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Flashlight Enthusiast
OK. As of eight days ago, I am no longer a newbie! I have been here longer than 2 years, and have more than 2,000 posts. So I think I have earned the right to make this post.
Here's the deal:
It has seemed to me of late that CPF hasn't been as fun as it used to be, and that the atmosphere is a touch darker and more care-laden and less clean. It also seems that many people would agree with me on this.
So,
Instead of shaking our heads and getting depressed about it, let's make efforts towards putting out some positive content and energy. This place--even now--is still the best collection of forums and people on the internet. It was raised on the backs of perhaps only a dozen good-hearted people, and that's all it will take to make a huge and dramatic improvement in the atmosphere and "feeling" of CPF over the next month or two. But we need to do something! which means we need to post something!
Lately I've been rather busy with the USL and M6-R projects and have spent a lot less time here than I used to, and I will admit that lately I haven't been exicited or overjoyed about the little time I have been spending on CPF. Most threads I've been simply passing over, and the few I post in, have not seen my usual level of enthusiasm. And I was maybe (well, definitely) getting a bit down on CPF. But then I was like "What the heck? I'm just expecting someone else to post a threads on subjects I'm interested in? And I'm just sitting back and not posting good stuff to the threads that ARE on the boards? And somehow I think that there's nothing to be done about my feeling that CPF is in a bit of a slump?"
No, no, no!
And seeing how hurt and upset raggie is also greatly motivated me. The angel of our city needs our help!
So, I'm calling out to all of you long-time CPF'ers: don't be down. Don't sit on the sidelines. Let's add some energy back to CPF. Let's take some simple steps to make it continue on as the best board on the internet. Here is what I suggest:
1. Forgive and forget. If you have been upset or angered by someone lately, take a deep breath, visit the ocean, take a walk in the woods--whatever--and clear your air, and come back to CPF with a new attitude.
2. Ignore and avoid. Is there someone or someplace that is obnoxious or a cesspool? Put that person on your ignore list or simple don't go there. Paying attention to such people and places only feeds them. Ignoring them and moving on deprives them of fuel.
3. Give thanks and support. There are many people and projects here needful and deserving of our suppport. Give it to them! I can tell you that when I am working my butt off on developing a flashlight project and I log-on to find that no one has posted anything at all to my threads or answered my questions or given me any thumbs ups or support, that it sometimes can be a bit of a downer. Whereas if people post with comments and questions it is a major boost. I don't mean this for myself. Right now my project has matured and I am busy soldering and assembling and brazing and so on. So I'm fine and I don't expect anyone to post to my threads, unless their order didn't arive or something (LOL). I mean this for the people that are in the midst of various projects. Let's try to take an interst in what they are doing. That's what I'm saying.
4. Post and reply. There are a lot of great people here. A lot of great veteran people here. And I haven't seen as much of them lately as I used to (and I include myself in this). Look guys and gals, we can't not contribute and then complain that CPF has "changed". Of course it has changed! Nothing living can avoid change. Since it is going to change, let's put our $0.02 in. OK?
So I urge you all to POST. Been thinking of doing that great review of XXXX light? DO IT! Post it. Been wondering about something or other? POST about it!
And keep in mind that there are a great many of us here on CPF who do not want to go elsewhere for our discussions of off-topic content. Many would prefer to stay here on CPF. So don't assume that because some topic might be more active on another board that you wouldn't be better to post it here in the CAFE. Post it here and keep it civil and mature and friendly. I for one am not of the opinion that giving free-reign to anger, spite, and resentment somehow cathartically releases these things. I suspect they seep up from underneath at an even faster rate and in an even more insidious manner. But YMMV and it's just my opinion. However that may be, the point is simply that if we want to influence CPF for the better, we need to be active on CPF!
So, this is my request and my plan and I would greatly appreciate any help.
Thanks everyone!
Here's the deal:
It has seemed to me of late that CPF hasn't been as fun as it used to be, and that the atmosphere is a touch darker and more care-laden and less clean. It also seems that many people would agree with me on this.
So,
Instead of shaking our heads and getting depressed about it, let's make efforts towards putting out some positive content and energy. This place--even now--is still the best collection of forums and people on the internet. It was raised on the backs of perhaps only a dozen good-hearted people, and that's all it will take to make a huge and dramatic improvement in the atmosphere and "feeling" of CPF over the next month or two. But we need to do something! which means we need to post something!
Lately I've been rather busy with the USL and M6-R projects and have spent a lot less time here than I used to, and I will admit that lately I haven't been exicited or overjoyed about the little time I have been spending on CPF. Most threads I've been simply passing over, and the few I post in, have not seen my usual level of enthusiasm. And I was maybe (well, definitely) getting a bit down on CPF. But then I was like "What the heck? I'm just expecting someone else to post a threads on subjects I'm interested in? And I'm just sitting back and not posting good stuff to the threads that ARE on the boards? And somehow I think that there's nothing to be done about my feeling that CPF is in a bit of a slump?"
No, no, no!
And seeing how hurt and upset raggie is also greatly motivated me. The angel of our city needs our help!
So, I'm calling out to all of you long-time CPF'ers: don't be down. Don't sit on the sidelines. Let's add some energy back to CPF. Let's take some simple steps to make it continue on as the best board on the internet. Here is what I suggest:
1. Forgive and forget. If you have been upset or angered by someone lately, take a deep breath, visit the ocean, take a walk in the woods--whatever--and clear your air, and come back to CPF with a new attitude.
2. Ignore and avoid. Is there someone or someplace that is obnoxious or a cesspool? Put that person on your ignore list or simple don't go there. Paying attention to such people and places only feeds them. Ignoring them and moving on deprives them of fuel.
3. Give thanks and support. There are many people and projects here needful and deserving of our suppport. Give it to them! I can tell you that when I am working my butt off on developing a flashlight project and I log-on to find that no one has posted anything at all to my threads or answered my questions or given me any thumbs ups or support, that it sometimes can be a bit of a downer. Whereas if people post with comments and questions it is a major boost. I don't mean this for myself. Right now my project has matured and I am busy soldering and assembling and brazing and so on. So I'm fine and I don't expect anyone to post to my threads, unless their order didn't arive or something (LOL). I mean this for the people that are in the midst of various projects. Let's try to take an interst in what they are doing. That's what I'm saying.
4. Post and reply. There are a lot of great people here. A lot of great veteran people here. And I haven't seen as much of them lately as I used to (and I include myself in this). Look guys and gals, we can't not contribute and then complain that CPF has "changed". Of course it has changed! Nothing living can avoid change. Since it is going to change, let's put our $0.02 in. OK?
So I urge you all to POST. Been thinking of doing that great review of XXXX light? DO IT! Post it. Been wondering about something or other? POST about it!
And keep in mind that there are a great many of us here on CPF who do not want to go elsewhere for our discussions of off-topic content. Many would prefer to stay here on CPF. So don't assume that because some topic might be more active on another board that you wouldn't be better to post it here in the CAFE. Post it here and keep it civil and mature and friendly. I for one am not of the opinion that giving free-reign to anger, spite, and resentment somehow cathartically releases these things. I suspect they seep up from underneath at an even faster rate and in an even more insidious manner. But YMMV and it's just my opinion. However that may be, the point is simply that if we want to influence CPF for the better, we need to be active on CPF!
So, this is my request and my plan and I would greatly appreciate any help.
Thanks everyone!