I’m not entirely sure what happened, but here we go again 😬
Hey Gerald Hill2
It’s been going on for a few days now. I honestly thought it might be fixed by now, but since nothing seems to be changing, I guess I should probably file an official complaint. 😁
I’m asking those responsible for the boat to please stop breaking things. 😬
No matter what they've been messing with, after being on this forum for over 20 years, I’m not even known as Gerald Hill2 anymore, just email protected. 😁I really wish they'd change it back. Not everything with an @ symbol is an email address, you know. 😬 Thanks. 🤣
Since this thread is eventually going to merge with the main one, it might be a good idea to just head over there now when you're posting your updates. It’ll probably just create even more chaos once both threads are combined into one anyway. 😁
Just so I don't clutter up this thread, I was just wondering—purely for info—if those Turkish series discussions over at the soap factory are still around, or if they've been wiped out for good?
Michael Ramos4, you and I both know the issue isn't about what I think or don't think, or even what you think or don't think.
You mentioned she said the exact opposite of what she actually said—that men are just like they are in the movies, when in reality, she said men aren't like they are in the movies.
But honestly, that’s just one example, I guess. Whenever I read stuff like this, I just think—oh, they portrayed this completely differently than how it's written—but I can't always remember specifically... though this one came to mind...
And I suppose a smart person learns about life from books, from movies, and from experience itself, whether it's through someone else's mistakes or their own successes.
mistypilot97 said:You explained that perfectly.😉 It's just like calling Cassie some pathetic girl whose life was stolen by Scarlett Johansson (what kind of life did she even have? 😕 ) while totally ignoring all the crap she pulled on Scarlett for absolutely no reason (before she even found out about Adam and her).
Or turning a blind eye to Hannah, who basically tried to ruin Scarlett's life out of pure spite just because "the love of her life" fell for her, so obviously it's Scarlett's fault and she deserves every bit of the garbage Hannah threw at her.☕
Honestly, I'm just surprised there aren't any excuses lined up for Henry yet...🙂
You’re skipping class here. He was actually totally fine until Disney drove him absolutely crazy. ☕
But honestly (hand on heart), even Dawn in the show insisted that’s how it was.
Michael Ramos4, I actually said you've been at least once (meaning one or more times) banned, so that isn't an accurate quote. 😁
As for how you interpret sentences, I guess I can agree with you there. Everyone perceives things differently, I suppose. It's just that you seem to be describing the opposite of what actually happened, rather than just sharing your own perspective.
Because there’s a big difference between saying—I think this sentence meant this (or that's just how I felt about it)—versus claiming that, say, Scarlett Johansson says men are just like movie characters and then mocking her for it, when in reality she was telling Grace that men aren't actually like they are in movies; they can act that way even when they don't want to. And stuff like that. That's usually considered trolling.
The same goes for my posts or anyone else's when we use irony, like—just using myself as an example so nobody gets offended—everyone would be absolutely perfect if FER hadn't lied, or how Dawn is such a wonderful creature, or Jane is basically an intergalactic symbol of peace and logic. 😁
I don't think we should jump straight into conspiracy theories. Just like moderators don't vote against a topic, it’s unlikely they’re playing favorites. It seems improbable that they'd protect anyone—especially Michael Ramos4, who probably gives them more work through her posts than the average user does. 😁
Personally, I'm not in favor of banning people. The internet should be a free space, and it's up to the individual to not abuse that freedom or use it for something nasty. Even when that happens, whether it's intentional or just an accident, I still wouldn't support a ban. That really should be the absolute last resort, reserved for truly extreme behavior after everything else has been exhausted.
I joined the discussion later, after episode 30, and since then, I've seen Michael Ramos4 go gray (banned) for three days at least once. Even if some people think otherwise, she has been penalized. I won't get into the specifics of how or why, because I don't follow that closely, but I did see her status change.
And even though I personally disagree with her views, and I truly believe she trolls on purpose (it's hard to imagine missing the plot that many times and writing the exact opposite of what happened by pure accident 😁), she does it very smartly and with style. She ignites discussions. Sometimes that fire warms things up, and sometimes it’s the kind of fire that destroys everything in its path. But she does it so calmly and cleverly, balancing brilliantly right on the edge of what's punishable, while we all get worked up, react emotionally, and end up crossing that line ourselves. 😳 So, maybe there are more warnings issued to those who understand FedEx and try to defend it, making it look like the mods are protecting Michael Ramos4, but I doubt that's the case (there's a better chance we all win the Powerball jackpot along with her). 😁
I'm siding (just like stormycrane3.) with the idea of letting people earn their way back through good behavior, then we can move on to other topics. 🙂
I guess I don't have quite as much self-control 😁 as some of the folks who spoke up before me, so I won't claim this thread should be locked just because of those specific people. I'll admit, I've been pretty sarcastic myself—maybe even bordering on trolling—and definitely went off-topic. I just hope I didn't offend anyone (aside from those characters in the show who drive my blood pressure through the roof 😳).
For all of us who actually deserve a penalty—well, let us be punished. Maybe even retroactively for older posts where we messed with the moderators' nerves and pushed things right to the edge. But it isn't fair if innocent people get caught in the crossfire. That’s basically the golden rule, right? Better to let a hundred guilty people go free than to punish one innocent person (I'm trying to sound smart here, though I know nothing about law 😳 ) .
Raymond Gray2 said:I'm wondering, who actually gets to vote "no" on a poll—besides the mods? Like, who would even care if we kept the thread open? 😲 Honestly, I’m all for just opening the thread right now! 🙂
I don't buy any conspiracy theories about the mods voting against reopening the thread. 😁
In any case, when they set up the poll, there was an option to see exactly how everyone voted. I suspect a lot of people would be surprised if that setting were turned on. It’s usually the people you least expect. 😉
The moderators don't really have any reason to vote against it, since this poll isn't binding and they aren't forced to follow it anyway.
Keith Ortiz4 said:So, I’m out for a walk today with my three-month-old (who basically lives in my arms), and we decide to stop at an outdoor patio for a quick break. I order two sparkling waters, and within minutes, the baby just starts crying. It’s not just a whimper—it’s a full-on meltdown. I tried holding him, but nothing worked; he just wanted to be carried. He was clearly overstimulated and fussy. Honestly, I felt so embarrassed. In a moment of total desperation, I just set him down to lie there and cry for about ten minutes while I had a cigarette and finished my water. Eventually, the crying turned into this intense, piercing screaming.
Just a few yards away, there was this group of about six people in their 30s, and they were staring at me the whole time.
When I finally decided to head out, I apologized for the noise. They didn't even say anything back; one of them just gave a little wave, like a "whatever" gesture.
I really want to know what you guys think. Was I being judged?
Was it because I was being "rude" by staying and making everyone listen to the screaming instead of just leaving immediately? Or were they judging me for letting the baby cry while I sat there calmly smoking and drinking?
How would you have reacted if you saw this happening? What would your take be, and honestly, how should I have handled it?
What would strike me as weird (like, maybe for folks like 😁 who smoke) is seeing a parent just sitting there smoking a cigarette while their kid cries and cries and cries, until it turns into a total meltdown. 🤷 And the parent isn't even reacting. It's just... like nothing is happening, they're just smoking and drinking.
northernpilot2 said:So, let me get this straight... you guys are actually complaining because the mods aren't handing out bans to everyone who doesn't agree that Force—this fictional soap factory character—is just a saintly, pure-hearted woman?
Honestly, those kinds of complaints are just kind of ridiculous, I guess. You've gotta realize you aren't hanging out in a dedicated fan club for Force; this is a general discussion about the series as a whole. Just because someone doesn't share the opinion that she’s some perfect angel doesn't mean they're breaking any rules. The moderators are here to enforce the actual rules, and none of this stuff qualifies as a violation.
@Keith Diaz5, I read through your post a few times, and I think you're complaining about exactly that—why the mods allow people to write things against Force or why they permit this kind of commentary.
But look, that's not really the mods' job. They aren't here to act as bodyguards for a soap factory character or to shut down anyone who doesn't view her as a total sweetheart.
I don't even know what else to say at this point, because, well, you said yourself it isn't a formal complaint, so maybe it's just an observation or whatever, and without specific links to problematic posts and all that, nothing is going to happen. Especially not without a concrete accusation of a rule break; a vague gripe like "Force is such a good person, why are you letting them trash her?" just isn't going to fly because it doesn't make any sense.
The mods can see exactly who is reporting which post. But just because someone flags something doesn't mean it's getting deleted or that the user is getting banned, especially if the mod decides the report is totally baseless. None of you other forum users can really mess with anything through the reporting system, because ultimately, it's up to the moderator to decide if a report warrants a reaction.
A ton of reports go ignored because they're unfounded, but hey, everyone has the right to flag a post they think breaks the rules. Just remember that flagging something doesn't guarantee action will be taken against the author, so there's really nothing to fear regarding some group of users trying to gang up on someone.
I don't expect the mods to be psychic Zorka types. If they aren't watching the show, and they get multiple reports about spoilers, they might get the wrong idea. That happened to me once, and I had to prove my innocence after being banned. Bhea reacted pretty quickly, though. I'm not complaining about her at all. But, I wonder, if the mods can see—and they can, because I used to moderate zud—if the same people are constantly making false reports, shouldn't that also be a punishable offense?
If someone wants to, they can always find some weird way to twist a post and misuse the system, flagging things as inappropriate (like spoilers, insults, off-topic chatter, or trolling). That kind of behavior makes people who want to contribute different views from the majority stay away from the thread entirely. It’s perfectly normal to write something that doesn't align with what others saw, to deny what was shown, or to be critical toward certain groups (like victims of force rape or violence)—basically, to have a different take on what happened. I might have my own opinion on whether a scene was good or bad, but I can't claim to have a different version of what was actually broadcast on the television. I mean, if someone falls, I might find it funny, or sad, or maybe I won't care at all... all of that is just an opinion or an impression. But saying someone didn't fall when they clearly did isn't an opinion; that’s just missing what happened or straight-up trolling.
I’m sticking to the Force thread and I don't plan on leaving... This whole situation—the messy moderation and the suggestion that I should just quit the thread—isn't a solution in my book... 😁
If weird things are happening, they're happening. People are reporting spoilers that aren't even there. And then you get these people showing up right at the end of the series whose only purpose is to trash specific characters. I wrote something about it myself once, and looking back, I guess I was being foolish by letting myself get dragged into it, which led to my ban. I don't believe in coincidences, honestly...
I don't need help from moderators or anyone else to defend my views. I don't even feel like I was wronged by the mods, provided things are fixed. I just think the rules are way too strict in some areas and totally vague in others. That's actually why I started my own thread, but it didn't really take off, which probably means people on this sub are fine with the rules as they are. And that's okay. But it isn't right for moderators to tell someone—like, "just leave the thread" or "get out of the sub," as if we wouldn't care if you left...
It’s just sad to see what's considered normal, like saying an insult toward women who were victims of violence during wartime is just the same as saying there's a victim of violence within a marriage... or something along those lines... It's sad to read claims that a husband doesn't commit force rape, he just takes what belongs to him... It's sad to read that violence, shouting, or shoving is just a totally normal reaction when a woman won't stop talking... Even if we are talking about a fictional character who was violated and yelled at... It’s even sadder if this is viewed as normal behavior that shouldn't face any consequences.
I don't think everyone is against the show *Force*. I'm not looking for a hive mind. But I do think anyone who spoils things or causes trouble (including me) should be penalized, and just as importantly, those who file false reports, make things up, or write posts that go against actual laws should be held accountable too.
Now, after everything I've been through, I really overthink what to write and whether I should even say anything at all. I feel like every single word is going to be scrutinized to see if it can be misinterpreted just so someone can hit that yellow report button. 😵 I don't have proof, and I couldn't have it even if I wanted to since I'm not a mod, but if it's true—if the same group of people is always reporting a handful of girls—a moderator could easily see that just by checking their own inbox. And I truly believe that's what's happening.
There was this one night where there was a big debate about sexual assault. Someone claimed that for a certain character, what happened was what women experienced in war, rather than calling sex without consent between a husband and wife "rape"—which I guess is a pretty strong word. And for that discussion, which covered both depicted assaults and the concept of assault in real life (without even talking about future plot points), there were spoiler reports... you could tell by reading the moderator's blue text... I actually think ambermason16 was involved (I checked, and she was)... Shouldn't that be punishable too? Reporting someone for spoiling an assault that isn't even explicitly shown on screen—especially when it's clearly implied in the context before and after the scene—is just malicious. Whoever claims they aren't the one stirring the pot is just acting out of spite to push someone out of the conversation.
I don't really think I was treated unfairly regarding any of my warnings. I probably should have received even more, honestly, given how strict the rules are in this subforum.
And even though I didn't catch a moderator's warning on the previous page, I guess that doesn't excuse me from getting a strike if those are the rules; whether I see the warning or not, I should probably just be reading more carefully.
Still, the fact remains that without any arguing, being stubborn, or having any bad intentions, I ended up with three strikes—and who knows how many others were just forgiven 🙂—all in just a few days (I'm not sure what counts as "a lot" to everyone else, but to me, this feels like a lot, especially since I only had two strikes in ten years). Based on some of the reactions here, I get the impression there are other users who feel the same way, like they're constantly walking on eggshells just waiting for a strike to hit. That's just my take on it. I even noticed some people couldn't access the forum for a couple of days (I'm not sure how many strikes it takes to trigger that).
Regarding what was mentioned... The mere fact that there’s specific tracking for this kind of offense suggests it's recognized by authorities in other countries too. Nick didn't say that all Black/Asian/Hispanic/White people are a certain way; we were just discussing what happens in the show and what the series itself explores, pointing toward a very specific part of the country.
So, I'll say it again: I'm not complaining about the strikes, and I'm not complaining about the moderators (in fact, I'm not even sure exactly who moderates everything, but I'm sure they've been lenient with me a few times). It just seems to me that the rules here are much stricter than in other more serious sections of the forum.
I get why we need rules, but maybe there should be a bit of common sense involved. You can't expect that within a thread about a TV series, we can discuss the legal aspects on the Law forum, or the cultural and traditional parts on the Culture forum—as if every single segment of the show needs its own separate thread in a different section... like discussing gutting intestines? For what purpose?
This is just one series I'm following, and once it's over, I'll probably be gone from this part of the forum anyway. But this all feels a bit much... generally speaking, and especially considering we're talking about soap operas. 😁
I've been posting here for 10 years now. And honestly, just in the last two weeks since I started posting in the soap opera sections, I've racked up more warnings than I have in my entire history on all the various American message boards combined.
I should probably mention that the moderators have been patient, and I’m sure they’ve looked the other way a few times too. I’m pretty new to this specific part of the site, so I really didn't know the rules—especially since they were updated recently, maybe back in December.
I don't have anything against the mods; people are fine, and they're just following the rules. But I just don't get why the rules in the soap opera sections are so incredibly strict??? 😕
I mean, we're talking about soap operas, for goodness sake. 😁 😳
Couldn't those rules be loosened up just a little bit? What would it even take?
So, I just got my latest warning because of a post where I was discussing the plot of a series alongside some real-life events, specifically regarding local customs in a certain part of the country, and I also suggested someone reach out via private message to another user who clearly knows their stuff.
I genuinely don't understand what's so wrong or punishable about that. Why would that even be against the rules? 🤔 It just doesn't seem to make any sense.
I totally get the restrictions on sharing piracy links, and I get the ban on quoting posts that include images—though, I guess, I did miss one tiny little image and got flagged for it, so I see the logic there. I also get the rules about spoilers, specific TV shows, and actor info. But splitting hairs over whether you can talk about a custom related to a show on the "culture" board or wherever... breaking a single show discussion into ten different forums and sub-forums just to follow every single rule feels a bit much. It's hard to keep track of everything, plus most people watching the actual show aren't hanging out in those niche culture boards, and since it's part of the show's setting, I just don't get why we can't discuss it right there in the main thread... I feel like more warnings are handed out here than in the politics section, which is usually the most controversial area on any forum. 🤣 To me, it just doesn't add up. It doesn't fit the vibe of the sub-forum at all (I mean, come on, soap operas 😁) and it's just way too strict.
Mom just got her results back today: Histology type: basal cell carcinoma Location: skin on the dorsal region of the nose and cheek And there's a mention of about 5mm following that (depth, I guess?)
These results are from the tissue sample removed from the left side of her face, right from the bridge of the nose down under the eye. They basically just shoved the report into her hands this morning and told her that since she's a nurse, they couldn't comment on it—so she should try to catch a doctor tomorrow... Maybe there just wasn't any doctor available at the Mayo Clinic at that moment 😠, and my mom is just that kind of person; she took it all so calmly, having them hand over a result like that and send her home without a single word of explanation...
Mom doesn't want me to worry (we don't live in the same house), so she successfully hid the fact that the results arrived until tonight (we've waited even longer for other samples before...)
I've looked up quite a bit online regarding this specific type of carcinoma. What I'm wondering is if anyone knows what this part means under location, because it feels like it might indicate whether it has spread or not (I'm a layman, so maybe it means something else, who knows).
The state of our healthcare system is such that by the time we wait for a doctor's interpretation, tomorrow afternoon will have already passed, and I am honestly on the verge of a nervous breakdown right now... 😢 And I have to go to work tomorrow morning and absolutely cannot miss it...
Thanks in advance for helping me make sense of these results.
At work, I just do what needs to be done and try my best. Honestly, whether I’m working with someone who gets on my nerves or someone I actually like isn't really my main concern. Sure, a good atmosphere and friendly coworkers make things easier, but I'm not at work on a field trip during my off hours. I'm there to work and earn the paycheck I live on, so I just have to deal with whatever "crowd" happens to be around me. That's just how I see it. 😁
There isn't much room for emotions at the office. It doesn't matter if people like me or dislike me, or if I feel the same about them—the goal is for everyone to do their job well and maximize those earnings. 😁
And yeah, there are definitely people who don't like me or talk behind my back. With them, I stay strictly professional and polite. I don't go out of my way for them; I just do exactly what I’m supposed to do, nothing more and nothing less. But for the people I actually care about, I’m always ready to jump in and help whenever they need it, because I know they’d do the same for me. I'm lucky enough that my immediate team is actually wonderful. 🙂
As for the ones gossiping? They can keep right on doing that. 😛 😳 See, about a year ago, me and another girl were the new hires, so I think I pushed myself a bit too hard to prove myself. During that time, some people had their own personal reasons for why they couldn't pull their weight or why they needed extra time off, and I was understanding about it... but once things crossed a line, I spoke up to the manager (several times, regarding various things I felt weren't fair 😁 )... Once we established a fairer system, that coworker and I suddenly became the villains—the targets of all this "she's like this" and "she's like that" talk. Apparently, we were supposed to just stay quiet and pick up everyone else's slack, since that suited them perfectly (who would have thought 😁 )... they saw it as unfair, because it was actually quite convenient for them to exploit us being the "new kids" to dodge their own responsibilities... 😁
It matters to me that I work honestly and correctly, fulfilling my duties while ensuring others fulfill theirs too, rather than having them dump everything onto me. I'm not a fool who's going to carry the load for lazy, spiteful, and selfish people just so they'll like me... they don't have to like me at all—it doesn't bother me one bit...
My mother-in-law dealt with breast cancer and had a mastectomy—but she’s still such a hard worker, which has always been her thing. I guess a go-getter stays a go-getter, regardless of what they're fighting. She definitely struggled during chemo, but once that phase passed, she jumped right back into her usual routine.
Hey there, it’s actually been 10 years now... That woman could easily just stay home, maybe waiting for a monthly Social Security check from the government, or if she’s feeling better and picking up extra shifts for the paycheck, then she should probably earn that money herself instead of letting others foot the bill while she just collects the cash. 🙄
There is currently a fundraiser underway for a young woman from Oklahoma City—Slavica Kalaba. She’s fighting leukemia. She is 24 years old. By calling the shortcode 1411, you can donate a dollar toward Slavica's treatment if you are in the States (if you are abroad, you might try calling the US number, but it seems like this specific charity line isn't working for international calls 😢).
http://www.banjalukaonline.com/media/slavica_film.wmv You can download the video her friends put together right here. I guess someone with this many friends is truly wealthy, and I really hope everyone helps out however they can so she can be healthy again too.
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Here is the info for anyone who wants to transfer an amount directly to the bank account, based on what they can afford.
marcus_aurelius said:...I honestly don't know how those international calls work, but I can provide a routing number if I can wire a certain amount...