About the situation on the EB forums as of late

[Krusader]

Please explain this part.
Do you mean we're xenophobe or something?

Let me quote Macilrille and notice the bold part:

And I fear this thread is going to deteriorate and get locked unless we control ourselves, so let us please.

For that is in fact what this question is about. The number of locked threads the past month and a half, do they always rise in summer? Is this like the press that has nothing worthwhile to report in summer and thus goes into trivialities?

I am thinking we should discuss history and EB. Tactics, development, etc. Instead two out of three Roman threads gets locked in a week (and one even from a nice noob that asked for advice and has now disappeared- discouraged?). A thread on some troll in some other forum? Personal attacks and flaming in Hellene Warfare threads?

WTF? Does this happen every summer or?

I would like to know why, but I would also like it if we all took a deep breath and calmed down a bit. Perhaps some introspection and restraint is in order?

That's the main reason. Forums like the ORG are supposed to be open for all to partake in discussion. If people feel they have to be part of a certain group (in this case the anti-Roman League) on a forum it will most often than not discourage them from posting, as they don't know if it will be answered or ridiculed. Others again just plainly won't like the tone of some posts and wonder if Europa Barbarorum loathes the Romans, because a few members run around yelling "Roman barbarians murdering cultures" and whatnot.

Another thing is that we EB members have other hobbies or games we like too and that means we do visit other forums.
As a personal example, that should illustrate it nicely, I'm a Battletech nut, which people who know Battletech would have recognized by now. Ever since I was a kid, seeing a 100-ton mech brimmed with weapons would bring a smile to my face.
Anywho, I've frequented the official Battletech forums...I don't do so anymore. Its filled with utterly strange people who take over most threads and have their own feuds, factions, internal rules, ranks etc. and if you post there it is most often ignored or you won't get a good discussion going before its derailed. And said members have access to fanservice/catgirl avatars that no one has, and which "cheapens" the Battletech forums...imagine EB making sig banners with scanty-clad anime/Lara Croft comic girls next to faction symbols.
The point? I didn't feel like I fit in at the Battletech forums and from talking to other fans I'm not the only one it seems.

Editted slightly.

[Skullheadhq]

Oh, didn't know that. We at the Romaioktonoi are not an exclusive, elite club. Everybody can join, and write his poems (nothing more hellenistic then poems ;), nevermind) and I'm sorry if some people feel like they are not part of it. As it isn't the purpose of the Romaioktonioi. Everyone that feels like they are not part of the Rhomaioktonoi, join us, it's great!

...imagine EB making sig banners with scanty-clad women next to faction symbols.

O, would you do that for us? Oh that would be SO great! I would love to see that in the next preview

[oudysseos]

....Whatever.

[Moros]

Oh, didn't know that. We at the Romaioktonoi are not an exclusive, elite club. Everybody can join, and write his poems (nothing more hellenistic then poems ;), nevermind) and I'm sorry if some people feel like they are not part of it. As it isn't the purpose of the Romaioktonioi. Everyone that feels like they are not part of the Rhomaioktonoi, join us, it's great!

While I could imagine something like this could be fun in one AAR. Remember the wastelands? That was one funny AAR. But if we'd take the jokes from that AAR and keep reusing them at every possible occasion. Well that would be the end of it. Currently it used as an excuse or an inspiration for derailing threads, or just spam. It's not just that it isn't funny anymore, it's rather annoying. Especially for those who could spend more time working on EB, instead of deleting spam.
Note of course it's not just the Romaioktonoi. But it is part of it. And we don't mind the occasional off topic thread, or the occasional thread that goes off topic. But the conversation has to make sense, and not be a random collection of one sentence posts. I remember we had a beer thread long, long ago. While it wasn't about EB, the conversation was interesting. Noone had a problem with it. Then again it was also one of the very few off topic threads.
We can also understand that you guys can't talk about EB 24/7. But you have the tavern social group and of course the other sub forums as well here. And not to forget that there's a pm system and profile pages. All accessable by you and the freinds you made here. Personally I've posted off topic posts as well, my contributions usually don't have several paragraphs either,... But we ain't expecting you guys to post academic papers only. No, just keep it friendly, let's try to keep on topic most of the time, and let us have a decent standard level of conversation. Let's stop the in before the lock, useless spam (that gets deleted anyway) and were all happy.

I just can't see why anyone wants to risk a temporary or indefinate ban from the forum, just for some plain sillyness?