Discussion 2: The balance of reality.

[BossTamsin (imported)]

Before we get to the question and discussion, there are some ground rules for this thread.

NUMBER 1: There are going to be NO bans resulting from any discussion on this thread.

NUMBER 2: Replies will NOT be edited or deleted by any of the moderators.

NUMBER 3: I want everyone to share their views on this question.

These are hard rules, being handed down from on high. I want honesty, not "yes-men". This is your archive too, but it may not be for long if you don't speak out. There is one other request though. Just because you will not be tossed does not mean you should start attacking others. This isn't a rule, but I'm asking all of you to try and remain polite and friendly. Surely you can get your message across without personal attacks or insults.

There will be no poll. If you have an opinion, even a one line reply can help considerably, and takes next to no time.

DISCUSSION 2:

Now this was always intended to be the topic of the second discussion, but I was quite interested to see more than a few people mention it in the first thread. Now, for this thread please disregard the story section. I can't even think of a way to tip the balance for that area, and wouldn't want to try.

I've been coming to the EA, like so many others, for quite a few years now. Hell, it's probably been at least a decade, and most likely longer even than that. I can remember the early days, when you didn't know if it would still be up from one day to the next, and the beginnings of the message boards. I can also remember that from day one, this place had a massive fantasy component to it, and reality was somewhat harder to come by. AS the site grew, some of the users started fighting to bring more reality to the EA. This was not a bad thing. It enabled us to become an amazing resource in terms of real-life information about castration and penectomy.

My question is, do you think there is some kind of ideal balance between fantasy and reality we should be aiming for? Is there too much reality on the boards, and not enough fantasy? Do we still have too much fantasy?

If we need more of one, how should we encourage it? Do you think the balance needs changing, and if so in what direction?

[estragen (imported)]

sounds like an impossible task to micromanage and funnel people's natural interests to achieve an artificial balance although your intentions to make more people feel comfortable are heartfelt and touching.

[dingbat (imported)]

Bearing in mind the remit of this thread I wanted to add something. It might well mean that some members of the forum don't like me much afterwards but, hopefully, people will understand the point I'm making and not take it personally.

I have quite a bit of difficulty with some of the fantasy aspects of the forum. When I first arrived here I was surprised to see the fantasy parts of the board (I really don't know why!). Of course, I can choose whether to read them or not, no-one is forcing me to read them. In general, I don't. They just don't interest me and, frankly, some of them bother me! I wouldn't dream of judging someone else's choices or desires but I do think people need to be able to use a certain amount of personal discretion when viewing the forums. It isn't, perhaps, too easy to work out what you might be about to see/read just from the main forum titles.

I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with the fantasy elements to the forum just that some of them go way over what I feel comfortable with. That's a personal decision though, not a value judgement.

I think you probably need both aspects in order to make the forum function as a whole.

[tugon (imported)]

Having found the EA after castration I was past fantasy and heavily into reality. Prior to castration fantasy was an incredible part of my day to day thoughts. Any mention or story about castrations would have me excited in a second. Problem being fantasy does not prepare you for reality. So I would find the mix of both important. Even more important I think would be a way to help new members differentiate between reality and fantasy. A seperation of autobiographies from fantasies by creating new sections for both might be helpful. A reader searching the boards would know what they will be reading. They could enjoy themselves with fantasy and then learn about reality. Of course those posting would need to be honest and if a mod from vast experience thinks it is just fantasy I think the thread should be moved to fantasy if posted elsewhere.

[Uncle Flo (imported)]

I was first brought to EA many years ago by the storys (all fantasy). I had no computer of my own. The site was crude, unreliable and pretty much bare bones. After several re-incarnations of EA, some major crashes, several user names, having my own computer allowed me to concentrate on my first priority: reality. I read few stories anymore. I find the fusing of the two elements of fantasy and reality sets EA in the center of the real world for most readers. The fantasy is as important to "keeping the dream alive" as is the factual side of things. I don't feel those of us in the world of eunuchry would be well served if either aspect was favored over the other. So I say as a reality based person:"Hooray for fantasy! --FLO--

[plix (imported)]

I am a strictly reality person and as such have never been into the fantasy. But that doesn't mean I don't realize that there are people who are into the fantasy, and I see no reason why those people shouldn't be able to enjoy themselves.

I would not mind seeing more of an equal balance between fantasy and reality. I would like to see some sections of the board devoted solely to fantasy, some devoted solely to reality, and some stay neutral. This way we are being fair to everyone and giving both sides a place to call their own.

Someone brought up the idea of a forum or section only for people who are true eunuchs (the person suggested both surgical and chemical but I feel that a surgical only section might be better, along with a separate chemical section possibly - this opinion is controversial but I don't feel that chemical eunuchs have the status of surgical eunuchs). I think such a forum could be a great thing, but the problem would be verification of the eunuch status of each person wanting access to it. I know that I and I believe many others are not comfortable submitting photos, so I don't think that method will work. Any suggestions on how else we might verify someone as a eunuch?

I think that lately there have been too many attacks on posts that are fantasy-oriented. As soon as someone posts a fantasy they have, lots of people jump on that person with all of the horrible consequences of castration. First of all, while castration may bring negative consequences that one should know before one is actually castrated, castration is not all bad. I feel it has positives as well. Second of all, most of these people are just having fun and will never actually go through with castration. They are fantasizing about doing it. There is a difference. Why not let them enjoy their fantasy without having to remind them about reality?

[tjstill (imported)]

As I have mentioned elsewhere on the board recently, I believe the strength of the board lays with the tremendous diversity of people who come here for whatever reason. The only common denominator is an interest in some aspect of castration. People who visit find their own areas of interest and will contribute as and when they feel they should. Any attempt to steer the make up and balance of the types of posts can only be done by restrictions (unless you have found a way to force people to contribute). If you do not like or find interesting any thread or story dont read it. If you start to read something it doesnt take long to see wether you will like it or not. If you do read something you dont like or agree with and feel strongly about then post a concise, constructive, logical reply giving your point of view. If you flame and get involved in personal attacks or threats then expect the wrath of the moderator. The board will go wherever the contributors take it and I am not sure I would like to see this freedom tampered with or refined by a new mission statement or narrowing of perspective. Think how boring it would be if everyone who came here agreed with each other and had all the same interests!

[estragen (imported)]

Hard to argue with that!!

[I Worship Women (imported)]

I have not posted on this forum for a long time, and that was for reasons I won't go into here. But I decided to offer some answers to this thread, and I hope my post here will not be deleted or anything.

About the question of whether there is too much castration reality or too much castration fantasy on this board. That is a difficult question to answer. It is difficult to answer because there are so many individual members here, and each of us is an individual. What is enough castration reality for one member, may be too much for someone else, and still is not enough for someone else. The same is true for castration fantasy. The fact there are so many individual members here makes it difficult to find a proper balance.

Also, what your situation is may help decide which you are most interested in. Some are interested only in the reality part, others are only interested in the fantasy part.

As long as you have a large number of members, some who are more into the reality, others who are more into the fantasy, it is going to be difficult to find a perfect or proper balance between reality and fantasy.

When I read the opening post I had this thought. Why not have a 2 part message board or a 2 part Eunuch Archive, one part dedicated to castration reality and the other part dedicated to castration fantasy, with perhaps a third part that are castration related things that would be of interest to all members regardless of whether they are into the reality or the fantasy?

Things like stories would go in the fantasy part. Things about Dr Kimmel and other surgeons who do real castrations would go in the reality part. And so on.

When someone comes to Eunuch Archive they could right away go to the part that interests them most.

I do feel there also needs to be a general section that would have castration items of interest to all members regardless of whether they are into reality or fantasy.

You asked for our thoughts about this, and these are my thoughts about it.

[Kangan (imported)]

We need both the fantasy and the reality.

It was the fantasy that brought me here. It is the reality items that keep me here. I also enjoy the stories.