Alternatives to Wrong Planet

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I've become dismayed with this site and some of the nonsense that goes on here. Perhaps I'll elaborate in another post sometime. It's a shame, as it seemed really interesting at first, and there are still some gems here. But on the whole...well, I think this quote from a youtube video summarizes it:

And this is from a few years ago.

I'm also disgusted by the favoritism and the cliquish nature I've come across with mods and certain users. It seems this should be the one place where we're beyond that nonsense that's so prevalent in the NT world, but even here it's reared its ugly head. I let a lot of stuff slide, as I know some of the mods have their own demons, but at some point, there's no justification for their actions, no matter how emotionally damaged they may be.

Anyway, are there any other sites you people enjoy? Any other suggestions? Anything else to try out? I'm asking other users, not the mods.

Sorry you're having a rubbish time.

The only other site I post to is the "Star Trek BBS," so can't help ya there.

Hope you find what you're looking for.

Take gentle care.

This goes with my thread about personal attacks, I think.

But you can't escape it. People are people, aspie or not, and they're going to act that way. It's sad, but it's true.

I try to look for the good as best I can.

I'm not sure if you're saying this thread reminds you of yours or if you think it's a response to yours. If it's the latter, then no, these are just my observations. If the former, then maybe we see some common ground.

I disagree though, to some extent, about "people are people," in the sense that here, on this site, I actually hold those on the spectrum to a higher standard than the generally collectively emotional NT. If there's any benefit to being on the spectrum, it's hopefully being beyond such behavior, or willing to be called out for it.

But I feel there's a sense of "we had no power in the real world, but now we do! It's our turn to act like normal people" sort of sentiment in the back of their heads.

One of the things I like about this site was the openness and frankness, which is why I feel the need to ask if anyone knows of any alternatives.

Do you folks see that button in the top-right corner of your screens?

The one that says, "Log out"?

Did you ever stop to think that maybe the best possible solution for your complaints is to click on it?

Go ahead; give it a try.

Aren't you the guy who went into self-imposed exile for some reason or another, then came back to boast about how you were breaking the self-imposed exile?

My problem is with aspects of the site I've become dismayed by. But I like the general idea of a discussion board for those on the spectrum. Since there are many people here on the spectrum, and since many of these people may be aware of other sites that I'm not aware of, I figured I'd ask. Isn't that the point of this site, to have discussions with others and share ideas? You're telling me logging out will accomplish that?

My complaints were listed to explain why I was looking for an alternative, not for someone to "solve" them. I want to check out other sites.

What sites did you visit while AWOL from here? What ultimately brought you back?

Last edited by again_with_this on 22 Sep 2012, 9:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I think that a lack of etiquette can happen on any internet forum, just because you don't see the person face to face to see the effect of hurtful comments. It's pretty interesting to watch Jimmy Kimmel video taping celebrities reactions to reading their own Tweets on their twitter feeds. I think that shows just how widespread cyberbullying has become.

Not sure if that's exactly what you were talking about, but if you find a solution, let me know.

Last edited by deltafunction on 22 Sep 2012, 9:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.

You may be on to something, although I think that response is only going to worsen the OP's view on things.
Edit: Forgot to refresh the page. Oh well!

Hit refresh and read my response. I'm not upset about that post, I just think Fnord misses the point completely.

Negativity will exist on all sites, and at least here you have the freedom (to some extent) to voice your thoughts without being judged (most of the time).

No. I'm the guy who went into a self-imposed exile after I got fed up with the actions and attitude of one of the moderators here (See? No hypocrisy here; I followed my own advice!), and then came back after I'd thought it through and determined that there are better ways to combat injustice.


So, you just want someone to tell you where to go? Have you tried using a search engine?


Then just go. Complaints about the website are best handled by PMs to the moderators, and not through whiny posts in inappropriate threads.


I have never been AWOL in my entire life as a civilian or as a military member, and I resent your insulting attitude.


I have friends here.

Bottom line: If you're not happy with WrongPlanet, then your options are (1) Shut up and deal with it; (2) post complaints that will alienate the loyal members; (3) Buy the website or make a healthy donation and make the changes yourself; or (4) Log out.

Last edited by Fnord on 22 Sep 2012, 10:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Smaller sites are generally better for avoiding bitterness, if that's what you dislike about this one. I like it just fine, though. But I wonder if posting on this site about how you don't like this site can be considered offensive by the moderators. I don't know.

Personally, I disagree with holding Autistic people to a higher standard than Neurotypicals because some are sort of "in between" and, as I've found the hard way, some have been so beaten down by Neurotypicals' social rules ("don't monopolize the conversation!") that they've forgotten to be honest even when asked to be ("tell me if I talk about something that upsets you!").

I am fairly new here so I have not experienced what you describe. I have no agenda and frankly do not care if people like me or not. I am totally unaware of any "status" anyone gets on this site or what value it may have to be a part of a "clique" I have noticed there are some posters who have been around a long time that make snarky comments. I choose to ignore them as they are not worth a response. It may not be possible for you to do so but more detail would be appreciated.

Its a high turn over site, peps dont last too long here.

My other forum is very very low turnover site, basically the same knobheads as 2-4 yrs ago.....

WP is paying the price for its lack of soul.... and disrespect shown toward non corporate entities and their allies....

However the mods are caught in-between this policy and their own hearts. I would not blame them, they are only the messengers. Everyone has lessons to learn in their own journeys.... Aspies can be fairly disagreeable.... and many mods have chosen to guard their position due to troublesome previous aspies, having been a pain in the ass

True some mods may have power issues, and should not be doing this job... But rather than addressing them all in a cursory manner. A PM should be the place to start if you have a specific complaint against a particular mod....

This place is all about the money, and it has always shown at the core. Many members who comment are lobbyists for certain industry groups....

Rather than a place for aspies to share, it can be seen as the conditioning vehicle equivalent of network television...... when it should be something more like cable TV, with less spin

I'm not interested in combating injustice, just curious if anyone had any recommendations.



Just asking for suggestions, as multiple options come up with a search engine.



My complaint is the actions of moderators. Talking to them is a waste.



Well take your own advice and "deal with it." I resent you insulting attitude as well, but that's not my complaint about WP.

I really haven't encountered any of the things you're talking about. What you see as a "clique" I see as people who have known each other for a while naturally being more comfortable talking to each other and yea maybe struggling to change their routine when other people become involved. This is an autism site after all so that is to be expected surely? I've been here a similar length of time to you by the looks of it and, over all, I have found that people have engaged with me roughly to the extent that I have engaged with them. That has been the same as any other forum I have encountered. Also the fact that some people occasionally misconstrue that in the way that I think you have is also fairly normal to most forums.

Additionally there are a lot of young people here. Young autistic people at that. It's no surprise that social graces and stuff might be occasionally lacking. Also, from what I can see there are a fairly small number of mods as compared to a fairly large user base so sometimes things are going to get out of hand and escalate long before the mods get alerted or get to it themselves.

TLDR: I think you're over-reacting and I think this forum has a very similar dynamic to other forums I've been on in the past and that deviations from that dynamic can probably be explained by the fact that the forum is largely populated by autistic people and people who think they may be autistic (and I don't think you arrive at that belief unless you have some problems).