The Town of Odyssey

Hey guys! Your new interim mayor here! Some people may know me, some people may not, but HERE I AM deal with it!

I hope all of you are doing well during these UNCERTAIN TIMES!


As some of you may know May is Mental Health Awareness Month! During a time where a lot of us are apt to have bouts with anxiety or depression during this pandemic, the discussion about mental health becomes an even more important and ubiquitous thought. I sincerely hope that all of us are taking steps to stay physically and mentally healthy during this whole thing, if anyone you know is going through bouts of depression or anxiety, remember to give your friends a call!

So this all brings me to my next point, it was pointed out by Knight Fisher that naming a forum of ours after a mental institution as a place to have fun and act "zany" with no repercussions, particularly having a "padded room", is a cause to pause, especially in a time where we give more credence or validity in concern to mental health issues. The ToO has always been regarded as a place where we can all go to talk about whatever is on our minds and trivializing something many of our members have experienced just isn't cool. Adventures in Odyssey itself treats Hillingdale Haven as a very somber and serious place, I remember "Welcome Home" being one of the first AIO albums I owned, and the episode "The Other Woman" being a very emotional episode that takes mental health seriously. I for one think we should honor our namesake and take the issue as seriously as FotF did back in 1996.

So, in true ToO democratic fashion, I've decided to leave it up to a community vote, as well as use this thread for suggestions as to what we could rename it.

Danadelfos has suggested The Electric Palace which I like! As someone in the chat pointed out, its apropos as the Electric Palace was full of junk. I also thought Campbell County might be a good one (though I do like Electric Palace a bit more), both are inadvertently tributes to now defunct spin off boards of the ToO created by Bren, so that's cool, I know we have some members here from those forums.

Anyway, let's put this to a vote and if it passes, we'll decide what the next course of action is from there! I'll leave the poll up for 5 days!

For some reason these thoughts have never occurred to me, to the best of my admittedly poor memory, and now I'm wondering why not. You're right that the name comes across poorly, now that I actually think about it. I like The Electric Palace as an alternative more than Campbell County just because it does give off a bit more of a goofy vibe.

The Electric Palace is better since the Town of Odyssey is technically within Campbell County and it should be a place within the Town of Odyssey.

The Electric Palace is so iconic to Odyssey, it would be great to have a forum dedicated to it!

I also never thought anything of it.. But in a way, it carries a rather dark sense of humor, which is why I am for changing the name. *nods*

It had never crossed my mind either until today. I am not the least bit surprised that these are the kind of thoughtful responses there have been once it was brought up.

I was actually thinking about this the other day... I think we should change it. I vote Electric Palace as well.

I could see making the two forums The Electric Palace and something like The Back Room fitting with both the forum content and the board theme.


Campbell County doesn't make sense, that's a general area not a location in town.

It's a brilliant suggestion and it's hard to believe nobody ever thought of this before (either the problem or the proposed new name).

As much as I like things to not change, I have to say, that is a very good reason to change it.

Can we rename The Padded Room to "Bart's Pork Rind Closet"??

Bahaha, Eugene. xD That's a good one.

Here's a list of the possible names for The Padded Room (so far).

• The Back Room
• The Clearance Section
• Bart's Pork Rind Closet

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i'm down for bart's pork rind closet

It's weird and embarrassing that my first instinct was "woah wait, it's just a name, why be so sensitive?"

This must be what early-onset boomer syndrome looks like.

In other news I love the fresh energy here and I love the Electric Palace for a name.

jelly wrote:It's weird and embarrassing that my first instinct was "woah wait, it's just a name, why be so sensitive?"

This must be what early-onset boomer syndrome looks like.

In other news I love the fresh energy here and I love the Electric Palace for a name.

tbh i felt a little bit like this, but also because i don't remember so much about Hillingdale haven anymore

Marvin, imagine if HH was just deleted, how much would your post count take a hit?

jelly wrote:It's weird and embarrassing that my first instinct was "woah wait, it's just a name, why be so sensitive?"

This must be what early-onset boomer syndrome looks like.

It's only insensitive if you let yourself be sensitive to it. Like, I would be perfectly fine with it staying, but I also agree with the concerns being brought up. *nods* And I also think it would make for a fun change.

I love the ideas "Bart's Pork Rind Closet" and "The Electric Palace". Awesome ideas!

jelly wrote:Marvin, imagine if HH was just deleted, how much would your post count take a hit?

ok no need for a personal attack jelly

i already lost quite a few posts during the deletion a few years ago, back in 2010 i lived in HH

I've had this thought before but never knew who to talk to about it :O Everyone has been so thoughtful I think it's a great idea

85% is a fair majority..

I look forward to seeing this reform!