--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, off_world_beings <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
[ paraphrasing in brackets: I will be very mad and hurt] "if > you are not banned for one month, or voluntarily ban yourself for one > month." ========================= I have long held, over some years, that personal insults poison the mood on FFL (and any forum). Going back over 4 years, the FFL guidelines have admonished their use. We have had more recent guidelines that personal attacks would be met with time-outs. I think this approach should be applied more often and pointedly than it is for those who make continued attacks on others. Challenge others' ideas vigorously -- but respect the poster for at least trying to articulate their thoughts. I think we all learn when posting, we "work it out". And some of our worse ideas get most vigorously challenged by ourselves. So any post, no mater how silly, is, possibly and IMO probably, a step, towards understanding. For the poster and the readers (if they care to read insulting. personal attacking posters). Time-outs are good. In the passion of the moment, even the most enlightened get carried away. Personally, I would like to see the standard that if anyone feels insulted, the poster should excuse him or herself for some period. Even if they don't feel that they lobbed an insult. IMO, good or neutral intentions don't matter if the result is someone feeling insulted, and starts a cycle of endless retribution. And the insultee closes up abit. Puts on more armor. Not the best environment for sharing "deep" an often quite personal thoughts and feelings. So I think Off has a good idea. If one has been insulted, and expresses such, ideally the insulter should take a self-determined time-out. Even if there was no intent to insult. Wider, and more sustained transgressions I believe should be handled by the moderators. Like Rick the Hammer. (Not that anyone is thinking of calling him Rick the Chesse Puff, but enforcement does seem a bit lax.) And if someone abuses the self-timeouts, by repeatedly "making it up" that they feel insulted, this will be transparent. I think the forum should then act. Calling for a self-timeout for the boy crying wolf. If sustained, Rick-- Conan--the Hammer should sweep in with his OverLords. Off felt insulted by my comment. As I have explained, it was not meant as an insult, but simply a retort to a logical fallacy. None the less, Off feels a one month ban is in order. OK. To demonstrate and perchance set an example of behavior fitting this forum, I will sign off for a month. Nay, make it until Feb 1st. And hopefully, other insulters (intentional or not) will do the same (with perhaps shorter durations) if other posters feel insulted by their comments. Happy Holidays to All. See you in February. New Morning
