What happened to AO?

[Lohman446]

So, looking back on it, you would have disagreed with those actions given what you know now?

In hindsight, it cost us a great deal of the "brain trust" of AO. I don't blame everything on it, but it was a time that I can point to that contributed to today. At the time, it was the appropriate action, we were fighting the influx of... well, I should say we were fighting the degeneration of AO at the time. There were some examples made, and the mods, charged with fully enforcing the rules, did not have a lot of choice. They did what was right AT THE TIME. I would still support it, at the time, but would like to think that perhaps its time to reconsider, not as the mods actions as unjust, but as time to move on, and let the past be the past, and perhaps forgive those involved.

The action, was not worth the cost. They were right at the time, I question if stickign to that decision now, is right.

[phantomhitman]

I can recall when many of the people who seem to post only for amusement, posted in the "great post of history" that were helpful and insightful. They were, to some degree, what AO was.

exactly what i said and think (except i called them all knuckleheads)
There is definately still groups of people with the most known being completely full of bs. Just as we both said they do nothing that helps anyone in anyway. Its like they are measuring e-penis' with each other to see who is cooler by seeing who can post the most retarded, off topic, off the wall crap they can muster up.

[Steelrat]

i miss you, ryan

Corey, my man! I sure do miss you guys out there. Seems like the old gang has just kinda moved on

AND I heard about VT closing down, major bummer

[Steelrat]

I hate to say this, because I agreed with the actions of the mods, but I always expected cooler heads would prevail given enough time. Thats been some time... and well, the mods have won, they drew the line.

It was, and always will be, a perfect example of over reaction by the mods. Notice how myself and Ricker are really the last of the NorCal group from those days still actively participating in the forum? Ever wonder why that is?

[spacedtedybear]

It was, and always will be, a perfect example of over reaction by the mods. Notice how myself and Ricker are really the last of the NorCal group from those days still actively participating in the forum? Ever wonder why that is?

Because some of us are still in school, trying to earn a degree that will someday land us a job that does not require flipping of burgers. Personally, not much has been happening here that has been really worthwhile to respond to. Every forum has it's ups and downs. I guess this is one of those down times.

P.S I would have made some comment about your mom, but *sniff* it's just not the same.

[Lohman446]

It was, and always will be, a perfect example of over reaction by the mods. Notice how myself and Ricker are really the last of the NorCal group from those days still actively participating in the forum? Ever wonder why that is?

It wasn't an overreaction, it was enforcing the rules... It was what AO wanted, was a super moderated forum so that everything stayed on track, sterile and boring... You're not going to find me calling the original action wrong... it was just costly.

[Steelrat]

It wasn't an overreaction, it was enforcing the rules... It was what AO wanted, was a super moderated forum so that everything stayed on track, sterile and boring... You're not going to find me calling the original action wrong... it was just costly.

Do you even know what happened? The whole genesis of the blowout was the fact that a mod was violating a rule and getting away with it, whereas one of the Norcal group got banned for a rules violation. It might just be me, but in my book, I'd label that as "wrong."

I do agree with you about it being costly, though. There norcal group was full of mag fans before the blowout. I don't know how connected it was to the blowout, but a lot of them dumped their mags afterwards, including one of the biggest mag fans of them all, Z-man. Not only that, but most of them have since stopped posting.

[Target Practice]

Do you even know what happened?

Unfortunately, this is one of the major problems. The vast majority of people assume they know more then they actually do, and they feel that they are able to make judgements on what they "know" to be true.

Only a few actually know what happend, but nobody wants to believe what went on, so they just hear what they want to hear.

Edit: I'm also refering to the events that transpired in March.

[Lohman446]

I have an idea what happened... without having 100% of the story. And I do not put the blame on one group or the other, I understand that there was an ongoing issue between many of the people involved.

Let me say this SteelRat, I know more than you are giving me credit for, maybe not everything. I don't have a way to justify the actions of everyone involved around it...

I agreed with the action as it was taken at the time it was taken, it was almost a get control of the situtation. I even agreed with upholding it for some time to simmer things down, even though it seemed a heavy handed way of doing so.

It did, we got rid of the controversy, we lost a lot of people who were very valuable to do it, and in the end, AO was less of a place. Those that stayed, seem to have quit trying to make it a better place and concentrated on amusement. I don't blame anyone for it. The sad thing is, I think that it was shortsighted... not that I really think anyone could have seen the cost. In the end, it cost to much... the mods regained control, and then we went to a less moderated forum. The mods barely participate anymore...

Perhaps one of the answers is moer active moderators, I have no idea what it is anymore. But things surely are not getting better, and even bringing back LPB would not fix the situation. I don't know how interlocked the different groups are... but things have not gotten better since then.

[GT]

....and in reality everyone loses.

Its time..............

[WicKeD_WaYz]

Your right.

I miss the old AO....

[shartley]

[Maghog]

Has anyone else noticed that Warped1 is posting all kinds of new threads to follow up on this one. It's as though he's looking to prove a point by getting flamed for something so he can say, "I told you so." I can't see any other motive behind his posts.
He started this thread complaining about posts lacking substance, then he goes asking "What's your favorite company?" or, "What's your favorite gun?" and so on as if that's never been asked before. Seems odd to be falling victim to your own rant no?
Looking through this thread, I see a lot of people with multiple thousands of posts under their belt, a lot of irritation and disgust. There is such a thing as "burn out" you know, and it looks like it's getting contageous.
Sure AO has different people participating now as compared to a few years ago, and in another two years it will be different again. Hell, I wish paintball never entered the speedball arena and would have stayed in the woods, but even if I don't like the change, I'm accepting it. Paintball is always evolving, and the 15 year olds of today will be 30 tomorrow, complaining about how things used to be on the field as well as the forums.
One thing is for certain, if the animosity keeps growing as it has been, then we're all just going to be grumpy and ignorant some day. I suppose it's a reflection of the way the industry has come to treat the customer base: cold and distant.
My consolation is knowing that when I go out in the woods with the same friends that I did 15 years ago, paintball is still the same.

[Lohman446]

To some point I agree. We were floating around in a happily semi-moderated enviromnent, and yes, rules got broken here and there and were overlooked. Paintball talk held interesting topics of discussion, and the "for amusement only" posts tended to stay in Friendly Corner. Its important to note though, at that point, we beleived something was wrong, and were trying to fix it. A decision seems to have been made to enforce the rules more clearly and yes, I realize there was an ongoing feud.

Unfortunately enforcement of those rules, in a situation where there was already animosity held between various groups and individuals, caused all sorts of... issues where some people felt the rules where enforced differently towards them, or there clique, and towards others. Now, I see boths sides of the argument here - I have seen the examples, and I beleive that there may have been a different interpertation of the rules applied based on the individual they were applied to. I don't know that either side was in the wrong in there actions and reactions.

Regardless, it left AO less than it was before because of it. We are back to a semi-moderated state where the mods seem only present in the worst cases of problems by members (except scamming and spamming where they can act instantly without consideration). It seems we are back to semi-moderation and moderation dependent on the individuals involved. This is not a slight towards the moderators at all, they act as they see best, and while I may not always agree, as has been noted, I also do not have all the access to the information they do. There is no attempt here to make AO a lesser place. I don't think I would like an AO that was strictly moderated with no consideration of the individuals involved. I think a lot of people made that decision themselves a long time ago.

Many people simply no longer care if they are banned or not. Well they don't blatantly disregard any rule they (and I should include myself) have no problem using AO for amusement rather than entertainment. Look how quickly threads can turn from a serious question to comedy or whatever. The thing is, ban all those involved, and AO is less than it was again, I for one cannot deny the good that these same people have brought to AO.

Whats the answer? Does bringing back a banned member who was, though not necessarily the cause of the problems, a symbol of them fix things? The sad thing is, I don't think so. Does making new moderators fix things? Again, we have moderators who have put a tempo to this forum, that people are comfortable with. New moderators take time to work in, and to get wtih the flow, and cause there own waves as they do. So, it seems to me, that cannot be the answer. Do we ask members of the "old guard" to post with more seriousness? Do they even bother to read the forums if we do? What is the cost of loosing them entirely? I think members are important to how AO was, and to some degree how AO is. Frankly, if it was not for there amusement, how many people would be bored with AO and not bother reading?

[slade]

damn, i havent seen cryer for a long time...

That sounds good. I came here for information and all I find are pastry recipes

youll get used to it.

hey, maybe ill throw in a recipe too!

how to make toast:

1) buy a freestyle
2)
3) toast!

Hah!
Actually buddy, if you talk to Azaam--and i know you do-- ask him about it, you'll find that he was banned for HIS posts!
Ask him sometime and get it right :)

hmm. i thought it was at least partially because of what i said via AIM that he posted.

/still has never been banned.