Blue Meanies

[gomtuu20]

My view of this Trek BBS is that it is a place where people can discuss, debate, criticize and admire a shared interest. A shared love. If you don't agree with my view, I will try to convince you. If your view is better, you might convince me. Either way, there should be a camaraderie and fun on a forum like this. Disagreements, even sharp disagreements, are fine. Spirited discussions are a good thing. They are engaging. It should never be personal.

Some of those who post here appear to have a different view. They resort to personal insults and attacks. I usually ignore snarky, personal comments and try to get a thread back on track, but what is the purpose of the personal attacks in the first place?

It seems like the level of civility on this forum is falling. Thoughtfulness is being replaced by agressiveness. If you don't like someone's opinion in a thread, why not post what you think is wrong about their comments, rather than using the anonymity of the internet to insult the person? Why not try to pursuade them of another view? This is recreation, not a fight to the death.

I heard someone say that when you have a weak argument, speak louder. Perhaps we should stop and come up with a persuasive, well-reasoned, argument, rather then insulting.

 

[Therin of Andor]

It seems like the level of civility on this forum is falling. Thoughtfulness is being replaced by agressiveness.

Not that I've noticed.

But there's a little icon - is it a triangular road sign with an exclamation mark on it? - and when you see people overstepping the mark, hit that to "Notify a Mod", and the offender shall be counseled/phasered quickly.

what is the purpose of the personal attacks in the first place?

That's like asking the school bully why he picks on you. Impulse, sometimes, with little actual cohesive thought about why. Survival of the fittest. It feels good at the time.

 

[Count Zero]

But there's a little icon - is it a triangular road sign with an exclamation mark on it? - and when you see people overstepping the mark, hit that to "Notify a Mod", and the offender shall be counseled/phasered quickly.

Exactly. We try to maintain a civil and friendly atmosphere here to make it a fertile place for discussions. If you think someone is stepping over the line notify the moderator. We do read all the notifications though we might not always agree with your perception of a post.

General and vague accusation don't help and usually derail pretty quickly into a messy back-and-forth. Besides, complaints, feedback or suggestions belong into the subform fittingly named "Questions, Suggestions & Feedback" further down on the main page, not here.