NON-MONSTER FORUMS TO BE CLOSED AND REMOVED ON APRIL 27TH

[Allhallowsday]

...Allhallowsday: you are too much of a gentleman. Cloying? Frankenstein73's posts were positively ass kissing...

Allhallowsday, because I feel strongly about something the opposite of what you do does not make me a "creature".
And i will not hide behind words here so they cant be misconstrued. 
You come off quite rude and as a bit of a baby.     My opinion of course...

Feeling the opposite of anyone does not make you a "creature".  Another member stated I was too much of a gentleman because I used the word "cloying" instead of "ass kissing".  Kissing ass makes one a creature.  Apparently, Fester has a point. 
I am so looking forward to you, Frankenstein73, not reading or responding to this post. 

[Toy Ranch]

You guys, stop it.

[AlwaysWitty]

I haven't checked in here much lately so this came as a surprise to me today. I can see the point about removing some of the non-monster stuff but I feel like there should still be a General Discussion area. I just think it's a good place to build up the sense of community and family. I know I'm not the most active but I can tell the loss of these other areas of the forum has really affected some people. To me a General Discussion section just makes sense in any forum, for that very reason. People can bond there in ways that they probably can't in sections that are specifically dedicated to discussion of monsters.

I do feel bad that some feel like leaving. But, that's their decision I guess. I don't think my input would change any minds. I'm not exactly a fixture of this place, am I?

I just hope that somehow, either in spite of these changes or because of them, everyone's able to get along. I hope anyone who got bored will start to have fun again, and anyone who was enjoying this place the way it was can continue to enjoy it now. Who knows? Maybe somehow we can keep that sense of family and community alive.

[60sThru80s]

I'm very late to this thread, and I sincerely hope that I haven't contributed to the reasons for the decision. I'd been dormant a very long time and a few weeks ago I started posting hugely in non-monster sections and resuscitating very old non-monster threads and kept them going when they probably should have been left buried. I've read your assurances that it is not due to any one member, but I hope I wasn't too much a part of the Collective.

Somewhat selfishly, for the past six years I've been more a reader than a poster. And because of that I haven't spent the time establishing the family aspect you've all shared, and the bonds that come from within a close Army platoon. I do remember the original reason I signed on. I signed on to track down my own childhood monster memories and try to help others recapture theirs (or help other members reconcile their childhood monster-memory conflicts). So I appreciate the decision that's been taken.

I think it often becomes a question of content vs. ego. The one category missing for the past few years has been the forum called "Dump Your Egos Here." On message boards, of whatever kind, it seems more important to the ego to make a public declaration of imagined indignities, when all we need is the ancient phrase "take it outside, boys" (i.e. private message or email). If a member's only concern is the number of Posts and the number of Likes, and "who is on my side and who is on your side," they're probably in the wrong place.

[Hepcat]

...a few weeks ago I started posting hugely in non-monster sections and resuscitating very old non-monster threads and kept them going when they probably should have been left buried.

Not true. I was happy to see many of those threads resuscitated.

[horrorhunter]

I think it often becomes a question of content vs. ego. The one category missing for the past few years has been the forum called "Dump Your Egos Here." On message boards, of whatever kind, it seems more important to the ego to make a public declaration of imagined indignities, when all we need is the ancient phrase "take it outside, boys" (i.e. private message or email). If a member's only concern is the number of Posts and the number of Likes, and "who is on my side and who is on your side," they're probably in the wrong place.

Good point. Casual enjoyment while discussing monster related subjects is the intended purpose for UMA. It's a cool place to hang out for awhile...but it's just a message board.

[aura of foreboding]

The under, I'd say 35 MAYBE?, crowd is used to message boards having an off topic section to talk about things other than the boards main purpose. People here lament the younger generation's lack of love for monsters, yet they're about to be alienated. They would much rather go to another board and start a monster discussion than go somewhere that the conversation is strictly limited.

Blasko, I'm four years older than you.  I have seen a lot of message boards.  Some have it.  Some don't.  Either way, I don't socialize much online (or in person -- way too busy), so I rarely spend time in the general discussion areas. 

That being said, the General conducted a poll awhile back about the Forum vs. Facebook.  Think about how you can use that interface to interact with other members and do with it what you will.  That's my best advice. 

[Scatter]

That said, I don't know if or when Photobucket might prune old accounts that haven't had any uploads, but it's entirely possible that they could remove UP's photobucket at some point, causing the images to disappear. 

As such, here is a link to Mark's bucket. Please go forth and save any images that they might delete.

http://s363.photobucket.com/user/TheUnknownPrimate/library/?sort=3&page=1

Thanks Bobby! I hadn't considered Photobucket eventually deleting Mark's pics.......which of course they will. Appreciate the heads-up!

[Flower]

I'm very late to this thread, and I sincerely hope that I haven't contributed to the reasons for the decision. I'd been dormant a very long time and a few weeks ago I started posting hugely in non-monster sections and resuscitating very old non-monster threads and kept them going when they probably should have been left buried. I've read your assurances that it is not due to any one member, but I hope I wasn't too much a part of the Collective.

I would think that it was better to revive an old thread rather than start the same thread over and over again.  Good work on your digging up relics ... 

[Elisabeth]

Will there be a forum for members artwork and creative writing?  We have a lot of creative people around here:  Sculptors, Painters, Mask and Toymakers and other gifted professionals.  We also have professional writers who have inspired many monsterkids to pick up a pen and start to write, themselves.  Where do WE post to?

The last story I posted was in GENERAL DISCUSSION, because I couldn't think of any other place to put it.  People seemed to enjoy it, and now it's gone.  It was also on topic.

Isn't it kind of like amputating the whole arm because of a localized infected hangnail?  Yes, I believe a certain thread in MEMBERS ONLY should have been removed.  It got to be annoying, but I can understand why it went on as long as it did.  Personally, I think the parties involved should have been put on moderation...with the strict instructions to PLAY NICE....and the offending thread deleted..

I'm sorry I posted this, but I had to put my tuppence worth in.

"E"

[aura of foreboding]

Elisabeth, the Art Gallery is in the Memorabilia section and there is a new Horror Literature section which is currently a child board of that same section.  I don't know if this forum accepts fan fiction or other creative writing, however.  No one has specifically addressed that to my knowledge.  I know some places that do and some that don't.  Regardless, best of luck with the writing! 

Art Gallery: 
http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=128.0

[Elisabeth]

Thank You, Aura.  What I write is Monster based, or Monster Actor based...(s)

"E"

[jimm]

Good point. Casual enjoyment while discussing monster related subjects is the intended purpose for UMA. It's a cool place to hang out for awhile...but it's just a message board.

True, but while staying with Mom, some times all day, it's one of my favorite pastimes.

[horrorhunter]

True, but while staying with Mom, some times all day, it's one of my favorite pastimes.

I enjoy it too, jimm. I didn't mean to belittle how important UMA is to many of us. I just meant it shouldn't be used as a forum for argument or a snarkfest, and we should just lighten up and enjoy. It's the only message board I even visit. 

[Dr. Blasko]

Blasko, I'm four years older than you.  I have seen a lot of message boards.  Some have it.  Some don't.  Either way, I don't socialize much online (or in person -- way too busy), so I rarely spend time in the general discussion areas. 

That being said, the General conducted a poll awhile back about the Forum vs. Facebook.  Think about how you can use that interface to interact with other members and do with it what you will.  That's my best advice.

I didn't say anything about you not being under 35. I said the crowd is used to forums set up in that way. The ones with a lot of activity that thrive and survive have an all purpose area to funnel off topic discussion. My question is, if you do not socialize online and never use the general boards, why are you even replying concerning something that has zero effect on you then?