Despite Mike's best intentions, this thread jumped the shark long ago and should be put out of its misery soon. GCA.com, on the other hand, has not jumped the shark in my opinion. But I guess it is inevitable that a bunch of guys who admire old golf courses will occasionally yearn for days gone past.
Like much else, the quality of this discussion bd. ebs and flows. Might have something to do with the weather. Anyone feel like going back over the old posts to check what time of year the regulars start griping about what's happened to the website? Could it correspond to the long winter?
Some other thoughts which apply to me as much as anyone else. . . .
-- Ran didnt start this site so he could babysit us. We are capable of taking care of ourselves, arent we? Sure complete jerks and flamers roll in, but they usually roll out if ignored. Most of us are adults, we need to start acting like it.
-- I strongly disagree that we have talked about everything there is to talk about. Sure certain topics recycle as new people come, but we have barely scratched the surface on many other topics. If there is a problem with repitition, it may be that too many of us seem to have axes to grind and we grind them with every stone.
-- Further, many of us could use to be less dogmatic. How many of us have ever allowed ourselves to be convinced of anything? Would it be so bad if we occasionally learned something from someone else, and admitted it?
-- Who cares if GCA.com has influenced golf architecture. I come here to learn, not to teach.
-- Splitting the site is a really bad idea. Unlike certain segments of the golf world, we can all get in the door here, and I think that is a good thing. How we perform once were is a reflection on us.
-- Plus, splitting the site wouldnt really solve much. Most of the issues which have arisen are between and among regulars. Unless someone is planning to kick out about 4/5 of the regular contributors, any closed site will likely experience some of the same problems.
-- Off topic threads happen. Ignore them if you arent interested or ignore them because, generally, you dont like them.
-- That being said, we all should show a little restraint regarding tangents and off topic threads. Like it or not, Ran started this site to discuss golf course architecture. If you want a general conversation thread or just a golf thread, start your own.
So what if there isnt a great way to stop off topic posts . . . this isnt license to completely ignore the focus of the website. Exercize a little self regulation.
-- This goes for posts within threads, as well. Topic changes, the back and forth of personal jokes or even excessive pleasantries tend to bog down threads and make them less enjoyable for all but those posting and sometimes the few they are talking to. And if we dont really have something to say, show a little restraint. And if one of us has half the posts on a thread, that person is posting too much.
-- I agree that this is no place for personal attacks. Dont name call, dont bring up inappropriate and off-topic gossip, dont hold everything against everyone forever, etc.
Moreover, it would be nice if we didnt always assume the worst motive, and if we didnt always push the same old agenda. If you dont agree with someone regarding gca, take on their specific views and demonstrate how they are mistaken. Dont just throw stones from a distance without ever actually taking on anything said.
-- On the other side of the coin, I think that we should all step back and think about what is a personal attack and what isnt. More and more, people are mischaracterizing honest criticism as personal attack. (See the reaction to Geoff S.'s comments in one of the Riviera threads.) Challenging someone's views (or course) is not a personal attack, even if you do it by name. Disagreeing in no uncertain terms with something someone posted is not a personal attack. Lighten up and try to have a little thicker skin.
And if you dont want your views challenged, dont post them. If you cant handle frank and open discussion, go somewhere else or start your own website. It is not personal, only gca.
-- We could all be nicer to new posters. It is pretty intimidating to come into this environment and new people sometimes make mistakes. They make mistakes, be we could all cut them a little slack because they may have something to contribute.
Just ramblings. Take them as you will.