Mission Statement

[SAW]

Buy/Sell/Trade: Yes, we ALL love deals. But honestly is an X-Valve at 175 USD shipped with ULT is that not a deal enough? Why do I see them at 125 USD shipped with ULT? Intelliframes at 45 USD shipped, RIDICULOUS.
Why are we selling items for CHEAPER than they are made for?

As teuf stated earlier: That is, and should be IMO, out of our control (as a community that is). It is simply the effect of a free economy.

Intelligent Conversation: Where has this gone? Can we not use our brains anymore? I remember when reading posts I could see intelligence and thought put into replies, now I mostly see useless information that can simply be found with a search button.

We are on the same page here: currently the unintelligent, trivial conversations outweigh the practical and thought-provoking threads. I have been able to discover some good debates within my (regretfully short) stay on AO. Examples: Lohman's "Criminal Neg." thread. Although I myself have not posted in the said debate, I enjoy reading the thought processes within. Heck, reading posts have only increased my desire to meet some of you this season at various events (Splatterpark, D-Day, AO-OH).
I have always tried to keep my posts at an intelligent and unconfrontational level. So all this doom and gloom of the "invasion of the PBN crowd" scare is unfounded, at least in my case.

I have seeked assistance within AO on multiple occasions, and have found an answer to every single problem. Case and point: a friend was having trouble with his CF Hyperframe. I checked on the web, no game. However, when I finally did a search on AO, I discovered Hitech's FAQ. Problem solved, one more point to AO. Now granted that is one example, there is a wealth of information within these pages/members: you just have to look hard enough.

Thanks for a great post CM, I will be watching this thread for a long time.

[Steelrat]

Problems that We Can Fix:

Buy/Sell/Trade: Yes, we ALL love deals. But honestly is an X-Valve at 175 USD shipped with ULT is that not a deal enough? Why do I see them at 125 USD shipped with ULT? Intelliframes at 45 USD shipped, RIDICULOUS.
Why are we selling items for CHEAPER than they are made for?


-ClassicMagger

Because some people don't know what an item is worth, don't care if they loose money on a deal, and don't want to work at wringing every last cent from a deal. Sadly, it only takes a few cheap sales to undermine the resale on an item or marker. And the whole pricing structure in the resale market is, well, odd. A DYE trix can be had cheap, but an older trix with a squid milled in the side of it (entity trix) is one of the most valuable markers out there. I think the problem with the market is that it is too volitile to accurately predict what will gain and in value and what will drop. Thats why I've been trying to chill out on trading lately, especially now that I have a setup that makes me smile all the time

[tippmannsniper-]

my view is that this whole GOTM problem is causing hostility and anger and a "separation" between the forum. people are siding with who they think should run the GOTM and looking down on the oposing side.basicly our forum has become a "political" argument


i dont know if can understand what im trying to say but my general view is that we should get rid of gotm for a period of time to see how everthing works out, if we get rid of it and if the forum gets even worse we will bring it back

but it is a step in seeing the forum unite and to get rid of the "my idea is better than yours" attitude

[Target Practice]

to get rid of the "my idea is better than yours" attitude

Why? Let's face it. Some people are stupid. It's a fact. Why should we coddle the morons? There are a couple of posters who come to mind. They have completely meaningless and trite threads, polls we've seen scores of times, and they ask the same questions over and over again. I've asked it before, and I'll ask it again...why should we have to deal with it? Why should we have to deal with stupidity, bad grammar, and poor spelling?

We shouldn't.

[SAW]

I don't know, that kind of acceptance seems to be the thing-to-do these days...

[Target Practice]

I don't know, that kind of acceptance seems to be the thing-to-do these days...

And? That doesn't make it right.

[nuclear zombie]

my view is that this whole GOTM problem is causing hostility and anger and a "separation" between the forum. people are siding with who they think should run the GOTM and looking down on the oposing side.basicly our forum has become a "political" argument


i dont know if can understand what im trying to say but my general view is that we should get rid of gotm for a period of time to see how everthing works out, if we get rid of it and if the forum gets even worse we will bring it back

but it is a step in seeing the forum unite and to get rid of the "my idea is better than yours" attitude

I think it's causing more of a seperation between those who do and don't care about the "GOTM" I don't think it's the problem more of a symptom, of a clash of the two overall mentalities usually found in paintball .

[tsc]

It doesn't matter if it's the thing 'to do'.

It's like keeping the stupid uncle around that hits on all of the aunts and gets drunk and embarases everyone. If he's not invited to family events anymore, you'll feel a whoooole lot better about your family.

Same thing here. Why should the 'elder' members of the family need to deal with the new young kids screwing everything up? A few years ago you'd be flamed for using some of the grammar/spelling that MOST people on these boards do...and more often than not, after being flamed, the offending person changed how they wrote-- and were much more warmly recieved. The new AO coddles the stupid people and makes it impossible for the good members to be seen through all of the dreck.

I think there need to be two new rules.
1.) Proper (or as close to it as possible) grammar and spelling. If you don't spell well? Open up word, type your post in there, then run the spellchecker. Instant IQ points! It makes the boards look better, it makes our posters look better.

2.) Don't be a jerk. If you wouldn't act like that towards your mom, don't act like it here. This includes thinly veiled threats, flames, and possibly offensive phrases. If you're a jerk, you get ONE (1) warning. Then you get banned for a day or two. It's a simple rule. Don't be a jerk.

But, I'm a nobody. So hey.

[Duzzy]

And? That doesn't make it right.

I think it has to do with fear. Everyone is afraid to be labeled. You insult someone who is different than you and you are labeled a "hater" or whatever kind. The "PC" thing to do in this society is to put up with everything whether right or not. People of the majority are afraid, because there is no way to win. Everything you do can be held against you. But you are right, it doesn't make it right.

[SAW]

And? That doesn't make it right.

Yes, but society today isn't focused on what's "right", now is it?

Just because I identify the other side doesn't necessarily translate into support. Personally, I'd take the old morals over today's 10 times out of 10.

[tippmannsniper-]

It doesn't matter if it's the thing 'to do'.

It's like keeping the stupid uncle around that hits on all of the aunts and gets drunk and embarases everyone. If he's not invited to family events anymore, you'll feel a whoooole lot better about your family.

Same thing here. Why should the 'elder' members of the family need to deal with the new young kids screwing everything up? A few years ago you'd be flamed for using some of the grammar/spelling that MOST people on these boards do...and more often than not, after being flamed, the offending person changed how they wrote-- and were much more warmly recieved. The new AO coddles the stupid people and makes it impossible for the good members to be seen through all of the dreck.

I think there need to be two new rules.
1.) Proper (or as close to it as possible) grammar and spelling. If you don't spell well? Open up word, type your post in there, then run the spellchecker. Instant IQ points! It makes the boards look better, it makes our posters look better.

2.) Don't be a jerk. If you wouldn't act like that towards your mom, don't act like it here. This includes thinly veiled threats, flames, and possibly offensive phrases. If you're a jerk, you get ONE (1) warning. Then you get banned for a day or two. It's a simple rule. Don't be a jerk.

But, I'm a nobody. So hey.

thats exactly my point, and i totally agree with you on the rules

[tsc]

Yes, but society today isn't focused on what's "right", now is it?

Um.

Yes it is.

Do you not have cable? Do you not watch the news? People get sued right and left over what's PC and not, and over what's okay to say to who, when, where, and why.

Society right now is very focused on maintaining the status quo.

[thorn]

well, ive only been here since august. i am also a constant member of pbn under zio7, but if i want a good, intellegent, conversation that doesn't go as follows:

"Please discuss this issue"

and all hell breaks loose on the next post:

"OMFGLOL HE SAID DISCUSS!! TAHT MEANS HE IS TEH_GHEY!! JAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHALOL, yBgai4, n00b? im teh aggsorz! u r teh gheyn00b! u got pwned jack@$$! ahhalol"

now is that necesarry^? no. so when i want an intellegent conversation to see the 2 sides of a story, and unbiased review, etc, etc, etc, i come here. i love this forum.

[SAW]

Do you not have cable? Do you not watch the news? People get sued right and left over what's PC and not, and over what's okay to say to who, when, where, and why.

Society right now is very focused on maintaining the status quo.

I, for one, do not see the legal system as a steady upholder of impeccable morals.

But that's just my opinion.

[Blennidae]

I think there need to be two new rules.
1.) Proper (or as close to it as possible) grammar and spelling. If you don't spell well? Open up word, type your post in there, then run the spellchecker. Instant IQ points! It makes the boards look better, it makes our posters look better.

2.) Don't be a jerk. If you wouldn't act like that towards your mom, don't act like it here. This includes thinly veiled threats, flames, and possibly offensive phrases. If you're a jerk, you get ONE (1) warning. Then you get banned for a day or two. It's a simple rule. Don't be a jerk.

But, I'm a nobody. So hey.

I can fully agree with #1, but to be fair, not everyone is great at writing. I don't mind the occasional typo, but I do not care to read the huge posts that are just one big sentance. Who gets to make the call on the "just a typo", and someone who just doesn't care?

As for #2, I think this is (or at least should be) common sense, but again, who gets to make the call on this? We have rules against flaming, but one persons jerk, is another persons "assertive" personality.

I think the two rules would benefit AO, but would be hard to enforce. The ones we currently have seem to be interpreted differently depending on various situations.