Just One Mans Opinion

[Hothir Ethelnor]

I PM'd you.

Sorry for the thread-jack Scotus.

[Bugbear]

I hope someone will tell Scotus the tartan is back; not sure he's even been logging in.

That's not entirely what his post was about, but hope it helps a little.

[Semiomniscient]

I hope someone will tell Scotus the tartan is back; not sure he's even been logging in.

That's not entirely what his post was about, but hope it helps a little.

I really don't think it's about the tartan at all. :-) It bothers people to be dismissed or have their opinions disvalued. I hardly think it's the intent of the leadership to alienate the contributing membership. However, because changes are being made, people are going to dislike this and dislike that--which is their every right. It doesn't matter if that they don't own or control the forum. They can certainly complain when they don't like something. Of course in the end it is going to be "tough luck" if it is something the leadership has determined to do. But I think people have felt put out when they've responded negatively to a change... and that's not really something that rests well in some Scottish blood, where argumentativeness and debate are ingrained. It's no fun trying to be political when you want to "tell'em how you REALLY feel!"
Overall, there are bad changes and good changes. But this isn't so much about changes as to how the debate or lack thereof have come to pass on the forum. It all seems to be very unfortunate and troublesome.

[cavscout]

argumentativeness and debate are ingrained.

This sums up the issue the most. There are some who are seeking any chance to be offended or victimized and in the absence of a real issue will take advantage of a very small one or one had by someone else (who didn't care enough about it to post it themselves). There seems to be some who cannot have a discussion, it has to be a debate and there must be a winner and looser. There are ways to have a courteous conversation, and it should be easier if we are all acting in good faith for the betterment of the forum. Can we all say we want the best for this forum?

I have not seen anywhere where Steve has been rude or dismissive to anyone about the forum. I have however seen many posters in several threads get pretty belligerent about minor subjects.

[Bugbear]

I really don't think it's about the tartan at all. :-) It bothers people to be dismissed or have their opinions disvalued. I hardly think it's the intent of the leadership to alienate the contributing membership. However, because changes are being made, people are going to dislike this and dislike that--which is their every right. It doesn't matter if that they don't own or control the forum. They can certainly complain when they don't like something. Of course in the end it is going to be "tough luck" if it is something the leadership has determined to do. But I think people have felt put out when they've responded negatively to a change... and that's not really something that rests well in some Scottish blood, where argumentativeness and debate are ingrained. It's no fun trying to be political when you want to "tell'em how you REALLY feel!"
Overall, there are bad changes and good changes. But this isn't so much about changes as to how the debate or lack thereof have come to pass on the forum. It all seems to be very unfortunate and troublesome.

well, here is how I view the world; especially in relation to adult people. There will be a range of opinions and feelings in any sizable group of people. In this field of opinions and feelings, anything being expressed strongly, affects, either positively or negatively, the feelings of many of the people of the group. In most cases, someone else will pop out of the field with an opposing view point, which also causes waves in the group. If the whole group, on most subjects, begins to all agree, it will eventually, from tiny little differences building into very large waves, split up into differing opinions.

So, where one may be feeling, "I wish those people who keep saying bla bla bla," would shut up and go away, and let the people who agree with me have peace, the reality is that those people who are saying "bla bla bla," are helping my group to not break up from our own little differences. There are exceptions, of course, the people who are causing problems for everyone, including themselves, but generally we are all in it together even if we despise each other.

All I can figure is that these waves of contention will start up, whether we want them or not, and what keeps them from getting ugly is a willingness on the part of several people to absorb and not respond to the words that rub them the wrong way, letting the two opposite opinions eventually destroy each other or gradually fizzle out. It's not easy.

I've posted too many times in this thread, so I'm out.

[BoldHighlander]

As I've always said, get more than two people together & "politics" usually creeps its way in

[robthehiker]

It bothers people to be dismissed or have their opinions disvalued.

This.

[Chas]

This.

Or That.

Regards

Chas

[Chas]

This.

Or That.

Regards

Chas

Or maybe even, The Other

Regards

Chas

[Semiomniscient]

This sums up the issue the most. There are some who are seeking any chance to be offended or victimized and in the absence of a real issue will take advantage of a very small one or one had by someone else (who didn't care enough about it to post it themselves). There seems to be some who cannot have a discussion, it has to be a debate and there must be a winner and looser. There are ways to have a courteous conversation, and it should be easier if we are all acting in good faith for the betterment of the forum. Can we all say we want the best for this forum?

I have not seen anywhere where Steve has been rude or dismissive to anyone about the forum. I have however seen many posters in several threads get pretty belligerent about minor subjects.

My thing is that I've never understood why people can't argue and debate and be friends afterward. My late grandfather and I argued and debated all the time and we would get pretty heated. But we never got mad at each other. I think that people need to learn to both take criticism and deal it out without becoming resentful. I tire of people taking a spirit of disagreement poorly. It isn't a bad thing to argue and debate. It breeds new ideas and reinforces old ones.