Am I the only one who feels this way...or has PT really changed recently?

You weren't quick enough !!! LOL

I guess I have not seen these trolls, but I don't have much to compare to ...

I did see the thread where the Rottlund mommy got bashed for putting her puppy down, and I thought it was truly horrible (the bashing, I mean.) I don't like the idea of putting a puppy down, but I don't know enough about the circumstances to judge, not being personally there ... seemed too many people were too quick on that and I don't think PT should be a place for bashing - I think that in itself has probably changed the face of PT somewhat.

I am one of those who posts less and sometimes I just read without posting. Mainly, because I don't have the computer only to myself, and I do not have the access I had all the time at the office. BUT, sometimes I open the General for example to see a thread like "Yeah, I'm bored!". Sorry, but why should I care? Maybe it sounds harsh, but, let's be serious. When you post a thread, it should be of interest to other people, that's why it's a forum - for discussions! More posts is not necessary better quality. If there is nothing to say, do not say it. Sometimes I go back to check threads I've missed and I see many interesting threads go to the 3rd or 4th page because some people start threads just to keep themselves busy and the first page is just full of them.

I've noticed it for quite a while now. for me, a big part of it is all the trolls we've had lately. They've been getting out of control and getting away with a lot. I've mostly just been lurking lately. I've found if your opinion is different from the majority, it's best just to keep your mouth shut. I don't spend a lot of time here like I used to. I wish it could get back to the way it was and the "Brookes" of Pt would vanish. It would be so much better.

I too miss the way things used to be. PT jused to be a top priority for me when I was online but it's just not anymore. I just feel uncomfortable and unnoticed here, so I guess that discourages me from posting so often.

I wish I had good ideas for fun threads.. seriously guys, if you have an idea that we can all get involved in, post it! As mentionned, that's what a forum/discussion board is for. I'm annoyed with the cliques and all the assumptions that go on around here. We all love animals, at least, so why don't we all just open up to eachother like we used to?

And so many members have neglected sharing pictures of their pups. That's why when I post mine, I feel like it's such a dread.. like I post so often. :(

I miss the fact that I was able to make new friends on here and learn so much from everyone's opinions. It's basically up to us to get things "back to normal". I'm sorry if I offended anyone, that would never be my intention.. I'm just stating my opinion and I guess, trying to motivate myself to becoming more active.

PCB, Kay, and some others, know why I hardly ever come on PT anymore. I’ve been reading it a bit in the last few days, but I’ve not been posting. Why? Well, tell me why I should? People aren’t responding in any significant amount to anyone’s threads. People are arguing left and right. We have trolls all over the place. We have the same people registering under a billion different names. We have people posting “I’m bored” threads. We have people who respond to a post with a smilie or some silly comment, just cause it will make them a pillar quicker. We have people creating threads with the same subjects over and over.

Oh, and don’t even get me started on some of the subjects in the Dog House (on a supposedly family friendly site). I will say this, regardless of whether a child encounters these things in the real world or not, many parents would kick their kids (that’s ANYONE under 18) right off PT and forbid them to participate here anymore if they were to catch them viewing a thread about ILLEGAL drugs, drinking and such. I can imagine as a parent that I would expect PET TALK to be a fun, happy (read: relatively safe) place for my child to surf. I would go so far as to say that for many older teens the Dog House should be safe and certainly not encourage them to break the law. It’s bad enough to have other kids their age encouraging ILLEGAL activity, but to have adults doing it on a FAMILY friendly website just makes me realize that PT is in deep trouble. I thought the DH was for controversial subjects, but apparently it's a lot more than the normal "debate" forum that I thought it was intended for. :confused: Other forums I frequent have "debate" sections, but they still don't take it to the level that the DH sometimes reaches. :(

The odd thing is that I just don’t care enough to try to argue that point in the thread. Personally I think it should be deleted. But why bother voicing my opinion? There’ll be some “snappy” comeback from someone and them someone will get their feelings hurt and there’ll big a big nasty fight about it. THIS is the main problem with PT. There’s just too much fighting. And, like Kay, I’ve been involved in my fair share of it (usually with her, lol) but why? Why make a place we all say we love so much such a crappy place? I just don’t want to fight with anyone anymore, so it’s easier to just not post anymore, cause there will surely be a fight of some sort no matter the subject. It’s ridiculous.

Another big issue IMO which, I’ve said before and I’ll say again; No offense to Karen or Paul, but there’s just not enough moderating, IMO. I visit a LOT of other message boards (for all different sorts of subjects) and I don’t see any of the things happening on them that I see on PT. If it happens most never know, cause it’s nipped in the bud quickly. And I simply credit it to a large team of moderators (15 or more on some busier boards). I can guarantee you that there’s no way to keep up with all that needs to be kept up with on such a busy site, even if someone was able to sit all day long and just moderate. I hope that by saying that, I haven’t offended anyone; it’s just the way I feel and something that I’ve been observing for a long time.

Guess that’s all I can add to the subject. Sadly, I just don’t care enough to try to make it better PCB.

I hope you can all make it the ‘fun’ PT that you want it to be again. :)

Remember that Pet Talk is what the members make of it. The "trolls" are not a new occurance, we've had a few here and there all along, but they're usually quickly forgotten.

Positive posts, fun posts, and thinking twice before posting something negative, trying to say something nice whenever you can, remembering not to post when angry - all will help Pet Talk be a happier place!

We love you all, and are glad you are here. The community continually evolves, and as someone said, let's look forward to the good times ahead on Pet Talk and then make them so! Also, if you miss someone, PM them or email them! You never know when you're going to make someone's day!

In my opinion (don't bash me for this), but sometimes I feel kinda like an outsider because I'm newer as well. It's my opinion and I could care less, but you do tend to notice all the same people posting to the same people's threads or the same few posting to my threads. A few times I have even posted something in peoples threads advice or anything and I go back to see if they have said anything else and a person below me has said the exact same thing and they're like oh thanks for the advice _____
at one point I checked to make sure my posts were actually showing up I felt invisable. Sometimes I feel like oldies would rather stick with oldies and I'm not saying they are rude or anything they just don't acknowledge you as much and thats fine for me, but I can see why people would take offense to it. I also believe that sometimes I go to post something like about what my dog did and I change my mind because i'm afraid to hear everyones opinions and am second guessing myself. Another thing I've noticed is a lot of negative threads. This place is supposed to make people feel comfortable not bad about themselves. There are probably always going to be "trolls" and there will always be new people joining so instead of always being upset that old people have left why not make new friends and try your best to make this place as great as it "used" to be like you say. I'm not just saying all this to get a "pat on the head" to feel welcome like I say I will post no matter what, but I just wanted to let you see it from another point of view. We all have one thing in common, we love our pets and thats why we are here. I hope no one gets upset with what I've written I'm not so sure if I have many friends here anyways, but I enjoy reading all your posts and writing mine. :)

I hate seeing all these members of PT becoming lurkers. :(

I have noticed a difference, a lot of the time I just tell myself 'PT is having another slow day, oh well everyone will be posting again tomorrow.'

So many great members here have become lurkers, or even left all together. :( I've missed hearing about some great pets and their families.:(

Micki...I totally agree with you 100%. TOTALLY. And with all respect to both Karen and Paul, I must say that I too, have felt at MANY times that because we're SUCH a big board, we NEED more moderators. The tiel board I used to visit has so many moderators I could hardly keep track of them, but boy do they do a GOOD job. Any troll that enters the forum is gone in a flash. Most people don't even know there was a troll there. Any offensive thread posted is gone the next second. While I do believe both Karen and Paul do an exceptionally good job for two people and do the best they can, the fact is, such a big board is hard for just two people to handle.

I too agree that the marijuana gum thread and people making it a GOOD thing is offensive. I'm 19 now...over 18, but I know that if my parents knew about that thread, despite my being over 18, they STILL wouldn't like me reading that stuff. It isn't right. Marijuana is against the law of our country for a very good reason. We have enough teens talking about it at school and affecting the minds of other youngsters. WHY do we need to have adults encouraging it on a PET website, which is obviously a site many MANY youngsters enjoy. I do think we should keep things clean...Dog House or not.

Sadly, if these things aren't taken care of, we're just going to keep losing more and more wonderful long time members, for no reason other than disappointment in the way things are being handled. :(

I am not a "long time" member, but I have been here since around July or August, and I remember just wanting to be on PT every minute! I honestly thought it was the best thing in the world! Posting pictures of Meeka, having other people compliment her, compliment other people, participate in fun threads, etc., etc.

Now it seems to be dying down a bit and stopped being so busy and fun. Of course I would never even think about leaving PT.... but sadly I have found myself to be more of a lurker now...:(

Hopefully we can all get in the spirit of Christmas and bring back the fun "old" PT! :D

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Originally posted by swimma253
I am not a "long time" member, but I have been here since around July or August, and I remember just wanting to be on PT every minute! I honestly thought it was the best thing in the world! Posting pictures of Meeka, having other people compliment her, compliment other people, participate in fun threads, etc., etc.

Now it seems to be dying down a bit and stopped being so busy and fun. Of course I would never even think about leaving PT.... but sadly I have found myself to be more of a lurker now...:(

Hopefully we can all get in the spirit of Christmas and bring back the fun "old" PT! :D

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I feel pretty much the same way! I miss having all the active threads we used to!

Popcornbird, I have let the marijuana gum thread stay because for many people, that could be a beneficial thing medically. Have you ever known someone who has undergone chemotherapy? Many of us have, and know that the "drug" in marijuana can play a role in helping alleviate the awful, dreadful nausea that often results.

Do I think the gum should be used recreationally, sold over the counter? Of course not. But when nothing else can help, I think it could be a very good product for cancer and other patients. That is mentioned in the thread.

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Originally posted by popcornbird
I too agree that the marijuana gum thread and people making it a GOOD thing is offensive.

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But what offends you, may not offend someone else and vice versa. And I think this is a potential source of problems if more mods were introduced; what might offend a new mod, may or may not offend Karen and Paul, and the thread could be gone when it should've remained. The new mod could "check" with K&P before deleting, but if that's the case, then the new mod becomes a middle man and doesn't serve a real purpose other than to "alert" them to a potentially disturbing/disruptive post. And, for the most part, we ALREADY do that in the form of PMs/emails.

I don't know. I know that I've argued for more mods in the past but I'm rethinking that position. (Granted, more mods would probably remedy the troll problem(s) a bit quicker.)

Pet Talk has changed but I don't know that the change is good or bad; it just is. Pet talk has grown alot since the "days of yore" and with growth comes change. We either embrace it or ... find somewhere else to post. lol

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Originally posted by zippy-kat
We either embrace it or ... find somewhere else to post. lol

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The problem is...there isn't any other place that's 'worth' posting at. :p LOL! PT is 'home' for most of us. I personally consider PT my 'home' on the web. I feel like I personally 'know' many of the people here, and a lot of us have become very close friends over the years. So really...posting somewhere else isn't an option, as I don't intend to leave PT. I can't. I'm much too attached.....and while the attachment might not be as strong as it was before, its still there.

He he he. I just noticed one thing. Ever since I posted this thread today, PT has suddenly become more 'active'. :D That just proves everyone's lurking around and staying quiet. :p Now that there's a thread to post on and share differing opinions on, everyone came back. I guess the main problem is we're not posting enough interesting threads like we used to.

Karen, I do agree that marijuana has some medical benefits, but the thing about that thread is...it wasn't really being discussed for 'medical reasons'. I personally feel its illegal for a reason, and I don't think drugs like marijuana should be encouraged on a family website...even if its being talked about as a 'joke'. Marijuana has destroyed the lives of MANY, and in my opinion, its nothing to take lightly...especially when its something that's being posted on a family site that many parents consider safe enough to let their kids participate in.

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Originally posted by zippy-kat
or ... find somewhere else to post. lol

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I've been doing just that. I've found myself joining a lot of new boards/communites lately. :)