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Don't Panic

Yes, because what this place really needs is more "Traveller Purity". :smirk:

If there is a change afoot, then I hope it is a meaningful and positive change. A friendlier and more welcoming attitude all around would be a nice start.

What it needs for the real website to open up again, so I can converse with the rest of the Traveller community.
 
What it needs for the real website to open up again, so I can converse with the rest of the Traveller community.

What "real website" are you referring to?

From what I understand, many people have been actively driven away from CotI by the actions and attitudes of the owners, moderators and of regulars here; just look at the Mongoose board here to see the kind of hostility that is directed at that edition of the game. I myself have been very unimpressed with the attitudes of some people on this board and have pretty much given up on it; the only reason that I am still here is to see if this supposed "change" is going to actually make it worthwhile to remain. Otherwise, I would much rather read and post to Mongoose's Traveller board, which is more friendly and less bogged down in canon and curmudgeonry.
 
What I've noticed is that there are a relative few bad apples compared to other game boards I've visited. Those boards tend to be hard core war game BBSes, as opposed to the mixed flavor you find find here. The heated arguments that have flared on this BBS are flashes in a great big pan compared some of the massive flame wars I've seen elsewhere.

I'm of the opinion that most of the usual posters are posting on some other BBS that represent this website. I want access to that.

Hell, my home is my own personal cell. Why would I think this place any different?
 
I must say that this "big annoucement" seems to have been rather bungled. Among all the noise in this thread, the mod announcements seem to have been along the lines of:

Mods: "Everything is under control"
General reaction: "huh?"
Mods: "Something is going to happen here, trust us, it's really cool"
Mods: "Any minute now!"
Mods: "Well, that should have worked"
Mods: "Hey look, new banner picture!"
General reaction: "yay?"
Mods: "Um..."
Mods: "Don't look at us, we don't know what the delay is..."

Come on, this has been going on for over a week; whatever it is, just spit it out. My guess is that CotI is under new ownership, since the banner doesn't mention QLI anymore. Am I on the right track?

Probably, given the sunset. My guess is they're waiting for Hunter to make an announcement...
 
What I've noticed is that there are a relative few bad apples compared to other game boards I've visited. Those boards tend to be hard core war game BBSes, as opposed to the mixed flavor you find find here. The heated arguments that have flared on this BBS are flashes in a great big pan compared some of the massive flame wars I've seen elsewhere.

I'm of the opinion that most of the usual posters are posting on some other BBS that represent this website. I want access to that.

There are quite a few posters here who participate at the SJG open Traveller boards, and quite a few who participate on Mongoose's boards.

But this board has no "hidden master board" that I'm aware of... tho' I've seen a lot of posters reference threads on the other boards. At times, that gives a sense that it's just a smaller part of a larger community.
 
From what I understand, many people have been actively driven away from CotI by the actions and attitudes of the owners, moderators and of regulars here;
From what I understand, a few people claim that this is the case.

...just look at the Mongoose board here to see the kind of hostility that is directed at that edition of the game.
Yes, do. Look at it properly. You'll find some intemperate language in primary posts that critizise Mongoose, though nowhere near anything it is claimed to be. You'll also find lots and lots of harsh posts that blame people for their hostility, followed by angry responses, escalating to... a moderate level of hostility towards those claims that sometimes do exceed the bounds.



Hans
 
Here we go again.

From what I understand, many people have been actively driven away from CotI by the actions and attitudes of the owners, moderators and of regulars here.

Well, I can tell you that I've been on this board since 2001, and until last year, I've never had to put a single person on Ignore. Now, I have about 20 people on Ignore - most of which don't frequent this board any longer. So, from my point of view, a bunch of troublemakers showed up, caused some problems, cried foul because they weren't given the right-of-way that they thought they deserved and took their balls and left (if they had any to begin with). No one was 'driven away'.

Don't believe everything you hear. Especially on the Internet.
 
Here we go again.



Well, I can tell you that I've been on this board since 2001, and until last year, I've never had to put a single person on Ignore. Now, I have about 20 people on Ignore - most of which don't frequent this board any longer. So, from my point of view, a bunch of troublemakers showed up, caused some problems, cried foul because they weren't given the right-of-way that they thought they deserved and took their balls and left (if they had any to begin with). No one was 'driven away'.

Don't believe everything you hear. Especially on the Internet.

A bastion of sanity in the war-zone of the insane.

Still, the activity drop on this board over the last three to five years has been profound to say the lest. I mean, there can't be that much of a shift in lack of interest. But that's just me. The people who used to be be here, the grognards and gear heads, the people I interacted with, were highly civil.

But now they're gone. I'm hoping the new upcoming transformation will beckon them hither.
 
Please, let's not get into an argument about who did what. I'd like to put all that behind us, and move forward into the broad, sunlit uplands of a new era of peace and harmony...
 
Don't believe everything you hear. Especially on the Internet.

First, your anecdotal good experience doesn't negate what I've seen and experienced here.

Second, I've gone back and looked at some of the old threads here, particularly locked ones on the Mongoose boards, and more often than not I really cannot blame the people who were banned/driven off for the problems. I see a fundamental, systemic attitude problem on the part of some of the regulars and some of the mods on this board, and because of that I would not recommend this place to anyone looking to get into Traveller.

There has to be a really major shift in attitude and atmosphere here for me to recommend it to anybody.
 
A bastion of sanity in the war-zone of the insane.

Thanks! :)

EDIT: I think I might have to jump ship, tho. I hear that 1 out of the 46 forums on this board may have had some problems on it in the past. Soooo scary. (Sorry for the sarcasm, just had to put something into perspective)
 
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EDIT: I think I might have to jump ship, tho. I hear that 1 out of the 46 forums on this board may have had some problems on it in the past. Soooo scary. (Sorry for the sarcasm, just had to put something into perspective)

Look, if you're happy here, then stay; nobody's stopping you if you find enjoyment in the place. But scorning and mocking others who aren't happy here, and who have had experiences to cause them to be unhappy here, does not make you look very good. People have different thresholds and tolerances, maybe you should respect that.

Frankly, it's that kind of sarcasm and snark that tends to drive people away in the first place.
 
There has to be a really major shift in attitude and atmosphere here for me to recommend it to anybody.

In which direction? Should we stifle all criticism, no matter how valid? Or let them say whatever they like, no matter how offensive?

Personally, I'd rather continue trying to find a happy middle ground, but whatever we do we'll upset someone.
 
I'd like to put all that behind us, and move forward into the broad, sunlit uplands of a new era of peace and harmony...

Ah, peace and harmony.
The light of twin moons rising from the horizon.
My ButlerBot serving drinks.
My arm around my lady companion in skin-tight space spandex.
The wind blowing her hair and the angel bugs singing.

The Pirate Pinnace racing towards me with guns blazing...

Wait, what?

Do Traveller and 'peace and harmony' really go together?

:rofl:
 
Thanks! :)

EDIT: I think I might have to jump ship, tho. I hear that 1 out of the 46 forums on this board may have had some problems on it in the past. Soooo scary. (Sorry for the sarcasm, just had to put something into perspective)

Dude, at least throw me a grav belt or something.... wait, new Traveller piece of equipment I just thought of... the Grav-Life-Line! Woohoo! I'm a genius :)

Seriously, I want to play this game again. Hopefully locally, and with real honest to goodness gamers. Hopefully getting this site up and running again will help push things in that direction.
 
We interrupt this programme with some light music.....

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In which direction? Should we stifle all criticism, no matter how valid? Or let them say whatever they like, no matter how offensive?

I would say that you just need to start applying the same rules in a fair manner to everyone. It seems clear to me that some of the regulars here are allowed to get away with doing a lot of things that would warrant warnings or banning, just because they're regulars or friends of the mods. And on top of that, mods don't apply the rules in the same way; one just launches into automated warnings at the drop of a hat, while others at least take the time to talk to the person before doing that.

I am certainly not suggesting that all criticism should be banned. Criticism is perfectly fine, but IMO it crosses the line when it gets vitriolic, lecturing, insulting, and filled with snarkiness and sarcasm. Saying "I didn't like it, it wasn't to my taste, and here's why:" is perfectly acceptable, but launching into a bold-faced screed about it and about how the publishers are "getting it wrong" or "should know better" or will "⌧ it up" should not be acceptable. What galls me is that people hide behind the claim that they're being "honest, frank, or blunt" but they're really just hiding behind an excuse to be offensive, bitter, mean-spirited, and nasty. The tone and spirit of the criticism is the issue here rather than the criticism itself, and that tone is exactly the kind of thing that drives people away. Stop tolerating that behavior and maybe people might start saying something positive about the place elsewhere and start coming back.

Because of all this, the Mongoose board here is a no-go zone for anyone who actually wants to talk positively about the game and I've never heard anyone say anything positive about the Mongoose board here; frankly it also offers a lot less than Mongoose's own Traveller board offers. I am not even sure why there is a Mongoose board on CotI to start with, or an SJG one for that matter since they have their own board too. Maybe you should consider removing them completely if there is going to be a forum reshuffle?
 
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Because of all this, the Mongoose board here is a no-go zone for anyone who actually wants to talk positively about the game

I've talked positively about the game on the Mongoose forum on this board and know several people who have as well. I've also talked critically about one of the books I bought that I didn't think was up to a good standard (I won't mention which one - it's irrelevant to the conversation). So, did you actually read EVERY post? Or just the ones someone bitched about on another board? Because you obviously missed the positive ones.

I've never heard anyone say anything positive about the Mongoose board here

Again, don't believe everything you read. Also, 1 forum out of 46 doesn't make the whole board bad.

You've made it quite clear that you aren't happy here. You've also made it clear that you know of another place on the Internet where you would be happy. So, I have to wonder - why are you still here? Are you just trying to make trouble? I mean the two pages of thread-crapping is telling me that you either want to rain on everyone else's parade who does enjoy it here or you're just not getting that you can stop typing here and pick up where you left off over at Mongoosepublishing.com

:oo:
 
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