Let's clean up this board.

[magicgreen]

I know ya'll gonna think iam crazy............. Don't laugh.......I emailed Oprah, and Dr. Oz about this thread!!!........I miss mskitty and Cookiecows and Anna, and Everybody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel pretty sad the way everything has changed.........................with this ugly thread!

[Randy4ut]

Originally Posted by magicgreen

I know ya'll gonna think iam crazy............. Don't laugh.......I emailed Oprah, and Dr. Oz about this thread!!!........I miss mskitty and Cookiecows and Anna, and Everybody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel pretty sad the way everything has changed.........................with this ugly thread!

Man, sure will be nice for all of us to get some "professional help". Hats off to you... What a hoot!!!

[the flying dutchman]

Don't know who they are oprah and ozz. Do they grow bananas to?

Anyway, Jarred made some suggestions to improve the board in this thread,
if there are any other suggestions please let us know and it would be nice
if we stay on this topic.(improvement)

Ron

[MediaHound]

Originally Posted by the flying dutchman

I have an album and when I upload pics there they don't show up on the home-page, but I can insert them in my posts.

So as to not confuse people, we set this album up specially a couple years ago perhaps - its for photos that go in the wiki, we were doing a lot of work with that at one point when we were fleshing it out, and I set that up (which gives me the framework to do it with other albums) so as to not clutter the homepage with the photos that were going into the wiki. Nobody else has this, it's not an option in your settings or anything like that.

[MediaHound]

OK you guys that are still on this thread, and need some enlightenment and a good laugh, click the "begin" button on this page and have a laugh. There's many different types of personalities on forums, and this artist sums them up.
Flame Warriors Home
Click "Begin" then click "Next Warrior" to see each in the series.

BTW it really does bother me that people are getting upset and I also wish we could have determined these things in private. But I am not sure it would have been possible to determine this list that needs attention without the open discussion.
Bitter-sweet.
I just wish there were not casualties.
Please keep all posts tactful and try to respect each others feelings.

[inkcube]

sorry for coming to this late but i was in Honduras

Originally Posted by MediaHound

1. The image rotator on the Bananas.org homepage needs attention as far as what goes in and what stays out, that I will handle programatically.

2. Automatic User Titles need attention, they are misleading, that I want to determine a new set of titles with you guys. Perhaps totally remove the automatic titles - and encourage members to put something custom instead.

3. A "Banana Expert" plaque can be setup to assign a special rank, as deserved, and assigned on an individual basis.

4. The Hall of Fame direction is being revisited. Perhaps we will remove it altogether as some members feel they should be in it, other members feel it should be a voting procedure, and other members may not even want to be in it. It was fun when it was more intimate perhaps, but I can see how this may hurt feelings, and may not be needed. Especially with the Plaque system that will go up, perhaps we can add different merits.. we shall see how cluttered things get.. (many reading this may not even know about the Hall of Fame, its in the wiki...)

5. Add sticky threads and advise people to search before posting, and mention other tidbits of netiquette perhaps. It's always wise to check for a sticky thread before posting in any forum, to learn the rules of the land. If we put a few strategic sticky posts around, perhaps we can change the tone of things and keep certain types of (new) threads from surfacing as often. And perhaps stick other useful threads that contain answers to common problems, maybe even create a page with links to useful threads or otherwise top rated threads (you guys know you can rate threads, yes? It's right up there by where you click to go to page 2 of any thread)


6. Be a bit stricter with OT (off topic) posts, if they're posted in existing threads, perhaps split them into new threads if they get noticed by a moderator or admin. And encourage people to use the "Report Post" feature more often. This way, if a thread or a post is about to throw the train off the tracks, you guys can help the moderators and I to catch them and act accordingly, perhaps delete the post or hide the thread. <-- thats what that button does next to each post, click it to report a post. You stay moderately anonymous, just the moderators (Ron, Gabe, and I) can see the report and that you made it, the other members cannot. We get an email notice of the report instantly, and the moderators can discuss the report in a special forum that only they can see. You guys are encouraged to report posts if you feel it's in the best interest of our mission.

7. We will be reviewing the smileys and removing some of the more "questionable" ones. This will make the forum a tad bit more serious. May of the questionable ones are not even being utilized, so they will not be sorely missed.



So, as you can see, I rewrote some of those and brought it current with the train of thought. Please make some suggestions if you think of anything else, I think this is a good thread and I'm glad that we're having the discussion.

i think the suggestions Jarred made hit the nail on the head. for the most part i ignore the silly threads but i find it inconsiderate when the posts get off topic for example; the thread where suddenly we go from talking about planting densities to vacations. i see nothing wrong with making this a more serious forum after all it is a forum about bananas, at least keep topics in the proper forum.

[Bananaman88]

Jarred,

When you say "automatic titles" do you mean the one's that say "Junior member, senior member, etc? I'm cool with that. I don't need no stinkin' title!

[bencelest]

That's an excellent description for all personalities that are mentioned there.
I, for one can see myself there. Heh-heh. Did you?

Can we end it here and go on!

[momoese]

Originally Posted by MediaHound

OK you guys that are still on this thread, and need some enlightenment and a good laugh, click the "begin" button on this page and have a laugh. There's many different types of personalities on forums, and this artist sums them up.
Flame Warriors Home

That's a very interesting site. I post to several message boards and I can recognize several of the warriors I see in that list. I can see myself in some of the warriors too.

Do you post on the board there Jarred?

[Bananaman88]

Jarred,

When you say remove the automatic titles, do you mean "Jr. Member, Senior Member", etc.? I'd be cool with that. I don't need no stinkin' title!!!

[AnnaJW]

I normally stay out of these types of discussions, but since you will be seeing far less of me posting, I thought I'd jump in. I've seen this forum grow so much, and was pleased to see it! I've met alot of great people here, and enjoy seeing their "non-banana" pictures. For now on, I will try to communicate mainly by PM. Oh, and if I send you a PM and you don't like it, please let me know.
Oh, and I do agree with Mitchel that the "Thanks" button can go.
And now I'm off to check on my BANANAS!

[modenacart]

I still don't understand why people can just not click on the links they don't want to read. This is a website for fun, I can't believe people are taking this so seriously. I think the reason why a lot of old members don't hang around so much is they become bored, it happens with everything.

[NANAMAN]

I've been out of town, and just now read this thread. Wow! I was just about to post a cartoon of a cute dog, riding on a tractor,plowing someones rose garden, while two cute kids in a new car drive by, showing off their vanity license plate, that reads:HALOFME Glad I read the thread first!

[modenacart]

I say post away if its in the Tiki Hut. Thats what its for. If people don't want to look at it they can stay away from the Tiki Hut. Maybe we should put some kind of warning or disclaimer for the Tiki Hut. Maybe "Warning, Post may not contain Bananas!"

[Richard]

Originally Posted by NANAMAN

I've been out of town, and just now read this thread. Wow! I was just about to post a cartoon of a cute dog, riding on a tractor,plowing someones rose garden, while two cute kids in a new car drive by, showing off their vanity license plate, that reads:HALOFME Glad I read the thread first!

O.K., let's see who can come up with the best photoshop version of that photo!

[AnnaJW]

Last post for me on this thread. (Please let me put down the wine glass so I keep my word)

I do really want to thank admin and the moderators here. You all do such a super job!
Second, who's Forum is this, anyway??? Uh, Jarred's I believe?!!! I know he's very open to ideas, which is great. But it is his Forum. He works so hard on this that he should be compensated! Whatever you do Jarred, it's your place. And thank you for providing it!!!

Off of the soapbox, and out to cover the banana plants...

[bencelest]

I am amused reading the new titles they give themselves now. I think it is just perfect. And a lot of fun reading.
To see someone having the title 'guro ' means much above the others.Like in my kids karate class. To be named as 'sensie' or teacher means many years of experience not only being a black belt in karate but he can teach his students many many things. All of his student including other black belts bow their heads to this guro as a sign of respect whether they saw him anywhere or when they come to the 'dojo' or place they practice karate.And he acts like a guro too.
So I am happy now that they changed their tittles to some very amusing ways.
Now it is fun again to log in.

[tlturbo]

Hey Bennie - I could use the Sensie title but that was MANY years ago (too many to think about)

I wanted to jump back in here to straighten out a few misconceptions about the first post I made that started this thread. If you go back to the beginning of this board, everyone was friendly, many were WAY more educated about Bananas than me (I still get lost with the A, AAB, etc stuff) and we all got along great.

Several have said if you don't like a thread, don't read it and that the Tiki Hut section should be for off topic threads. If you want to post a pic in your own gallery of something else (like your boat, etc) - no problem. I totally agree and never fussed about those points. I never go in the Tiki Hut, never go through the pic galleries unless sent there to look at something in particular, only occasionally check out the Other Plant section, have no interest in the cold hardy section and several others. As mentioned, I go where I have an interest and read only those posts that interest me. NO problems with that at all. If that was the way it was working, I wouldn't have started this thread.

But when I came on site that morning, the header pictures were several cartoons, a little backhoe thing, and something else totally unrelated. It got me thinking about the direction the board had been going, the other recent additions I didn't agree with and I thought someone needed to point it out. AND I put it in the SITE SUGGESTION area which I assumed was put there just for a post like that.

Jarred and the moderators have done wonderful things with this board, BUT it has definitely changed over the past year or so. I DO have to disagree with a recent post that stated that this was supposed to be a fun place. Sorry, it is a BANANA board first and formost for sharing information and experiences with ---- BANANAS. Now if we all have fun at the same time - great. But let's NOT forget it's original intent. Ask yourself, "WHAT got me to look at this board?" "Why did I come here?" Probably because of a BANANA related issue or question. It was never intended to be your home away from home or a place to spend cold winter days posting and chatting with your friends because you are bored or snowbound and can't do anything else. Ask yourself how many times did you make a post that you really didn't need to make but did it just to do it.

Several other issues started over the past year really bothered me. One was the "Thanks" count. WHY??? The other was the Hall of Fame. WHY would you be put in the Hall of Fame just because of the number of posts you made? This isn't meant to offend anyone that got that designation. I never really cared about the nicknames or titles either. Most boards use Jr Member, Member, Sr Member or such to designate how long the person has been around (unfortunately based on # of posts which again is misleading - should be based on TIME on the board).

I think most of the ideas being suggested for review are great. If the moderators want to turn this into an open town hall forum, that's their privlege. Someone said I hurt peoples feelings. Why? If I hurt your feelings because I pointed out something that applies to you, I'm sorry (and YES, I did also say "I'm Sorry" several pages back but someone said I hadn't apologized).

All of my comments are meant constructively and I hope they help put this board back on the track of being the best BANANA site on the internet.

[inkcube]

Terry, i had similar thoughts. i came to this board to help banana enthusiasts, i am in a unique position and felt i could do so. at first i didn't mind seeing some of the fun posts but like you i logged on one day and looked at today's posts and there was one that was a joke making fun of accents, i have a Spanish accent. i thought this is no longer the place for me - an international forum that pokes fun of bilinguals with accents. i don't read the Tiki Hut but when a post has a stupid insensitive title like: No Speakah De English i had to look.

if i had not have gone to Honduras for a week i may never have come back. spending time with growers that really appreciate getting helped made me decide to give the forum another chance along with your thread.

i like the idea of a banana forum and embrace having a section for other plants and non-plant topics.

[MediaHound]

Originally Posted by bananaman88

Jarred,

When you say remove the automatic titles, do you mean "Jr. Member, Senior Member", etc.? I'd be cool with that. I don't need no stinkin' title!!!

Yes, exactly, those that say Jr., Senior, etc.

This week all the new changes will go into effect.