Management

[jmq]

While it is obvious that some users post with a more inflamatory tone, there are many who attack other users, ideas and practices with a more subtle manner and do not receive admonishment.

As Pip pointed out elsewhere, maybe it’s a pretty important point that the continued frequency and severity of tone is what irks people, gives the appearance of baiting, and might eventually cause one to be admonished. And that if a similar strident tone or style isn’t used as bluntly or as frequently by others, wouldn’t logic dictate that they would be less likely to be admonished?

Maybe it’s a generational thing. Those who have grown up with the proliferation of polarizing media are maybe more use to the harsh black/white tone of today’s political discourse, and yeah, maybe older forum members need to “get over it”.

But maybe some would still prefer come here for the travel topics and “off topic” subjects that don’t get politicized at the drop of a hat, because that is what the forum has been for the vast majority of its history and maybe for the majority of it’s members.

As noted above, there are many more robust outlets for that heavier political stuff than a little old travel forum that users have become fond, and yes, maybe overly protective of over the years.

[XOXO]

THIS IS A TRAVEL FORUM! What don't you people get?

Bev, I think that we all get that but there are many many things discussed on this forum that are far from travel related. I am sure that you have engaged in a topic or two that is not travel related here. Different people have interests in different subjects. I hope we don't have to limit the discussions here to only subjects I like. I know that I have the ability to stay out of the postings that do not interest me.

Well said Toes. I have never read the food porn thread. It doesn't interest me. The gulf, politics, iPhones, iPads, trip reports, member who are having problems, all interest me. I really don't appreciate the censorship in regards to politics and I will tell you why.

1. If someone doesn't like it they have the choice to ignore it.
2. I don't think the problem stems from the people who are having the discussions. I think everyone who participates understands that it could get heated and they are ok with that. I think it members who don't participate who report posts/threads and, in that case, look back at number 1.
3. If the posts are reported by some who is participating then my hunch is that they have been out debated and, in that case, don't have the maturity to admit that someone is better at debating than they are. Don't blame tone or history when someone is better at proving their point. Instead of throwing a tantrum and clicking on "report this thread" they should learn to ignore political threads. So, again, refer back to number 1.

My point is that it isn't the topic that causes the problems. It is how people handle the topic that is the problem. Get to know yourself. If you can't handle it, ignore it.

xoxo

[augie]

I really don't appreciate the censorship in regards to politics and I will tell you why.

I don't care that you don't appreciate your perceived censorship, and I certainly don't care why.

And you know what? It doesn't matter if you appreciate it or not, because you don't make the rules here.

My point is that it isn't the topic that causes the problems. It is how people handle the topic that is the problem.

Agreed. I try to stay out of the politicized topics because I don't want to participate in them - I don't enjoy spending my free time doing that. Is that so hard to understand?

I can follow your advice and ignore them, except when a topic is started that's non-political and it is hijacked by people that are so anxious to have a political debate that they go creating them where they don't exist.

[flip-flop]

Augie your tickers are pis#$#$% me off. That's all.

[augie]

Augie your tickers are pis#$#$% me off. That's all.

Don't worry - in 22 days I'll only have one...

[toes in the sand]

While it is obvious that some users post with a more inflamatory tone, there are many who attack other users, ideas and practices with a more subtle manner and do not receive admonishment.

As Pip pointed out elsewhere, maybe it’s a pretty important point that the continued frequency and severity of tone is what irks people, gives the appearance of baiting, and might eventually cause one to be admonished. And that if a similar strident tone or style isn’t used as bluntly or as frequently by others, wouldn’t logic dictate that they would be less likely to be admonished?

Maybe it’s a generational thing. Those who have grown up with the proliferation of polarizing media are maybe more use to the harsh black/white tone of today’s political discourse, and yeah, maybe older forum members need to “get over it”.

If you took my post to be a plea for Sox's case you are mistaken. What I am saying is that there are many others here who regularly show disrespect for other members and the rules of the forum in general but they are still here and in the good graces of the general population. I believe that some users here are "irked" by reading a different opinion from their own. In Sox's case he found it necessary to keep those opinions in the forefront. As "irksome" as Sox may be, I watched on more than one occasion where he took the blame for turning a thread political when a re-read showed plainly that he was following the lead of others into the political foray. I have seen him baited by others and knowing full well that he was going to take the bait. I have seen others use the same irksome cut and paste political rhetoric and no one complains. I have seen users make personal attacks on other users, I have seen users post speculation about criminal activites of a victim of a crime simply because he was a victim of a crime on StJ. I have watched members apologize for attacks and in the same breath state that they still believe that they did nothing wrong. I agree with Augie that there should be a place where you can sit and have an adult discussion about matters important to our world without entering a childish screaming match. Perhaps ousting someone who shows disrespect to the board, management and members is the way to start but then the ousting should not stop with Sox. He is not the only member who is guilty of being "irksome".

My solution to the Irksome Member Syndrome is plain and simple, Ignore enjoy. Nothing squelches a tantrum like not getting the attention that the tantrum is designed to attract. The best revenge is to enjoy your life. Ignore it, Enjoy life and Move on.

[augie]

My solution to the Irksome Member Syndrome is plain and simple, Ignore enjoy. Nothing squelches a tantrum like not getting the attention that the tantrum is designed to attract. The best revenge is to enjoy your life. Ignore it, Enjoy life and Move on.

Sage advice - I need to print a banner that says that and tape it to my computer monitor...

[California Girl]

Instead of throwing a tantrum and clicking on "report this thread" they should learn to ignore political threads.

There's a "report this thread" button?? I never knew that. Where is it?

[mfaughey]

[loria]

ROFLMAO!

[XOXO]

I don't care that you don't appreciate your perceived censorship, and I certainly don't care why.
And you know what? It doesn't matter if you appreciate it or not, because you don't make the rules here.

You don't make the rules here either. So, you don't care to hear about my view on censorship, but you sure are intent on posting your view on what should be allowed and what should not be allowed.

I try to stay out of the politicized topics because I don't want to participate in them - I don't enjoy spending my free time doing that. Is that so hard to understand?

But, you enjoy spending your free time doing this?

when a topic is started that's non-political and it is hijacked by people that are so anxious to have a political debate that they go creating them where they don't exist.

It is your choice to participate or not to participate.

xoxo

[XOXO]

What I am saying is that there are many others here who regularly show disrespect for other members and the rules of the forum in general but they are still here and in the good graces of the general population. I believe that some users here are "irked" by reading a different opinion from their own. In Sox's case he found it necessary to keep those opinions in the forefront. As "irksome" as Sox may be, I watched on more than one occasion where he took the blame for turning a thread political when a re-read showed plainly that he was following the lead of others into the political foray. I have seen him baited by others and knowing full well that he was going to take the bait. I have seen others use the same irksome cut and paste political rhetoric and no one complains. I have seen users make personal attacks on other users, I have seen users post speculation about criminal activites of a victim of a crime simply because he was a victim of a crime on StJ. I have watched members apologize for attacks and in the same breath state that they still believe that they did nothing wrong. I agree with Augie that there should be a place where you can sit and have an adult discussion about matters important to our world without entering a childish screaming match. Perhaps ousting someone who shows disrespect to the board, management and members is the way to start but then the ousting should not stop with Sox. He is not the only member who is guilty of being "irksome".

My solution to the Irksome Member Syndrome is plain and simple, Ignore enjoy. Nothing squelches a tantrum like not getting the attention that the tantrum is designed to attract. The best revenge is to enjoy your life. Ignore it, Enjoy life and Move on.

Toes, I think I am going to quit posting and let you make the points I am trying to make. I agree with you and I hope your post is better understood than mine has been.

CG: I guess because I never report posts I assumed there was a report button. Apparently, there is not. So, instead, I guess there are people PMing Anthony. However it is done the point is the same.
xoxo

[California Girl]

CG: I guess because I never report posts I assumed there was a report button. Apparently, there is not.

You know what they say about "assuming". It seems to happen a lot these days.

[toes in the sand]

Toes, I think I am going to quit posting and let you make the points I am trying to make. I agree with you and I hope your post is better understood than mine has been.
xoxo

Please don't stop posting. Let your voice be heard. I am certain that there are many things where we will disagree. I wouldn't want to speak for anyone but myself.

[jmq]

Toes – agree with your prior post.
To a certain extent, the ignoring may already be happening. Many folks no longer engage in any threads that even hint of politics. Pick your reason why: don’t like the tone; don’t agree with the poster; don’t like the poster; don’t want to get their clocked cleaned in a ‘debate’ with the poster; don’t like reading an opinion different than their own; don’t want their reply to be twisted into something they didn’t intend; don’t want to enable an even a bigger soapbox reply; etc. etc. You choose!

It would indeed be a fine day when anybody who unnecessarily politicizes a topic, baits others, or writes something particularly “irksome” is met onlywith the sound of crickets chirping, or since this is a VI board, tree frogs croaking.