Just wanted to say thanks to the MR guys and gals for gettin the forum back up.[:D][:D]
I was beginning to suffer from withdrawal symptoms over the weeked without the MR forum to go to. But locking it over the weekend was one sure way of preventing unwanted vulgarities and name-calling posts.
Thanks to Kalmbach for reconsidering their action and reactivating the forums.
I’m guessing that the boardroom will be buzzing with ideas all this week on what to do to prevent further abuses.
yes, thanks so much!
I had to branch out so much over the weekend, but I did get in touch with a few people.
Matthew
Yeah, I actually had to do some modeling! Darn![;)]
[:D][:D][:D] THANK YOU!
Bergie, and Kalmbach, have my undieing gratitude.
Well done, folks! Well done!
Darrell, quiet…for now
Good thing it came back when it did. There was so much panic going around the other boards that I thought someone was bound to throw themselves off a building if it was down much longer… [:O][;)][(-D]
Thanks. I am trying the other forum but am used to this, so if the other posters of Pics and advice return, I will probably stay here. For one thing I know how to post pics here.
So what was the deal? I figured it had to be something big for them to shut down the forums, but I was hoping they’d at least have a note saying what the problem was.
We’ll eventually find out what happened - I hope (I’m so curious I can’t stand it…).
I’m just glad we’re back up and running again. I actually missed you guys.
Tracklayer [:D]
Glad to see forum back up. Placed a lengthy comment, @ 0955 today, here:
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=6&TOPIC_ID=46337
Yes, thanks so much. I was also getting withdrawal symptoms. i have gathered alot of info here and been able to leave some for others as well. Thanks again. Joey
I agree…it’s so great to have the forum back. God forbid we’d have to go out and find some people to speak with face-to-face. Ain’t going to happen. Whenever I meet some guy at a local hobby shop and or at a train show and try to get a friendship going, it doesn’t work. I’ve invited several guys over to see my layout and that was the last time I’ve seen them. I don’t know if it’s my face, my 285 lb. stature, or just the fact that people have become so isolated and accustomed to their cyberspace acquaintances that they are just plain scared of “real” people.
I think it’s actually more than that, without trying to sound like a psychiatrist. Face-to-face requires more of a specific time commitment and we all hear how “busy” everyone is. “Oh, I was going to call you but then my dog had to go to the vet”…“my kids had a baseball game”…I didn’t get your message because that darn answer machine light went out and I didn’t know you called" (we model railroaders know that LED’s last forever), but I had a friend who actually tried that excuse…that his answer machine LED light went out.
Bottome-line, the days of my parents generation are gone; you know, the post WWII generation…those folks who actually interacted with friends on a regular basis, playing cards on Friday nights, going to dances on Saturday nights with groups of friends. Of course, my parents didn’t own a DVD player, computer, and other gadgets that have helped to isolate us. They needed their friends and cherished the moments with them.
You probably can tell that I’m feeling a little lonely this Monday morning. But, luckily I’ve got you guys to “talk” to.
Mondo
Yea. Thanks and all, but I will say I got more done on my layout this weekend than in the last two months. Started the track for the new layout, built about 5 BB’s and got half way done on my Tyco/Mantua Mikado.(not looking forward to that running gear[:O])
Anyway…Thanks for forceing me to work on my trains.[:D]
Yes, it’s good to see the forum back up, for sure.
However, our alternative hang-out: http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/index.php? has a much more granualar organization and in coming back here I find all the mishmash of threads together in the general discussion area is more annoying than I expected.
At first, not having us all hang out in one topic at the other place was a bit disorienting, but then the general discussion section on this other forum became much easier to take because it wasn’t such a chaotic mish-mash of threads all in one place. It truly was just general chit-chat.
I’m hoping one thing MR does is reconsider how they have this forum structured. At the moment, it’s structured to make it super-easy to administer, but not very easy to have meaningful discussions about the hobby. I feel like I’m in a big room, hollering across it trying to carry on a conversation, and getting drowned out with all the din in the room.
I’m thinking there ought to be some sort of happy medium where we can have a more granualar topic structure, but still keep admin easier.
If we’re all in one big room, it does make it easier for the trolls to have an effect, since they can throw one smoke bomb into this one big room and get us all. With more topics, their smoke-bomb tactics would be more diluted and many of us might not even notice.
I didn’t think I’d feel that way until I left this place for a weekend. Funny how that works …
I’m glad the forums are back up and running, but I’m still hoping to hear some sort of official explanation of (1) why it was completely locked with barely any advance notice and (2) what permanent changes, if any, are actually planned. We can’t have this sort of thing keep on happening…
Thank you for taking care of the problem. In today’s technology savy world, all it takes is one “bad apple” to disrupt an very useful tool for sharing thoughts and ideas. Given the open nature of access to these forums, I have wondered why trolling has never become an issue before. If it means that the forumns need to be made “secure”, then I think that the active members will have no objections. I know at least that I wuold not object.
Again, thank you very much for hosting such informative forums and I hope that the members all use these forums for their intended purpose and for nothing elese.
Hey Mondo. It just so happens I’m one of those old fashion type people you mentioned. I still like hanging out with “real people”, playing cards on Friday nights, etc. But I know a lot of people that use to be that way that aren
As all the others have said, Thank You MR, Bergie and the others that have us back online this morning. This forum is my favorite place online! You are to be commended for your work keeping this place the friendly and “G” rated place that it is!
Thank You again!
Ray
I’ll have to agree with Ken. I hope we get some kind of explanation out of this, and let us know if they are any changes coming. Again, thanks for bringing the forum back up.
Stan.