Get over it, people

umm...devin?

apple meet tree.

You get the community you foster, I suppose.

Get over what?

Serious question. I don't understand the thread title.
I'm just trying to "fucking relax and communicate".

Now that's uncalled for, Nick.

I'm down with "constructive" stuff. I've just been lurking around long enough to have seen this sort of plea come down the pipes on various occasions. If a person points out that your own people aren't exactly exemplary, that should be a word to the wise, as well. Your main guy is talking about raping Jesus and declaring a cultural jihhad on the front page, for pete's sake. I'm no fundie, but you reap what you sew. Like attracts like.

I feel your pain, though. I don't guess it's that big a deal at the end of it all.

I just want to have more film-centric discussions in the main forums. The only time we really get into it anymore is when something turns political. I love debating politics, but I love talking about movies even more, and we don't really have that anymore. Most film discussions around here rarely go over 50 posts, and when they do a good majority of the time it's because some of the posters get into a fight. And yeah, I'm at fault too.

Bottom line is: this is a film site. Easily the best on the internet. If you're posting here, I'm going to assume (hope) you're here because you love film. So let's drop the bloody wanking and get back to the basics. I don't pretend that there was some time in the past where everything was glorious and everyone treated each other nicely, cause there ain't, but things can be a lot better than they are now.

I think Nick is hitting on me.

Desire to help...rising...

That's actually a really good point. Nick, have you considered abolishing the politics forum? It might force people into more film-related threads rather than just posting some drek in a political free-for-all. And some of the people who are only interested in the free-for-alls might fade away.

Possibly (probably?) not a solution, but a thought. The forum has merit, but might do more harm than good to the overall level of discourse around here.

Oh, it's happened before, just maybe not to the level it's at right now.

And it's probably a good idea to lock this thread and let Nick's words stand without a bunch of crap following it.

CHUD's still a great place, but it's hard not to feel frustrated when films like "Student Bodies" "The Russian Specialist" get more posts than "Malcolm X" and "Midnight Cowboy".

One way you can change this is by making the "Submit Scoops" icon more prominate. As far as I know, it's just a tiny little text link at the bottom of the screen. Put it in the main tool bar at the top (I think the porn link can go, it has long since expired).

I'm sorry about half of that problem, but THE RUSSIAN SPECIALIST is a good flick.

I don't want to name names, but there were some folks who could derail a thread simply by their presence, even if their post was on topic.

I was just thinking yesterday how much I miss the Piss and Vinegar column. This is as close as I've gotten in months. Glad to see Nick again, even if it is in a small manner.

That and everytime I hit the link and send a scoop it always comes back to me as undeliverable. But all of my other emails get sent out fine.

But I agree with Nick here. The forum just seems to be full of so much hate and bickering. The Devin vs. Diva crap is getting old. Ok she posts pointless gossip that you get annoyed with, we get it. Here's an idea.... don't read her posts! Don't repsond to her posts! Stay out of the gossip forum altogether! And everyone else who bickers with her. It's a waste of time and space. I get annoyed trying to shuffle through all the crap in any given thread just to read a comment by someone who's actually attempting to steer the thread back on track only to have it go off again by someone posting crap again.

As somebody who spends a lot of time thinking about politics, and in the politics forum, I don't think the forum's the problem. Its just emblematic of the level of discourse in the country. Getting rid of it is a bad idea.

But if there's anything I can do to make this place better, let me know. Naturally, I think i'm doing just fine, but I see that the politics forum gets a lot of crap from the rest of the forums.

It would be good if you came back, Nick, but do you not think it would smack of arrogance to us that you would suggest we are not good enough for your return?

April 1, 2003-
http://chud.com/forums/showthread.ph...ght=head+state

Deja Vu all over again.
I especially like the part where Nick just can't believe that people want to talk about "a stupid war" that just broke out a week before instead of movies.

Face it, Nick. No matter how many times you yell, you can't force people to behave the way you want them to. Time to pass this board and site over to Devin or someone. You've got plenty of other things to keep you busy, right?

I think part of what he's saying is that it's just not worth his time wading through some of the shit in the threads.

Oh well. Comes with the territory.
You can't open a board to the public, tell them to all contribute and make it their own, then turn around and say, "No! NO! Not like that! You guys suck! What have you done to my board?!"

GET AIDS NOW! needs to post more often.

First of all, he can say whatever he wants.

Second, what's wrong with him suggesting that people try an make an effort to post more intelligently and talk about movies, ON A MOVIE SITE?

As the semi-resident Grumpy Old Fart, I promise to try to contribute more and respond to more front page articles. I've been really lazy and have mostly been in the Games and Politics forums for months now. I still love movies, and read tons of the movie threads, and virtually every main page article, but seldom input anything because, frankly, I just don't feel I have a lot to contribute to the discussions.

Now if you'll pardon me, the nurse is here to change me.

And get off my lawn, etc..

...

I agree here. I drop by these boards when I see an interesting thread and read for a while, but I hardly post because I really don't want my head bitten off by some smug asshole who uses Internet messaging as a way to shit on people. So maybe that makes me a wuss. Yeah, well I'm female most gals can't be bothered with pissing contests.

...not that this is necessarily a gender thing, I'm just sayin'.

Anyway, the CHUD boards are far better than most. But where other boards are juvenille and pointless (aintitcoolnews), CHUD has gotten mean-spirited.

I like a good one-liner insult as much as the next person, and the chewers do that better than anyone, but lately those kinds of comments seem to be delivered more and more with true animosity.

I'll give you an example. Nick, I've never been offended by your posts. They can be funny and biting but I always see them for what they are and I don't take it that seriously. That's delicate balance seems to be missing lately.

One of the older U2 fansites, interference.com, has a MASSIVE set of message boards, and that's usually where I hang out for stimulating conversation. I've seen good discussions here, but always with the threat of hostility around the corner. But I still visit both. Chud is still my homepage.

I dunno, I just wish everyone would be nicer. Does that make me lame? Fuck it, I don't care if it does.

Milkyway-

I'm not laying judgement down on the guy. I don't know him. But he's obviously a childish jackass. That link I posted is from almost exactly three years to this day. Same gripe. Same criticism ignored. You can set your watch by him. I find it very hard not to mock the guy. He barely spends time here except to plug his shitty music or whatever awful comic/movie/blog he never gets off the ground. Or to make lame Andy Rooney rants that have jack-shit to do with movies. Or try to sell ugly bric-a-brak related to all of these nonexistent pipe dreams (A $40 framed print for 11 Colonels Attack? Does he seriously think anyone wants that? Is he that deluded?). Or complain that not enough people are working for him for free writing reviews for DVD's nobody here would ever be interested in (Punky Brewster? Honestly, I know the writers here own DVD's that this audience would like to read about. Review them. He is in NO position to demand that the studios give him free shit. Get a job and invest some cash in this place if he wants it to go further.). Now to top it off, he tells us we have to improve ourselves if he's gonna spend any time here? The ego is unbelievable. Perhaps he should relaunch his Elite Board of like-minded chewers (aka- friends that suck his dick dry). But if you do, Nick, here's a hint- Don't announce it on the Main Boards! People get insulted when they're told they're deliberately being excluded from something, strange but true.
Anyhow, I've gotten away with myself here. Just about everything I just said, while rough, is constructive criticism I and others have offered before. As you say, he can do whatever he wants. But as long as he keeps setting himself up for mockery he has nobody to blame but himself.

Anyway, I had fun with a lot of you guys. Continue to enjoy yourselves after I'm banned.

Well put, actually.

The boards will be what they will be. They are quite the social experiment, no?

I know I don't post here much and haven't been around the boards very long, but I kind of have to disagree with Bob Clark here, albeit respectfully.

I think Nick has every right to speak out on this issue. It's not as if he's threatening to ban everyone or close down the boards; he's merely expressing his dis-satisfaction (sic??) with the tone of the boards.

I think I've begun to develop a bit of a reputation on these boards (amongst the five or so people who read my posts) as a bit of a "Why can't we just be nice to each other? Waaaahh!!" type of guy, so I'll try to refrain from that here.

But I totally agree with Nick. There's very little film discussion, and lots of personal criticism. Maybe it's always been that way, or maybe it's devolved, as some of the "older" posters here maintain. But many of those same "older" posters still seem largely un-interested in film discussion, and quick to ride people from thread to thread, nipping at their flanks like rabid prairie dogs (kind of a cool image).

Obviously, you're never gonna get rid of all the troll types, but we probably could just ignore them and talk film.

Wow. That is one angry rant. You have a lot of personal insults mixed in there and then you claim it is constructive.

Let me address the DVD reviews. As been said many, many times; CHUD reviews what it gets to review. When it's a horrid property like Lizzie McGuire, then it's usually treated like the joke it is. I don't see the difference between reading a review about a stupid property and contributing to a thread about Larry The Cable Guy's next movie.

At any rate, I personally hope you, Bob, do NOT get banned. I think you're funny. And your contribution to the board is normally positive. But I sometimes get the feeling that you want to avenge your friends Otik and Gruber's bannings. That's where I see the actual source of your last post.

Didn't Otik and Gruber get banned over 2 years ago? Way to hold a grudge!

Every night I pour some out for Otik and Gruber.

No, it really was something that's needed saying for quite some time now.

And that's just a stupid policy as far as I'm concerned. Instead of sitting back and waiting to see whatever dreck falls into it's lap, CHUD should actively search out and acquire DVD's that are of interest to it's audience. Word of mouth spreads to other like-minded folks and a more film-oriented community grows.

It just the cult of personality taking over. Sure, the site's focus is movies, and it doesn't make sense for anyone on here to not want to talk about movies. But if you spend any significant amount of time on the boards, the personalities tend to be what you remember (along with the snarky film criticism.)

I have no problem with Nick stirring up the Chewers. Its his site. Sure its public, but there's nothing wrong with wrangling the masses. Frankly, I think a site with public registration needs to have its ass kicked every once in awhile. Otherwise you end up with, uh, AICN talkbacks?

Agreed! I bet if you wrote up a review on one of your favorite DVDs, got some screencaps and sent it in, you could get it on the main page. I'd be willing to help you with formatting. You'd be a great addition to the crew.

Bob's post certainly does seem angry, but to pass it off as bitterness over ex-chewers seems a useful way to avoid its content.

Also, starting this thread seems to be an excellent example of the type of thing Nick is complaining about in this thread.

Okay, Bob's rant has a few valid points.

I did some articles for Creature Corner but I have very little time to be a reliable contributer. I only get to post here because my job responsibilities allow numerous little pockets of time. Beyond that, I'm completely booked.
If I could do more than criticize, I would though.

If there's something us Chewers get and want to review, we pass it by the heads and they yea or nea it. It's not like it isn't an option, but our obligation is to the studios send us stuff on a daily basis.

I think Nick is just calling for a little more decorum on the boards, something we should all listen to.

I love CHUD, it's the only messageboard I am actively involved in, for whatever that's worth. I came here for the great front page, and stayed for the often intelligent and humorous discussion on the boards.

What is annoying is the constant chest thumping, and need for some to separate their selves into supposed Chewer Superior, and actively trying to push away those they deem below them.

Why shouldn't Nick try to sell his wares on his website? If I started a popular website and had a chance to make some extra cash in order to help feed my family, damn straight I would.

BobClark, this isn't an attack on you, or anyone personally.

Dude, were you Dr. Weirdskull?

Yeah, that was me. And just writing those two articles was a bigger strain on my schedule than I expected. I would love to do more stuff like that, but alas...

Fuck decorum. In the four (five?) years I've been here, this place has always had it share of bullies and morons and attention-whores and freaks and people with personal beefs. That's what keeps CHUD fun.

The abundance of snark isn't responsible for the lack of good discussion, because the two have existed hand-in-hand plenty of times in the past. If the discussions suck at the moment, it's because a lot of the guys with interesting opinions were driven away by people who were stupid or, worse, dull. No big deal; they'll be replaced. They always are.

In the meantime, wildly hypocritical threads like this probably aren't helping matters.

But they are fun.

For what it's worth, I agree with every sentiment in BobClark's "rant".

While CHUD has always had its share of sarcastic people, it's only recently that the sarcasm has turned into snarkiness. The difference is that a sarcastic person uses wit and humor to insult someone, whereas a snarky person is just an irritable, short-tempered ass. It's quite unfortunate that a lot of Chewers these days relish being snarky. It does nothing to promote discussion and that's presumably why everyone joined these boards in the first place. I used to take part in a lot of the bitch-fests, but realized its really not worth my time interacting with these people. As such, I now heavily utilize the Ignore feature and the past few months on these boards have been blissful. I encourage others to do the same. As Nick mentioned, most of these folks just want attention. Just don't give them any.