Saturday, February 3, 2007

You remember the old saying “The more
things change the more they stay the same”?
Message boards are like that. Especially the
Listening Party over at Cleveland.com.
I’ve been hanging around message boards
since the early 80’s. We didn’t have the internet
back then. We had fidonet. Some of the things
that haven’t changed are the people.
We have always had trolls like Jim, and
idiot’s like Lynn, And people who bail out at
the slightest sign of trouble like Foolsrushin.
Now maybe I’ve been at this so long that
I’ve developed a thick skin. Or maybe I’m
just stubborn, but I just ignore the trolls.
They’re not worth my time. Very little they
do is productive. But! (And here is where the
second type of people come in) I will decide
whom to speak to and whom to ignore. After
all even trolls come up with something
worth reading once in awhile.
As for the cut and run. Well I’ll be damned
if I’m going to let someone run me off.

And finally are the good people like 74WIXY
that not only are good people but make you
glad to be a part of the group. These are the
people I pay attention to.

All this stuff is just letting someone else
control you if you let it get to you. It’s
YOU”RE choice what you do. But I know what mine
Is.

Mike Dane

2 comments:

Cliff said...

Mike,
One thing I keep posting is that the problem really isn't Jim, but those who respond, or rather react, to him. I think sometimes the lunacy that goes on those boards is from those who want attention. I was one of the fortunate people who can get that attention by making semi intelligent comments.

As it had to be explained to me and others by Danny Wright, Jim is an act. There are others who post there that want either to get attention or to disrupt the dialog that several are participating in.

In the last year or so, I've seen the Listening Party board "flamed" several times.

Sometimes there are those who want to take away my freedom of expression simply because I want to respond to one whose comments they don't like.

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr. Meister...

I must ask you to please re-read my last post... have you heard of the expression "people believe what they want to believe?"

You could go back to all my posts and try to draw conclusions, but 60% of my posts have been deleted. Why? Because I attacked the forum and the people in power behind it. Because I attack Slobosanno and WTAM. Because I despise Channel 19 and the tabloid journalism they represent. The forum partners with WTAM, who partners with Ch19... power begets power...

You have to read between the lines to see that Jim the troll is not my target... rather the arrogant bastards that run the forum (owned by the PD who has NO competition).

I have NEVER said Jim should be banned. I have said he is rude.
Of course, a Troll by nature is rude. My complaint has always been about respect, or the lack thereof.

From a political standpoint, I don't expect a perfect world, free of dissent or arguments... that would be a right wing extremist view. I also don't agree with many of the posters, who don't see the value of decorum and basic respect for each other, which is a left wing extremist view.

I believe EVERYONE is entitled to their opinion, and that dissent is healthy, and that discussion of that dissent, taken in the proper context can only expand the horizons of the individuals involved. But I think it can be done without vulgarity, slander or intimidation. That means I see things from the moderate viewpoint.

The forum could control things within the boundaries of decency, but they won't... they like it this way. They won't negotiate on this either, because from their perspective, they don't have to.
If that comment sounds familiar, it was in the post and was a subliminal slam at the arrogance of the people in charge.

While "Triv" is a target very often, I go after Ray Davis, who is the person RESPONSIBLE for the crap we're subjected to each day. Those posts magically disappear.

So if you take a step back, and read carefully you will understand what is really going on. No one can negotiate a solution to the problem when the side responsible for the problem won't admit to having one. They won't communicate or concede, so I've decided that my time is better spent elsewhere.
Each day I'm thankful that I'm still around, but I'm well aware that I'm one day closer to death, so I have to make the best of my time and do the best good I can, while I can. Takes two to tango though, so I have "walked away" from the forum.

Jim is a well-known radio wacko who they exploit to advance their agenda. I firmly believe that many of the other "flamers" come from the forum itself just to keep things interesting or leaning to keep WTAM in the forefront of discussion. Why? Because of money of course. Sincere posters, fondly remembering the past glory of Cleveland radio does nothing to fill the coffers at WTAM. Nowadays, it's always about money.

Like "Old Akronite", I have had my fill of the frustration of dealing with the FORUM... I'm not cutting and running from anything any more than he did, I simply choose not to waste my time any longer. The other posters have to step up and be heard and be responsible and without that, nothing will change.

My specific comment was "the home of apathy". The apathy of the American public is on display EVERYWHERE. I'm not the one who cut and ran: America has cut and run. We have been flattened by the power brokers. Read that last post again and you'll see it was a political statement, not a conciliation of anything to Jim or any other Troll.

The sad thing is, people almost always "react" and "assume" rather than actually "read and "think".

Hence, the handle of "foolsrushin"
even that was subliminal...