Management

[XOXO]

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.

JMQ, we agree!

Really, I wish that everyone would remember that they have the choice. My Grandma use to tell me that I wasn't responsible for anything someone else does . . . but I am responsible for my reaction.

[pipanale]

I agree...you have a choice whether or not to read the posts. Not everyone here gets it and feels compelled to read every single post of every single thread....and then whine about the content/attitude that they may not like.

Trust me, there are certain of you, when I see your name, I skip right past because I could care less about what you have to say.

(People everywhere would be nodding at this if they didn't see that stupid purple head and just jump past)

Now...purposely poking the admins to see juuuust how much you can get away with...

[Jorge]

Have you seen my sock monkey?

[jimg20]

Really, I wish that everyone would remember that they have the choice. My Grandma use to tell me that I wasn't responsible for anything someone else does . . . but I am responsible for my reaction.

I agree with XOXO and Toes that we are responsible for our own actions and reactions. Tell me then, how do we hold others responsible for highjacking a benign topic and turning it into a political rant? While you are at it, tell us how we hold someone responsible for the multiple provocative postings one might make to a topic? How do we deliver a message to the offending party when repeatedly deleting the offensive messages doesn't get through?

The drag here is I -- and perhaps others -- come to this forum to chat with friends, meet new friends, learn more about the VI, and learn other things on the off topic forum. It is no longer safe to do that. We went through this during the 2008 election cycle. I was willing to accept that for a while. It was a confrontational time that is now over. When it continued all the way to Thanksgiving of 2009, I and many others said we have had enough. The rules were reinforced and the behavior was curbed.

Well, now it is back just as strong as ever. The name calling is unacceptable. Even pretending that it doesn't exist by using code words is not acceptable either. These are not people I want to talk to on the forum. I certainly don't want to run into these people at the Beach Bar or on a SJT beach.

This is, in general, a community of smart, funny, insightful, caring people. This series of disruptive outbursts is distructive to this community.

Please stop the "I'm right and your are stupid" arguments!

JIM

[California Girl]

I'd just like to ask a question, please.

Say I start a topic that isn't politically motivated, and it's about something benign. Then, for whatever reason, it gets twisted into a political debate and rant by someone else.

If I follow some suggestions ("If you don't like it, don't read it."), am I now obliged to stop reading my own thread?

[XOXO]

If I follow some suggestions ("If you don't like it, don't read it."), am I now obliged to stop reading my own thread?

No, just carry on as if it were not there. I do it all of the time, for different reasons. If the people responding to your thread also ignored it . . . it is as if it were not there. Problem solved. My hunch is that you are serious about not wanting to engage in a political discussion--so, don't--ignore ignore ignore. The power is with you (tongue in cheek). As always, JMO

xoxo

[jmq]

I agree with XOXO and Toes that we are responsible for our own actions and reactions. Tell me then, how do we hold others responsible for highjacking a benign topic and turning it into a political rant? While you are at it, tell us how we hold someone responsible for the multiple provocative postings one might make to a topic? How do we deliver a message to the offending party when repeatedly deleting the offensive messages doesn't get through? JIM

Jim – that’s still a conundrum. Locking and deleting may stop things from going too far quicker than before, and ignoring has and is taking a long time to take effect. In reality, ignoring may never be fully effective, and conceivably it can also have the opposite effect of reinforcing that behavior (from anybody) as ONLY those that don’t mind that style or POV will be replying with their “attaboys” and “dittos”, with the silent masses perhaps assumed to be acquiescing, which, at times, couldn’t be further from the truth.

Hey – maybe this IS rocket science, because my head hurts.

[sherban]

I really like Anthony...as a moderator, of course. I think he is one of the best I have dealt with on all of the forums I use. If you got something bad to say about him or this forum, I really think you should stop using this forum and not come back...really. Have some respect people.

IMO the tone of the OT forum went downhill about a year ago...it got weird/confrontational/and just not fun anymore.

I think this forum has a great bunch of people...really smart and willing to share...I really do. I have been, at times, honored to be a member.

Don't let a few people ruin it for all. Take the high road.
I'll add some emoticons for Pete...
Peace

[bevm]

Trust me, there are certain of you, when I see your name, I skip right past because I could care less about what you have to say...

And we feel the same about you....

[DELETED]

DELETED

[Jorge]

I am amazed that as different as we all are in thoughts that we all love the same (STJ) place. After loosing 2 very good friends this month I myself see all this as just way out of hand. Let's all simma down please.

[sailorgirl]

I am amazed that as different as we all are in thoughts that we all love the same (STJ) place. After loosing 2 very good friends this month I myself see all this as just way out of hand. Let's all simma down please.

Im right there with you Jorge...losing my brother in April has changed my perspective alot.

[jimg20]

I am amazed that as different as we all are in thoughts that we all love the same (STJ) place. After loosing 2 very good friends this month I myself see all this as just way out of hand. Let's all simma down please.

Ah, a voice of reason from an unexpected but welcome source.

[Kentuckygirl]

I am amazed that as different as we all are in thoughts that we all love the same (STJ) place. After loosing 2 very good friends this month I myself see all this as just way out of hand. Let's all simma down please.

Thanks Jorge....you really put things in perspective.

[Connie]

I was thinking the same thing. This is all so stupid.

Another thing that makes it very difficult is we aren't face to face or even talking on the phone.

Things will calm down and if Sox is taking a time out, maybe he'll be back.

There's so many more important things to think about and worry about in real life.