Past Gymnastics Message Board Memories- Which was your first message board?

[irichluck21]

GymTRUTHteller is using the term VERY generously.

This person often blogs incorrect information, has horrible spelling, doesn't understand the code of points, and is very biased toward specific athletes.

Spelling Clemson as Clemsen for example. Calling out Sophia Bell of Auburn for not capitalizing the letter of the first word in each sentence of her Instagram post stating that Bell is in college and capitalization is taught in Kindergarten is another example. But earlier says "E-Mail" which is incorrect grammar and spelling as it is email now but previously e-mail was accepted. So the delicious irony of someone calling out someone for lack of capitalization, when they are over capitalizing. It's just funny.

A lot of what is posted on that blog isn't so much "truth" as much as it is "trash talking".

Opinion is my own and not of this board or staff.

 

[JoseM]

GymTRUTHteller is using the term VERY generously.

This person often blogs incorrect information, has horrible spelling, doesn't understand the code of points, and is very biased toward specific athletes.

Spelling Clemson as Clemsen for example. Calling out Sophia Bell of Auburn for not capitalizing the letter of the first word in each sentence of her Instagram post stating that Bell is in college and capitalization is taught in Kindergarten is another example. But earlier says "E-Mail" which is incorrect grammar and spelling as it is email now but previously e-mail was accepted. So the delicious irony of someone calling out someone for lack of capitalization, when they are over capitalizing. It's just funny.

A lot of what is posted on that blog isn't so much "truth" as much as it is "trash talking".

Opinion is my own and not of this board or staff.

I agree with you about GTT. What you say is very true.

GTT has always rubbed me wrong.

José M.

 

[rlayt]

Me too José.

 

[Sasha]

I've never been a fan either. They come off as one of those people who claims to "tell it like it as" as a justification for being a jerk.

 

[IratePanda]

And the writing is inexecrable.

 

[RedBirdie]

Just ignore GTT. We've ignored them for years, don't feed their ego by spending time slagging them here.

 

[Denn]

Changing gears here...

Do people imagine that forums will continue to have an important place on the internet or is that something that could change in coming years?

 

[IratePanda]

Changing gears here...

Do people imagine that forums will continue to have an important place on the internet or is that something that could change in coming years?

I think so. Forums foster a sense of community that just doesn't exist on Twitter or Instagram.

 

[RichardL]

Yeah, I'm grateful for this option over social media for sure. But maybe we're just old?

 

[Seyonne]

I’m the only person I know who cares about gymnastics. Discovering gymnastics message boards with other gym nerds was incredible. I found my people! I hope they always exist.

 

[Big_rock_show]

As long as message boards remain safe, kind spaces for people to form community over shared interests, I'm sure they'll continue to exist! Much more pleasant and intentional than Twitter or Reddit.

Plus very few people in my normal life know Gymnastics like I do, so it's important that I have a place like this! (Even though compared to some of you, I'm a gym-rookie! )

 

[RedBirdie]

I prefer message boards because of the level of organization they can have and ability to search. Most social media is disorganized and searching for something from, say, 3 years ago is nigh impossible.

 

[QuietColours]

I find message boards to have much better organization for actually having a detailed discussion than any other social media form.

 

[eanda]

I prefer message boards because of the level of organization they can have an ability to search. Most social media is disorganized and searching for something from, say, 3 years ago is nigh impossible.

Exactly. Social media just isn't made for the kind of conversations or search options I'm looking for or find in a message board. Even within a single post on social media, it can become difficult to be a part of a popular discussion.

 

[Denn]

That's interesting — I had thought about organization, but I had not thought about how easier searching is a major benefit of forums for some users. Thanks for sharing that everyone.

 

[MaryClare]

I was having a conversation with a gymnternet friend the other day and it got me thinking, so I thought I’d post here.

We were both saying we miss how European the early gymnternet was. Where as now, the content is very US dominated. We both speak several languages, but there are no spaces that exist where other gymnastics programmes are the focus. Indeed it’s actually really hard to get any sort of news or info about even major programmes like Italy, even as an Italian speaker.

 

[Denn]

The part about not being able to find these resources in other languages is both a little surprising and quite disappointing. Thanks for sharing that, though.

Would it be useful for us to include, say, an Italian language forum about Italian gymnastics specifically even though the rest of the site is in English? (And similar for other cases?) Or would the use of English elsewhere essentially negate any interest in an Italian sub-forum?

 

[eanda]

I was having a conversation with a gymnternet friend the other day and it got me thinking, so I thought I’d post here.

We were both saying we miss how European the early gymnternet was. Where as now, the content is very US dominated. We both speak several languages, but there are no spaces that exist where other gymnastics programmes are the focus. Indeed it’s actually really hard to get any sort of news or info about even major programmes like Italy, even as an Italian speaker.

Same here. I'm really far more interested in gymnastics in other countries. I can only claim one other language for really being able to carry on a conversation, but can manage in a few more. I always enjoyed the language forums at Gymworld. Their success depends on having the audience, which was definitely available at Gymworld. On the other hand, it may be a case of if you build it, they will come.

 

[rlayt]

Gym world had sub forums in European languages. I don’t think anyone has attempted it before or since. Correct me if I’m wrong.

 

[eanda]

I think TAAF had some, but of course not nearly as active.