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[Tommy]

I agree in that we need to (re)engage the users of this forum.

Perhaps more competitions of things like who can take the best picture of one of their awards? Not even for prizes, just to get people doing things again.

There are plenty things out there to learn, but questions will only arise when they need to be asked. Sometimes there just isn't a lot to talk about...

This post is of absolutely no use to the discussion really, but i imagine lots of users have dropped off because they have simply run out of things to say.

[CtahhR]

4 in the last 2 years including Bundtrock and Kiwiussr.

There would have been many a competition, as before, but including free (physical) prizes if there had not been detractors distracting from the forum.

Who would prefer this forum to cease existence?

[Tommy]

I don't think anyone would wish that the forum would cease to exist, it is far too much of a useful and valuable trove of information for that to happen.

"I really don't have anything to prove to the whole universe, about my - modest - knowledge, collection, financial means and culture..."

Sebastien, i think we all need to remember that these are the things we should be all celebrating! Our knowledge, collections and culture. Not justify, but share. Between us, we have all seen a lot of different things, stored many weird and wonderful facts in our heads. This place shouldn't just be about awards, but a place to swap stories and pass the time too.

[desantnik]

Gentlemen,

Allow me a meander b/c that apparently seems to be the only commonality of this thread.

It started as a reanimated dirtbag's perceived, or dare I suggest, self-inflicted, feigned grievances. I've seen the evidence and yes, he's the same person so please disregard him. Another option is to "like" him like another lurker whose only contribution seems to be a similar psychological(?) condition - reliving past pain and better yet, sadistically spraying it around on everyone else. Am I the only one that finds this abnormal?

After being subjected to a label of dictator, let me propose the inmates have become the diktatura.

This is Art's site, and by the way, he can be a dictator if and when he chooses. We moderators and super contributor "dictators" are like any organization in which we have our personal contributions and opinions, even differing ones, but in the end everyone I've encountered rightfully backs Art even if disagrees. I myself subjected myself to Art's banning and never looked back, but at least one other person still can't get over it.

If you don't like things here, do some soul searching.
1. Do you pay member dues? If not, consider leaving and be thankful for all the free experience you got. If you have a conscience, then pay the modest $20, then you at least have a voice and skin in the game.

2. Do you find yourself contributing or complaining more? If complaining, then consider leaving. If contributing, then good on you and keep it up (and consider becoming a paying member). Then your voice has greater weight, but at the end of the day, Art is still the boss.

3. Are you a member and do you contribute - then great job! Have you brought your constructive criticism to a moderator's or Art's attention or do you splay out your personal pain in public and keep picking at the scab? If so, then please consider leaving and I will personally refund $10 if you promise never to return.

This has been and is a constructive place an the best site for Soviet and increasingly Soviet-bloc/Socialist awards...but apparently not Nationalist Socialist. At the end of the day, this is a social site for hopefully positive and educational social interaction. I must admit my admiration for one person in particular who has rejuvinated and/or expanded my, and hopefully, our apertures. Get off his case and get your revenge - post more and more interesting things then he has. Then sit back and wait for the sniping...

If you have problems with transliteration, editing, post deletion, and/or the whole host of complaints, see the above list and then finally ask yourself - don't I have something better to do like kiss my wife/girlfriend/kids, read a book, buy another Soviet piece off eBay (and then ask everyone here if it's real), etc. If you feel so compelled, then again, leave. Please, you will feel better and so will everyone else. And if you do, don't come back until you are ready to accept the conditions.

This site is a leader and has been around a long time. It is visited by a whole host of people: new collectors; people looking for help that will never return; long-time members who leave out of interest (or sometimes death unfortunately), boredom, or whatever reason; and those who stay...and hopefully pay to continue their and other's enjoyment.

Think about it. If you want to positively contribute - then stay (and hopefully put your money where your mouth is, but that's your choice). If coming here provides pain like it starting to do to me, consider leaving. If you can do better, then go for it. I guarantee you'll reap all the "benefits," some real, but probably most sarcastic. If this is such a bad place, why do people, even banned people and people who do nothing but criticize KEEP COMING BACK?!

Bottom line folks - put things in perspective. If this is a net benefit, then be thankful and share whatever you can. If a net loss, use your freedom of choice and escape the dictatorship. You, but probably we, will be thankful you did.

[Esteban_cool]

IMHO, and in short words, we should all...

Arnold Schwarzenegger - Stop Whining - YouTube

[Art]

Maybe we should all join in a big group hug. Give peace a chance right? Wouldn't Jesus/Allah/Buddah/etc..have wanted it that way?

If we can't get along and respect a difference of opinion, then why bother contributing?

The problem lies in that we have a many individuals who are knowledgeable..and just like two of the biggest kids in the schoolyard, they will wind up fighting sooner or later. Multiply that by half a dozen of the cowards that egg them on, and we have what we have here.

[charlet]

Art, I saw some subjects have disapeared again... Maybe some were controversial, but they are a part of this forum's history.
And above all, I don't understand why the moderators do not advertise us of such modifications. Do we suffer from KGB refugees from the 1991 plot in this forum?
Between the US Army and the hippy democracy played in the Berkeley campus in 1968, I believe a forum can be a fair democracy compromise where the users can be better informed, isn't it?

[andrew6767]

If you have some issue with anything forum related, why not contact Art privately and air your concerns with him?

Bumping up old garbage threads like this serve little to no purpose, apart from starting old fights again.
Speaking as a moderator ( on an unrelated forum ),if I had to inform the membership everytime I made a moderating action, I would quit. I dont think you understand the work involved.

I have always found Art very approachable and very fair. What you are doing here, is what you should be doing only if you were not happy with Art's private response to your concerns. Which you havent made to him.

[NTAT]

For What It's Worth!

My thanks to Desantnik!

He spurred me to get off my lazy B*** and actually pay for this site that I've enjoyed free...for years. For me it's been a great site and experience. I've learned a lot and it has saved me $$$$ many times over by using it as a research tool. Thanks again Desantnik! You've always been a gentleman and a good source of info for me.

To ALL Best Regards,
Gerry C.
NTAT

[charlet]

Originally Posted by andrew6767

If you have some issue with anything forum related, why not contact Art privately and air your concerns with him?

Bumping up old garbage threads like this serve little to no purpose, apart from starting old fights again.
Speaking as a moderator ( on an unrelated forum ),if I had to inform the membership everytime I made a moderating action, I would quit. I dont think you understand the work involved.

I have always found Art very approachable and very fair. What you are doing here, is what you should be doing only if you were not happy with Art's private response to your concerns. Which you havent made to him.

Well, as an old user of this forum, I find Art less present here. This is not a criticism, just a fact. He had explained this to us in the past, being taken by job and others. Nothing blamable into this. I simply believe he is the best person here to give us a possible explanation. I don't want a trial, and I won't fell offensed if he needs a long time to give me a clue. As you stated very exactly, I find Art really fair and courteous, and I simply trust him.

About publicity, I made this problem public because this is a matter of thought for everyone of us. I don't remember having proven here a behavior of troll or polemist.

And well, I'm a moderator too on another forum (131000 posts, only 1000 members) in Europe, and yes we choose to inform the public in order to prevent a revolution or a riot at every change in the forum...
So why should I adopt a binary attitude "if you're happy stay here/if you're not then leave" in every situation where unanimity is not met? This forum is not the wall-mart shop of the next street corner, and I have been accustomed to another quality of discussion since 2002.