Where Everybody Knows You're Numb

Psych Lit wrote:

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Nightowlhoot3 wrote:

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I don't think the boards pretty up the sell package AOL is about to make to the majority that speaks in volumns when they poll. Of all the boards and, sadly the Gay & Lesbian boards read the most disgusting. Too bad we go out with that representation. It will be interesting to see who buys AOL though. Gator

 

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Naw, we carry our own reps with us. ;) It's AOL's rep which has been long suffering. They not only allowed, but slyly encouraged abuse -- made for "hot boards" doncha know. More flame wars meant more hits and more hits meant higher charges for advertising. One need only look at the headlines AOL promotes as "news" to get a good glimpse of its smarmy underbelly.

 

and maybe that was the case all along. i remember thinking how people looking in on those message boards in the last years would have a very odd picture of who gays and lesbians are as people.

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But see?? I've looked at other boards -- just "comments" sections on news stories, and sometimes sports boards, and really, compared to them, what we had on the AOL lesbian boards was TAME! I'm astounded at some of the racist, foul-mouthed stuff that REMAINS on those boards -- I mean, ASTOUNDED, and that takes a lot.

I (again) had my account suspended because I called someone a "liar." That was it. That's what AOL TOLD me, and they sent me the offending post to prove it. It was fairly well written -- no vile language, or anything, and I simply called the person a liar, which she was. Well, maybe she wasn't a liar, but she told a whopper of a lie, anyhow, and since it was about me, I didn't think my retort out of line. "We" got the attention of some people in AOL, and they rode us HARD on a few specific boards -- harder than they did other AOL message boards. I know they were "going after" certain screen names, and leaving others alone who were saying and doing much worse things.

But then again, we had at least three posters there over the years who got their dang LAWYERS involved, so yeah, I can understand, I guess why AOL DID pay attention to our boards. The last time I remember involved ... well, I'm not going to go there (she said, backspacing over her words, removing them.) But a person poked another with a stick, the other retaliated, and then the first person got her lawyer involved.  

And of course, AOL was continually getting those indicting dossiers from another poster -- she did that for years. I imagine she has more on me than the FBI, and that's saying a mouthful. (see: Viet Nam War protesters)

Even so, I don't think we were any more crazy than the norm, really.

How sad is that?? :)

And let's face it -- if anyone is evaluating ANY group of people by what they read on message boards, then we're all pretty much sunk. (This board being the exception, of course)

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Nightowlhoot3 wrote:

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I don't think the boards pretty up the sell package AOL is about to make to the majority that speaks in volumns when they poll. Of all the boards and, sadly the Gay & Lesbian boards read the most disgusting. Too bad we go out with that representation. It will be interesting to see who buys AOL though. Gator

 

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Naw, we carry our own reps with us. ;) It's AOL's rep which has been long suffering. They not only allowed, but slyly encouraged abuse -- made for "hot boards" doncha know. More flame wars meant more hits and more hits meant higher charges for advertising. One need only look at the headlines AOL promotes as "news" to get a good glimpse of its smarmy underbelly.

 

and maybe that was the case all along. i remember thinking how people looking in on those message boards in the last years would have a very odd picture of who gays and lesbians are as people. perhaps it happened because those boards were not glbt owned or operated. sad all the same tho taking a great resource and letting it devolve into hate space. there are lessons to take away from the experience. 

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Nightowlhoot3 wrote:

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Shaping the truth to the bitter end. LOL.

Changes Coming to AOL Message Boards

Posted on Mar 10th 2009 12:20PM by Kelly Wilson

Dear Message Board users,

 

 

 

We wanted to tell you about some changes that are coming to your AOL Message board experience. Many of the most popular message boards are getting a new look and feel in the coming weeks, while a number of the less frequently used message boards are being retired. Be sure to check back at the People Connection Message Boards pagefor an up-to-date list of active message boards.

 

 

 

 

These changes will take place on March 31st, 2009

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That "new look and feel?" Think the set of "The Body Snatchers." Think "Pompei" AFTER the volcano. lol. Near as I can tell ALL the "AOL" boards are completely gone, and some other sources have picked up at couple, specific to their interest (i.e. a photography site has a photography message board.) The all look pretty different -- in other words the ALL have their own "look and feel." All -- what? Five of them, maybe? NO Gay and Lesbian boards left anymore, and ONE dumps you on Yahoo! LOL.

Their doing this doesn't bother me all that much, really -- it's the continual lying about what they're doing, and what they do ... the ONGOING inherent dissembling and "truthiness" which has come to represent the powers which be at AOL. I can't even bring myself to say "rest in peace."

LOL.

 

 

 

 

 

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