Reintroduction

[kyte]

I just thought it was time for me to reintroduce myself. 

I've actually been associated with Australian Opinion since before Chris owned the domain.  It originally belonged to a mutual friend of ours, and I was a fairly active member there.  That incarnation was much more politically oriented than this one

Anyway, I have only ever been a part time member (I used to have many more posts, as did others, until the forum got in a godawful mess and we all had to start over)...but in the last few years have been too tired and sick to be more than a passing visitor.  I finally had enough in the company sponsored super (yeah I was stupid and did not pay attention to my Mum so that's all I had) to pay my house off, to replace my window rattler a/c units, and to be blessed (?) with a government pension.  I stopped work early in November, and am now a lady of impoverished leisure.

So, just today, I decided to finally accept Chris's invitation to step back into a permanent Admin role.  I will NOT be sitting on the forum all day, but I will check in more frequently than I have been.  The mods are doing just fine without my interference so that aspect of things will not change.  However, if something needs fixing, or a dispute needs resolving, I will participate AS MYSELF not as ModBod, which I have never been able to come to terms with.  I personally believe that one needs to take responsibility for one's own decisions and PoV and that's exactly what I will do.

Chris is spending more time with family and other pursuits than he used to (no doubt, to Deb's relief), and he and I don't always see eye to eye on how things ought to be run, however he has given me carte blanche, pretty much.  I'm not planning to change things (much), and not planning to disrupt the existing system, but I am going to be looking at ways of getting more people into forums to discuss things, and one of the issues I will be looking at very closely is the tendency for some members to flame people just because they can, or to be dismissive of posts, just because they can.  This is one thing that sends people away, never to return.  We only have 66 members, and very few active, and a HUGE number of separate forums... some rationalisation is needed there, too, there's no way that anyone can keep up with all posts in all forums.  I stopped trying a long time ago, and I expect amny others did, too.  That all needs to change if the forum is to survive. 

Here's the thing, we are all here for whatever reason... but being an asshole is not one of the acceptable things.  This does NOT mean that you can't express an opinion, but if you castigate someone else for theirs, be prepared to defend yourself.  Forums are for debate and discussion, and flaming is best left alone.  Its not necessary.  You can disagree with other people without being rude and without making a personal attack.  You *will* be slapped if you cross my line.

One thing that I will be discussing with Chris is rationalising (ie uninstalling) many of the mods he has installed here.  All that's doing is increasing his server costs, and whilst advertising clicks help, it doesn't cover all of his needs.  To that end, I'll probably start a poll on which modifications people simply cannot live without.  I'll also provide alternative suggestions for those I think should just be gone.  This is not likely to happen *really* soon, give it a couple of weeks.  or more.  Discussions with Chris will probably have to wait until after school holidays.

Anyway, that's me done for the moment.  There will probably be more later.

your friend,
The Hanging Mod

[Crankenstein]

AO existed pre chris?

Hmm... Interesting.

Welcome back 

[Minx]

Crank, we could write a book on the story and history of AO 

I personallywelcome kyte back becuase of her wealth of experience and technical ability

Apart from the fact that - Shhh...she's a pretty nice person - but don't tell her i told you

[kyte]

AO existed pre chris?

Hmm... Interesting.

Welcome back 

by three or so years.  and thanks

[kyte]

Crank, we could write a book on the story and history of AO 

I personallywelcome kyte back becuase of her wealth of experience and technical ability

Apart from the fact that - Shhh...she's a pretty nice person - but don't tell her i told you

Thanks Minx , and I am NOT a nice person... well, I am sometimes but there are those in other forums who might dispute that. Even Chris would dispute it at times.

[Redneck]

Hope you dont take offence but you sound like a bit of a Nazi to me from that introduction

 

[alecstone]

Hope you dont take offence but you sound like a bit of a Nazi to me from that introduction

 

But a nice nazi?

[jen]

See I saw that a little differently... have already had discussions in the mods loungeroom about simplifying registrations etc, and that helps me....I like that!

If you missed my other welcome kyte...welcome again...

[kyte]

Hope you dont take offence but you sound like a bit of a Nazi to me from that introduction

 

I'm glad we understand each other

[kyte]

See I saw that a little differently... have already had discussions in the mods loungeroom about simplifying registrations etc, and that helps me....I like that!

If you missed my other welcome kyte...welcome again...

Thanks jen appreciated

[kyte]

Hope you dont take offence but you sound like a bit of a Nazi to me from that introduction

 

But a nice nazi?

Most of the time. 

We have mods and we have admins.  Its not up to the members to target other members., whether they agree with them or not.  Minx had a friend who wanted to join here, and did for a while, but ran  off because in fact this place is bloody unfriendly.  Its time that changed.

[Redneck]

Hope you dont take offence but you sound like a bit of a Nazi to me from that introduction

 

I'm glad we understand each other

I dont think you understand me at all.

I tend to admire the leader that comes in being civil to all and carrying the big stick behind them, rather than trying to show how tough they are. It is only a forum after all or is this your one claim to fame.

[kyte]

Red, your response tells me all I need to know about you.  You are the only one who has interpreted my intro in that way and its not an accident that those most likely to feel the stick are more likely to spot it first.

Leave it alone now, or I will be exactly as you expect me to be.

Drop it, and there will be no need.

[mutation]

Hope you dont take offence but you sound like a bit of a Nazi to me from that introduction

 

Exactly what I was thinking!


Mutation

[Kady]

Hello Kyte, I remember your name from when I first joined.   Hope you're feeling a lot better now, and able to enjoy retirement.  
Having retired (I was actually retrenched) a while ago myself, I find it's a whole new world of freedom, and not being deskbound, and stuck in an airconditioned office all day is a good thing.


Interesting that there was a different format not long before I joined, as a friend had told me about AO many months before I joined.