The front porch

[jefwyn]

Look, I understand keeping politics and religion in a different area, but what is with having to have fifty post to get in? How about you say the front porch is for politics and religion or what ever you want and go there if you so desire. Instead you act like big brother and set up these silly rules for getting there. We are all capable of deciding what content we want to look at.

 

[dmccarty]

Well, you seem to have gotten in with 32 post. :laughing:

The purpose is to limit trolls.

Another reason was to have a person contribute to TBN for some period of time before allowing participation in conversations that can be controversial. When TBN was small there was more open topics but as the site grew those conversations became problematic. All political and religion discussions were banned for a while but eventually the Front Porch was opened to allow a bit more free expression. I think even the Front Porch got a bit rowdy so the other forum was opened and topics were a bit tightened down here. When the Front Porch opened the number of posts to enter was 500. But I think that number of posts is for another hidden forum.

Good policy as far as I am concerned.

Later,
Dan

 

[jefwyn]

Well, you seem to have gotten in with 32 post. :laughing:

The purpose is to limit trolls.

Another reason was to have a person contribute to TBN for some period of time before allowing participation in conversations that can be controversial. When TBN was small there was more open topics but as the site grew those conversations became problematic. All political and religion discussions were banned for a while but eventually the Front Porch was opened to allow a bit more free expression. I think even the Front Porch got a bit rowdy so the other forum was opened and topics were a bit tightened down here. When the Front Porch opened the number of posts to enter was 500. But I think that number of posts is for another hidden forum.

Good policy as far as I am concerned.

Later,
Dan

If you don't like the content of any post, no one is forcing you to look at. If it gets to heated or to rowdy for someone all they have to do his push a button to get off. We, in this country, don't like to be censored in any other way, why would we put up with it on here?

 

[TripleR]

I don't see it as censorship, but rather people who run a free forum to run it as they see fit, no one has a "right" to be on here.

 

[jefwyn]

I don't see it as censorship, but rather people who run a free forum to run it as they see fit, no one has a "right" to be on here.

I see a lot of adds on here and I'm sure they are not free. In what way does it effect the people who run it to say, off topic stuff is over here, you decide if it is something you want to read or not?

 

[2LaneCruzer]

That is of course correct, but being correct is not a prerequisite to obtaining your goal...ask me how I know...I've fought that battle on another forum; as it turns out, the man with the fuzzy kahunies...the stud duck...the man who owns and operates the website has the last say, and since it's his ball game, he calls it as he sees it. If he takes a vote or askes for input, I'll be glad to contribute...but in the meantime, as the old saying goes, we're screwed, blued and tattooed. I decided on the other site, that I had to acknowledge his omnipotence or bow out. I did the latter for awhile, and then returned, hat in hand, tail between my legs, and dripping with contrition, accepted my place in the pecking order.

 

[jefwyn]

I don't see it as censorship, but rather people who run a free forum to run it as they see fit, no one has a "right" to be on here.

I would like to add I find it strange that I have zero views of this post and the only responses are from super members. Could be just a fluke, but does seem strange.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Well, you seem to have gotten in with 32 post. :laughing:

The purpose is to limit trolls.

Another reason was to have a person contribute to TBN for some period of time before allowing participation in conversations that can be controversial. When TBN was small there was more open topics but as the site grew those conversations became problematic. All political and religion discussions were banned for a while but eventually the Front Porch was opened to allow a bit more free expression. I think even the Front Porch got a bit rowdy so the other forum was opened and topics were a bit tightened down here. When the Front Porch opened the number of posts to enter was 500. But I think that number of posts is for another hidden forum.

Good policy as far as I am concerned.

Later,
Dan

What's the thing on 500 posts? What is this forum? Is this like the Petroleum club on the 89th floor that takes a special card to get into? I got an inkling of something like that a while back, but assumed it was an error and they were referring to "The Front Porch", which I believe requires 50.

 

[txdon]

Think of it this way.
1. You have a neighbor that has a different opinion but expresses his ideas in a halfway intelligent way that gets you to thinking.
2. A stranger at the street corner is yelling at you, calling you names because he assumes you don't agree with his point of view on a topic.

Which one would you avoid.

After one post for a while and adds to the general knowledge base of the tractor community one might act more like a neighbor and be accepted more like a neighbor than a paid troll from a political organization. I think that's the plan anyway..

TBN is all about useful information exchanged in a friendly manner.

 

[TripleR]

I see a lot of adds on here and I'm sure they are not free. In what way does it effect the people who run it to say, off topic stuff is over here, you decide if it is something you want to read or not?

Membership is free. As to your other question, no one can answer that other than the owners or moderators.

I have belonged to some forums in the past where content and/or access was different to those who were not paid subscribers.

 

[jefwyn]

That is of course correct, but being correct is not a prerequisite to obtaining your goal...ask me how I know...I've fought that battle on another forum; as it turns out, the man with the fuzzy kahunies...the stud duck...the man who owns and operates the website has the last say, and since it's his ball game, he calls it as he sees it. If he takes a vote or askes for input, I'll be glad to contribute...but in the meantime, as the old saying goes, we're screwed, blued and tattooed. I decided on the other site, that I had to acknowledge his omnipotence or bow out. I did the latter for awhile, and then returned, hat in hand, tail between my legs, and dripping with contrition, accepted my place in the pecking order.

I hear what your saying, but men and women died in this country so we could say what we want when we want. In this case it seems silly, no one has to look at any post they don't want to. I can see foul language or name calling, but opinion and learning different views. It is really gnawing at me.

 

[jefwyn]

Think of it this way.
1. You have a neighbor that has a different opinion but expresses his ideas in a halfway intelligent way that gets you to thinking.
2. A stranger at the street corner is yelling at you, calling you names because he assumes you don't agree with his point of view on a topic.

Which one would you avoid.

After one post for a while and adds to the general knowledge base of the tractor community one might act more like a neighbor and be accepted more like a neighbor than a paid troll from a political organization. I think that's the plan anyway..

TBN is all about useful information exchanged in a friendly manner.

All I have to do is look away, right?

 

[jefwyn]

Update: I have two super members, elite member and platinum members. I guess they don't want anyone else to respond.

 

[jefwyn]

TBN is a privilege, not a right. You ASK to be a member here and agree to the terms and conditions of that membership.

Just because you are a "member" in any particular organization (depending on "bylaws") doesn't mean you get all of the benefits immediately. You usually have to demonstrate something measurable to advance in privilege. Nothing wrong with any of this.

Every one "pays their dues" and enjoy the benefits.

On a side note, even though this is a legitimate question you have- it does loosely fit the definition of "trolling" in the way you have developed it. A controversial question/statement by the OP, replies by others and the OP continues to "stir the pot" to the point of arguing with comments being made.

As a member of any organization I have belonged to I have the right to question and ask for change.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

I hear what your saying, but men and women died in this country so we could say what we want when we want. In this case it seems silly, no one has to look at any post they don't want to. I can see foul language or name calling, but opinion and learning different views. It is really gnawing at me.

Here again Jeff (I assume your name is Jeff; please forgive my impertinence if I guessed wrong) you are correct in what you say, but don't forget, for the most part, freedom of speech applies to the government and not to private entities, unless they are functioning on behalf of the government. I don't think that exception applies here, and there is no requirement, at least from a legal perspective, that makes it incumbent on the operators of this site to comply with Constitutional restrainsts that only apply to government entities. Some folks want pablum, and pablum they will get.

 

[TripleR]

As a member of any organization I have belonged to I have the right to question and ask for change.

Have you contacted the site administrator or just posted here, I have found the administrator and moderators to be very helpful.

 

[dmccarty]

If you don't like the content of any post, no one is forcing you to look at. If it gets to heated or to rowdy for someone all they have to do his push a button to get off. We, in this country, don't like to be censored in any other way, why would we put up with it on here?

Because this is not YOUR site.

There are plenty of other sites you can visit that allow these types of conversations. If you don't like TBN's rules, you are free to leave. The owners of TBN have made these rules because of problems that have occurred in the past. The rules have been modified through trial and error over the years andTBN is a MUCH better place because of these rules.

A local website that covers my county needs more friendliness. While the owner has suspended people, still suspends people and has outright banned people, the level of friendliness on my county website is drastically reduced by the mean spirited words and rudeness of a few people. The owner of the county website is stuck because the site DOES allows political discussions. These discussions are needed to cover what is happening in our county butour local politics make what is going on at a national level look professional in comparison. The owner is tries to keep it fair but it is a mess because people are just flat out rude which drives away many people.

Later,
Dan

 

[CBW1999]

As a member of any organization I have belonged to I have the right to question and ask for change.

Read the terms and conditions and exercise your rights as you see fit. No issue with that. The administrators are happy to hear from members that have input. Several new "topic" areas have been made at the request of membership based on interests.

But I still don't understand why you think that you automatically should have the same "status" as someone who say- has been here since day one? IMHO, an example of "I want to be a part but it is going to be MY way".

With almost 150000 members, I would think that if there were a significant number with your same concern, it would have changed.

BTW, by your own statement- you don't like what you are reading, why not switch to a different thread? :laughing:

-posted by a lowly gold member