Comments on the state of the Springfield Forums, June 2010

[FinnegansWake]

Why?

Because it’s filled with minutia of smelly poo. It’s like smelling a fart and trying to avoid it by breathing through your mouth, realizing too late all you’re doing is tasting tiny molecules of someone else’s excrement. A lose-lose situation.

Every time I log in I see a lot of issues that start out constructive and then devolve into “WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THE WORD 'the'?!?!?”

And what's funny (sad) is the same arguments have been used on the same issues for the past 8+ years. From the original SPAR Forum(s) to JaxOutLoud to MetroJax. All “He/She said…He/She said”…no solutions, just angry self-righteous fingers pointing.

Semantics on an atomic level. Fake hurt feelings. Fake outrage. Cats and Dogs living together! Mass hysteria! It’s like reading the transcript from any of the 24/7 news channels. Seriously? Step back and listen to what you're saying (writing).

The ILOVESPAR and IHATESPAR camps are exactly the same. The ILOVESTEPHENDARE and IHATESTEPHENDARE camps are exactly the same. It’s the reason I don’t talk politics anymore. There is no middle ground anymore.

You know what? There are so many more important things out there than...You. Some of you…hiding behind your hot sweaty little keyboards, this is your daily dose of power. Try to do something more important and world changing than mouth-$hitting on each other.

The main page is awesome. Good articles, Jax history, current events...ways to make our little bubbles of life more enjoyable.

k....well, that's all i had to say. I'm not a "Hero Member" and I don't have that many posts out there. Just thought maybe it was time to reset the whole "I'm So F'ing Angry" meter back down to "hey...how about we do A to fix B?"

Yes?

I Like Pasta,
Phil
1536 Laura St

[thelakelander]

We have a pretty large database and wide assortment of topics and discussion.  My advice would be to avoid the he said/she said discussions that have nothing to do with the main purpose of this site being here, if they bother you.  

Personally, I wasn't a fan of them at MetJax and I'm not a fan of them now.  They aren't central to the site and the result is always the same (debates not focused on implementing solutions).  However, instead of worrying about it, with my limited online time, I tend to stick to the topics that interest me when I'm not putting together articles.  I do, because I just don't have the desire to participate or time to babysit grown ups.

[FinnegansWake]

Well ok. I guess we’re all happy then.

And I like your correction on my original forum post. I guess I was guilty of the same negativity.

So everything was wrong when Louise and Mack and Jennifer were here? Three people? 

Ok.

Lakelander..you are one of the guys I respect online. But yah…I don’t have the filter to keep out the spew. I think from now on I’m sticking to the Main page and ditching the Forum.

[FinnegansWake]

Ha...no. My experience of the neighborhood is one of utopia. Well, except for the part of the road in front of my driveway that's kind of lifted up that keeps the rainwater from draining properly. That kind of sucks. Other than that....I'm good on a face-to-face level. I guess I don't understand the anger that crops up online. And yes...it's "peaceful" now.

My post is a suppressed expulsion of frustration of the past year that got trigger by the whole Kiko post...

[sheclown]

Sometimes you need to have difficult discussions in order to find true peace.

In spite of the fact that we view the events of Kiko's death differently, it is important to talk about the issues surrounding it...ie. Citizen's Review, a check on the current policy of "quality of life enforcement".  It would be nice to do it without bitch-slapping; however, that may never happen.

Strife for its own sake, is poison to this neighborhood.  Difficult discussions, on the other hand, bring growth.

This year, although dramatic and painful, brought growth, IMHO.

[nvrenuf]

Phil, Since I am so knowingly superior to you I must correct your obviously stupid statement for all the world to see so that they too can realize my absolute supremacy. It really IS all about me, dumbass. Still owe you that beer or 4, brother.

[FinnegansWake]

@Nvrenuf - I'm waiting. :-)

@SheClown - that's just it though. It usually gets personal. It's hard to convey "tone" through a post, and there are just enough trolls out there whose sole purpose is to mouth$shit (or maybe they don't realize it)...typing just to see their words on the screen. Or those who are blind to anything else but their views/opinions. Is SPAR the birth spawn of all that is evil? Are recovering alcoholics really the source of all that is wrong with society? Hmmm...probably....not.... 

I like to see few words that carry meaning and are constructive and lack broad brush generalizations. I know...maybe impossible to see on a public forum.

[thelakelander]

This forum covers all of Jacksonville but the majority of the site complaints come from the politics and Springfield sections.  Does anyone have an idea of why the conversations about issues facing other neighborhoods in Jacksonville rarely get as heated and personal? While there is nothing wrong about discussing difficult topics, adults should be able to carry themselves in an adult manner by debating the actual topic instead of personally insulting each other.  

[sheclown]

@FW:  Then we have several choices.  One, we stop talking about it in case it gets nasty.  Two, we tough it out and understand that it might get ugly before it ends.  Three, beg Lake to babysit us and not leave us to tear each other apart

[sheclown]

Now that you mention it, Stephen, you are right!  It has been very quiet.