There has been a fair bit of discussion aboout Bedlam over the past 48 hours. I thought it would be a good idea to have a place where people could come and talk about what the sub-forum means to them, what they expect from it etc.

Can I go first? Good! I guess the first thing about Bedlam is that posts don't have to be Thai related. You don't come here looking to find hotels or where to but a motorbike in Phuket. This means you can talk about anything. But, you can't really talk about anything, as forum rules apply to dicussions about Thai royalty, etc. I understand that and it's fair to say that Bedlam is not a place to discuss any Thai issue.

The next thing about Bedlam is that it's un-moderated - to an extent - and I guess this has led to the current debate - as there are many posts that don't really belong here - the farang pub section would be a more appropriate place for a lot of the stuff.

Perhaps it would be a good idea to have Bedlam Mods - these people would just make sure that there is a reason for posting in Bedlam. When it was decided to have Bedlam there were not as many members as there are now and all these people do need a little guidance. I think that Bronco mentioned that Bedlam was going to be re-jigged and I hope that they speak to the people that use it.

Another aspect of Bedlam that I like is that due to the fact that most people here have been posting on TV for a while they are not so quick to take offence. I like that if I call someone an offensive name they won't immediatly take it to heart and actually get wound up by it. And I feel that people need to be here a while, and get to know each other before they can get to this point.

I know that some people hark back to the good old days of Bedlam and say it's not what it was. Well, when I first qualified for Bedlam I was very excited as I approached 500 and when I actually got here I was dissapointed about what I found. Almost every post on the first page was about American politics or Iraq. I think that the postings in Bedlam are much more diverse than they were. Posters are still free to post about what they want - if you want to talk about politics then open a topic.

I hope I have been posting here for people to know I am not having a go at anyone by posting this. If I have a problem about something that someone says then I'll them - if you believe that Bedlam is not as good as it used to be, then that's your perogative!

Also, please forgive me if you think this is of a rant, but I do enjoy the freedoms of Bedlam and I hope it shows in my posting this topic!

Shall we all be serious or shall we hi-jack this thread? Isn't that what bedlam is about?

Mate, I got a headache spending so long on a post!

When I first saw Bedlam on my forum list and I

checked it out I too was dissapointed. It was full

of <deleted> and it continues in that vein. In another

thread you suggest moving TLW to the real world

and I did not agree. Keep stuff such as this where

it belongs.

Bedlam can serve for :

1. Posts which have no relation to Thailand.

2. What Boo referred to as verbal masturbation.

I'm not sure what you mean about "if it belongs

in Bedlam". You mean if it's too sensible ?

Surely the OP posts it where he wants ?

I have noticed some posters degenerate from

reasonably intelligible to barely coherent when

they gain access to Bedlam (In rapid self defense

I would assert that I posted just as much crap before

as after).

Re the offensive words , I've just had a call from my

man. He says there's too many people on the street.

Is it OK if he does the hit tomorrow ?

I think that things can belong in Bedlam is something that shoule be defined. A few threads could belong in the farang pub. Perhaps if there was more guidance about what should be posted where. Isn't this what the crux of the current debate is about?

Mate, I got a headache spending so long on a post!

I know what you mean....

Have an aspirine!

LaoPo

Where did you get the pic of Farangsay's wife?

At the risk of being boring , I repeat that a thread is in

Bedlam because the OP decided to post it there.

I have seen threads shifted before to a more appropriate

sub-forum but I saw this as a helpful mod action so the

OP would get a better response to his question.

Bedlam > Farang Pub wouldn't fit this scenario.

As I said in an another topic - maybe splitting up Bedlam into sub-forums would help some people.

We'd know where to find ya then Kid.

Ask Jockstar what he would like to see happen to Bedlam!

Glad that this one comes up.

As for the Pattaya Forum the Mods had the brilliant idea to create a sub-forum for the condojumpernews and since Lybia and Brit have a place to unwind without bothering me anymore.

A similar sandpit for Boonie and Spee under Bedlam would be great as I really give a rats arse about their endless rectifications why the US are in Iraq and who shall be next.

No offense guys, but Bedlam is for me a place to have fun and post idiosyncratic nonsense...ain't that what the name suggests?

Mate, I got a headache spending so long on a post!

I found myself SPENDING too much last week.

Good O.P DSK.

When I wake up in the morning (mornin' all) the first place I reload is Bedlam and then view the topics created or added in order of merit .... merit points being 'the sillier the better'... it takes a few cups of coffee for me to tackle the more worldly stuff and I will frequently leave a few Bedlam topics unread and check out any updates on the Isaan sub-forum first.

I used to do the same thing back in the old news-print days..... cartoons first, horoscopes second, readers letters third and then the grim reality.... try doing that in reverse, even the funniest cartoon loses it's appeal.

I like Bedlam the way it is, because I choose to selectively filter out content I find uninteresting and the break from reading 'Thailand is this' 'Thailand is that' posts in the main forum is more than welcome some times.

The only thing I would change if I could is the qualification, the right to entry, most if not all the current Bedlam members are time served and have made serious contributions to the main forum and quite rightly deserve the ability to let off steam or get a bit frivolous when the mood takes them (at least the posting qualified members) ...... I think I will leave that there as it's patently obvious where this statement is going, plus I haven't had a coffee yet

if this helps to make things clear, the definition of bedlam from dictionary.com is

1. a scene or state of wild uproar and confusion.

2. Archaic. an insane asylum or madhouse.

Glad that this one comes up.

As for the Pattaya Forum the Mods had the brilliant idea to create a sub-forum for the condojumpernews and since Lybia and Brit have a place to unwind without bothering me anymore.

A similar sandpit for Boonie and Spee under Bedlam would be great as I really give a rats arse about their endless rectifications why the US are in Iraq and who shall be next.

No offense guys, but Bedlam is for me a place to have fun and post idiosyncratic nonsense...ain't that what the name suggests?

I like raros post here ... in fact I like it so much that I agree with him !

It seems that some members have a more serious outlook on bedlam than others and maybe creating a more serious subforum under bedlam would resolve this issue.

Whats the hard part?

This is Bedlam, get it?

Bedlam is a filter to keep us from talking <deleted> in the main forum.

As you may have noticed it's broken

In the last couple of days, it seems to me, Bedlam has broken into 2 distinct camps: Those that preferred the "Old Bedlam" without the childishness & hijackings by certain members (not my words), and those that find it entertaining now & see nothing wrong with the banter. I can see the point of the second camp, as I see Bedlam how it is now, but could anyone in the first camp please enlighten me as to what they actually want Bedlam to be like? And, "how it was" doesn't help me, as I don't know what that was.

I must say, from some of the comments made by the old guard, I feel that anyone that hasn't been here (Bedlam) for at least 2 years is unwelcome, no matter what their style of posting....

I seem to have gained access here at a time of much confusion as to its purpose. As a newcomer to Bedlam, I cannot really give an opinion on whether it is as good as it used to be. I can only say I hope we can sort out the “Us” & “Them” issues and all continue to enjoy everything TV has to offer.

Welcome to Bedlam, Chilliwasabi

I must say, from some of the comments made by the old guard, I feel that anyone that hasn't been here (Bedlam) for at least 2 years is unwelcome, no matter what their style of posting....

Without new blood the place would die out. There's threads that are hijackable and those who shouldn't be. By the time people get here they should have it figured out which is which.

Another thing that should be noted is that there is a substansial amount of established members who choose to have virtually no input into Bedlam.

I agree that without new members there wouldn't be very much going on...

A similar sandpit for Boonie and Spee under Bedlam would be great as I really give a rats arse about their endless rectifications why the US are in Iraq and who shall be next.

Lets call it "The Bearpit"

Instead of closing threads in the normal forums that have become a bit controversial, why not move them to Bedlam ? That might inject a bit of life into the Bedlam and at the same time keep these threads on topic for serious debate.

In the last couple of days, it seems to me, Bedlam has broken into 2 distinct camps: Those that preferred the "Old Bedlam" without the childishness & hijackings by certain members (not my words), and those that find it entertaining now & see nothing wrong with the banter. I can see the point of the second camp, as I see Bedlam how it is now, but could anyone in the first camp please enlighten me as to what they actually want Bedlam to be like? And, "how it was" doesn't help me, as I don't know what that was.

I must say, from some of the comments made by the old guard, I feel that anyone that hasn't been here (Bedlam) for at least 2 years is unwelcome, no matter what their style of posting....

I agree with your comments NR particularly the highlighted quote...

This subject originally came up in general forums because of the disruption of threads there, I think that a lot of that goodwill banter belongs in Bedlam and now the issue has been raised we should alll take more care of jumping out of here and running amock amongst the general population. Come here for banter, for arguments, for serious discussion or pure Bedlamity, I think we all just need to focus on where to draw the lines. Including myself of course. we don't want more regulation in here, but we could come to agreement of what, where and when and moderate our own behaviour.

I like raros post here ... in fact I like it so much that I agree with him !

didnt happen that often....huh?

Instead of closing threads in the normal forums that have become a bit controversial, why not move them to Bedlam ? That might inject a bit of life into the Bedlam and at the same time keep these threads on topic for serious debate.

serious debate !!!!

they say a week is a long time in politics... but a weekend is a lifetime in bedlam... <deleted> did i miss since logging off friday

they say a week is a long time in politics... but a weekend is a lifetime in bedlam... <deleted> did i miss since logging off friday

You daren't log off for a sec round here treble 6 ... its like a firecracker with a hair trigger here at the mo

yeah - so i see, what thread started it all off... link or name from anyone would be helpfull