Thread: Best run board I've been on Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.


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Posted by orfeo (# 13878) on :
 
A bit of random reflection had me thinking, not for the first time, that Ship of Fools is the most effectively run message board I've ever been a regular member of.

So I thought it was about time to say it out loud. That's all, no other agenda. Thank you to those of you who have spent your time and effort building the Ship, and to those of you who spend your time and effort keeping it running so that folks like me can just wander in and post as the mood takes us. It's much appreciated.
 

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Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :
 
Ditto.

to H/As, techies, and everyone who made/makes the Ship what it is.
 

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Posted by Lyda*Rose (# 4544) on :
 
Agree!Agree!Agree! Thank you so much Simon and crew and all our talented volunteers!

And with that in mind, if ya'll have a few bucks/quid/shekels to spare, please throw the Ship's Floating Fund a bone. If as many of us as can manage it, do so, it would take a load off Simon and company. I consider it as I would paying for a news subscription that I read every day. And it pretty much is for me. And much more intelligent than most.

I realize times are tight and if you can't, you can't. And I don't begrudge anyone enjoying this place gratis. But, say, if you could afford even a ten-spot, please consider it.

A Message from the Ship's One Person PAC, unrequested by the PTB.
 

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Posted by Patdys (# 9397) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Lyda*Rose:
A Message from the Ship's One Person PAC, unrequested by the PTB.

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Very nicely done.
Your cat, sans the ear you have already received by mail, will be left at the townsquare at 8 am next Tuesday.

And my thanks to the mafi...ptb as well.
 

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Posted by M. (# 3291) on :
 
My thanks to the PTB as well.

I have got so much from the Ship over the years and continue to do so.

Thanks.

M.
 

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Posted by Anselmina (# 3032) on :
 
to Simon and the Ship - and the much missed Erin. A great place to remain on one's spiritual toes!
 

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Posted by The Silent Acolyte (# 1158) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by orfeo:
...Ship of Fools is the most effectively run message board I've ever been a regular member of.

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Oh. You mean there are other boards?
 

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Posted by Freddy (# 365) on :
 
I agree. The layout and management is brilliant!
 

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Posted by mousethief (# 953) on :
 
Orfeo, I had no idea you wanted to be a host!
 

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Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 
You can only be a Host if you get slapped on the head by a flying fish as you lean over the ship's bows on a clear, moonlit night. But whether or not that ever happens to Orfeo, I agree with him. (And I'd say that regardless of whether I was a host.)
 

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Posted by Sioni Sais (# 5713) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by The Silent Acolyte:

quote:

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Originally posted by orfeo:
...Ship of Fools is the most effectively run message board I've ever been a regular member of.

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Oh. You mean there are other boards?

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quote:

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Originally posted by Chorister:
You can only be a Host if you get slapped on the head by a flying fish as you lean over the ship's bows on a clear, moonlit night. But whether or not that ever happens to Orfeo, I agree with him. (And I'd say that regardless of whether I was a host.)

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quote:

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Originally posted by Sioni Sais:
Same here. Not only is it brilliantly hosted and run but the structure is excellent. Most boards need heavy moderation. The Ship has Hell, by convention the 'If-you've-got-something-personal-post-it-here' board, which by general off-Ship consent is one of the finest ideas ever implemented anywhere on t'interweb.

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quote:

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Originally posted by mousethief:
Orfeo, I had no idea you wanted to be a host!

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quote:

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Originally posted by Huia:
Ahem -- excuse my ignorance, but for the purposes of making a donation des a debit card behave the same way as a credit card?

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quote:

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Originally posted by orfeo:
A bit of random reflection had me thinking, not for the first time, that Ship of Fools is the most effectively run message board I've ever been a regular member of.

So I thought it was about time to say it out loud. That's all, no other agenda. Thank you to those of you who have spent your time and effort building the Ship, and to those of you who spend your time and effort keeping it running so that folks like me can just wander in and post as the mood takes us. It's much appreciated.

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Hear, hear!
 

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Posted by Huia (# 3473) on :
 
Yay! A small donation in NZ dollars (and probably miniscule when translated to pounds, or euros) has successfully been made - thanks to the advice given above.

I am (in Pete's term) a technopeasant, but it's good to learn new things and as it's so easy I will repeat the exercise in the not too distant future.

Oh yeah, and what everone else said about the Ship being well set out, sensibly moderated etc, with an additional vote for the brilliance of Hell
 

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Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by orfeo:

quote:

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Originally posted by mousethief:
Orfeo, I had no idea you wanted to be a host!

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I'm preparing for a run at getting the position when I retire from full-time work in about 30 years.

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quote:

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Originally posted by orfeo:
Absolutely. Dare I say it...

Hell is the Ship's greatest invention.

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Credit due: the way I heard it, the idea for Hell was proposed by one of the Admins (Laura?) based on a similar designated bitchfest area in the "Straight Dope" message boards. I think theirs is called "The Boiler Room. " Our name is cooler.

Orfeo, son, I can see you being a doggone fine host, with that thirty years of grooming.
 

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Posted by churchgeek (# 5557) on :
 
Great thread!

Yes, the Ship is the best web forum out there. As others have said, it's really well laid out (and aesthetically pleasing). It's brilliantly conceived, and really well-run. And the community is also to be commended! Discussions in this forum run at lightning speed compared with others I've been on, and the people here are - for the most part - polite, interesting, and thoughtful. I also appreciate that the Ship's hosts, admins, and community also tolerate people's humanity (honest mistakes and sins) quite a bit.

Other boards should use this as a model.
 

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Posted by QLib (# 43) on :
 
Yes, I don't get how the layout is so good, when apparently the software is nothing special and has been around for yonks. Why are other boards so much less easy to follow - too many bells and whistles, perhaps? The triumph of style over substance.
 

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Posted by Spike (# 36) on :
 
Well, we're Anglicans. We've always done it this way
 

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Posted by Horseman Bree (# 5290) on :
 
That is the point of the Ship, innit? The discussion matters more than the technobells & whistles
 

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Posted by Hedgehog (# 14125) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by ecumaniac:
This is probably a good time to encourage people to participate in the "tradition" of making a donation to the Ship on the anniversary of one's joining date.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Kelly Alves:
Our name is cooler.

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Definitely. The whole Heaven-Purgatory-Hell thing makes it.

Oh, and thanks for the vote of confidence in my 30-year potential!
 

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Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Kelly Alves:

quote:

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Originally posted by orfeo:
Absolutely. Dare I say it...

Hell is the Ship's greatest invention.

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Credit due: the way I heard it, the idea for Hell was proposed by one of the Admins (Laura?) based on a similar designated bitchfest area in the "Straight Dope" message boards. I think theirs is called "The Boiler Room. " Our name is cooler.

Orfeo, son, I can see you being a doggone fine host, with that thirty years of grooming.

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I thought it was Erin and David who came up with the idea of the Hell Board. But one of the longer serving Admins would have to confirm.

Tubbs
 

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Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
I think the Straight Dope's "BBQ Pit" predates Hell, and I recall Erin saying that it formed part of the inspiration for Hell.

I've always loved how both places are needed on sites that face people's popular misconceptions. Though I do envy TSD being able to nail the truth in most of their subject material.
 

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Posted by EJ. (# 9063) on :
 
Dead Horses is a brilliant invention, too. It filters out the gay/abortion -threads that generate enough light and heat to power a city from the general discussion: but it also gives me the chance to indulge in them in case I feel like doing so.
 

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Posted by guinness girl (# 4391) on :
 
Just want to add my voice to the chorus and say that the Ship is, without a doubt, the best message board I currently visit or have visited in the past. It's well moderated, has truly enlightening and intelligent discussions, and visually provides welcome relief from the migraine-inducing format some other forums use. HURRAH for not having animated gifs or pictures in posts or sigs
 

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Posted by LeRoc (# 3216) on :
 

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Lyda*Rose: And with that in mind, if ya'll have a few bucks/quid/shekels to spare, please throw the Ship's Floating Fund a bone.

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LOL, you can forget about shekels, it won't even accept euro's!

But I'll put in a couple of pounds.
 

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Posted by Robert Armin (# 182) on :
 
Of course it won't accept euros - this is a Christian website after all!
 

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Posted by jbohn (# 8753) on :
 
What the OP said. Thanks to everyone who works so hard to keep the Ship afloat, and to everyone who makes it worth reading and posting.
 

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Posted by Quizmaster (# 1435) on :
 
I still recommend this forum to all those I meet who need an outlet for their own heretical thoughts.

It is, without a doubt, the best run forum ever, and that is down to the dedication of all those who value this place highly.

I did enjoy it more when contributors were slapped and banned regularly but that is just the anarchist in me coming out.

Keep up the excellent work so that each generation can find the sanctuary outside the formal church that all of us here need.

N.B. I attended a conference on Friday where the church leaders are trying to move from "Turn up, pay up and shut up" to a more enlightened church but they found, as we do here, that you cannot keep everyone happy. We all need different things.
 

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Posted by Lyda*Rose (# 4544) on :
 
Quizmaster:

quote:

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I did enjoy it more when contributors were slapped and banned regularly but that is just the anarchist in me coming out.

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Yeah, unfortunately when you do too much banning of the annoying sorts, you wind up with too many people sitting about saying, "I agree, I agree, I agree!" Boring.

We need some chew toys in this kennel after all.
 

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Posted by Tea gnome (# 9424) on :
 
As well as the straightforward Organ Fund, you can also buy mugs and postcards. My lovely shiney new IITWACW mug has just arrived and is waiting for me to put the kettle on. Thank you CK
 

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Posted by Robert Armin (# 182) on :
 
Did the Ship close earlier on today for maintenance? I couldn't get on, and got a message saying maintenance was taking place, but normally these things are well signposted. Since other sites were also unavailable I wonder if my server was at fault.
 

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Posted by ElaineC (# 12244) on :
 
I got the 'closed' message for the Ship too.
 

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Posted by RooK (# 1852) on :
 
We are experiencing some persistent indexing problems, so are needing some unscheduled maintenance. Brace for rough seas.
 

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Posted by Lynn MagdalenCollege (# 10651) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by RooK:
We are experiencing some persistent indexing problems, so are needing some unscheduled maintenance. Brace for rough seas.

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I was told by a Scotsman that's Scottish foreplay: "Brace y'self, lassie!" Of course, I wouldn't know and will respectfully bow to others with experience.
 

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Posted by pimple (# 10635) on :
 
Ah - serendipity! I came here to ask about the maintenance too, but saw the plaudits and wanted to add mine. Now both needs are satisfied. (I thought it was something I said -now I'm miffed to find I'm not that important )
 

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Posted by Lynn MagdalenCollege (# 10651) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by RooK:
We are experiencing some persistent indexing problems, so are needing some unscheduled maintenance. Brace for rough seas.

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I was told by a Scotsman that's Scottish foreplay: "Brace y'self, lassie!" Of course, I wouldn't know and will respectfully bow to others with experience.
 

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Posted by Mrs Shrew (# 8635) on :
 
A little late to this, but can I add my thanks to all who work so hard to keep the Ship running. I may not post much, but I read a lot and this place is very important to me.

So thankyou all for your hard work and dedication.
 

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Posted by Gee D (# 13815) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Mrs Shrew:
A little late to this, but can I add my thanks to all who work so hard to keep the Ship running. I may not post much, but I read a lot and this place is very important to me.

So thankyou all for your hard work and dedication.

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