Just because you stop a person from freely expressing a point of view, it doesn't mean that they no longer have that opinion. The opinion goes unchallenged. If there is open debate, you might convert them to your way of thinking or vice versa.
If a thread makes you feel uncomfortable, stop reading it. If it makes you angry, ad your tuppenceworth but count to ten and proofread before you hit the green button.
Can't understand the discussion really, if a thread upsets me I don't post and stay out of it. Works for me, it's common sense. There have been a number of postings that I categorically don't agee with but I just bow out gracefully and ignore them.
I like this forum just the way it is - plenty of sound gardening advice when required - plenty of timely reminders (for that read kick up the b*m) to get jobs done - and some nice general chat on the Forkers and other threads when I'm sat here on my own drinking tea. I've also met a few other members for garden visits which was a lot of fun - every bit as nice in real life as their virtual personas - & I'd like to do some more of that.
I don't mind tooooo much if there is the occasional thought provoking / controversial thread posted - so long as they don't start affecting the rest of the forum. This forum is special because it is generally a friendly place to while away the time without the back biting & snide remarks which seem to poison a lot of other forums. Too many contentious non-gardening subjects could eventually erode this good feeling.
I do think, however, that the most important thing to remember is that the a written view is not always read as the writer intended it to be - and not everybody reads every single word of a posting to pick up any small nuances. Potentially controversial postings should therefore be written with care.
In my opinion one should restrain from posting when upset or angry (too easy to let too many unbridled feelings spill out of the keyboard) or after partaking of a few alcoholic beverages .
Much better to write it all out in Word (or whatever) and save it for at least a couple of hours & then review it with a calmer clearer head. Amazing how differently things read (even to the author) after they've been left to stand for a while...
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
The subjects posted and discussed on this forum are just about the same as are talked about on our allotments, day in day out, and I personally see no harm in it. One can cherry pick what one reads after all. Anyway, getting something off your chest, sharing a problem and lending a listening ear is part of life's rich tapestry.
I love this forum, it is very important to me and I care about it, and the people that I feel I know.
I don't like to admit it, but probably as a result of my being ill, I don't have many non virtual friends any more, so this place becomes occupies a large part of my life.
I don't think any subject should be taboo, but we should try and avoid attacks on other members.
Verdun and I, plus I suspect a few others enjoy a bit of a "stir", which can cause upset where not actually intended, and we need to think about that.
Sadly we do occasionally come across genuinely unpleasant people [ I received two very unpleasant PMs yesterday ], just as in "real" life. There is nothing we can do about this, except try and support those who nee it.
Sorry if this is a bit rambling, but as others have said, it can be difficult to fully explain things in print.
How can you lie there and think of England When you don't even know who's in the team
Posts
Just because you stop a person from freely expressing a point of view, it doesn't mean that they no longer have that opinion. The opinion goes unchallenged. If there is open debate, you might convert them to your way of thinking or vice versa.
If a thread makes you feel uncomfortable, stop reading it. If it makes you angry, ad your tuppenceworth but count to ten and proofread before you hit the green button.
I think we are all going stir fry (per my mum) at being stuck inside carp weather for gardening and too early to sow seeds.
It's definitely good weather for carp!
Can't understand the discussion really, if a thread upsets me I don't post and stay out of it. Works for me, it's common sense. There have been a number of postings that I categorically don't agee with but I just bow out gracefully and ignore them.
I like this forum just the way it is - plenty of sound gardening advice when required - plenty of timely reminders (for that read kick up the b*m) to get jobs done - and some nice general chat on the Forkers and other threads when I'm sat here on my own drinking tea. I've also met a few other members for garden visits which was a lot of fun - every bit as nice in real life as their virtual personas - & I'd like to do some more of that.
I don't mind tooooo much if there is the occasional thought provoking / controversial thread posted - so long as they don't start affecting the rest of the forum. This forum is special because it is generally a friendly place to while away the time without the back biting & snide remarks which seem to poison a lot of other forums. Too many contentious non-gardening subjects could eventually erode this good feeling.
I do think, however, that the most important thing to remember is that the a written view is not always read as the writer intended it to be - and not everybody reads every single word of a posting to pick up any small nuances. Potentially controversial postings should therefore be written with care.
In my opinion one should restrain from posting when upset or angry (too easy to let too many unbridled feelings spill out of the keyboard) or after partaking of a few alcoholic beverages
.
Much better to write it all out in Word (or whatever) and save it for at least a couple of hours & then review it with a calmer clearer head. Amazing how differently things read (even to the author) after they've been left to stand for a while...
The subjects posted and discussed on this forum are just about the same as are talked about on our allotments, day in day out, and I personally see no harm in it. One can cherry pick what one reads after all. Anyway, getting something off your chest, sharing a problem and lending a listening ear is part of life's rich tapestry.
I love this forum, it is very important to me and I care about it, and the people that I feel I know.
I don't like to admit it, but probably as a result of my being ill, I don't have many non virtual friends any more, so this place becomes occupies a large part of my life.
I don't think any subject should be taboo, but we should try and avoid attacks on other members.
Verdun and I, plus I suspect a few others enjoy a bit of a "stir", which can cause upset where not actually intended, and we need to think about that.
Sadly we do occasionally come across genuinely unpleasant people [ I received two very unpleasant PMs yesterday ], just as in "real" life. There is nothing we can do about this, except try and support those who nee it.
Sorry if this is a bit rambling, but as others have said, it can be difficult to fully explain things in print.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border