The Word Association Game is a perfect example of how many/most conversations go - for a while the series goes as I would expect -
one, two, three, four - and then the next person will add something that is a bit of a surprise, but still logical - four, squares, rectangles, triangles -
then once in a while someone throws in a word that I am unable to see any connection at all to the previous words - triangles, spaghetti
that is how most conversations go - they wander from topic to topic - so I don't think that inadvertent hijacking should be considered a major "offense"
I feel that "negativity" is blowing someone off when they are in distress or not allowing a place to come to for comfort.
Some of us are new and/or don't have anyone that will listen/read about our problems/challenges/losses/etc. I have NEVER felt that bad/sad news was inappropriate in the GCC section.
Although I am still surprised/puzzled by where it seems to be a no-no to REQUEST prayers, but okay to have prayers OFFERED. I personally have no issues/problems with either. Just don't say that only a certain sect/synod/parish of a certain "faith/belief system " is acceptable/unacceptable.
Another thought - instead of the Personal Announcement section - change it to "Lamentations" and everything that could be construed as a "downer" could go there. I really have learned a lot from some of the responses to some of the postings from so-called "negative" events. Usually the responses are so kind, and I've felt uplifted by the "positive" responses.
Then everything else could get dumped back into the GCC section.
It seems to me that things go in cycles - look at the TV programming as an example - we used to have many Westerns, then the Leave it to Beaver type Shows, then the Marcus Welby doctor shows - we NEVER saw blood and gore on those shows - now we are flooded with "reality" shows and gore - CSI and other forensic type and ER medical type shows. It seems we are kind of heading back to variety shows - so maybe the "humor" is just a phase that the board is going through???
As far as humor goes, I have never seen/read anything that even comes close to the raunchiness of some of the TV shows - Two and a Half Men being an example that comes to mind. And that is a major network show that airs relatively early in the evening.
I think that accurate headings might be a step in the right direction. and that the moderators could be enabled to put a subheading in if necessary - but I don't know the mechanics of this so I don't know if that's possible- maybe the only options are leave a posting or delete it?
I don't much like the idea of someone else being able to edit one my postings, either.