Has the hobby that I once knew and loved all but disappeared?

The anonymity afforded by the keyboard is also a factor. Much of what I see would never be said FtF. The nature of the innerweb I guess. Heck the various Harley forums are sometimes almost unreadable because of the heroes, the only one I frequent is heavily moderated and no crap is allowed. Oddly enough, there are still many and varying "personalities" and is proof that enforcing a level of decorum does NOT rob the forum of humor, sarcasm, criticism, etc.

Maybe a lesson there???????

I've been "online" since the old DARPANET days . . . heck, my first email addy at work was just numbers

Eccie is not the hobby. However, general message board behavior on Texas' most popular board has changed over the years and the staff has allowed it.

Welcome to Eccie-mart! Originally Posted by Glenn Quagmire

Wasn't that a founding principle of Eccie, though? Everyone is invited, and everyone gets a fresh start, even those that were deemed malcontents on the old board?

It seems to me like Eccie is sticking with that mission. Maybe it's us that have changed.

Well put. I think your mention of reality TV and all that goes along with this new culture has found its way into the hobby. I guess not surprising, but just disappointing. But there are still plenty of great people enjoying this life style. You just have to be more careful, do your homework, and work your way around the ones that do not fit your profile of the people you like to spend time with. I have only been doing this for a couple of years. But I can honestly say I have met more people like what you describe from the past than I have met bad ones from the current culture. But I do my homework and I try to make sure that is the case before setting a date.
It is still a lot of fun. Still a lot of good people. You just have to try to work around all the BS that is also out there.
Have fun and don't let the turkeys get you down.

I have sadly witnessed how things have become every day "different", and by different sadly doesn't mean better ...

I share your thoughts Meg ... and as I look backwards I miss the good ole days as Tin describe them ...

There was some some sort of code of conduct that has suffered maybe by a lack of prompt moderation ...

Even with culture changes we have in our hands -at least in the scope of our authority- the responsibility to educate and guide towards the direction we want things to develop into ..,

M2C

ps ... Id like to ad that Drama and Reality Show type of info sells ... I bet there are more clicks=$ because of that ...
Certainly we can choose in which side of the bench to sit, but there is always the risk that one apple may rotten the whole basket ...

[B]
ps ... Id like to ad that Drama and Reality Show type of info sells ... I bet there are more clicks=$ because of that ... Originally Posted by DarthDVader

And this is the whole truth. Every thread hijack that turns into a cyber-shouting match is CPA $$$ in the owners pocket.

But that said, all things change. Some people miss the 50's and such. I don't know why, but they do. You just have to roll with the punches.

Still, no matter the culture standards have suffered, i can teach my kids at home ... They dont "punch" each other while some other parents just sit and watch how their own kids kill themselves or end up at juveniles ...

But to each its own ...

But that said, all things change. Some people miss the 50's and such. I don't know why, but they do. You just have to roll with the punches. Originally Posted by str8.2.bbbj

I suppose having never left I don't see the same drastic changes you have at least from what I can see on the boards. I guess I'm too close to see it as drastically as you do.
I do see plenty of changes but I certainly can't say the hobby I loved has disappeared or I too would have disappeared.

There are still plenty of good guys and good providers who know how to benefit from this little world of ours. There are trolls here but there have always been trolls here. With more publicity we gain more trolls, more LE, more of everything (some good some bad). I do think more and more people who never would have survived aspd have found their way on here and have managed to hang around. As Glenn said welcome to Eccie-Mart.
And around Dallas this site and P411 are probably the safest way to hobby. I would never say risk free but so much better than the alternatives

We still have providers like you (when you were here) that will speak their mind and stand up for what they believe in. They can take a beating when they do this but they also have plenty of supporters. I can think of 3 or 4 off the top of my head here in the Dallas forums.

When people are disrespectful on here I have no idea if they are getting points, how many points they have, how many are needed for a ban. I'm sure the mods use their best judgement when they deal with the children.

Oh yeah...North FTW and LBJ traffic/construction are unbelievable. There is no way I will hit those areas during weekdays.

Wasn't that a founding principle of Eccie, though? Everyone is invited, and everyone gets a fresh start, even those that were deemed malcontents on the old board?

It seems to me like Eccie is sticking with that mission. Maybe it's us that have changed. Originally Posted by TinMan

I have looked at the beginning posts of this board and found out that the principle as stated is correct, but the actions of the members and allowing of the actions by moderators at the time were polar opposites. If there was a problem between members of ASPD, that was brought over to Eccie and allowed to continue to fester.

There are a handful of members who, for their own agenda/reasons, instead of just hobbying and letting others also hobby, tend to bash another member just for being on the board. If there is any predilection by one member of another member that he/she is deemed unfit to be on the board, their groupies will also fall in line with their remarks as well, usually looking through their posts (cyberstalking) hijacking a thread to make their point with the name calling and disrespectful posts, actually 3 forum guideline infractions in one swoop.

It would be great if we could share intel/experiences and be able to ask questions in the Co-ed and ISO forums without the personal vendetta and speculation people (trolls) pronouncing themselves in the mix just to hopefully get a reaction. But, when a provider who you did not mesh with and report it just to be mocked by WKs of her, then you have others who have that personal agenda against a member who will post their two cents and last but not least are the know it alls and will tell you their opinion (and you better agree with it or get post whored to death).

In other words, it will never change unless it is for the worse, which is one of the reasons why many members who are now former members chose to guest or inactivate their accounts or just go into lurk mode.

Not the same dignity, patriotism, civility. frankness, caring Originally Posted by doug_dfw

That pretty much sums it up!

Instant access and information usually means we don't, as a whole, spend as much time contemplating our words and actions as carefully as we sometimes should. Written texts and posts can also come off completely wrong as well, since so much of personal communication comes from what's not being said. Originally Posted by Blacksheep07

While I do agree, I have been known to have a sharp tongue/fingers at time, the disturbing part of this is the mental trend behind the internet words. For example, I read a post regarding a rape accusation. A male actually posted that a woman who gets paid for sex is incapable of being raped. Seriously??? The fact that he actually believes that is troubling.

Don't worry, you're not the first one! Originally Posted by dongeykong

Dongey, I do not know if you had a previous handle before this one, but unless you did, you would have no idea to what I am referring.

[B]I have sadly witnessed how things have become every day "different", and by different sadly doesn't mean better ...

I share your thoughts Meg ... and as I look backwards I miss the good ole days as Tin describe them ...

There was some some sort of code of conduct that has suffered maybe by a lack of prompt moderation ...

Even with culture changes we have in our hands -at least in the scope of our authority- the responsibility to educate and guide towards the direction we want things to develop into .., Originally Posted by DarthDVader

Yes, code of conduct no longer exists. What I think has happened, sadly enough, is that the fake world of porn has been exploited by pimps and the fake world of movies has been exploited by gangs and drug dealers. Some how my generation has failed our children and they believe what they see in those venues is actually real. They believe that these reality TV shows are how people are supposed to act. Even some of those IN my generation believe that everything they see in porn is real and that is what they expect. They forget porn is merely a fantasy....not all of it is real. Again, I speak of the porn back "then." Folks forgot it was a fantasy world and created a whole different world of porn that has now become the norm.

I suppose having never left I don't see the same drastic changes you have at least from what I can see on the boards. I guess I'm too close to see it as drastically as you do.
I do see plenty of changes but I certainly can't say the hobby I loved has disappeared or I too would have disappeared.

Oh yeah...North FTW and LBJ traffic/construction are unbelievable. There is no way I will hit those areas during weekdays. Originally Posted by L.A.

Hi L.A.! You have given me a perfect example to use. The traffic....you know it's there, you try to avoid it like the plague, yes? But one day, for some reason, you will find yourself caught up in that area. While there, you are going to say WTF? I mean you knew it was there but knowing it's there is not the same as having to be in it when that's not the norm for you. The changes that I speak of are just like that....I knew that changes had to be there, but I have been away from this area of life for awhile so the changes did not really affect me. But being away and coming back is just like that traffic...WTF?

In other words, it will never change unless it is for the worse, which is one of the reasons why many members who are now former members chose to guest or inactivate their accounts or just go into lurk mode. Originally Posted by davidfree986

And there is the exclamation point.

Thanks everybody for the input. This is a great discussion.

Meg

Hey Meg,
I hope all is well down in Florida! There is an old Chinese proverb that you can never step into the same river twice. And so it is. This board is different, the economy has forced changes for many, and society overall seems to have gotten ruder, a sign of desperation, I think.

Stay well!

Wasn't that a founding principle of Eccie, though? Everyone is invited, and everyone gets a fresh start, even those that were deemed malcontents on the old board?

It seems to me like Eccie is sticking with that mission. Maybe it's us that have changed. Originally Posted by TinMan

Definitely + 1 !

Meg, I travel a fair amount and the traffic is always bad somewhere but give it some time and it changes. I remember when Central Expressway didn't go all the way past McKinney and there was no George Bush to take to the airport.

As for the hobby. For the most part I tend to play with ladies I've known for a long time and it pretty much weeds out the negative issues. I keep a humorous profile the rest of the time. I wasn't always this way. I used to chase the flavor of the month, play sugar daddy, and get my dick sucked in a strip club every now and then. But I don't miss that type action anymore. Too much work and often not the quality of the ladies of the past.

As for the garbage post and folks acting like they know they're anonymous and just say whatever they want to whoever, I don't give it too much thought. They look like an ass and their post are still there after they realize they acted like an ass. Internet culture - stuff has a way of catching up to people.

I also walk by quarters laying on the ground these days knowing someone else will pick it 'em up and if dog shit is in my path, I walk around it or step over it.

Personally, I do new fun things almost everyday but I don't miss the past because I still enjoy many of those I met in the past and I was lucky enough to meet a bunch of 'em. Hell, I enjoyed your company a time or two as well - and you're still a " pistol " ! Past nor present ain't so bad if you cull out the negatives.

I miss aspd. I wish this place was more like it. But sad i do not think it will ever be. Those were the good times.

I agree with Darth's coments re reality shows and Iaintlien with culture in general. I think both are just short hand ways of saying that our culture in general has coarsened quite a bit over the past ten to fifteen years. We see it in movies, television, behavior on the streets, the lack of respect for education and science, infotainment instead of real news, etc. America is just becoming a less interesting, more coarse place. And this board simply reflects that trend.

I have looked at the beginning posts of this board and found out that the principle as stated is correct, but the actions of the members and allowing of the actions by moderators at the time were polar opposites. If there was a problem between members of ASPD, that was brought over to Eccie and allowed to continue to fester.

There are a handful of members who, for their own agenda/reasons, instead of just hobbying and letting others also hobby, tend to bash another member just for being on the board. If there is any predilection by one member of another member that he/she is deemed unfit to be on the board, their groupies will also fall in line with their remarks as well, usually looking through their posts (cyberstalking) hijacking a thread to make their point with the name calling and disrespectful posts, actually 3 forum guideline infractions in one swoop.

It would be great if we could share intel/experiences and be able to ask questions in the Co-ed and ISO forums without the personal vendetta and speculation people (trolls) pronouncing themselves in the mix just to hopefully get a reaction. But, when a provider who you did not mesh with and report it just to be mocked by WKs of her, then you have others who have that personal agenda against a member who will post their two cents and last but not least are the know it alls and will tell you their opinion (and you better agree with it or get post whored to death).

In other words, it will never change unless it is for the worse, which is one of the reasons why many members who are now former members chose to guest or inactivate their accounts or just go into lurk mode. Originally Posted by davidfree986

Things did transfers over, and those who performed misdeeds were called on those misdeeds for the betterment of the community. For example, those caught writing fake reviews were called on it. I am sure you would agree it is important for groups to police those who would game the system, no?

Yeah, things change but I still feel it is for the better. Would you rather have whispers of who does BBFS or have it out front for decision making purposes? Whether you choose to partake and exercise your right to prove Darwin right or you choose to avoid, you now have more power.

The stone casters on this thread are also comical. Commenting on others fetish is at its core hateful. Who are we to judge another's fetish?

Some self reflection is in order for those who comment that things are worse off.