Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I know I've taken breaks off and on since 2005 when we were told by a moderator here that we (the people who post on the boards)really weren't needed by the website to function.>> Not a good thing to say, but probably the truth. I visited LP for a long time just to get the park information before I ever looked at the boards. And my guess is that people who come here just for information are more likely to click on advertising links than those of us who come here every day. Unfortunately the park information is now sadly out of date. The DCA section makes no mention of the attractions added during the recent renovation, and includes attractions that are now closed.
Originally Posted By mele The issue Candice refers to was when LP started to change. There was a psychotic poster who literally stalked members and sent them numerous abusive and obscene emails. (Hey, RT, Cape Cod Joe loved to send me obscene emails about you!) He accosted LP members (online) who never fought with people. When he started really crossing major lines, people complained and that is when the moderator(s) refused to stop him from posting and told us that we weren't needed. Too many people were allowed to stay and be abusive. LP has never been the same since. I miss the old days but really don't care about LP anymore.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip Oh God. I had forgotten about Cape Cod Joe. That guy was a total psycho. Amazed he thought I was worth the time to send emails about me. For the most part I'm a pretty boring guy. I guess he didn't like that I thought all his bragging was a bunch of BS.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I think activity also slowed a lot after The Spirit stopped posting here. Although he was egotistical and had kind of a "I know more than any of you rubes" attitude, his posts were interesting and generated a lot of comment. I think he was a little thin-skinned when it came to criticism, and left it a snit (unless he was banned... I don't know). I think I have taken as much fire here as anyone, and have realized that for the most part it was fairly well deserved. At times I really crossed the line. I've gotten mellower in my old age and am much more careful about what I post. I rarely mention my personal life anymore realizing that leaves me wide open for criticism. If you put it out there, you have to expect that people will comment on it... at times negatively.
Originally Posted By disneylandfan8 I am still having a hard time with the fact that certain posters here, who have continually abused the Community Standards (at times very blatantly), are still allowed to keep coming back and continue posting, while others were banned for much lesser infractions. I am very thankful that I have met some very wonderful friends through this website and we continue to meet in Disneyland on its birthday, July 17 to celebrate, and many other times, too. I'm just sad that coming here to learn more about Disney is becomng a thing of the past. Topics discussed have become more like World Event arguments and discretion also a thing of the past.
Originally Posted By dagobert I guess I'm one of the newer members here. I joined in 2011 after davewasbaloo brought me here and it's still my favourite Disney board. Unfortunately davewasbaloo isn't contributing anymore. I was very active in an European Disney Forum, but it got so boring there and the members there aren't critical at all when it comes to DLP and so I left. I'm also a member of several other boards, but at the end of the day I enjoy coming back here. Although there is not that much talk about DLP, at least the discussions about the European Magic Kingdom are always very interesting. >>>LP is still my online home. I agree that I'd rather come here for interesting and educated debate then go elsewhere for 50 posts on why the Princesses are so great!!!<<< That's exactly the reason why I like this board so much.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost Spirit, is still posting regularly on his new home board and still creating the same reactions to his posts. Some have generated literally thousands of posts per thread. He has mellowed a little, but very little. I also went from feeling that he was one of the largest ego driven maniacs I'd ever run across to one of the largest ego driven maniacs that quite often puts out some interesting information and, if nothing else is amusing to read. I can tell you that when he isn't posting the interest level at even that new site starts to drop. He appears to be a personality that one loves to hate or to give unconditional support too. I fall somewhere in the middle.
Originally Posted By dagobert >>>Spirit, is still posting regularly on his new home board and still creating the same reactions to his posts. Some have generated literally thousands of posts per thread. He has mellowed a little, but very little. I also went from feeling that he was one of the largest ego driven maniacs I'd ever run across to one of the largest ego driven maniacs that quite often puts out some interesting information and, if nothing else is amusing to read. I can tell you that when he isn't posting the interest level at even that new site starts to drop. He appears to be a personality that one loves to hate or to give unconditional support too. I fall somewhere in the middle. <<< I guess you are talking about WDWMagic and WDW1974. I guessed it must be him, since he uses the word "Spirit" very often in his posts and because I recognized your name over there as well.
Originally Posted By ecdc I wonder if the increasing ability to personalize one's online experience is at play. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, even Google news allows you to customize exactly what you hear and how you hear it. Don't like something? Hide it. Don't like someone? Unfollow or unfriend them or block them. Don't like a particular news organization? You can block them and only get what you like and what interests you. My experience is that people increasingly think that they are entitled to never hear anything they disagree with or don't like. But you can't do that on LP. You can choose not to click on topics or sections, but you can't block posters or customize your information. I think this is a very, very good thing and what makes LP interesting. I enjoy it here. As someone who lives far away from the parks and only gets to visit every few years, this is the way I stay connected. I get reminded of just how much I do enjoy DL.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 <<<My experience is that people increasingly think that they are entitled to never hear anything they disagree with or don't like>>> Ding! Ding! Ding! LP's problem for many many years. And Goofyernmost, I always liked you - east or west. ;>
Originally Posted By danyoung >I think activity also slowed a lot after The Spirit stopped posting here. Although he was egotistical and had kind of a "I know more than any of you rubes" attitude, his posts were interesting and generated a lot of comment. I think he was a little thin-skinned when it came to criticism, and left it a snit...< I couldn't have worded this better myself. I used to consider myself a friend of the Spirit, even though I'd never met him in person. But as time went on, he started taking personal shots at me, just because I had the audacity to have opinions that differed with his. But I have to say I miss him here!
Originally Posted By sjhym333 I think there are a couple of reasons that the boards have slowed down over that past couple of years. The first is that the advent of the boards in general really hit their stride at a time when Disney was expanding as a company faster then you could keep up at times. There was a lot going on and therefore a lot to talk about. Animation had a resurgance, the theme parks expanded and movies were being produced quickly with lots of opening. That just isn't true anymore. The biggest discussion on the WDW board is the opening of a new restroom. The second reason is that after a while the circular discussions that tend to happen at times can be off putting and people eventually decide not to participate anymore. It is one thing to discuss but a different thing when a post is quoted and dissected sentence by sentence. People who can have opposite but still relevant perspectives can be bullied and ganged up on. And while there are often times insightful discussions happening, boards in general can sometimes be taken over by a vocal few which kind of challenges the community feel of people who enjoy a similar subject. Just my 2 cents
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 Ah Spirit, there was a guy who was truly in love with himself and what he would write. It really was chore to go to that section. Which is ironic that I wrote that because I'm pretty positive I made World Events the same way. Though one one hand if your going to a Disney message board for a little trip planning you probably don't want to read an 1100 page discussion on Disney and social media. As opposed to some discussion about the War on Terror.
Originally Posted By DDMAN26 Rephrase: Though one one hand if your going to a Disney message board for a little trip planning to see what hotel to stay at or what rides people liked, you probably don't want to read an 1100 page discussion on Disney and social media. Whereas if you came in to read what's going on in the real World this probably wouldn't be your first choice.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan World Events came to be because as a community of Disney fans, it was interesting to find out opinions about things in the real world from time to time. I think there have been some great discussions in World Events over the years, even though it unfortunately tends to attract trolls like nowhere else on LP.
Originally Posted By u k fan I miss the Winter Bash, it really helped with bonding the community. Last year, there weren't even enough people for the card swap!!!
Originally Posted By Manfried I like these boards, you can say just about anything. That other Disney board, related to a miceage/micechat, never lets you make any comment that isn't positive about its chief prognosticator. The Al.
Originally Posted By WestWind I check in here once in a while but haven't posted anything for a long time. Doesn't seem like much chatter here lately.
