? This whole Gordon Lightfoot site. Not counting the short lived little rants that directed at people I thought were being mean,it's been great here and still is.
Also,the M*A*S*H online/www.Joe Hollywood.com board. Nice folks there too.

When I had my home PC,chatting with fellow "naturists" was great too.

Worst?
On a "very" un-official Mariah Carey site,letting myself get drawn into a verbal battle of wits with,obviously,younger people.

They were just there to post nothing but negative & nasty things about her. That was back in 2000 though and thankfully that site was deserted by it's owner.

Believe it or not as much as I talk about Mariah,I am not a member of any site about her. It's enough just to like her & her music. (but not her movies! :D LOL! )

[johnfowles]

As many may know there is absolutely no question about the best thing for me.
As I told Susan last Friday before enduring a minor procedure on my stroke affected left leg (a successful bit of reaming out), the last 6 years have been the very best of my by now longish life. Actually I should have said seven because it was in May 1999 (not long before the songbook box set was released) that I had the extreme good fortune to meet her in the Friday evening chat room, leading to a virtual dance to "That Same Old Loverman whilst we chatters were having a group Songbook listening session one night in June 1999. A year later Susan posted a remarkable message on the Newsgroup that you can read if you'd like to at:-
Newsgroup Link

The chat room also led to her virtually saving my life in January 2000 when she correctly diagnosed that I had had a stroke due to my unusually poor typing in the chat room the following evening.
http://www.exn.ca/Stories/2000/03/22/05.asp
Montreal Gazette report on our story
Or if you'd prefer reading it in Chinese try:-
http://www.shaoyang.net/synews/news32.htm
Anyway enough of the past.
I will Walter Stoneborder however take this chance to ask why it is that you have never yet graced our chat sessions yourself. Or is your home computer still out of action. If so what exactly do you think is wrong with it. or what are the symptons??
John Fowles

[ April 15, 2006, 04:23: Message edited by: Florian ]

[Borderstone]

Yes,still out of action and until I'm sure i can afford more "luxuries" like home net,cable & more,it's going to have to stay that way.

Believe me,I'd love to be in the chat with you guys but until I find more gainful employment,those things will have to wait.

[geodeticman]

Silverheels, Brink, Sydney Steve:

Would any of you, or any other forum members inclined to, be so kind as to comment upon the ocassional reference I have made about religion by virtue of citing quotes from GL songs that are or include religuous lyrics.

I certainly do not mean laboriously reading my frequent longer posts. Rather, just a general impression or any level you wish. I definately would benefit from this constructive critique if applicable.

After reading your posts I am reminded of my own disdain for posters who would use the forum as a veiled cover for their religuous or political agendas.

Seems to me that I have cited some lyrics at the end of posts where I was responding defensively in the past to overly harsh criticism, or so the room's general defense of me seemed to agree.

I would pop in citings of lyrics of GL's that spoke of compassion, candor, tolerance. etc. By using our common denominator, Gord, it seemed fair ground only when a few ppl were rather rude, and I chose a socratic response instead of the ever-popular "oh-yeah?" , or "neener-neener" LOL.

Anyhway, if my posts bring to mind a presumptuous, or innappropriate level of calling to Gord's rather frequent religuous songs or passages, and if these have been noticed as characteristic or preachy, I would appreciate the input and prompting to modify my post contents.

Thank you for anyone considering commenting in a helpful manner; I would appreciate it immensely.

Thanks in advance, Steve (Geo..man_

[ March 30, 2006, 03:50: Message edited by: geodeticman ]

[Sydney Steve]

I can only speak for myself Steve. As with all people there is in all likelihood a wide divergence of opinion between the 3 of us.
Your feel about it the issue is much the same as mine.
IMO it would be silly to ignore the spirituality /religious overtones in Gord's lyrics. That would in itself be being Big brotherish and prescriptive - virtually a de facto censor.
My whinge more centred on spiels and "badge wearing" where people use the forum to push a view of their own that (while they may see it as fact) could be seen by others as no more than propaganda. It is my experience that people are a little more respectful of the wide variation of political views held and it is pretty rare for someone to use the forum or to chat in that respect. Unfortunately religion is so much a part of the essence of people - of what makes them tick , that they can forget that we have people here from a multitude of religious (and non religious) backgrounds . Some people belong to groups with a history of being diametrically opposed to each others views - indeed virtually (or actually) at war with one another in other parts of the world.
All that aside we are all here with a common bond . Anything that jeopardises one of the most important features of that bond concerns me . I refer of course to "Harmony" .....

[SilverHeels]

Geo-Steve, I concur with Sydney Steve's post and personally,I have never found any of your posts to be 'preachy'.

[brink-]

Steve, I agree with Sydney Steve (oh that hurt lol).
Religion is a private matter, politics is a private matter and that a forum that is dedicated to a singer that we all obviously like (bar the occasional troll) is not the place for those topics.
All over the internet there are forums and chatrooms dedicated just to religion and politics, that is where those comments belong.
I come to this forum, to meet up with friends, a little mindless gossip/chat and relaxation. If I wanted to see CNN topics I would go to the CNN site.
There are reliious overtones in Gords music. But there is a good example, Gord doesn't give out interviews or stand on the stage and spout off about volatile subjects, it just incites people and he has respect enough for his fans to not open those doors. It would be nice if we had tha respect for each other too.
We have lost a lot of very nice people on this forum because of lack of respect by someone else, some come back eventually, some never do.

[geodeticman]

Thanks for the input.... I appreciate very much the thought you each put into your insightful words.

I guess for me to benefit the most from them, I would only impose by asking for the three of you who kindly input to go ahead and reduce without fear of offending me a couple Q's:

Silverheels: If I understand your straightforward approach, you have no problem with my occassional brief references to Gord's spiritual lyrics, typically citing compassion or kindness. I getcha.

Brink: I agree completely with what you wrote, but I am not sure if the very true things you spoke of specifically meant I should ponder changing my general demeamour on these two categories I ask of,as you did not say. Well said though !

Sydney: Again, especially as the others agreed with your words, well said and appreciated. But as I asked of Brink, acknowledging my agreement as well with the precepts you advanced, I am not sure if you would *enjoy* my posts (generally speaking) more if I modified my occassional small references to Gord's occassional religious or spiritual lyrics ?

As I think about Gord's spiritual facets in so far as he has shared them musically, which I never really have summarily done at one time, Gord does indeed have many songs that are quite nearly all-out prayer; albeit poeticly and musically deftly avoiding be preachy.

Good example is "Too Late For Prayin' " While at first glance or listen a new fan could think "oh man this is religious music", my take is that he is really NOT trying to do that; rather, he IMHO is taking one facet of his core feelings, and expressing it in the context of (first and foremost) - powerfully engaging MUSIC. Not preaching.

In my attempts to refer to small parts of these types of songs or lyrical snipets of others only when I find them germaine in my postings (typically replies), I am carefully trying to be respectful of the main point I read of the Gord general forum in keeping: Gord's engaging music.

And that, does in fact, include at times spiritual overtones and less frequently, all-out prayer put in context of beautiful music.

To reduce my question of your well-stated response, do you find my occassional- (I hope) references to such as straying from the most enjoyable aspects of this venue for most ? I think that your answer is simply "no", as I read your inclusion "Your feel about it the issue[sic] is much the same as mine" . Agree ?

Well, you three, whose postings I enjoy a lot, and have enjoyed considerable exchange with, were very considerate to respond to my request.

The quest here for me is simple, I am in no way posessed of looking for places to mention religion, as I am not that way in person. I feel religion is a very private subject, and highly volatile and presumptuous to speak of with authority as a lay person.

I just am in a quest for self improvement for reasons at this point I probably do not need to expand on. No beatin' the drum for this boy, just speaking my mind (such as it is LOL ) as seems fitting. - and enjoyable, I hope, increasingly.

Thanks to all 3 of you good people. And Silver - I am working on that mini-tome we spoke of : ) Gord rules !
- Geo Steve

[SilverHeels]

<<Silverheels: If I understand your straightforward approach, you have no problem with my occassional brief references to Gord's spiritual lyrics, typically citing compassion or kindness. I getcha.>>

Geo-Steve, I have no problem with any reference to Gord's lyrics, spiritual or otherwise. I have no problem with anyone supporting their own beliefs, I just dont want it shoved down my throat. And I do not want my mailbox full of what I call 'God emails' which invariably carry a threat if the wretched thing is not sent on to more unsuspecting folk who have not asked for it in the first place. That is my beef. As far as I am concerned, you may continue as you started. :D

[Cathy]

Exactly right, Bru. The way I see it, what seems religious to one person may not be so to another. We all have our own takes on Gord's lyrics. That doesn't mean one person's take is correct and the other's isn't. It's a personal thing.

[brink-]

<<Brink: I agree completely with what you wrote, but I am not sure if the very true things you spoke of specifically meant I should ponder changing my general demeamour on these two categories I ask of,as you did not say. Well said though !>>

As you have stated, Steve you make OCCASIONAL references to the spiritual lines of Gord's songs. I personally have no problem with your occasional references, although maybe somebody else does, or maybe nobody does.
Cathy said so much in her post above.
I think the truest test would be: Do you quote only the religious verses? Do you choose those quotes because they are religious? If it is no to both questions then you are not causing a problem and you never intended to.
Deb

[Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin']

Originally posted by James Suber:


Other than the myspace forums, where some people can get a little rude from time to time I don't think so I've had a bad one.

I take that back. On the myspace forums, every time you post something someone flames you and bashes you. It's about the worst experience you'll ever have. Unless you like being miserable, stay off that board.

I am posting this under a new user name because I know nobody would read it if it was posted by “someday”.

Ever since that day at the studio I’ve felt a strange sense of peace. I haven’t cried or felt the constant anxiety I’ve felt since Mace’s hip surgery. I have only taken a half a Xanax a couple times in the morning when my stomach is about to barf.

Spending such precious moments and time playing music with Tracey since the Gordon Lightfoot concerts has changed me. Attending that concert also gave Tracey the inspiration to get up out of her bed and make this recording. For someone who knows she is dying and to be at peace with her choice of Divine Spirit is an amazing thing. Her spirituality is contagious. I have found my self “P”ing a lot more lately than I have ever done in my life. Things have changed. I feel different, but in a good way.

Tracey’s lyrics reflect everything that is precious to her and how she can die in peace and be in that nice place with puffy white clouds, angels and such, knowing it’s a better place than her life her on earth. It also occurred to me that most of you who have been offended at my posts would also be offended at a lot of the music on our new CD. Is that was this world is coming to? Having to put a warning label on a CD because some of the lyrics contain the “G” word? What a sad, sad time it is we are living in.

Will I miss her? Yes. Will I be devastated when she dies? Yes. Will I be happy that she’s not in pain anymore? Yes. Will I do her hair and makeup before her funeral? Yes.

With that being said, I wish to apologize for any posts most of you people who used to be my friends, found offensive. If one of the Moderators of this board would have taken two minutes to send me an e-mail, Private Message or perhaps a post in one of my threads to inform me there was a problem with me asking for “P” s or saying the “G” word, all of this could have been avoided. I looked on the member list and found two Moderators.
Did either of them tell me there was a problem? No.

Instead, you just put me on your ignore list and didn’t say a word about it to me, leaving me to think that maybe it was a jealousy issue, for having gotten some nice pictures with Gordon Lightfoot or getting to meet him the first time I saw him in concert. I also ask your forgiveness for having those unwarranted and paranoid thoughts.

At least one of you was kind enough to tell me what the real reason was for people giving me the cold shoulder treatment and I thank you. Now I don’t have to wonder anymore about the reason. That kind of thing hasn’t happened to me since I was a kid in elementary school. You know the kind of thing where you show up for school one day and all the kids have turned against you? When nobody will speak to you or let you eat lunch at their table and you helplessly wonder what you did to make them treat you that way?

I started to delete all of my posts that contained the “G” or “L” word and the ones I made for “P” requests. Once I started deleting them, I just couldn’t stop and just got rid of them all. I figured it would make it easier for you guys to block me out, so it would be like I never existed in the first place. Maybe I was over-reacting but oh well, I figured some of you would appreciate the effort on my part.

With that, I say goodbye. There was a lesson to be learned here and I surely learned mine.

[Shutup and Deal, I'm Losin']

What happened? Were you banned from here or something? I remember reading old posts about this DM3 guy who was banned, but I don't recall anyone named "someday". Oh well, sorry to here about what's been going on, and maybe the good people of this site will accept your apology and forgive and forget.