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TechRepublic For The Over 12s?

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by dotxen

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

The quality of the threads, the subjects posted and the responses are becoming a tad juvenile, tedious and rather silly, in my opinion.

Are we really bothered with the bi-monthly "Stupid things that users do"? This is hackneyed and pointless.

Then there are the 'desperate' who go unnoticed in their lives and work. They offer us such blazing insight from threads as sharp as "Why did you choose your operating system?". What hope is there with banalities like that circulating what is supposed to be an intelligent forum.

On top of those we have the threads which try to present a contentious issue to provoke discussion and to reflect the contributor's own startling intellect. A sort of voyueristic situation where the contributor can rush to the computer hoping to see an endless tree of equally nihilistic responses.

What of the TechRepublic folk themselves? Presumably they scratch a living from the click-throughs and the, supposed, fame and popularity of this on-line tabloid.

As for the articles and the technical advice etc, I am not sure that knowing '10 ways to avoid switching off your computer' is going to enlighten anyone or push back the borders of technology.

Will I rush home to breathlessly check to see the responses to this thread? Possibly, because I am no different to anyone else in that respect. I have, on occasions, contributed and I have been guilty of the crimes and misdemeanors I outlined above. Why, well I suppose I just wanted to to get some attention. Maybe that's what it's about.

I promise to try very hard and to contribute only that which is aimed at the over 12s.

I look forward to some attention.

128 replies

by jardinier

Now how about suggesting a discussion topic that will meet your criteria?

And if it is a topic never before explored, and of a serious nature, how will you stop people from going off on (usually humorous) tangents?

by jdmercha

In addition I think you might find that posting such a topic requires quite a bit of effort. As does responding to it.

For exapmle, we are in the process of converting from Novell to AD. If I were to post a question about it I'd have to write about 10 pages of background info. Now who's going to read that, much less reply.

Forums like this are best suited to short and simple opinons. If you need more, than you should pay a consultant to come in and give you the answers.

by dawgit

I do believe your CIO and CEO and CFO are going to have a falling out, SOON!

(edited to add CFO, now how could forget the bean counter ?:| )

by noyoki

Well, off-topic, and for that I apologize to robb.

But jdmercha, what version of Novell were you on, and what is AD??? (We're on NetWare 4.2, GroupWise 5.5ep and it's driving me absolutly f'ing crazy!!)

I'm not looking for an actual mail server (at least not yet), I think we just use Novell to pull messages off our mail/domain host, so I'd like to keep that bit, and even the fileserver can stay (they're on the same machine, yes, I know. But it's what I inherited when I started.)

by oz_media

Is it in a garden you take care of?

I wonder if the attention here will be enough, thats an awfully loud cry for attention.

So here we run off on another sensless grade school thread, maybe he just doesn't understand TR, or better still, the PEOPLE that make up TR.

Oh well, HI I SEE YOU!!! Waving hands in air)

by jdclyde

Maybe (just maybe) YOU would at some point having something to add that someone else might feel is worthy of notice?

Being a Spammer and posting the same thing four times does not quite qualify as quality. Maybe if you do it four more times, you will make up with quantity what you are lacking in quality?

Pick and choose where you go gumby. There is something for everyone here. (yes, even for someone like you) You just won't find it in the Misc section.

There are always people like you that come and go, cry for a bit and then take their ball and go home. Maybe you could make a club? Gather like minded members together and you can all sit around and have your very mature discussions.

Hope you find what your looking for, but it doesn't sound like your trying too hard.

by dotxen

Can't argue with that.

However, the point I raised is a fair one, and as you are an intelligent person, I am sure that you will agree that too much time and effort is wasted on regurgitating, recycling and rewriting the same old tired subjects.

I know I am being harsh, objurate and, possibly, over assertive, but someone has to be, or things never change. In this case, I don't hold out much hope. But that doesn't mean that I despair of TR. It is just that I, and many others maybe, can see a decline, a deterioration, in the quality offered at TR, and the questionable usefulness of bland articles, topics and threads etc.

Raising standards is always a good thing. In most cases change is a good thing. But I fully recognise that some find these activities and expectations can be somewhat threatening to some of the more 'gentle' souls.

I thank you.

by jdclyde

I have personally grown weary of some of the more political rants. My solution? I don't join in on them.

There are people that are so filled with blind hate, that there is no rational discussions with them on politics.

If you want to see better posts, the post better posts.

"If you build it, they will come" :D

by deepsand

So that you won't have to make a decision as to which discussions are worth your while?

TR in general, and the Miscellaneous Discussions in particular, are a collective watering hole, not a scholarly debating society.

I feel you pain; but, do deal with it.

by rob mekel

As some of the others have said already, this not being a repetition of what is being said, there are a variety of issues to discus on several topics. But at special on Miscellaneous this will be not all serious/getting to a point. As an example maybe Friday's YUK, that is meant to be funny/hilarious. Sometimes it is(well mostly) sometimes it isn't.
And yes sometimes ppl are getting a scrub, because of their opinion, behavior or even typing.

And yes sometimes the "peers" can over do it. Then again maybe that person has misconducted that much and is that thick headed it is the only way to make the point to that person. If such a person comes back and apologizes for the misbehavoring and improves, well we are all just human (alltho some think they are more) and can make mistakes, then it is no harm done and "Welcome back".

Have "fun" and I hope you can and will learn something at and about TR.

Rob

by wingedmonkey

I like the top ten lists,
I like the user vs. tech rants,
I like things being repeated that I might have missed before.
Isn't it down to personal opinion?
What you consider pointless may be a worthwhile vent or a needed social interaction for another.
I don't understand why other people should stop what they are doing just to conform to your acceptable standards.
But here is my response to your post. You win by the instant gratification that you have been noticed, I win by getting to post back and feeling like I've done something meaningfull in return.

CHUCK NORRIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by falling burrito brother

...sometimes by the number of contributors who seem to know each other very well and have their own 'in' jokes....I like TR too.

Don't get me wrong when you read the above - I only feel intimidated because I'm a relative 'newbie' and that's just the way it is.

There IS social interaction here, as well as bloody good forums for tech advice\real world updates.

DENNY CRANE!!!!!!!

by charliespencer

Please don't cross-post. This had nothing to do with Servers or Network Admin, the other two forums you posted it in. Or was the cross-posting an ironic example of the poor posts you were discussing?

by smorty71

As much as we try to make our members happy, we know that we can't please everyone.

Based on your comments, our discussions, articles and technical advice are not to your high standards.

My only advice would be that if you don't like a certain type of discussion, don't read it.

by jellimonsta

Aren't YOU supposed to take the responsibility in shielding our eyes from those discussions which are inappropriate? :D

Now, who is to decide which is and isn't appropriate? Don't let it be JD, he will never fit his head through the door then! ]:)

by jdclyde

to post just so you can have the last word. How do you live with yourself after such behaviour? As if [b]you[/b] having the last word is something to desired.

[i]

EVERYONE knows that it should be ME that has the last word! :p

by maecuff

would you make such an absolute statement? EVERYONE knows? I didn't know. I just assumed that I should have the last word.
What are your qualifications for deserving the last word? Do you have back up documentation? Are you certified? (or certifiable?) Where you granted this right by some omnipotent being? Is this written in some ancient scroll somewhere? Or are you just pulling this out of your a$$? Which is it?

by jdclyde

[i]I had something written, but remembering WHO it is I am replying to, I had to delete it and start over. Boy, that would have been not cool at all with what YOU would have done to that post! ;\ [/i]

It has been prophesied?

It seemed like a good idea at the time?

I am a guy, and because anything I say would be wrong anyways, it doesn't MATTER what I say?

[i]
~run away! run away!~

by noyoki

If nothing else, he is that. ]:)

*runs from JD, who is hampered by a sheep trying to get at his clover*

]:) ]:)

by mjd420nova

Maybe you need to cruise the chat rooms, then
you can get instant satisfaction at stirring
things up. This forum is just like every-
thing around us. From almost every walk of life,
every experience, and vocation. I want to hear
about it, LET'S ROLL. I try to offer up
what most want to hear, geared to illict a
response from someone. True, some discussions
get side tracked, hi-jacked and even some will
attempt to mimic chat rooms with cross responses
unrelated to the rest, meant only for one member.
YEAH, SO. I work when I need to (rent) and
spend the rest of the time with hobbies. I
do not wait for responses, nor attempt to raise
the ire of any member, but there are those who
non the less will take to heart what is meant
in jest. Judge not lest ye be judged. Those
who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

by ontheropes

Actually I didn't know. I've no real-life Server Administration experience at all. I've never had a need for it. I probably know just enough to be dangerous and... thanks Jellimonsta.

by maecuff

would you run away? That's accurate.

Now I want to know what your original post said..

by tig2

Robb, it would appear that you have some issue with the topics in the Miscellaneous area as well as in other places. A few things become obvious by your post.

You haven't been advised that the Miscellaneous section might just as well be referred to as the Water Cooler. It is a place where intellegent people can converse on just about any subject, generally non-technical. While I agree that there are those who do not clearly think through their discussion points before posting, there are some excellent posts with valid and useful information posted by critical thinkers who make informed arguments for their specific viewpoint. True, some disintegrate to some hash slinging- we are passionate people and believe in what we are saying.

It is unfortunate that there are some who find it necessary to toss out ill-conceived drivel without providing appropriate links and supporting information. Those discussion threads either morph into something useful or humourous or they die the death they so richly deserve.

Threads regarding your OS preferences, why you are here, and similar are designed to help someone who is wary of posting to come to the discussion table. There are no wrong answers and the poster does not have to read through every response to insure that they are not echoing someone else. Each individual's opinion is welcome.

As you have been able to so clearly define what you see to be the problem, I believe that it is up to you to help the peer community as a whole understand what the soultion should be. We are waiting with open ears and minds.

Edited to correct typo- Keyboard... GRRRRRRRRR

by nz_justice

I thought I was the only one who noticed how lame threads where in the TR. But any thread I could think of posting about it, was just an extreme juvenile thread, along the lines of? In ten words or more ?Why is TR one of the lamest sites on the net ______? and then reposting peoples "bitches" as evidence of how lame the threads could be and of course link to other lame threads through out the TR and then posting links to better sites including cnet who funnily enough host TR et.... But frankly I didn't think it would be worth the effort, and then you posted this sensibly worded post and I thought, dam! glad you could be bothered, because I know I couldn't be.

The Tech Director of the TR posts some good threads but a lot of people who reply to his posts give kind of lame responses.

It was trivia geeks fault he started the "In ten words or less "The Triva geek is the greatest because______"

And at first I thought "wow" What a good idea of getting people invloved in a discussion. Then other TR users started ripping the theme off and there seems to be no stop to the insanity, hopfuly the TR will try to improve there site (which means downtime) soon and once every thing is up and running it would be new and improved (but that seems like just a dream).

Sorry if this was under 12, but don't care.

;) have a nice day.

P.S to any one you reads this I will be periodically editing it because I know that it is bad etiquette.

by deepsand

it's not as if we need to read and participate in all that is offered.

The downside I see is that it is taking me an increasingly long time to peruse my subscription e-mails seeking truly new and useful information, separate true Discussions from Tech. Q&A listed in the wrong forum, and identifying Discussions worthy of my time.

by jardinier

Over my three and a half years membership of TR, I have seen the quality of discussions deteriorate, and the number of superfluous "humorous" posts increase to the point where I no longer expect to learn anything of value from miscellaneous discussions.

I'm with you there, Sandy.

By coincidence or not, I don't know, but this general deterioration of quality and serious posts has paralleled the disappointment expressed by many Americans -- at this website -- with George W. Bush and his administration.

Increasingly a handful of mostly Bush loyalists, and a few anti-Bush "foreigners," attempt to dominate the discussions, and mostly would rather exchange childish repartee rather than post any useful information.

I don't need to name these people. Just do a count of the number and frequency of posts by this handful of people.

by jdclyde

you see the quality of discussions deteriorating, and WE see the number of discussions you start increasing?

Parallels? :D

A valid observation, or childish repartee? You will have to decide that for yourself.

B-)

[i]you did not offend me in the least, but I don't speak for anyone but myself.

by ontheropes

partly to my BS, as above to deepsand. I couldn't restrain myself because I just do not, in general, care for deepsand and don't feel that I can reason with him. I've read entirely through many of his discussions, checked his history, profile and read dozens upon dozens of his posts. I'm certain that I would goad him relentlessly in person just for the hell of it. That is just my own personal problem and, if you WERE referring to me, I kind of, sort of, apologize for your having to see it.

by deepsand

Your observation comes as no surprise, given that President Bush's tenure has given rise to a polarization within the country, as best witnessed by the 2004 elections, that is without peer in recent memory.

Assuming that TR's membership is representative of a cross sample of the US populace, it is to be expected that the views expressed here will, to some extent at least, mirror those of the whole.

by jdclyde

but we have been trolled! one crappy post and never heard from again. must have really meant a lot to him?

by ontheropes

time for his nappy poo.

Last post!
Nyahaahaahaaw. Meeeee toooo funnnnny!

OK.
Sorry.
Won't happen again.
Right away.
Maybe.

Do y'all really care why I edited? Don't answer. I want to be last poster by golly geez.

by gadgetgirl

Play nice, or don't play at all!

GG

(ok, NB, gotta ask, cos this must be a cultural thing...OOBCYA? Got the CYA bit, but puzzled on the OOB bit....enlighten me, buddy?)

:D

by jdclyde

if you transpose it, I can see yoo, BOO! (used to play that with the boys when they were babies! Cracked them up when I did it out of the blue the other day! :D )

oob. out of brains?
oob. officially over burdened?

(had some others, but didn't think they would get by the TR thought police! B-) )

by deepsand

Assuming that one accepts your observation as a given, to what extent do the [i]subjects[/i] of said discussions relate to the great divide between Bush's defenders and detractors?

by jdclyde

is that there is no correlation.

The issue of politics in the US has not been a cause for any "deterioration of quality". There are political rants, true, but that does not stop anyone else from creating what Julian considers a serious post. You will recall the biggest issue he has had recently for people being irrelivent in serious posts was a Bush detractor, not a Bush defender. That same detractor tried to stupidly get him banished from TR.

My point was Julian makes more discussions than the majority of us, and if he is complaining about the lack of quality posts, maybe that is a good place to start looking? Was it too subtle?

You are free to come to a different conclusion if you wish. The fact of the great divide between the antibush and probush goes back even before he got elected the first time, and there was already a campain of hate against him. This shows the dishonesty of many that lie about the reason they hate him is because of Iraq. It isn't the right that has moved further to the right to create the divide, but the left getting hijacked and moving even further to the left.

The list goes on, including people of limited understanding that claim Bush "stole" both elections. Talk about creating a divide.

by ontheropes

that you hadn't noticed because my goad-posts have been childish and easy for any busy mature person to ignore. I also feel as if an apology from me to you for doing that is in order.

I may not agree with what you say and post but a lot of it does make for interesting reading nevertheless. Having served in the US Navy myself I'd probably buy you a beer or two but we'd damn sure better not talk politics at the bar.

by deepsand

You'll find that, short of wanton stupidity, I'm not easily provoked; and, if I am, I'm rather well practiced at dealing with such.

by sleepin'dawg

The outstanding feature of an existence dedicated to the total uselessness of your particpation as a member of the human (we think)race is being recognized with this award for lifetime achievemnet in the division of totally inane stupidity. Will someone open the envelope??? [b]And the winner is: Robb06.[/b]

Let's get this straight pal, nobody, least of all myself, could give a flying fornication for what you think. You have loitered here on TR for over 2 1/2 years and this is the sum total of your contribution to the proceedings??? Pitiful if confined to one post but four almost identical posts in four different forums is a tad over the top besides being unnecessarily repetitive and assinine, even after making allowances for your so obviously challenged intellect.

You're having a problem with the quality of TR content??? I might be able to accept that from someone who had contributed something in the past 2 1/2 years but from someone who has been conspicious by their absence, I would humbly suggest they STFU; your contribution is too little and much too late. You would be permitted an opinion if you had participated but for someone who has been around for the time you seem to have been, you are remarkably forgetable. Not satified by TR, then leave. Take heed of the usual salutation I give to those departing; don't let the knob hit you in the ass on your way out.

[b]Dawg[/b] ]:)

by ontheropes

including, by default, the frequent visitor Maxwell Edison?

"People who visit this site (present company excepted of course) are far too anal to even know who President Bush is."

Far be it from me to stir up the pot.

by jmgarvin

If you don't like it don't read it. If you want different discussion start a thread.

Problem solved.

by jdclyde

Julian is complaining that a lot of the discussions are inferior.

I am just pointing out that he starts a lot of discussions. (more than most members do)

If he or you draw a conclusion from that data, so be it. It is as conclusive as the data he first offered. B-)

Cause and effect. Just because two things happen at the same time, doesn't mean they are related. THAT was my point.

Solution. If you don't like the quality of the discussions, then go out and make better discussions or be pickier which discussions you go into.

by deepsand

Why is it that so many seek the comfort of those with whom they agree? Is it for validation? Out of complacency? Or, for lack of a sense of wonder? God, how utterly boring.

Give me someone who disagrees with me to talk with; perhaps we'll both learn something!

by ontheropes

On various occasions over the course of my years I've seen groups of strangers bond together simply by choosing to mock me and/or what I represented to them.

Bummer.

Since everybody has had different experiences you'll never have to wait too long for someone to disagree with at least some of your viewpoints.

As you well know, some of the other strong-willed and highly-intelligent people at TR just ain't 'fraid to speak their mind on either side of a discussion.

To me, both pro and con makes for interesting, thought provoking, possibly life changing and somewhat addictive reading.

On the other hand, instead of it being human nature, some people are just stupid.

by deepsand

Distinguishing between the ignorant and the stupid is at times difficult enough when one has the benefit of the audio-visual cues present in a face to face conversation; here, with naught but text, it's damned near impossible without the willing and honest co-operation of the other party.

All too many jump to a conclusion about another based on but a single sentence, as if that were somehow sufficient to convey a complete and intimate understanding of the writer.

Max, for example, seems to hold that he and I are wholly unalike, and takes great delight in condemning all that I say, based solely of the source; yet, from various positions that he has posted, I can see that we do indeed share certain commonalities. In those instances where I publicly concur with him, he vanishes from the scene, as if acknowledging such agreement would somehow diminish his perception of his stature.

Ah, well, it's all soup, as my grandmother used to say.

And, as it's going on 01:00, I think that I'll go eat some!

May the future be kind.

by jardinier

During my 42 months of membership, I have started 136 discussions.

This averages out at slightly more than three per month, and if there has been any increase in frequency in, say, the past few months, it would be marginal.

There was a period of some months when I didn't post here at all, because I was using the Christian website forums instead.

However what I have noticed is that although you have been a member since December 2000, I don't recall any (significant ?) participation in miscellaneous discussions by yourself until relatively recently.

There would appear to be a strong correlation between your divorce and your need/desire to talk to people.

by ontheropes

but speaking from my own personal experience(s) it's possible that someone getting divorced allows them to HAVE AND VOICE an opinion of their own without someone trying to shove one down their throat everyday, relentlessly, for no good reason, without letting up, while trying to prove them wrong at every turn, over and over and over again day after day after day.

Do I look bitter? Don't answer. I'll just ask my EX-wife what I think.

by jardinier

I was in no way criticizing jd for talking about his divorce, but pointing out that for most of the time that I have been starting discussions, he was not an active participant in the miscellaneous discussions, and so would not be in a position to say that I am starting discussions more frequently recently than I have in the past.

by deepsand

who to vote for! Pissed me off royally, because she was quite capable of doing her own homework on the issues and candidates; and, it was the [b]only[b/] area in which she valued my advice.

In nearly all other matters, she'd go through the motions of seeking my input and then do that which she'd already settled on doing.

by jdclyde

I was just trying to give you a hard time (note emoicon), in my own smartass way.

Before the divorce discussion, and me. For years it was just newsletters and downloads. Then I followed a link in a newsletter and I THINK my first was about oiling the fan for your cpu, or at least that is the oldest I can find.

I stayed along the tech route, and only briefly ventured into EL. I think the friday yuks did more to distract me than anything else.

You like your vague correlations lately, huh? Are you going to say I am now the culprit that has brought the level of the discussions down? I would say that the majority of my discussions I started were decsent quiality, and if not tech relevant they were world even relevant. (accept for the 100 post discussion, I suppose). And a good portion had nothing to do with politics.

And of course, no one ever complained to TPTB on me.... :p ( you are so abusive.... :D )

Bottom line, I was JOKING with you and you got your tights in a bind. So, did it end up with you being the one to be offended? Sorry about that. Guess instead of one ;\ I should have gone like this?

:^0 ;\ :p :p :p :) :D B-)

Maybe that would have tipped you off to the tone of my post a little better? ]:)

by jardinier

I enjoy your posts immensely. I consider your approach to all matters is sensible and fair.

So please keep posting your views. I for one appreciate them.

by jardinier

I can't always remember words verbatim, but I can remember issues.

So I will tell it like I see it. I joined this website shortly before the invasion of Iraq. At that time and for many months onwards, this website was top-heavy with gung-ho American pro Bush Republicans. I don't recall any anti-Bush Americans at all at that time.

HOWEVER, some 18 months later when blind Freddy could see that the war in Iraq had turned sour with no apparent likelihood of improvement, all but a few pro-Bush diehards silently expressed their feelings by no longer participating in political discussions.

When Bush was re-elected in 2004, many formerly staunch Republicans expressed their horror at the outcome of the election, and several announced their determination to emigrate from America.

In recent months the proportion of anti-Bush to pro-Bush posts has increased in what appears to be geometric progression.

While President Bush is rating very poorly in opinion polls, he is rating even worse at this website.

I attribute this discrepancy to the no doubt significantly higher than average intelligence of persons who work in IT.

However you are stuck with him for another 3 1/2 years by which time the formerly great nation of America may well be economically bankrupt as well as politically bankrupt.

by deepsand

While the most vocal Republicans claim to be "strict constructionists," many of them, along with Bush himself, actually pursue courses of action that can be constitutionally justified only by way of the doctrine of "implied powers."

And the Democrats, who are well known for pursuing goals attainable only under the latter doctrine, now find themselves using the former in their opposition to Bush.

Both are having a very difficult time reconciling their professed positions with their actions.

by gadgetgirl

be careful

be very careful

I may bring myself to my full height, and head-butt you in the kneecaps!!!

:p

]:)

GG

by jdclyde

there was a bit of an edge to your posts. ;\

I think it was about six months of posting before the divorce. So yes, ALL of mine have been in the last two years. I have never said otherwise.

cheers.

by gadgetgirl

because then some bright spark (you) would probably come along, jam the helmet on my head, and then pick me up by the horns.....!

(I know the way you think!)

:x

GG

by ontheropes

trying to get the last word in here because of the threats and intimidation tactics. I'll probably go to some old, old discussion and post the last word.

Heh!

Fooled ya'!

by gadgetgirl

stop squeaking, you're showing your mouse side....

glad to see the intimidation tactics working, though!

- but just in case, I'll look out for old threads reappearing in the list - that must have been you last week, too, was it??

Sheesh, the things some people will do to get the last word in!!!

:D

GG