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

[ScantyNebula]

Wow, that was a lot of reading! There's really nothing I can add that would be different from what everybody else was saying. I do agree that things have changed and I'm not 'addicted' like i used to be .. I just check in every now and then. Its unfortunate cause I used to have such a blast here ... but its a new year .. things may change for the better.

And I am all for adding new Moderators .. a board of this size could certainly use them.

[Corinna]

I beleive Karen tried it for a while and . Becouse we are each different . She chose to pull the plug on it. I remember being admonished for a small offense by a subsute and I left for about 6 months . Karen and Paul I think are the only ones who should moderate and its their site . They started it and pay for it. We need to remember that point we all get this for free. Anyone haveing a website knows how much it costs , can you even imagine how much it runs them . It seems they have to upgrade their searving stuff about evey 6-8 months.
We shouldn't fight over the site just use the shopping store method you don't want it don't buy it. But its there for someone else who might need it.

[Cataholic]

I agree with the other Johanna (Scanty Nebula...he he he). I am just not into it like I used to be. For several reasons, some PT related, some personal.

Like most people, I am most comfortable with that which is familiar. So, I go to the threads of people I 'know'. I dislike intensely those that post just to get their counts up. Now, while I can't say for certain that is the reason they post- but, when I read the thread starter, that is the ONLY thing that comes to this 39 y.o. mind. I hate to wade through all that junk (that is my word choice, I have used it before, and gotten the flack already ) to get to the beautiful pics of the pets, or the funny stories, etc.

I do think PT has changed over the last year. Good? Bad? I don't really know. But, it isn't the same to me anymore.

[carole]

It saddens me to read so many of you are dis-satisfied with PT, I myself still enjoy it just the same, I take the good with the bad, regardless I would not miss coming online for the world, Johanna maybe that little cutie pie of your's is one big reason you don't stop by as much.

Well I can only hope old members will continue to stop by from time to time, and new one's will find PT the special place that I do. cheers everyone.

[LoudLou]

Originally posted by RICHARD
...It's just too bad that immature people, people who cannot handle some jokes or topics outside the realm of animal issues,
cannot skip a thread that they may think might not be their cup of tea...

Richard, once again you have taken the words right out of my mouth... Thank You.
I have been a member of this board for a few years now, and I have to say that this is the one thing that bothers me most. It's seems so simple, If you don't like the thread why post in it?

I may not post a lot here. I have to admit that it's mostly because this board has almost become like "Walking on egg shells". Do I post some witty come back to this or that or do I join this conversation, only to have someone get offened at something I thought was funny but they didn't... and so on. There have been many funny entertaining threads on this board, I love to read them. Unfortunately, about the time I get around to wanting to join in on them or have something to say, they get deleted or they seem to turn in to a heated mess. So, I stay out of it.

I appreciate Karen and Paul for ALL the things they do for this site, It IS VERY HARD WORK. BIG Kudos to them!

I know from my own experience though that you can not be everything to all people, and sometimes that is just what some people do not understand. If there are many people having a good time in a particular thread or talking about something you don't like... MOVE on to something else, I don't know Why that is so hard.

Whew! Ok I think I've said my peace on this...

[sasvermont]

I do believe that forums such as Pet Talk have a life of their own. Of course there is a change from time to time. Can you imagine what it would be like to have total agreement and everyone thinking the same.....sort of the "Stepford Website" as in Stepford Wives".... everyone thinking the same, saying the same thing...posting the perfect reply.

I think that this forum resembles much of life.....constant change....just like all relationships....

I post less often because I am very busy..... and I do still enjoy reading many of the posts....

Has it changed? Yes, was I surprised, of course not!

Love to all - even though they have changed!

SAS

[dukedogsmom]

I agree with Richard and Loudlou.

[aly]

I think the reason why some people complain about threads is because this is a family site. I have posted in a thread a few times politely suggesting that it may not be for kids (at least I thought it was polite every time, some may not agree). I only post because I know for sure I wouldn't want my child reading stuff like that and I know that there are children reading it. Although I'm not a mother, I have such a strong motherly instinct, I can't help it. I ignore threads that I find annoying or really don't like myself as long as they don't have something offensive in them. I have never posted in a thread simply to say I don't like it personally if it was a clean subject and not offensive to children.

[Twisterdog]

...It's just too bad that immature people, people who cannot handle some jokes or topics outside the realm of animal issues, cannot skip a thread that they may think might not be their cup of tea...

Exactly. This is the main reason I don't post or read nearly as much as used to here. I understand that this is a family oriented site, and that's great. But, IMHO, things are censored a bit TOO much at times. I am hesitant to post ANYthing that might be even the slightest bit questionable; even though, in the opinion of probably 90% of the people who might read it, it would be rated PG at the worst. Between the ultra-puritanism that sometimes seems to prevail here, and the general lack of maturity and empathy that often presents itself, I grow weary of feeling like I'm either in seventh grade study hall or in the principal's office.

[LoudLou]

Originally posted by Twisterdog
Exactly. This is the main reason I don't post or read nearly as much as used to here. I understand that this is a family oriented site, and that's great. But, IMHO, things are censored a bit TOO much at times. I am hesitant to post ANYthing that might be even the slightest bit questionable; even though, in the opinion of probably 90% of the people who might read it, it would be rated PG at the worst. Between the ultra-puritanism that sometimes seems to prevail here, and the general lack of maturity and empathy that often presents itself, I grow weary of feeling like I'm either in seventh grade study hall or in the principal's office.

EXACTLY!

[aly]

Well some look at it as ultra-puritanism, but there is a time and place for everthing. A family pet site is not the place for adult humor (which I happen to enjoy very much OFF of this site - ask any of my AIM buddies. I just refuse to make light of that while children read it).

[flamepony12]

Like Amber, (CamCamPup33) I agree but disagree. I am not sick of PT, I still love it. but I have to agree with PCB. Most of the time that I check PT, not much more is going on. Even though I only joined 7 months ago, I feel as if in my first month or two, PT was a huge, active place, a new thread everywhere you looked. I agree that a lot of posters that we have grown quite fond of have mostly become lurkers.

I also think that a lot of this "troll" stuff has been splitting pettalk up from a big family into little groups. The trolls come on here just to make trouble, and when they offend certain people, they cause fights between groups at a time. I believe that, even though it is something some might not be able to get over, this is why we have lost, or at least lost sight of, many fellow PTers.

I completely agree with what Corinna said, about Karen and Paul being wonderful moderators, and that it's their job, and that they pay a lot of money for us to have fun and get along. But I also have to say that on a forum that my mom posts on, Goldfish Paradise, has about 15 or more active moderators. If a troll comes in, they're out right away. We also have to take into consideration that we have about 7,500 members. Her forum only has about 3,000. I'm not saying we don't have enough moderators, I'm just comparing it to some other forums that are a lot smaller than PT and have tons of mods.

I also think that you shouldnt have to review posts right before you post them. Like PCB said, just post it and have some fun! I think it's sad that some people are afraid to post just because they think people will jump down their throats for it. I know it's not that simple, but I wish we could just stop ganging up on each other.

Since this is a family site, I completely agree with what everyone has already said about "censory". Also, so many people say, "Ignore the trolls", and "Just dont look at their posts", but end up looking and starting fights anyway. If you practice what you preach, you will put them on your ignore list. you will not be able to see their posts, and therefore will not be tempted to reply.

I think we should all give a HUGE thanks to Karen and Paul for making PT such a fun place to be. We all know how hard they work. -Cheers!-

*gasp* okay, i think that's all I have to say.

[carole]

I so agree with you saversmont, and Aly, there is indeed a time a place for everything, I am not even close to being a prude, neither am I without humour, what one might see as humour another may not, yeah so we could just all stay away from threads that bother us, which I do frequently, but sometimes I feel the need to say what I think, what is so wrong with that.

Gosh I hardly think PT is censored at all, we have all touched on some pretty controversial subjects, and like the rest I enjoy a good healthy debate, when it turns nasty or offensive, that I am not so fond of, but one weathers the storm, and trys to remember the old saying "like water off a ducks back"

I donot consider people who have different views on something being immature because they decide to post and say so, sometimes one could say maybe the thread starter was immature in the first place to start such a thread, knowing full well it may indeed start controversy, but hey that is what it is all about freedom of speech,which can be done with tact,maturity, and non-offensive if one trys.

I say BRING IT ON, I love PT as much today as yesterday, and I have no real complaints, I have learned much from my visits here, I have learn't to be more humble, less critical (NB: I say less,) more sympathetic, to laugh more and be darn thankful for what I have, so for me its been a positive place to be.

[wolfsoul]

I was #8 on the 25 top posters list just a few months ago. Now I am #15. I also feel that PT has gone downhill. I will continue to browse, and I will post sometimes, but lately for the most part I just don't find PT very exciting anymore. I used to be addicted, but now if I take a break, I don't go through "PT withdrawal" at all. I feel that we have lost alot of good members.

[lbaker]

Lighten up everyone. Tomorrow is the beginning of a brand new year. PetTalk is what you make of it and it happens to suit me just fine. Thank you Karen & Paul and I just hope we can all just enjoy the moments we have.