Everyone please read: What changed today? Why did it have to?

[Lord Goliath]

All,

You may have noticed that the functionality to see what other's are doing (Who's Online) has been disabled.  This may be temporary or permanent - we'll have to see.  You can still view which members are online and how many guests are active on the forum at the bottom of the main page, but the ability to see what they are specifically doing is no longer available.  Many of you probably have never even used this feature.

This change has been a while in coming and has been driven by many factors.  I am not going to get into the details here, but it should be enough to know that it's availability has contributed to problems here.  I expect that most of you have no idea what I am even talking about here - that's a good thing and it would confirm my belief that these issues are relatively  minor and isolated. 

At the end of the day this is just a Bulldog forum on the web.  We have to keep this about the Bulldogs.  If you have an issue with someone, take it offline, ignore them, ignore their posts, let it go.  Some of the issues that I am aware of are longstanding - going back years.  Keeping old grudges alive serves no real purpose here. 

I realize that I risk causing problems with a blanket solution like this, but what choice do I have?  You all know how I run things here - stick to the rules and you get no problems from me.  I don't play favorites either.  As it stands now, no one is breaking any rules by simply visiting and posting here.  Similarly, no rules have been broken by using the "Who's online" feature, because it was a part of the forum.  It is not a part of the forum anymore.   

I don't know what else to do here.  I am open to suggestions and I invite them from all of you. I mean that - I WANT YOU ALL TO SEND ME SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO MAKE THE SITE BETTER. 

Help me out here. Thanks.

[DwightsMom]

Hi James,
I have no idea what you're talking about; just wanted to say that I LOVE the site and THANK YOU for all of your hard work.
Ellen

[JodiB]

No issues here.  Whatever you need to do to keep this site a "The Bulldog Place" is ok with me.  I don't know what I would do without this site and all the wonderful people.

[Maggpie]

Thank you James.

[Lovabullwrinkles]

I know (in general) that there have been some issues with people posting things and then deleting them.  Just a thought:  I am a member of a non-Bulldog-related forum, and they have a function that seems to help with making sure people only post what they really want to say.  When you make a post on that forum, you only have 10 minutes to make edits to the post.  After that, you must contact a mod to change/delete your post.  Again, I don't know if that would correct this situation, but it is an option I wanted to throw out there.

Above all else, I think we all need to remember that James offers this site to us as a place to get together and talk about our Bulldogs.  I've been a member of this forum for 3 years, and there have been periods where the on-line drama has gotten out of control.  Each time that happens, it takes the focus off the main purpose of this forum and instead focuses it on inside jokes/information, passive-aggressive behavior, and inappropriate conversations that really have no place here.

I really am not trying to offend anyone with my post, and I am BY NO MEANS a saint.  BUT, I for one would like to be able to just talk about my Bulldogs on this site and not worry about all the other crap.  Just my two cents (which you asked for, James!)    

[8ftbed]

When you make a post on that forum, you only have 10 minutes to make edits to the post. 

I think that's a great idea,  for more reasons than one.

[myabully]

James,

I just want to say THANK YOU for this site.  It is a wealth of bulldog insight, knowledge and friendship.

Again Thank You for what you do for all of us "Bulldog Lovers"!!!

Pat

[Gracie & Bea's Mom]

The only thing that would make this better is Lord Goliath resuming his blog and perhaps Lady Cinnamon starting a blog!  Hint!  Hint!   

[Lord Goliath]

When you make a post on that forum, you only have 10 minutes to make edits to the post. 

I think that's a great idea,  for more reasons than one.

I agree.  That's an easy one to implement too. 

[Boomers-Dad]

I know (in general) that there have been some issues with people posting things and then deleting them.  Just a thought:  I am a member of a non-Bulldog-related forum, and they have a function that seems to help with making sure people only post what they really want to say.  When you make a post on that forum, you only have 10 minutes to make edits to the post.  After that, you must contact a mod to change/delete your post.  Again, I don't know if that would correct this situation, but it is an option I wanted to throw out there.

Above all else, I think we all need to remember that James offers this site to us as a place to get together and talk about our Bulldogs.  I've been a member of this forum for 3 years, and there have been periods where the on-line drama has gotten out of control.  Each time that happens, it takes the focus off the main purpose of this forum and instead focuses it on inside jokes/information, passive-aggressive behavior, and inappropriate conversations that really have no place here.

I really am not trying to offend anyone with my post, and I am BY NO MEANS a saint.  BUT, I for one would like to be able to just talk about my Bulldogs on this site and not worry about all the other crap.  Just my two cents (which you asked for, James!)    

Very well said

[buddha]

Hmm...well since I didn't know there was such a feature I'm guessing I won't miss it!    

James...thank you for all your hard work in keeping up with the Domain...it's such a great place for bullie lovers to get together.

[Jerr_N_Tiff]

I know that I speak for both Tiff and myself when we say that we LOVE this site.   James thanks for all of your hard work in providing a place for Bully lovers such as us to network and get to know some really fabulous individuals that have the same love and passion for their bulldogs.  We came from another dog site, while we still have some friends from over there, the back and forth nastiness between members is not missed .  We love the laid back atmosphere that you and the members of this website have.   We are not sure what prompted a change, nor does it really matter to us... Its all for the love of the bulldogs.

[MissMolly]

I've been a member here for about 3 years.  I'm not all that active but I am pretty much on semi-daily reading.

I've never found drama here and that's why I stay.  I'm sure there must be but it's not that evident.

I've been a member of another bulldog forum for the same amount of time and there is nasty drama over there on an almost daily basis.  And the people have such know it all attitudes about anything and everything that gets posted.  So I find this a MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE site.  And I like the fact that we are 98% EB's.  The other one is all kinds of bullies (not that there's anything wrong with that.  But I like the EB specific info.).

Great job James and Mods on a GREAT EB SITE!

[8ftbed]

from the last two posts --  the serenity and community which you and I both appreciate could be short lived due to changes in demographics and issues which James alluded to in making board decisions.

[ABC]

Just wanted to also say thank you to James for this site.  I would be severely in debt from bringing my guys into the vet everytime something pops up....

This place is informative, the people are polite and caring and my main reason for joining was the lack of drama.  I don't know what I would do without it.