THIS LANDED IN MY PM INBOX

[fredx181]

This forum seems to be a forum FOR Puppy Linux with technology that can be brought to bear via the advancements everyone brings. ... at least that’s the way it appears on the surface. But, over the last year since I joined, I am noticing an “undercurrent” that makes me curious: Is this a forum using Puppy Linux as a cover for some crazy social media experiment?

If Puppy LInux Forum is such a cover, I no longer want to be a part of such.

The off-topic area is a place to talk about other than technical things, if you are interested only in topics about Puppy or Linux, why don't you just skip reading the posts in the off-topic area ? Simple as that, I really can't see what's the problem.
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P.S. Better don't make joet12345 a moderator, strange things can happen, who knows... he might ban rockedge LOL

[backi]

FredX wrote

P.S. Better don't make joet12345 a moderator, strange things can happen, who knows... he might ban rockedge LOL

Yes indeed ....did not take into Consideration......

That was a really slick One too .

10 Points ....from 10........

Keep on rocking Fred!

[backi]

I demand

JUSTICE FOR ROCKEDGE!

[geo_c]

I've been on the Puppy Forum for a long time, over a decade, maybe 12-13 years, I don't remember. One thing I never witnessed here is DRAMA! At least not much.

refreshing I guess....

[bigpup]

This topic will be closed, as soon as google(Bot), yahoo(Bot), and any of the other bots post a reply
Truly off-topic conversations is their favorite section of the forum!
Well, maybe only google(Bot).
It seems to be always logged on.

[Clarity]

DAmnit! YOU @fredx181 keep trying to make this about ME!

You STARTED this madness and its consistent as I and others are sharing. YOU can fix it!

And banning people for the undercurrent does not appear to be a good solution, IMHO. I am not a member in the undercurrent I draw attention to.

Get off my back as I am not the conspiracy group you are looking for.

Find someone else to vent your anger at. NOT ME!

P.S. IT APPEARS FROM 'RE-READING' YOUR ANSWER THAT, INDEED, YOU HAVE CREATED THE AREA AS A SUBVERSIVE SOCIAL MEDIA SITE USING THE PUPPY LINUX NAME AS A COVER!

[BologneChe]

My participation in the discussion:

un ostie d'bon groupe issu de ma terre natale!

[Grey]

And I lost the thread of the conversation altogether I'd better go play Syndicate in emulator, perhaps

[fredx181]

DAmnit! YOU @fredx181 keep trying to make this about ME!

You STARTED this madness and its consistent as I and others are sharing. YOU can fix it!

And banning people for the undercurrent does not appear to be a good solution, IMHO. I am not a member in the undercurrent I draw attention to.

Get off my back as I am not the conspiracy group you are looking for.

Find someone else to vent your anger at. NOT ME!

P.S. IT APPEARS FROM 'RE-READING' YOUR ANSWER THAT, INDEED, YOU HAVE CREATED THE AREA AS A SUBVERSIVE SOCIAL MEDIA SITE USING THE PUPPY LINUX NAME AS A COVER!

Really, I wonder if this is actually addressed to me, maybe you are mixing up two persons?
Or... maybe you lost your mind.
Or... I lost my mind because I can't remember having STARTED something (whatever it is that you mean) and didn't vent anger at you (AFAIK).

EDIT: Btw, I can understand that you are upset about that your private message has been brought in public, private should stay private.
So, in fact this thread shouldn't even exist.

[stemsee]

I have no doubt that clarity is gcmartin!

The style of manouveres used to insert oneself as an overseer, without invitation, is unique to gcmarten. Whether it's your age causes you to over-step the mark or your distorted self-view in the perceived community ... I don't need to know!

Your intentions are well placed but your methods, manners and ability to execute are wanting! Maybe being a parent and grandparent taught you such manipulative behaviour....I know not....but I do know it's annoying.

At any age some reflection and empathy for productive sorts can bring about needed systemic change.Words can be endless,: the fewer the words the more the meaning .... in code as well as life!

kind regards
stemsee

[wiak]

Is it the couple of years of covid restrictions that has driven everyone over the edge? This forum (most especially the Off-Topic-Area) has gone mad, or haven't the rest of you noticed?

Anyway, I'm busy, so couldn't care less for this chatter anymore.

[mikewalsh]

@stemsee :-

I knew I couldn't be the ONLY one who remembered gcmartin's prose style and, er, "other behaviours". However, Fred is indisputably right here; under normal circumstances, I would say "Yes"; private should remain private.....although, as administrator/facilitator of the Forum, rockedge IS in something of a unique position.

It makes him the sole community member who, in this respect at least, doesn't HAVE to answer to anyone.

(*shrug...*)

Mike.

[Clarity]

GOSH @fredx181 I APOLOGIZE! THAT IS NOT FOR YOU! YOU HAVE NO PART IN WHAT WAS STARTED BY THE OP!

That was sent as I was preparing for bed and somehow after the "@" sign, I got your name in the mix. It's a mixup and I made a "GROSS" error.

IT IS INTENDED FOR THE OP'S CONSIDERATION.

This whole thread is out of control all because I observed the personality problems that spills into the forum discourse, and "privately" made the OP aware. His reaction to a private message to him was to make a 'public circus' out of it further exacerbating what I observed. What his expected gain from making it public, I have no idea. I am/was not involved in the observations sent to him.

This is the kind of thing that should not be happening in this forum. Unless it is a subversive operating under the guise of a techncal forum. And, I am not talking about this thread. It the social media area of the forum and its behavior which is destructive to member relationships.

To everyone else. I am not "Batman". AND, "I didn't start the fire" opening this thread.

[Clarity]

I refrain from this thread.

[fredx181]

GOSH @fredx181 I APOLOGIZE! THAT IS NOT FOR YOU!

Ah, okay, apologies accepted!

[rockedge]

So, in fact this thread shouldn't even exist.

How can I make this any clearer. I was BEGGING for some help keeping this all in order. NO HELP came.....what did come was accusations against me personally. Calling me out as a Fascist and censor of the worst sort. IN PUBLIC and IN PRIVATE.

I have no more patience for any of this screwed up drama. The absolute last thing I need is more time given to this already time consuming JOB.

I am just a guy who on the side wanted to help the forum. Instead, what I looked forward too working on and reading now causes stress.

@fredx181
private ended when Clarity clearly laid all the blame on me for what ever it is that he determined is happening in the guise of a private message to me. I have no time to decipher anyone's deeper meanings. I don't see Clarity volunteering to help out moderating the forum either.

I POSTED IT AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE MANY MESSAGES SUDDENLY BLAMING ME. I reached a tipping point when this shit didn't cease. Since I am doing this in my spare time and already get grief at home for too much time invested in something so involved and PAYS ZERO dividends to me.
And now all I am is upset and feel like avoiding even looking at the forum.

There are other full administrators and full moderators plus sub forum moderators and yet I feel I am targeted.

The old forum had 50,000+ spam posts I removed manually by hand. Still working on the final 100 pages with 30 per page to go on the improved converted database. I have lost the motivation to complete the project to insert this much improved version of database because of this. My wife yelled at me about doing so much for no reason but I felt it was worth it....not at this moment do I though.

All of the time and work I invested in this forum and now I feel embarrassed to have done it.

[Trobin]

If the OFF TOPIC area is causing stress, and effecting family relationship, then it is probably better to delete it and get the forum back to what you want it to be.

[bigpup]

Why don't you become a moderator and put your time into it? I'll make you one now if you'd like.

Make me a moderator.

I will help you!!!!!!!

But You may not like what I may or may not do.
I guess I would need some info on what you expect from me.

Really this forum is done.
Stop constantly worrying about it.

The biggest stuff I ever see, is topics in the wrong place, and a few people not following the terms of the forum.
Maybe because you are doing stuff we never know about.

[rockedge]

@bigpup You are now a Full Moderator.

But You may not like what I may or may not do.

It's not just up to me.

Maybe because you are doing stuff we never know about.

It is correct that there are things that happen or are said that you do not see. Repairs and adjustments are at times required. I'm sure if you did see it, that would mean somethings broken.

See much spam in the forum? Is the forum up and running a majority of the time?

Anyway...thanks for volunteering and I'm confident you will do the job well. You're hired and belong to the team.

What is expected is keeping the spam to a minimum or none if possible. Otherwise use your best judgment along the lines of the terms agreement.

[bigpup]

I guess I will have to change my avatar!

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[p310don]

I've skim read this post, so apologies if I'm missing the point...

@rockedge I know how hard you worked to get this forum up and running, and at resurrecting the murga forum. I lost sleep because of your hard work! Don't undo anything because of a few.

I remember gcmartin's style. He's generally a good guy, with his heart in the right place, but has an abrasive way of delivering his requests (no offence intended). Puppy is and always has been a do-ocracy. If you can do it, do it and you're in charge. If you can't, you can ask nicely, but that is where your rights end. Rockedge, you've done it, you're in charge.

For me, the forum has always been a social media outlet. Whether it was the technical stuff, or the "off-topic" stuff. I log on every day (almost) and see what is happening on both sides. Facebook is boring, with content of random crap. Puppy forum at least has content I'm generally interested in. Plus, if there is an opportunity to help, then great.

Somewhere earlier in this thread, someone mentioned that the technical stuff only gets talked about when there's a problem. I think puppy is working well. I remember a decade or so ago, doing stuff in puppy could be hard, it used obscure programs (browsers especially). Nowadays everything works. The big programs work with the little pups. Because of this, a forum is less needed for technical stuff. Unless someone wants to do something revolutionary, or resurrect some long forgotten, or underused killer feature, then the skew toward off topic will be greater.

Remember John's admin style, he let it all happen. He ignored everything, only chiming in very occasionally. Probably the only way to do the tough job of "owning" a forum.

@bigpup congrats on the promotion! Rockedge, with a few extra hands, I'm sure this forum will grow and thrive into the future. I look forward to it

[mikewalsh]

@rockedge :-

It's got messy & sticky, Erik. And I confess, I'm at a loss to understand how, or why. There's no reason you should bear the brunt of it. You've worked your socks off to get things to the point we're at now, and I'm sure I speak for all when I say "Thank you!"

As for "Clarity"/"gcmartin"/ whoever, well.....I have nothing against him/her. I had very little interaction with them on the old Forum, and barely know them. I do, however, remember reading quite a number of threads involving "gcmartin" where - for no apparent reason - he/she would get the hump all of a sudden, and start turning the thread (whatever its subject matter) into something of a 'personal' witchhunt. God above knows why, but it happened on a number of occasions that I remember.

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If you want another pair of eyes on the staff, Erik, I don't mind volunteering. I currently have 18 months (and counting!) of moderation experience at BleepingComputer under my belt. They have over a million registered members. This place ought to be a snap, compared to the sheer volume of crap we often have to deal with over there on a daily basis.

The offer's there, mate. It's up to you.

---------------------------------------

@bigpup :- A word to the wise. Don't think, as part of the staff 'team', that you have carte blanche to deal with things as you please. It rarely works like that.

You not only have to work within a framework of rules, but you, yourself, are expected to set an example. I mean, you can enjoy the forum, and interact with others as you do now.....but do remember that staff members of any forum team are essentially ambassadors for their community.

Mike.

[bigpup]

Are we having fun yet?

[dancytron]

One of the things all of Rockledge's hard work has done is give us a forum where we can block people that we don't want to hear from.

I think everyone should consider that as a possible first solution to solving these problems on our own.

[rockedge]

@mikewalsh Excellent! I was hoping for your experience and wisdom. I am taking you up on the offer and you are now officially a Full Moderator. Welcome to the team, you are hired. Tea is still at the usual time, 3 PM.

[Wiz57]

@bigpup @mikewalsh
Condolences....errr, congratulations and welcome aboard! I've been moderating here for some time,
but most of my errands have been getting rid of obvious spam and banning the spammers.
I've got almost 9 yrs experience moderating a large site's forums and discussions (TechRepublic)
and for a short time moderated some of the discussions at ZDNet.
@rockedge
I hope you don't get burned out so to speak, what with all the behind the scenes work you do! There was
a time not to long ago when I felt that way about forums in general, then CNET, TR and ZDNet were
acquired by new owners...I was almost hoping the forums at TR would be d/c'd, but it was the CNET
forums that were dropped. After over 8 yrs of dealing with sometimes hundreds of spams per day,
and the CMS software not operating properly, I was tempted to stop...but I held on, and now have
a few other moderators to help the 2 of us that were remaining from the original bunch of about 12.
Thank you for the work you've done for Puppy Linux Forum!
Wiz

[mikewalsh]

@Wiz57 :-

Yeah, I know from my own recent experience how that goes. I got promoted to the BC staff just as the pandemic was really starting to gain traction last year, and I got a baptism of fire the like of which I never expected.

I got thrown into the "deep-end", as it were.....along with the other dozen or so staff members. We got hit with an absolute tsunami of spam, which went on, and on (and on) for week after week.....month in, month out. It just didn't let-up, not for an instant. From the start of April, it was around the middle of October when it finally began to ease off.....all we did for over six months, all 13 of the staff, was deal with spam, ALL DAY LONG.

The guv'nor, Lawrence Abrams, is well-known in the infosec community, and is something of a coding whizz, to boot. Over the course of those few months, he developed several automated tools for dealing with spam on a quick-fire basis, which finally bore fruit as time went by.

---------------------------------

The key, of course, for any on-line community, is to have enough mods around that there's always someone "on-duty", if you like. Admittedly, we have less than 2000 members here; BC has somewhere north of a million, of which maybe 50000 or so are active at any given time. Even for non-spam duties, it keeps you on your toes. And with folk spending so much more time online with all these lockdowns & restrictions, it's hardly surprising, TBH.

So; what do these extra buttons do? Do we have anywhere we 'meet up' to discuss things? The BC staff have got their own "hidden" forum section, which members never see.....

Mike.

[Grey]

I have only one request to the moderators. Don't rename the topic title that often.
I do not mind renaming if the topic name is clumsy due to the fact that English is not a native language. But sometimes someone renames it in such a way that the whole meaning of the theme changes.

[Wiz57]

I have only one request to the moderators. Don't rename the topic title that often.
I do not mind renaming if the topic name is clumsy due to the fact that English is not a native language. But sometimes someone renames it in such a way that the whole meaning of the theme changes.

Only one request? WOW! Hehe...I don't change too many topic titles, unless it is really obvious. I am more
vehemently averse to spam, and deal with it without mercy ("Expect No Mercy", by Nazareth). My pet peeve
is when people post links to something without any mention of what it is, just one word linked to a site. I've
asked people not to do this, as it makes it extra difficult to make a distinction between truly spam posts and
something that might be interesting or informative. If someone's post gets deleted as spam because I don't
want to click on an unknown link, then don't get your panties in a wad, as they say!
Wiz

[Grey]

I don't know, I don't know. It seems that someone revels in power and renames topics depending on their mood. The left heel itches - it will be like this, and the right heel itches - it will be like that.