Not signed in (Sign In)

Categories

Vanilla 1.1.8 is a product of Lussumo. More Information: Documentation, Community Support.

Welcome Guest!
Want to take part in these discussions? If you have an account, sign in now.
If you don't have an account, apply for one now.
    •  
      CommentAuthorSMARTALIENQT
    • CommentTimeSep 2nd 2009 edited
     

    By general consensus, we have reached the following conclusions:

    1. Fewer Twi- and Inheri-Threads.

    2. More Writing and Critique threads.

    3. Less off-topic-ness.

    • 3.5 If you want to go off-topic, at least keep it in hidden text, while still contributing to the original topic.

    4. Look at both the good and bad parts of books.

    5. Don’t just start threads, look and see if the topic has already been made.

  1.  
    I hereby agree to try my Mongoosely Best to abide by the aforementioned and semi-established rules (the Impish Ideal?).
  2.  

    Yes, I like “The Impish Ideal.” It’s my Gmail status.

    Perhaps you should change the title?

  3.  

    I agree.

  4.  

    Yes. We really do need to be a little less silly, too. I can’t say much though, being responsible for the Perv thread….

  5.  

    NO! They can take my off-topicness, and they can take my snark, but they can never take my silliness!

    •  
      CommentAuthorVirgil
    • CommentTimeSep 4th 2009
     

    I don’t mind being silly, snarky, or off topic. However there should be some more serious threads to accompany them, which have come up.

  6.  

    I said a little less silly. Like no more Awful Lines From Fanfiction and such. Of course, we could just add a new forum subheading- Silliness. Then we can shunt all the silly stuff over there without killing it.

  7.  

    That’s cool with me. Just don’t get RID of the silly! I needs my silly!

  8.  

    We really do need to be a little less silly, too.


    “There will be no silliness here!”

  9.  
    More writing threads!

    ..... I've never been a part of a writing workshop. Has anyone here led one?
    •  
      CommentAuthorKyllorac
    • CommentTimeSep 4th 2009
     

    I have, but never over the internet…

    If we were to have writing workshops, however, what would the topics be?

  10.  

    I’d like one on character interactions.

  11.  

    I’d like one on writing emotionally.

  12.  
    bq. 1. Fewer Twi- and Inheri-Threads.
    2. More Writing and Critique threads.
    3. Less off-topic-ness.

    I agree wholeheartedly with number one. The 'Edward toys' thread and 'venom lipstick' threads are just getting nuts. It's mocking people rather than writing.

    Number two I agree with, as well. I kinda haven't been around lately because what I'm getting isn't what I came here for. I mean, sure, add some silliness, but most of our threads really should be writing- and critique-orientated.

    Number three... in principle, I agree; in practice... THIS IS GOING TO BE HARD!!!!! The problem as I see it is that forums are a lot like conversations rather than lectures or pure hardcore intellectual discussion. And conversations, as we all know, are very random. You can be talking about India and then five minutes later, you're going on about the state of hotel rooms in Kansas or wherever.

    Another problem is that we're all awesome and naturally we want to spread that awesomeness around. Hence off-topic discussions about Dr. McNinja, and random lolcats, etc.

    Just my thoughts.
  13.  

    THIS IS GOING TO BE HARD!!!!! The problem as I see it is that forums are a lot like conversations rather than lectures or pure hardcore intellectual discussion. And conversations, as we all know, are very random. You can be talking about India and then five minutes later, you’re going on about the state of hotel rooms in Kansas or wherever.

    Exactly!

  14.  

    I think we’re doing better with no. 1 already. Number two…well you start discussions but a lot of the time (especially for the romance one), no one really knows what they’re talking about quite yet.

    •  
      CommentAuthorTakuGifian
    • CommentTimeSep 8th 2009
     

    Will this mean no more sporks, though? Because I really enjoy the sporks. Otherwise, I agree.

    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeSep 8th 2009
     

    On number 3, though… well, if we spin off a Deep Intellectual Discussion into another Deep Intellectual Discussion, I suppose we can split it off into another thread. Hmm, there needs to be a “thread split” option so we can preserve all the posts…

    And on random off-topicness… a handful of posts (max, say, a half-dozen) at a time isn’t a problem, in my eyes. What is a problem is when we go off topic and never return to the original one.

  15.  
    I think that the Impish Ideal supports sporking as it would qualify as good intellectual fun. At least, in my opinion.
    •  
      CommentAuthorPuppet
    • CommentTimeSep 8th 2009
     

    Eh, as long as it Constructive Criticism I don’t mind.

  16.  

    Just no flaming.

  17.  
    bq. Hmm, there needs to be a “thread split” option so we can preserve all the posts…
    And on random off-topicness… a handful of posts (max, say, a half-dozen) at a time isn’t a problem, in my eyes. What is a problem is when we go off topic and never return to the original one.

    I agree maximomuchly with the second, and I think that doing a 'thread split' option might work. At first I was like, 'nuh', but then I actually started thinking about it, and yeah, it could work. Still, it's up to Slushie, really....
  18.  

    Also, we should try to avoid excessive swearing except in specific threads (Perv Patch has some relevant crudeness). It isn’t currently much of a problem, but should be an unspoken policy.

  19.  
    It seems to have gotten better now. Which is good as, in my view, it is more professional. =)
    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeSep 9th 2009
     

    Also, we’re supposed to be writers here. If we can’t come up with good, strong, descriptive ways to express ourselves without resorting to cussing, then we aren’t much of writers!

    Heh, it was kind of fun coming up with alternative words for the Greasemonkey profanity filter I set up for our computer. (I downloaded a basic script, but added a few things to it.) It’s surprisingly difficult to find a single word that you can replace a swear word with to get the same point across, but if you think about it long enough, you’ll find something eventually.

  20.  
    We shall expand our flippin' minds whether we darn well want to or not, 'n crap.

    Doncha love my non-profanity profanities?
  21.  

    Yes, I do.

    Why is it… unstuck?

  22.  

    I read an article that swearing when you’re in pain actually reduces the pain you feel. Therefore, if for no other reason, keep swearing to a minimum to keep that benefit!

  23.  

    I read that, too. This is why women swear in childbirth, and it works better for women than men because men swear more.

    Since I’m planning on four kids… sugar.

    •  
      CommentAuthorJabrosky
    • CommentTimeSep 9th 2009
     

    men swear more.

    Citation needed.

  24.  

    Come on, don’t tell me it’s socially acceptably for girls to swear in public (or at least, girls are “allowed” to swear more than guys).

  25.  

    My sister swears all the time.

    My parents have given up on trying to make her stop.

  26.  

    My parents freak out if I say the f word – and I mean saying the sound “eff” as in “I hate this effing book.” The actual f word throws them into hysterics.

  27.  

    You know what’s really hypocritical? I say ‘frick’ or something (a la Scrubs) and I get in trouble for it. My sister throws around the f*bomb and no one cares.

  28.  

    I get in trouble for “frick”, too. And I’m the highest-achieving person in my family besides my parents. So far.

  29.  

    So far.

    Now I’m scared off being knocked off my pedestal.

  30.  

    My mother is obsessed with censorship. The c-word is so banned. It’s “crap.”

    So are “shut up,” “retarded,” “gay,” (I don’t think the reasons are good though…), “stupid,” and a thousand others.

    I think it’s socially acceptable for certain girls to say certain things, such as

  31.  

    You know how your parents always want you to be better than them? It’s kind of hard in practice.

    sneaks up to SWQ’s pedestal with a sledgehammer

  32.  

    They tried to ban crap. They failed.

    “shut up,” “retarded,” “gay,” (I don’t think the reasons are good though…), “stupid,”

    Shut up is banned, but hard to enforce. I don’t say retarded or gay because I have friends that are both, but my sister says both, even though I tell her not to. Stupid… it’s too common.

  33.  

    Funnily enough, these days, I rarely use any of those words.

    Yeah, I understand why I was called a “goody-two shoes” more than once.

  34.  

    I’m an established teacher’s pet and goody-two-shoes. My friends think I’m funny. Little do they know…

  35.  

    I’m an established teacher’s pet and goody-two-shoes.

    Story of my life.

    (I don’t see the point of banning words like ‘crap’. Crap means poop. Are you going to ban the word poop? Discouraging calling something ‘gay’ or ‘retarded’, though, I can understand. I can put up with swearing, but using those two words really just bothers me)

  36.  

    Discouraging calling something ‘gay’ or ‘retarded’, though, I can understand. I can put up with swearing, but using those two words really just bothers me

    Same here.

    I just realized that we got off topic on the thread that discourages off-topicness. Thing is, it’s a really good conversation, no?

  37.  

    I swear if the company I am in swears, otherwise, no. My dad hates me saying crap more than damn, no idea why. And I used to be a goody-two shoes too.

  38.  

    Discouraging calling something ‘gay’ or ‘retarded’, though, I can understand. I can put up with swearing, but using those two words really just bothers me

    Same here.

    Oh, don’t misunderstand. I also understand and I dislike the use of those two words in that way. For a short time, I considered using “straight” in an ironic manner, but I realised it wasn’t good at all (firstly, the homophobia that surrounds me would make this intimidating; secondly, they wouldn’t get it; etc.).

    •  
      CommentAuthorSMARTALIENQT
    • CommentTimeSep 9th 2009 edited
     

    I swear if the company I am in swears, otherwise, no.

    Same. But I’m also sparing even then.

    firstly, the homophobia that surrounds me would make this intimidating

    Oh. Sorry. That’s sad, though.

  39.  

    Oh. Sorry. That’s sad, though.

    Some of the “thinking”—and I mean that in a loose sense, as in “Oh, I was told this by everyone and I heard this, so I’m sticking to it, ‘cause what is thinking for yourself and not being hypocritical” sort of sense—around here makes me wish Dr. Cox were here.

    Or, that, uh, people were better thinkers in general.

  40.  
    My *personal* conviction is that for me, personally (aside from sexual slurs and using "Jesus," "Christ," "God," and "Lord" etc., which I do not find acceptable under any circumstances) that language is mainly something I avoid to keep other people from being offended, which I want to do as a member of my religion. So.......yeah. I thinkity-swear a lot. *blush*
  41.  

    It is one of my policies never to use religious slurs/“the name of the Lord in vain.”

    It leads to times when I’m very, very angry, and an observer will hear, “Fricking fudgepops! Holy carpal tunnel syndrome, holy pineapples on barbeque, what the frick.” My voice is faster and louder at first, and then it peters into a flat “what the frick” which is not a question.

  42.  

    I use “Holy [whatever]” and “God”. I picked up “Lordy Lou” from Abarat by Clive Barker, so I use that a lot. If provoked, I may tell you “FU, B*tch!”... in Drow.

  43.  

    Sometimes I say dammit, but not god dammit, so that’s not bad, is it?

    • CommentAuthorRocky
    • CommentTimeSep 10th 2009
     
    I don't curse. Really at all. No offense to anyone, but I find it comes from a very limited vocabulary pool. That, and some of the more creative combinations of certain words are just plain laughable.
  44.  

    Especially if you know the actual meanings. I’m surprised that many people don’t know what a bastard actually is. Or a bitch, for that matter.

    •  
      CommentAuthorPuppet
    • CommentTimeSep 10th 2009
     

    I learned what Bastard meant from ASoIaF, and Bitch from NWN. :P

  45.  

    Oh, the things you learn from the Internets.

    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeSep 10th 2009
     

    I learned what a bastard was from some old book about Elizabeth I, I think… because there was a massive scandal even before the whole “divorcing Catherine of Aragon” thing where the son of one of the ladies who lived at court (the wife of some duke, I think) was rumored to be King Henry VIII’s “bastard son”. So I was like “...what is a bastard son, again?” and looked it up.

  46.  

    I didn’t know that they were swear words until after I knew their meanings.

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeSep 10th 2009
     

    Swenson, you’re talking about Henry Fitzroy, the son of Bessie Blount!

    I love being a history major. Also, it’s either kinda funny or kinda cruel that instead of Henry Blount they named him Henry Bastard-son-of-the-king. That’s just mean.

    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeSep 10th 2009
     

    Ahh, yes. That’s the one! And… seriously? That’s what “Fitzroy” means?! Haha, awesome!

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeSep 10th 2009
     

    Yes, that’s what it means. Whenever I got pissed off at Great Gatsby I’d say it was by F. U. Bastard Son of Gerald. (Ah, F Scott Fitzgerald….I did not like him.)

    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeSep 10th 2009 edited
     

    (Welcome to the club of Fitzgerald-haters, Willow!)

  47.  

    I read the synopsis off the back of my sister’s copy and it did not sound remotely interesting.

  48.  
    *cough* What was this about staying on topic more?

    *not judging*
    Just giggling
  49.  

    F. U. Bastard Son of Gerald.

    Lol. I’m in the club that Swenson mentioned…

    Sorry, Rikki, not meaning to further derail the thread.

    • CommentAuthorWiseWillow
    • CommentTimeSep 10th 2009
     

    Pardon my further derailing of the topic. It shall be in hidden text! Regular text shall be on topic.

    Are there any writing threads we need and don’t have?

  50.  

    Mmmm…can’t think of any off the top of my head.

    I’m thinking about submitting an article for the main site…would anyone like an article about actually finishing a rough draft? (I know, it’s yet to be done in my case, but I think I’ve accumulated enough experience to at least make a pathetic attempt to advise others. I’ve been helping wreak havoc here for a good while, so I thought I might give back a little.)

    •  
      CommentAuthorPuppet
    • CommentTimeSep 11th 2009
     

    Do it. :D MOAR ARTCLS

    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeSep 11th 2009
     

    YES, that would be a great article! I need help with that…

  51.  

    Ok.

    I guess I can write it now, to offset my grief over my iPod/iTunes. (Well, it’s only mostly dead, as far as I can tell, but I don’t have a Miracle Max on hand…)

  52.  

    •  
      CommentAuthorPuppet
    • CommentTimeSep 15th 2009
     

    4. Look at both the good and bad parts of books.

  53.  

    4. Look at both the good and bad parts of books.

    Yes, I think we should be doing this more. Nothing is completely bad (things can be funny).

    •  
      CommentAuthorPuppet
    • CommentTimeSep 20th 2009
     

    5. Don’t just start threads, look and see if the topic has already been made.

    And if you want to go off-topic at least keep it in hidden text, while still contributing to the original topic.

  54.  

    And if you want to go off-topic at least keep it in hidden text, while still contributing to the original topic.

    Good idea.

    •  
      CommentAuthorswenson
    • CommentTimeSep 21st 2009
     

    And if you do that, try to have something relating to the thread in there, too, not just a big chunk of hidden text.

  55.  

    I agree.

  56.  

    I would like more threads about reading. I’m not sure what to post about in this topic…All my reading theads keep moving toward the bottom…

  57.  

    But there would be no one left!

  58.  

    So?

  59.  

    Lol, I just keep thinking of the visitors who are going to read this thread and be like, ‘wha…?’ at the sudden change in conversation. You’re both off-topic. implications

    •  
      CommentAuthorMoldorm
    • CommentTimeSep 25th 2009
     

  60.  

    I hope not.

    •  
      CommentAuthorPuppet
    • CommentTimeSep 26th 2009
     

    6. If your post is going to be useless, don’t post at all. Same with topics, think about if the topic would really work before starting it.

  61.  

    Can I answer them?

  62.  

    Puppet, was that directed at me…?

    •  
      CommentAuthorPuppet
    • CommentTimeSep 27th 2009
     

    Not exactly. I’ve certainly made useless topics, and posted useless posts.

  63.  

    Who hasn’t?

    •  
      CommentAuthorPuppet
    • CommentTimeSep 29th 2009
     

    7. Don’t revive old threads.

  64.  

    Sorry! But there were some good ones!

  65.  

    Puppet, I think that rule can have exceptions. Like the Book Thread, if someone wants to revive an old thread to tell people they were leaving and didn’t want to start a new one, etc…

    •  
      CommentAuthorJeni
    • CommentTimeSep 29th 2009 edited
     

    I think he’s just being snarky. :D Some threads will always drop for a while, and then be posted in again because it’s a nice general one. :3

    •  
      CommentAuthorPuppet
    • CommentTimeSep 29th 2009
     

    I kinda meant the silly threads, I think we have enough at the moment. :P

  66.  

    I tried not to resurrect any stupid threads, otherwise Puppet here would go nuts at me.

    (Isn’t it strange that I’m kind of scared of Puppet? Then again, I have to worry about nepotism…)

    •  
      CommentAuthorMoldorm
    • CommentTimeOct 1st 2009
     

    Puppet is indeed a scary person. Everyone beware of him.

    •  
      CommentAuthorPuppet
    • CommentTimeOct 1st 2009
     

    Why are there so many “General” topics as “Serious Discussion”?

    •  
      CommentAuthorJeni
    • CommentTimeOct 1st 2009
     

    Because I’m useless as a moderator. ;_;

    [cuts self]

  67.  

    Somebody restrain Jeni.

  68.  

    Why are there so many “General” topics as “Serious Discussion”?

    Because we have too much fun with other random stuff.

    •  
      CommentAuthorMoldorm
    • CommentTimeOct 2nd 2009
     

    Why are there so many “General” topics as “Serious Discussion”?

    Because we go off topic far too easily.
    And it can be difficult to remain serious at times.