(This discussion occured in another thread, so I thought I should split the topic and move this so that others could contribute to it as well. Do not slam members past or present! This is a discussion, not a mud slinging contest.         ~Tam


These threads might be no big deal NOW, but look at it from a future perspective.

As a parallel, I'd LOVE to read magazine articles from, say 1979 on what they thought music would be like in the '80s or any point down the road. A collection of peoples' thoughts at a given time is like a time capsule in a way, based on what already existed. Just personally I think it's cool to compare that to how it really happened. Same thing will eventually be true with right now.

I know not everyone likes anaylizing pop culture, but I do. No need to insult it.

One more thing about these threads (and you can get ticked at me if you want, sorry to crash the decadeologist/analysis haters' party)--- they might be no big deal NOW, but look at it from a future perspective.

I'd LOVE to read magazine articles from, say 1979 on what they thought music would be like in the '80s. It's a time capsule in a way, to what people were thinking based on what already existed. Just personally I think it's cool to compare that to how it really happened.

Same thing will eventually be true with right now.


I do understand what you are saying Marty, and you make a good point. That being said, it has already been tried several times with different members to keep the decadology to a minimum or at least one location, and that failed miserably. And it is easy to say "if you don't like it then don't read it" but there comes apoint where the forum becomes flooded with nothing but decadology, choking out everything else and it gets on peoples last nerve.

Decadology itself is not a bad thing, and I would hope that we are not being viewed as squashing it altogether, but when it becomes the center of focus on EVERY board here, something has to be done about it. ChuckyG himself has banned persons for this type of thing - not because it was decadology, but because it choked out everything else.

You Marty, are very good at decadology yet you somehow know and understand how to keep it within limits and make it actually interesting at the same time. Unfortunately not everyone is like you. Moderation is the key. Limits are put in place in order to maintain the forum. Without them, this place would go to hell in a handbasket.

I don't think I insulted decadology at all, I was making a point.
I rather enjoy reading some of the stuff, but when 8 out of 10 new threads are pointless decadologies, it becomes a PITA!

^ Good points and I do agree with you. For the record, my initial reaction was just spurred because it seemed like people were "ganging up" on it a little, but I do apologize if anything I said came off the wrong way (hey, I'm too nice a guy and the last person in the world who'd want to offend someone). :)

Maybe before it can get out of hand again (and I even agree it has gotten that way in the past, with the number of threads, etc), all like-minded topics could be merged into one thread, and/or just have one designated thread for it, and any new ones could be locked/deleted? Would that work.

^ Good points and I do agree with you. For the record, my initial reaction was just spurred because it seemed like people were "ganging up" on it a little, but I do apologize if anything I said came off the wrong way (hey, I'm too nice a guy and the last person in the world who'd want to offend someone). :)

Maybe before it can get out of hand again (and I even agree it has gotten that way in the past, with the number of threads, etc), all like-minded topics could be merged into one thread, and/or just have one designated thread for it, and any new ones could be locked/deleted? Would that work.



I think that is an awesome idea, Jesse.  I don't think anyone would complain at all, if the discussions on decadeology were to be kept within it's own little thread. You know I love to discuss stuff like that...but as Tam said...some people don't know when to stop, and they end up taking over the boards with countless threads, etc. :)

^ Good points and I do agree with you. For the record, my initial reaction was just spurred because it seemed like people were "ganging up" on it a little, but I do apologize if anything I said came off the wrong way (hey, I'm too nice a guy and the last person in the world who'd want to offend someone). :)

Maybe before it can get out of hand again (and I even agree it has gotten that way in the past, with the number of threads, etc), all like-minded topics could be merged into one thread, and/or just have one designated thread for it, and any new ones could be locked/deleted? Would that work.

I didn't take offense at all Marty! I rather enjoy small debates and the points of view of other people. ;)

I think it is an excellent idea, but it was tried in the past and like I said - it failed.

I am actually wondering if we should maybe look at the possibility of a board unto itself, or perhaps a seperate board which we could link to for decadology itself. The underlying problem with that though is that some people who have been removed from our forum might see it as open permission to come back, which would not be the case. (And of course, a seperate board would have to be with the permission of ChuckyG)

I am going to split this topic because it has gone off course, and will move the discussion to the PPP.

I believe I once said something a long time ago about being annoyed--but I really don't know what I was thinking (was probably in a bad mood at the time or something) because I LOVE this kind of stuff now! :)

The biggest problem with the subject is that one particular individual who knew less than nothing about the subject, would start a dozen one line threads in a forum, and never really contribute much to them.  Banning said member doesn't seem to have driven them away and we're constantly removing topics once that member gets bored being a pest somewhere else and returns for a day or two.

While I think it might have it's place here, it's just too tempting for said member to think he's welcomed back or vindicated in some way.  That's why there isn't going to be another board or even a single thread about it. That member rendered the topic taboo due to his continued abuse of the boards.

Banning a subject matter on a site isn't unusual BTW.  I visit a couple of news aggregating type sites with discussion forums attached, and due to similar behavior around certain topics, they've had to shelve discussion completely lest chaos resume.  We lost several regular members due to the nonsense created around the subject, and I think revisiting it just isn't worth driving away more members.

The biggest problem with the subject is that one particular individual who knew less than nothing about the subject, would start a dozen one line threads in a forum, and never really contribute much to them.  Banning said member doesn't seem to have driven them away and we're constantly removing topics once that member gets bored being a pest somewhere else and returns for a day or two.

While I think it might have it's place here, it's just too tempting for said member to think he's welcomed back or vindicated in some way.  That's why there isn't going to be another board or even a single thread about it. That member rendered the topic taboo due to his continued abuse of the boards.

Banning a subject matter on a site isn't unusual BTW.  I visit a couple of news aggregating type sites with discussion forums attached, and due to similar behavior around certain topics, they've had to shelve discussion completely lest chaos resume.  We lost several regular members due to the nonsense created around the subject, and I think revisiting it just isn't worth driving away more members.


You said what I was pretty much trying to get at but couldn't find the words. ;)

You said what I was pretty much trying to get at but couldn't find the words. ;)


well, I did end up violating your no "past members" rule... unfortunately though, the reason this topic has to be off limits is precisely because of the actions of one individual.

well, I did end up violating your no "past members" rule... unfortunately though, the reason this topic has to be off limits is precisely because of the actions of one individual.


That's it Chucky! Now you will have to be flogged!!!! ;D

You are right though.

Something on my mind .. is Decadeology the actual term for discussing decades?  Cause everytime I hear that word, it reminds me of the former DD (Chucky already mentioned him, so why can't I? lol) and his spam days, and then I start losing my mind all over again lol

Discussing decades makes sense, but the way DD discussed it made no sense, and that's what killed it :(

Just a quick question - is analyzing things okay....such as technologies becoming more mainstream, the reason certain artists may have gotten more or less popular, or people's mindsets changing about something over time? That's usually the way I've always done it anyway.

If we're talking about one line topics like "Is 1991 the '80s", I can understand those being banned. Even I admit there got to be too many of those.

These threads might be no big deal NOW, but look at it from a future perspective.

As a parallel, I'd LOVE to read magazine articles from, say 1979 on what they thought music would be like in the '80s or any point down the road. A collection of peoples' thoughts at a given time is like a time capsule in a way, based on what already existed. Just personally I think it's cool to compare that to how it really happened. Same thing will eventually be true with right now.

I know not everyone likes anaylizing pop culture, but I do. No need to insult it.



Just for the record, I feel the same way about this. That's the main reason i like to look through the Usenet archives, to get a feel for the way people thought about things as they happened.

As far as the "decadeology' thing, I wouldn't consider it an obsession of mine, but it is something that I really do enjoy to discuss. But IMO, decadeology is more than just "was 1990 similar to 1626". That's a small part of it, but those discussions are usually about music, pop culture, technology, and much more.

Just a quick question - is analyzing things okay....such as technologies becoming more mainstream, the reason certain artists may have gotten more or less popular, or people's mindsets changing about something over time? That's usually the way I've always done it anyway.

If we're talking about one line topics like "Is 1991 the '80s", I can understand those being banned. Even I admit there got to be too many of those.


the first statement, that stuff is fine.  The later statement, no.  That stuff is definitely not allowed.  Is a song that came out in 1983 more of a 1981 song, etc.  No thanks.

But IMO, decadeology is more than just "was 1990 similar to 1626".

LOL @ 1626 http://www.pure80schat.co.uk/forum/Smileys/smilies_smf-2/2funny.gif

LOL @ 1626 http://www.pure80schat.co.uk/forum/Smileys/smilies_smf-2/2funny.gif



The sad thing is, there have been topics very similar to that before ;D

It all depends on what you mean by decadeology, like pop culture analysis is alright but when you get into that "is 1950 more like 2000 or 1900" (yes that has actually been posted before) that's a little idk weird? lol.