Oh **** you, you ****ing **** with a **** up your **** with **** ******* *** * *** ** ** *** ** ****** *** ** * * ***** ***** ** * *** ****

Oh wait... Yes, this I can agree with. I mean GT used to be a place to debate stuff, over the last year or so it has turned into a place where debate gets chucked randomly into an insult thread.

I very rarely venture into GT anymore, just due to the fact that almost any thread I open will not contain open debate it will just contain "oh you damn liberal scum!"
"Eat it you repbulican turd!"
Which brings me to another point, this is a predominantly american forum, so if somebody has an opinion that doesn't satisfy the "you're with us or you're against us" points that both sides bring up, it gets ignored.

This is a forum where in most places, these topics would be banned because of the friction they sometimes cause. We keep them open as discussion and debatable topics as the majority of people used to be able to do this. Now it's just a flame war that sometimes resembles 4chan.

Let's all remember, an opinion is an opinion. Just because you believe it doesn't make it more valid than any other persons. Also, if you're losing the argument for what you believe, petty name calling and sarcasm does you no good.

I could go on about this for ages but, I'll leave it there for now. Let's all show a little more respect for eachother and get the forums back to how they were. Healthy debate, not a random free for all for everyone to get their best one liner put downs in.

Edit: By the predominantly American forum part, I mean Republicans and Democrats, not the American people as a whole.

I'll have you know, that I am personally UN-OFFENDED by that post, sir!

Funny, I've migrated almost solely to it for the world opinion.

The written word often lacks intonation and inflection to a great degree and much of what we speak in type can be open to the perception of the individual reader. This can often be easily misconstrued. Except in cases of direct verbal attacks that use disparaging names or snide comments.

My supply sergeant in the army said it best;
"Insult can't be given unless taken."

Platapus has made many valid points of civility. Unfortunately they fall on deaf eyes when a reader has had a bad day at work, in traffic or his spouse is ragging on him and he is just spoiling for a fight.

Pissing and moaning can be expected more often than not so try not to take anyone's words too seriously.
It's always been my opinion that there are two subjects that will always ruin productive discourse... Politics and Religion. I try to steer clear of those.
In a society that breeds competition, we all want to win, even when we debate. Sometimes all we can do is agree to disagree and leave it at that.
If you really feel the need to verbally jump somebody, try my Ubirats in the Bilges thread. That one's a Sea Dog pile where anything goes and nothing is taken seriously. As for other discussions, try to remember that you shouldn't say something that would get you belted in the mouth if you stated it face to face with your adversary.:salute:

I believe the forum is roughly split between Americans and non-Americans.

That's all good and well. See my next reply. And this is what's happening moreoften than not, certainly lately.
It's all good and well saying how things can be misconstrued online, but when it's an open case of being snide, trolling, baiting, being disrespectful and just plain rude then that can in no way be misconstrued.
That's the issue.
Not attacking you, just making some points. :salute:

Unfortunately the rude behaviour can't be justified by this. In real life, if you were to have a bad day behind you, would that justify you to be rude to your loved ones or friends?
Highly doubtful. So why do it here?

Or even to a random stranger. The difference I think is because of the oft-discussed anonymity of the internet. It is easier to take a hostile tone here because you don't have to look the person in the face as you do it. That level of confrontation is removed. However, I do agree with your point about it; that it is something we should strive not to do.

You two guys are talking about me aren't you? :o

I can handle it ... you can't make me cry ... :subsim:

I love you anyways :up:

Dare i say it then but that doesn't say (too) much about that person's character then.
Anyway. You guys have a tough job as mods. Boy oh boy. :salute:

Nah not me Brother. I love you back. Long time! :D

Well, I don't know if I would go that far. I don't think that the people that I have had to confront, infract or ban are necesarrily bad people. In fact, they may have been very decent people in real life. It is really only a problem with what they chose to be here.

I appreciate your sentiment. You do have to read threads that you normally wouldn't read and hang around the more toxic corners of the board more than you would like. Every moderator has voluntarily taking that position because they deeply care about the community and want to keep the ship upright and on trim. And it makes it worthwhile if we can give guys like you and others that really embrace what the community is about a nice place to hang your virtual hat.

:O:No offense taken. If I've had a bad day, yes I would be rude to my family and friends.:03: They often return the favor.:O:

Maybe the best advice to the reader is, "Keep your heart off your sleeve." And be like a duck. Web footed and don't give a quack.

I heard somebody else say that, except it was four or five years ago. It comes and goes, but it doesn't change, and it hasn't gotten worse. It just has its ups and downs.

I've never had anybody on my ignore list, simply because even people whose posting habits I don't like often make interesting and fun posts. It's not easy being human. I know; I've tried and failed more times than I can remember.

I only consider myself a moderator when someone actually breaks the rules. Other than that my opinions are my own, and I don't expect anybody else to agree with them. Sometimes it's hard to know where that line is, even when you're the one straddling it. Or maybe especially then.

lol

no:yeah:

i respectfully disagree

your opinions belong to the medications :haha: