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Downsizer Forum Index -> Site guidelines, Announcements, Problems and Suggestions

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Bebo

Joined: 21 May 2007
Posts: 12590
Location: East Sussex

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 09 8:51 pm Post subject:

marigold wrote:

Rob R wrote:

cab wrote:

Better to say 'leave it a while, lets see if anyone else has anything to say' I think. Contributors to the thread like Marigold clearly were left out.

It was a very simple request, that has been made several times before, by the people responsible for this site. I am struggling to see why it is so important to challenge that request.

I haven't challenged the request. I have expressed my opinion that occasional swearing isn't a big deal and that being told I mustn't swear makes me want to (childish I know, but I'm a frail vessel).

I'm pretty upset to have been told so bluntly that if I don't like it I'd better shove off.

To be honest with you, I found that more offensive and childish than any of the swearing that I've seen on this forum.

I expect I'll be told the same for sticking my head above the parapet.

resistance is fertile

Joined: 24 Oct 2008
Posts: 1534
Location: The heart of North Devon

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 09 8:53 pm Post subject:

If Downsizer is a village, I have always viewed bits like 'chat' & 'does it really matter' as generally happening in the pub. (friendly pub, but definitely Pub)

Occassionally things get a little bit feisty or colourful and then someone suggests people have a thought for the other punters or to be quiet when they are leaving, and generally everyone does.

Dont change things please! and surely it cant be some sort of 'handed down' dictat, as it must be accepted that the Mods swear as much as anyone, so we all need to just have a bit of self control (and think of a more polite way of insulting one another when necessary

)

Gervase

Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 8655

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 09 8:55 pm Post subject:

Brownbear wrote:

...but what I thought it might be more interesting to get at was...

What is a forum for? I suppose it's a bit like an electronic bus shelter but without the pervasive stench of urine; people get to show off, write their names on the wall, shout at seagulls, have intense conversations and generally do the sort of things that people used to do in the real world in ye olden days. Except that there are no buses.
Or perhaps it's a village, where each of us is convinced that someone else is the village idiot.

Last edited by Gervase on Tue Sep 15, 09 8:56 pm; edited 1 time in total

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 09 8:56 pm Post subject:

marigold wrote:

Your opinion has been noted, the situation on Downsizer was not occasional though, and it seems to have attracted complaints and not from me this time.

My suggestion of respecting the company you are in or leaving is not suggesting you should shove off, just an example of how & where to draw the line on the forum.

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 09 8:56 pm Post subject:

Bebo wrote:

marigold wrote:

I'm pretty upset to have been told so bluntly that if I don't like it I'd better shove off.

To be honest with you, I found that more offensive and childish than any of the swearing that I've seen on this forum.

I expect I'll be told the same for sticking my head above the parapet.

I think some of the moderators are feeling a bit defensive, and being rather abrupt as a result. TBH, if discussion of the 'rules of discourse' makes them that uncomfortable, they'd be better off just ignoring it. I don't think people are being stroppy, just discussing it, and the moderators shouldn't take that discussion as a personal affront. I'm sure that's not how people intend it.

Bebo

Joined: 21 May 2007
Posts: 12590
Location: East Sussex

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 09 9:02 pm Post subject:

Rob R wrote:

marigold wrote:

I don't think it was actually you that suggested if she doesn't like the modding on this site that she should go elsewhere.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 09 9:06 pm Post subject:

Gervase wrote:

I fail to understand why you can't simply set your spellcheck to British English. The constant use of 'offense' 'program', 'defense' and the like by a supposedly educated person is as offensive to me as swearing.

You must surely have noticed that the number of American spellings I use is proportional to how recently you last bellyached about it?

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 09 9:06 pm Post subject:

Bebo wrote:

I don't think it was actually you that suggested if she doesn't like the modding on this site that she should go elsewhere.

No, that was Sean, and Snowball. But I think they thought people were having a go at them personally. If I thought people were having a personal go I'd probably be a bit abrupt too.

Last edited by Brownbear on Tue Sep 15, 09 9:06 pm; edited 1 time in total

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 09 9:06 pm Post subject:

Brownbear wrote:

I don't think people are being stroppy, just discussing it, and the moderators shouldn't take that discussion as a personal affront. I'm sure that's not how people intend it.

We've developed a keen ability to differentiate between the two.

Bebo

Joined: 21 May 2007
Posts: 12590
Location: East Sussex

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 09 9:33 pm Post subject:

Brownbear wrote:

I think some of the moderators are feeling a bit defensive, and being rather abrupt as a result.

I think that is exactly what is happening. But its difficult for me to take seriously the people that tell me it isn't big or clever to offend people by using naughty words when they react so petulantly to someone who as far as I can see didn't do any more than state their opinion that they don't think swearing is a big deal.

stumbling goat

Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 1990

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 09 9:37 pm Post subject:

i have not read all the posts in this thread, life is too short.

but why is it that on any forum whenever the merest suggestion that language should be moderated provokes such intense reaction and in so many cases opposition? why not just go with the requested flow?

in the opening post dealing with unintended offence you mention that many people you know find the term you example offensive yet you use it. why?

a thread to discuss the issue of "causing offence" which is in itself offensive under the guise of being a discussive thread? tedious.

the response of the mods on another site i frequent was simple, if you don't like it, go and post elsewhere. mods do a great job for the most part, and should be left alone to do their thing.

i have seen little evidence of provocative posting here, but as in society generally there will always be one or some. and ds is no different sadly.

sg

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 09 9:40 pm Post subject:

Bebo wrote:

Brownbear wrote:

I think some of the moderators are feeling a bit defensive, and being rather abrupt as a result.

To be fair, only after long threads going over the same things over and over again. As I mentioned earlier, people at both extremes aren't entirely happy. If we let people swear all the time then we'll just get threads of people complaining. The moderators can't win can they?

Gervase

Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 8655

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 09 9:41 pm Post subject:

cab wrote:

Gervase wrote:

You must surely have noticed that the number of American spellings I use is proportional to how recently you last bellyached about it?

Touche!

Brownbear

Joined: 28 May 2007
Posts: 14929
Location: South West

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 09 9:41 pm Post subject:

stumbling goat wrote:

in the opening post dealing with unintended offence you mention that many people you know find the term you example offensive yet you use it. why?

sg

It's a bit hard to ask whether something is considered permissible or not without mentioning what it is. The art of non-verbal communication within exclusively textual media is as yet, sadly, in its infancy.

Gervase

Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 8655

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 09 9:44 pm Post subject:
Oh heck - we're going to start wandering into structuralism in a minute. The moment brownbear uses the word 'signifier' is the cue for someone to shoot him.

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