Thinking of Leaving

[biblemonkey]

I don’t know, guys, but lately I’ve been a little frustrated with some of the things getting slammed on here. I wasn’t censured personally but some threads were closed while I was participating in them and enjoying them for what seemed to be the most minimal beginings of controversy. I understand the rules and agree that they have their place but I have been involved in a couple of threads lately that were closed because of controversial subjects because ONE person took large offense and notified a moderator instead of PM-ing the offender and dealing with it personally. It seems like some people want to make an issue personal whether it was intended to be or not, take quotes out of context, accuse others of hate or bigotry, etc, etc, etc. Most of us here are old enough to let some things slide and not get all up in arms over stuff that really doesn’t matter but the times that it has happened have gotten to me. Most of us are quite respectful and, in context, our posts are almost always friendly and mature in tone. There is so much useful information here and the friends I have made are wonderful, but this place is starting to get like youtube where any goober with a keyboard can take offense and rail to the heavens (or moderators) instead of dealing with it in a personal and adult manner. I’m just venting but frankly it has made me sick to see things degenerate this way. If you must post back be respectful and helpful because I really may take some time out of here.

[marvelredneck]

Hear, Hear! I agree completely.

[Steve Ashton]

Biblemonkey,

I would like to make sure that you understand something. If you wish to leave the forum that is your choice. We all need to take a break once in a while.

If you want to leave because you don't like something, then speaking up is the right thing to do. You say that threads have been closed because someone reported it to the Moderators. Well, that is what the Report a Post System is all about.

The Forum Moderators do not act as morality cops. They respond only to reports of posts submitted by members. If a post is moved to the cooling off corner then one of your peers, another member, has reported it as a possible rule violation.

The system this forum runs under is that you, the members, will set the tone, the mood of the forum. If you find something wrong, offensive, or in violation of the rules it is up to you to report it.
This is how the staff know what the membership want as limits.

The same applies to something you see which you don't agree with. Report it.

Have you opened a line of communication with the staff? Have you voiced your concerns and attempted to make the forum better?
Remember the old saying, "If your not part of the solution, your part of the problem."?

If more members would talk to the staff the forum would get better. We need the balance of both sides of an issue talking to us. Only then can the Moderators be "Moderate".

We need everyone's input, your suggestions, your complaints. There are ways for every member to speak up. We post the staff roster and we have the Personal Message system. If you don't talk to us, if you remain silent, those who do speak will be the only ones heard.


If you simply want to take a break from the forum I can assure you that when you're ready to come back, and again be an active participant, the forum will still be here.

If however, you don't like how the forum is run, but have not tried your best to make it better, and in disgust post a parting shot of dissatisfaction on the open forum, well, that is what is called a "Farewell Message".


Sir,
This is one of those times when the choice, really and truly, is in your hands.

[biblemonkey]

Biblemonkey,

I would like to make sure that you understand something. If you wish to leave the forum that is your choice. We all need to take a break once in a while.

If you want to leave because you don't like something, then speaking up is the right thing to do. You say that threads have been closed because someone reported it to the Moderators. Well, that is what the Report a Post System is all about.

The Forum Moderators do not act as morality cops. They respond only to reports of posts submitted by members. If a post is moved to the cooling off corner then one of your peers, another member, has reported it as a possible rule violation.

The system this forum runs under is that you, the members, will set the tone, the mood of the forum. If you find something wrong, offensive, or in violation of the rules it is up to you to report it.
This is how the staff know what the membership want as limits.

The same applies to something you see which you don't agree with. Report it.

Have you opened a line of communication with the staff? Have you voiced your concerns and attempted to make the forum better?
Remember the old saying, "If your not part of the solution, your part of the problem."?

If more members would talk to the staff the forum would get better. We need the balance of both sides of an issue talking to us. Only then can the Moderators be "Moderate".

We need everyone's input, your suggestions, your complaints. There are ways for every member to speak up. We post the staff roster and we have the Personal Message system. If you don't talk to us, if you remain silent, those who do speak will be the only ones heard.


If you simply want to take a break from the forum I can assure you that when you're ready to come back, and again be an active participant, the forum will still be here.

If however, you don't like how the forum is run, but have not tried your best to make it better, and in disgust post a parting shot of dissatisfaction on the open forum, well, that is what is called a "Farewell Message".


Sir,
This is one of those times when the choice, really and truly, is in your hands.

This was not meant to be a bashing of the mods or the forum but rather a venting of my dissapointment over how certain individuals within our community turn some people's opinions into a personal war. I will not mention specifics here as I do not wish to reopen the thin skinned scars such information may bring. And actually this IS my attempt at making things better, in a way. To open an honest dialougue and give people the opportunity to see what I'm getting at may make folks think twice before being "insulted for the sake of being insulted" as I put it and getting a thread closed. It is folks like that that are making me want to leave, at least for a time. The warmth and appreciation of some here is very encouraging but if I open a thread and am afraid of posting because I see a particular name on there then it's like being at a party with someone you know is going to get drunk and treat you like crap. You get to the point where you ask if they are going to be there and if they are then you just don't go. I would rather talk it out with those folks, and that is one thing this thread was meant to open up. Dialougue.

[Tony]

Dialougue.

Post reported.


Typoes offend me.

[Phil]

An interesting thread and one that goes to the heart of what a forum like this should actually be about. There is a finite limit to the number of aspects that can be raised concerning the wearing of any garment and a kilt is no different in that respect. Types of dress can be discussed ad infinitum when, actually, several comprehensive threads from the past cover the subject in all the detail that anyone could ever want. Shoes and hose seem capable of inflaming intense passions, sometimes to the extent of raising questions by one contributor as to the gender orientation of another (although these inferences generally slip through un-moderated - search any buckle brogue thread)
Regional differences quite frequently raise their heads and it becomes very apparent that there are indeed “two nations separated by a common language” here, so that the background and language nuances of one are completely misconstrued by the other and almost invariably ridden roughshod over as a result.
What I am trying to get at, in effect, is that if discussion is stifled to such an extent the whole forum becomes an anodyne and, sadly, innocuous cycle of endlessly repetitive trivia. As an occasional visitor nowadays I can sympathise with the OP’s comments but I have to say that they resonate very much with my experience and are thus nothing new to this forum.
Perhaps new members could be issued with a set of guidelines as to how they can contribute without actually saying anything that encourages lively discourse. This could be reinforced with a set of acceptable words and phrases guaranteed not to cause discomfiture to the most sensitive among us.

[dutchy kilted]

Okay, I admit, I am usually only on the forum for a few minutes a day, and usually enjoy reading the different posts (and usually stealing a few good jokes.) I rarely, if ever, check the cooling-off corner just because I usually don't have time.

So I took a few extra minutes and checked out the threads. While I did not see anything particularly incendiary (I do have a thick skin), I could see why some people, dependent on their culture or belief system, could get upset.

However, I don't see why any "disputes" could not have been settled through an intelligent discussion or a exchange through private messages, as I have done with several other members. I do think it is a shame that moderators felt that they had to become involved, whether the post was reported or not. I'm not going to drop off the forum over this issue, I have learned a lot and conversed with some great people.

Face it, we wear kilts, we're rugged individualists. We put up with the slings, arrows, and stupid comments of lesser, non-kilt wearing humans and come away stronger. Do we REALLY need to go running to Steve because someone said something we didn't agree with 100%? Damn it, if you don't like what I say, tell me directly! I will defend my comments without name-calling and profanity and will try my best to see your point of view, if you do the same.

[Dale-of-Cedars]

Post reported.
Typoes offend me.

"Typos" effendi

[Chirs]

Post reported.


Typoes offend me.

[creagdhubh]

Biblemonkey,

I would like to make sure that you understand something. If you wish to leave the forum that is your choice. We all need to take a break once in a while.

If you want to leave because you don't like something, then speaking up is the right thing to do. You say that threads have been closed because someone reported it to the Moderators. Well, that is what the Report a Post System is all about.

The Forum Moderators do not act as morality cops. They respond only to reports of posts submitted by members. If a post is moved to the cooling off corner then one of your peers, another member, has reported it as a possible rule violation.

The system this forum runs under is that you, the members, will set the tone, the mood of the forum. If you find something wrong, offensive, or in violation of the rules it is up to you to report it.
This is how the staff know what the membership want as limits.

The same applies to something you see which you don't agree with. Report it.

Have you opened a line of communication with the staff? Have you voiced your concerns and attempted to make the forum better?
Remember the old saying, "If your not part of the solution, your part of the problem."?

If more members would talk to the staff the forum would get better. We need the balance of both sides of an issue talking to us. Only then can the Moderators be "Moderate".

We need everyone's input, your suggestions, your complaints. There are ways for every member to speak up. We post the staff roster and we have the Personal Message system. If you don't talk to us, if you remain silent, those who do speak will be the only ones heard.


If you simply want to take a break from the forum I can assure you that when you're ready to come back, and again be an active participant, the forum will still be here.

If however, you don't like how the forum is run, but have not tried your best to make it better, and in disgust post a parting shot of dissatisfaction on the open forum, well, that is what is called a "Farewell Message".


Sir,
This is one of those times when the choice, really and truly, is in your hands.

Well said Steve!!!