ACWGC Forums

Do you think the Mason Dixon Tavern has become a little too crowded in its allowable content? Do you think that the MDT ought to be the main place for open discussions regarding Club Rules and admin issues, or do you believe those things could be better serve and discussed on a separate, open sub-forum. Should the MDT be an easy, relaxing place to visit, or should it invite argument and controversial opinion by anyone who cares to do so?

I've set up a simple poll for the next 14 days to see what you may think about this and also invite your comments. You only get one vote, but you can also change your vote at any time!

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General Jos. C. Meyer, ACWGC
Union Army Chief of Staff
Commander, Army of the Shenandoah
Commander, Army of the Tennessee
(2011-2014 UA CoA/GinC)

"Allowable Content"

Oh, I am interested to hear your definition of that. According to the Forum description all topics pertaining to the Civil War are allowed in this room. Thus... what is going on currently, in your opinion, that is not "allowable content"? If you feel it is not allowable you should, as a Cabinet Member, address it to the President and have him remove it to the correct forum where it belongs. But all I see on this forum is Civil War content with the occasional "Where is Member X or Y" post.

Sticky Topics and Announcements need to edited though more frequently. Whenever I use that feature I stick it for a four days and then let it drop to keep the top area clean. I don't like removing the sticky topics and announcements of others (I'm not Pres anymore afterall) but that area needs to be weeded out more frequently.

In my opinion there are too many posts concerning the Cabinet and whether they've done this or not done that or whether this rule should be changed or not. I think it has the potential to put off prospective members when they come here to see us discussing the games, role-playing, or the history of the war and then see all these threads about rules and Cabinet decisions.

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General Mark Nelms

6/2/XIV/AoC "Blackhawk Brigade"

Union Military Academy Instructor

I agree.

I will let the shock wear off for a moment....

As much as I have always opposed a separate forum for Club Business I think trying one wouldn't be a bad idea. I have often asked others to try my ideas and now I think I owe one of theirs a "try".

Someone get the smelling salts for Mark, please. (hoping he will pardon my joshing )

The Question to the Cabinet Forum can easily be converted into such a forum by a few simple re-definitions of it's forum description.

I believe, rather than giving an opinion as you seem to think I did, Blake, that I asked a question! If you must have my definition of "allowable content," I believe that would be anything to which a majority of the club would agree!

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General Jos. C. Meyer, ACWGC
Union Army Chief of Staff
Commander, Army of the Shenandoah
Commander, Army of the Tennessee
(2011-2014 UA CoA/GinC)

Gentlemen <salute>

The introduction to the MDT includes "You can trade jests, swap tactics; it's all up to you. " That pretty much defines "allowable content" in my mind.

Has it become cluttered over the years, yes. You can't reasonably expect that not to occur over a number of years. A great example of that was the "recent" discussion of whether maneuver points should be counted the same as battles, or no points awarded. A link to the same discussion which occured in 2005 was recently attached, with many of the same points being made then as now.

I believe the MDT is working fine.

Highest regards,

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General Neal Hebert
Edward C. Walthall Division (2nd aka "Gator Alley")
II Corps, Army of the West
CSA Cabinet Secretary

If you look at the last 50 threads started. The vast majority are about gaming or questions about problems with gaming.

Fine as it is.

The worst problem in my opinion is fewer posts. A dead board does no one any favors. What happens is fewer and fewer people visit and fewer and fewer people post and then we have one guys posting talking to himself.

Keep the MDT active it is good for the forum and the club. If there is a subject you do not want to read DON'T.

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Best Regards,

General Pierre D.

5th Bde, IV Cavalry Corps
Army of Northern Virginia
ACWGC President 1997 - 2006, 2012
ACWGC Forum Administrator

Activity is very good.

I think that having many different forums is very counter-productive. An occasional post in the Cabinet thingy and then responses in the MDT keeps the flow moving along.

I think (I have no stats on it) that many, if not most, members check two places, most often: The OPPONENTS forum and the MDT!

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General Ernie Sands
President ACWGC -Sept 2015- Dec 2020
Western Theater, Commander, USA


ACWGC Records Site Admin

"If you do not know where you are going, any road will take you there."

don't they just click on "View new post"...

I sure do

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Lt. Gen. C. N. Matthews
Pickett's Infantry Division, I Corps,
Army of Northern Virginia, CSA

I think the Mason Dixon is fine as is. The very fact that Pierre could draw up a discussion from eight years ago show its longevity.!!

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Lt Col Tony Best
3rd Brigade "Tony`s Best"
AoC

That is an option? You Rebs always find the easy ways to do things!

Actually, I do not use that option, but I will have to check it out!

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General Ernie Sands
President ACWGC -Sept 2015- Dec 2020
Western Theater, Commander, USA


ACWGC Records Site Admin

"If you do not know where you are going, any road will take you there."

The MDT is one of the sites I check at least once a day (if I can.) There are a fair number of posts that don't interest me, but I find it easy to simply ignore them. We have a smoking room for controversial topics, and administrators that do a good job of keeping them there.

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MG Mike Mihalik
Forrest's Cavalry Corps
AoWest/CSA

The tavern is fine. It's just the people that are the problem.

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Gen Doug Shaw,
4/1/XIV AotC

General Shaw <salute>

Suh, my compliments!

The people aren't the problem, they are what makes the forum happen.

Highest regards,

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General Neal Hebert
Edward C. Walthall Division (2nd aka "Gator Alley")
II Corps, Army of the West
CSA Cabinet Secretary

Fine as is. And I do think that the MDT be should be an easy, relaxing place to visit. That it does invite the more than occasional contrary argument and controversial opinion of those that care to do so is very annoying and enough to keep some members away not to mention the tone that it sets in a club forum that used to be a pleasant place to browse, learn something and offer constructive suggestions of one's own.

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Major General Tom Ciampa
AoC XIV Corps, Deuce Fourteen