Posted by oohah:
Some things we are all just gonna have to roll with. Are Andrew and I to become the Joke and Sarcasm Nazis ala MSG, lockin' threads every time a couple of posters are taking it the wrong way? Sarcasm to one poster is a joke to another is bad taste to a third. I would submit that if you had not gone COMPLETELY overboard with a zeal and zest the other night and conceded a little to Isles, Seats, whomever and noted that they could have been on point with Isiah and the techs, this thread would have NEVER been created. I am not blaming you for the cause that created this thread, but I am pointing out that one thing may lead to another.
If you say so Martin. I don't understand your point about the other thread. I stated from probably the get go saying that what Zeke did was stupid. Then I defended with Zeal and zest that the Knicks were not coming back anyway, so it really did not have an effect on the game. On the other hand seatsblue and Isles would not even make that concession, so who does not come halfway, me or them? Furthermore, you have islesfans making deliberate insults on that thread, as well as seatsblue doing the same. And then continuing it on the JJ thread. And then starting another thread to bait me.
Are you really justifying that? Do I have to crumble in my point of view or endure constant baiting? Would it be any different if you agreed with my point?
It seems to me you are making excuses for poor behavior. Zeal and zest should be protected here. Constant insults and baiting should not. And so I am not asking you or Andrew to become sarcasm Nazis. I think you know that. What I am asking you to do is try to bring the atmosphere of the forum back to a place where we can all be fans, really what is described in the rules. And that would include a litlle note to guys who are throwing out insults rapidly and constantly, not just sarcasm. That would include the baiting of posters from thread to thread over periods of weeks. That would include direct insults without provocation. I really don't think that is an extreme request.
Some may feel that YOU bait others by constantly posting "let your ass hang out there". I think it's funny and a good way to get posters to put down what they really feel. Should I ask YOU to stop posting that way because a couple of people are offended?
I would find it strange that anyone gets mad over "Hang you ass out there". I specifically make the point of making that nice and hopefully funny with the liberal use of smileys, encouraging language, and then an award of a funny ass picture. I think to compare it to the seatsblue/islesfan tagteam on me this weekend, or the calling of names at a given poster until he leaves the forum, or even to constantly insult a person's intelligence (Like nixluva) is quite a stretch.
This forum is going through one of those tantrum periods. Happens to all forums. Happens here about once a year or so. Certainly happening because the Knicks suck and are losing and folks are taking out their frustration on others, no doubt about that. Some just deal with it better than others.
Maybe you are right. I just think you are being a little overly passive in your policing (loosely using that term.) of the language being thrown around. Again, I am not just talking about me. I never was. If I have become the lighning rod so be it, I guess I asked for it by speaking up and continuing to speak up. But tantrums are one thing, anger is another, and then you have constant nasty behavior. The third is what concerns me, because it seems to have snowballed, and it seems to be tolerated.
oohah
[Edited by - oohah on 21-11-2006 11:30 AM]
How about this oohah, self-appoint yourself as a Mod. Help us police what you think is bad behavior and point it out to posters in a way that they cannot come back at your with any excuse for poor behavior (and I would suggest that it includes no slinging back taunts whether baited or not, cause that's the only real way you can set an example).
Andrew and I are of limited means. Step up for us. Show folks how to post and what is tolerable and what is not. Make a point and if others don't agree and if there is nothing more to add or a different way to convince the other side, walk away. Show the younger posters HOW to make a point and how to argue it. Read every thread and keep track of the hundreds of posters, and don't dare confuse one with another. Don't scare off or turn off posters cause we want folks coming back. Make the place informative and entertaining at the same time. Make sure you understand the gray areas of sarcasm and joking and racism and make sure it works for everyone and doesn't offend too many.
Thanks for you help.