Things have definitely changed around here, and not for the best. My personal *****sment of the situation is it started with the bashing of a certain carnival operator, who shall remain nameless (hint: choo choo)[;)]. Over the course of the bashing, things degenerated to the point where I stopped posting for 2 weeks, and gave serious consideration to stopping posting altogether. Thankfully, things improved somewhat, but the damage has already been done. However, I do believe that the MCW Message Board can return to the way it used to be, that is, a place to positively discuss the carnival biz and modeling, provided that those of us here make an effort to do so.
The games of late go totally against the idea behind the board. This is a DISCUSSION forum. If no one shares anything, how can we discuss it? If it is something that cannot be publicly discussed, for one reason or another, then it should not be brought up, especially if it is going to be brought up as a teasing, "I know something you don't know" type of post. Mark asked a simple question regarding Neverland, the desired response got lost so badly in the firestorm, that I attempted to get the topic back on track to his original question. I think the attempt succeeded. Unfortunately, the positives got lost in the firestorm.
Mark makes a very valid point that the kind of crap that has been going on can kill a board. Lots of the posters here probably don't realize that this board costs Matt and secret.squirrel real money to keep going. They have been generous enough to supply the forum for us to gather at out of their own time and money. They certainly do not have to keep doing it.
I encourage everyone to post your questions, and DON'T let the issues that are ongoing affect your willingness to ask them. I don't care if someone asks the stupidest question in the world -- the fact that they asked the question is reason enough to help them out and provide the best answer I can supply, provided I know something about what they are asking. Someone here will know the answer, or will be able to point them in the direction of where they can find the answer. If we do this, and keep the facts and the opinions separate and differentiated, I think a lot of the friction around here will go away.
I encourage EVERYONE to work a little more at getting the board back to what it once was. Let's cut out the BS, leave the games to the agents out in the joints and their marks, and have a bunch of great discussions. No sense in turning this board into a place where folks looking to discuss things feel intimidated, harassed, badgered, and bullied. I hate to keep posting this type of response to this type of post, so let's make this the last time I have to do it, okay?
That's my two cents worth, like it or not. I'm gonna make the effort, so please join me. Comments, questions -- let 'em rip.[:)]
Chris
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." - Lao-Tsu
"Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase." - Martin Luther King Jr.
"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." - Robert F. Kennedy