What Has Happened to This Sub-Forum and new off topic thread (Scranton: flooding, jobs)

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by RestonRunner86

Well, this one highly "edumacated" ego-maniac is still getting a barrage of hate mail:

"And you aren't well liked on the NOVA forum either??? What a surprise.... Maybe you should be asking yourself what it is you do that gets you into all this trouble with everyone. It isn't everyone else, it is YOU! No doubt whatever happened on the NOVA forum to involve the police is your fault, most likely you told lies about someone just like you do all the time here on the NEPA forum and on other local blogs!"

1.) What people have I spread lies about?
2.) The police incident stemming from the NoVA sub-forum was NOT my fault, and I clearly detailed it up above. There was an argument. Someone else wasn't careful with what they said and someone else took it upon THEMSELVES to "defend" me by crying to the police. The person who had the police called on him has continued to blame me, rallying people against me, stalking me, and harassing me all over the Internet. How is that MY fault?
3.) I tell lies on "other local blogs?" Really? Care to elaborate, since I know it's one of YOU reading this right now who is flooding my e-mail inbox with all this harassment? At least the Facebook harassment stopped when I altered my privacy settings, and the DM harassment has stopped temporarily as well.

To the person who gave me a "rep" for this post telling me to leave the forum because I'm nothing but drama may I once again ask as to WHY you people always "blame the victim?" Tell the whack jobs who keep flooding my inbox with this vitriol, keep spreading lies about ME "spreading lies", harassing me on Facebook, harassing me on the Times-Tribune, etc. to stop the drama.

[KarenRice]

Why don't you keep your private fights PRIVATE?

If someone sends you a DM you find offensive, send it to the mod then put that person on your ignore list. The rest of the world does not need to know. Ignore them and take away their power.

[sues1]

Originally Posted by John In Scranton

That would be like going to a boxing match!! better make sure we have EMS, on standby!!

An EMS ,,,,,,,,,roflmao

[John In Scranton]

Originally Posted by RestonRunner86

To the person who gave me a "rep" for this post telling me to leave the forum because I'm nothing but drama may I once again ask as to WHY you people always "blame the victim?" Tell the whack jobs who keep flooding my inbox with this vitriol, keep spreading lies about ME "spreading lies", harassing me on Facebook, harassing me on the Times-Tribune, etc. to stop the drama.

Paul, I don't understand what anything you are saying has to do with this topic and or the NEPA, forum?? Everyone was posting just fine and then you come along with a Police, story and something about the NOVA, forum? Why?? This is the reason people are leaving!! And what does the "Times-Tribune" have to do with this site??? And you want people to STOP giving you "drama"??

[sues1]

Originally Posted by John In Scranton

Paul, I don't understand what anything you are saying has to do with this topic and or the NEPA, forum?? Everyone was posting just fine and then you come along with a Police, story and something about the NOVA, forum? Why?? This is the reason people are leaving!! And what does the "Times-Tribune" have to do with this site??? And you want people to STOP giving you "drama"??

I'm not getting it either, one thing has nothing to do with the other

[John In Scranton]

Originally Posted by RestonRunner86

Wow! (Tumbleweed rolling on by. Crickets chirping. People grieving.) Is it about time we put the NEPA sub-forum out to pasture already?

What has happened to this sub-forum? Before I relocated and started contributing more to (and becoming embroiled within) other forums the NEPA sub-forum was one of the most active on City-Data, attracting dozens of new posts each day. Now we're lucky to see one new thread started daily, and more often than not it's not someone seeking relocation-oriented advice but rather someone starting a "chat"-type thread or a troll slamming the region.

Where have all the "regulars" gone? I LOVE PA, memoriesbre, greentown, NYRangers 2008, Jungle George, weluvpa, EnyaGirl, Retired Law 08, scrantonluna, CHS89, donnanhonesdale, shoegal111, etc., etc., where have y'all gone? I know we're all more active now with Facebook, but have we all generally arrived at the consensus that this forum is always going to have to be a shell of its former self? I haven't even seen toobusytoday around as much as of late.

Is there anything that can be done to "save" this forum? I'm not saying we have to return to the days of the same six of we "macho" guys arguing about Scranton politics while everyone else grabbed the popcorn and watched the carnage unfold as our poor moderator had a coronary slapping us with infractions, but when I was most active here in 2006-2008 this forum was a model for many other sub-forums. I inspired others to post their own photo tours. Summering could interject with....her....inspiring thoughts...and truly make anyone smile. Jungle George would post some potty humor and make everyone laugh. Newcomers seeking help were in abundance. We kicked around the idea of a forum "meet-and-greet" all the time. Now it's dead.

What would get people to start contributing again?

P.S. I know this is "off-topic", but it should still stand just long enough for people to give ideas on what can be done to bring back the scores who left.

Originally Posted by RestonRunner86

Yep. Added emphasis on the word "LIVE", and yet you're not one of those who has an ax to grind with me on the Times-Tribune for trying to offer up advice when I live in Virginia? Interesting.

Originally Posted by RestonRunner86

It's actually much, much worse than just that. One of those with an ax to grind from the Times-Tribune has also started posting under "SWB" on a forum I post on in Virginia as well, mocking me, and forcing me to clarify what was going on. Someone created a fictitious Facebook account (three, as a matter of fact) and started to hurl abuse towards me until I figured out how to alter my privacy settings to block them. Someone keeps stealing not only my established alias on the newspaper's web site, but also that of "Reader" and, as you said, has called you out by your City-Data screenname on there as well. There's a LOT of mentally ill people that bounce between here and that web site (and that is sad coming from an ill person himself! LOL!)

Originally Posted by RestonRunner86

Great. You don't like me. I get it. I don't like you. Let's leave it at that, shall we?

Originally Posted by RestonRunner86

Well when you get harassing e-mails sent to you from people on this sub-forum like this:

"You are the only mentally ill person on the NEPA forum. You were never wanted there and you still aren't - so do us all a big favor and leave! I've never seen a person who is so completely full of himself and so totally clueless at the same time!"

Or this:

"Good riddance, don't let the door hit you on the way out. Virginia's loss is NEPA's gain!!!!!!!! YAY!!! No more wacko lunatic psycho boy!"

Along with someone creating alternative Facebook profiles to slam you into the ground due to your sexual orientation, people stalking you onto other forums, etc., then how would you honestly EXPECT me to react? It's not my fault this sub-forum is now in the sorry state it's in full of such miserable people who have axes to grind because all of the positive contributors have left.

These were only a few!! And your OP, was what again?? You asked why there is no one left of this forum?? Well I think you just might of answered your own question!!

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by sues1

So where does it apply? Screaming in the streets??? on the telephone with your friends??? let's not forget now, god forbid we aren't politically correct and we offend someone, we might get hauled off to jail. I wanna know then, where does it apply? Why not websites? I'm so sick of everyone crying they are offended, oh boo hoo. It's getting out of control and enough already, especially after 09/11. I'm sorry i have no sympathy anymore. This is not directed at you Magritte, i'm just getting tired of the whole politically correct thing and let's not offend anyone.

Like all of the Amendments, and the Constitution itself, the First Amendment applies to what the GOVERNMENT can and cannot do. The GOVERNMENT cannot prohibit our free speech. The government can not tell us what we are allowed to discuss and not discuss. Businesses can. A movie theatre may prohibit you from screaming during a movie. I am allowed to kick you off my property if you are saying things that I don't like. But the government cannot dictate what you are allowed to say on my property, or in the town square.

I too hate political correctness because it allows one political party to dominate the conversation. What fools we Americans were to have accepted this junk.

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by KarenRice

Why don't you keep your private fights PRIVATE?

If someone sends you a DM you find offensive, send it to the mod then put that person on your ignore list. The rest of the world does not need to know. Ignore them and take away their power.

What fun would that be? Where's the drama in THAT? What good is being a victim if you can't tell everyone about it?

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by sues1

It's always been that way, at work you handle yourself different than you would if you're out with your friends. We do get into heated discussions on here and BANG, it's closed. I just don't see why we can't keep going as long as we're not out and out attacking someone for their beliefs, we can all disagree and argue about it, let's say you disagree with me and i start calling you names and attacking you because of it, that's not right. Sometimes you need to veer a little off topic to get the point across, we're just not getting answers as to why they are so quick to close the thread.

I agree, but I bet the mods get sick of the whining DMs sent to them. It's easier to just close the thread, and get the whiners off their backs.

[KarenRice]

Been onforums for many years. "Freedom of Speech" has been used many times...but really, there are limits, especially with something privately owned.

If you want true freedom of speech then you won't be able to complain if someone flames you or personally attacks you or says all sorts of lies about you. You won't be able to complain if someone keeps posting links to porno sites here. You won't be able to complain if someone keeps spamming with adverts on the forum...

Rules are set in place for a reason. The government can not prohibit the freedom of speech but a private entity can have control over their own property. As it should be.