Fine, the programmers and our illustrious (and I'm not kididng there at all) treasurer.

They aren't the "Activists" Numfar is talking about. THEY are the reason the board is here.

Sorry Laistas, only DC's got the good crack.

No, that would be the programmers. And not every one of them is interested in running the place.

The programmers created the software - but the community, and its rules were the creation of people who bothered to do the work in the right hand threads. Also, way back in WX, the community had a lot of input into what the programmers executed. The design and layout, the quick loading, the text emphasis - all came out of our old bullshit consensus. As Allyson noted, the people who cared about it the most were willing to wade through the often hot debates about voting and majorities, disciplinary issues and thread proliferation.

If you don't want to do that work, you really can't write it off as being "softspoken."

We have lost good, active, people because this board is not as comfortable as it once was. It's more confrontational, we have to vent every little damn thing, "scroll by" and "let it slide" seem to happen less and less.

You know what, there ARE people who are more softspoken and there is nothing wrong with trying to take their wishes into account.

There's soft spoken and then there's unspoken. I only have myself to blame if I don't speak up on an issue I feel strongly about. I know that consequences of that. I'm comfortable with it.

For the most part, I feel my feelings get stated here by like-minded buffistas without my having to add to the posts (and hence a feeling of "piling on"). I don't feel like there's a junta directing policies which I have no say in. Unless there's gingham involved.

Hec, thanks. You said that better than I did.

No one is driven away, not really.

From what I have seen, that is false.

implies that "the problems" are a fact, which is a rather large assumption itself, IMO

Asserting that there is no issue is effective only in ignoring, not addressing, the issue. But then, depending on perspective, I would have to concede that the issue would not accurately be termed a 'problem' for those few posters whose wills are more often reflected in the direction the board takes. To them, it's probably all good. =)

We have lost good, active, people because this board is not as comfortable as it once was. It's more confrontational, we have to vent every little damn thing, "scroll by" and "let it slide" seem to happen less and less.

I don't see that happening. It feels to me that by and large the people who come here and get settled in, stay here. Of course there's some attrition -- to life, or other boards, or whatever -- but that's always gonna happen.

And speaking just for myself, I'm scrolling as much as I ever have.

We have lost good, active, people because this board is not as comfortable as it once was. It's more confrontational, we have to vent every little damn thing, "scroll by" and "let it slide" seem to happen less and less.

This is really the choice of the people that left. Threads change, the population changes. People leave for myriad reasons. Bitches is nothing like it once was - it's practically a chenille robe and fuzzy slippers now. How much more comfortable could it get?

It's always such a matter of perspective. Some folks seem to think the board is particularly tense right now, but I've seen it go through much edgier times than this.

We have lost good, active, people because this board is not as comfortable as it once was. It's more confrontational, we have to vent every little damn thing, "scroll by" and "let it slide" seem to happen less and less.

And this is a bad thing for people who don't like confrontation. I'm confrontational, and it's a happier place for me. I'd be miserable if no one ever got into heated debate, and I'd leave for more controversial waters.

I'm not saddened when people leave because they didn't get their way. Should have fought harder. Mine is likely the minority opinion on that, and if everyone pigpiled on me, I wouldn't leave, or even feel unloved or unheard. I'd just accept that I had the minority opinion, advocate as hard as possible, and if it came down to a vote and I lost? So be it. Won't stop me from enjoying the other discussions that occur. Doesn't sour me.