Board Reform!!!

[E. g. guttata]

There has been a lot of knock-down, drag-out fights lately (I've been in a few) and I think we need to stop them from spilling into the threads somehow. I think that we should have a seperate board where we can have these arguments to try to help keep them from spilling over into the serious questions asked. I want to get at least 20 votes for this board before I pitch the idea to Rich to see if he'll let me start my own board for that very reason.

 

[Khaman]

I am sure Rich will let you have a personal forum, but it will probably cost you $25 a year.

 

[babbaloo99]

Personally, I think having a separate forum for argument just encourages an argument. If someone wants to debate someone on a topic, that is fine within a thread when done appropriately. I don't mean to sound rude, but if someone can't "walk" away from a thread without contributing to it going off topic, then they themselves are doing a disservice. I admit, I have been dragged into little spats here and there, but now I just try to contribute something helpful or leave it be.

 

[gardenmum]

I have to agree with bab, I think it would only encourage people to argue. Granted, those that did not want to be bothered with it would not have to read it, but I think it would just encourage it. It is possible that wouldn't happen but .....shrug.

As long as people are having a debate and even voicing radically different opinions with out name calling or foul language, then I don't see any reason not to "argue" their side. Like that looonngg thread on Evolutionism VS Creationism. A lot of deep "arguement" went on with strong takers on each side and some that were riding the stream in the middle, but no name calling was done nor obsenities used because someones opinions didn't agree with the others. I found that a stimulating and interesting debate. And there are other threads like that.

There is always going to be those occassional situations where a person gets really mad at what someone says and starts name calling and using belittleling language but I think having another area just for that won't stop someone if they get angry at another person and want to vent at them.

But, if others think it would be useful, then they should do what they feel is right and offer the "argument area", just because some of us may not find it useful or whatever, doesn't mean those that want it shouldn't have it.

Well, for what it's worth, that is my view.

 

[Taceas]

Nice idea in theory, but I agree with Bab and Gardenmum...it would only allow such idiocy to perpetuate itself around here. If they want to rant and rave about someone, take it over to Fauna.

Fostering animosity somewhere on here would only lead the the type of crap over at Fauna, which is one of the major reasons I don't visit over there much. Everyone has free reign to post all kinds of slanderous things without any sort of reprocussion or responsibility attached to it.

If people cannot argue their points of view in a civil, mature, and polite manner, then I think personally they have no business being on this forum. If I have an issue with someone, generally I'll PM them with my thoughts and feelings and try to draw attention away from the thread in which their comment aroused my distaste.

Speaking of such inane urinating contests...you and Joe are really beginning to annoy me with this whole "trying to draw Vinny into a tiger trap" by smacking him with a switch everytime he opens his mouth.

I personally think he's not the brightest bulb in the chandelier, but you guys are really carrying it too far. He'll trip up on his own one day, he doesn't need your help. And by trying to "help" the situation along, you're only making yourselves look worse to Rich and the rest of us by egging him on continually. I think you both need to check up on what you're doing and cut it out. But that's just my opinion.

 

[Buschjs]

Most people on this forum are adults, and should learn to conduct themselves as adults. I personally think it is ridiculous that people get into fights on this forum. Everyone should be here to learn and teach about cornsnakes. I don’t see any reason to argue. If you aren’t here to learn and/or teach about cornsnakes, take it to another forum. Personally, when these fights break out I stop reading the thread, most of the time the focus of the thread shifts to the fight rather than what the thread is about.

I hope I am not insulting too many people with these comments. I am simply expressing my feelings on the subject matter.

 

[cka]

I want to get at least 20 votes for this board before I pitch the idea to Rich to see if he'll let me start my own board for that very reason.

http://www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=624

"Hell" on Fauna...or I can link the "War Rooms", where people get together to call each other fragrant body parts...Not here, please...

 

[princess]

I voted 'no' for much the same reasons as the above posts. We can have debates on this site, I personally like them, but the attacking and resulting defensiveness that has sprung from the constant baiting and bullying that's started in the last months is something that has no place in our forums.

I think it's more a matter of learning to give/take constructive criticism and not having these stupid, little, bullying, gang-up wars.

This forum is about the snakes guys, remember that, OK????

 

[E. g. guttata]

I voted 'no' for much the same reasons as the above posts. We can have debates on this site, I personally like them, but the attacking and resulting defensiveness that has sprung from the constant baiting and bullying that's started in the last months is something that has no place in our forums.

I think it's more a matter of learning to give/take constructive criticism and not having these stupid, little, bullying, gang-up wars.

This forum is about the snakes guys, remember that, OK????

Well, in light of the 26 votes I have thus far, there is no way this idea will work. IF (and this is a big if) things don't seem to be gettting better over the next few months, then I might see if anyone's opinions have changed (though I doubt it). I agree that a lot of the fighting on the forums is because people are taking things too personally. I also have a theory that people can't be happy unless upset at someone or something. Unfortunately I see the kind of pattern of behavior that I have seen on these forums over the past 7 months everywhere. Things seem to start out just fine, and then they deterriorate to the point that everyone is being dragged down. I know there are people who try to take it to PM's, but more often than not, there are perfectly good questions that don't ever get answered (and then don't get asked again) because some people take major offense to ssomething that was said, and then start a post war.

I guess I forgot to mention that I would open up my own little forum and be the one looking in on these arguments to make sure they don't get too out of hand.

 

[Serpwidgets]

Heh, again you're wanting to create utopia. It doesn't work unless everyone involved is like-minded. In real life, this was tried and (especially in the 20th century) tended to result in genocide to get rid of the tens of millions of people who were not like-minded enough.

If you want people not to argue, or not to disagree, or not to take disagreements personally, then start a board where you screen applicants for specific criteria. This is real life, and someone is always going to disagree with something that was said, and someone will always find a way to take it personally so that they can try to use it as leverage.

 

[Traci1]

...where people get together to call each other fragrant body parts...

i got a kick out of the way you put that!

 

[E. g. guttata]

If you want people not to argue, or not to disagree, or not to take disagreements personally, then start a board where you screen applicants for specific criteria. This is real life, and someone is always going to disagree with something that was said, and someone will always find a way to take it personally so that they can try to use it as leverage.

It's not that I don't want them to argue, I'm not trying to prevent that. I just don't want them to argue in the middle of someone's question. I don't want to get a new snakes and have the thread "How do you like my new snake???" littered with personal attacks. I don't mind the hybrid talk, as long as it stays healthy. When it gets to the point that people start saying things like "I do stuff with my life. I go out with friends. blah, blah, blah... What about you? I not ice that you spend an awful lot of time on this board." then I don't want have that in that forum. I'd rather have a place where people can let off that steam where it won't plague the forums where people have legitimate questions. I know I have to do better than what I have been, but I really do think that extra area would be good. People will argue, but can we try to move it somewhere else??

 

[gardenmum]

Actually, isn't that what this "general chit-chat" forum was created for? So people could do the "other" talking? So, if people feel they want to duke it out, then they could just bring it onto a thread here, don't really need to make a whole new area. I too find the deviation from a "how do you like my snake" thread to people just chatting about the weather (so to speak) a little distracting sometimes but it is to be expected, something someone says triggers a thought in someone else and suddenly the thread is tilting off kilter. A normal occurance when people get together to "talk." I don't think there is any way to avoid it and should be taken, for the most part, with a grain of salt, no real harm done unless slamming or baiting starts to occur in my opinion. :shrugs:

If someone really wanted to take their argument or their off topic talk to another area, they could and would come to this area, but since that doesn't happen, then I really find it hard to believe that they would take it to a newly created area.

 

[babbaloo99]

I guess my question is, how does one "make" people move their discussion off a real thread and into the appropriate "battle" thread unless you are policing all the threads? I hardly think in the heat of things folks will suddenly think, "Excuse me sir, would you care to take it off thread?"

Thanks for trying to come up with a thought to try and make things better though.

 

[MichaelBoyko]

A flame board - I voted yes, but even this board would have to be closely monitored - the last thing you need is a place for bad tempers to fly up into slander, libel (never could slepp that word - did I get it right?), racism, and anything else the dregs could come up with to disgust us all...

 

[E. g. guttata]

Well, I'm taking this thread down after this weekend. I didn't know what to expect when throwing this idea out there, but now I do. This probably will never happen, but at least I tried. You guys can keep voting on it if you wish, but there's no real point. I wanted at least a 2/3 consent to this idea before I approached Rich. Have a good weekend all!

 

[Serpwidgets]

Hey, if you do create a new subforum for fights, I have a suggestion for the title:

[b]u stoppid n00b ur sankes is sux!!!11[/b]

And the description, in "13375p34k" (leet speak)

[FONT=Courier New][b]7|-|15  f0ru|\/|  15  f0r  f1g|-|75  4|\|d  p3r50|\|4l  4774ck5  0|\|1y[/b][/FONT]

:grin01: