Something profound strikes me as I read this thread, and here it is. This whole thread talks about the idea of the negativity, and how things have become bad, but.. what isnt talked about, is what can be done to make things better. It doesnt HAVE to be this way. Things can be different, and here is what I see.
In addition to the ignore button, respecting the rights of others. If someone posts an opinion, or feedback, about a particular thread, instead of Joe Blow jumping on him or her, or 25 other people jumping on the bandwagon, accept the fact that we all have a right to differing opinions, and to feel as we do. Unless someone overtly posts for no reason: "Joe Blow is an asshole" (Only an example, mods, and one we all know is a Golden Rule violation, and should be reported, instead of replied to, which can degenerate into a flame war) Accept Joe Blow's right to post his feelings, even if you dont agree, and, try to post with respect, why you feel differently. You might say in a case like that, as I try to. "I respect that you feel this way, Joe, however, I respectfully disagree, and I feel the opposite way, and like this" (Posting whatever opinion you have). I have long believed, sometimes it' s not WHAT you say, but HOW you say it. I think we all understand, and should try to respect, that in a forum of 35,000 members, and growing every day, that we arent going to see eye to eye all the time, and are bound to have differing opinions. I also believe that many times, someone sees a thread or post, and may well overreact, or choose to vent, in an unproductive way, because of perhaps other frustrations.
It has been said many times, this is a tickling forum, people, first and foremost, we all dont have to be so intense. I think, in a case like this, we need to step back a minute, and reflect on why we all came here in the first place. I, for one, joined TMF, because, except for Tickle Theater, and a couple of other scattered forums, it is the only real place where we all can discuss our fetishes. We all know that the P and R, and other areas of the board, particularly General Discussion, can get heated, and unpleasant, as it has the last few days. To me, just being here is the thing. As angry as I've gotten with threads that are posted on here, and believe me, in 3 1-2 years, I have gotten angry, my philosophy is to communicate with those whom I do so with in a civil and friendly manner, and place those who I do not like, or who dont like me, on ignore. This philosophy is why I've largely stopped posting in the P and R. Anyone who knows me is aware of my political views, I have strong ones, and they arent going to change. I am well aware that I have even good friends on here who have differing views than me. My motto is, keep my friends, remain civil, and, if I have a very strong or controversial opinion which may irritate others, or get me into trouble, keep it to myself. This isnt by any means to advise people not to post here, because that obviously isnt the purpose of this board. We SHOULD be able to post our feelings, and share differing points of view. It is HOW we do such, that is key here. Express in a civil manner, while respecting others rights, and realize that other members, even our friends, may not agree with us. If we take these conditions into account, things can be better.
To me, Aachen makes a very valid point in his posts, and with starting this thread, about why things have become as they are, but, I think the bigger question really should be, and this should be the goal, instead of all the infighting, we should more be concerned about what we all can do as a forum, and as a community, to make things better. They can get better, and they will, if we all take a moment to focus on why we are here, and what we need to do, as individuals, and as a community as a whole, to make things better.
I hope all of this makes sense. I am trying to examine this from a different point of view. (I.E, how we can make things better, instead of just analyzing why it's bad.) We can do that all day, but it solves nothing, and creates big threads like this one. What really needs to be done, are actions, by us all as a community, to make things better. End of Rant.
Mitch
