Frogboy Frogboy

EVERYONE: TAKE A CHILL PILL...

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EVERYONE: TAKE A CHILL PILL...

from WinCustomize Forums
Okay, everyone who's been getting mad, upset, or whatever, please listen up.

1) This forum is for the discussion of skinning and skinning issues. Users can certainly about pretty much anything they like. However, thread hijacking (that is, going into a thread and making completely off topic posts over an dover) is prohibited.

2) Let's try to be NICE to one another. This site is overwhelmingly populated by adults. Let's treat one another with respect and kindness okay? If someone doesn't agree with you, debate is certainly encouraged to a degree. But at a certain point, if you're starting to get angry about it, you know it's time to back off. Whether it be politics or religion or whatever, it's not like any of us are overlords of the universe who get to set universal policy.

3) Melodrama. One of the things I've seen lately is an increase in melodramatic behavior. The forum shouldn't be used as an outlet for one's psychosis or histrionics. If someone wants to create a thread about something completely off the wall, that's fine. But personal emotional melodrama getting interjected into other people's topics must cease now.

I will not be exiling people for violating this. Instead, I will be setting people's access to visitor which essentially removes their ability to post.

Let's get back to talking about fun, interesting stuff in the world of skinning, customziation, computers, technology, whatever okay?

Thanks!

Brad Wardell
CEO of Stardock & WinCustomize
15,073 views 59 replies
Reply #26 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Things got a bit ugly because of what I would term repetitive stress. The same 'blunt instrument' (in this case Linux/Mac/XP) was used as the period of every sentence. No matter the problem the thread addressed, we were told what the *real* problem was.

I'll do my best to keep to the three suggestions above. If statements like equating LS with a virus are not authoritatively challenged, though, those statements are soon made so often that they require constant rebuttal by users. If nothing is done, the people who don't want to hear it leave. Then you are left with only the root of the problem, like other messageboards we have all dealt with.

Had the person in question been made a visitor temporarily at the point he was determined to be a problem, I don't think any of this would have happened. The only other choice is user-attrition, which we have seen in the last two days. False or misleading statements will be dealt with, the question is, who is more appropriate to do it?

If anyone thinks I am "trying to be funny or witty" at the expense of community, don't be vague. You'll get no angst in return. If the reactions we've had are anything, they are a violent reaction to the introduction of elements we see elsewhere and our intense desire to not have this place spoiled by them.
Reply #27 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think I agree with Baker here. It seems there have been a lot of comments made in the heat of the moment that have been regretted later by the poster. With the exception of a few trolls, the people in question are good, decent individuals that just need to take a break to calm down.

Visitor status might just be the best way to do this. Certainly it would be less embarassing (if that's the right word) than being exiled.



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Elemental: Reforged
Reply #28 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Um, I have a valid question.

Am I considered a troll?
If so, how do I make people see I am not?
And is that why people dislike/ignore me?

Any response to this question will not anger me or cause me to retaliate. I am just curious.
Reply #29 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I guess I am being more open minded that's all.
Reply #30 from WinCustomize Forums Top
kona...one trap people often fall into is to make assumptions that their knowledge of something is superior or more complete than others'. The self-proclaimed 'expert', perhaps.
When this 'expert' actually meets someone with far more extensive knowledge on the subject, vanity or perhaps ego demands an argument ensue, when the proper course of action is to look, listen, and learn, and perhaps actually become more 'expert' as well.
Like no matter how fast you drive on a freeway, someone will still be likely to pass you, so no matter what topic you may profess to be in command of, you are bound to meet another with a greater command, somewhere on this net.
Example?
I know quite a bit about the Republic F105 Thunderchief, a Vietnam-vintage tactical fighter-bomber....but it didn't take long to come across people who actually flew the things back then.

The net is a great educator....and this board is, similarly, and here the topic of 'education' is specifically Skinning and its related function or use in GUI creation. The people you'll meet and interact with are often the coders or creators of the programs, or those who are sufficiently proficient at their craft that they can earn a living from it.

It doesn't matter how long you are within the 'community' and interacting, you will always be learning and discovering something new.

It's not a crime to be a 'newbie', but a 'self-professed know-it-all' will make few friends...
Reply #31 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I am a newbie, that you got right on.
Reply #32 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Anybody have any other thoughts about my question about trolls?
Reply #33 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Look, I'am an easy going guy and I get along with most people. But your question is an open invitation to lay into you. If you have to ask a question like that then I guess you answered it at the same time. Thats about as nice as I can say this.

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Reply #34 from WinCustomize Forums Top
#33 was in answer to your question kona0197.

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Reply #35 from WinCustomize Forums Top
thanks guys. I guess nuff said.
Reply #36 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Kona:

As long as you don't turn to stone in sunlight then I guess you're OK

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Reply #37 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Kona, you seem to have problems blending in with the crowd. Being the loud and obnoxious kid in the class, so to speak. But don't worry, you'll find your way.

Anyhow, I question the usefullness of this thread. Do not expect that because all this has been said all will abide. For it to be usefull, people will have to a) visit the board (since it regards the board, that may be superfluous), b) read this thread, c) get the message, and d) agree with it.

Conversation in a board is not like real world conversation, where you can bang your fist on the table and expect people to listen.

Perhaps T-Man et al should add some short "rules of conduct" above this here text area I'm typing in right now, so everyone should know about it.
Reply #38 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Isn't someone missing a point here, if certain people did not get flamed they would not have changed, now the people I'm talking about believe thay have changed for the better and I for one will give them a second chance to show they can behave themselves, it is possible that if they were not flamed or ragged on then they would not have changed in any way.

As for the fact that some (me included) make fun of someone that says something that is either stupid or funny which invites humorous comments, I believe that it should be allowed if only to raise a smile in an otherwise miserable world.

On the subject of hijacking a thread, it would be well to remember that at any social gathering aconversation will not remain on one particular subject for very long and will always be changed to a topic that is off topic, this I consider a fact of life and read the threads with the acceptance that the original topic will change, as the conversation gets longer.

Having said my little piece on the subject, it would be well to reflect on what problems could be caused if the Freedom Of Speach section of any free society was thrown completely out of the windows.

Thanks for listening

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Reply #39 from WinCustomize Forums Top
'Freedom Of Speach'....therein lies the problem..... Spell checker
Reply #40 from WinCustomize Forums Top
craeonics, perhaps not everyone will read this tread, but at least we can point to it as a "statement of policy". it would be nice if this didn't have to be said, but it was well said, and they are good words


Hoppity - On the subject of hijacking a thread, it would be well to remember that at any social gathering aconversation will not remain on one particular subject for very long *snip*

personally i would say there is a difference between a slow "drift" in the topic of a thread over 50 posts, and a sudden and total change of direction, with no regard to the flow of the conversation.

/me has noted that mosts threads over 100 posts have drifted off their original topic quite gently and naturally

i don't think anyone really minds that
Reply #41 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Crae, the whole point of the thread as I see it was a not-too-subtle warning from the owner of the site insisting on decorum. All else is secondary to that.

Will notice be taken? Perhaps not, but the warning is there (in all caps no less).

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Reply #42 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ultimately, we do have some say on our own message board. No one is going to force anyone to change their behavior. It's just that those who can't participate maturely will not be allowed to post on our forum.

There is a general misconception about "Freedom of Speech". Ones rights end when they infringe upon another's. People who hijack threads, make personal attacks, and so forth are infringing on other people's rights.

Think of this post as a friendly advisory to those who have slowly, IMO, turned this message board into an unpleasant experience. I tend to side with those who have found this message board less friendly and less constructive as of late.
Reply #43 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Right ON! I've been waiting for some one to leash-out on some of the non-sense going on here that has nothing to do with skinning or product help.
Reply #45 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ok, I understand, and please forgive a dumb Englishman on the point about "Freedom Of Speech", and as long as I don't have to change from being a fun loving dummy, I'm fine with what you are trying to do, thanks again

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Reply #46 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Skinnaboy: My understanding is that the topics here are not strictly limited to skinning or product help. Although people help out when they can with various products, I've repeatedly seen people advised that this is message board is not a replacement for the Stardock support newsgroups or direct Stardock product support.

So some "nonsense" i.e., topics not strictly related to skinning or product help are allowed. For example, look at some of the threads Frogboy himself has started.

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Reply #47 from WinCustomize Forums Top
the real problem with product support question threads is when people get upset that they didnt get any support from stardock.

the other point is i get fed up seeing threads called "help", or variants on that theme
Reply #48 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I also see a problem when people expect support for some SD product problem here and get upset when no one here evidently can provide it. Especially if they haven't yet tried the newsgroups and SD support. People here will help out when they can, but this really isn't a dedicated SD support venue.
Reply #49 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Got it, read it, understood it.
I don't post much on these things, only recently started peeking into them. So I don't really know what has been 'happening'.

However, I would like to address River from the first page. Hon, I really doubt that this was about,yesterday, if so-- damn? :not sure: I haven't seen you cause any real trouble, and I haven't either. So don't worry about that.

Now, the other thing, I already commented to you on my comments section for Whisper. But, in case you don't read that one, I'll say it here too, since I read what you posted on this thread. The jist is; S'cool. I don't hate you. I don't think you're a meany, or anything like that. You said what you felt, I said my peace. It's done...

I don't want to take up a ton of space on this thread, so go read my reply or email me.