My post was a legitimate question. This thread is just petty. Things change. They always will. If you want more music discussion then it's up to YOU to make it happen, instead of crying because things aren't the way you want them to be.

We all hate you. We just can't resist those god damn dimples.

Everyone seems to be complaining about the massive threads that continually go on in the lounge like it is a bad thing. It doesnt affect whats posted elsewhere...I actually very much enjoy those long political or religious threads. Yes this is a music forum and I could go elsewhere for them but why would I? I like the atmosphere and members here...

Every forum I am a member of is the same way. The Bodybuilding.com forums largest section is the Misc section. Do you know what the average threads about?...neither do I because it could be anything.

I've been here a few years - I don't consider myself new. Anyway, I noticed my comments were mostly disregarded and replies focused on points of disagreement. That echoes past experiences in this section and the Music section. The latter I agree is full of short, often off-topic answers and goes back to esoteric or bland topics - which I the provocative-subject generator personally could fix if I felt valued on this site.

But back to my idea from yesterday - is there a technical way to restrict new members from creating threads in The Lounge?

I'm just trying to point out the possible sources of complaints that were voiced early on. Someone mentioned that new members don't stay. I'm offering an explanation of why they may not.

And as for the bolded, in the past I have worked very, very hard for this community, and I have gone to great lengths to create forum events and topics to encourage discussion and a sense of community, but I did eventually tire of the work. The nature of album clubs, secret santas, and writing competitions involve work by everyone: those who create the events and those who participate in them. After the first year, I found that the participation declined past the point of value of the upkeep the threads required, so I wrapped them up.

Anyone is welcome to kick them back up again. It doesn't have to be a moderator, and for example, Chrysalis is starting a new album club which I think is a splendid idea. If anybody wants help starting a project, with the rules or graphics or whatnot, they are welcome to PM me, and I hope they know that.

I see only one post in that thread that I'd even remotely consider to have mocking tone to it, and it was pretty light in tone. The rest sounded like a friendly welcom to me.

Not to mention the first post links to a 5 year old thread by the same person for the same reason where people reacted THE SAME WAY.

*forehead smack*

FFS...

I'm perfectly prepared to offer an olive branch, as long as it doesn't get rammed up my ----! I don't like Ignoring (with a big I) anyone, and am quite happy to take Hermione/Sansa Stark/whatever off Ignore and try to engage more in topics with her BUT I won't be anyone's doormat. I don't like confrontation; I'm a quiet person by nature and just want peace in my life but you can only push me so far, and these things go both ways.

If my experiment works, great, but if I immediately, or quickly, begin getting snide comments, one-word answers, GIFs, memes or outright insults again then I'll expect one of two things to happen: 1) the behaviour should be and must be stamped down upon hard and without mercy. If I were insulting someone I would expect the same treatment, so it's not fair that certain people get more and more and more rope till they eventually hang themselves. I'm not saying ban on the first insult or whatever, but a warning should be issued, and if that warning is not heeded then a ban could follow.

My own personal experience with this particular member has been that I've felt like I was more or less fighting my own battle against her, while others --- mods --- let it go on and I don't know why. Maybe they thought it was funny, or not as serious as I felt it to be. Maybe they felt I deserved it, or had encouraged it in some way, and to be fair once or twice I had. But when someone completely out of the blue tells you to eff off when you weren't even communicating with them, I think that's where I have to draw the line. Oh yeah, option 2: I'll just put her back on Ignore.

I'm not asking anyone to take my side but if someone is being verbally bullied and the conversation is descending into insults, tirades and swearwords, then I think it's time for someone to take action. As I say, I'm prepared to make the first move, in this instance, but if my efforts fall on deaf ears I would appreciate some backup, or I'll just judge the thing as a failure and go back to the way I am now. I'm not asking for anyone to side WITH me AGAINST anyone, but I do feel that when a line is crossed then the mods should be swift to step in, particularly with someone who has had this problem before.

Like most people here, I don't want drama. If I want drama I'll watch TV. I just want to talk to people and discuss things, and if someone doesn't agree with me that's great: everyone has their opinion and I respect it, but they have to respect mine. If we can get to that point, then I think a lot of the fights and drama could be avoided.

This thread is not for singling out individual members just because they might be guilty of perpetuating drama or trolling people or whatever. It's for ways on how to curb the drama in the Lounge and get more music discussion happening.