Polk's Birthday bash Thread

Patch wrote:Well we could all go hang out here.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/26/haunting-ground

Livefyre comment system. Dead thread with not a single comment and a fitting name. I just made an account and added the first comment. The site does lots of geek tv reviews along side the video games so there is some stuff we might like checking out.

Bookmark it and come on over if you like the idea

This is interesting as well.  You don't have to be in the haunt to see whats happening there. At least that's what I took form a quick glance
http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/09/17/comment-notifications-are-coming-to-ign

I'll check it when iI get home. Because at this point fuck Luke. I guess I'm going all Tupper Adam on him.

Well we could all go hang out here.

http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/26/haunting-ground

Livefyre comment system. Dead thread with not a single comment and a fitting name. I just made an account and added the first comment. The site does lots of geek tv reviews along side the video games so there is some stuff we might like checking out.

Bookmark it and come on over if you like the idea

This is interesting as well. You don't have to be in the haunt to see whats happening there. At least that's what I took form a quick glance
http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/09/17/comment-notifications-are-coming-to-ign

rkwsuperstar wrote:

He used to praise "us" (us=all commenters) for the high number of comments on a post.  Even something that wasn't very interesting might generate a lot of conversation.  Now, the comments reach...20?  How is that a good thing for him or his company?

Clearly he has forgotten that Polk was the reason the weekend Haunt became a hangout, that generated thousands of comments and had people hanging out on TR for hours each week, rather than stopping by, reading the headlines and moving on.
I get that Luke didn't have a choice in the matter, and FB sucking is not his fault, but still you would think he avoid throwing a long time reader under the bus, if that was his intention. Text doesn't transmit humor, sarcasm or feeling very well.

Maybe we are all wrong and the change is hundred times better for him, even if it doesn't seem to be to us. If so best of luck to him.

rkwsuperstar wrote:

James.k.Polk wrote:

rkwsuperstar wrote:

NebulaJack wrote:

Patch wrote:Facebook killed my account. So no more TR Haunt, or Robot's voice (that sounds weird) for me. I think all of you with the exception of Kegs, who rightfully, refuses to FB, have my real account.

I thought about setting up another but if we are getting a Robot's voice (still weird) forum, I guess I'll wait until then.

I seem to be visiting the site less and less since the name change. From time to time I'll realize it's been days and days since my last visit, and I might still shrug and go "I'll check it later... maybe". The old fun feeling I used tob get from checking in once a day has withered away.

I've been visiting the site less and less since the FB changeover.  I had trouble with it even letting me access anything, then I could never access replies to comments.  Now, with the new site design, I'm even less inclined.  Plus, there are some new commenters who don't have the same spirit that most of the pre-FB commenters did.  I'm seeing meanness.

That was the point of my question last week.  I'm not interested in wrestling,  I'm not a collector of action figures.  But iI would read those articles and contribute to the comments  because they were interactive and funny.  When it got to the point that all iI read was MsPpraisal' column and the occasion food related story,  I said something.  Luke saw it as me attacking him.  That was not my intention.  Still its clear my concerns are nothing so iI quit.  I can still talk to you andPatch and Ozne and timely and the kegs.  I guess that's something.

He used to praise "us" (us=all commenters) for the high number of comments on a post.  Even something that wasn't very interesting might generate a lot of conversation.  Now, the comments reach...20?  How is that a good thing for him or his company?

I think he feels trapped. He knows he's lost the old group, and his bosses are driving changes he has no control over. But his reaction has been defensive instead of constructive. Double down on toy articles, drop any and all attempt at humor (his horrible puns do not count as humor)

I guess I've no reason to keep complaining. As iI said, thisis goodbye for me and topless robot

James.k.Polk wrote:

rkwsuperstar wrote:

NebulaJack wrote:

Patch wrote:Facebook killed my account. So no more TR Haunt, or Robot's voice (that sounds weird) for me. I think all of you with the exception of Kegs, who rightfully, refuses to FB, have my real account.

I thought about setting up another but if we are getting a Robot's voice (still weird) forum, I guess I'll wait until then.

I seem to be visiting the site less and less since the name change. From time to time I'll realize it's been days and days since my last visit, and I might still shrug and go "I'll check it later... maybe". The old fun feeling I used to get from checking in once a day has withered away.

I've been visiting the site less and less since the FB changeover.  I had trouble with it even letting me access anything, then I could never access replies to comments.  Now, with the new site design, I'm even less inclined.  Plus, there are some new commenters who don't have the same spirit that most of the pre-FB commenters did.  I'm seeing meanness.

That was the point of my question last week.  I'm not interested in wrestling,  I'm not a collector of action figures.  But iI would read those articles and contribute to the comments  because they were interactive and funny.  When it got to the point that all iI read was MsPpraisal' column and the occasion food related story,  I said something.  Luke saw it as me attacking him.  That was not my intention.  Still its clear my concerns are nothing so iI quit.  I can still talk to you andPatch and Ozne and timely and the kegs.  I guess that's something.

He used to praise "us" (us=all commenters) for the high number of comments on a post. Even something that wasn't very interesting might generate a lot of conversation. Now, the comments reach...20? How is that a good thing for him or his company?

rkwsuperstar wrote: And the FB system really doesn't encourage that type of interaction anyway.

FB seems to be all about the likes, instead of any real interaction. My real account got checked about once a month until I got married. I do get post notifications from a gun club I joined last month so I'll check them, but even there it's comment, get like or two. No real conversation or discussion.

I had someone there ask for a thoughts on a certain gun. I owned two of them, so I broke down all the good and bad I knew about it, in detail as he asked. Like, no followup if he was going to get one, nothing.

James.k.Polk wrote:

Patch wrote:

James.k.Polk wrote:It sucks.  I know Luke's not to blame for the Facebook farce,  but I do kind of hold him responsible for watering down the site to the point that none of his long time readers give a fuck about it any more.

Again,  they've aimed for a wider readership,  and mainly just succeeded in attracting a shallower one.

I think our interaction made the articles more interesting. When you got hundreds or responses to articles and thousands in the weekend thread and now you can't get 20 comments on one and can't break 200 on the other, you have lost something.

Looking at Martha's column this morning I realize that Luke doesn't give a shit about us.  His only real interest in maximum click through.  I'm done.  I'm sad and angry,  but iIguess that's what I needed to let it go.

Look, I get that he doesn't agree with your complaints. But that is no reason for his reaction to be belittling. Have an actual conversation-ask you what YOU are looking for from the site. Maybe he can't or won't change anything, but at least make it seem like he's interested in feedback. As opposed to putting his own comments in a column and leaving yours out.

rkwsuperstar wrote:

NebulaJack wrote:

Patch wrote:Facebook killed my account. So no more TR Haunt, or Robot's voice (that sounds weird) for me. I think all of you with the exception of Kegs, who rightfully, refuses to FB, have my real account.

I thought about setting up another but if we are getting a Robot's voice (still weird) forum, I guess I'll wait until then.

I seem to be visiting the site less and less since the name change. From time to time I'll realize it's been days and days since my last visit, and I might still shrug and go "I'll check it later... maybe". The old fun feeling I used to get from checking in once a day has withered away.

I've been visiting the site less and less since the FB changeover.  I had trouble with it even letting me access anything, then I could never access replies to comments.  Now, with the new site design, I'm even less inclined.  Plus, there are some new commenters who don't have the same spirit that most of the pre-FB commenters did.  I'm seeing meanness.

That was the point of my question last week. I'm not interested in wrestling, I'm not a collector of action figures. But iI would read those articles and contribute to the comments because they were interactive and funny. When it got to the point that all iI read was MsPpraisal' column and the occasion food related story, I said something. Luke saw it as me attacking him. That was not my intention. Still its clear my concerns are nothing so iI quit. I can still talk to you andPatch and Ozne and timely and the kegs. I guess that's something.

Patch wrote:

I think our interaction made the articles more interesting. When you got hundreds or responses to articles and thousands in the weekend thread and now you can't get 20 comments on one and can't break 200 on the other, you have lost something.

Agree 100%. Even if I didn't know anything about it or care anything about a story, I would still read it, just to see the comments, to see what kinds of things the people I thought of as friends had to say. Now, the majority of article commenters aren't people I know, they make ugly comments, they aren't there to be friendly/make a new friend. And the FB system really doesn't encourage that type of interaction anyway.

NebulaJack wrote:

Patch wrote:Facebook killed my account. So no more TR Haunt, or Robot's voice (that sounds weird) for me. I think all of you with the exception of Kegs, who rightfully, refuses to FB, have my real account.

I thought about setting up another but if we are getting a Robot's voice (still weird) forum, I guess I'll wait until then.

I seem to be visiting the site less and less since the name change. From time to time I'll realize it's been days and days since my last visit, and I might still shrug and go "I'll check it later... maybe". The old fun feeling I used to get from checking in once a day has withered away.

I've been visiting the site less and less since the FB changeover. I had trouble with it even letting me access anything, then I could never access replies to comments. Now, with the new site design, I'm even less inclined. Plus, there are some new commenters who don't have the same spirit that most of the pre-FB commenters did. I'm seeing meanness.

James.k.Polk wrote:

Looking at Martha's column this morning I realize that Luke doesn't give a shit about us.  His only real interest in maximum click through.  I'm done.  I'm sad and angry,  but iIguess that's what I needed to let it go.

Guess I'll go check it out. Not that I can send questions anymore, anyway. Well I guess I can email them but I won't

Patch wrote:

James.k.Polk wrote:It sucks.  I know Luke's not to blame for the Facebook farce,  but I do kind of hold him responsible for watering down the site to the point that none of his long time readers give a fuck about it any more.

Again,  they've aimed for a wider readership,  and mainly just succeeded in attracting a shallower one.

I think our interaction made the articles more interesting. When you got hundreds or responses to articles and thousands in the weekend thread and now you can't get 20 comments on one and can't break 200 on the other, you have lost something.

Looking at Martha's column this morning I realize that Luke doesn't give a shit about us. His only real interest in maximum click through. I'm done. I'm sad and angry, but iIguess that's what I needed to let it go.

James.k.Polk wrote:It sucks.  I know Luke's not to blame for the Facebook farce,  but I do kind of hold him responsible for watering down the site to the point that none of his long time readers give a fuck about it any more.

Again,  they've aimed for a wider readership,  and mainly just succeeded in attracting a shallower one.

I think our interaction made the articles more interesting. When you got hundreds or responses to articles and thousands in the weekend thread and now you can't get 20 comments on one and can't break 200 on the other, you have lost something.

Not to be a dick about it, I do appreciate the site for bringing us all together. I enjoy grabbing a beer with you and if my travels take me close to Jack, Gonzo, Supes or Kegs, I'd hope to have one with them. Although in Keg's case, I will be paranoid that any minute, Mounties would rush in and and arrest us after a raid on his house frees all his captives...I mean house guests.

It sucks. I know Luke's not to blame for the Facebook farce, but I do kind of hold him responsible for watering down the site to the point that none of his long time readers give a fuck about it any more.

Again, they've aimed for a wider readership, and mainly just succeeded in attracting a shallower one.

NebulaJack wrote:

I seem to be visiting the site less and less since the name change. From time to time I'll realize it's been days and days since my last visit, and I might still shrug and go "I'll check it later... maybe". The old fun feeling I used to get from checking in once a day has withered away.

I check it once or twice a day normally, but there are times I forget and see a couple of days go by. I was trying to be supportive and still comment on stuff at the change, but there is little interaction, so it felt like I was talking to myself.

Also on the FB subject. It's messed up that if your parents legitimately named you Batman, you have to send personal info for them to keep on file. They requested my passport, DL, voter ID,or marriage licence. Polk said in the FB haunt that a letter could be sent with the name and that is correct, but you also have to include a second ID with a photo or date of birth matching the profile.
So if your library card has a picture or DOB you could get around it.

The moral to this story, don't name your kid Batman, if you want him to use facebook later in life.

Kegs, Were you throwing stuff at the game yesterday? I thought you Canucks were supposed to be laid back.

Patch wrote:Facebook killed my account. So no more TR Haunt, or Robot's voice (that sounds weird) for me. I think all of you with the exception of Kegs, who rightfully, refuses to FB, have my real account.

I thought about setting up another but if we are getting a Robot's voice (still weird) forum, I guess I'll wait until then.

I seem to be visiting the site less and less since the name change. From time to time I'll realize it's been days and days since my last visit, and I might still shrug and go "I'll check it later... maybe". The old fun feeling I used to get from checking in once a day has withered away.

Patch wrote:Facebook killed my account. So no more TR Haunt, or Robot's voice (that sounds weird) for me. I think all of you with the exception of Kegs, who rightfully, refuses to FB, have my real account.

I thought about setting up another but if we are getting a Robot's voice (still weird) forum, I guess I'll wait until then.

It's a bunch of hooey. I like FB in the regard of keeping up with people that live elsewhere. But I do not like much else about it.

Facebook killed my account. So no more TR Haunt, or Robot's voice (that sounds weird) for me. I think all of you with the exception of Kegs, who rightfully, refuses to FB, have my real account.

I thought about setting up another but if we are getting a Robot's voice (still weird) forum, I guess I'll wait until then.

rkwsuperstar wrote:Who is actually dressing up for Halloween?  I know Gonzo is.  On Halloween itself, I will be dressed up as a football fan, as I will be attending a football game at my college alma mater.  But the weekend before Halloween, a friend is hosting a birthday party for another friend, and it's a Halloween costume party.  So I will be dressing up then.

That's a good question. So good in fact, that it's today's poll. My answer is that I will be dressing up as Dr. Strange dressed as an alien. I've created an optional theme of "something dressed as something else" and I've got a Dr. Strange costume from a few years ago and an alien mask, so that's my combo.

rkwsuperstar wrote:Who is actually dressing up for Halloween?  I know Gonzo is.  On Halloween itself, I will be dressed up as a football fan, as I will be attending a football game at my college alma mater.  But the weekend before Halloween, a friend is hosting a birthday party for another friend, and it's a Halloween costume party.  So I will be dressing up then.

We have thrown a family Halloween party almost every year since the late 80's. It started out as my friends and I spooking out my parents barn. Games, costumes, hayrides and lots of beer. Then kids came along and it's much the same, just less beer and less scary stuff. I threw it at my place a few years ago so I ignored the don't terrify the children rule. We had a voodoo theme. Crawfish boil, zydeco music, a grave yard set up in the back, scary zombies, spiders, it was a lot of fun. I haven't heard if anyone is going to throw it this year. If they do I'll have to find a costume.

Who is actually dressing up for Halloween? I know Gonzo is. On Halloween itself, I will be dressed up as a football fan, as I will be attending a football game at my college alma mater. But the weekend before Halloween, a friend is hosting a birthday party for another friend, and it's a Halloween costume party. So I will be dressing up then.

In other news. I'm heading to the fair with the family this weekend. I haven't been in a few years. The last time was just my wife and I when we were dating. We made the mistake of going on Texas/OU game day. It was a beating. I'm hoping that since this is the last weekend, most people have had their full of the fair and will stay home. I will be searching the vendors to see if I can find the deep fried Frito chili pie again. It was pretty tasty the last time I was there.

When I was kid, we used to show horses at the fair every year. So we got to stay the night on the fair grounds. It was very scooby doo'ish walking around the midway, and the fair grounds at 2 am. Security was pretty lax, so if it wasn't locked we went in. I also remember them having an arcade in one of the arenas and me playing lots of Asteroids.

NebulaJack wrote:That reminds me, isn't the Peanuts movie due out soon? I'm still cautiously optimistic about that.

James.k.Polk wrote:In other news,

It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown comes on next Tuesday.

I get tuesdays off.  Yay!

Anyone know if the Garfield halloween special will be on this year? (and if so, when?)

NebulaJack wrote:

rkwsuperstar wrote:Since Nebsy isn't feeling well, I put up a poll today.  

Thanks Arkay. It's a good poll.

I may not be able to think of a poll on a regular day, but I'm good with the creepy, weird, and Halloween-related.