Firstly; instead of closing the whole thread; why aren't people "warned" like they are on other PVP boards; and either infractioned or they stop?
They were warned and infracted. One or two members earned themselves perma-bans because they couldn't get it through their heads that a PvP thread was not OT-NHB. The major part in the decision to close it was because the shard politics couldn't be left outside. It always started as PvP and quickly degenerated into what certain groups had done 2 years ago, who they allied with, and who was trying to profit by stabbing people in the back. It was more like a history of Catskills drama.
I don't wanna make the Catskills mod mad or hate me, but realistically; PVP is a big part of your shard at the moment (Be happy for this)!! By not having a pvp based thread/topic, you are discouraging PVP on your shard. Now; you may or may not be a pvper; this is fine and your choice; BUT those of us who DO pvp would like to throw our discussions and such out there for the other members of the pvp (and PVMers who decide to read it) so everyone knows about everything.
I've noticed the increase of PvP activity recently, and I have never been one to deny anyone because of their play style. Whatever floats your boat is fine with me. Back when Anne (my former co-mod) and I started the PvP thread it was a very small group on a fairly quiet forum. Now the numbers have shifted and one thread was just too small and too cumbersome to contain it all. As I posted in the other thread, having everyone crammed into one thread was likely the cause of a lot of problems.
Again, by all means; you are free to do as you wish, its YOUR forum, but I think my declining us pvpers of a "thread" of our own (Which no one else is FORCING people to read it), you are denying a lot of people something they want (Probably close to 40-50% of your Catskills posters would read/post in the thread). Just ask any of the other moderators; warn and infraction people. It will make your life easier while letting some of us have some friendly arguments/discussions over OUR favorite part of Ultima Online.
First off, it's not MY forum, I just work here. This forum belongs to the entire Catskills community, I'm just hear to make sure they behave and maybe slap their wrists if they get out of line.
Secondly, I know how other forums handle their pvp crowd. I worked on the Pacific forum for a few months when they were short handed and I'm currently doing the same on Origin. I'm no stranger to the warning/infraction system. But as I said earlier, they only work if the person receiving said warning/infraction pays attention to why they're getting them. This isn't always the case.
I saw you posted in Catlords
other thread, if you missed my replies to it, go take a look. It better explains the decision we made regarding PvP posts.
Disclaimer: Black Sun and any other moderators (sorry; I only know of him), I don't mean to step on toes here, and mean no disrespect. Just voicing my opinion. I don't know the "past" of Catskills' PVP forums, but now since there is a lot of pvp here (Unlike before) maybe give it another go!
No worries, I didn't think you were trying to be disrespectful and I understand your view. But there are a lot of posts in a mods only forum that give a very accurate view of a pattern in the Catskills PvP threads, without knowing the history it appears a lot different than it really is.
I hope I didn't come across as scolding or being snotty and blindly backing up my decision, that's not my intent. Despite what it may appear to others (honestly, I have no accurate idea as to how my fellow board members view me) I do give quite a bit of thought about my actions as a moderator.