Social issues

[archie]

Dear fellow Members, there are several social issues that occur daily. The PCMech forums, as it currently stands as per rule #4, are meant to deal with C+, CD, BIOS, BSOD, HDD, HTML, NIC, NOS, RAM, etc ... it's a place to escape from the many wrongs of the world and deal with simpler matters ... because regardless of how you look at it, the PC technical problems are 'simple matters' when it all comes down to it.
After dealing with the current discussions, may we go back to discussing these simple technical problems.

[freptide]

hear hear! Lets talk about stuff we can learn from. Enough of the vice
crap. I feel like I just went to an AA meeting.

[justbarron]

Not to offend, but isn't that what the General dicussion forum is for....General Discussion? Why not just remove it from the PCMech forums?

[Carl Price]

Archie, I'm not for that idea in the least, I quote from the tag on the general discussion thread. "General Discussion--Got a Rant or a Rave about something? Got a discussion you wanna carry on? Post it here!" Seems to be pretty general to me. I like getting thoughts and suggestions and feelings from you guys. The marijuana thread going on right now is great. If we were impairing the tech support threads, it would be another matter, but we aren't so why not indulge the people who do not think tech 100% of the time.

[glc]

Carl: We hear ya, but the powers that be would rather see wide open no holds barred discussions on social and other issues over at Forumclick. The last thing we want to do is chase members away, but PC Mech *is* first and foremost a *tech* forum. We accomodate off-topic discussions the best we can, but must occasionally draw the line at something.

[Pythagorean]

Well, after only a very meager number of posts, I feel like this thread is a slap on the wrist directed at me. I was misled by the header that reads: "General Discussion--Got a Rant or a Rave about something? Got a discussion you wanna carry on? Post it here!" My intention was really not to delve into the details of my personal relations, rather, to hear people's attitudes towards giving and receiving gifts. I chose this forum because unlike so many others, the posts have civility and thoughtfulness I have not commonly found.

I apologise for my indescretion.

[glc]

sabina: Please, no apology necessary, and you certainly did not commit an indiscretion!

[HAL9000]

Sambina, I agree with GLC as well. I guess we have a bit of a grey area here. While the General Discussion forum states "Got a Rant or a Rave about something? Got a discussion you wanna carry on? Post it here!", the forum rules kinda contradict it with "This is a computer related forum, so please keep conversations to technical topics, and stay away from political and religious debates."

Definitely no fault of your own. Hang around for a while and welcome to PCMECH.

[SARGE]

Yeah, I even get away with talking about aliens and ufo's occasionally, or critters in the attic knocking over empty coke cans. We've all been slapped on the wrist - some harder than others.

[Gintaras]

I prolly got "wrong BIOS Flash in my head", but:

Why sabina's post got involved here even I think it's very good for General discussion. Her post is very credible(IMHO, although- I'm against commercialisation in family).

Why there was defense from mods discussing drug issue?

I just guess that discuss drugs on PC Mech is more important than personal/family issues.
If so, maybe we should start discussing sex. ?

[troysvihl]

as long as the subject title is clearly labeled, what's the big deal? Then users can skip any topics they don't want to read.

[Carl Price]

Originally posted by HAL9000 Sambina, I agree with GLC as well. I guess we have a bit of a grey area here. While the General Discussion forum states "Got a Rant or a Rave about something? Got a discussion you wanna carry on? Post it here!", the forum rules kinda contradict it with "This is a computer related forum, so please keep conversations to technical topics, and stay away from political and religious debates." Definitely no fault of your own. Hang around for a while and welcome to PCMECH.

Then why are you, Toaster, Archie and other mods (GLC is not there) willing and active participants in the "snow" thread. I did not read a single post regarding tech in that thread yet none of you suggested that you get off that subject. .

GlC comes in with this from the marijuana thread "but I personally don't see a problem with this discussion as long as nobody PROMOTES illegal activities. Let's try to keep the discussion within those guidelines, please.

I'll not call any names but this sure seems hypocritical to me. Either make it a rule that "nothing" besides tech gets discussed or allow it all. Otherwise someone gets to pick and choose what is allowed

I repeat myself from a previous post. "If we are impairing the tech support threads, it would be another matter, but we aren't so why not indulge the people who do not think tech 100% of the time.

[justbarron]

Second that Carl. I have only been a member a short time and it's nice every once and awhile to break from all the tech talk. But, there are alot of posts from those names not mentioned in the "non-tech" discussions that go on here every day. Personally, I enjoy the general discussion just as much as all the rest of the forums and would hate to see it go, but I guess if it doesn't seem fitting to have these kinds of discussions, then why don't the mods get rid of the general discussion forum for good?

justbarron

[archie]

I suppose you guys are right about having some discussions on social issues in the General Discussion forum ... this was not meant to single out any one thread in particular. There's always the option to hit the back button if the members do not wish to participate in these types of discussions.

[justbarron]

How true.

[HAL9000]

Originally posted by Carl Price Then why are you, Toaster, Archie and other mods (GLC is not there) willing and active participants in the "snow" thread. I did not read a single post regarding tech in that thread yet none of you suggested that you get off that subject. .

I think you misudnerstand me Carl. I see nothing wrong with the snow/marijuana/Sambina threads. Seems to me that I have thrown my share of non-tech related garbage in here as well and will continue to do so in the future. I am merely pointing out that there is a "wording" issue happening here. Going by the title of General Discussion, anything goes, going by forum rules, it must be tech related. Personally, I lean towards the general discussion idea and that topics that tend to get rather heated or beat to death such as politics should go to Forumclick where truely, anything goes.

I don't think that I have ever stated that anyone should get off of these topics, so why am I being labeled a hypocrit?

[Carl Price]

I apologize Hal. I did not see a position one way or the other. You made a post in there that was contra to what you said.

Quote "I guess we have a bit of a grey area here. While the General Discussion forum states "Got a Rant or a Rave about something? Got a discussion you wanna carry on? Post it here!", the forum rules kinda contradict it with "This is a computer related forum, so please keep conversations to technical topics, and stay away from political and religious debates."

[HAL9000]

OK, I can see how you read it, what I was trying to convey to our readers is the contradiction between the two, not to enforce one over the other.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Well, first let me apologize if I ever posted an irrelevant post. Guess I misunderstood the title "General Forum".

Second, I want to thank all of the PC Mech members for the help I've received from them.

Third, I'm one of those persons that don't think tech 100% of the time, and this General Forum has been a place where I get to know better the members of this forum, learn from them and benefit from their opinions and ideas which are not always computer related. To me this General Forum has been the place where we members can forget about computers for a moment and become social with each other (I'm not talking about knowing other's life or to invade your privacy) as we are humans and tend to look for the company or attention from other humans. Take a look at the Gallery; we're all human beings!! (You're really not that machine HAL, right? )

Well, I know that if I want to chit-chat then I would be better going to a chat room and talk 'bout my social issues there. Yeah, I've done it before and the reason why I sometimes speak my mind in the General Forum is that, like Sabina stated, the people here is polite and have civility and thoughtfulness, things that are foreign to most chat rooms and other forums on the 'Net.

And, BTW, Sabina you committed no indiscretion. I've talked 'bout my personal feelings and problems here (just look at the "Childish hobby" post) and have recieved excellent support from many members.

I know that maybe ForumClick is the place to go for this social things, I've registered in that forum already, but I think that most of the members here are not there yet.

Another reason why I chose this forum to talk 'bout things not-PC-related, is that being a lonely person myself, I've been unable to find people down here who understands much of what I do or what I feel; and since all of us have something in common (the love for computers) and I've discovered that some of us have more things in common aside from that, I said to myself: God! I've finally find my people!

Knowing that religious and political matters are a dangerous terrain, I've kept myself from talking about it since I don't want to offend anyone or be the poison apple that spoils the bunch. But I think that aside from those topics it would be OK to talk 'bout other things as well as computers.

In fact, I'm no one to tell the mods what they should do, but this General Forum along with the Members Gallery are the things that make feel "at home in PC Mech", and I feel sad at the thought that this fine site would crack because of misunderstandings, flamings and personal attacks. C'mon let's sort this out and be all friends!

I don't know what will you mods decide about the General Forum's fate, you can be sure I'll respect your decisions and behave like the rules demand. And I apologize again if any of my posts made someone feel bad.

Best regards,
Henry, Nuke Krusader.

[justbarron]

Here Here Henry!!! Apologies all around to the mods for any offenses or wrong "sayings"

justbarron

[SARGE]

I've only seen 1, maybe 2 members post things that were downright ugly; they're not here anymore. The mods are tops in my book. Almost every topic has been discussed here and when it gets going a little warm, someone, even a plain old member, steps in to advise caution. Some threads get closed if it gets out of hand. Having a mature audience really helps PCMech stand out from the rest. You get tech help by some of the best and even shoot the bull over here. I like that.

[DrZaius]

I can't help but feel partially responsible for these problems that have stemmed from the "drug" thread, as I have made my share of posts in it. I rarely ever post in "social debates" and I should have learned from previous political threads that it can only lead to hurt feelings and general problems, but I really felt the need to post my opinion on the matter. Suffice to say, I won't be posting in General Discussion anymore.

[audiyoda]

My turn. While the header does say: "Got a Rant or a Rave about something? Got a discussion you wanna carry on? Post it here!", the header on the marquee is PC Mechanic. Rants and raves are one thing but discussions dealing with a variety or moral implications and feelings are another. If Sarge wants to tell us all that he's fed up with DSL (rant/rave), cool. If someone wants to ask why type of audio equipment to buy, great. But these moral debates don't lead anywhere but to more debates -- no one here is going to change their minds regarding any morality-based topic based on someone elses argument. It just won't happen. What will happen is people will start to get upset or feel discriminated against when others berate their opinion(s). But in the end, it's all opinion. So who really gives a flying fart if you think weed is cool/legal/stupid or overblown? It's your opinion, and by starting a thread like that one (not just that one, there are and have been others), all you are doing is trying to justify to yourself that your opinion is correct by either getting others to agree with you, or by saying to yourself that those that disagree don't see your point.

RANT OVER!

-Craig

[Kubie]

Dr.Z,
Always enjoy your posts. Don't quit posting on this forum, just pick and choose.

audiyoda,
I couldn't agree more. Well said.


Carl

[lpc300]

Hi all,

One of the reasons I like the 'General Discussion' forum is it allows us to get to know each other, a little, beyond the techie stuff. Puts a little more 'substance' to the responses. People stop being words on a computer screen and begin to be people. You start feeling like you KNOW the people, posting.This is why, though I've been to a lot of forums/newsgroups, I have not yet seen one as considerate, kind, or friendly as PCMech.

I also think the moderators do a great job of keeping things kind.

[Jenni]

If we stuck to things PC related only, we would have no need for a "General Discussion" forum. EVERY PC related problem could be listed under one of the "PC" catagories. Fed up with DSL? Post in WWW. Hate Word? Post in General Software. Windows sucks? Post in one of the Windows forums. Ripped off by online shopping? WWW forum.

I personally like the "off topic" posts. This site is well moderated, and has mature members. Everywhere else I've been, post always degenerate into flame wars and name calling. What's the harm in a well-regulated "true" general discussion forum?

[archie]

Nothing is going to change in the General Discussion forum TTBOMK ... if any changes occur, it will be with the wording of rule #4.

[morriswindgate]

THe way I see it, you should first list your system specs, then reset your video card and RAM, then if that doesn't cure this problem. Scrape the tape off your heatsink and put some Artic Silver II on it and reinstall. Next you sould alway check the device manager so that when your modem ends up on com 4 you will be able to raise hell with Comcast for not haveing USB ports on your NIC card. And because of this you can't network to find out if AMD is better than Intel even after you updated your 4 in 1 drivers. Then you find out that you're are not stable unless you are using an Intel Cpu running on a real Intel board using Rambus memory for the Maximum number of PC Chips motherboard questions, relating to the whether I would be better off running XP, 98,98SE , ME, NT and 2000 all at the same time to have the maximum please running the latest games and software when the BSOD causes me to take a hammer to my computer.
And with that I totally agree with everybody who has posted on the subject, whatever it is I think that I covered it, with the exception of the fact that I am still not sure which burning software makes better coasters. Now it's covered.

[SARGE]

Huh??

[Carl Price]

Originally posted by SARGE Huh??

Heh Heh Heh, Morris covered it all. There is no more need for Tech Support.