And what about sitting in a circle and holding hands? Oh! WHILST singing Kumbaya maybe?

Curse. =]

Quoted from Andy Petrou All in all, I think we all just need a group hug and a butt cheek squeeze or three. Mike? Bert? Greg? Phil? Anyone? Anyone?

You had your chance to grab my butt when you were in New York and--wait a sec, you did.


Phil

I think what would help out a lot is for those of us who tend to do the most talking on topic to reign in the threads that get out of control. I made an attempt on a recent thread to reign it in, but others took the bait from the instigator to continue the drivvle that was there. To an extent, we are moderators if we want to be. A moderator is not someone with the power to delete unwanted or offensive messages only; they can also try to control a topic that is going a direction that isn't right for the board. By taking control of the conversation and trying to steer it where it needs to go, a straight ability to delete is not needed. If we can all practice this, we'll find the board to be more agreeable to what some of us are looking for.

That and stop slamming people for bad format. This is a learning board, and as I was perusing posts after earlier, I saw yet more slams on some new person for bad format. Seriously. Make it a teaching situation and tell them how to improve. "It sucks" is not worthwhile feedback. "It sucks because..." is much better.

Quoted from Shelton P.P.S. - That's because I hide in the bushes very well.

Are you being naughty or am I being sick?   LMAO! I love Mike. And Helio... and Phil and Greg and Stew and Brea and George and Bert and Tomson and Kevan and Don and Wes and Curse and.... dammit I wanna hold ALL your hands!!! Especially Higgs's hands ...

Quoted from dogglebe You had your chance to grab my butt when you were in New York and--wait a sec, you did.

And I enjoyed it a lot, Phil...too much..! You do have an awesome arse though, damn Yankee


~

George makes an excellent point about how the story is more important than the formatting though. I think I write better when I focus on that first and worry about formatting last. It still is important to learn the industry standard format etc.. (I'm still not 100% there yet myself) but storyline is what will keep the reader hooked, or in my opinion, should be what keeps you interested!

Bad formatting is the easiest thing to correct in a script.  No one gets close and personal to how wide the margins (or atleast thtey shouldn't).  Given this, when someone's script is  not properly formatted, everyone can just say so and refer to a script that is.

If there's a problem with characterization and/or storytelling, that's another problem.  And one that's hardest to learn.


Phil

Hi.

I think the catharsis is winding down so I thought I step in and add a few final thoughts before I lock the thread (I just got off work about an hour ago).  Locking the thread only because I think it has run its course and people have had his/her say on the topic and the thread is starting to stray to Kumbya and bum pinching.

The ‘quality’ of posts on the discussion board, kid’s blogs and random thoughts.

Interestingly enough during this great discussion almost all of the other posts seems to center around scripts and writings, which is a good thing.  There does tend to be an ebb and flow of, let us call them ‘silly’ posts.  The above thread shows very clearly that a serious topic can go astray, get ‘silly’ and go off topic.  It happens.  When it does, the moderators try to identify that and lock the threads that have run their course or delete the off topic posts when they can.  We miss a few, sometimes.

“kids” – If I didn’t allow ‘kids’ then folks like Heretic and Shaman (only example I can think of at the moment) wouldn’t be here.  Heretic, Shaman and their ‘ilk’ joined the board at around 14 or 15.  They were (and still are) mature and had (have) great insight.  Would have been a shame to have not have them (and their ilk) on the boards if I had raised the join age to 16.  On the other hand, there are a lot of immature people out their between the ages of 13 and 53.  The discussion board self regulates depending upon the majority at the time.  On one day, a silly post will go unnoticed.  On another day, a silly post will generate a fifty post discussion.  

Banning.  I don’t ban people for speaking their mind.  Banning happens when I get tired of deleting posts over and over again, particularly after I’ve sent gentle reminders over and over again to read and review the rules.  Seriously, if you get two or three PMs from me asking you to read the ‘rules’ and you notice that your posts are disappearing with great rapidity, this would be a clue that if you are about to get banned.  Also, repeated posts dropping the ‘f-bomb’ will do it, too.  I'm sure I've mentioned in the rules, it doesn't matter if you are a moderator or have been here for a million years or everyone loves you, if you can't follow the rules, then this isn't the place for you.  Please don't jerk me around.

Then again, I’ve also temporarily banned people because they are in a passion and just need a bit of time to cool down.  

How long does a ban last?  Forever or until the ban log gets so full that I can’t stand it anymore.  It varies between six months to two years.  It isn’t a punishment.  It is a vacation for me from deleting your posts.

Deleting posts and moderating.  The moderators are doing a great job.  I appreciate what they do.  This isn’t fun.  I get at least one e-mail or pm a day (usually four or five) from folks asking why I’ve deleted their post.  Most times, I can’t recall the post I deleted and can only send them to the rules.  There is not one person in this thread that hasn’t had a post deleted by me.  Most of you know why I’ve deleted your post and if you don’t know why, you generally live with it.  Those who can’t live with it try to debate me.  I’m not going to debate anymore.  I’ve spent half a day trying to politely respond to requests for why a post was deleted.  The site didn’t get updated.  The post is gone and more often than not, I don’t recall the post.  Seriously, get over it, don’t take it personally and honestly in the entire time I’ve been doing this, I’ve never been angry at any one.  Exasperated, yes.  Angry, no.  

Posts that aren’t deleted.  This thread is a great example.  Click ‘all’ and read through.  There is at least one or more off topic posts.  Why weren’t they deleted?  The post wasn’t deleted because I didn’t catch it in time and the discussion progressed and deleting the post would render the thread incomprehensible.  So, sometimes off topic posts creep in.  If the thread gets back on track, then I let it slide.

Stupid posts that aren’t deleted.  See above.  Sometimes a silly post will actually evolve into a good discussion.  I let it go.

Lastly, there has been talk of the ‘failed’ experiment of removing all discussions other than discussions of scripts.  I didn’t see it as a failure.  The point of this discussion board is not to have gobs and gobs of people join.  I’m not looking to expand.  The discussion board exists because I enjoy reading scripts.  I enjoy reading about upcoming movies.  I enjoy poetry.  I enjoy ‘silly’ talk sometimes.  If by the removal or addition of a discussion topic, people leave, so be it.  You (yes, I’m talking to you) are here and post because you enjoy what you read and you enjoy sharing.  If it isn’t fun, stop.  Different threads, different discussions.

Namaste

Don

P.S. Seriously, Merlot and Discussion Board are a bad mix.

Quoted from Shelton So what I suggest, is that we all get out our bags of marshmallows, start up the bonfire, and sing Kumbaya.  Who's got the guitar?

No gitar, but I've got a banjo.  That could be fun, but some of the "Deliverance" buffs might get scared.

Some of you have mentioned the problem of people dropping off scripts but never really participating on the site. I think you should have at least 100 posts on this site before you can submit a script. By that stage other members have had a chance to get to know you a bit and know if you’re someone who's prepared to review other people’s work.

As for the people who want to act like trolls; I say give them enough rope and they'll hang themselves. I've seen a few BS threads going on over the last few days, but I didn't bother weighing in because I didn't think the instigators deserved the attention. I reckon if you’re having a bad day, you should have a day off posting, so you don't poison your relationships with the other members.

Anyway, I love this site because after I left film school 6 years ago to support my family, I thought I had to give up my dream of being a screenwriter, but when I found this site that dream became possible again.
The people I've connected with here are worth their weight in gold and I’m grateful for meeting every one of them. So hang in there it’s worth it.  

I have a simple final thought of my own after reading the entire thread (Work was a bore and my chair is a comfort) I thought about this thread a lot and in the back of my mind I knew it would turn ugly and it went as well as can be expected.
SimplyScripts Junior someone was confused, everyone else just passed over the idea.

Alas in Don we trust, if not for him where would we be?

Change the board to a pay service, 2 bucks for a lifetime membership unless you're banned. From now on because we're all still here but this will cut down the numerous flow of members none of us want and only serious people will come in.

*SimplyScripts Junior*

i play guitar... thats what i do.... been playing for 13 years...

Quoted from Old Time Wesley Alas in Don we trust, if not for him where would we be? Change the board to a pay service, 2 bucks for a lifetime membership unless you're banned. From now on because we're all still here but this will cut down the numerous flow of members none of us want and only serious people will come in.

Yeah, but then it would cut down a few too many members. Some of them whom you DO want to come in. I could be a professional screenwriter come to read other people's stuff, and of course to let people read their stuff. But perhaps -- he doesn't trust this site -- or, maybe, he just has problems with his computer about paying those kinds of things.

Also, I don't think that a price-tag should be put on what loads of people love. There are about 1000 people signed up now. I'm sure that lots of them are here to actually share their work and review others. Even if it is just 2 dollars, people don't want to finish their screenplay ready for people to read, and then find that the once place which is best at doing that makes you pay. Especially if it's just because of a few/quite a few people who aren't really interested...

Curse =]

$2 really isn't that much, I don't think it would break anyone's pocket book, but how would you pay, like send a check in the mail, I don't have a credit card so I couldn't pay that way.

I wasn't talking about the 2 dollars, I was just saying that there shouldn't be a price for doing something that you love doing.

Paypal my friend and those guys could visit the site just not sign up, Don won't go with it. Just a suggestion and not really to be taken seriously at this time.

oh ok, even though I think it is a swell idea