For almost ten years I have set a policy of allowing folks the benefit of the doubt, and gave second and third chances. I've felt that allowing people the chance to try and be part of the community was important even when they had a bad start.
And to be frank the hospitality that I have given has been abused.
So now I'll be trying something different.
If you troll here, we'll take solid steps to stop it.
I'll not see the forums atmosphere damaged by a tiny tiny minority of people who have chosen to find amusement here in ways that are not constructive.
Tzar Myriads
I think I'll applaud this one as well.
Long have we heard the logic that if you express yourself in any way in an open forum, you naturally open yourself to insult and attack. But there are some who espouse this use it to diffuse responsibility across some ever-possible general risk, yet consider carrying out this sort of attack a personal obligation never to be missed.
And I could be wrong, but it seems to me there’s also a frequent set of targets. It seems for a determined few, young women expressing themselves emotionally here prove irresistable.
In real life, if there were a young woman slumped over and crying on a curb somewhere, people would tend to do what’s reasonable: if they know her, try to console her, and if they don’t, ask what’s wrong, if she needs help, or simply leave well enough alone.
Sure, it’s
possible for someone to come over and seriously insult someone they don’t know. But what kind of unconscionable asshole would that take? What kind of person would say then, “Well, if you put on a public display, you should be prepared to receive insults as well as consolation.” What kind of person would do this every chance he got when a young woman was in emotional distress?
Undoubtedly then, another piece of logic comes into play in the real world scenario: Act like an asshole often enough and there is the ever-possible general risk of repercussions for
your actions. A friend, stranger or authority may take action against a pattern of negative behavior.
It may be good to see the Forum more fully imitate life.
In the meantime, I recommend that folks just take a few minutes --
right now, this moment -- to consider who you'd like to add to your ignore list. Add them
right now.
I imagine this sort of thing may be easier to do when you're not in direct conflict with them, and anticipating the next jab. And it'll make things easier for Mods when they don't have to weigh repercussions for a troll versus someone else's inclinations to retaliate, enflaming the issue further and pushing Mods to ref a "but they started it" argument.
Sweet!
