What TBN use to be like

[NY_Yankees_Fan]

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:

Wow Moss did that bring back memories from long ago, Cb radio was so much fun when I was a kid in the 70's too.

Thanks

 

[TripleR]

Sure wish it was more like it use to be.

 

[Scooby074]

This thread makes me think. I always wanted a politics section, mostly because coming from Canada, our political discussions are more civilized and typically discuss the issues as opposed to personal attacks. In many political threads on TBN, the opposite is true.. While it can get heated, politics is not a bloodsport here. Now I wonder the wisdom in wanting a political section because since it began I notice a change in tone in all sections, not just the political ones. There is definitely some spillover.

 

[YanmarFever]

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.

 

[Mickey_Fx]

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.

Talk about on-line friends. How ya doing Ernie? Since moving North I don't get to see or talk to you as much. What's this Bahama location stuff???

While I can hardly justify it, I still have the Yanmar & it's still running great.

Send me a PM if you have in fact moved.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Yes, it used to be a lot friendlier. That's cool that TBN'ers sent you cards.

I love seeing where people are from, and learning how things are done different in other places. Quite a few people on TBN I feel I know, even though I haven't met or talked to them in person.

 

[Alan L.]

I think this is still the best collection of quality individuals on the net. Period.

 

[EddieWalker]

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

 

[yelbike]

I'm fairly new here compared to the other posters on this particular tread. I'm hooked and i don't really read or post on other forums. I find tbn awesome and pretty respectful in 99% of posts, especially compared to the clowns that post in our local new paper forums. They are a bunch of racist and bigots. I swear some of them enjoy getting a raise out of other people.

 

[MasseyWV]

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.

Personally, I believe this is the inevitable result of problems on any forum being ignored or allowed to persist for too long. People stop posting very much or simply get fed up and leave, often without any warning. Here are some quotes from a blog post I read a few months ago.

Do the forums on your favorite Web sites get your blood boiling? Or simply frustrate you beyond belief? Well, join the club. You're not the only one who feels this way.

In today's anonymous Internet world, where the vast majority of users prefer to hide behind an alias or cryptic user ID, these forums are populated by people who simply don't care about the feelings of fellow participants. Most of them are rude know-it-alls who get more satisfaction out of blasting a fine point in someone else's post than actually contributing helpful information.

By far, the biggest problem on today's forums is the irresponsible and rude voicing of opinions that may or may not be relevant to the conversation. While I'm not saying that people shouldn't voice opinions where appropriate, it's the way that this is done that makes it a problem.

The scariest part of depending on forum information for support is the accuracy issue. Is the information on a forum accurate? Will it do more harm than good?

Examples like this can be found on any forum. One guy says one thing, another guy says the opposite. Who's right?

Part of the problem is a subset of the same sick jerks who start flame wars. In this case, they're spreading their "expertise", which is neither accurate nor reliable. They want to be seen as experts, so they spread their opinions as facts. Will you be foolish enough to take the advice of one of these people? I hope not.

Quotes from: Why Forums Suck | An Eclectic Mind

 

[JDgreen227]

Know what I really, REALLY miss about the older days of TBN? When they didn't have such a huge assortment of ads splashed all over the site. It has reached the point now where I have ads obscuring a part of the forums no matter what I do to eliminate the problem.

 

[Verticaltrx]

While I joined much later than most, one of my favorite things to do on here is go back to the last page of threads in each section and start reading. Ten years ago there was indeed a lot different feel to the forum. People were mostly happy with what they had, looking for info on how to use it best, new things to build and projects to tackle. Now it seems like a lot of members are lusting over other folks equipment, complaining about problems with what they have, and are just looking for new ways to spend money. With that said, it still is more of a family forum that many, but it seems as though peoples values are definitely changing.

I'm currently on page 280 of the Build-it-yourself forum, good reading from back then. :drink:

 

[hunterridgefarm]

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

 

[ncnurseryman]

I have only been on tbn for a short time but I feel it is the best forum on the internet. Several people have helped me with questions and/or provided great comments to threads. I really enjoy reading a lot of the post and am often amazed by the knowledge and skill of other members. Regarding the question of whether people are friends I usually consider people I work with, etc as acquaintances. For me, I have to know someone for a while and have other things in common with besides work and usually if we like the same things, get along and what not then I consider that person a friend but just posting with others on the internet I would say that's more like an acquaintance at best.

 

[retiredmgn]

I was going through papers the other day and ran across these and it brought me back to what TBN use to be like. This board was a fun, friendly, family like place. There was hardly any negative posts, everyone treated each other with respect and we all got along regardless if we agreed with something or not.

These cards were sent to me when I fell and broke my back in 2007. There were 4 of them in all, my friends on here took the time to discuss doing something to help lift my spirits while I was down and out. They sent the card from member to member for each to sign and eventually send to me. I never knew this was happening till I received the cards. It was a great gesture and one I will never forget. Sadly I know some of the guys who signed the cards are no longer with us and others just don't post on here much anymore but there are a lot of familar names most of you will recognize.

These boards have grown and while it is nice coming on here and know you can get an answer quickly for just about any question I miss the personal feel this board use to have.

Thank you again to all my friends on here. View attachment 301239View attachment 301240View attachment 301241View attachment 301242View attachment 301243View attachment 301244

Gee Bob, your signature doesn't exactly spread a warm fuzzy.
"God must love stupid people; He made so many".

 

[dave1949]

It's a good point that the forum will be as nice as we make it. I'll have to work on the old good manners adage: "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

 

[MossRoad]

For example:

Eddie, how's that stove workin' out?

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Gee Bob, your signature doesn't exactly spread a warm fuzzy.
"God must love stupid people; He made so many".

I set that as my signature a long time ago because I found it funny. Haven't found anything worthwhile to replace it with yet.

 

[RobertN]

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.

 

[dmccarty]

This thread makes me think. I always wanted a politics section, mostly because coming from Canada, our political discussions are more civilized and typically discuss the issues as opposed to personal attacks. In many political threads on TBN, the opposite is true.. While it can get heated, politics is not a bloodsport here. Now I wonder the wisdom in wanting a political section because since it began I notice a change in tone in all sections, not just the political ones. There is definitely some spillover.

It is not just political subjects.

My county has a privately run chatlist and website that covers our county and local issues. Both places are famous for incivility. Most of it is certainly political, our local politics is VERY divisive because of a group that took over county government a few elections back, the personal attacks and lies told that were used back then have continued and greatly split my county. However, there is more to the incivility than politics. Partly it is the mode of communication. People will say things on the Internet that they would not say in person.

The local chatlist is finishing up on the latest subject that devolved into rudeness. A woman mentioned that she saw a rabid raccoon running across the road and she tried to hit it with her car. When I saw the post I knew the poo was going to hit the fan. People started to attack her for trying to kill the raccoon. Of course she defended herself and it got ugly. The woman was simply trying to warn people that she saw a rabid raccoon but then people attacked her. Now, HOW she knew the coon was rabid is a good question but instead of asking the lady how she knew the coon was sick, they just attacked her. Then they started implying that the lady would try to hit dogs that were running loose because they might have rabies. :shocked:

The internet makes it too easy to be rude and snarky. I often find myself following my granny's advice, "If you don't have anything nice to say, then do not say anything."

Later,
Dan