I'm still formulating an opinion, but I do see one thing that'd be handy in this global banter.. a color that indicated that someone is in either the same outpost as you, or a color that says they are in a different outpost. Yes, I know I can go to the contestants list to see where people are at, but it'd be nice to see.. hey, this person is in the same outpost, I should try RP'ing. Or something of the sort.

-Raidur, et al.

...but it isn't my game, it's CMJ's. He listens to all his players, including you -- and me! In the end, though, he has to make an executive decision.

It's not a democracy, it can't be; it's his personal creation. There are factors that neither of us can see.

Now it's your decision. You get to make it each time you log in, or don't. Ask yourself -- are the friends you have here, the values you've found here, the kinds of fun you can still have here... are they worth it to you, or not?

Sometimes, for some people, the answer is no. That's all right. Sometimes, the answer turns out to be no for a while, then they come back after a period spent doing other things and find they can have fun here again. When that happens, their friends cheer and do happy dances. And sometimes...

Sometimes, the value they've found here leads them to take a chance, try something new, and find out there are benefits after all, benefits they hadn't imagined.

I'm not going to try to tell you what your choice should be. Whatever you pick, though, don't feel so alone. You are a part of the community.

You're taking this decision so much more personally than it is. Your opinion matters, but it's not the only one. The last two (three?) weeks have been spent with lots of people voicing their icy hatred of the new Global Banter, then after a week (or two?) to warm up, many of them see the new benefits of the system and either accept that it's not so bad, or that they might even prefer it. You're just a little late to the thread (again, not that your feedback doesn't matter), because it seems that the majority of opinions turned around sufficiently to keep it in.

I thought your points about the "crowded in a party" analogy were really good, since though an extrovert's natural response is "just put yourself out there and make a ton of new friends", an introvert like yourself (as you described) will find that cripplingly unfun. Most of us know the pleasures of anonymity or undetectability when you just don't feel like dealing with certain people. I really get what you're saying, and I would be swayed quite a bit by more similar arguments by other people who feel that way.

Although, as said before by CMJ himself, it's pretty much obvious which way this issue is going to swing already.

I find the concept of trying to get introverts to speak an amusingly sisyphean task. You'd probably have to use a MoTD poll.

This new Global Banter, in essence, reminds me of Facebook or Twitter.

If you don't like it, then ... you can either abstain, becoming a Weirdo Antisocial Loner to all the people who do like it, and missing out on all the socialising and news and organising of parties that it seems everyone else is enjoying so much.

If it isn't your thing, then no, of course you aren't being forced at gunpoint to buy the strawberry yoghurt. But if that's the only place you can get yoghurt, and if almost everyone else you wish to hear from and interact with is using yoghurt as their primary means of instant non-private communication (ok yes the mixed metaphor breaks down rather a lot), and if you wish to use something with similar properties to yoghurt .... well, a curry just ain't the same with strawberry yoghurt or sour cream instead of a nice plain yoghurt for your cucumber-and-mint raita.

I'd still be in favour of a Local Banter channel for the people who want to use that and a Global Banter channel for the people who want to use that.

Teddybear, I suppose what I'd ask you to do is recognize the way you feel, but not let it make you feel like CMJ or everyone who likes the new Banter are doing it as a personal attack against you, or because they don't care about you. They do!

Hey, hey. Just clarifying one point by an example:

You used to sell two kinds of yogurt. Strawberry and Plain. You've decided one day to stop selling Strawberry. When people come to you and ask for Strawberry yogurt and you tell them you don't sell it anymore, you are not forcing them to buy Plain yogurt. You are merely preventing them from buying Strawberry yogurt from your store.

I hope the point is made clear. Thank you!

And if I don't want to be snarked at or bullied, I have to be polite to others. If you're not giving whoever-it-is any reason to engage negatively with you, then chances are, they won't. And if you feel like they're personally harassing you, you can always ask a neutral moderator for help. The mere chance of being in the same "room" with someone you don't like should never be a reason to give up and leave entirely. There's always a way to get along with people you don't personally like.

You're taking this decision so much more personally than it is. Your opinion matters, but it's not the only one. The last two (three?) weeks have been spent with lots of people voicing their icy hatred of the new Global Banter, then after a week (or two?) to warm up, many of them see the new benefits of the system and either accept that it's not so bad, or that they might even prefer it. You're just a little late to the thread (again, not that your feedback doesn't matter), because it seems that the majority of opinions turned around sufficiently to keep it in.

do we really need the noticeboard?

And now that I think about it, I kind of have no idea why we decided to do this whole song and dance with the global banter anyway. What happened?

I've been thinking for some time now about making all Banter spaces global. Or, at least, trying it out for a month or so.

Thoughts?

Can we have a "Split" link straight from the single-column view, instead of having to click "Stack" then "Split" to go back from single to double?

Have to admit. I'm turning Banter off now. I've given it a go, and it's not doing it for me. This is no strong argument for the return to the old system, I didn't use it that much before. Now it's just conversation that doesn't interest me.

I am somewhat asocial (as opposed to antisocial), and perhaps there's a a little of the loner in me. Also it's long been my firm belief that we're all a little bit insane and I suppose that counts as weirdo.

Awesome: I think that "icy hatred" is pitching it a bit strong. As I recall the sentiments were more, dislike, but I'll give it a go. Also, what's wrong with us Brits enjoying a nice yoghurt/youghurt with cucumber and mint with your curry? I can assure you that it doesn't work anywhere near as well with strawberry. Or was it pushing metaphors too far that you were referring to?

I find the concept of trying to get introverts to speak an amusingly sisyphean task. You'd probably have to use a MoTD poll.

First off, EVERYONE, please, STOP apologizing for having your opinions.

If you had no opinions, you'd be a pretty damned dull and lifeless person.

WHICH NO-ONE HERE IS. SO STOPPIT.

This leads me into a pure grammatical gripe I must level at this entire @#$%&ing conversation: PLEASE also DO NOT clarify that something you have said is YOUR OPINION. Of COURSE it's yours! YOU are the one saying it! If you're not telling us that you are relating SOMEONE ELSE'S OPINION, then PLEASE do not say this thing anymore either. It just adds irrelevant detail to the larger points that you are trying to make, and makes your points harder to understand as a result.

Believe it or not, I WANT to understand EVERY point here, so PLEASE. STOPPIT.


Now back to your regularly scheduled argument, already in progress.