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Post by mtnme on Feb 14, 2009 12:36:52 GMT -5
I love coming on here and getting all the wonderful information on Apolo and the rest of the U.S. Short Track Team. If you ask me, I rather know more about short track than, why is Julliane dating Chuck Wicks?? LOL..  LOL!!! Yeah, I think AJ.com has that subject MORE than covered!  |
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Post by wildfire on Feb 14, 2009 14:50:32 GMT -5
Hey guys! You want opinions?! Okay, here's mine: Yes this site has 'shifted' from what it was since I became a member (almost 2 yrs ago)...but IMO, it's not been a bad thing overall. Sometimes shifts are imminent and not everyone will agree...blah blah. People come here for different reasons...you can't NOT talk about Apolo without talking about ST. Right?! So Lori, Mtnme, etc you are definitley NOT to blame for that!!! I love it all. And I do miss how people expressed personal opinions more and weren't afraid of offending anyone...and I didn't see that. Maybe it's just because I/we respect other's viewpoints and opinions?! If I didn't like what someone said, I'd just skip over it, and if it was something I really got frustrated over, I would speak up.
That's why I came here...the other sites were too into BI fests and drama...people flinging insults and it was inappropriate to me. Here, I felt I could be myself and speak up when generally I am shy about that...you all were so warm and friendly to me, even though I am new to all this (relatively) and "younger". But I have to say, regardless, this site has been a blessing to me...no matter what happened/s on it. Had this site not been about AAO, I wouldn't have gotten to meet and become lifelong friends and a 'daughter' to some of you, nor would I have gone to ST events and had all the amazing experiences at them (meeting some skaters and seeing them interact), making me a true ST supporter, and here I am! I'm grateful for this site and I don't really care what direction it heads in...as long as the fun part is tactful and the serious side as long as it's no too 'dramatic"...IMO people just need to remember, anyone can be reading posts so I always think, would I want my mom to read this?! Then I go from there. Just be respectful, basically in all things. I miss some people on here too and I've been a little mia, but not because I got offended or took it as it changed so dramatically here that I stayed away...I love it here and all the info given/shared. I just miss the random silly posts that lightened the mood around here sometimes...if that makes sense?! I have only been MIA to take care of life stuff and didn't feel I had much to contribute (or maybe too "shy/young" to be posting)...but when I do, I post. =)
SO...maybe the bigger question should be...when will Wags (or whoever) bring back my little Hyper boy during the races?! AHAHAHA! I still love that thing...makes me laugh every time. Okay, I'm done rambling...sorry! But I agree with AOFreak (btw, HI!) I come here for ST not who Julianne is dating now, LoL. And as for random posting...HAPPY VALENTINES DAY (or Single Awareness Day, lol) to ALL of you!!!! Love ya and love the site...no matter what. =)
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Post by mtnme on Feb 14, 2009 15:38:02 GMT -5
...single awareness day!!!! LOL!!!! 
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Post by evie5 on Feb 14, 2009 16:18:56 GMT -5
Just another thought...when there's information about Apolo and what he's doing (be it skating or whatever) I can come here and get my fill because I know that there are members that do their best to keep us informed.
But, when there is no news and information what are we to do? Are we to let the site go idle? No...we fill it with ST.
I feel that we have come to love and appreciate ST so much more than just Apolo (even if he is the "first love") and that GA is an expression of that love. Just because there is other ST going on here doesn't mean we let Apolo go by the wayside.
I don't post here very often but I do come here at least once a day, just to keep up with what is going on and to see if there is anything new.
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Post by laura6 on Feb 14, 2009 16:40:20 GMT -5
Just another thought...when there's information about Apolo and what he's doing (be it skating or whatever) I can come here and get my fill because I know that there are members that do their best to keep us informed. But, when there is no news and information what are we to do? Are we to let the site go idle? No...we fill it with ST. I feel that we have come to love and appreciate ST so much more than just Apolo (even if he is the "first love") and that GA is an expression of that love. Just because there is other ST going on here doesn't mean we let Apolo go by the wayside. I don't post here very often but I do come here at least once a day, just to keep up with what is going on and to see if there is anything new. Thats funny Evie...I do the same..I read here daily  |
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sak755
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Post by sak755 on Feb 14, 2009 17:29:01 GMT -5
I was a lurker here for a long time before joining. Seeking more Apolo info brought me here but I fell in love with all of the other ST information. This is the best place to find out what is happening with the ST team and skaters.
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Post by EnElYaK on Feb 14, 2009 18:03:52 GMT -5
...single awareness day!!!! LOL!!!! LOL that's a good one! *celebrating single awareness day*    |
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Post by A.O.Freak on Feb 14, 2009 20:55:04 GMT -5
Hey guys! You want opinions?! Okay, here's mine: Yes this site has 'shifted' from what it was since I became a member (almost 2 yrs ago)...but IMO, it's not been a bad thing overall. Sometimes shifts are imminent and not everyone will agree...blah blah. People come here for different reasons...you can't NOT talk about Apolo without talking about ST. Right?! So Lori, Mtnme, etc you are definitley NOT to blame for that!!! I love it all. And I do miss how people expressed personal opinions more and weren't afraid of offending anyone...and I didn't see that. Maybe it's just because I/we respect other's viewpoints and opinions?! If I didn't like what someone said, I'd just skip over it, and if it was something I really got frustrated over, I would speak up. That's why I came here...the other sites were too into BI fests and drama...people flinging insults and it was inappropriate to me. Here, I felt I could be myself and speak up when generally I am shy about that...you all were so warm and friendly to me, even though I am new to all this (relatively) and "younger". But I have to say, regardless, this site has been a blessing to me...no matter what happened/s on it. Had this site not been about AAO, I wouldn't have gotten to meet and become lifelong friends and a 'daughter' to some of you, nor would I have gone to ST events and had all the amazing experiences at them (meeting some skaters and seeing them interact), making me a true ST supporter, and here I am! I'm grateful for this site and I don't really care what direction it heads in...as long as the fun part is tactful and the serious side as long as it's no too 'dramatic"...IMO people just need to remember, anyone can be reading posts so I always think, would I want my mom to read this?! Then I go from there. Just be respectful, basically in all things. I miss some people on here too and I've been a little mia, but not because I got offended or took it as it changed so dramatically here that I stayed away...I love it here and all the info given/shared. I just miss the random silly posts that lightened the mood around here sometimes...if that makes sense?! I have only been MIA to take care of life stuff and didn't feel I had much to contribute (or maybe too "shy/young" to be posting)...but when I do, I post. =) SO...maybe the bigger question should be...when will Wags (or whoever) bring back my little Hyper boy during the races?! AHAHAHA! I still love that thing...makes me laugh every time. Okay, I'm done rambling...sorry! But I agree with AOFreak (btw, HI!) I come here for ST not who Julianne is dating now, LoL. And as for random posting...HAPPY VALENTINES DAY (or Single Awareness Day, lol) to ALL of you!!!! Love ya and love the site...no matter what. =) thats a good one wildfire " (or Single Awareness Day, lol) to ALL of you!!!! . " that really made me laugh  |
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Post by avln546 on Feb 14, 2009 22:21:53 GMT -5
I pretty much enjoy most of everything on here. I love how I can check the newest things in ST or if I want to check out the photos of Apolo, I can do that at any time. Plus, you guys always know the next thing Apolo is doing...dancing show, interviews, etc. This is my source of info regarding Apolo. I check in several times a week but hardly ever post. Thanks to everyone that posts all the info (ST stats or personal Apolo info...how in the world do you all find out these things  ) It has been entertaining and educational as well.  |
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Post by susie on Feb 15, 2009 1:05:07 GMT -5
I'm really, really opposed to GA getting too PC. That is/was OZ's role, and GA was the place where you could come to gush, LOL. And yeah, I do miss the long, thoughtful discussions. One of the strengths of GA has always been that the members are very accepting of a lot of different viewpoints, and that acceptance has sparked a lot of good discussions. My opinion is that the skaters and their families can probably deal with the "fangirly" stuff far better than we give them credit for. I saw a joking list generated by skaters of the things that they like about the sport, and one of those things is seeing the opposite sex in a skinsuit! I don't mind a separate section for ST, and that will probably be a necessity after Apolo retires. Before then, I'm not so sure. I would hate to see the Apolo information divided up too much. As long as he's still competing, much of the "Apolo news" will be short track related. But I do feel strongly that threads should not be deliberately buried just because they are not PC. |
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Post by Casper on Feb 15, 2009 1:19:55 GMT -5
I didn’t realize that mtnme and lori “cleaned up” a little during ST season just in case the skaters and parents paid the site a visit. It reminds me of what I’m sure a lot of us do when we’re expecting company--get our houses in order to put our best foot forward, including the inevitable last-minute clutter that we stuff in a closet or junk room. But human nature is a funny thing, and eventually someone will peek in the junk room on the way to bathroom where they will proceed to take a look behind the shower curtain or open the medicine cabinet. Some people will look; they can’t help themselves. So you didn’t have time to polish the water spots off the shower fixtures or hide the (fill in the most embarrassing item) in your medicine cabinet. I’d like to think that even the most judgmental of guests wouldn’t hold that against us, and if they did, they probably never belonged in our house to begin with.
I’ve never been much of a poster, but I have been coming here for a long time. I’ve never been much of a fan girl, but I am a sports fan, and this has always been a good place to keep up with Apolo. I love all the threads--from the risqué to the serious. A lot of the old time posters are gone for whatever reason, and I must say that I do miss a lot of them. Many of the old timers brought an edge to this site that always kept it from being strictly a fan girl site. I’ll agree that the dynamic of this site has changed in the past couple of years, but I attribute that more to the fallout from Apolo’s appearance on DWTS than anything else. As for its recent focus on ST and the Rocker Fund, that also has kept it from being strictly a fan girl site and that’s not a bad thing. I suppose giving ST and the Rocker Fund its own module is a good idea--a way to steer people to one area just in case they have no interest in the other topics. Should they take a peek elsewhere, however, all I can say is “embrace your water spots or whatever lurks behind your junk room door.” That’s part of this place’s charm--it’s eclectic and conventional, witty and serious, ST savvy and non ST savvy, smart and silly. It‘s what keeps members and guests alike coming back here. I’m sure a lot of skaters/parents have already “taken a peek” at some of the other content on this site, and if it hasn’t offended anyone by now, it probably never will. As for the recent lack of opinions and lively discussions, maybe it’s for all the reasons that others have already cited or maybe it’s just a sign of the serious times we’re living in right now. It will return; I have no doubt. In the meantime, you shouldn’t spend too much time feeling guilty--you all do a great job.
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Post by amyurban on Feb 15, 2009 14:29:21 GMT -5
I think August hit it on the head "exactly" as to how I feel about this place and have always felt. And being one of the "older" women in here, I've never felt guilty about any of what some may perceive as "fangirly" stuff about the guy. I am only a normal, hot-blooded American woman, who knows something good when she sees it. I see no need to apologize for that to "anybody." I think things have progressed to mostly his staking stuff because, quite frankly, what else is he up to that any of us are "privvy" to these days? Not a heck of a whole lot, right? But I do seriously agree with and think that once the 2010 Olympics come along, this place will be hoppin' again, not only with some of us "oldies but goodies" ( figuratively and otherwise ), but with some new admirers and fans, too. This board has done a pretty good job of taking care of its own, of both types of fans. I don't think anyone should feel any type of guilt for who is or is not in here now. All fanboards have ebbs, flows and people who come and go. That's life, it's to be expected. Keep up the good work, all of ya, and I will continue to come in here and say something from time to time, comment, say HI and post a few pics.  |
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Post by majestic on Feb 15, 2009 17:29:49 GMT -5
The bottom line here is that GA is an Apolo fansite. It was never predominately a short track board. OZ was the "short track board" and because of that, Lindsey created GA as an outlet for Apolo fans who wanted to talk more about him and not just about short track.
Obviously, short track talk comes with the territory here and that’s fine…but so do a lot of other discussions about Apolo…and as long as it doesn’t cross the line, those discussions and/or pictures will not be deleted. It is really unfair to beg fans not post on certain threads, regardless of the reasons. This forum is for all the members and whether they are just short track fans or just Apolo fans or both, is irrelevant. If posters are being asked not post on certain threads, for whatever reason, then they need to bring that to my attention privately.
I have no problem advertising the Rocker Fund here, and I know Lindsey doesn’t either. Everyone is free to talk about all aspects of short track here. But at the end of the day, the Apolo fans are free to discuss all aspects of Apolo here as well…and they should never be made to feel that they can’t.
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Post by aaosmts19 on Feb 15, 2009 19:41:36 GMT -5
Hm...when I read the original post, I thought 2 things:
1) There's a Board? and
2) Something like this doesn't get published without more stuff behind the curtain, and I wonder what it is?
The very frist time I heard the name "Apolo" in the 2002 Olympics, the hype building up to it and the story they spun, I was hooked. I think by the name and the bandana initially.... But I had no idea about Fan Forums. Four years later and here he comes again in Turin, and I was glued to the set.
Still I had no clue of fan forums, youtube, etc.
I didn't even follow DWTS until it was announced that he would participate. And somehow thru that I learned of Youtube and apolianne.com. Had no idea about GA or OZ.
We all know that one thing leads to another. Thru Apolianne I learned of GA and OZ. Moved away from Apolianne. To my newbie mind it seemed like OZ had all of the information..."Just the facts", as well as an extensive library of AO's past performances. I was like a kid in a candy story, trying to get up to speed about his past performances and speed skating in general.
While OZ was great for this, with the way the "COMMENTS" were structured, it seemed difficult to get a 'conversation' flowing. So that is what struck me about GA. For me, the 2 combined gave me a "just the information, please" with a "let's talk about what's going on with AO" and I would go back and forth between the two forums.
I've noticed that the flavor over the past year has changed. And I think that it is perhaps due to AO's deliberate attempts to 'sell' short track. He's put himself out there as the poster boy, saying 'come on along for the ride to 2010 and see what we have to offer"....not what "I" have to offer, but the sport itself. And so many of us have taken that step and followed along.
The fact that we now have a separate thread for each compeition, at the elite, national and junior level is fallout from this.
The fact that more folks have travelled all over the country and to Canada, making new friendships, meeting families and skaters, and bringing that bond back into the Forum, is all fallout from AO selling short track.
The Rocker Fund is an outgrowth of this, as well as Rocker U.
I suspect that there is more PM bonding going on behind the scenes than there was 18 months ago.
And there's nothing wrong with any of this. How many hours of pleasure has this provided? Endless hours for endless viewers.
I don't know about being too PC...it's not obvious to me, but again, I suspect there may be more going on at the PM level than just the reading the threads. While I've been with GA since 2007, I don't remember alot of the bickering that folks are alluding to. But then, I usually avoid conflict at all cost!
I guess one thing that DOES stick out for me, is the chance that parents are coming in here to read. Yes, the Forum is open to all, but let's face it, most of us don't post with the thought that Dixie Baver or the Izykowski's are coming in the Forum.
ANd the thought did occur to me that perhaps we should shift 'proud GA participant' over to "proud Rocker U partiacipant" and move the individual threads for competitions over to the ROcker U Forum. That builds up the visibility of Rocker U, takes some of the focus off of GA where people can feel safer to have an AO rumpus room.
When a new competition is getting started, a new thread in GA could be stated with a pointer to go to ROcker U, where LIVE results will be posted and fans will gather 'live' online. Then, when travelling to competitions individuals can reference the Rocker Fund or the Rocker U website, and not GA.
Of course, you cannot tell someone they are not welcome in GA (being the skaters or parents), but we certainly could shift the attention away from GA to the new sites. And who knows? Wouldn't it be great if you could the parents to come online every once in a while...sort of like having a 'live chat night" with the Jaynors...that would be another great way to spotlight short track, while letting GA revert to a more organic, fangroup forum.
SHort of this, I would recommend a new board started for all of the competitions oNLY so that it's easier to find things. I know I've had occasion to go back to try to find something 2 years ago and it's hard to find.
Just my distant 2 cents.
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Post by susie on Feb 15, 2009 20:49:22 GMT -5
The bottom line here is that GA is an Apolo fansite. It was never predominately a short track board. OZ was the "short track board" and because of that, Lindsey created GA as an outlet for Apolo fans who wanted to talk more about him and not just about short track. Obviously, short track talk comes with the territory here and that’s fine…but so do a lot of other discussions about Apolo…and as long as it doesn’t cross the line, those discussions and/or pictures will not be deleted. It is really unfair to beg fans not post on certain threads, regardless of the reasons. This forum is for all the members and whether they are just short track fans or just Apolo fans or both, is irrelevant. If posters are being asked not post on certain threads, for whatever reason, then they need to bring that to my attention privately. I have no problem advertising the Rocker Fund here, and I know Lindsey doesn’t either. Everyone is free to talk about all aspects of short track here. But at the end of the day, the Apolo fans are free to discuss all aspects of Apolo here as well…and they should never be made to feel that they can’t. OZ always had to toe the line. There were certain things that wouldn't fly there that were perfectly acceptable here (at least after Torino, when I came onboard.) I remember when Apolo first went on DWTS, I wondered why GA didn't become more A/J oriented. And in retrospect, it was a really good thing that it didn't, because that isn't, and never has been its role. It's an Apolo fan site, first and foremost. And since I expect that Apolo will have a lot going on in his post-Olympic career, I hope that GA will be around for a whole lot longer. But I don't want the ST discussions moved over to one of the Rocker sites. I'd like them to stay here. We have a community here, and I don't want to see it fractured. |
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