Can we get a bit of perspective please

[maiforpeace]

I think part of what El is saying is that up until a couple of days ago this was a sleepy little familiar hamlet, and now we have lots of new blood (mainly good) but we are also spreading the news of its existence far and wide, and being in the middle of all the strife, we are now subject to a level of scrutiny and a degree of contention that we have not had, and I would say we do not necessarily want. Not trying to stifle anyone, because I've been as vocal as anyone, but the unintended consequence of being in the spotlight makes many of us 'old timers' uncomfortable.

Our usual traffic before all this rarely got more than 20 users on at once, and maybe a guest or two... so this is a massive change for us as well as those who have relocated here from RDF. We DO very much welcome anyone who wants to settle in and find like-minded folk here. There's a sensitivity that should work both ways.

Quite - and as an addition to that, whilst people are quite entitled to despise TAF - a forum that I and others have struggled to rebuild from what was essentially a smoking hole in the ground, can people please exercise a little more diplomacy. Schisms happen and old wounds heal just as those opened by the events at RDF eventually will. I have good friends here and I would like to be able to talk meaningless shite with them from time to time without people I've never even heard of adding their disparaging tuppence ha'penny's worth about my forum on the basis of a few cursory glimpses.

You should have PZ link TAF in his most recent blog where he refers to other forums instead of just linking Rationalia twice as an alternative forum to RD.net.

[Skinny Puppy]

To my fellow RD refugees. Please remember that this was a small, tight-knit community and we've just parachuted in, gotten out of the lifeboat and started causing drama. Try and be considerate of the original members of this forum as they are going through a major upheaval as well.

To the original community here. Hang tight and don't panic. I'm sure things will calm down a lot over the course of a few more days and us incomers will start to integrate and make more friends with the old times.

Don't start hating each other and getting an us and them attitude. We're all on the same side.

Very good post. We are all on the same side.

My venting time is over. Now I want to play the fun and games area since the mafia game is about to start.

[War Arrow]

Wasn't in that list no, though another name change has been suggested.

I think part of what El is saying is that up until a couple of days ago this was a sleepy little familiar hamlet, and now we have lots of new blood (mainly good) but we are also spreading the news of its existence far and wide, and being in the middle of all the strife, we are now subject to a level of scrutiny and a degree of contention that we have not had, and I would say we do not necessarily want. Not trying to stifle anyone, because I've been as vocal as anyone, but the unintended consequence of being in the spotlight makes many of us 'old timers' uncomfortable.

Our usual traffic before all this rarely got more than 20 users on at once, and maybe a guest or two... so this is a massive change for us as well as those who have relocated here from RDF. We DO very much welcome anyone who wants to settle in and find like-minded folk here. There's a sensitivity that should work both ways.

Quite - and as an addition to that, whilst people are quite entitled to despise TAF - a forum that I and others have struggled to rebuild from what was essentially a smoking hole in the ground, can people please exercise a little more diplomacy. Schisms happen and old wounds heal just as those opened by the events at RDF eventually will. I have good friends here and I would like to be able to talk meaningless shite with them from time to time without people I've never even heard of adding their disparaging tuppence ha'penny's worth about my forum on the basis of a few cursory glimpses.

I've never heard of your forum (But I had never been anywhere but RD before this). Is it similar to rationalia? If so I'll have to check it out!

Appreciated. It is different somehow, not better nor worse, but the internet is big and there's room for everyone. I'd really just like everyone to get along regardless of posting habits. Hardly need to state how psychologically testing these schisms can be and a 'that lot over there smell of poo and wee' outlook is good for neither man, woman nor beast.

[The Curious Squid]

Just want to say thanks to the new guys, your posts in this thread are encouraging, nobody likes change but with the right attitude we'll get past this.

[The Curious Squid]

Wasn't in that list no, though another name change has been suggested.

I think part of what El is saying is that up until a couple of days ago this was a sleepy little familiar hamlet, and now we have lots of new blood (mainly good) but we are also spreading the news of its existence far and wide, and being in the middle of all the strife, we are now subject to a level of scrutiny and a degree of contention that we have not had, and I would say we do not necessarily want. Not trying to stifle anyone, because I've been as vocal as anyone, but the unintended consequence of being in the spotlight makes many of us 'old timers' uncomfortable.

Our usual traffic before all this rarely got more than 20 users on at once, and maybe a guest or two... so this is a massive change for us as well as those who have relocated here from RDF. We DO very much welcome anyone who wants to settle in and find like-minded folk here.

[cowiz]

Just want to say thanks to the new guys, your posts in this thread are encouraging, nobody likes change but with the right attitude we'll get past this.

plus ca change plus c'est la meme chose

[Banzai!]

we are all but transient beings pay us no mind

[eXcommunicate]

I'm gonna back up El here and say I also had reservations about the tone of the forum and also the unwanted outside attention. I also don't think El is attacking all the new members specifically. She enjoys meeting new people and so do I. Things are just a bit rough right now, but things will settle down in time, and new members will soon feel like old members. I would wager about 80% of the "new members" over the past few days will not stick around after passions have cooled. Those 20% that are left will become valued members indeed.

I don't think it has anything to do with or is anything like those small town yokels who don't like it when "the darkies" move into their neighborhoods. But there is always friction between the old order and the new order, no matter what the circumstance. And chances are we'll assimilate as many of you fine refugee folks as we can into our fantastic orgy of fun. We're all on the same side after all. Just know that no one wants Ratz to be the next "RDF" and everything will smooth out.

[The Curious Squid]

Not a chance! You signed up, now you'll be subjected to my pseudo spanish ways

[War Arrow]

Hey buddy! Guess what? I've got a job interview. I'm going to be a postman again (well, for a couple of months)!

It's okay, everyone. I'm an admin elswhere and Paco is staff so this does not constitute a derail.

As you were.

[maiforpeace]

Just want to say thanks to the new guys, your posts in this thread are encouraging, nobody likes change but with the right attitude we'll get past this.

plus ca change plus c'est la meme chose

One of my favorite sayings.

[num1cubfn]

Wasn't in that list no, though another name change has been suggested.

I think part of what El is saying is that up until a couple of days ago this was a sleepy little familiar hamlet, and now we have lots of new blood (mainly good) but we are also spreading the news of its existence far and wide, and being in the middle of all the strife, we are now subject to a level of scrutiny and a degree of contention that we have not had, and I would say we do not necessarily want. Not trying to stifle anyone, because I've been as vocal as anyone, but the unintended consequence of being in the spotlight makes many of us 'old timers' uncomfortable.

Our usual traffic before all this rarely got more than 20 users on at once, and maybe a guest or two... so this is a massive change for us as well as those who have relocated here from RDF. We DO very much welcome anyone who wants to settle in and find like-minded folk here.

"feed me and I'll be your friend." Does popcorn count?

[melchior]

I can understand how the RATZ old timers feel, and to be honest I don't think that the bulk of the RDF refugee's are going to find what they are looking for here in the long term.

Timonen thinks that the membership/community aspect of RDF had nothing to do with the sites' success or the raising of Richards profile - he wants a dry little super 'blog' for him to control. Why not play him at his own game? The former mod team and many of the RDF old guard have certainly got the skills to set up a new forum for science, reason and lolcats.

Just because the biggest atheist community has gone doesn't mean that it has to stay gone.

And it would be epic to end up with more traffic and better quality content than the timonen.

[hackenslash]

I've been a member here for a while. Not a very prolific one, but it was a place I could come and hang, and shoot the breeze in the shitbox. I even tried to get to the Manchester get-together, but work didn't permit. It was a nice quiet little haven that was off the beaten track, and very attractive for that. None of the refugees want to change that, and certainly not to any degree that causes any discomfort for the core membership.

OTOH, I am also a refugee, and probably some of the responsibility for the influx, and therefore whatever tension arises as a result, lies with me. I did actually try quite hard to soften the blow by attempting to direct some of the traffic to league of reason, but given that quite a few of the core members at RDF already have good friends here, and vice-versa, it simply seems that most of the traffic ended up here. I'm happy to take any flak for what has transpired with regard to the disruption of the forum, so please feel free to vent at me.

I only ask that all are considerate of each other while we gather ourselves and work out what to do next once the dust settles. Again, nobody wants to cause any discomfort for anybody else, and we are just trying to get throughy these early stages with a minimum of fuss.

You have our deepest gratitude for opening your doors to us, and for putting up with the invasion of your home. I will ask that people work hard to be as considerate as possible, and once we work out what's going to happen next, we will take whatever measures are necessary to ensure that no negative associations with Ratz are made.

[Bella Fortuna]

No flak, hack. Thanks for your kind words and I hope you'll stick around, wherever else you may post as well.