OT-Am I overly critical; or just not "wif it"? - Page 2

AKAGeorgia's Mom,

This is one of the first forums I've ever been on which is not moderated, except for Videx removing posts he doesn't like. Unfortunately, quite a number of the members vigourously defend their right to post whatever they want under the guise of 'freedom of speech.'

I wonder if Oli is aware that 'freedom of speech' does NOT apply to privately owned forums? I used to moderate on a work-related forum, and that's what we told posters who thought they could post whatever they wanted.

I'd be all for stricter moderation, to elimnate some of the personal vendettas and foul language here. Heck, even eliminating duplicate spam posts would be a step in the right direction!

OT political posts don't bother me so much. I just don't bother reading them.

I am fairly tolerant of English abuse by native speakers, and absolutely understanding when ESL members make mistakes while doing their best to communicate in English. I am against moderators on this board, all for free speech and the honest sharing of ideas, but I too am sick to death of personal vendettas and cat fights. I find myself reading fewer and fewer threads lately, and hitting the BACK button more and more often instead of scrolling down.

SS

...and the Pineapple recipe .. and the pictures of my Malinois here to the right ~~>>

.. some people's kids.

Shelley Strohl,

I also don't read the political threads, but it doesn't bother me that they're here.  Usually they're marked "OT" with the subject and I think that's fair warning that it's not GSD related.  A minimal amount of moderation might prevent some of the stuff that gets posted.  Freedom of speech is relative - my right to say what I want ends where another person's right begins.  I can't yell "FIRE" in a crowded theater, and people shouldn't threaten bodily harm on message boards.

Opal

I can deal with ESL mistakes, grammar errors , swearing and short forms...the times they are a changing.  /To be prefectly honest some of it is funny.  I welcome different opinions and points of view.  That is what I come here for.  I see nothing wrong with supporting, encouraging and leading a helping hand...in if it ain't my thing, if someone else is happy with who am I to judge?  I can ignor off topic threads if they aren't my thing but a lot of the stuff on here lately just crosses the line. 

Like most of the posts above....I just don't understand the complete lack for respect! 

Thank YOU   BOB-O

ditto! there seems to be a few folks who are cycling from one drama to the next and i do think it interferes with and sometimes spills over into the quality threads (be they on topic or off).  i don't understand when a post is clearly intended to bait others into an absurd and stressful back and forth (like ridicules personal attacks) why some choose to take the bait instead of just ignoring it - my advise is if you must: speak the truth then move on.  like others said i think the best idea is to 'stop feeding the trolls', what i call 'crazymakers' - don't give them air-time; instead engage or start threads that are interesting or fun. it seems that some think they can actually shut someone else up but you can't you can only express your pov and beating people over the head with your pov isn't going to get them to hear you any better - repeating yourself as part of a conversation, no matter how messy, is one thing but some of these threads are nothing more than a waste of energy - imo

i must say even with all this i am learning a lot from others here despite the best efforts of some to disrupt the momentum of the group.  so i'm fine with 'weathering the storm' in lieu of moderating, and i hope those who are here to dialog and post informative and inquisitive posts (be they on topic or ot) will stick around and keep the quality conversations going.

DittO Just Curious!

My thoughts too, Bob-O. There have been too much of personal vendettas and bad language here. The OT posts aren't that big a problem since I simply ignore most of them.  I'm not crazy about moderated sites, since the moderation often stifles discussion that the moderator(s) don't care for whether it's relevant to the site mission or not. But I wish there were a great deal less of the childish text messaging and sniping back and forth. 

You know I've been here long enough to see this stuff run's in cycle's, it may very well be the same cast of character's time and again.    The same discussion take's place time and again, no one seem's to really mind too much the off topic stuff as much as the personal abuse and misuse of the message board, the foul language, and the hateful things.

Then it's time for moderator's and rule's and line's to be crossed.  Ban people from the database.   I could almost agree, but then, who decides?  

It's my opinion or guess that OLi has bigger fish to fry right now, thing's are tough all over.   And the laws are different in his country, he may be better off doing nothing.    

Personally I'd hate to see it, this moderating.   I have enjoyed my time here until lately, mostly the politics for so long,  but then it was the boredom,  this board can be quite dry at times.   Now comes the personal drama that absolutely has to place here and you try not to get pulled into that.  This is what's got everybody upset, the foul, uglyness of it. 

I recall the same situation not that long ago and it was resolved, sorta, in a way, and I don't remember any moderating.

Just stop reading their threads, ignore them when they post in good threads.   And if someone cross's lines and enters your personal space, use law enforcement and don't bring it in here.    Deal with it !

This board is about dogs and learning and sharing experience, but it's also about people.   I hope there are always off topic threads to be a part of and I don't mind the use of a few bad words or a little grammar abuse, as long as people can keep it objective. 

Just remember, these people will alway's be with us. Cast them out and they will just return again and again with new names and identities.

learn to ignore them.