is AO becoming like the nation?

[dark blade]

One simple question, do you think this forum is turning into something more along the lines of the infamous Nation?


Does anyone else think that the "community" has gone downhill in the past few months? I know this thread is going to most likely turn into a huge opinion war. But then again, some of the greatest discussions of all time were all about opinions.

Please take the poll and explain why or why not.



I will start. Personally i know that i have not been here the longest but i have taken to this forum very strongly because of the "old timers" here. I use to be a wanderer on the pot belly nation and over on techpb (for a few days), and then i found this online community and MCB and havent gone back since. I personally think that the standards here are completely different than other forums and as awesome as our mods are, we have an understood set of "rules" that everyone follows. Some may not be posted but many are understood to be there. With this being the case, i feel that many "kids" (and i say this in quotes because me at the age of 19 am most likely a kid to most of the guys here) are coming over from the other nations where they have free reign and do as they wish with no set of standards for how things are done.

We just seem to do things differently here, posting in threads means something, bickering back and forth is done in a mature manner with due respect to the other person and full of respect for the other persons opinions, we prefer courtesy over cash and just over all seem to take better care of the new members here and new mag owners when it comes to tech'ing problems.

Next question is what can we do about this... I dont think there is anything we can do. The only way to stop it is to make a full blown list of written rules and enforce them 100% which here is somewhat left to the members. Yes the mods do a wonderful job of banning on command and issuing warnings and such, but the members here also take a huge part in enforcing rules on our own... especially in the BST.

so basically... i dont think anything can be done, but i certainly think AO is starting to become a MUCH more "public" forum than a bunch of guys who enjoy paintball for what it is, a recreational activity, not so much a competitive sport. Not to say we dont all enjoy getting a little competitive when playing :)

But that is my rant, lets here some other peoples opinions

Dark Blade signing out,
Cheers

[Lohman446]

No, there is no reference to fleshlights at the top of the forum by a moderator - as long as we show some dignity we are, frankly, far superior.

[Karta-mag]

I can actually read what people are selling here in the BST sections, I try to check on PBN and all the stupid symbols and leet speak annoy me so much that I don't bother.

[dark blade]

understood and i agree. However, Aside from the likes of the enforceable rules (those regarding the BST thread titles) and the ads (or lack there of)

Do you think that standards have dropped? lets try to look at this on a more grand scale than just the BST thread titles

[Lohman446]

Standards have dropped but still exist. PBN the rules are basically it, and you can run close to them all the time. Here the moderators have some leeway, and can enforce against behaviour that does not technical violate rules, and you can't buy your way back with an un-ban.

[Old School 626]

This is not the nation, BST threads don't start with "Da Rulez".

[mpsd]

AO Rules!!!

AO is the best PB forum in the world. People here help each other, are honest (by most part) when doing business, the moderators are the best I've ever seen on a public forum and there's no "First Post!" on each and every thread. I still love this community and that's why I access it on a daily basis.

MCB and PBL are equally as good but I still access AO more often.

[flyingpootang]

I think there is a lot of favoritism going on here for classified ads. I posted a thread with a total of 30 plus items and got bumped to the dealer forum stating I broke rule #13. Since then there has been several threads by different users that have been posted with 30-50 items that wasn't moved to the dealer forum. I have nothing against other sellers with large for sale threads, but Mods needs to treat everyone the same.

#13. Selling as a 'hobby' means you are a DEALER so you must use the Dealer section, Bulk selling items means you are a DEALER. Simply selling items you no longer have a use for is allowed but even the most avid paintballer collectors have a finite limit of what is in their closet, so it is very obvious to which 'title' someone is.

[behemoth]

I think people care too much.

If you're worried about the behaivior of your forum co-posters, you need more problems in life.

Each board has its draw, a reason to go there...

I go to MCB for pump and old-gun related things, I go to PBN for information (Belive it or not, if you stay away from ST, and know where to look, there is alot of information there.) And, now that most of the older crew is gone, i only check AO now and again to sell things, make fun of people, and catch up with the old-guard.


PBN is, and always will be a better source of information. If you can look past all the dumb kids (who mostly stay in small talk, and the planet eclipse forums) - you can typically find what information you need by looking in the appropriate places.

I know i hang out in a few areas of PBN, and its because i've found a set group of guys who are good to talk to, and know their stuff when it comes down to it. Also, its FAR MORE active than good ole AO.

AO still remains a hangout for when the oldschool crew comes thru, and a place to pop off some gear - but its not what it was.

To answer your question: No, we'll never be anything like PBN. Its too big, too diverse, and too up to date. AO will remain a quiet place for old timers to talk smack, and laugh at all the new people who have that obnoxious enthusiasm, and think Tom Kaye is Jesus Christ, reborn.

[dark blade]

wait.... you mean........ tom kaye isnt jesus reincarnate?!?

haha just kidding. I have mad respect for what tom kaye did for the sport and all his research. But, i would never consider him a religious idol. Father to my greatest child (my emag) yes... but religious idol no.

and yes, yes i do need more problems in life. Right now my greatest problem is which girl to invite over tonight and whether or not i want the akuma phantom 2 MFR helmet or a shoei rf1000 (not really a problem, more of a dilemma)

[georgeyew]

I don't think that AO will be like PBN. There are enough old timers that are not afraid to call people out when they are out of line. People eventually learn to behave or just leave out of frustration. There is nothing wrong with exercising a little discipline.

[dark blade]

i agree that there is the good group of guys who enforce the rules. My only question and point to others is that why should we/they have to? There was always an occasional enforcing of the rules needed but lately i have been seeing more and more locked threads and edited threads by good old beemer than ever before.

I know that AO will never be the nation, i just wonder how many people feel as though the "morals and values" from the nation are making a feeble attempt at joining our forum.

With the enforcement of our mods and our members i have no doubt that they will either get aggrevated or leave, i just feel as though we should not have to enforce them because we should not be getting "over run" by the likes of the immature sellers on the nation and the infamous small talkers on the nation.

[maniacmechanic]

I don't think our forum is turning into the nation , but I do think we are being infiltrated
do I think that the "community" has gone downhill
yes , but not much , I think the infiltraters are just doing things the way they want to , the Mods do a pretty good job , but they can always use a heads up on potential problems

[dark blade]

certainly, i know we will never BE the nation... but i feel that some of the newer (and surprisingly even older) members are acting as though they have free reign and there arent really rules to follow. Some people seem to love to push the limits of everything and I just feel that this is a too well respected forum to have people pushing people's buttons over here.

[georgeyew]

I know that AO will never be the nation, i just wonder how many people feel as though the "morals and values" from the nation are making a feeble attempt at joining our forum.

I know what you mean. I sometimes do feel like some of the pesky little kids are using AO as a tool to mass advertise their sale items instead of contributing to the knowledge base of the forum. So if we want AO to remain a friendly and educational place to talk paintball, we need to protect it.