How did B&B get to be such a snarky place?

[Walker]

Why was a guy in China with a dog from Scotland? Gosh, the interwebs can be weird. I never read that thread. Apparently I didn't miss too much, though. Poor dog, down on his luck. So far from home. Wherever that may be. Sad. I hope they are okay.

No,no,no... A snarky dog from China needed money to go to Scotland...i think

[SalvadorMontenegro]

Yeah, some of the dogs these days. I remember when I was growing up dogs knew how to be real dogs and had values. Dogs these days have lost sight of dogulinity. And some of the barks they're using are really annoying (to me).

[BallisticBurrito]

If you want to know of a bad (and badly moderated) forum..I can tell you stories from one that will make your head spin.

Only time in my life I was legitimately disgusted at a web forum.

[Walker]

Yeah, some of the dogs these days. I remember when I was growing up dogs knew how to be real dogs and had values. Dogs these days have lost sight of dogulinity. And some of the barks they're using are really annoying (to me).

The nerve! You give them a yard to play in and how do they repay you? By barking and whining all day long. I mean, hey, if you don't like the yard you've been provided with then run away. Your not chained. Go find another yard to play in. I bet they'll find the other yards don't have such friendly dogs as the one they were in. Silly muts

[oc_in_fw]

I contacted the good folks at the Oxford dictionary of the English language. We have a new definition for 'irony'.

[rickboone1]

If you want to know of a bad (and badly moderated) forum..I can tell you stories from one that will make your head spin.

Only time in my life I was legitimately disgusted at a web forum.

I like my head where it is and prefer it not to spin. Besides, I thought we were looking for a dog shampoo???

[ricardo9505]

we need thicker skin in America. Being "too polite" is just a bit flaky or fake for me. impersonal. I mean we gotta bust each others chops every so often. that's what men do. especially at my favorite local barbershop. come on a friday evening and the johnnie walker cups are flowing.

[California Cajun]

I have seen this coming for a while and I bet those that have been here longer can say the same. I guess it's like complaining about the new generation that screwed everything up. Maybe I just missed it or ignored what I saw but I do not remember things being this whiny, sarcastic and down right rude when I joined.

So, what is going on here folks?

Is it the influx of new members? It seems as though it is also some of the older members too....

I have never been involved with another web board but from what I hear and read they are not as "gentlemanly" as B&B. I spend way more time here then I should and I try to contribute positively. I will admit that I have spouted off with some garbage from time to time but for the most part I feel like I strive to make B&B feel like a Sunday afternoon with the whole family.

We have our cranky uncles, crazy aunts, a cousin that is always in trouble, and all the little brothers that want to learn exactly how we do things. This is the place I want to waste time at on the Internet. I have made plenty of friends here and I never thought that was possible. We keep our trash talking in PM's and emails.

Alright I am done griping, feel free to talk trash and make me regret posting this.

I ran a college sports forum for several years and the short answer is that stuff happens. Things behind the scenes happen that you wouldn't believe such as threats (or perceived threats) against a member or a moderator. It happens on all popular forums. Moderators have to stay out of the way as much as possible but step in when necessary to maintain the tone and decorum they perceive the majority wants. Sometimes they don't like what's happening but suppress their feelings to the will of the majority. Mistakes are made because we're all human, good people are offended or misunderstood occasionally, even kicked out, but overall things function pretty well. A message board is like the weather. If you don't like it now, just wait and it will change. The key to me is not to get so wrapped up in a particular forum that you have unrealistic expectations of perfection. I'm speaking from experience on both sides. These moderators have a tough job and find themselves in ticklish situations all the time. I'm glad I'm not a moderator any more.

I do understand your concerns. This forum is well run overall. To survive as many years as they have and to be as popular as they are, they have to be doing something right.

[_JP_]

we need thicker skin in America. Being "too polite" is just a bit flaky or fake for me. impersonal. I mean we gotta bust each others chops every so often. that's what men do.

Yeah! Just be like me. I'm snark proof.

[johnniegold]

B&B. There is no substitute.

[BallisticBurrito]

I like my head where it is and prefer it not to spin. Besides, I thought we were looking for a dog shampoo???

You know dang well I wasn't about to read through 4 pages of random stuff.

[BallisticBurrito]

we need thicker skin in America. Being "too polite" is just a bit flaky or fake for me. impersonal. I mean we gotta bust each others chops every so often. that's what men do. especially at my favorite local barbershop. come on a friday evening and the johnnie walker cups are flowing.

I too can't stand over-politeness. One of the main reasons why I like my church so much, and it's the only one I've gone to more than once..and I've been going there for 5 years, is that they're not overly polite there. Heck one guy is a teamster, I'm UAW, and there's a bit of bad blood between the two over here right now. Once I jokingly openly referred to him as a "dirty teamster", nobody cared. :P We just openly joke and light-heartedly jab at eachother and good times are had.

[Nancy Boy]

I have come back today after a two year hiatus. I have found B&B members to be kind to me and truly interested in answering my shaving questions ir listening to my opinions. I have found it to be a tad clique-ish at times, where a few posters seem to "own" the boards and turning them into their own person fifedoms amongst themselves. But really, they come and go. Honestly, it's good to be back. I've missed this place.

[ouch]

Great to have you back, Robert. I think you may find that many of those you mentioned are no longer with us.

[Dennard]

I have come back today after a two year hiatus. I have found B&B members to be kind to me and truly interested in answering my shaving questions ir listening to my opinions. I have found it to be a tad clique-ish at times, where a few posters seem to "own" the boards and turning them into their own person fifedoms amongst themselves. But really, they come and go. Honestly, it's good to be back. I've missed this place.

Welcome back, Robert!

[Argonaut]

Great to have you back, Robert. I think you may find that many of those you mentioned are no longer with us.

Probably, in no small part, due to you and your nefarious dealings.

[BlackBard]

Its a discussion forum, so we discuss things. Nothing wrong with repeating topics. But the "has anyone heard of williams? threads get really old. Or having 5 threads about any one soap on the first page, etc.

I was planning to read all the posts before deciding whether or not to add my own comment, but I have to say a hearty, "AMEN!" to this one.

Certainly this is a discussion forum, but what is wrong with expecting that newcomers (and even seasoned members) will look around just a little before they ask a question that has been answered already twenty times this week? (Too snarky?) I am asking this, knowing that I, myself, am guilty of having done exactly what I am complaining about. I deserved any snarky remarks I received. Example from Obilque Human, "Why not go through some of the hundreds of previous forum threads discussing this in acute detail?" when I posted a question about why one would "soak a brush." I did not take offense. He was right. There was a thread on this topic that was started just a few days before I started mine.

[_JP_]

But if we only refer to the previously is cussed stuff, we'll have nothing to discuss shaving wise.

[BlackBard]

But if we only refer to the previously is cussed stuff, we'll have nothing to discuss shaving wise.

I see what you mean. It is better to re-invent the wheel. (There I go again.)

[luvmysuper]

One of the many things that makes B&B "different" is the ability for anyone to post a question and get answers.
While you can do that on just about any forum, the ability to do it here and actually get answers instead of snarky replies like "use the search function" or "not THIS topic again" set B&B apart from the chaff.

No one has an obligation to read, or to post in any thread they find boring or tedious.