Doesn't the Backroom usually close around this time of year

Well?

Indeed, it being open is no less than a WAR ON CHRISTMAS

Ahhhh so that's what it is.

I suddenly wondered where'd the link on the page had vanished to....

Yes, peace on earth goodwill toward men.

I thought I'd been banned again.

I guess that just goes to show how low my expectations are.

Originally Posted by Subotan

I thought I'd been banned again.

I guess that just goes to show how low my expectations are.

If the Germans and British could be friends for one day during WWI, then I think the Mods and EB Tavern can as well. Merry Christmas to all!

Originally Posted by TinCow

If the Germans and British could be friends for one day during WWI, then I think the Mods and EB Tavern can as well. Merry Christmas to all!

Merry Christmas!
*goes to tavern to get a beer*

Originally Posted by TinCow

If the Germans and British could be friends for one day during WWI

Best christmas story ever, the worst as well.

Originally Posted by Hosakawa Tito

Yes, peace on earth goodwill toward men.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Merry Christmas.

I got a watch and a ukelele.

Originally Posted by Subotan

Merry Christmas.

I got a watch and a ukelele.

Shirts and a Kindle.

it didnt close last year. this is strange.

Originally Posted by Hooahguy

it didnt close last year. this is strange.

It didn't? I thought it did last year.

Originally Posted by Csargo

It didn't? I thought it did last year.

It did. It's closed every year since I've been a member.

Aww, I was just gonna post a story about the pope being assaulted in there too



Merry xmas btw!

Still, its curious that the Backroom closes at a Christian holiday.

It could be interpreted as rascism or descrimination by some people.

Originally Posted by Jolt

It could be interpreted as rascism or descrimination by some people.

Backroom topic, ironically. Still, it can't be racism, it doesn't even come close to fitting the definition.

Originally Posted by Evil_Maniac From Mars

Backroom topic, ironically. Still, it can't be racism, it doesn't even come close to fitting the definition.

Indeed, not that I as an educated Judeo-Christian European Westerner have much to oppose that our holidays and culture be forced upon everyone else. But it is rather curious to see something as potentially discriminatory as this being a regular practice.

Originally Posted by Jolt

But it is rather curious to see something as potentially discriminatory as this being a regular practice.

Everything is potentially discriminatory, better to just relax and let the mods handle it.

I'm with Jolt here. If people don't wanna talk about politics and whatnot and want to celebrate peace on earth instead then just don't go to the backroom. No need to enforce it on the rest of us. It's an international forum after all.

Originally Posted by Jolt

Indeed, not that I as an educated Judeo-Christian European Westerner have much to oppose that our holidays and culture be forced upon everyone else. But it is rather curious to see something as potentially discriminatory as this being a regular practice.

at some point in ones life, you have to stop worrying perpetually that every minutae of your conduct might be deemed offensive to some other unknown person. it really doesn't matter that much.

and more to the point, i am unwilling to waste my time on a person who has such a fragile psychological makeup as to require absolute deference to his or her insecurities.

and someone who has got nothing more important to achieve than to incessently worry about pleasing other people really needs to find a hobby......... before they suffer a mental breakdown.

it is called integration.

merry xmas. *











* from a non-christian

Originally Posted by Sarmatian

I'm with Jolt here. If people don't wanna talk about politics and whatnot and want to celebrate peace on earth instead then just don't go to the backroom. No need to enforce it on the rest of us. It's an international forum after all.

Think of it this way: it gives the backroom Moderator Staff a short break from having to read every sentence of every post of every thread - and dousing any flame wars that erupt. Sort of a "backroomer's gift to staff", who otherwise are on duty 360 days per year.

The first year it was closed (6-7 years ago), an informal survey of the regular posters had been conducted, and an overwhelming majority of the respondents were in favor of a short end-of-year break in "hostilities". This is in the days before a "Frontroom" or "Gameroom" existed. Regular backroomers migrated to the Entrance Hall during the break, and greeted newbies and each other for the few days the Tavern was closed.

"Enforcing peace" is a kind of funny concept, but I guess it is tried from time to time. I suppose a break could be had in July, instead of December. But about half of org membership is students, who also get breaks at year-end and often travel home to be (peacefully) with family, rather then with this internet group.

Overall, I'm in favor of a short year-end break from news-related discussions. Mind you: Like many backroom regulars, I'm drawn to them like a moth to a flame... but I can do without for a few days, freeing up my mind to focus on rl friends and family.

Originally Posted by Furunculus

at some point in ones life, you have to stop worrying perpetually that every minutae of your conduct might be deemed offensive to some other unknown person. it really doesn't matter that much.

and more to the point, i am unwilling to waste my time on a person who has such a fragile psychological makeup as to require absolute deference to his or her insecurities.

and someone who has got nothing more important to achieve than to incessently worry about pleasing other people really needs to find a hobby......... before they suffer a mental breakdown.

it is called integration.

Amen!

Originally Posted by KukriKhan

Think of it this way: it gives the backroom Moderator Staff a short break from having to read every sentence of every post of every thread - and dousing any flame wars that erupt. Sort of a "backroomer's gift to staff", who otherwise are on duty 360 days per year.

The first year it was closed (6-7 years ago), an informal survey of the regular posters had been conducted, and an overwhelming majority of the respondents were in favor of a short end-of-year break in "hostilities". This is in the days before a "Frontroom" or "Gameroom" existed. Regular backroomers migrated to the Entrance Hall during the break, and greeted newbies and each other for the few days the Tavern was closed.

"Enforcing peace" is a kind of funny concept, but I guess it is tried from time to time. I suppose a break could be had in July, instead of December. But about half of org membership is students, who also get breaks at year-end and often travel home to be (peacefully) with family, rather then with this internet group.

Overall, I'm in favor of a short year-end break from news-related discussions. Mind you: Like many backroom regulars, I'm drawn to them like a moth to a flame... but I can do without for a few days, freeing up my mind to focus on rl friends and family.

I'm hardly gonna start a revolution because of this, I don't mind a few days break, it's just that this is an international forum involving people of all races, religions and personal beliefs so I don't see the need to close the backroom on a Christian holiday. Not that I mind so much, it's just that I think the reason's not good enough.

Merry Christmas everybody...

Originally Posted by Sarmatian

I'm hardly gonna start a revolution because of this, I don't mind a few days break, it's just that this is an international forum involving people of all races, religions and personal beliefs so I don't see the need to close the backroom on a Christian holiday. Not that I mind so much, it's just that I think the reason's not good enough.

It's not a celebration of a Christian holiday, it's a celebration of the Christmas Truce. I know that's a fine line, but on a purely objective level the Backroom is closed because of an incident during WWI, not because of a Christian holiday.

It is indeed the Christmas truce.

It is where me and EMFM stop strangling and killing eachother, while I fight for freedom and he fights for his Kaiser. We decide on to do a Christmas truce to have a game of Football.

Unfortunately, it ends up a repeat of 1966 World Cup game where I get the win, and it is highly contested, so me and EMFM start fighting again afterwards with a renewed vigor.

Originally Posted by Furunculus

at some point in ones life, you have to stop worrying perpetually that every minutae of your conduct might be deemed offensive to some other unknown person. it really doesn't matter that much.

and more to the point, i am unwilling to waste my time on a person who has such a fragile psychological makeup as to require absolute deference to his or her insecurities.

and someone who has got nothing more important to achieve than to incessently worry about pleasing other people really needs to find a hobby......... before they suffer a mental breakdown.

it is called integration.

merry xmas. *

* from a non-christian

I am a non-christian myself. I meant mine (And quite probably yours) education has been under the Judeo-Christian ideals and norms. But you won't see me contest the decision in any case. I just found it curious.

Consider it a short moderator mental health & attitude vacation. You wouldn't want us to become disgruntled would you?

This really should be a non issue. Please go find something more important to complain about.

Originally Posted by Csargo

It didn't? I thought it did last year.

hmmm. im pretty sure it wasnt, because Operation Cast Lead started around that time and oh boy were we at it, including over christmas. or maybe it was closed down, and i just dont remember.