how far can you go with your comments in a thread?

[SCROLLSAW703]

Sittin' at the saw during the night last night, I got to thinkin' about this. I try to read completely thru a thread at least once before I comment. Now, I realize I'm outspoken, opinionated, & have my own way of doin' & figgerin' things out. And, some of my comments don't always fit in with everybody else's. BUT, just how far can ya go before somebody gets their dander up, & the fire flies? 

I made a couple comments on a recent thread that had several of the similar comments I made, but it weren't long, & I started gettin' flack for what I said. Just because I didn't agree with everything in the thread, & felt maybe there were other ways to go about puttin' the info out. I'm old school. I would rather get myself a book & read about the subject than google it. Maybe it's the times, or the people, or I don't know. But does others experience matter at the point at hand, or opinions? Or is limited to a certain few? Make no mistake, I understand in some cases, somebody is goin' to disagree. Not all of us here are newbies. Not all of us have done things the others have. I thought that's why we were here was to learn from each other. I recently made a post about this site being the friendliest, helpful site I've ever been on. After this ordeal, I'm questionin' my judgement call.

[JimErn]

In my experience any hobby site is filled with very experienced helpful folks, this one ranks right up there.  But reality is that in in any large group, there is going to be someone that irks you, or that you irk.  For some reason my writing style and off beat outlook and sense of humor irks a lot of people initially, if it continues I just ignore their posts - after all it is not like they are at your home, drinking your beer, eating your BBQ, and you have put up with it cause your wife likes theirs. 

Just one of those things

[David Lehner]

Well said.... I am on our City Council... I know that even when things appear to be going smoothly and everyone is happy .... There is always someone out there who is upset and grumbling

 

[NC Scroller]

If we all thought and acted alike this world would be a pretty sad place.  We all have something to offer.  When people ask for opinions and suggestions we are doing them an injustice not to tell them what we think.  Now something we may not phrase our responses as gently as we could but I have not seen a lot of that on this forum.

For the record I looked at some of your recent posts and took no issues.

[Jim McDonald]

I am on two different scrollsaw boards and for the most part, people ask for and accept critical opinions/criticisms.  That said, they may not always like the phrasing of said criticism and that is NO fault of the poster--just a misunderstanding of the meaning.

Both forums are full of people who hold no secrets and are willing to teach, learn, explore and that is what makes this hobby enjoyable.

On the other board we had a former member who was a long time member of a photography board and from what he told me, it became a nasty place to visit as everyone thought they had invented the medium. 

I am glad we have our virtual families and for the most part we all get along. 

[Rolf]

Well said Jim.

Scrollsaw703 If we step over the line and things get out of hand, the moderators will step in and do their thing. I am a moderator on SSWWC along with some really great folks.  

It is very difficult to express oneself in writing, as you don't get to see the facial expressions or body language that would give you an indication of what a person means.

I like goofing around and take most comments with a grain of salt. Why would someone go after me if they don't know me.?

Having said that there are some inherently nasty and caustic  folks out there. I have had a couple of encounters on the SSWWC forum a few years back. The individual was that way with many folks and was banned. I myself have made comments that were misinterpreted and was called on it, of course I apologized as it is never my intent to offend anyone.   

I don't get it, we all love this hobby and the Forums are and should be a happy place, yes with different opinions and all. yet we had people quit the forum because of changes they didn't LIKE, really?  I suspect folks like that are just naturally miserable.

Edited April 21, 2017 by Rolf

[Bill WIlson]

The internet is both a great and lousy vehicle for conveying information.  It's great, because you have instant access to so much info and so many people with which to share it, but lousy because things like facial expressions and voice inflexions are non-existent.  Smiley icons just aren't always an adequate substitute for the physical signals you get when you are in a conversation with someone face to face.  We've all spent a lifetime interpreting these physical signals and generally can read someone's intentions much better in person than we can over the internet.  We're limited to the words we type and often the absence of those physical signals can make these words come off much differently than they might in person and certainly different than the speaker may have intended.

I suppose as time goes by, subsequent generations will be much more accustomed to and better at communicating in this electronic medium than some of us older folks, who have trouble typing with more than 2 fingers.  It's going to be a bumpy ride, in the meantime though. 

[stoney]

"What we have here is a failure to communicate".   I can't remember where that quote originated but sometimes it does apply.   Being the fallible creatures that we are sometimes we are apt to offend someone.   What I find offensive as most people do is to be talked down to.   What I often do after writing a response is look it over and ask myself how I think it will be received.    I quite often add at the end of a post as I will this one is.   Just my humble opinion.   JMHO   

[Scrappile]

That is why I like the little smiley faces things, what are they called, "emotioncons" or some silly name.  It is the only way I see to put emotion with words to help let the readers know your intent.  To me it is sad, people get offended so easily not days, I like to get true, helpful criticism on my work, but I think most are afraid to give it for fear of offending.  

[Jim McDonald]

1 hour ago, stoney said:

"What we have here is a failure to communicate".   I can't remember where that quote originated 

  

Cool Hand Luke is the source of that memorable quote.

[meflick]

Just like you, I read every post in every thread I look at before I comment, give info., etc.  - one being to see if someone else already gave the info. I was going to and second, to see where the conversation is going.  If I don't agree, or don't like the way its going - I tend to move on without adding any fuel to the fire.  I try to think about what I post BEFORE i hit the submit button.  If it really has irked me, I will walk away rather than post something while upset or mad.  It helps.  It also helps to remember that maybe someone has had a bad day, has had the rug pulled out from them, has who knows what bad stuff occur and that is also impacting their life here as well, we never know what is going on in most people's lives.  I tend not to share too much of that online.  Others share it all.  Neither is a good or a bad thing.  Depends on the person and their needs but if I was having a really bad day, you are probably not going to know it unless you read a post and "saw" that I was not my "normal".  I have been on other forums - some have gotten down right ugly - when that happened - I left or quit posting as did many others.  I have been on others like this one where most everybody is great - but even then - there were misunderstandings, miscommunication, etc. - it was rare but it did happen.  When it did, usually someone said "sorry" I misstated, was misunderstood, etc. and the air was "cleared" up.  Yes, we are all entitled to our opinion but need to remember first, if someone didn't actually ask for it - maybe we shouldn't share it and if they did, then we should share politely and explain as best we can.  Then we need to remember, if we asked for it - we may get answers we don't like but if that's the case, then maybe we shouldn't ask.  I have been here for about a year now and I can say in that year I have seen very few issues.  I hope it always stays that way. One of the reasons I love coming here.

[stoney]

5 hours ago, Jim McDonald said:

Cool Hand Luke is the source of that memorable quote.

Thanks Jim I should have remembered that.   Some days I have a case of CRS.   Paul Newman is one of my favorite actors.

[SCROLLSAW703]

thanks for all the replies, & I agree with everyone of you. It's tough to answer some posts due to what the op's asking at times in words. Other times, I just shake my head & go on. Having a bad day is ok. I come here alot after a bad day. We had a death in the family this week, & it has been a rough week, but to read you other guys' posts helps fill the dark spots. I'm here to learn & help, not bicker.

[oldhudson]

I'm sure when I joined I read the guidelines for posts. I suggest you read and follow them.

[amazingkevin]

9 hours ago, oldhudson said:

I'm sure when I joined I read the guidelines for posts. I suggest you read and follow them.

I see alot of infractions here in ssv and wonder why moderators don't step in ,but that's not for me to worry about .i keep my nose clean ,dot the i's cross the t's .Try as much as i can to me contemplative and encouraging to all.That's me with the big heart talking.

[SCROLLSAW703]

On 4/21/2017 at 7:30 PM, oldhudson said:

I'm sure when I joined I read the guidelines for posts. I suggest you read and follow them.

fyi, I have read them & do try to follow them.