18+ board: yay or nay?

[torinogal]

Nikki said:

We ALL have those thoughts about the man, but this is different than talking to a girlfriend face to face...I don't mean to make anyone mad, as overall, I have enjoyed this site very much, but I was kind of.....I don't know the right word, when I read some things...it just was inappropriate, especially for young people from other cultures too..Just my opinion, but a big reason I haven't tried to join again. I mean no disrespect to anyone, but it is my opinion. Laura, you make me laugh out loud, because you voice many things I think about THE MAN!!! But some comments have been sort of tacky, and that's the only word I can think of to describe them. Again, I truly mean no disrespect, but it's my thoughts. I do believe it will detract, and I don't think Apolo would go for it. This is only my opinion, however.

I'm not trying to antagonize anybody here. But, Nikki baby, we all have those thoughts about him! I'm sorry If you're uncomfortable with it. Maybe you're too young. Maybe not. We're actually quite harmless! We talk about it, imagine it, then take it out on our OWN men! Most of us are Not single! We wouldn't be thinking these things if we didn't respect him, darlin'! We love his talent, accomplishments, and his beauty as well. It just pushes most of us over the edge, we start bantering like girlfriends who are face to face. (which is what a formum is for-making new friends?) That's what I think a forum is all about.

Are you okay with us now sweetheart!

[Elle]

I really think we could have a 18+ thread. There are so many things taht comes to ones mind and isnt able to say because we dont want to be unpolite nor rude or even disgusting to the young ones.

I think it'd be a good idea.

[MT]

torinogal said:

Nikki said:

We ALL have those thoughts about the man, but this is different than talking to a girlfriend face to face...I don't mean to make anyone mad, as overall, I have enjoyed this site very much, but I was kind of.....I don't know the right word, when I read some things...it just was inappropriate, especially for young people from other cultures too..Just my opinion, but a big reason I haven't tried to join again. I mean no disrespect to anyone, but it is my opinion. Laura, you make me laugh out loud, because you voice many things I think about THE MAN!!! But some comments have been sort of tacky, and that's the only word I can think of to describe them. Again, I truly mean no disrespect, but it's my thoughts. I do believe it will detract, and I don't think Apolo would go for it. This is only my opinion, however.

I'm not trying to antagonize anybody here. But, Nikki baby, we all have those thoughts about him! I'm sorry If you're uncomfortable with it. Maybe you're too young. Maybe not. We're actually quite harmless! We talk about it, imagine it, then take it out on our OWN men! Most of us are Not single! We wouldn't be thinking these things if we didn't respect him, darlin'! We love his talent, accomplishments, and his beauty as well. It just pushes most of us over the edge, we start bantering like girlfriends who are face to face. (which is what a formum is for-making new friends?) That's what I think a forum is all about.

Are you okay with us now sweetheart!

Well said.

I would like to add that I don't presume to know what Apolo would or would not like or would or would not think is "appropriate." I also have no trouble at all seperating my fantasy Apolo from the real thing and would hope others here can too and if he should be so utterly bored and insecure/narcissitic to actually read the postings, I hope he understands the difference in harmless indulgences with his face and bod mentally photo-shopped onto it and intended disrespect. If he doesn't work a Jessica Alba image into his racey thoughts from time to time, he has had his glands surgically removed and needs to talk to an endocrinologist.

The only real question is have we offended real live and known "got Apolo" members (apparently) and sufficiently to ban all kinds of raunchy postings or at least quarantine them to a seperate thread. I have to say a total ban would send me packing. I am here because what I see of Apolo STIRS me and if I have to throttle that back so far that I'm limited to posting "Gee, he looks so cute" I'll choke on the inane sweetness of it all.

A seperate thread would be awkward, navigation-wise as the pictures and comments that trigger a raunchy thought occur randomly in any thread. I can manage though if that is what it takes to be allowed some free-speech with my girlfriends.

In the interest of fairness and anti-elitism, I'm ok with establishing a gooey-sweet gushy thread also.

[Nikki]

This is the last comment I am going to make on this, but these are the comments I was talking about, or similar ones in earlier threads...."I'm horny", "sit on his lap with your back to him", and that type thing. Somebody even told about having sex with their husband or boyfriend or whatever. I am NOT talking about Apolo. I think I said this earlier...I am sorry, but to me, some of these comments border on tacky... I can see why some young girls feel uncomfortable, as I did myself. I do think this sort of thing dininishes this site, and I don't think people will want to join. I also would think this might be a turn off to Apolo if he saw it on his fansite, maybe not though. Now, I am done with this thread, so carry on and do what you gotta do...BUT please read what I said earlier, I am not talking about Apolo fantasies, I am talking about general comments that made me stop reading and really feel this board's quality had changed.

[laura6]

Well I understand....and we do not want to mak eanyone uncomfortable....

I am unsure of your age but you need not worry ...as a mom of 2 teen boys..I have teens...girls and boys all over my house and phone...

and the words in here would even phase them for a miilisecond..

and i do regretfully admit my own sons language is horribla and a constant issue...but my hubby uses bad lanhuage..so what are you gonna do..

trust me teens are alot more savvy than people want to believe..

i know I a front row seat!!! LOL

[Nikki]

Laura, I was thinking of the young girl, Jay, I believe, who is Asian, I think? I am a grown woman, and not a prude by any means, but....the subject and quality of the site changed, at least to me. I was planning to join earlier, but now I won't. I do want to reiterate, people obviously read my comments completely out of context..I was NOT talking about Apolo fantasies....obviously female fans have them and I would think he knows this, expects it, and probably enjoys it, i.e the Cosmo photos. I am just talking about the general quality of the board. AND, he does obviously respect Ohno Zone, so I would think this board's owner would want her board to share in that respect..as he, or someone related to him might have a look sometime. But I am going away now..

[laura6]

I did not know she was young...

OK bye then

[CrimsonAngel]

I understand both point of views.

On one hand, posters that make raunchy comments are usually doing it in a random manner, kinda like spur of the moment. And sometimes conversations just happen to go that way. And I don't think they mean any harm.

However, on the other hand, I do understand also how some topics about how good their sex was last night with their husband maybe be uncomfortable or even offensive for some.

So this is the major dilemma. But the real question that we have to ask ourselves is, in which direction do we want this board to grow???

I personally think that the reason why topics tend to get either off topic or highly random is because unlike some other celebs, Apolo doesn't have things going on consistently. If he did, like around in Feb and March, even April, then people would be talking alot more about Apolo and less on what they did last night.

I say this because when I joined the board, pretty much every thread was devoted to Apolo in some form or fashion, even the heated ones. But now, he is doing some events, but not like the talk shows of March and he isn't even racing so that slows down things even more. He even broke up with his girlfriend, so no topic there, and we don't see him in any commercials or TV spots or nothing. So what we are getting this month is great.

So again, that's what I think. I think if we had more things to discuss about Apolo, then there would be less of these convos. That's exactly what happened in March, there was even less of the silly "I Love Apolo" comments as well, because people were actaully having some good discussions and comments about him or his activities.

The truth of the matter is, this board has gone thru a lot of changes in the past few months; mods leaving, mods changing, mods not even being here or barely here, and you had the super-silly randomness going on, now it's sexual randomness. So you see, it's not the topic, it's the lack of Apolo-related topics. I'm not taking sides on this issue, I'm just presenting a different point of view. I just think it's because there is lack of Apolo.

[laura6]

Very well put crimson....that is exactly the situation!!!!

[CrimsonAngel]

Nikki said:

Laura, I was thinking of the young girl, Jay, I believe, who is Asian, I think? I am a grown woman, and not a prude by any means, but....the subject and quality of the site changed, at least to me. I was planning to join earlier, but now I won't. I do want to reiterate, people obviously read my comments completely out of context..I was NOT talking about Apolo fantasies....obviously female fans have them and I would think he knows this, expects it, and probably enjoys it, i.e the Cosmo photos. I am just talking about the general quality of the board. AND, he does obviously respect Ohno Zone, so I would think this board's owner would want her board to share in that respect..as he, or someone related to him might have a look sometime. But I am going away now..

One more thing;

Let's not compare our website to Ohnozone. Ohnozone is on a completely different level than this site and Ichiban's site. Ohnozone have people that go to all or most of these ST races, and declare themselves Ozers, and Noelle got major hook-ups you wouldn't believe, not to mention that she talks with sponsors, some of his "people" and works for AOL. He has met Noelle, talked with her, and she has talked with other skaters. They are kinda like his "unofficial" website. So yes, he does take a personal response to them because he "personally" knows them.

Unlike Lindsey and Ichiban who both have amazing sites that are dedicated to Apolo. That's it. He doesn't talk with them, and we don't go to his races with signs saying "Got Apolo?"...I bet if we did, then he would start paying attention to this site too.

I just get tired of the comparision because it's not really fair. They are two different sites that serves two different purposes.

[laura6]

crimson you are a roll today!!!

Ohnizone is more of a total skate site in my opinion...

It is not really a "fan" site

[CrimsonAngel]

Thanks Laura for both of your comments. And thanks to Nikki as well because everybody's comments should be merited.

But as far as the comparision between Ohnozone, let's stop doing that. Got Apolo? is a great site and got one of the best message boards for ANY celebrity around.

And I mean that.

[Nikki]

I'm not comparing the two crimson, as obviously there is a difference, but this site can also be classy, if you will, in its devotion to Apolo.

I also think you are right in the lack of Apolo being a major reason for the threads going completely off course. It's just a huge turn off to me. Plus, a few other things..I always enjoy you, crimson, but have noticed your lack of participation lately and your obvious lack of participation in the more sexual threads. I wondered if you felt similarly to myself..I don't expect a response..but anyway, I do appreciate you very much. I also enjoy indepth conversations, as you mentioned, and some of these later comments, to me, have been on the same level as the early comments from the young members. Yes, I think the owner of the board and the members need to find a definite direction for this board...

[August]

Very well put Crimson. Nikki, much respect for your opinions. Laura, I appreciate your sincerity, consideration for all involved, and just your dang fun self. I too have mighty good reasons for not wanting to take sides in this brewing cauldron of drama, but I also come bearing a suggestion: Perhaps we can bump up some of the good old topics, circa Feb/March and get some of the newer members input on those. It was poppin' in here! We were talking Apolo, Short Track, OTC (ok, yeah, that one was mine). Perhaps we can regenerate some discussions that everyone might feel comfy joining.

[Nikki]

There are no sides to take. I was posting last night and decided to say what I had been thinking for a week or two. I am not a member. Laura and crimsonangel are always hilarious without spilling their guts, literally..I appreciate that..I only responded today to make my position clear, which obviously it was not to some, as their responses indicated. No drama, no sides, people will do what they feel they have to do.