Welcome to Gaia! ::

I would like to suggest that you reconsider the idea of having a Dad's Discussion thread. It may not be something I need since I'm about to become a Mama and not a Dad, but I can see where the men might like a place to have dad-oriented conversations. The women in this guild do have some threads that are more geared towards them (i.e. the "For the Preggers" and the breastfeeding threads.) Also, even though this is the Parents Guild, we do tend to have a majority of women. Other smaller segments of our population (preggers, military families, families with kids with special needs, etc.) have their own threads to discuss their unique circumstances so why not dads?

Just some things to consider... Thanks for reading this! biggrin

I hope it is ok if I echo what mrs K was saying. I also feel a dad's thread might be good. My personal idea is leave it there and see if it gets use. If it's not really getting utilized after a while.. then do whatever with it. But, I do know in my area for a fact that a lot of dads will not attend any parenting classes and sometimes not get involved with school things unless there is an explicit dad's only group.. or.. events geared towards guy only interaction. While moms and dads experience the same things, men experience them in different ways. The ways women talk to each other just isn't always very helpful for a man.

However, if you guys allowed it, and it didn't get used. Then maybe you guys could do away with it. That's just my two cents. Well, josh doesn't even come in here. I think he feels if he associates with these adult guilds that it makes him feel old. rolleyes

Ok, the big horrible person who locked the thread that is causing the e-drama is going to speak. rolleyes

Luna started covering it, but apparently I have to justify exactly why I locked the thread, and it wasn't done on a whim or because I want to keep the men down and be a jerk. It was done based on the new guidelines we all discussed and Loki announced were in place for threads.

As was already brought up, I locked it because it was going to address issues that we already have threads for, including general parenting questions and the military thread for questions relating to that. I don't have an issue with a dad's thread per se, but I didn't see indication that it was going to cover subject matter that isn't covered anywhere else. Mothers were invited in, meaning it wasn't really intended as a Dads only thread, but another parenting questions thread. But what an interesting thought: a Dads thread that is only really used by the Mothers who are supposedly over-running the place anyway.

So, once again: it was locked because it looks like another general parenting Q&A thread and we already have one of those. If someone wants to post feedback, please do so in a constructive adult manner and stop making e-drama posts about how this guild is going to hell-in-a-handbasket.

[And I would just like to add that I'm a person and have feelings too and it hurts to see a bunch of people suddenly just pop up and talk about me like that. You wouldn't want people to do that to you, please don't do it to me. If you have a problem with something I did, PM me or take it to Loki or Gentle next time.]

I can understand why the thread was locked since there were not any particularly new discussion areas brought up, but I still think having a Daddy Discussion Thread, maybe set up with better guidelines about what exactly the thread is about, could be valuable. When Tetravus has a chance to stop by, I could definitely see him using the thread to talk to other dads about the whole dad experience.

I hope that none of you felt attacked by my previous post. I just wanted to state a case for having a thread like that.

*hugs again to all the mods* I do think you are all doing a great job and really appreciate your work around here.

Oooooook.

I can see this has blown up.

Look, I am sorry if our recent actions of guild clean-up has offended anyone. That was NOT the intention. All I want is for things to run smoothly and easily for EVERYONE in this guild.

No one is being targeted. No one is being singled out. And no one is being favored. Pirate Dirge did what she felt was right when she locked that thread. And people, it's not carved in stone that the thread has to remain locked. My Crew are only doing what was asked of them by ME. I asked that they help in the de-cluttering of the guild. And I am doing this because other guild members have contacted me over time asking for it to be done as well. Like I said in another post, this has been a long time coming.

I visit (and mod on) NUMEROUS other forums and message boards and this is common practice. Heck, it's common practice here on Gaia! Our original GPG guild thread has been deleted, and I'm not having a fit over it. It happens. But there is a wrong way and a right way to go about expressing your feelings due to us locking a thread. If anyone feels we were wrong, then please tell us. We are only human and we are making the best decisions we can.

But there is absolutely NO sense in attacking my Crew for doing what I asked them to. There is NO sense in ranting in threads or making other inappropriate comments. Let us handle these things like adults, please.

Pirate Dirge was perfectly polite when locking that thread. She gave her reasons in an adult manner and made appropriate suggestions. I thought she handled well. So please don't bag on her for what she did. Bag on me if anyone need to bag on someone!

I don't understand why this is happening really. This guild is supposed to be a nice place with a slightly more mature atmosphere.

I too happen to like the idea of a Dad's thread. I think it could be useful for our menfolk to get together and be dads together and share their views and experiences together like many moms do. I just want to make sure the thread will go well and be productive.

I know this guild can come off as a high-estrogen area, but ALL, and I mean ALL forms of parents and guardians are welcome to ALL threads in this guild. We WANT to hear from Dads, step-parents, legal guardians, grand parents, siblings, uncles, aunts, and everyone else!

As soon as I am able to, me, the VC, and the Crew are going to have a discussion specifically about this, so please let us take due process with this and we will make a decision accordingly. We are taking everyone's opinions and comments into consideration. That is why I started this thread. I WANT to hear what y'all have to say. I wish more people would utilize the PM option, but posting here is fine as well.

But please do not attack the Crew over something I asked them to help me with.

Thanks for speaking up ^_^.

I'm happy to know your hubby had no hard feelings about it. As we certainly meant no harm by it. If he would like to PM me about another try at the thread with some examples and such, please tell him to go right ahead. We absolutely want to encourage our male members to have a voice and to be as active as the females, but we just wanna make sure things stay productive and no flame-fests start. So many times a well-meaning member has posted up a wonderful thread, just for someone else to come along and ruin it for everyone else, and we certainly did NOT want that to happen to him and his thread.

An update on the Dads Thread situation.

The apprpriate members have been contacted about this and we are in discussions now. So please be patient as we continue progress ^_^.