State of the Forum 09-01-2002

[M. A. Dockter]

Below is a copy of the forum wide annoucment I just created. Feel free to comment and question.

It has been precedent for quite some time now, that I address a multitude of topics as a whole in a forum wide announcement. The past few times I’ve referred to it as a State of the Forum. Although the name is clichéd and somewhat makes a mockery of some of the fine addresses given by past United States Presidents to the annual joint session of Congress, it does address the issues that makeup the state of the forum at the time. The current President of the United States gave the most recent address to a joint session of Congress. Although not a State of the Union address, it touched on that very thing due to the events of September 11th, a day in which none of us will soon forget (unless we have the utter disrespect to the fallen and immorality to our own lives to do so). We all know what happened on that day, and we all know the repercussions and consequences of that day. The mention of this day carries with it many grave emotions; emotions that when stirred can raise the cries of death, cries of sorrow, and cries of sheer and unbridled anger. We must keep in mind that this forum is a Tech Forum. Some things cannot be avoided, and after the date mentioned above we started a temporary forum dealing with the issues at hand. That forum is now closed simply because of the trouble it caused. The emotions that are raised with the topic do not mix well with what we try to provide here at PC Mechanic, a friendly and helpful atmosphere. I am not going to go as far as to say that if we stop providing this, the terrorists win. (I’m afraid that too many people have attached that connotation to things in order to take advantage of people. For example, if you don’t’ buy a new Ford SUV and your wife a diamond tennis bracelet, the terrorists win…) I have my feelings towards 9-11, and I’m sure not many people here know them. Outside of the forum I will speak of them, but the PC Mechanic forums are not the place for them. Having a flag in your avatar is fine, saying “I shall never forget” every once in a while is fine, but starting a new thread about it, or even a new post solely dedicated to it, in the opinion of myself and this forum, is in bad taste. There are many other mediums in which to express yourself on this topic, including a place where you will find a good portion of the same members as PC Mechanic, www.forumclick.com Now that I have said that, please consider yourself all warned. If there is anything the moderators and I feel is in bad taste, the post will be REMOVED and the poster will also be REMOVED. You may consider us heartless bastards for doing such a thing, or even helping the terrorists for trying to suppress the emotions of that date, but remember, if you don’t buy that new SUV or your wife some jewelry…you are helping the terrorists win. We are simply trying to direct posts dealing with the topic to a medium more suited for discussion. Although the moderators and I appreciate members helping other members understand the complex and somewhat different atmosphere of the PC Mechanic forums, we feel that in some cases it has turned into vigilantism. Telling the member what they did was wrong, and reporting the post to a moderator is all that is needed. Along with the helpful atmosphere, we have tried as a group very hard to establish a friendly atmosphere, and 5 to 10 members jumping down the throat of someone for a minor infraction that could be dealt with easily by a moderator once reported is not something that helps promote that atmosphere. From now on, along with dealing with the member being jumped on, we will also deal with the members doing the jumping. As I said before, a simple correction and report to the moderators is all that's needed. Please remember, it's my job to jump down people's throats. I know perfectly well when it's warranted, and in some cases it's not. Please leave the job to me, and let me deal with being taken as the jerk. And, on a final note, even after the last time I brought up this issue, it still seems that most of you fail to realize it’s implications and meaning. Below is an edited version of the last post. As forum administrator, I have the responsibility to keep these forums running smoothly. I am the one that usually does the dirty work such as banishment and member punishment. I create the new forums and I do a lot of behind the scenes work. Because of this, I am sometimes viewed as a jerk or my actions as harsh and intolerant. I am not upset with that, nor does it bother me. If I would have it any other way I don't think I would. I enjoy reading all the posts saying that people are happy to be here, people saying they once again enjoy learning, or got their printer working, and heard from so-and-so that it was a great place. If I have to be a total prick to keep that up, I will do so. I can say with honesty that I only remove the users that I feel will tarnish the environment we have here at PC Mechanic. Although I may act like a jerk here, it’s for what I feel is a good reason. Outside the forum many people think I’m a good guy to talk to. I invite anyone that wants to speak with me outside of the forums to do so. I’m now signed up for all of the major chat clients….Yahoo…ICQ…AIM…MSN….just email me and we can figure something out. Until next time; -Dok

[DilLy]

I am too afraid to comment.
Just kidding.

I am not really sure where all this came from, but it doesn't matter if I do or not. Keep up the good work, I am just glad I am still allowed to post here.

lalalalalalaaaaah.

[AzCoastie]

Ditto what DilLy said!

Dok,

If you were in the military, you'd be what we call the Executive Officer (XO). Often times people think of the XO as the bad guy or gal... Because he or she is holding people accountable for their actions and maintaining the standard as set by regulations. It's a thankless job, but someone has to do it and personally, I'm glad it's you and not me!

Thanks for all the hard work keeping this place what it is... The best PC forum on the net!

[wolfie]

keep up the good work dok
I love this place, this is pretty much the only web site around where you can send your grandmother to and not be embarrassed. sure hope i havent caused to much trouble here

wolfie

[Kubie]

Dok,
I echo the other posters about how you run these forums.
The only thing I see wrong with your letter is that you are not a jerk. You were given a job and you're doing it. I wouldn't want it any other way.
Before I found PC Mechanic, I was a member at the now defunct NoWonder tech site and they didn't have control. There, you would be afraid to ask a tech question for fear of being called stupid and worse. There were some quality members there but not like here.
The few times I may have disagreed with you, I would go back and read the rules. No argument.
Each and every moderator on this site have a commom goal and that is evident by the membership growth.
My hat is off to Drisley and you for maintaining an enjoyable place to visit on the internet.
Carl

[Werewolfdaddy]

This is the best forum on the internet and it's because of the hard work that you and the mods put in. Keep it up, Doc.

[juppy]

Dok,
I gotta agree with Kubie. I've visited several other PC sites and they do seem to come across with the "gee, you're so stupid" attitude when you ask a question. PcMech is not that way and I for one am very appreciative for it. You and the mods do a wonderful job here and frankly I like the way you handle things. Rules are rules and if they're broken, that person should be dealt with. You and the mods do that very well, IMO, and I also would not consider that being a "jerk". I think the only ones that would see you as being a "jerk" are the ones that have been corrected for some rule violation. If so, that's their problem. They'll get over it sooner or later. Keep up the good work.

[TwoRails]

Nice and clearly stated. So much so, in fact, that even I -- someone who normally needs pictures with the text -- can understand it!



TwoRails

[Strider]

The nice thing about this being posted on the net is that there is no 10 minute clapping.

I agree this should be a Tech forum, of course you stated it very clearly and nicely, so no further is need to be said about that. This is a good site to help get started with building a compter or help solving a computer problem and I hope this site will continue to be so.

[HAL9000]

I'm glad everyone is bringing up the no stupid question bit. You're all right. I could care less what the question is that is asked around here, we all started at the bottom. At one time... I didn't know where to plug the mouse in

[M. A. Dockter]

Originally posted by HAL9000 At one time... I didn't know where to plug the mouse in

Just remember HAL, It's the green one right next to the purple one.

[Sauron]

Somehow, I really felt awed when I read that um speech. It was impressive. Got to the point.

And also Dok, there are the quality members and there are the um non-quality members. The quality ones respect and admire you as well as all the mods. Its only the non quality ones that consider you a jerk and a prick. We (quality members) support you as well. And we wouldn't have the forums any other way. Thanks for doing the job you do.

[HAL9000]

Originally posted by M. A. Dockter Just remember HAL, It's the green one right next to the purple one.

I'm talking back before the green and purple

[PardeGT]

PCMech - a place the mods can be proud to run and a place I and other members are proud to be a part of.

[Alaron]

I love that definition PardeGT.

I have to say that Ive never actually been to any other tech site. I have no need to ever leave PcMech. I do not think that any other site would live up to the standards that PcMech holds so high. It is because of those standards that any other site would never appeal to me.

The fast, quality, always polite answers that I and everyone else recieve here at PcMechanic is another reason this is such a great place to be.

As LordPrism said, and I quote "I Love this place!".

[DilLy]

M. A Dockter owns us all !!! Bow before the Hand of Doom!
http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.p...threadid=42685

that was one of the coolest replies/bans I have witnessed. The articulation in making that person look two inches tall, was phenomenal. The way it all just rolled off the tongue was a beautiful thing.

I wish I could ban that guy again, just for the fun of it.