Poor forum etiquette

Quote: Headlock

How do you prove this, you pompous ass?

I still cannot find a post by me or anyone else stating "everyone knows casinos cheat"

Did your caretakers forget to give you your meds today? You are really a dick...or something.

Headlock - I'm an casual poster here, but I've got to tell you that starting a flame war isn't a smart move for a novice to any forum. The best that will happen is that you'll alienate anyone who might have been considering your side of the argument. You won't convince anyone with a contrary position that you are right by insulting them - you'll probably put them on the defensive with your attacks. You might even get banned from the forum!

Do you really think that DorothyGale's feelings were hurt by your post? I'd bet my next paycheck that they weren't. Try posting facts or opinions instead of using name calling and insulting others.

Quote: DorothyGale

Very few know that "Gale" is my last name ... cool corn husks ... it's only mentioned once in the movie they made of those traumatic few days of my otherwise existentially meaningless life.

I'm way in over my head, I think.

Quote: Headlock

You're right konceptum. My first instinct to just quit the forum was the correct choice, and I failed.

Well, it usually takes folks time to figure this out. But seeing as how you are new to forums and all, I'll clue you in.


In which Marcus gets the Inside Scoop


If you want to play, do it because you like it. If you want to quit, do it because it doesn't fill your needs anymore. But DON'T WHINE ABOUT IT.

Quote: Nareed

I'm way in over my head, I think.

Yes, I hear that spinning in a tornado can really make one dizzy.

This thread is very unproductive.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
"What is hateful to you, do not unto your neighbor ... the rest is commentary." -Hillel the Elder (redacted by J.C.).

Quote: Mosca

Well, it usually takes folks time to figure this out. But seeing as how you are new to forums and all, I'll clue you in.


In which Marcus gets the Inside Scoop


If you want to play, do it because you like it. If you want to quit, do it because it doesn't fill your needs anymore. But DON'T WHINE ABOUT IT.

Thanks Mosca. I did need to see that.

We all do, and often. Myself included. I reference it frequently, in fact.

Quote: Headlock

You're right konceptum. My first instinct to just quit the forum was the correct choice, and I failed.

You missed the point of my post. The point isn't to quit just because somebody said something you didn't like. The point is to not let it bother you.

I think, too many times, we are used to talking to our friends, family, or co-workers, all of whom are more than willing to let us ramble on whatever topic we feel like, and very rarely, either because they agree with us, or because they are too nice about it, do they ever actively disagree with us and call us stupid for thinking what we think.

Online forums are very different from this. For the first part, you are allowing your ideas and comments to be read by a much wider assortment of people and personalities. The odds are, you're going to find someone who disagrees with you. (I don't know the exact odds, but I'll leave the Wizard to figure it out.)

If you think you have the betting system of the century, tell your friends. They will tell you what a great idea it is, and how you should go to Las Vegas and practice the system ASAP. On the other hand, if you want honest feedback on the system, then you should post the system on here, and you WILL get a bunch of criticism on your system. And that is going to be true of anything you post on here. We will give you our honest opinions, because we think that is what you want to hear. If you just want to hear platitudes, keep the comments for your friends and family.

Quote: teddys

This thread is very unproductive.

I disagree. Well, maybe I agree that the thread doesn't produce anything. But I do think that the thoughts expressed here can be helpful to certain people. For one, it might help those people who also sometimes feel like they are being ridiculed or yelled at on the forum to understand that they are not the only ones. For two, it would help all those people to realize that they really can't take any of this stuff too seriously and that they need to keep a thick skin.

Thanks konceptum. I did not misunderstand your advice. I felt I was unjustly ridiculed and the fight or flee instinct kicked in. If I was the man I wish I was I would have ignored the jibes. Way too many I's in that sentence, aren't there?

Quote: Headlock

Quote: Mosca

Well, it usually takes folks time to figure this out. But seeing as how you are new to forums and all, I'll clue you in.
If you want to play, do it because you like it. If you want to quit, do it because it doesn't fill your needs anymore. But DON'T WHINE ABOUT IT.

Thanks Mosca. I did need to see that.

Well, the assertion made in the comic is idiotic, simplistic, and untrue; other than that, I have no quarrel with it. The fact of the matter is that "you have to expect this sort of thing on the internet" is used as an excuse for people (many, many people) to abandon the simple, common courtesies of human discourse. In face-to-face conversation, the reasons that you don't call someone an "ignorant, flaming douchebag" when they express an opinion contrary to yours are a) the social stigma that arises from responding to people in this fashion, b) the not inconsiderable possibility that the target of your attack may break your nose, and c) the likelihood of antagonizing that person and ruining your relationship with him. Now, on the internet, the first two conditions are moot, and the third largely irrelevant. Thus, we are left with what should be the overriding consideration, in ANY interactive situation: should I, or should I not, act like an asshole? Unfortunately, most of today's generation of socially stunted internet kiddies wouldn't even understand that question.