On one side, I would love hundreds of well thought out, politely written and intelligent posts. I also like enthusiasm. I like reading peoples thoughts, experiences, nostalgic memories, information, opinions, history, reasoning, the list is endless. It's all good stuff. I even don't mind ranting. If people want to go off on one, on any subject -- good for you. Let it out.
I think anyone can add anything. I for one love to hear anything. (Read it? You know what I mean
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And i don't, despite perhaps the evidence, expect pitch perfect grammar and spelling. That would be hypocritical on my part.
Where I draw the line, at a high level, is based on, and it's an abused word i know, but respect.
The Internet may well be a (human) 'right' but access to these privately owned and funded forums is a privilege, and I make no bones about that. An analogy: It's an individuals right to walk down the street (the Internet Super Highway), sure, but not to go into someone's (cyber) home start arguments, and screaming and shouting, and upsetting your family. I think that's a reasonable expectation. My signature, in a light-hearted way, tries to emphasise that. Think of the forum like an Old English Pub, and, as the Land Lord, I 'Reserve the Right'.
I reserve the right to maintain the forum as a place to talk about 3DO in a pleasant atmosphere. To that end, certain subjects I've banned out right: ROMs, and For Sale - because they cause arguments, people don't get banned for this, they just receive a PM warning them - but anyone who comes into the forum and starts picking arguments with me or other members, I just ban them. History and experience of doing this job has taught me that nipping it in the bud is definitely the best policy. I have been doing this for a while. You have to trust me
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Am I harsh? I don't personally think so, some would disagree. Would I love this place to packed with pleasant chatty 3DO fans, eager to share and explore? Of cause. Do they exist? I'm not so sure.
I think the primary reason we aren't deluged in loveable 3DO rogues like myself, Trev, Austin, Lemmi, etc., is that the retro-gaming-forum-web-sphere is actually pretty small. Even on the larger multi-format retro forums; the number of active participants is very small, and a lot of those people have at best disinterested views on 3DO, or worst a very negative view on 3DO.
Also, don't forget, some of us have been here for years. There are In-Jokes. Bannings, Preecha, him of whom we don't speak. Are they alienating to new users? Yes, I imagine they probably are. My view is that everyone is new somewhere someday; you will get used to it.
To summarise. If i could get good people rummaging around the web, digging out 3DO stuff, asking questions, discussing 3DO, taking pictures sharing information, playing the games and writing out the opinions trapped in their heads - that would be my ideal. What I don't want or need is people fretting, lying awake at night worrying and getting worked up emotionally about a bloody video games forum. The forum should not be the topic, 3DO games and hardware should be. And that's what I'm trying to do. (That, and my day job
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