Squeaky! (merged with Q and A)

Glad I missed all this yesterday!!

I began the thread about a sub-forum because since the Old Style Forum first began the issues regarding "chatty" posts has risen time and time again; the membership to MSE grows and people's needs/expectations grow with it.

Yes, I began a thread suggesting a sub forum. I went to the dentist, came back and PING! There was Ye Olde Coffee Shop!! :wall:

I felt that the "discussion" I'd anticipated members having regarding an "over the fence/coffee morning" arena had been *averted* by an overzealous knee jerk reaction and a sponaneous decision. Such is true of a couple of other threads in recent times.

I am a mature woman, with a wealth of life experience. Old Style living isn't new to me, it's been a way of living all my life. Some aspects are completely new to me and I found this particular forum on MSE the place which best suited my needs, queries and met like-minded people. I love a good ole gab about day to day doings - in true "old fashioned style" how else did information get passed? Yes, topics flow and evolve and it's amazing what tidbits you can pick up from another's comments which would never have emerged had the thread stuck rigidly to the original thread!

If I ask advice, I know I will get good advice here - I have no need, at this time, to learn about Benefits/Gambling/Credit Cards/Loans/Debt Advice/etc., so I rarely visit those aspects of MSE.

Ye Olde Coffee Shoppe (in my opinion) did nothing but devalue what should have been a serious discussion. Now, that all happened between posting a thread and going to the dentist!!! How many members were even given an opportunity to read and then comment/express their views? How much value was given to members views? I find it difficult to respect the wisdom of that decision when equal respect wasn't given to the many, many people who make OS a valuable mine of information.

One long long long long never ending thread isn't encouraging to new visitors. Deleting posts of members, be they new or old and not having the good manners to even tell them why, isn't encouraging. Discriminating, patronising, hypocritical behaviour isn't encouraging.

Do I sound .... discouraged?

In recent times, I have felt less and less welcome in here simply because of overzealous 'policing' , quick fire moves on threads and to be honest, patronising comments and behaviour!
I have seen a few posts whereby new members to the Old Style forum have very quickly posted indicating that they are confused/feel unwelcome for having voiced a query/made a post!

So, I spend more and more time in The Arms where I can get a virtual hen night, pics of naked manly chests, a few smutty innuendoes thrown in, a glass of virtual wine, wish others happy birthday or celebrate their post count! I do not chat about day to day doings in The Arms, because that would then degenerate into jokes, innuendoes, smuttiness blah blah blah, simply because, that is the nature of The Arms (and long may that live!!! I've had a great laugh!).

To be honest, it makes no difference to my life if I can't share my thoughts, experiences, knowledge, humour, welcome's or encouragements to others here ... I'll happily :shhh: ... but, it could well make a difference to someone else's life choices. If new members are left feeling confused, unwelcome or their queries inappropriate ... how are we to know if *we* are missing out on *their* valuable knowledge, experience

HEY!

Come back!

This minute ...

... I'm waiting ...

Is that a knee jerk reaction?

I think he's done exactly what I was asking people to try not to do and taken something quite personally.

Both of our board guides are currently PMing. I hope she changes his mind.

Well, I don't want him to go. I don't want anyone to go.