A year ago, when we had to stop being called Tom's Cafe, we rather hastily settled on skirtcafe.org. Some liked the name, others thought it would send us in a tranny direction. But for a number of reasons, it was not practical at the time to switch to another domain.
Now that the dust has settled and we've solidified our identity and we're onto phpBB, I think it's appropriate to ask again, what do y'all think of being called SkirtCafe? What are your reactions to the name? Do you think it enhances or works against our purpose and identity as a community. And finally, can you think of any other names that might be more fitting?
Should we be SkirtCafe?
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Departed Member
I must confess, I never have liked the Skirtcafe name. I think overall we've probably lost more than we have gained, in that it (the name) has 'cross-dress' overtones in some folks' minds. It's more likely to attract the would-be spammers, too.
Quite frankly, I'd be 'over the moon' if the name was changed to "Bob's Cafe", because that is what it has become. That reflects both the excellent job Bob has done, and continues to do, but still retains the 'heritage' connection.
Quite frankly, I'd be 'over the moon' if the name was changed to "Bob's Cafe", because that is what it has become. That reflects both the excellent job Bob has done, and continues to do, but still retains the 'heritage' connection.
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AMM
- Member Extraordinaire
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On the one hand, I'd have to admit that the name "SkirtCafe" sounds a little lame to me. Sort of like a place where sexist guys would hang around to look at "skirts" (the rather depersonalizing term for women.)
On the other hand, what we participants have in common is the idea of men wearing skirts. OK, some wear kilts, but even if you don't consider a kilt a skirt, it's still true that there's very little kilt-specific stuff here. (Look at any kilt site to see what I mean.) And the other MUGs that people refer to (sarongs, fustenellas, etc.) are "skirts' to the general public. So anyone who is put off by the idea of skirts for men is not going to stick around long, anyway.
And having "skirt" in the name is at least honest. If we wanted full truth-in-advertising, we could try "skirtsForMen.org" or something.
As for spammers, I wonder if they even care what the domain name is, given how totally off-topic their posts (or "home pages") are. I mean, if you're pushing discount pharmaceuticals, why would a forum with "skirt" in the title be more of a target than one with "senior" (as in "senior citizens") in it?
-- AMM
On the other hand, what we participants have in common is the idea of men wearing skirts. OK, some wear kilts, but even if you don't consider a kilt a skirt, it's still true that there's very little kilt-specific stuff here. (Look at any kilt site to see what I mean.) And the other MUGs that people refer to (sarongs, fustenellas, etc.) are "skirts' to the general public. So anyone who is put off by the idea of skirts for men is not going to stick around long, anyway.
And having "skirt" in the name is at least honest. If we wanted full truth-in-advertising, we could try "skirtsForMen.org" or something.
As for spammers, I wonder if they even care what the domain name is, given how totally off-topic their posts (or "home pages") are. I mean, if you're pushing discount pharmaceuticals, why would a forum with "skirt" in the title be more of a target than one with "senior" (as in "senior citizens") in it?
-- AMM
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Departed Member
Why? You've virtually answered your own question! Women are the main 'target' of the quack medicine brigade - in their pea-brained minds, skirt = women!AMM wrote: As for spammers, I wonder if they even care what the domain name is, given how totally off-topic their posts (or "home pages") are. I mean, if you're pushing discount pharmaceuticals, why would a forum with "skirt" in the title be more of a target than one with "senior" (as in "senior citizens") in it? -- AMM
Really? I though it was guys with small or floppy... well I'm sure I don't need to say any more.merlin wrote:Why? You've virtually answered your own question! Women are the main 'target' of the quack medicine brigade - in their pea-brained minds, skirt = women!
As for the name:
-> Bob's Café has a comfortable ring to it
-> Bob and Tom's café has both comfort and some of the forum's history
-> skirtsForMen.org has a simple honesty
...but at the end of the day (if I may be permitted one cliché) they are all just names and, as someone (far better known than I) once wrote, a rose by any other name...
Have fun,
Ian.
Do not argue with idiots; they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
Cogito ergo sum - Descartes
Cogito cogito ergo cogito sum - Ambrose Bierce
Cogito ergo sum - Descartes
Cogito cogito ergo cogito sum - Ambrose Bierce
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ChristopherJ
- Member Extraordinaire
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- Joined: Mon Dec 11, 2006 2:24 am
I like the name Skirt Café. If the forum was called Bobs' Café or something similar, it would have no real identity - if you know what I mean. The name Skirt Café is at least a simple descriptor of what the forum is all about. Any name like Bobs' cafe or Christophers' Café wouldn't say anything about the forum content - and I think the name should describe the forum in some way. What's wrong with that?
As for the spammers - the name of the forum would be totally irrelevant to them.
As for the spammers - the name of the forum would be totally irrelevant to them.
It's never too late to have a happy childhood . . .
Agreed. Very little spam gets through here and we all owe Bob a vote of thanks for that as well as for continuing to run the forum for the benefit of all of us.Bob wrote:I only run this forum. But it is my belief that the SPAM has nothing to do with the topic or domain name. Everyone who runs forums is overwhelmed by spam. But I think I have it under control, so it's really not a problem for any of us at this point.
Bob, I am no computer expert but I am a reasonably competent user (most of the time), if I can be of any help please feel free to ask.
Have fun (and thanks again)
Ian.
Do not argue with idiots; they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
Cogito ergo sum - Descartes
Cogito cogito ergo cogito sum - Ambrose Bierce
Cogito ergo sum - Descartes
Cogito cogito ergo cogito sum - Ambrose Bierce
Great job, Bob!
SkirtCafe is just fine for me. I particularly like that it's look and feel is still like Tom's was. Wouldn't change a thing that didn't have to change, like the forum's software.
binx
binx
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beverlonian
- Member
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- Joined: Fri Oct 24, 2003 5:32 pm
- Location: Beverley, England
I could never understand why we dropped "Tom's Cafe" and the re-naming to "Skirt Cafe" appeared to alienate those like myself who only wear kilts.
"Tom's Cafe" encompassed all unbifurcated garment wearers but "Skirt Cafe" sounds very girly, something like the UK television (nearly put TV
) programme "Loose Women" (which is half an hour or so of women chatting - ugh! 
)
Chris, your statement "The name Skirt Café is at least a simple descriptor of what the forum is all about." is misleading since the forum also encompasses kilts, and if this raises the argument about kilts being skirts, then why does the logo contain the line "Skirts and Kilts for Men"?
I would be more than happy with a return to "Tom's Cafe" as a mark of respect to the man who started this forum, or change "Bob's Cafe" as a mark of respect to the man who now runs the forum (Which, I imagine, takes some considerable time).
"Tom's Cafe" encompassed all unbifurcated garment wearers but "Skirt Cafe" sounds very girly, something like the UK television (nearly put TV
) programme "Loose Women" (which is half an hour or so of women chatting - ugh! )Chris, your statement "The name Skirt Café is at least a simple descriptor of what the forum is all about." is misleading since the forum also encompasses kilts, and if this raises the argument about kilts being skirts, then why does the logo contain the line "Skirts and Kilts for Men"?
I would be more than happy with a return to "Tom's Cafe" as a mark of respect to the man who started this forum, or change "Bob's Cafe" as a mark of respect to the man who now runs the forum (Which, I imagine, takes some considerable time).
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Big and Bashful
- Member Extraordinaire
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- Location: Scottish West Coast
Well said! my sentiments exactly.beverlonian wrote:I could never understand why we dropped "Tom's Cafe" and the re-naming to "Skirt Cafe" appeared to alienate those like myself who only wear kilts.
"Tom's Cafe" encompassed all unbifurcated garment wearers but "Skirt Cafe" sounds very girly, something like the UK television (nearly put TV
Chris, your statement "The name Skirt Café is at least a simple descriptor of what the forum is all about." is misleading since the forum also encompasses kilts, and if this raises the argument about kilts being skirts, then why does the logo contain the line "Skirts and Kilts for Men"?
I would be more than happy with a return to "Tom's Cafe" as a mark of respect to the man who started this forum, or change "Bob's Cafe" as a mark of respect to the man who now runs the forum (Which, I imagine, takes some considerable time).
"Tom's Cafe" was dropped out of respect to our founder; tomscafe.org is now a memorial to him.
bobscafe.org name is not really available, it seems to be owned by a cybersquatter hoping someone will buy it off of him for $$. Moreover, I don't feel comfortable taking on the role of "successor to Tom".
Anyone have more ideas on forum names?
bobscafe.org name is not really available, it seems to be owned by a cybersquatter hoping someone will buy it off of him for $$. Moreover, I don't feel comfortable taking on the role of "successor to Tom".
Anyone have more ideas on forum names?
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Departed Member
If you're not happy with being 'seen' as a "Tom substitute", fair enough! Sadly, I don't think there are many folk here who can still relate to Tom. Most nowadays, I think, see this as purely, "Bob's Place"! (Now, there's an idea!).Bob wrote: bobscafe.org name is not really available, it seems to be owned by a cybersquatter hoping someone will buy it off of him for $$. Moreover, I don't feel comfortable taking on the role of "successor to Tom".
I, too, think we lost an awful lot of Kilt-minded folk with the name change (although I fully accept the reasons behind it). They were perhaps wrong to assume there'd been a major shift in emphasis, but I can see where their fears came from.
OK, another try: "Cafe Unique"Bob wrote:Anyone have more ideas on forum names?
It will also be interesting to see how a 'non-Skirt-in-the-title' name might affect the Spam trade. From experience of other, totally un-related, forums, the Spam (such as gets through) has some (perceived)relationship to that particular hobby/website, or, rather their Spammers think it does!
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Departed Member
Can't say I'm wild about anything which implies 'blind follower' in the way that the word, 'fashion', seems to. I'm not sure many of us here are really into the "fashion = trends/extremes" world, rather more we're into the "non-bifurcation" slant on freedom - both the physical, and cultural, freedom to wear something other the dreaded tr*user/shorts seemingly 'forced' onto the male human, these days. "Fashion" would do nothing to encourage the Kilties back - rather re-inforce their prejudices, I feel.