Please read

[WebmasterAlex]

Folks this is a very emotional issue. A lot of people are very upset and with good reason. Attacking each other is not going to solve a thing and if it continues you will be invited to post elsewhere.

From what I am reading this has broken down into 2 basic camps. Those who believe the government should do whatever they can to save lives no matter what and those who believe that even in a crisis the law has to be followed.
(read that as blame the republican president vs. blame the democratic mayor and governor)
Posting hysterically over and over like a broken record is not going to convince anyone you are right. It mostly just irritates everyone.
For those who feel their comments are witty and insightful..they aren't.
I have seen more threads drug off topic just to try to get in another jab that it has gotten to the point where nobody can bring up ANY topic without it immediately becoming someone's fault.
It's going to stop. If that means closing a bunch of threads to the point where we can't talk about who did what when I am more than ready to do that.
If it means removing some posters I have no issue with that either.
Before someone decides I mean them..or someone else there is WAY more than 1 person
Thank you for your cooperation.

[Pete's Mom]

Thanks Alex! :goodvibes

[totalia]

Thank you Alex. Very very much.

[luvthatduke]

You're doing a good, but tough job, Alex. Thank you.

[Bunch24]

We all have passionate opinions and nobody likes being told their opinion is wrong. I think sometimes, people (myself included) lose sight of that in an argument.

Thanks Alex and Kathy and everyone else that moderates. It's a tough job, but you're doing a great job.

[Nancy]

Thanks Alex.

[Southern4sure]

Thanks Alex!

[WDWBetsy]

From what I am reading this has broken down into 2 basic camps. Those who believe the government should do whatever they can to save lives no matter what and those who believe that even in a crisis the law has to be followed.
(read that as blame the republican president vs. blame the democratic mayor and governor)

Alex, I think we should also break it into a 3rd camp - those who, regardless of their political beliefs, just want to ensure that those in charge (federal, state, and local) are capable and qualified to do their job to the best of their ability. That doesn't make us Bush-haters or Republican-haters, or even Democrat-haters. We don't have to make this into a political fight.

Hurricane season isn't over and terrorist attacks are not out of the question, and if the same inadequate leaders are running the show, I fear lacking results.

Personal attacks should not be tolerated on either side. It's all about respect.

[minniepumpernickel]

Honestly, I don't mean to contradict you but, you blamed the police and felt that it was innappropriate for them to abandon their jobs. So everyone is involved in the blame game.

I feel that a lot of the police officers have lost homes and are just overwhelmed with the issues that they are forced to deal with.

So this type of dialog continues to confuse me. Is it okay for some people to caste blame, but not others? :confused3

[WebmasterAlex]

I said personal attacks will stop. And I said people need to stop dragging threads off topic to support their personal views.
I didn't personally attack anyone on these boards and I posted the Police Officer thread as a free standing thread.
I never said that we couldn't find fault with anything it's how people are going about it

[kejoda]

Honestly, I don't mean to contradict you but, you blamed the police and felt that it was innappropriate for them to abandon their jobs. So everyone is involved in the blame game.

I feel that a lot of the police officers have lost homes and are just overwhelmed with the issues that they are forced to deal with.

So this type of dialog continues to confuse me. Is it okay for some people to caste blame, but not others? :confused3


I think what Alex is trying to say that it is ok to post that diser A can start a thread about how s/he thinks the government are idiots but diser B who disagrees can't say diser A is an idiot for saying that.

If you disagree with someone and they are driving you nuts use the ignore button. Makes dis life much more calm(that is if you can refrain from looking anyway;))

[minniepumpernickel]

Well, as long as we are still allowed to disagree with you! :)

So, it's okay to blame the top of the food chain, I mean beurocracy, as opposed to the middle or lower end?

It's okay to still see the way things unfolded as "racist"?

[WebmasterAlex]

It's ok to mention it, it's not ok to pound people to death and hijack every thread......

[Geoff_M]

I'm done with the "blame" threads here...

It's interesting that many people appear to think that their "camp" is the only honest debaters, free of personal bias or political motive, here on the boards. Those that disagree are thought to be only doing so reflexively to defend their obvious political worldview.

One thing has become abundantely obvious here.... There needs to be a national dialog about what the roles should be for local, state, and national response agencies in situations like Katrina or other disasters. Because there is clearly a disconnect in the minds of many of the public and national media over this issue. A "disaster expert" on NPR said the same thing effectively this morning. He said we have the current "local... then state... then national" system in place because that's what America's mayors, governors, and federal governemt have agreed to and wanted. Perhaps we need to revisit that arrangement.

The bottom line is, despite what Newsweek's cover story claims.... we don't "Know what happened..." There's too much information, misinformation (like "Did the NOPD fade away, or didn't it?"), and third party anecdotes floating around to get anything like a clear picture of what did or didn't work. Until then it doesn't make sense to place final blame or start calling for "show firings".

[WebmasterAlex]

I agree Geoff and the problem is some people think they "prove" their point of view by posting the same thing over and over and looking for any little point they can possible score.

[Pete's Mom]

It's ok to mention it, it's not ok to pound people to death and hijack every thread...... That's the 4th group, Alex. :banana:

[JimMIA]

I agree Geoff and the problem is some people think they "prove" their point of view by posting the same thing over and over and looking for any little point they can possible score.
I see SO many more "air balls" than scores! :rotfl2:

[eeyore45]

Thank you Alex,

Believe it or not, I may open a thread, with a thought, but cant get into a "debate" so I just leave... I wanted you to know I'm one of those "dis'ers" that needed a place to "hang out" in this catastrophe... the original reason for starting a place... I understand there is a need for a "debate" board, but after reading a few threads, I understand why this is not possible here... at least ...

anyway,, thank you for stepping up and trying.

[Pete's Mom]

I agree Geoff and the problem is some people think they "prove" their point of view by posting the same thing over and over and looking for any little point they can possible score. That's the key Alex, just post your "please read, be nice threads" about 14 more times and that should do the trick. ;)

Oh, and don't forget this guy. :rolleyes:

Hoping it works this time. :goodvibes

[JimMIA]

Just bumping -- something we all should read and heed.

Alex, you need to make this a sticky.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Thanks

[halestrm]

I hope I didn't offend anyone. I admit, I needed to vent my frustrations, hurt and anger. It is amazing, I became angry that people were playing the "blame" game, and fell into blaming others.

Thanks for the opportunity to look in the mirror.

[minniepumpernickel]

Well, I'm still offended by what the OP said to me, but I realize that I can just go debate it on a site dedicated to debate. Or I can just watch the TV coverage, etc! :guilty:

[WebmasterAlex]

Jim, believe it or not we have learned over the years that hardly anyone reads stickies! A post that gets bumped usually works better. I'll sticky it later

[Jennifer S]

I'm so glad you posted this. I stopped coming here for a few days because (it seemed) that almost every thread was attacking and I just didn't want to read it.

I think you are right about the sticky. I joined here over a year ago and never once read a sticky. I didn't pay any attention to what it was.

[Pete's Mom]

bumping up since someone said I was dumb. :sad2:

Alex, how about sticking this to someone's forehead? :rotfl2:

[mamaprincess]

I have been guilty of attacking, I have been attacked. We are all really emotional and we have to recognize that. If you see yourself going there, retreat.
Thanks everyone.

[shrubber]

Here I am retreating back to lurking around the garden board !
I apologize for offending anyones sensibilities on that police vacation thread.

[Free4Life11]

I don't really mind if people attack me, because know I'm right anyways ;)

:rotfl2:

I don't really see the big deal with the police vacation thread?? It just seemed like had strong opinions, but I didn't really see any personal attacks :confused3

[Rex Rules]

Thanks Alex - I too am so disheartened about all the bashing.

All the time spent wagging fingers at each other would be better spent doing something productive. If you want to help, then help. If you don't want to help, then don't.

I didn't come to DIS much in the days since the hurricane, not because of bashing, but mostly because I found it hard personally to think about vacationing with all those people suffering. Certainly not a criticism to anyone that was posting during that time, just the way I felt.

[shrubber]

I don't really mind if people attack me, because know I'm right anyways ;)

:rotfl2:

I don't really see the big deal with the police vacation thread?? It just seemed like had strong opinions, but I didn't really see any personal attacks :confused3

If I could politely ask for clarification myself. I do not post here often ( see my count ) but do occasionally see a thread that I would like to voice my opinion on. I certainly do not want to cause any trouble or stir someones ire.
Thanks in advance.

How can we both be right?:)

[Saffron]

The only sticky I ever read is Pete's ... and only because Charlie and Zurg hijacked the the heck out of. :teeth:

I think I keep my cool most of the time until someone tells me, specifically or in general, to shut the **** up (and hell is not a filtered word so it ain't that word :rolleyes1 ) and get the **** out of the country, then I pretty much lose it. :bitelip: Well ... I get a little "wordy" whenever someone tells me to "love it or leave it". :teeth:

Even when I see the blantant racist stuff I can try to take a deep breath and try to be reasonable. But sometimes ... ya know Alex ... as Bush would say, it's hard, it's really hard.

Anyway, I will try to watch my P's and Q's. :bitelip:

And while we're at it, can you do something to make us able to add more smilies to our posts please? :flower: :bitelip:

[eeyore45]

Dear Webmaster,

I can no longer tolerate the personal attacks that are allowed on this board. It makes me so sad, that people in their passionate beliefs are allowed to vent on others, whether they be public figures, or posters... its no longer (imho) about having aplace to discuss a tragedy, I now go to a really truly moderated board...

Rules at the moderated board I feel "safe" posting at:

This is a Moderated Area. Use of the board is a privilege, not a right. Excessive foul language, vengeful and hateful posts will not be tolerated. Please look for existing 'conversations' before starting new ones.

Debate on these topics might be heated but the rules of the board are still expected to be followed. If you can't, then please don't post in this area

http://www.tvclubhouse.com/forum/messages/1071053/1071053.html

Believe it or not they have spirited discussions of the Katrina disaster, and even *gasp* about Gay Rights in America... without any of the bashing that is allowed here...

I'm truly amazed, and saddened...

I'll still get my "disney" fix,

[WebmasterKathy]

Eeyore-

When you come across posts containing personal attacks, please help us by clicking the http://www.disboards.com/images/buttons/report.gif symbol on that post to alert us.

We do not want hateful or attacking messages on these boards, but we cannot see every post. Your eyes help us to keep this a clean and safe place to post and read.

[taeja71]

I wish the OP's (WebmasterAlex) thread title could be in red text instead of the usual color.

I rarely visit the community forum and I don't even look at the Katrina forum b/c people are very passionate about their views. What's the point of getting myself all worked up when I see the flaming on threads, finger pointing, etc.? My life is stressful enough, no thanks.

WebmasterAlex's reply: Jim, believe it or not we have learned over the years that hardly anyone reads stickies! A post that gets bumped usually works better. I'll sticky it later

bump, bump, bump

[gina2000]

I like heated debates. Beats constant pixie dust any day of the week.

[totalia]

I actually agree with you gina. To a point. Some of the things that have been said are just plain mean.

[swilphil]

I just hope that moderators enforce the closing of threads and banning with objectivity instead of only clamping down on the people with whom they disagree.

[chobie]

Locking threads, deleting posts and banning posters are all within the moderators' powers.

It won't help Katrina victims or prevent the truth from coming out when this is all said and done.