Virgil

I am probably the last person you want to hear from, since I rarely participate in anything serious on this forum and since my blog is all personal ranting, but here's what I think: I think the topics in General Chat have been very boring lately and I don't post there anymore. In fact, I rarely feel compelled to post anywhere other than blogs. I remember back when I looked forward to logging on but now I don't because it's not so stimulating anymore. Unfortunately, I don't seem to be one who can start a long-lasting, fun-to-read, discussion-provoking thread so maybe you better come up with some decent thread topics Virgil.

Yes, the gen chat section has gone a bit downhill recently - especially with the love advice stuff - There do seem to be a few threads which are just joking between 2 people and would work better (not to mention declutter the forum) as PM's. So, I just ignore the threads like that and continue lurking and learning in the other sections. Every once in a while tho' there does appear a thread worth reading in the Gen Chat area, just appears to be increasing in time period between & how quickly they disappear into the recesses.

I'm with you. I keep checking who is on and what they are talking about, but it's nothing much to do with literature. But I thought that it was just me wanting to only talk about what I'm reading or have just read or am just about to read. I find myself more in the blogs than in the chat section. I'm always glad to see young people, but I'd like to see a discussion like pets in literature or love advice from literature or or anti-Semitism in literature or Religion in literature- you get the idea.

You know, I recently made a comment in the What are you thinking thread that is directly related to this.

Hey thanks guys. I'm glad it's not just me. And Shalot if i can think of an interesting chat subject I will. A thought just occurred to me. Now I'm wondering what the "are there "natural" women on the forum" thread is about. They aren't talking about breast augmentation, do you think? I should go and check.

Here I thought that I've been missing some great discussions in my absence:) I hope they get a bit better soon. I'm looking foward to just having the time to participate in the book club again.

Dont worry Virgil, I havent posted as much in the gen chat lately either. When i log in these days all i can think is "Oh god! what type of pointless thread is there going to be today!" And its practically the same people all the time setting up the threads so that the forum is getting crowded with their threads. The only reason why a thread about platypus's got set up is because i merged their original thread about the paranormal in with an already exsisting thread and they got a bit pissed off. How does one go from the paranormal (quite the scientific discussion) to Platypuses i dont understand. Maybe what we should all do is go back over the forum and revive all the threads we think where worth having in the forum. Whos with me!!!!!

But boring people need love too, right Virg? (-; So let the boring people focus on each other, and let us interesting people console ourselves in company. PERSONALLY, I NEVER check the Gen Chat section - the only time I used it was when I needed help on my statement of purpose but could not find a more appropriate forum for that material. I stick with the poetry and writing sections and will occasionally venture into the poets section if something catches my eye or the philosophical section if, in an act of absolute masochism, I wish to suffer a migraine. PS: It's not your responsibility to make someone an interesting person - if they don't wish to be interesting, then who are you to try and make them?

I hear what you are saying, Virgil -- one would have to be blind to not notice your examples. Sadly, I am guilty of 'cluttering' LitNet, as Kilted has pointed out. Not that he is pointing at me, but in that countdown to 10,000 i have lots of silly banter going on. Apologies from me extended on those who find me frivolous.

Oh I think the same, exactly the same---and I'll probably disappear one of these days, or months. I guess it's habit that leads us back and the few here that make the site worth returning to. I've posted a number of excerpts of thoughtful articles from contemporary poetry mags only to have them go with zero responses and yet the scores of threads like you mentioned rack up thousands of comments. I think it testifies to the fact that colleges are in part to blame for turning out more and more lit and creative writing majors that lack a serious interest in the craft. I notice a lot of folks out in the forum dropping names of books they've read but have little or nothing to say when it comes to the discussions. It makes me wonder. //I think it's sort of silly too that I post a poem -- take my recent one about Mrs. Dalloway for example -- that includes a slight profanity which is automaticaly blocked out with astericks. C'mon, what are we talking about people, is this a literature site or amusement park? And most of the time I don't even bother to leave a comment in the philosophy/lit sections for the reason that a portion is bound to be censored. What this site should consider doing is to separate the experienced poetry/writing from the...beginner's. There should be say a novice "workshop" thread for newbies or poets who would like pointers. As it stands now, poems are all lumped together and I constantly find myself having to sift through threads that all sound THE SAME. For example, I viewed almost a dozen poems the other day before I discovered JTParreira's Plath/Hughes poem that had something interesting to say. And hey, sometimes I don't mind goofing in general chat or leaving comments for the novice work, but at least simplify the process rather than deter serious writers from participating altogether. Another issue is the clicks that form and leaders of them who do a lot of backslapping, and more often strive to slyly ostracize members who won't march in step. It's very childish and I and some other members I know refuse to play that game. As far as the general chat section, it's a total joke. There's such garbage in there these days that it's painful to actually locate anything interesting. That's another area that needs creative-thinking management. And please don't think I'm talking down to members, belittling the poets out there, or criticizing the staff, I'm just stating my opinion based on my two years here.

I am saddened by Niamh's comment. I only made ONE thread which was a joke and you attack me while you say nothing about people who post DAILY stupid threads. This is unfair. I am certainly not a stupid person. It's not because one posts ONE joke that one is stupid and not interested in serious discussion.

Niamh, I think the problem runs much deeper than that. Sweets has a point about the imbecilitiy of the daily posts, not just the one or two you mention. I'm seeing dozens and dozens of nonsense flowing thru General Chat, and this has been the case for a while now. I see your point about reviving the old, meaningful threads to counterbalance, but they will drown in the swamp because of the frequency of the former postings. I suggest that the site remedy this problem by creating a goofy section---yes, call the thread, GOOFING---for those postings and a legitimate "general chat" section, e.g. weather, how are you feeling, music, etc.

Well, I will gladly tell you to rant and rave away if you want to! Heaven knows I did it a few times! And it will probably happen again in the future! Everyone is entitled to do so every now and then! I admit to getting into little "jokes" once in awhile, but that is generally something I do with what I am posting anyway (meaning, I may just add that little extra comment in with my post). If I spend any time over at the General Chat area, it is in the games. I admit to that. I hardly post anything in there otherwise. I know that I have not been here as long as others, but I can admit to the fact that I have noticed a change in there lately. Sure I had fun in a couple of the threads, but then it is done. I noticed more and more the advice on love threads and silly polls and other threads like that. I just don't care about that kind of stuff. It gets old very fast. I will admit to being disappointed when I come on here and those seem to be the only topics with new posts in them. I am also disappointed in the lack of discussions in some of the threads for the authors. I try to come up with something to discuss, but I am generally blank. So, I always hope that someone else will come up with something interesting. It rarely ever seems to happen! So, I do agree with you. It just seems to be nothing but frivolous conversations. By the way, Virgil, does it look like the Shakespeare discussions will be starting up again?

I want to reply specifically to Niamh's comment (#7) where she tactlessly and in my opinion unfairly singled out Sweets America's Playpus thread in citing those that were objectionable. Prior to that, Niamh, you referred to people who post thread after thread whereas surely you ought to have noticed that the Platypus thread was the only one that Sweets had ever posted in General chat. It was meant humorously and surely there is room for that even in a forum dedicated to more serious matters?

As it happens - and as you can judge from her replies to many threads in the Personal Poetry forum - Sweets takes this site, and literature in general, very seriously and has interesting things to say, things which are always put forward with courtesy and respect for the originators of the thread, qualities I wish you had extended to her.

An apology to her would be in order.

No offense Princemyshkin, but I think Sweets could say, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it the way you took it. It was a joke. I didn't realise that it would be taken the way it was." To which Niamh could say, "Hell, Its OK, I didn't mean to offend you with my comment." I personally agree with Niamh. Niamh is a moderator....Sweets is a member...sweets acted like a child, and Niamh acted like an adult. Virgil is right about the decline in the threads...sweets thread WAS a sophmoric, childish, and pointless thread... NOW while my blood is up. The worst culprit is the one who has a fan club, that he started, and that he has roughly 45% of the posts on... Maybe we could flood him with PM's to see if he will pay attention. He tells me to lighten up....lighten up when his posts have offended everyone on the forum with the exception of one or two people that post on his vanity club. It is too bad that much of the forum is contaminated by childishness. I did manage to get rid of the "Count to 10,000 thread" only to have some newbie that won't be around when its over with start the "Countdown From 10,000"thread (oh boy what creativity, and then they post numbers with dots.) , and then complain when i don't play. I don't know what the answer is, but I think the blogs are my safe haven. If someone posts dumb things...I can totally avoid it. I kind of hope that there is a button to ignore blogs...I would love that. Also I can, although I have never had the need to delete another persons comments. Anyways, my close friends all seem to be writing, commenting, and blogging anyways. The blog has become THE place where Lit-Net is for me. Very good topic Virgil, Thanks. B

Oh and Prince Myshkin...Standing up and defending someone when they are guilty is honorable....demanding an apology is well, overstepping it. Lighten up.

It's ok, I don't want any apology, I don't want to receive anything from you all. Ok I can be responsible for every problem that has happened on this forum if you like. Make me what you want to make me, what can I say? I have posted intelligent things, contrary to other members. People have found me nice once, I remember. They liked my answers to their poems and sometimes liked my own poems. Now there is ONE problem, and sudddenly they forget about everything else and focus on one thread. I am so disgusted. B-mental, I have written a PM to Niamh to explain to her that this had been the first and last thread of that kind that I would make, and that it was only a joke. Niamh was wrong in singling-out my thread, this was just unfair. I explained to Virgil that I agreed with what he said here. I still agree with him. Now if he wants to do like the others and put all the fault on me, he is free to do it. There is nothing I can do about that.

Your thread was pointed out as one of many...quit the drama queen routine please...no one is making you out to be a villain...there was nothing unfair in it....just let bygones be bygones. I don't question you or your good insights on many topics, but there was a slip up. There are or is people or a person that is much more culpable than you. Please accept this digital hug from me as a gesture of forgiveness on all sides. Ok, smile, B

Hey I didn't mean for anyone to fight. The platypus thread in and of itself was funny and enjoyable. All the chat threads in a way are fun. I remember having a lot of fun with Stan's pirate ship thread. But in the last week or two they chat threads were all so overwhelming. Just too many at once and they went on forever. I really wasn't intending to stop them. People enjoy them, and I do too. But it seemed like the primary purpose of the forum became silly banter, rather than literature. Let me suggest the opposite. Literature as primary and fun chatting as a side. That's all. Sweets I wouldn't want you to change, nor am I criticizing you. And I wouldn't want Lote to change either. He's a fun guy, but those threads seemed to go on forever. And then a similar one would just start up and that would go on forever. When there are a 100 posts between two or three people in a day, who's going to read through them? But I've noticed these things go in cycles. We get into periods where we do this. This wasn't the first time. For all I know Admin may want these endless threads. Does it make the site larger?

Right on, and that's why I'm saying the admins ought to consider separating the outrageously goofy threads that apparently serve a useful function or else hundreds wouldn't be responding---like Lote's fan club---from the simply general chat topics.