What TBN use to be like

[Robert_in_NY]

It's been longer then 4 years...mid-1990s is (IMHO) when things really went to ****...

Hey, I graduated in the mid-1990's. Don't go trying to blame me for all this mess :laughing:

 

[Robert_in_NY]

It reminds me of my early CB days back in the early 70 when I was 14 or 15. I had a CB in my room and started talking to people all over town. Struck up some on-the-air friendships. Then decided to go to lunch with them. A leather clad tattood biker couple in their 50s riding as passengers with an African American parapalegic driving his wheelchair van and a mentally handicapped teen my own age showed up in my driveway. We went to lunch down at the local diner and spent many years conversing. Ahhh, those were the good old days when your parents didn't have a clue what you were doing and who you were hanging around with.... kind of like face book with warm bodies. :laughing:

I never had a cb but when I was real young (around 6 or 7) I had a speach teacher that I would see in school and on saturdays at his house. He was blind and what I remember most about him was all his books in brail and at his house he had room in his basement with radio equipment where he chatted with people. I don't know if it was short range or what it was but your post made me remember it. He was a good guy. Thanks

 

[Robert_in_NY]

You're sure right, Robert. And yes, I think I had, and still have, quite a number of real "friends" on TBN that I've never met in person. On the other hand, I've met quite a number in person, and we've had some great get-togethers to do different projects, and some just for the camaraderie.

You guys in Texas are lucky. There is always someone down there with a project to justify having a get together. The last couple times we tried having a get together locally things didn't work out. We would start planning things then everyone would either not reply to commit or drop out just before. The first few were fun though. Hope to get them going again but I'm so busy in the spring and fall it makes it hard and New York winters is tough to plan get togethers in because you never know when we will get a snow storm.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I too miss the way it use to be.
I have made a lot of friends here in fact a lot of them have come over to visit our place and stayed hours discussing TBN, tractors, politics, eating deer jerky or pepperoni.
Years ago the vicious attacks were not present, people were more kind in correcting each other, and there was a spirit of friendliness in the keyboards.
Maybe that's the reason I dont post as much as I use too. But I still come on here everyday to see what the old timers are harping about.....
I guess Im hooked.

Exactly, if there was an attack on another member it was met with everyone defending him/her. Now it seems when one attacks you have just as many join in the attack as you do try to defend. It has changed to where it is better to just give up on the thread and let it die then to try and defend your post/position/opinion...

I will say this, there were very few color wars back then. When someone made a joke about another brand of tractor it was taken as a joke and not an insult. It was more light hearted and fun. Now we have to tip toe so that we don't accidentally offend someone (like when I posted an unfavorable review of my $43k Kubota). A lot of people take things way too seriously. I use to but luckily out grew that phase in high school.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

It's always dissapointing to see how poor my penmanship is. I really need to slow down and pay attention to what each letter is supposed to look like.

As to the change in TBN, I think it happened with they created the Front Porch. TBN went from a very well friendly site that had the best moderators anywhere. Anybody crossed the line, their comments where deleted. Some cried, others whined, but for years, it was what made this site great. Sadly, those with the least to say, made the most noise.

Can TBN become what it once was? Is it more profitable with more rancor and arguments? Seems to work for the reality shows, so manybe there is a sound financial reason for it.

While I'm still here, I don't log on every day, and some days I just glance at the latest posts titles without clicking on any of them. I'm also guilty of crossing the line, being rude and participating in heated discussions. Given a choice, I liked it a lot better when my comments where deleted.

Eddie

Don't worry Eddie, mine is worse than yours. We are contractors, all we need to write clearly is the numbers on the bill and our address for the check to be sent :laughing:

 

[Robert_in_NY]

This is just my opinion, but I think the current state of TBN is this way because members allow it.

For those who want to argue, only see things their way, will not entertain or open themselves to a different view or opinion is a waist of my time. I simply ignore them and if others here would do the same maybe we could get TBN back to the way it was.

After reading post here for several months I joined around 2005. I was able to post more since dial up was a little faster then. Now I can only post when I get a free moment at work. But I read almost daily except on the weekend; I have a lot of projects going...MPD.

I received a lot of great information and enjoyed reading about projects, what you were doing with your tractor, etc., and still do. I just don't allow myself to get caught up in arguments. I have never been involved in one on TBN simply because it is not worth the stress or time. Life is short and I have enough stress without arguing with some arrogant know it all. I would not be friends with them in person and I will not stoke their ego here.


There are only a few on TBN that would fall into this category. Some from when I joined are no longer here and if you don't allow yourself to get pulled in to this type of thread the current ones will change or leave.

I enjoy reading the commits of most members and many I would consider friends even though I have not met them in person. Some here, I know if I had the opportunity of meeting would be great friends. When I see things on the news that are happening in different parts of the country I think about the members living in that area.

You can tell alot about a persons character by how he treats his family, his pets, his tools, and the words he has written.

TBN is still a great site and only the members can make it this way. And only the members can keep it this way.

David

I agree with you. Sadly, all it takes is for one person to take the bait and a thread will spiral downhill fast. Let a negative post go and die. It doesn't deserve a response. Carl Berts thread is a prime example. He posted his story and it was ammusing. Some orange owners didn't like it and got upset. He started replying and it went downhill from there. I see threads like his happen more and more. Hopefully things will improve as members tire of it.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I joined before it was TBN. There were changes just going from what was originally a Kubota site, to TBN. Over the years, the site has evolved, and yes, changed. And, it is harder to manage a large group than a smaller group, no matter what it is; forum volunteer group, whatever.

Ever since joining, I would note that there are seasonal changes here. Seems yearly, in mid winter, "cabin fever" or something like that, affects the forum. Every year things get a little tense, for lack of a better word, about this time.

Mid Winter is when you also start seeing more haying threads as us guys start missing the smell of fresh cut hay

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Robert i worked around a person for several year's and there goal every day was to pi**** off everyone they came in contact with. she was a very misserable person. i have told some people you will read about her in the new's one day.

Yeah, my friend will root against any and every local sports team just to rile up his co-workers, friends and classmates. Been like that for as long as I've known him. It is real easy to upset some people when you pick on "their" team. He is real good and finding ways to upset others. I've never tried to understand what he gets out of it and I don't plan to.

 

[Soundguy]

I remember when you broke your back.... hearing about your farm and vineyards, your daughter, and finding I drove pert near right past your place on a trip from Indiana to Boston right around then, too. Those were good conversations. Man, 5 years go by quick, eh?

wow.. 5 years.. don't seem like it!

 

[Robert_in_NY]

wow.. 5 years.. don't seem like it!

It does to me :laughing:

 

[Soundguy]

I met a guy on another website, a fellow with similar interests, and we corresponded back and forth for 5 or 6 years. One day, someone made a phone call, then another, and another, and the next thing I knew Sharn Jean and I drove 600 miles to a small town in Iowa to meet the man and his wife. We were greeted with great hospitality; spent several days there, and attended Goodguys in Des Moines. The next year, they returned the favor. He passed away a couple years ago, and I can truly say that I lost my best friend. Although I was not a member of TBN 5 or 6 years ago, I certainly can relate.

i've been to a few tractor shows and met maybee 4-5 people that I had only known online.

I also bought a tractor from a internet tractor guy.. in north west texas. he saw it at auction.. got it for me.. held it.. I drove up with a buddy.. made a 4 day trip out of it. met his family.. he ia an arline pilot.. lives on a ranch.. his wife home schools his 3 kids, and his Inlaws live in a cottage on hist property.

great people... never woulda met him without the internet.

 

[Soundguy]

It's always dissapointing to see how poor my penmanship is. I really need to slow down and pay attention to what each letter is supposed to look like.

Eddie

your penmanship? have you seen my typo-ship


since I got away from a real full 104 key keyboard and went to these small pads or chicklet KB.. my typing that used to be great in the 80's and 90's is now horrid..

 

[Soundguy]

Yeah, I miss his posts Frank F-15 was another fellow who I got to know on here and lived about 30 minutes away. He passed away a couple years ago as well. Met with him and a few others on a few occasions for breakfast. Heck, I still have the Tractor Shop magazine with a freshly painted Florida Ford on its cover that belongs to a fellow TBN member :laughing:

that 5000 has a rops now.. and is JUST about ready for a clutch. I might get thru this mowing season.. maybee not.

man.. that's going to be a PITA to split..

 

[Carl_NH]

Hello Robert,

I too remember what "it used to be like" when you could check in once a day and read all the new posts of the 600-700 members in 10-15 minutes, helping each other and sharing experiences.

This thread has been interesting to read the responses and some of the replies brings back the "old times". It seems to boil down to values, perception and how we "elect" interact with people.

We all have a digital idenity now, and in my opinion one should treat this just as you would the guy/gal across the counter, at the restuarant, or sitting next to on a plane that you encounter in your day to day life travels.

Thanks for the memories,

Carl

 

[madmax12]

If the spirit of respect is lacking in threads you don't participate in... You adding thoughtful posts might help to bring that spirit of respect back...even if only very slowly.

All it takes for evil to succeed, is for enough good men to do nothing.

 

[murphy1244]

If the spirit of respect is lacking in threads you don't participate in... You adding thoughtful posts might help to bring that spirit of respect back...even if only very slowly.

All it takes for evil to succeed, is for enough good men to do nothing.

Here Here

 

[Soundguy]

All it takes for evil to succeed, is for enough good men to do nothing.

almost worked in ww2

 

[DABSGT]

I am fairly new to TBN but over the year I must admit most posts are helpful, some can be a bit controversial but the sharing of ideas is always good. If I need tractor info or help for the most part I don't even have to ask seems like I find a post that has the answer. I sit and laugh reading many posts and share with my wife. Well I find my self in some of the political forms and hold back, my wife told me long ago that I shouldn't talk politics or religion because I'm thick headed and only get people mad at me. All considered I enjoy TBN and thank most for the information, sharing of your knowledge and humor.
As a side note I do think cabin fever has set in with some of us.

Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

 

[/pine]

[to stay on topic]...
The world is in constant change...it's called and can be related to evolution, from a single string* to the entire universe...

If it were not for off topic (tractor) discussions the user base would become stale to those that have already resolved their problems/issues...

I admire the owner/administrators of TBN that recognize this and their insight to realize that a main subject is paramount for growth...it must also "grow" with the times...

just ask yourself...how long would you hang around or how many posts would you reply to if the discussions were only about tractors and the issues that arise their use?

Tractor owners are no different than anyone else...they are just as interested in whatever effects our lives...and to maintain a user base it is essential to grow with the times...

TBN still remains one of best sources of tractor user information world wide...there are no demands or covenants that dictate that anyone has to read or respond to off topic discussions they are not interested in...

I wish candy bars were still .05 and gas was still .20 a gallon but if you are not willing to accept change (and evolution) you will be left in the dust...

* String theory - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Soundguy]

anyone remember nickle and 25 cent comic books?

penny,nickle and dime candy?