The Golden Rule... Now For Online Forums!

[Jeff Dreger]

I have to agree with many of the folks indicting this forum for its negativity and vitriol. The atmosphere is often hostile. The comments are too frequently personal attacks. The language is frequently inflammatory. I'm glad that so many people are so passionate about their cause/beliefs but there is a way to engage the other side that doesn't require name calling or ad hominem attacks. It's not just SLH. It's not just BL. It's found in some members of any group of citizens working for what they think is right. I have been opinionated. I have mastered sarcasm. But I hope that I have typically stopped short of behaving in a way that I would not were I sitting at The Root across from my adversary. People have asked for a return to civility here and elsewhere before. It may be too late - a lost cause. Some folks are clearly in denial that they behave in such a way.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

-- Somebody famous

"A good rule to remember: if you wouldn't say it, show it, or do it in person, you probably don't want to online."

-- http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?d ... _set=61468

"Act the way you’d want to be treated."

-- http://www.designsponge.com/2013/02/mod ... donts.html

"Act in the same way online that you would in real life. If you wouldn’t do something in real life, don’t do it online either!"

-- http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/do-you-h ... netiquette

'Communication, the scholars say, is really about taking someone else's perspective, understanding it, and responding. "Tone of voice and gesture can have a large influence on your ability to understand what someone is saying," Markman said. "The further away from face-to-face, real-time dialogue you get, the harder it is to communicate."'

-- http://www.scientificamerican.com/artic ... -so-angry/

This is just another request for people to be kind and respectful, for what it's worth. I would ask participants to try and imagine discussing these topics in person and acting accordingly. (Although, maybe even that's not a good idea for some people.)

Just my $0.02
Have a nice day.

[Jim O'Bryan]

I have to agree with many of the folks indicting this forum for its negativity and vitriol.

Jeff

You forgot my favorite...

"Treat me nice, I'll treat you better. Treat me bad, I'll treat you worse." Sonny Barger, President of the Hell's Angels.

But you are doing exactly what this was design for. You want to see something, push for it.

Help us change and make it better.

peace

[Meg Ostrowski]

Jeff,

Thank you for getting this conversation started! I think it is an important one.

As I have suggested to those that have complained about the recent climate here, "be the change you wish to see on The Deck."

You are doing just that.

Meg