The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

I have been reading through the threads here for several days and I see the same problem creeping up time and again no matter what the topic might be.

People starting a thread who are going to be using terms like vampire, house and so forth really need to clearify the context in which they are using the word.

There are many ways of defining "House" for example. There are those online houses and groups where people have joined together that exist soley in an online venue, though their members may well be friends offline as well.

There are the houses here in VR for example that bring a group of people together in one place who have no connection in many cases outside of this forum.

And then there are the houses, covens and organizations that exist within the "real world" vampire community. Groups of people in a area united in one household and working together as a solo group or in conjunction with other houses and organizations within the larger community.

Vampire. When someone uses that word in starting a thread they can be talking about many things.

For example,we have a thread entitled "Becoming a vampire". If you look at the responses there the answers to the young lady who started the thread are all over the place. Some go on about those who life the lifestyle, others about fictional or folkloric vampires, hollywood movie vampires and so on.

I believe it would be helpful for everyone if those who start a thread would be specific as to the exact context in which they use such words so that those who respond can keep their answers relivent to the topic as meant by the one who began the thread.

If a thread is discussing vampires in European folk lore for example, how much sense does it make for half the replies to be covering vampires in movies or vampires in video games or what have you.

So please, when you start a thread or make a post using words like these that mean many different things to the people here, clearify the context in which you use them so that there is not any misunderstanding happening in the minds of those reading and replying to your posts.

If you were that specific in the title it would be HUGE! Probably to big, but I agree with being specific in the actual thread itself. It does get confusing about the houses escpecially.

You've made some good points here, I hope people (myself included) will take them into consideration when posting.

I totally agree, there is a bit of fuzziness about who is talking about what and some threads have run off on tangents that barely beggar beleif.

*grins*

I didn't mean they had to be specific and in depth in the actual topic line itself, but rather that within their inital post it would most certainly help everyone if they would explain the context they are refering to when using words that have more then one application or definition here.

Exactly. If the person who asked the question or brought up a topic of discussion means one thing and those replying respond in three or four seperate directions a thread just begins to fall into confusion and no one gets a clear view of what is actually being discussed.

As with any conversation online or off, clearity of topic and purpose is key to good communication and debate.

Good suggestion Elyria.

It seems the difficulty here - unlike a chat room situation where the originator helps steer the conversation - is the creator can be away from their topic for as little as a few minutes or up to days at a time. Upon their return the conversation could have taken its natural course and resemble nothing of the original topic.

I find it interesting to watch how topics evolve as each new poster finds something that strikes a chord. However, I understand how this can be frustrating.

Perhaps, if we find a topic we are interested straying, we can message the creator to help get it back on track.

*tosses in her two pennies and goes back to reading*

i think it should all be very specific so that people don't get the wrong idea about what you mean. i've gotten very confused over several matters already. i just think we should all make clear the point that we are trying to share.

...or perhaps, create a new thread for each divergant topic.

*divergent...sheesh

That's not a bad idea at all. If you see the thread going off in another direction and you have the ability to start new threads, make a fresh one on the changing topic and direct people wanting to follow that avenue of conversation to the new thread leaving the original free to remain on it's intended track without being derailed and wandering in multiple directions.

*grins*

Now to just get a message preview and spell check option huh?

I'm sure that if Cancer starts eating just once every other day, he might have the time to add such things...lol

not to say i don't agree with what your saying but some threads that aren't specfic have room for other similar disscussions without a new topic to some extent

thank you..i do believe you have a very good idea..
i know i take what the title is literally if no more info is given..
sometimes it isnt obvious to people what question is being asked..and i know i am one of those people sometimes..
so thank you for making this thread *winks*

Speel cheque optin, yer kiddin who wd use that? *GRINS*

Sis, can't we just feed the typo demons to the trolls? *grins*

We could learn to proof read...lol

Poor Cancer. I swear the other day I had to send him a message with a question and I felt like I was in danger of being the one to give him that final message that sent him over the edge and caused a total meltdown.

True some of them could get on fine with several similar discussions within the thread, but some are just so far out of balance that those coming into the thread well on have no clue just where the thing was trying to go and end up sort of taking that blind stab in the dark just praying they are on topic and on target. I know I have a time or two lol.

ZuberiUrbi I know some people will say its silly to make a point of it, but I just feel that you can carry on a much more interesting and informative discussion if everyone is, at least for the most part, on the same page.

Emaerald, that looks like a few of my earlier posts lol. Especially if I am tired I will go and read over the post before I submit it and think it looks fine, then come back and read it in the morning and go "what in the hell was I thinking? It's one long typo that makes no sense."

*grins*

I actually got so bad the other night that I had to start making all my comments in word and previewing and spell checking before copying them into the forum boards.

Posting when half awake is not a user friendly form of communication.

cant help but agree with you there

I see your suggestion, yet I believe is a matter which it will not be corrected. One of the mainly reasons for this-not everyone knows how to be as striaght 'foward' as you woould like them to be. Most people just give out what they think is best & major times what sounds best, meaning they most people just go by what sounds okay. I doubt this problem will be solved.Still you rsuggestion is one that is correct in its own way.

I dunno Firebender, if enough people manage to adhere to it, will it not raise the general standard of posts?

Oh sure, if everyone starts actually doing what is been asked then of course- but come on lets be a bit realistic you can say w/e you want still people will do w/e they want so... I know what your saying it whats just somehtign I wanted to mention. ^_^ I think the main idea is good but most ideas even good as they can be most times stay as an idea.

Well you are right in one aspect at least Firebender, unless most people are actually willing to take the time and make the effort, it really wouldn't do much good. If 50 people post in a thread and only 2 are on the same topic it really won't change the thread and get it back to what it was originally trying to discuss.

And you can't force anyone to stick to a topic or be specific about their commentary. If they don't want to, they won't. It just would be nice if they could lol.

Then you could go back to your idea about starting a fresh thread.

It just depends on how interested people are in a particular topic.

& the aspect that I am not right would be? just to know.

I do tend to agree with Firebender on this one. That's not to say that the main Idea is not a note worthy one. But the fact os that this web site is growing at a very fast rate. There are just two many people that cover to many age groups to acually accomplish this idea. People's opinions vary to much on one subject for that subject not to lead into others. Just food for thought.

Its not the digressions thats the problem, its taking the thread away from the main point to be discussed. It takes two minutes to post a new thread on a seperate subject. And as is obvious, newer members love to post new threads...

I could not agree more with this pole

I would suppose perfection wouldn't be an objectionable goal, however such things are never going to pass.

The populus may desire them, the majority however shall be content for epochs to stay in the same routine.

Of all, you know this best.

*Smirks

Good point.

*Looks at Elyria*

Can you be more specific in what you mean?

lol

Seriously, there are some threads that could have been made more specific, we all seeed to be unsure in the house thread for example which made it difficult to get one point across....

some threads it doesn't matter, the subject matter is such that it is automatically going to diversify becasue of its nature.... I think the onus lies on the one who posts the question : if they have a specific question they want answered then they should try to make the question as clear as possible ~ if they are just musing and throwing something out to get ideas, then fair enough thats how conversations go anyway.

And, for a sleepy El the typos weren't too bad
lol

I'll rate you 7.........oh, wrong thread lol

Firebender, really it isn't that you are wrong on any of your points, actually I think you were right on the money with your statement. I do feel though that a lot of those who are not being straight forward and clear in theirs post are are doing that, not because they don't know how, but rather because either they don't care or don't want to be bothered.

After all if you carry on a conversation with someone you tend to be able to put your thoughts and words out to them in such a way that they understand what it is that you are trying to say, even if it is not always the most eloquent dialog.

Most people do know how to have a productive conversation and stick to the topic they are talking about.

*Looks at Nastya and nods*

Agreed. I didn't mean to come across soundling like I meant there should not be conversations that cover more then one aspect at a time, only that when one is started to address a specific matter or situation then those threads are the ones you really do want to keep on track and on topic.

A general discussion can go in all sorts of directions and still stay interesting.

It really all depends again on the nature and intention of the first post. Was it a broad spectrum issue or one with a single point of discussion?

*looks at Jwes and laughs*

Hon I am not asking for perfection from anyone. God knows I am far from perfect myself. I was only asking that if you are starting or replying to a thread with a very specific topic in mind that you stick to that topic and not run all over the place with comments that have nothing to do with what was first under discussion.

There are plenty of threads where it is just fine to wander into other areas of discussion but for example if someone made a post asking for help answering a question concerning safe ways of taking on energies when you are a psi vamp, having people running about posting about how some hungarian folk lore describes vampires or how people just don't understand vampires or some other thing, well how is that going to help the person asking the question get the information they need?

Specific topic or specific question....give an answer or comment that addresses that.

Broader and more open topics well then go on and say what is on your mind on any of the options involved.

Yeah I think it would help cuz I've clicked on a few threads and I think its one thing then read it, and it is something totally different. Its a bit annoying.
Kiara

Indeed, I am certain that the majority of the "ravers" are thanking their lucky stars you have come along to guide and help them in their stupidity and inability to hold discussions. Without your supreme authority to bring them along by the hand and show them where and what to say, one wonders where indeed things might have taken an askew topic too..



Indeed, I would venture to say Cancer counts himself very thankful.

Jwes

Elyria has made a good ppoint, and as we have been involved in a few threads lately, along with many others, where misunderstandings have occured becasue the question, though intended to be a specific one was not phrased correctly the answer that was desired didn't come through.

We are all entitled to an opinion and from reading this thread many seem to agre that on occasion it would behelpful if we knew that actual thing being asked.....just look in the house thread if you want an example.

You seem to think that this post was intended as being critical it was not.... just an idea to help things along.

You are entitled to your opinion also, I feel the sarcasm used was slightly uncalled for to be honest, after al we are only having a conversation

And after all, I too have seen her posts and yours as well, the comments held between members of your own seem to hold nothing but arrogance and self assurance. "Back patting" as it were.

Indeed all are entitled to hold their opinions, and as many here are agreeing, perhaps sheep will always eat when lead to pasture, tis the wolves we must watch for.

Aye?

I was just about to be sarcastic about the fact that this was a mature thread of real discussion... too late...

*Laughs and agrees with Stabb.

As I said previously, sheep being lead as how most would think of the majority.

Dangerous to assume such things, no?

Jwas, for someone supposedly so new here you do seem to be very much against myself and El....

But then not so new........carry on by all means and we'll just get on with what we were doing.......

you forgot the *smirk* btw.......

Well, JWes,

I don't feel that what has been said here is meant with arrogant intent, but to identify where we feel the forum is losing track of itself.

It annoys the hell out of me to start reading about one thing, then find that by the end of the thread, its on something else and my post on the topic doesn't really fit any more... and I can't bring myself to start yet another thread about something that is already open.

Perhaps Admins have the ability to split threads might benefit?

I am not against anyone in particular, however, I will speak my opinion when I see fit.

And as for yourself, level 5 comparitively are also relatively new.

Would it not be safe to assume the same of some things I have seen in other threads?

Ah, but that therein lies the true problem, what are we to read behind words when in fact, they are but nothing more...words.

^insert 'if' before admins....lol

And as you can see Stabb, this thread has already derailed itself.

I comment on the arrogance by some, and the seek to make such an issue, instead of politely saying, I did not realize I came across in such a manner, they refuse to admit perhaps manner and demeanor and forget there are but young children visiting this site.

The intent is well indeed, however anyone can hand out advice while smacking you in the process...no?

Meaning to say, they make an issue....

Jwas

you said "And after all, I too have seen her posts and yours as well, the comments held between members of your own seem to hold nothing but arrogance and self assurance. "Back patting" as it were."

After reading that I don't know how not to take it that you were specifically calling myself and El, and others we know, arrogant.....did I misread what you typed?

Actually, I don't see that the thread has been 'de-railed' at all...

I get the impression that you are taking what has been said rather too personally.

I'm not sure what arrogance has to do with this thread, but it does seem as though Jwes has an issue with a few in this discussion.

I have yet to see someone's level thrown in their face as an excuse for dismissing what they've said. I also believe that there is a no drama policy here, I'd hate to see that be ignored.

As for the actual topic of the thread, I agree that it would help if each thread were used to discuss one specific topic. When the topic can go many ways then perhaps it is best that more than one thread be started.

Not at all, I do however feel that some people think themselves above and the authority on certain things.

I do not have issues with anyone personally, as I have previously stated.

I am closing this thread because obviously someone here has a bit of an issue with it and more then a bit of an attitude, and I am not about to see a flame war start over one simple suggestion regarding discussions with a specific topic and purpose being allowed to remain on track.