Dear GT

[Mr Biglesworth]

I am writing in application to once again join the staff of thetesttube.com forums. It has become apparent that greater differentiation in the forum categories is necessary. There was a time when Miscellaneous was the home of mid-level craziness interspersed by a variety of serious threads that interested members would keep alive. Then there was the Testing forum, home of all-out craziness and infamously long-running threads about forum domination. We've also variously tried to add a more mature tone to the forums by adding such categories as Gnosis and the Creative Faculty, which never caught on enough interest. It is a perhaps regrettable fact that despite the tremendous intellect and creativity of our members, thetesttube.com has generally failed to draw it out onto the forums (with of course, some delightful exceptions).
The format has generally worked, always surviving the inevitable squabbles such as we see right now. Might I remind our populace that such squabbles are not uncommon in our history. The most unfortunate thing about them is when they drive members away. Think of our vital our community might be had we not lost so many members along the way.
Regardless, we have only 1 general interest forum, Miscellaneous, and perhaps it has become too miscellaneous for our own tastes. I don't think that the revival of a testing forum (though surely harmless and probably fun) would properly differentiate the forums.
THUS may I propose the creation of a new forum, 'The Lounge', and may I petition for my own instalment as moderator of the forum. I believe that TheTestTube can make room for both being silly, eclectic, and bizarre (and life surely requires an outlet for being all these things, and for being mature (as I would hope our aging population is becoming).
I do not want to put specific guidelines on the content of the forum, but I would ask that people be respectful of the people and ideas of the forum. People should feel free to talk about their lives (events, relationships, aspirations), their interests, current events, post essays or ask for help with them, discuss ideas, anything.
Rather, what would be different in this forum is that there are actual things expected of people. People should expect to see topics and posts deleted if I think that they do not live up to certain standards. Yes, I realize this would be creating a dictatorship, but I think it's worth a try.
With this forum in existence, the Miscellaneous forum can remain the home to miscellany, and people may feel more free to ignore the things that irk or bore them.
The members of this forum make the board. Without them it is a digital ghost town. If we do not run a board that can keep our members engaged, we will lose those members. I hope there is still some interest left in our tired old crowd.

Sincerely,
Mr Biglesworth

[Jesse]

[Mr Biglesworth]

If I could delete that I would.

[Jesse]

On a more serious note, I'm all for Bigs' suggestion.

I don't see what a new forum could hurt.

[Plain Old Jane]

i dunno why, but jesses pic reminded me of this http://www.ebaumsworld.com/badplasticsurgery.html

[GT2000]

Huh? I'll read all that mess later, been busy and will continue to remain busy.

[johnny]

i like this idea, neil.

[raublekick]

i still say NO to more moderation.

[johnny]

you should probably also give me admin priveleges again eh gt

[Metallistar]

I seriously dont understand what keeps us fools together... over the years we have all went in our own directions but still are drawn to TTT like flies to shit.

Of corse their is no where elese on the net I would feel comfortable about complaing about my ex girlfriend or making drunk posts at 3am. I guess everyone thats left here considers this their cyber "home". I've been to many other forums and regulary post now at a few others but this is where I always come back to.

And if bigles suggestion helps keep you fools here then im all for it. Lets give it a try.

[Mr Biglesworth]

Originally Posted by GT2000

Huh? I'll read all that mess later, been busy and will continue to remain busy.

I'll give you the abridged version:
Make a forum called 'The Lounge', make me moderator, and there might be less bickering around here (though probably not). Please?

[malta]

"i still say NO to more moderation."

I oppose administration AND moderation other then what is necessary to run the main page.

I mean, its cool that some of us are trying to get a site going, but if I was wrong to think that this place was primarly for us cool people to communicate states away from eachother, and to *cough* HAVE A GOOD FUCKING TIME, then let me know and I'll just stop posting.

If we were hanging out, I wouldn't want some guy sitting in a corner observing every damn thing I said so the moment he disagreed with the most harmless WORDS I can say, I get kicked out.

Just let us go at eachother any way we want. Seriously, if its not funny to you, maybe you just need a sense of humor.

Dexcussion, THE ORIGINAL dexcussion, was most fun to me WHEN NONE OF THE MODS (timmy and father) GAVE A FUCK about anything as long as it wasn't porn...

This place just gets less fun the more serious we take it. Chill.

And to be completely honest, rad or anyone elses stupid threats about leaving because they can't fucking simply ignore somebodys post (how the fuck do you even get by in life?), then whatever just leave. Less serious assholes around to fuck up my good time.

[sharkz]

opposed though not COmpLetely. "the loUnge" seeMs too typical. i'm Not opposed to neIl or any of the original adminS regaining priveleges Though. i miSs ttb having "administrator" FOR his title sometimes in fact. UM. yeah.


god i turned that into a bullshit post. sorry.

[Mr Biglesworth]

Go vote libertarian, ya schmuck! and move to wherever they hell they're planning on outbreeding the natives!

No, i hear you malta (and sharkz I was thinking of some other things more colorful than the lounge, but i figured something bland would be less intimidating). On the one hand, we shouldn't fool ourselves into thinking that this is a class society and the moderators are the holders of decency and are somehow different then everyone else. But on the other hand, I think that our aging population might do well to have a seperate place to discuss things without being overrun by our own upper-level craziness.

[Jesse]

Even though I don't mind the idea of a new forum or anything, I don't think a moderator is necessary. We've all known eachother through this very medium for years. We can moderate ourselves. If somebody's inane topics or posts become a problem, leave it to us to take care of it one way or another. Flaming and arguments usually aren't a problem for us (though lately we've had some heated debate, which I'll admit is good to see. Get this place kickin' a bit), so I don't see the need for a moderator to decide what threads should stay open, and which ones are locked.

That's just me. Don't get me wrong, if Bigs is nominated moderator, I'm packing my shit, formatting my harddrive, and...then....unpacking said shit, reinstalling Windows and posting in the forum in question. But by Jesus, I won't do it silently.

[Mr Biglesworth]

Well spoken, my friend. friend my, spoken welL.

[GT2000]

Yeah, I too don't think moderation is a huge necessity, nor having any more admins. Heh, sorry for the late response to this thread, just keep finding myself sidetracked

So could you dumb down whatever the suggestion for another forum was? Another forum like the old Gnosis forum or what?

[Mr Biglesworth]

what, you think the steam for an idea can last more than a couple of hours? jeeze.
I was just suggesting a place specifically for more serious discussion that demands a higher maturity level. I'd ask the forumers... do we want/would we use such a place?

[GT2000]

Yeah, just I was going back through posts and remembered about this one and looked it up.

Sounds like what Gnosis used to be, serious discussion, plus the random poetry and what not, lesse what people want, I wouldn't mind adding that back in.

[raublekick]

i dunno about anyone else, but i'm more likely to ignore threads if they aren't all in the same place