Stop IMO ?

Originally Posted by katl8e

I'm going to commit a faux pas and make a confession: I have interests, OTHER than cats.

Yes, I initially came here, because I like cats but, I've stayed here because I can talk to people about other things, too. I can't argue politics, with Bill because we agree on almost everything. It does no good, to share funny kitty stories, with him - he sees all of this stuff firsthand. My best friend lives 70 miles away, does not have a computer and we play phone tag. This is where I come, to exercise my mind or indulge in other people"s stories.

If you don't like other people's expressing their opinions or have none of your own, don't visit IMO.

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Me too........I think IMO should be kept....please

I understand where You are coming from BaileySidney ..... Sometimes, it does get a little hairy in here. That is where the most excellent group of IMO mods around comes in and stops it before it goes any further.

Keep IMO!!! There is more to life that the health and welfare of our furkids! If I focused on just my boys, I would be an extremely boring person (In My Own Opinion)

In all the threads I've followed, no one has gotten violent or hate-filled. We have gotten persistant and enflamed, but I can also say most of us respect each other too much to become hate filled.

Humans will always have different opinions. That is why staying out of a hermit's cave is so interesting.

Sandy

One more point. There is always THREE sides to every issue, your side, their side and then there is the truth. With a multitude of input, everyone has a chance to hear all sides and make their own decisions.

I say keep IMO. I think it was a terrific idea of Anne's to set up this forum, because it gives us a very educational platform to not only express our personal views, but to hear others' (and perhaps revise our own). Let me put it this way: most of my family and friends have opinions similar to my own, and here I can often see what "the other side" thinks. Many people here have had experiences that I never have had, e.g., I was never a soldier, and there are some veterans here, I have no children, and we have many parents here. I've also used it several times to sound out other people about my own actions or assumptions when I've been very uncertain of following the right course. Those people it upsets are not compelled to read any posts here. I don't visit the Breeders' Corner because I'm not interested in breeding cats, so I don't think it should be removed simply because a few people who are very sensitive can't seem to avoid peeking at the posts.

I also would say keep IMO. I don't post in it very often, but I think it gives us a chance to learn about other issues that are going on in the world. I don't understand alot about politics, so I would NEVER post about them, but I have leanred a thing or 2 by visiting IMO. Let's not forget that the name of that particular section is In My Opinion. Everyone is entitled to have their own say, and I personally love having a place that I can come to and discuss my cat, or anything else that's on my mind with a group of wonderful people. I think the Mods do a great job at keeping the other areas of the boards clear of debates, and in my opinion people who choose not to be apart of that section should just ignore it......

I try to stay out of here and not comment, however now and again a comment comes up and i feel compelled to write.
There are certain issues here that have truly upset me, to the point where i feel i have to physically turn off the computer to avoid confrontation.
This is a cat site, and lurking as much as i do i do get a 'feel' for some of the regulars.
Wherever issues about politics, religion and morals come up i appreciate that there are bound to be differences in opinion. However some insensitivity does put me off coming here, when i really need it re. the cats.

Saying that, i do agree that IMO is a good idea- we do have interests other than cats. Just like to make a little reminder that this is the world wide web and do remember that people from all walks of life CAN and DO read.
Ok rant over

We all enjoy talking about cats, BUT that's not the only thing we enjoy talking about. That's why we have the Lounge also. This board is a good way to get to know people better, You get to see how they think and feel. Atleast I do. I may not speak up to often on here but I do read most of the posts. And many a times Have changed my thought process in certain subjects. It's an educational, and entertaining at time. so I say KEEP IT

This thread is really more of a Feedback topic, so I'm moving it there.

Originally posted by Bailysidney11
I'm afraid that this site may become like another that was vicious and hate filled.

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That other site was either moderated very poorly or not at all. TCS will never get like that!

It comes down to choice. I rarely go to "Crossing the Bridge" because it's depressing; but I don't ask it to be removed from TCS.

Originally Posted by Baileysidney11

Why have IMO in a cat web site anyway.?

Let's stick to cats and avoid world situations. There's enough strife without adding more to a cat web site. People can always read/watch the news to get upset. Why not discontinue IMO. What do people think about this idea? IMO end it.

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I think this is a legitimate concern - thank you for raising it. Like others have posted here, IMO was created for those in our community who are looking for that extra forum where they can talk world affairs and carry out "heavier" discussions. The sticky at the top of the forum which explains the rules of IMO clearly states that some members may opt to avoid this forum - we figured that it might not be agreeable to some people and that's ok.

IMO is really an extension of the lounge. Just like the "New Cats" forum, it's a place that serves a need for a community that forms here. Community members gather here because they are all cat lovers - but the community itself evolves into something more than just cats.

Hope I'm making sense here.

Originally Posted by yayi

It comes down to choice. I rarely go to "Crossing the Bridge" because it's depressing; but I don't ask it to be removed from TCS.

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I totally agree, if you don't want to read it, then don't. I also don't go in to "Crossing the Bridge" because if I do, I won't ever be able to stop crying. I like IMO, it keeps me in touch with what is happening outside of my city, there are things in there that I would have never known about if I didn't read it. Yes there are sometimes when I avoid it all together, but there are so many of us on here, we can't expect to all have the same opinion. And I am sure we all try to respect everyone elses opinions. Although I know if one or two people have a different opinion then the rest, it could seem like they are being singled out and ragged on. I am sorry if this happens, but we should all try to keep everything in line!

And with that, I wish everyone a good night (or day) lol!

I can see your point, baileysidney. Sometimes it seems like a lot of people get their feelings hurt here. But I really enjoy reading everyone's opinions. And I have posted on sites before that censor anything said that is slightly less than positive, and that is SO annyoing. Those places make me feel like I am in Donna Reed's house circa 1955.

So I was pretty impressed by the IMO forum when I first started posting/lurking on TCS -- though I must admit I don't post much for fear of being attacked.

Aqua

I like IMO , it adds a nice demention to the forums that set it apart from other sites ,

just my IMO

Originally Posted by Anne

I think this is a legitimate concern - thank you for raising it. Like others have posted here, IMO was created for those in our community who are looking for that extra forum where they can talk world affairs and carry out "heavier" discussions. The sticky at the top of the forum which explains the rules of IMO clearly states that some members may opt to avoid this forum - we figured that it might not be agreeable to some people and that's ok.

IMO is really an extension of the lounge. Just like the "New Cats" forum, it's a place that serves a need for a community that forms here. Community members gather here because they are all cat lovers - but the community itself evolves into something more than just cats.

Hope I'm making sense here.

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Last fall, on a health site, me and a guy who was clearly a Yankee fan started talking about the baseball playoffs, in one single clearly labeled thread on the forum, which did not have an off-topic section. We even had Boston fans posting civilly with us. You would have thought we set off Armageddon, based on how a few posters reacted. The next day, they set up a 'Conversations' sub-forum, which now ironically gets more posts in it than any of the other forums much of the time. The more time people 'spend' with each other, the more likely it is that other topics off the main one will come up.

Groups of people come together because of a common interest, but that doesn't mean that's the only thing they ever want to talk about.

As others have said, it's good to have the opportunity to discuss other things with the people we meet here because of our common interest -- emphasis on "opportunity" -- there is no obligation to visit any forum that's not of interest or that is upsetting for any reason. When my favourite radio station turns to jazz at 10 in the evening, I don't ask them not to run that program, I turn my radio off and do something else.

Keep IMO -- please.

Controversy will always exist....discussions of varying opinions will continue to find their way into any message board. I'm glad that these discussions are encouraged to occur in a separate forum....I tend not to visit the IMO section all that often but do find that people are for the most part quite civil there.

Katie

IMO and the cat lounge are the 2 places I visit here. I like the cat-related talk in the lounge, and sharing other events in our lives. I also like to get political, and hear other people's opinions on world events. IMO is also a good source of news. It's nice to be able to post my thoughts and know that if someone doesn't agree, they'll say so, but in a nice way. It's a good way to get to the other side of an issue.

Definately keep IMO around, it's great to have a place where people can disagree and still be civil. Besides as much as I love my cats, it's nice to talk about other issues with the people on the board, makes them more than one deminsional characters.