I'd say it's more like a neighbor who keeps their kitchen filthy and you keep peering through the window and complaining about it.:rolleyes:

By the way, you need to quit leaving your dishes in the sink.

Chuck Norris is a republican.
Nuff said.

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/4...8371f014vt.jpg

Perhaps, but the filthy kitchen attracts vermin which then hang out in the rest of the neighborhood :p

I stopped visiting Pelican a long while ago because, like some other forums it's at an "unpleasant" stage in it's childhood. Sorta like the terrible-two's or something.

I have this theory that special-interest forums go through phases. At a certain phase polarization in various elements (notably politics) abounds and some really interesting debates and exchanges take place. Participants are exploring each other's ideas and swapping information and views in an increasingly heated, yet fundamentally respectful manner.

But the next phase is domination by a critical mass (in the Pelican case - conservative middle-age male attitudes/perspectives) and increasing rancor and intolerance from the most outspoken of the participants. Rational debate of ideas or exchange of information becomes almost impossible. Mob rules apply. Sarcasm is the main mode of communication.

Pelican OT is permanently stuck there it seems.

The random pics thread is still good entertainment - the rest, not so much.

Someone else noticed the degradation, maybe there is hope.

This is what happens when the mods slant the table. Maybe the table needs to be fixed - ya think?

No politics on 9/11/2008, a excellent suggestion.

Let's do it.

Hope, and change too. Don't forget change. One is meaningless without the other. OK, they are both meaningless but they have a nice ring to them, almost mezmorizing, in a hypnotic kind of way ............................

The mods didn't slant the table, that's ridiculous. A couple lefty-clowns went too far and got slapped but they asked for it. If the mods did slant the table would probably be in your favor, but they have shown a great deal of restraint lately.

Maybe you are just upset about getting hit back?

So, in this growth stage of PPOT, would those "conservative middle-age males" be considered infants, children, or ultimately mentally and emotionally challenged? ;)

Interesting; I see just as many "dirty hands" on both sides, FWIW.

And . . . off we go into the usual territory.

This thread provides a nice map on how the journey begins and perhaps can be studied. :)

Let's talk about religion. :)

math is hard!!!

http://bp3.blogger.com/_UNwiC2Z1c9g/...arbie+math.jpg

As the scorpion says: "It's in my nature." SmileWavy

Maybe what you don't like is being a moderator? i wouldn't want to read all the crap in PPOT myself BUT that's the job right?

PPOT is what it is. An ever changing conglomeration of random topics that reflect current events and popular thinking. It is the sum of it's parts; said parts being a bunch of degenerate Porsche owners. Whining (and that IS what some of you are doing) about the current trend in topics is like calling the weather man to complain about the weather.

Now if we could just get rid of the FEWC guys...........

No offense, but you haven't been around that long. The place has changed, especially over the past year or so imho. But places change, things (d)evolve, and life goes on. I suppose it is tilting at windmills...

I'm not saying it doesn't get pretty idiotic from time to time (and racist and lord knows what else) but I don't see it changing unless mods put a clamp on it. Such a clamp seems anti-Wayne.

By contrast check out eary S's 'off topic'. Chuck is keenly aware of the nonsense that can take place when certain subjects are broached and the place is remarkably well behaved. I'm glad for that which probably proves your point.

Just go ahead and creat the 'politics only' sub-forum and let 'er rip. You guys will be busy for a while moving threads but i'm guessing you'd be quite pleased with the outcome.

I can promise complete and full cooperation from my end. By mid-afternoon tomorrow I intend to be at an elevation of about 6000 in the Goat Rocks Wilderness area of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. I will have neither a computer, nor WiFi reception. You guys won't hear from me until at least Monday.

The sub forum idea has been floated by various people but it isn't an option. Wayne doesn't like the idea, and actually i don't either. I think that having a single OT place is just fine, and I certainly don't want to be chasing political threads and moving them. Plus lots of topics have political aspects that creep in and having to sort that would be a nightmare.

In the past the community has been pretty good about self-policing. And I'm not opposed to political discussions in general. One thing that has been the hallmark of this place over the years is the sense of humor and diversity of interests and opinions. imho some of that has gone by the wayside replaced by "one-trick pony" posts/threads/attitudes with little humor or creative thought. If it sounds like I'm whining I apologize, but it stems from actually giving a crap about this place and the people who are here. In the past this community has done great things and I count many here as close friends, even though most I've never met in person. It just feels like some of that spirit has gone, replaced instead by shrill voices on both sides and a lack of respect. As a mod I can't really police that very much except when it goes over the edge. We have a policy of trying to stay mostly hands off. And when we do step in (almost always at the request of another member), it becomes a no-win. Invariably some will claim bias, often in both directions. Maybe I just should extend my "vacation"...

Your new Fortress of Solitude, I presume.

Everyone here that thinks this election year is worse than 4 years ago needs to go back and do a search. Believe me the Clinton/Bush bashing was every bit as bad as the bashing this year. Same threats and insults by both sides on this board. Only difference is that the candidates started campaigning so much earlier which translated over to the political threads on this board starting earlier. November will be a month of gloating for the winners and then things will go back to normal where we are once again more interested in boobs and ass than politicians. As is should be.