Thread
Hello Again
Finals just wound down for my third year, and I felt it was about time to stop in and see what had changed. I have tried going through a few threads here and there, and I don't recognize 75% of the people! yikes!
Anyone want to give me a recap of the past few months? Last I checked in was...wow...December and January.
I hope all is well with everyone, those known for a long time and those new alike.
I will probably frequent a bit more this summer, as I only have 1 job this time instead of 3 as of last summer. Speaking of summer jobs, who here is SF Bay Area? I may need some tips and pointers as I will be there all summer.
TBird
Anyone want to give me a recap of the past few months? Last I checked in was...wow...December and January.
I hope all is well with everyone, those known for a long time and those new alike.
I will probably frequent a bit more this summer, as I only have 1 job this time instead of 3 as of last summer. Speaking of summer jobs, who here is SF Bay Area? I may need some tips and pointers as I will be there all summer.
TBird
Well, we've got a lot of new people, seems to be a new face every week or so.
Standards have dropped significantly -- the Lounge is now more of a group blog than anything else, and it's apparently okay to use significantly coarse, un-family-friendly language on the forum. (I need to work on fixing that I suppose.)
And most of us are more interested in newworld-PPC and Intel Macs than actual 68k Macintosh computers.
Unfortunately I'm not SF Bay Area, but I've heard it's a really nice area, and you'll probably really like it there.
Anyway, great to see another familiar name posting!
Standards have dropped significantly -- the Lounge is now more of a group blog than anything else, and it's apparently okay to use significantly coarse, un-family-friendly language on the forum. (I need to work on fixing that I suppose.)
And most of us are more interested in newworld-PPC and Intel Macs than actual 68k Macintosh computers.
Unfortunately I'm not SF Bay Area, but I've heard it's a really nice area, and you'll probably really like it there.
Anyway, great to see another familiar name posting!
Hey TBird, Nice to see you again.
G'day TBird, haven't heard from you in a while. Yeah, I'll drink to what Cory said about standards here. Either way, its great to see you again 
Not just macs but it seems like we got a buttload of pc lovers too..... As well as Sparc, Sun, and NeXT people too.
well, Sun/SGI/NeXT and the like have always kind of had a place in the heart of MLAers, mainly because it seems to come with the territory of "cool old/not-the-mainstream computing platforms."
PC lovers, well, basically we've got all types here -- and they seem to get along just fine. I'll admit that even I'm posting this from my Lenovo ThinkPad R61i with Windows Vista, which is cool because I like having a bit of everything around.
PC lovers, well, basically we've got all types here -- and they seem to get along just fine. I'll admit that even I'm posting this from my Lenovo ThinkPad R61i with Windows Vista, which is cool because I like having a bit of everything around.
I agree with Cory.
Those of us with a leaning towards retro hardware and computing in general also have more than a passing interest in the Big Iron of yesteryear. This also entails with some of us ending up with a rather large amount of time being spent repairing, upgrading, and tinkering with said hardware and software.
It is my own musings which have me pondering the thought that the 68kMLA may indeed end up morphing into a retro computing one stop community rather than sticking to 68k Macintosh / Apple computing. It is only natural that as our users delve into the wonderful world of retro computing that they also bring questions, advice, advice and tales relating to the sum of the retro computing existence rather than just a piece of it.
I would posit then that in an effort to keep the forums as retro and 68k as possible while still allowing for the discussion of topics verboten, it would then seem apparent that the course of action to be undertaken would be in the direction of creating a Windws sub-forum. This would allow for the discussion of Windows related topics at hand. Not to mention it would help clean up the lounge a bit.
Those of us with a leaning towards retro hardware and computing in general also have more than a passing interest in the Big Iron of yesteryear. This also entails with some of us ending up with a rather large amount of time being spent repairing, upgrading, and tinkering with said hardware and software.
It is my own musings which have me pondering the thought that the 68kMLA may indeed end up morphing into a retro computing one stop community rather than sticking to 68k Macintosh / Apple computing. It is only natural that as our users delve into the wonderful world of retro computing that they also bring questions, advice, advice and tales relating to the sum of the retro computing existence rather than just a piece of it.
I would posit then that in an effort to keep the forums as retro and 68k as possible while still allowing for the discussion of topics verboten, it would then seem apparent that the course of action to be undertaken would be in the direction of creating a Windws sub-forum. This would allow for the discussion of Windows related topics at hand. Not to mention it would help clean up the lounge a bit.
Hey TBird! Long time no ski!
Yeah this place has changed a lot, I came back only about 6 months ago and I couldn't really believe it either. Some of the crap people post about...
Anyhoo, enough whining, welcome back
Yeah this place has changed a lot, I came back only about 6 months ago and I couldn't really believe it either. Some of the crap people post about...
Anyhoo, enough whining, welcome back
Apologies, Cory, if it sounds like I'm having a go at you.
The Compact Mac threads here are interesting. Given that the Mac 128K is 24 years old, it is amazing how much interest exists. And it is not just "how do I turn it on" but "how do I use it more".
We still love Quadras and 68030s. Rockets and PDS accelerators are a continually arising topic.
Intel Macs, G4 and G5: not bovvered but I don't think that they suit this forum.
The Compact Mac threads here are interesting. Given that the Mac 128K is 24 years old, it is amazing how much interest exists. And it is not just "how do I turn it on" but "how do I use it more".
We still love Quadras and 68030s. Rockets and PDS accelerators are a continually arising topic.
Intel Macs, G4 and G5: not bovvered but I don't think that they suit this forum.
Let me add my voice to the chorus - welcome back, Da Penguin!
As for the discussion Cory started, I think it's fine that folks are interested in newer hardware. This is still a very retro-oriented site. Consider:
- The "moment of birth" of 68kmla, according to the FAQ, was August '01, and it involved the liberation of a Color Classic. Well, the slot-loading iMac G3, and the Sawtooth Power Mac G4, are as old today as the Color Classic was back in '01.
So considering that, and considering that the Apple I/II/III and Compact Mac forums (among others) are still pretty active here, I'd say this site is still going strong.
Finally, all communities change over time, and so even if this one continues to branch out to PC hardware, post-68k Mac liberating, and so on, the name 68kMLA has achieved larger connotations beyond just 68k machines, and I think there'd never be any need to change it.
Best,
Matt
As for the discussion Cory started, I think it's fine that folks are interested in newer hardware. This is still a very retro-oriented site. Consider:
- The "moment of birth" of 68kmla, according to the FAQ, was August '01, and it involved the liberation of a Color Classic. Well, the slot-loading iMac G3, and the Sawtooth Power Mac G4, are as old today as the Color Classic was back in '01.
So considering that, and considering that the Apple I/II/III and Compact Mac forums (among others) are still pretty active here, I'd say this site is still going strong.
Finally, all communities change over time, and so even if this one continues to branch out to PC hardware, post-68k Mac liberating, and so on, the name 68kMLA has achieved larger connotations beyond just 68k machines, and I think there'd never be any need to change it.
Best,
Matt
Sure, people love coming to a 68kmla site to talk about OSX and x86 macs now don't they.
Don't talk like the founders of this site evolved into talking about newer machines, its mostly the newer people who talk about new machines (taking over this site).
Don't talk like the founders of this site evolved into talking about newer machines, its mostly the newer people who talk about new machines (taking over this site).
Hostile much?
So who counts as a "newer" person: anyone who didn't join back in 2001?
I joined in August '02, 9 months after 68kmla was founded. Am I a noob?
M
So who counts as a "newer" person: anyone who didn't join back in 2001?
I joined in August '02, 9 months after 68kmla was founded. Am I a noob?
M
It has been a very long time since something I've said has been so massively differently interpreted by so many people. Indeed, it feels like it's been a long time since anyone has really bothered to even read what I've said.
What I did initially mean to convey was my own personal dissatisfaction with the fact that 68kMLAf seems to have become a free for all.
In a way, it's nice because almost anything I post there'll be someone here who knows about it -- but I know it's not necessarily appropriate, because there are other places for other other machines. Nekochan, sunhelp, forums for newer macs, and the various NeXT forums.
What I did initially mean to convey was my own personal dissatisfaction with the fact that 68kMLAf seems to have become a free for all.
In a way, it's nice because almost anything I post there'll be someone here who knows about it -- but I know it's not necessarily appropriate, because there are other places for other other machines. Nekochan, sunhelp, forums for newer macs, and the various NeXT forums.
I quite often contribute to other people's discussions about moderns stuff, because I've got knowledge I feel this place can help me share. I rarely start one of my own threads on moderns hardware though.
The thing that gets me most about the way the forum has evolved is the 'Conquests' forum has turned into an 'I just bought this' forum, rather than a place to post what gear you saved from the recyclers/crushers at a low price/free. It needs sorting out IMHO, and we're all guilty of promoting that to one extent or another.
Personally I don't care what people discuss here, but even I have limits. We're all a bit computer-nerd-esque so lets keep it at least on computers maybe? It certainly beats stupid threads about drinking a cold Pepsi.
We are all here because we share a common interest, but that doesn't mean we can't talk about *anything else* but old Macs, I mean tbh I find them about as interesting as dirty dishwater these days, but I hang around here for the people I know and get on well with, and sharing the knowledge I've built up over the years.
The thing that gets me most about the way the forum has evolved is the 'Conquests' forum has turned into an 'I just bought this' forum, rather than a place to post what gear you saved from the recyclers/crushers at a low price/free. It needs sorting out IMHO, and we're all guilty of promoting that to one extent or another.
Personally I don't care what people discuss here, but even I have limits. We're all a bit computer-nerd-esque so lets keep it at least on computers maybe? It certainly beats stupid threads about drinking a cold Pepsi.
We are all here because we share a common interest, but that doesn't mean we can't talk about *anything else* but old Macs, I mean tbh I find them about as interesting as dirty dishwater these days, but I hang around here for the people I know and get on well with, and sharing the knowledge I've built up over the years.
I totally agree on this point.
Amen to that too!
And BTW, Cory - I respect what you said in your original post in this thread (and I respect your tremendous contributions to this forum); my recent annoyed post in this thread was in response to the tone of Unknown_K's post and had nothing to do with your original post.
M
Hello!
The forums have changed a lot (definitely less Mac and more retro), but the technical forums seem to be as popular as ever. Especially for people interested ind developing.
Seems like the 'issue' users tend to burn out after about a week of heavy posting.
The forums have changed a lot (definitely less Mac and more retro), but the technical forums seem to be as popular as ever. Especially for people interested ind developing.
Seems like the 'issue' users tend to burn out after about a week of heavy posting.
Well its how I feel about the situation. If you look back at who was around when this site was founded you will see most got burned out or had other issues and left. They started the site, contributed mostly on topic, and when they had nothing more to add they went on with life. When I google for something I just snagged I tend to hit posts from the original site, which is very usefull. Sometimes I even hit one of my very old posts, funny how I have changed over the last few years. These forums are an archive of knowledge, they should not be full of water cooler talk.
Too many people joined here to talk about things other then what the site was made for, and tend to flood the forums with offtopic instead of ontopic.
I collect more then just 68K/ppc macs, I tend to talk about them in IRC or post to the correct forums for that hardware. I also get into military history, should I start threads up about that here too? The issue is do you respect what the forum is meant for and post acordingly or do you decide to take a forum hostage and drag it into whatever you are into at that moment.
Most of the offtopic should be in a personal blog, you can easily link your blog in the SIG you use here. If people like your posts they will eventually check out your blog as well.
There are forums I used to post in that I rarely if ever post in anymore (but do read once in a while), people change and move on.
Too many people joined here to talk about things other then what the site was made for, and tend to flood the forums with offtopic instead of ontopic.
I collect more then just 68K/ppc macs, I tend to talk about them in IRC or post to the correct forums for that hardware. I also get into military history, should I start threads up about that here too? The issue is do you respect what the forum is meant for and post acordingly or do you decide to take a forum hostage and drag it into whatever you are into at that moment.
Most of the offtopic should be in a personal blog, you can easily link your blog in the SIG you use here. If people like your posts they will eventually check out your blog as well.
There are forums I used to post in that I rarely if ever post in anymore (but do read once in a while), people change and move on.
I agree with the preceding comments. The situation is dire.
Like moths to the flame we march towards our destruction.
Oh the horror! Oh the ghastly black tormented horror!
Oh the agony of it all!
Oh sweet pain, my only consolation... Sweet, bitter, horrible, beautiful pain.
Everything that is beautiful fades. Why should this forum be any exception?
Oh, didn't we tell you this is now an emo forum? :lol:
Like moths to the flame we march towards our destruction.
Oh the horror! Oh the ghastly black tormented horror!
Oh the agony of it all!
Oh sweet pain, my only consolation... Sweet, bitter, horrible, beautiful pain.
Everything that is beautiful fades. Why should this forum be any exception?
Oh, didn't we tell you this is now an emo forum? :lol:
WTH was that?
Anyways, it is my opinion that a forum for retro computing but with a main focus of 68k computing will have threads of an unrelated nature. I am going to change my earlier stance. Any threads talking about windows (the SP3 thread is a a perfect example) or any other OS not being run on retro hardware should be closed.
Stupid threads such as the pepsi one should be be closed forthwith.
68kMLA is a great place. It will never return to the pure 68k discussion it used to be. However if we move fast enough we can stem the flow of stupidity that seems to be plaguing the lounge. It is not a personal blog area. Threads about e-bay australia policies see, ok with me as a ton of our users also use e-bay and we tend to let one another know when we are bidding on something so as not to get into a bidding war with fellow MAF'ers.
Anyways, it is my opinion that a forum for retro computing but with a main focus of 68k computing will have threads of an unrelated nature. I am going to change my earlier stance. Any threads talking about windows (the SP3 thread is a a perfect example) or any other OS not being run on retro hardware should be closed.
Stupid threads such as the pepsi one should be be closed forthwith.
68kMLA is a great place. It will never return to the pure 68k discussion it used to be. However if we move fast enough we can stem the flow of stupidity that seems to be plaguing the lounge. It is not a personal blog area. Threads about e-bay australia policies see, ok with me as a ton of our users also use e-bay and we tend to let one another know when we are bidding on something so as not to get into a bidding war with fellow MAF'ers.
So anything and everything that doesn't have to do with 68k Macs should be closed and prohibited?
Threads like the pepsi one are just so bloody pointless. The entire point of the thread was to tell us how to pour a glass of Pepsi with ice, as if it was some major new breakthrough. There's your perfect example. However there is a certain line between a technology unrelated pointless thread, like as said above, and a technology unrelated thread with a bit of meaning.
However, should this include all unrelated posts, then it's in the best interests to call the closure of the Lounge. Any posts that are to do with 68k Macs will be in one of the appropriate forums. The Lounge will always be off topic banter and there really is no way to change that apart from a complete cease of it altogether.
It'll probably filter out those users who are sticking around purely for off topic banter, including those who have in the past found enlightenment in 68k hardware but do no longer. That includes most of your founding members and existing userbase.
Threads like the pepsi one are just so bloody pointless. The entire point of the thread was to tell us how to pour a glass of Pepsi with ice, as if it was some major new breakthrough. There's your perfect example. However there is a certain line between a technology unrelated pointless thread, like as said above, and a technology unrelated thread with a bit of meaning.
However, should this include all unrelated posts, then it's in the best interests to call the closure of the Lounge. Any posts that are to do with 68k Macs will be in one of the appropriate forums. The Lounge will always be off topic banter and there really is no way to change that apart from a complete cease of it altogether.
It'll probably filter out those users who are sticking around purely for off topic banter, including those who have in the past found enlightenment in 68k hardware but do no longer. That includes most of your founding members and existing userbase.
Does the lounge actively hurt the usefulness of the site, though? If not, we shouldn't consider censoring topics that are not strictly 68k-related. Sometimes there are topics and language that should be locked, but I don't think that there is anything wrong with having a broader forum.
Of course, this being the internet, if somebody doesn't like the site, they can just find another sandbox.
Of course, this being the internet, if somebody doesn't like the site, they can just find another sandbox.
Folks, isn't this site fundamentally about have fun and sharing our enthusiasm for Macs and similar other equipment and hardware? Let's chill a little! [8D]
That said, I agree with Tom - the Lounge, in my understanding, is there precisely to be a catch-all for OT posts. If folks think a Lounge post is just totally random and uninteresting, they can simply choose not to post in that thread, and not to read it either.
As for the other forum categories, I would say yes, these should be kept on-topic. From the way each forum is described, it appears that Retrochallenge and Conquests are the only two that would allow any real discussion of non-Mac/Apple hardware. (If folks want to change that, it's fine with me; I'm just saying that's the impression one gets by looking at the forums.)
In addition, the *Nix forum would allow discussion of non-Mac software as well (and perhaps of non-Mac hardware, although only in the context of a discussion of running *Nix on such hardware).
So that all seems pretty clear to me.
Perhaps each forum's mod could post a sticky at the top saying exactly what is and is not permitted in each forum category. That might help clear things up.
Now let's get back to liberating and swapping war stories! [] ]'>
Best,
Matt
That said, I agree with Tom - the Lounge, in my understanding, is there precisely to be a catch-all for OT posts. If folks think a Lounge post is just totally random and uninteresting, they can simply choose not to post in that thread, and not to read it either.
As for the other forum categories, I would say yes, these should be kept on-topic. From the way each forum is described, it appears that Retrochallenge and Conquests are the only two that would allow any real discussion of non-Mac/Apple hardware. (If folks want to change that, it's fine with me; I'm just saying that's the impression one gets by looking at the forums.)
In addition, the *Nix forum would allow discussion of non-Mac software as well (and perhaps of non-Mac hardware, although only in the context of a discussion of running *Nix on such hardware).
So that all seems pretty clear to me.
Perhaps each forum's mod could post a sticky at the top saying exactly what is and is not permitted in each forum category. That might help clear things up.
Now let's get back to liberating and swapping war stories! [
] ]'>Best,
Matt
Oh my, I had no intention of creating such a ruckus in asking what was going on. My apologies there.
The MLA has always been a place for light hearted discussion. On topic discussions never stayed purely that way, but they always seemed to remain in the realm of old mac stuff. Looking around, it now looks like just another forum, so I can see how many would be upset with the abundance of off topic-ness.
Where to draw the line in what to post and not post can be instituted from the top down, but then it will be nothing but a dictatorship. If folks here really want change, it will need to come from the users. We shouldn't all hold grudges against one another, but we should hold each other accountable for things that are posted. If everyone feels something is off topic. Either make it known or avoid it all together. There is no need to drag out what you do not want.
That said, I hope I can hang around here more and get a better idea what the pulse of the MLA is now. Things are certainly very different, and my own 68k experiences have gone down to just about zilch. That said, I am still just as big of an apple fanatic as ever. I suppose I should let the cat out of the bag and say that that is the exact reason I am in the bay area. Simply put, I will be walking into Infinite Loop 1 in less than a week. Talk about anxious excited and nervous out of my mind at the same time.
So yes, anyone in the bay area, let me know, I am all for grabbing lunch or learning what is best to do on a friday night.
Peace, love, let's save the whales (and all those macs)
TBird
The MLA has always been a place for light hearted discussion. On topic discussions never stayed purely that way, but they always seemed to remain in the realm of old mac stuff. Looking around, it now looks like just another forum, so I can see how many would be upset with the abundance of off topic-ness.
Where to draw the line in what to post and not post can be instituted from the top down, but then it will be nothing but a dictatorship. If folks here really want change, it will need to come from the users. We shouldn't all hold grudges against one another, but we should hold each other accountable for things that are posted. If everyone feels something is off topic. Either make it known or avoid it all together. There is no need to drag out what you do not want.
That said, I hope I can hang around here more and get a better idea what the pulse of the MLA is now. Things are certainly very different, and my own 68k experiences have gone down to just about zilch. That said, I am still just as big of an apple fanatic as ever. I suppose I should let the cat out of the bag and say that that is the exact reason I am in the bay area. Simply put, I will be walking into Infinite Loop 1 in less than a week. Talk about anxious excited and nervous out of my mind at the same time.
So yes, anyone in the bay area, let me know, I am all for grabbing lunch or learning what is best to do on a friday night.
Peace, love, let's save the whales (and all those macs)
TBird
Da Pengiun,
Please hang out more. The more of us who contribute to the more technical topics and topics relating to technology increase the value of the forums. I would love for this forum to remain 90% Mac oriented when we are talking about computers.
The lounge is a catch all for random posts not fitting into other sub-forums. I do agree that we can simply choose to ignore a thread. However in the lounge we used to have better threads. The Pepsi thread just illustrates to what level we are currently at. Why no more threads on older OS's, old supercomputers, social topics such as world events and so on. Those aren't computer related but are much much more interesting to talk about than Pepsi or SP3.
Please hang out more. The more of us who contribute to the more technical topics and topics relating to technology increase the value of the forums. I would love for this forum to remain 90% Mac oriented when we are talking about computers.
The lounge is a catch all for random posts not fitting into other sub-forums. I do agree that we can simply choose to ignore a thread. However in the lounge we used to have better threads. The Pepsi thread just illustrates to what level we are currently at. Why no more threads on older OS's, old supercomputers, social topics such as world events and so on. Those aren't computer related but are much much more interesting to talk about than Pepsi or SP3.
You haven't noticed the aura of pessimism on this forum? I've noticed it ever since I started visiting this forum, 18 months ago. Anyone would think life as we know it was ending. :lol: It was begging to have the mick taken out of it.
My own opinion for what it's worth (probably nothing): if a thread turns into a conflict, I stop reading it. If a thread is pointless and stupid…Well, then it’s probably me that started it. :lol: I hope I never start taking anything that happens on the internet seriously.