Screw This, Ban Me

[MikeN]

kunk had something of a self-fulfilling prophecy when it came to getting banned from this place. ... and how that finally earned kunk the martyrdom he always sort of craved.

You could compare him to Jesus... except that Jesus liked mandals.

[Diego]

Im rather saddened to say that I feel SZ is what it is today thanks to the fucking waywt thread and the classifieds section. Not that its a bad thing but that wasnt supposed to be the primary focus of this forum. Am i making sense here? Faust?

I agree with NDF here, the waywt/classifieds combo abuse is no good. The rest is fine no?, some great members, good discussion/info, clothing porn... and...

[AKA*NYC]

i know it drove some people up the wall but i have fond memories of the freewheeling "basketball" days of the waywt thread. there was a sense of comradery and common purpose (ie. enabling) and lots of humor.

[Fade to Black]

Don't got much to comment about this issue, except having group shit talking sessions about a forum on multiple other forums isn't exactly the pinnacle of maturity or self-assurance.

Get banned, fine. No need to advertise it all across the internet...when that's the primary thread of discussion that comes to mind I'd say get a better use of your time.

[Fade to Black]

but after looking up the SF posts in question, i really don't feel like this will be one of such issues for me personally.

SF is the nadir of human mental activity. And I guess that pretty much sums up laika's question.

[beardown]

Kunk, along with some of the new crop of 'SZ-ers' is what is pissing me off about the current state of this forum. Too many consumers who just want to show off and get validation on the waywt thread...only to sell their wares a week later. And their discussion is limited to a few pissweak words like omg this is so baller..or where 2 kop this is soooo good and over the same fucking crap.

sorry but i had to rant...this issue needs to be adressed.

Im rather saddened to say that I feel SZ is what it is today thanks to the fucking waywt thread and the classifieds section. Not that its a bad thing but that wasnt supposed to be the primary focus of this forum. Am i making sense here? Faust?

New Dawn,

I don't think that's a fair assessment at all from what I see. Do you think there can be a utopian forum where members only use vernacular that you see appropriate? Or that discussion is limited in scope by what you'd prefer to see?
The point of a forum is discussion and exchange of ideas. Which ideally leads to some kind of exchange of intelligence or education. Unfortunately, we live in a world where education and intellect isn't really a priority for a lot of younger people. I lament that fact in general, but I don't see the walls coming down on SZ in the way of posts that fall way below standard.
Different people have different priorities. It's what makes the world go around. But I don't see the deluge of anti-intellectualism swamping the SZ boards.
Because there is a host of members who sign up only to buy things on the classifieds who post a few times, are reminded by some other members that they're not SZ material and never post again?

Where are these 'where 2 kop' comments? Where are the 'baller' comments?
Those kind of posts bum me out but I realize (again) that just because people speak in memes that they might still have good taste in style and clothing. If I isolated myself from people who use expressions or mems or high school vocabularies and playground lingo, I'd likely spend every day alone.

It's simply not possible to hold every member to using a level of communication that most SZers would deem up to par. Especially considering that a lot of people who start here as new members end up becoming valuable contributors in time. You can't fly into flying...I'd much rather see people come to SZ, get exposed to things they might not normally be exposed to (the world is a big place, after all) and then eventually be able to learn and offer some ideas of their own.

As far as the WAYWTs, I don't see what you're talking about either. You can judge a consumer by what they're wearing? Or a member by how/what they purchase? I saw that (and hated it) in ISUCK. That was blatant abuse of fashion and lack of style/creativity. But I don't see it beyond that. WAYWTs are always going to be anarchy. That's their nature...people are expressing themselves and, for better or worse, people have different tastes and styles and priorities. I posted 2 and by the second one, the first comment I had alluded to the idea that I was wearing $100 Rick socks.
Really? That's the best comment you can make about an entire outfit?
No thanks. I skip them from now on. They were a $2 pair of socks that I bought because they were the only black ones available. Apparently because they had white stripes at the top, I was either being a brand bitch or I was too cheap to buy the real things, depending on who you ask.
I'm just saying it gets absurd and people sometimes try to use it to boost their own egos rather than as a springboard for intelligent discussion. But I realize that's what WAWYTs end up being ultimately so I choose to avoid them from here on out.

The problem there's a clear line in the sand here sometimes. The higher ups and longtime members seem to relish the more expensive brands. I understand that. It's a matter of quality in materials and craftsmanship.
But if your tastes are deemed too low on here, you're ridiculed and if you're buying straight Atelier gear, you're just a rich consumer.
Double standard, not cool. But it exists.
Lighten up and let people figure out how to be a constructive contributor to SZ. To only accept people who automatically share your tastes and meet your level of writing/intellect is ridiculous in my opinion.

As for Kunk, I understand that situation as a personal issue. I liked his posts because I think it takes all types and I can appreciate commonalities in other people rather than just heckling them for being a sports fan or being interested in things I'd never involve myself in.
Face it: There won't be much left in the way of thought exchange if SZ becomes a forum of Xeroxed ideologies and style.
While I wouldn't have banned him, I'm old enough to appreciate that when someone develops and manages a forum, the manager is to be respected. I wouldn't go into someone's house and be disrespectful and I wouldn't come on here and be disrespectful.
Clearly Faust can't ban or criticize all members who don't see things with him eye to eye. I think he's generally firm but fair and I can appreciate the difficulty in trying to balance the two out.

I come here because I like it and I appreciate it for things that no other style forum offers. In those respects, Faust has done a fine job or else none of us would be here and we wouldn't be discussing all of this. Some of the elitism by the elder members at times is just as painful as some of the newbie comments.
A little bit of tolerance on both counts goes a long, long way.
But I've said it before and I'll say it again: SZ has a really cool way of policing itself. Most new members are too intimidated to post so they hang around. They hang around, they hopefully learn a few things and they start to feel comfortable contributing.

I see out of step posts kept to a minimum between members who are quick to point out when something is inappropriate. And when that's not enough, Faust steps in and does what he has to do.
I think it's best for people to see themselves as a guest here because that's really what it comes down to. Being a member here isn't like being a member at other random forums...it's an entity that exists out of a small group of people who put a lot of work and thought into it. The longtime members have a right to be protective of what they've helped to create. But there's got to be a modicum of tolerance towards each other.

[Faust]

I wont say im OK with it.
But face it..he was coming off as a bit of a joke , with no attempts at engaging in cerebral discussion whatsoever. The insecurity didnt really help either. This is a fucking internet forum- who cares. why does one need validation. Hes like an overgrown highschool jock.

I say what I feel like on here..and sometimes dont really think about it, basically because i am not acquainted with half the mofos here..so why should i care? Im here mostly to take part in discussion as I have been since god knows when over at TFS.

Kunk, along with some of the new crop of 'SZ-ers' is what is pissing me off about the current state of this forum. Too many consumers who just want to show off and get validation on the waywt thread...only to sell their wares a week later. And their discussion is limited to a few pissweak words like omg this is so baller..or where 2 kop this is soooo good and over the same fucking crap.

sorry but i had to rant...this issue needs to be adressed.

Im rather saddened to say that I feel SZ is what it is today thanks to the fucking waywt thread and the classifieds section. Not that its a bad thing but that wasnt supposed to be the primary focus of this forum. Am i making sense here? Faust?

From my point of view, yes, you are making sense. This forum, like any other forum, is going/will go through growing pains, where people will come in because they heard about one of the brands we champion without knowing what's behind them and then will go straight to where2kop, what size it is, and so on. In some way that may be natural, but in another way it definitely alienates older members who have discussed it all numerous times and want to keep an interesting discussion going on. I understand that. But, SZ is what we make it. No one is asking the old members to look at the sizing help thread. We try to eliminate common questions by making threads about them.

As far as classifieds - it is a valuable service to this community. I don't think it should go away.

[Faust]

Beardown, I truly appreciate your post. Thank you.

[Avantster]

Great post beardown. Thanks for taking the time.

You know, I've always wanted to make a 'best of' SZ thread for the benefit of newer members, containing links to great posts and interesting discussions of times past. Almost like a handy compendium of the valuable resources here on SZ. It'd also help to get some perspectives on the way this forum has progressed and developed, in a way.

[laika]

Can I just make sure I understand properly: Kunk is not allowed to post on this forum because he complained about the content of it on another forum? And everyone thinks this is OK?

Normally, i might agree with you, but there is something very two-faced about continuously posting nasty things about one forum (in which you are a regular participant!) on another. And the personal attacks on faust...

oh and faust, if it makes you feel better, kunk apparently had some beef with the women of SZ also...here is a lovely account of us (from that other site?) that someone sent me:

but those women are even more annoying than ordinary women. every read their posts? they all live alone with the rabbit (R) and their cats

anyway, no complaints from me, and i will drop this now.

[mass]

i would love to live with a rabbit

[mass]

oh that rabbit

[laika]

^LOL

bunnies

[orphée]

It's six of one, and half a dozen of the other. Some of us take to SZ like fish to water, others do not. There are rules, and some rules are meant to be broken, but not all of them. I think Faust has been exercising due discretion. Now it's off to bed before I compromise myself.

[tg76]

^LOL

bunnies

ive always been more of a dolphin kind of girl

It's six of one, and half a dozen of the other. Some of us take to SZ like fish to water, others do not. There are rules, and some rules are meant to be broken, but not all of them. I think Faust has been exercising due discretion. Now it's off to bed before I compromise myself.

ive always had an uneasy sinking feeling here, have never been able to work out if its just my low self esteem or the cyber evil eye. im happy to lurk though.