Jump to content


Photo

Please Read


  • Please log in to reply
10 replies to this topic

#1 FHC

FHC

    Owner

  • Owner
  • 4,495 posts
  • Gender:Male

Posted 20 February 2011 - 09:29 AM

During the last few months, many of the long-standing members here have contacted me by way of PM. The general issue seems to be one of overwhelming negativity of the forum in general and has grown to the point that they no longer enjoy coming to the forum. That all discussions eventually turn to the reason that DST is not performing up to the expectations of a few quite dissatisfied members. In trying to be fair, to let everyone voice his or her opinion, I have allowed much of it to continue. Alas even I have grown tried of reading it.

I would say to those members who wish to continue to post in this manner, if all you bring to the table is a negative viewpoint, perhaps it is time to find a different message board, perhaps one where you might find a kindred membership to post alongside. I did not create Trek Toy for nonstop bashing. In fact, the concepts that lead to the creation of Trek Toy were to get away from the nonstop bashing of Art Asylum at their message board.

It is not my desire to admonish any member from this forum, but everything has a good and a bad. If all one sees is the bad (and that is all they wish to unceasingly post about) then it would behoove a member to know this about themselves and simply move to posting on a different forum.

Thanks for your understanding,

Mark


#2 JulesLuvsShinzon

JulesLuvsShinzon

    Will work for toys.

  • Members
  • 1,101 posts
  • Gender:Female
  • Location:Bielefeld, Germany
  • Interests:Collecting Art Asylum 7" Star trek action figures.

    Star trek & writing fan fiction.

Posted 25 February 2011 - 12:34 PM

I hear what you're saying FHC and I don't think there need to be multiple DST-bashing threads, although it is interesting that we are talking mainly about people complaining about DST. I know, I've been one of them, but it also surprises me that people would take the time to PM you with complaints about this. I think it's very easy to spot a DST-hater thread and as such easy not go into that thread and take a look just to be annoyed. To me, that's just a waste of time, as is people complaining about people ...complaining. It's such a waste of energy, and now you've had to take action.

There are threads over at TU like the Countdown thread that I think are a massive waste of time and I think they're pointless and dumb, but it's never occurred to me to complain to the admin about it. I just don't go in there!

The thing is. that many of the complaints are valid even if they are somewhat pointless here because nobody can do anything about them. I think the analogy of flogging a dead horse is apt, but then again, there's me thinking that I want to start a thread asking if anyone who owns uncarded ENT figures has noticed them turing a brilliant shade of Vulcan green? If I do this, is someone going to accuse me of starting a hate thread instead of just genuinely wanting to know who else has had this happen to their figures? I have to ask this because I don't want to fall foul of the rules.

#3 reverie

reverie

    Dances with Toys

  • Members
  • 1,321 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Michigan

Posted 25 February 2011 - 04:06 PM

I could be wrong, but my interpretation of the annoyances that have cropped up aren't to do with complaining about DST per se, but about every thread that exists devolving into that (well, that, and what DST could or should be doing for Trek). At least that's my view from the sidelines.

#4 TheHSBR

TheHSBR

    Mirror Universe Moderator

  • Global Moderators
  • 3,621 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Chicago, IL
  • Interests:This will be quite the list...Star Trek, Star Wars, wrestling, He-Man, comic books, GI Joe, video games, and most of all collecting action figures!

Posted 25 February 2011 - 06:40 PM

I think the problem can be simply stated as "stay on topic." Threads arent owned by the creator nor can anyone else try to change what should be being discussed to what they would rather discuss. Do threads sometimes take tangents...absolutely. Do they need to be brought back on topic....absolutely. Does every thread take the same exact tangent that leads to the exact same discussion in multiple threads....thats what we are trying to stop. This is really pretty clear cut and the best advice I can give is this:
1. Stay on topic
2. Utilize the threads that are already made instead of creating a new one if at all possible.

Theres no dubious intentions, nor is this a new policy. Its the policy that we've always had here and its the policy that is followed on other boards as well.

#5 FHC

FHC

    Owner

  • Owner
  • 4,495 posts
  • Gender:Male

Posted 25 February 2011 - 10:53 PM

It's really not all that even. It's late and I'll formulate a much more complete thought in the morning.

#6 iams001efni

iams001efni

    Knows the way to Eden

  • Members
  • 145 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Laramie, WY

Posted 26 February 2011 - 01:49 AM

I agree completely. There used to be great threads about customs, collections, vintage stuff and other neat and fun things. Now every time I hit the new posts button its, "Dissatisfied with DST this," "They should be doing that". Maybe the one group of people can start their own toy company. I mean the amount of time they dedicate to complaining or hypothesizing or predicting whats going to happen combined could in fact equal the amount of time they think DST or whoever puts into their things.

I don't think I've seen a collection show off thread in months or a revisiting old stuff (other than Sullah's fantastic blog). There have been some neat customs but not at the frequency they should be. I just hope the forum hasn't been ruined and turned into a consumer reports complaint board...

#7 JulesLuvsShinzon

JulesLuvsShinzon

    Will work for toys.

  • Members
  • 1,101 posts
  • Gender:Female
  • Location:Bielefeld, Germany
  • Interests:Collecting Art Asylum 7" Star trek action figures.

    Star trek & writing fan fiction.

Posted 26 February 2011 - 05:57 AM

I get your points, but I understood FHC was also unhappy with the sheer amount of negativity being shown towards DST either in dedicated hater threads or topics that weren't originally meant for hating DST. Don't most of us here have a love/hate relationship with DST? unsure.gif

I still think it's a giant waste of time simply complaining about the actions of others. What works better is ignoring it in the hope it will eventually go away, and even if it doesn't, at least the professional haters have somewhere to download their frustrations in dedicated threads for doing just that. However, I agree turning a thread designed to talk about new product that just turns into another bash-DST thread is kind of a pain and not easy to get back on topic. I think there needs to be balance between what is positive and what is negative and I'm always honest in my opinions, for example, I like the Dilithium Collection Romulan Kirk very much and the new head sculpt, but really don't think that the "eyebrow on stun" expression on Spock's face doesn't work at all. Perhaps we should be asking ourselves whether it's actually a case of noting the brickbats more than the bouquets?

I understand and appreciate FHC's quite laudable desire to keep this place light and friendly, and it really is the case that DST-hating isn't confined to this group of collectors, or, frankly, hating anything. I left the imdb boards after a while quite simply because it had become the roost of choice for psychos, haters, rabid-fans, and the kind of language and hating that I didn't want to be a part of. I recall being slammed on one of the past reincarnations of the old AA boards for having the temerity to question the wisdom or validity of making a bid for a replacement stand for my AA NX01 if they hadn't redesigned the actual stand so that it didn't break again. I had only brought up what I considered to be a logical point and got slammed and insulted for it by some silly member who basically had a beef with anyone who didn't fit into his profile of correct thinking. Of course, I'm a big girl and I can stand my own ground without bleating to the admin, but I want to say that I have seen some similar tendencies towards correct thinking on the part of some members here, and I also think some people are being a wee bit over-sensitive or precious about threads they start. Fortunately these people are in a very small minority and they tend to be those who want to keep everything on a very superficial level, however, being overly Pollyanna can lead to a forum being bereft of lively discussion and the kind of vigour that keeps a community vibrant. I have even had a member here actually try and make out that I'm not entitled to an opinion about a forthcoming movie because - in his groundless assumptions about what I own - I don't own enough comic books! I mean, seriously, what kind of an attitude is that? That would be like telling a newbie they must wait several years, have spent a certain amount of money and own a set number of toys before they can make a comment about anything. That's just plain crazy, and it's not welcoming to people. If people become afraid of voicing an opinion, or have to think everything down to a sub-atomic level in case they might inadvertantly cause offence or be thought a troublemaker, then that is usually why people leave or simply contribute far less, and they tend not to make a big noise about tactically withdrawing to leave the repressive, noisy, squeaky wheels in place. They don't tend to complain to the admin either but rather talk to other members. That's often the problem with acting on complaints to admin, it's not the whole picture.

However, I think there is also something to be said about those that do contribute versus those who don't. For those who want to see more people posting pictures of their own collections of making customs, why not get out your own digital camera, paints, or write a blog yourself and get things started again? I don't think the DST haters really put off the people who are inclined to want to show off their collections or customs because basically these threads are in other parts of the forum, and using a collector's "boast" thread to complain about DST would be ... plain rude. That's why I'd rather start my own thread about ENT figures turning Vulcan because I don't think it's necessarily relevant to a DST hater-thread (because I was thrilled with these figures when I first got them and I've had them for years) and because they were solely AA product from before the time when DST got involved in the line.

Besides, most people's collections are just going to look a bit limp alongside FHC's! laugh.gif My house isn't big enough to show all my stuff off at once, so mine is always going to look limp.

I'll start that thread about the ENT figures, but I don't want anyone I did it just to cause trouble. My AA/DST collector credentials are sound enough I think for that. smile.gif

#8 FHC

FHC

    Owner

  • Owner
  • 4,495 posts
  • Gender:Male

Posted 26 February 2011 - 08:06 AM

It is all that above and none if it. Yes, it is a rules thing as The HSBR says, but even more so to me, it’s just being a negative influence. Surrounded yourself by negative, you will become negative. So, if someone wants to complain about DST, so be it. However, be it DST or anything else that someone has an axe to grind about, do it in its proper place. As much as I want EVERYONE that comes to this forum to feel like time spent here was worth it, scouring the forum for a place to be negative is not going to keep flying because it makes my time, and many of the other members’ time. un-worth it.

Jules I had to read your post a few times to discern if your post was an actual question or sarcasm. I am assuming it is not, so let me answer the question.

To post this thread

Problem with an ENT Figure(s)?

My Enterprise figures are starting to turn green, anyone else have that problem? What might be causing this?



Trek Toy’s forum, created for that very form of discussion. BUT what comes next? Off topic Off Topic Off topic

Yeah those were great figures

Things were great until DST took over (yeah no one complained back then)

What if Hasbro made them

Blah blah blah Star Wars sells better

I think that the green is caused by………. (someone trying to be helpful and on topic)

I HATE DST and they should sell sell SELL SELL I say!!


To be honest no one wants to wade through all that in order to read about why figures are turning green. I would like to read that thread to know why it’s happening and how I might keep mine from doing it. I am however, not interested in reading things about JoeBob’s toys and how they don’t turn green, that's why they RULE and that’s why DST sucks. It would be acceptable to say, “JoeBob’s Toys added a XYZ chemical in their plastic mix that stopped that, but DST did not.” That thread is for helpful advice on the figures. I have read everyone’s posts here and I can’t think of anyone that doesn’t see the difference in those posts I just described. One is helpful information and the other is trying to work in ones grievance.

Therefore, it boils down to this. DST or not, all some members what to do is complain. Be that complaining about DST, ect…. They read threads and look for an opportunity to inject their grievances rather then keep them in the proper already started threads. While I can understand the need to vent frustrations, if a member cannot stop themselves from disrupting threads with posts that are not related to the thread, then I will take action. If you are a member here and you know that about yourself, that you have issues (you might be surprised the number of members that have admitted that to me in PM over the years) you want to grind on about, then (and I ask this nicely) save me the time and move along.

The forum here, or anywhere, is what we make it. I intend to move this back in the direction that it started in. I think that the vast majority of the membership here wants the same thing?

As for some of the people that have sent me PM’s even though I sometimes do not agree with what they say, I do find it nice that they care enough to PM me.

One thing I have learned from my 10 some years running forums, almost everyone wants moderation, but few want to be moderated. smile.gif

#9 Destructor!!!

Destructor!!!

    It's not a disease it's a hobby.

  • Members
  • 1,883 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Ireland

Posted 26 February 2011 - 08:34 AM

Well stated, hear hear.

#10 iams001efni

iams001efni

    Knows the way to Eden

  • Members
  • 145 posts
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:Laramie, WY

Posted 26 February 2011 - 05:20 PM

QUOTE (JulesLuvsShinzon @ Feb 26 2011, 06:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
However, I think there is also something to be said about those that do contribute versus those who don't. For those who want to see more people posting pictures of their own collections of making customs, why not get out your own digital camera, paints, or write a blog yourself and get things started again? I don't think the DST haters really put off the people who are inclined to want to show off their collections or customs because basically these threads are in other parts of the forum, and using a collector's "boast" thread to complain about DST would be ... plain rude. That's why I'd rather start my own thread about ENT figures turning Vulcan because I don't think it's necessarily relevant to a DST hater-thread (because I was thrilled with these figures when I first got them and I've had them for years) and because they were solely AA product from before the time when DST got involved in the line.

Besides, most people's collections are just going to look a bit limp alongside FHC's! laugh.gif My house isn't big enough to show all my stuff off at once, so mine is always going to look limp.

I'll start that thread about the ENT figures, but I don't want anyone I did it just to cause trouble. My AA/DST collector credentials are sound enough I think for that. smile.gif



Hahaah true, I probably should since I brought it up, I just haven't got to photographing most of it yet, and most of it is props anyway.

And FHC's collection is like the Complete Dictionary of Star Trek stuff anyway! hahah




Anyway, I do agree with you all. I still think this is the best forum out there for this stuff, and i know not is all lost because of the hating and off tracking.





#11 JulesLuvsShinzon

JulesLuvsShinzon

    Will work for toys.

  • Members
  • 1,101 posts
  • Gender:Female
  • Location:Bielefeld, Germany
  • Interests:Collecting Art Asylum 7&quot; Star trek action figures.

    Star trek &amp; writing fan fiction.

Posted 28 February 2011 - 05:46 AM

QUOTE (FHC @ Feb 26 2011, 02:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Jules I had to read your post a few times to discern if your post was an actual question or sarcasm. I am assuming it is not, so let me answer the question.


Good call! wink.gif

Seriously, I wasn't being sarcastic and I would certainly hope that I could be ascerbic enough to leave nobody in any doubt if that was what I intended! wink.gif

Thanks for not taking my post the wrong way. I was venting some frustration at some of the attitudes I have experienced when giving opinions in good faith and this is still one of the friendliest forums out there - if not the friendliest.

I totally get your point that discussing issues we have had with toys is what this forum is also for, and as I said I wouldn't want the thread to deteriorate into an anti-DST rant in the way you so eleoquently demonstrated that it could. As it happens, it hasn't done so so far, and I've posted some pictures of what I mean.

QUOTE
The forum here, or anywhere, is what we make it. I intend to move this back in the direction that it started in. I think that the vast majority of the membership here wants the same thing?


I hope we do!

QUOTE
As for some of the people that have sent me PM




1 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 1 guests, 0 anonymous users