How should one act on a forum?

[jeb102385]

I think we all know... I'm not on this forum much anymore but I know who they are. I'm not going to name names, but if you don't know read a few threads. You will figure it out.

[BeefyG]

How should one act on a forum?

It's good to take a step back and reflect on recent behavior every now and then. I think Tim is honestly asking how people think they should be acting. We can all see how people have been acting and it ain't pretty. Pot stirrers will misconstrue even a an innocent thread just to keep drama going.

Follow the rules, respect the people, respect the forum. A lot of people on here act like respect must be earned. How about treating people with a little basic human decency?

[KhmerStyle]

This.

I don't think I'm gonna jump into telling anybody how they "should" behave on this forum because there are form rules that tell us what goes and what doesn't and as long as they are followed and enforced, there's nothing more I could ask for.

Yes I agree there are forum rules for that. We as people have different personality and it shows in the post. Some people are serious others are funny and some laid back. All these different personality makes forums interesting, if not we all would be robots.

[sunkenmetal]

I have no idea whats going on.

[supadave]

Re: How should one act on a forum?

I have no idea whats going on.

There's nothing going on . There's no underlying drama or issue . The OP simply asked a question . Just a simple and plain....straightforward question .

Sent from Galaxy Slll

[LordBarron7692]

Just my opinion but everyone should be treated with respect, but I sometimes wonder if people even understand what it means to be respected and respectful of others, but like I have said before as adults WORDS SHOULD NOT HURT FEELINGS. Just my opinion.

[jeb102385]

Words shouldn't hurt feelings, but blatant personal attacks shouldn't be common place either.

[HERM]

With all that said and like my grandpa always says, "You can't fix stupid" and the members being spoken of will read this, shrug it off and keep on like they have been. I've read many post where someone is being bullied or ridiculed and infraction are handed out, still not much change. Banding someone would not help as they would just return under a new name with a chip on their shoulder. Some people feel a little tuff over the phone or on a keyboard, I don't believe most people would conduct them selfs the same in person.

[LordBarron7692]

That is very true and I think that is exactly what the OP was getting at.

[mistahoo]

Re: How should one act on a forum?

It seems that you can get banned 2-3 times and still come back under the same username and act how you please. We've got living proof of that one. Completely agree with you there HERM. People do tend to become different over the phone or behind a computer. It's because they don't have to actually see the person. But hey, what can you do? There's always going to be someone like that on here or somewhere else.

Sent from my spaceship using Tapatalk 2.

[mnemenoi]

I agree with everyone that we should all respect each other. There have been a few threads recently that are passive/aggressive and have irked me personally though. Starting a thread with the intent to provoke others should not be regarded as respect though. I can say that I have always tried to be a contributing member on the box and add to the discussion. I myself am guilty of allowing my emotions to overcome me when I feel someone is personally attacking myself or those whom I know/respect. I think everyone taking a moment to consider this and really make an attempt to correct their own shortcomings will help the entire forum here as everyone I know here are honestly good folks.

[Hangman]

but like I have said before as adults WORDS SHOULD NOT HURT FEELINGS. Just my opinion.

Not everyone on this forum is an adult, at least they don't always behave like one...

[imagirlgeek]

I think you should all act as if you are at my house, going from room to room associating with different people in the fish hobby. Would you join in a conversation you didn't agree with by insulting the person/people and then walking out? Would you make a snide comment to a stranger in person based on hearing 1/2 the story? Would you go get all your friends to target and insult someone until they left? OR would you just go join a group of people for a chat about something more interesting to you?

I imagine most of you wouldn't follow someone around ridiculing everything they say...if you were face to face. I imagine most of you wouldn't behave the way you do here if you were, say, at a GHAC meeting or a fish auction. If you did, the police would be called every time, and you would be forcefully removed from the property.

Just think about it.

[danielp]

So does this mean there's gonna be "morality moderators" next?

Morality moderators might be a little strong but reacting quicker to the pages and pages of garbage that goes on at times needs to be put in check.

What went on in the Lee thread crossed all boundries of decency from multiple members and yes there is a ground swell of those of us that have had enough.

There are those that think that the ones that need to go away are those that don't agree with their agenda.

As I've said before grow up and respect the 1000"s of choices we have in this hobby and the areas each person chooses to concentrate on.

As has been said remember how our elders taught us how to act and live life accordingly. Things will go a whole lot better.

[LooksLater]

Thanks for bringing this up, Tim. I think it truly is worth some thought, by all of us.

I agree there are pitfalls in internet exchanges, and that this is what the rules are for. Which is not much different than the rules and social mores that govern face-to-face society. We are all human beings, and we all- some more than others, but every single one of us- have our shortcomings, and those will come out in this forum just as everywhere else. Things will never be perfectly smooth, on this forum or in real life...people have different ways of relating to others, and some people just rub each other the wrong way. Does that mean we can't all try to make things smoother whenever we can? Of course not, that is the responsibility of every single one of us, with every post. But just as in any interpersonal situation, some people will take that responsibility more seriously than others.

I've only been on this forum a year, but most of the regulars here know me. I try to be kind, helpful, and honest. I'm here to learn and socialize, and share my experiences. I am guilty of letting my feelings overwhelm my politeness sometimes, especially when I am exasperated or offended. That shows true on this forum as well as in real life. Have I ever said anything I regretted on this forum or other forums I belong to? Yes, lately and otherwise. And would I have said it in person? Absolutely. Because it's not routine for me to be offensive or lose my temper... But it happens. I generally try to avoid drama, but I believe there is a time to speak up whether that adds to the calm of the situation or not. This is altogether different from the name calling, snobbery, and starting drama for the sake of it, which has been and will go on in this forum and others until the end of time- that's just people. The Box is not the worst, I think it's one of the best as far as politeness and good people go, but things sometimes swing on a pendulum and the trend of nastiness will wax and wane. I have no doubt it will swing back.

So long story short- I try to act on this forum as I do everywhere. I try to be a good person and reflect on what I say before I say it, wherever I am. I will not be perfect all the time, but I do the best I can. I reflect on what I regret and try not to make the same mistakes. And I acknowledge that others may not, they may just continue to present themselves in a way that's impossible to deal with, use their corner of the Box (or their corner of the room) to badger, insult, and be exasperating. We flag, enforce the rules, and move on. It's my responsibility to deal with it in a way I'm happy with...or ignore it. That's just part and parcel of dealing with other people.