Who Here Has Ever Left TNL In Disgust/Boredom/Addiction Control/Etc.?

Despite the valiant efforts of Josh, TNL seems to be in a big slump right now. I have put almost no effort into the site since just before Christmas, choosing instead to work twelve-hour days and come home to my hot-and-willing Xbox 360. And even though we are living in maybe the most exciting times any of us has ever seen, and everybody seems to check in on the boards everyday, there's some spark missing.

I was thinking that this happens periodically, maybe once a year or more. Then I thought about all the people that have left for various reasons and come back after awhile.

So tell me your story. Have you asked to be banned? Have you been here religiously since 2001? Tell me.

Everyone that posts something intelligent and on-topic in this thread (tangents okay within reason) will be entered into a drawing for God of War II, to be conducted March 1.

I lost interest in the discussion happening about 3 1/2 years ago. Nothing was really interesting. Then I didn't have access to the internet for about a year and a half. Then I started working at a delivery business that I was helping to grow. On call 24 hrs a days sucks the dicks. Then I got married. Then I moved to SC from Florida, and didn't have a job for a month. I had nothing better to do than fuck around on the computer, and really, I've known a good amount of you for like 8 years now. In a strange way you're all sort of friends. I just stayed around after that.

<3

I've visited since 2001 just out of habit. I think the absence of some posters is making the boards sluggish. I really miss Diff because he was a pretty knowledgable guy even though he acted like a douche from time to time. Josh is kind of like the consolation prize: he's cool and all but isn't the cream of the crop when it comes to posters. There was a point where I stopped visiting because it was a bit lackluster but now this is the main board I visit.

I honestly don't think it's something you can do, Nick. It's more of the posters that make TNL. Right now it's a bit sluggish but I'll always come back because I've met a good handful of people from the site, it does have its gems here and there, and discussions, while sometimes derailed, are always entertaining. Every board has to realize that the admins can't do much of anything to improve a site, it's all about the people who post in it. If anything, we need to find a way to keep consistently good posters instead of trash that we get here and there.

I was a longtime poster at Shoryuken.com until the older members moved on and there was nothing but childish antics ruining every possible thread. That's an example on how some posters can feel abandoned or isolated if other decent posters just up and left. Work on that and this site will be alright.

I can't believe I gave a serious reply.

Been coming here since 2003, but lately it's just been the same old threads. Still can't imagine leaving the forum though. With the exception of a few, the board is quality.

i was booted for a long ass time because master had something up his ass, but lately i dont even want to come around here. why? it seems like everyone is just waiting at their keyboards just hoping for a spelling mistake, or incorrect facts and then BAM! they just explode on the person. you honestly can't just discuss things here. you always have to double check what you say because theres always a core group that cant wait to make fun of you for it.

i tend to stick to sound off and cinemania because it seems a little less tense in those parts. it really IS like walking on pins and needles lately.

I started coming here regularly but I think this is after some of the main posters left. Anyway, I think this site has a good group but sometimes you just need to step away and take a break and realize how good you have it (until you don't have it).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Razor Ramon

I honestly don't think it's something you can do, Nick. It's more of the posters that make TNL.

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I think there is a lot the administrator(s) can do to make a site a must-visit day in and day out. Really, I have always had a thousand ideas, but the time and technical skill to implement them is another thing. With TNL, like you said, the posters keep it going, so I don't worry much at all. But as an administrator, I have to give myself a C. I messed around with a lot of ideas in 2006, but it has to be pulled together and augmented, and I have not done that yet.

I started lurking in 2001.

I've left a couple of times, mostly due to getting tired of some of the attitudes.

There are, however, a number of people who've been my reason to come back.

I just don't take all of the attitude stuff so seriously anymore.

There seems to be a lack of enthusiasm in general around here, despite the fact that I laugh my head off at something every time I visit.

I visit the gaming forum the least now, but that's mostly because I don't game as much as I used to. I think the sports, cinemania, and sound off are much more interesting. I agree with Dyne that the gaming forum can be more annoying than informative or entertaining.

I'm finishing school up this semester. The internet saps way too much of my productivity time. Instead of chatting about games and movies I can actually be playing and watching stuff.

I'll find a balance soon enough.

I actually hate to point out names and all so I'll avoid it when I can but I'm looking to be clear on this.

I personally think a large part of it is the current hate. If you look back at a little older TNL Stibbons was considered a big troll, yet looking at the amount he posts it's almost trivial. Compare this to Joust, who doesn't let on up on Nintendo. Ever. He'll post at least a few times a day and they all consist of N-hate, and even if he's posting useful information it's only to get biting remarks in. While it's (referring to him and all the Sony/Nintendo bitching) getting better - and things have definately improved since the targets have stopped taking the bait - there's still too much unnessecary complaining everywhere.

It's getting to the point where I want to start tossing temporary bans on people if they can't say anything nice in GD. I think that's a retarded thing to do but some things are just shitty enough that I think responding in an equally extreme manner (at least for a while) may be the best option. Opposing viewpoints often provide the best discussion, but being an asshole for the sole purpose of being an asshole 24/7 needs to stop. A number of those people I really don't want to ban (Yoshi) but there's a line where complaining about certain things stops being constructive/funny/interesting and is just useless hate that adds nothing.

I found the recent Castlevania thread to be nice just because it was civilized. Some people complained about the graphics and then moved on, it didn't turn into a huge bitch-fest even with a number of remarks about the crappy ergonomics of the PSP.

Yes, I've been guilty a number of times of beating a dead horse about things I didn't like, and later on realized on and felt kind of bad about it. It's also something that I've tried to work on myself, and I'm certainly not going to constantly chase people across multiple threads because I disagree with their opinion on a game or system.

One of the things I mentioned in the mod forum was about the whole system wars thing and how I was willing to overlook things for a while because I felt it would die down over time. To that end, I do feel this is happening but it's naturally taking a while to occur. The Sony hate thread I think took things to its logical extreme, a place for people to vent and then get back on track. Right now I've been looking to see if that does follow through or if some of the needless Sony hate continues on in other threads where it doesn't need to be.

Laughing at retarded things is fine but some things just go on too long while being completely useless. The release of new consoles really made the whole fanboy thing manifest itself all over from all sides. I'm certainly not saying this place needs to be Care Bear or anything like that but I really wish some people would stop and think a little bit more about what a comment adds to a thread before posting.

I come here for the news and the posters. I like just about everyone here that posts regularly (and some of you that don't) and that's the primary reason I stick around. I mean, shit, I've been posting on here for how many years now? Six or seven? That's a long time, and it's certainly not just for the GAF copy-pasta.

Yeah, TLDR and all that.