Seriously, I’m not trying to rag the OP, but are ALL complaints of any sort supposed to be in the Pit? I’m really asking, because I could swear that we used to put these sorts of things (traffic complaints, bad TV choices, cramps) in MPSIMS. I mean, do ALL complaints no matter how minor go in the Pit now? Am I remembering wrong?
I thought the purpose of the pit was to vent on issues that really bothered you, specifically about posts found elsewhere on the board so that threads didn’t get ugly. It seemed to evolve into major gripes about politics, abortion, and such. Now it’s about not liking what’s on TV?
It seems to me that if someone has a MINOR complaint (as in, it’s hot, traffic sucks, tv choices are poor) they could very easily go into MPSIMS or IMHO. Putting them in the Pit seems like overkill to me, that’s all. That’s the problem I have with when a very minor complaint is moved from another forum into the Pit- the poster may not be looking for vitrol and anger, but by having the thread moved, that’s what they get.
Opinions? Rules? Thoughts?
You might raise this in Lynn’s Pit Rules thread. Worded a little differently it would find a home in MPSIMS. But as is I can see why it’s in the Pit. I suspect what you’re asking is whether it would be better if posters were required to remove the word fuck from threads such as these and post them in MPSIMS and leave the Pit for rants of substance. I can see it, but I don’t know that any issues of great public importance are being pushed off the front page of the Pit.
No, that is not at all what I’m asking, hawthorn. I’m asking exactly what I posted in the OP to this thread. I’m asking for a good working definition of what the Pit is for, as it’s definately evolved over the years. I have no issue with someones use of the world “fuck”. (In the Pit or MPSIMS)
My original understanding of the pit was that it was for disagreements between posters so that threads didn’t get sidetracked with the he said/she said stuff. It also encompassed heated discussions of major issues, like abortion or gun control that people wanted to have without the confines of GD. It now is a forum for “my kitchen is dirty” and “traffic is annoying”.
I’m asking what the purpose of the Pit is. The thing I have a problem with is when someone posts basically a gripe, and instead of getting the response they are looking for (commiseration, sympathy, whatever), they get a barrage of “Hey, fuck you- this is the Pit- get a real complaint”. I think this sort of thing stems from the past use of the Pit for major issues not minor gripes.
So that’s my question clarified. Where DOES a “rant” about how annoying it is when people talk during a movie go? Why can’t it be posted in IMHO or MPSIMS and not be nasty and rude? As far as I can tell, the Pit went from a place to take personal scraps and ugly debates to a place for any and all negative posts.
It’s also extremely irritating to see the posters that say stuff like “Hey, you should include a “fuck” in your OP- this is the Pit after all”. The Pit, as far as I can tell, is not a free for all nasty place, or at least it shouldn’t be.
And I didn’t post this in the Pit because it’s a question about this message board, and I’d like to see it addressed as such. Move it to the Pit and you’ll get a bunch of people saying “Hey, it’s free- if you don’t like it, leave” and other nonsense.
And what’s wrong with “Hey, it’s free- if you don’t like it, leave”?
Seems to apply perfectly to your case. Few people like all the fora. Pick one you like and let the rest suffer your loss.
Zette: we’re not forgetting about your question. I know what my opinion is, but I am trying to gather the thoughts of some of my colleagues, and that takes a while via e-mail.
“food for thought that may stir up some fruitful discussion”? That rocked, Zette!
Posted by Sleepy Gene: “And what’s wrong with ‘Hey, it’s free- if you don’t like it, leave’”?
Here’s what’s wrong: This inane statement seems to imply that there is no way or need to ever try to improve things. Free is nice, but it’s not everything, or the only thing that matters. There’s always room for improvement.
She’s not complaining about the forum, she’s asking what it’s purpose is. This subject is being covered in Lynn’s thread; what is the raison d’etre of the Pit?
We’ve tended to leave this to the discretion of the poster; if you feel like what you have to say generates enough heat to make it Pitworthy, well, that’s where it goes. Otherwise, it tends to be a MPSIMS-Y sort of thing, no?
your humble TubaDiva
At least that’s how I’ve seen it, for what that’s worth.
I agree with Zette entirely. It’s pretty irritating to see OP’s with a minor gripe getting ragged on by people telling them they shouldn’t be upset about something so trifling, or that their post isn’t vulgar enough.
But I think, in the small picture, the balance of posts between the Pit and MPSIMS is best how it is. As was mentioned, nothing’s getting pushed off of the Pit front page, and MPSIMS cycles new threads fast enough as it is.
The bigger question remains, however – what exactly has the purpose of the Pit become?
