People in Glass Houses...

[Crankyshank]

Yeah there are people who post things just to rile others up but imho the vast majority of it is people posting looking for advice and don't like the answers they get or just wanted to vent and instead got advice. If you're only looking for supportive responses then you really need to specify it in your OP.

I've also noticed an overload of people looking for reasons to be offended by posts. I don't know if it's because they are stressed out and looking for an anonymous outlet or if they are just hypersensitive. Either way the problem isn't just "people are mean". I was on the board quite a bit last night -reading more than posting and unless there were a lot of deleted threads I really don't see the meanness that several threads have mentioned.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

People in glass houses...shouldn't walk around naked!!!!!!!!

At least not with my body I wouldn't.

 

[Disneynutbsv]

My boyfriend.


Just kidding, it's Bode Miller, a World Champion/Olympic medalist skier.

And also my neighbor (figuratively speaking, he lives about 20 minutes from me )

 

[OhMari]

The mods did come out last nite and told everyone to start playing nice.

I know at times I can let someone have it, and this is my NYE resolution-to stay supportive of people on the threads and don't get caught up in a heated thread, and I will never, ever post anything about Howard Stern again. I'm usually a thread killer and that sucker just took off.

 

[tarmand]

But in the same respect I think there are times (not all the time) that no one would actually say certain things to someone in person BUT they really really need to hear it and if takes the faceless nature of the message board to do it then it is still a good thing. Some people just will never see that they are doing something destructive or wrong until confronted and many times family and friends just want to play nicey nice so as not to cause waves (I know because my wife will not confront her mother about a myriad of problems)., whereas someone here can just let loose because in essence they don't have to live with the person.

This is so true. I wouldn't tell my family half of the stuff I think they need to hear since it would cause too much conflict, but I'd tell someone the truth on an internet board because I don't know them and won't have to worry about them holding a grudge. I try not to be mean in my posts - I'm not always successful, but I try.

 

[jgmklmhem]

This is so true. I wouldn't tell my family half of the stuff I think they need to hear since it would cause too much conflict, but I'd tell someone the truth on an internet board because I don't know them and won't have to worry about them holding a grudge. I try not to be mean in my posts - I'm not always successful, but I try.

I also think part of the part of the problem is this is a message board where tone can be very hard to read at times.

 

[cardaway]

I know at times I can let someone have it, and this is my NYE resolution-to stay supportive of people on the threads and don't get caught up in a heated thread, and I will never, ever post anything about Howard Stern again. I'm usually a thread killer and that sucker just took off.

Maybe if you didn't start by calling him names.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

I also think part of the part of the problem is this is a message board where tone can be very hard to read at times.

This is why I'm very careful how I word things. If I think it might be taken in the wrong way then I'll re-word it...just to be safe. And if it's a joke then I'll put a little at the end of the sentence.

 

[noseybuddy]

I was on the boards last night, I don't remember anything being to harsh, well one thread a person was getting a bit upset, but other than that I don't remember anything to bad. Maybe I just wasn't reading the right threads.

 

[bicker]

If you're only looking for supportive responses then you really need to specify it in your OP.

This is VERY good advice, but even then, in an open discussion thread, that's not enough to ensure an unrebutted soapbox. If you really want to eliminate the chances of anyone disagreeing with you, you really want to post your thoughts on a blog.

 

[mickeyfan2]

"Youre terrible, rude, lazy, a bad mom and an awful wife, yet dont be mad - Im just helping by giving you some Constructive Criticism"

This is not constructive criticism. Anybody who ends a sentence that way is just rude. When I get constructive criticism from somebody they don't tell me it is constructive criticism; a light bulb goes on above my head and I say hummmmm they may have a point. I need to consider it and then I do. May not decide to use the information, but did consider it. That is how I handle it on the boards. If somebody finds that as being rude, then I am being rude.

 

[OhMari]

Maybe if you didn't start by calling him names.

The error of my ways. (remember Resolution, remember Resolution, remember Resolution).

 

[mickeyfan2]

This is VERY good advice, but even then, in an open discussion thread, that's not enough to ensure an unrebutted soapbox. If you really want to eliminate the chances of anyone disagreeing with you, you really want to post your thoughts on a blog.

Or better yet - Not at all.

 

[noseybuddy]

:

The error of my ways. (remember Resolution, remember Resolution, remember Resolution).

 

[noseybuddy]

The error of my ways. (remember Resolution, remember Resolution, remember Resolution).

sorry double post, that darn server!

 

[Ziva]

And also my neighbor (figuratively speaking, he lives about 20 minutes from me )

 

[noseybuddy]

Wish my neighbor looked like that!

 

[Disneynutbsv]

My friend Shannon cuts his hair...she has a hard time focusing when he comes in, lol.

 

[WIcruizer]

I think one of the big problems is that many people take comments so personally. Every comment made in general is taken by some to reflect on their own situation. Frankly, I don't see very many personal attacks in here. Just some very strong opinions being debated at times, and there's nothing wrioong with that.

You just need to understand that every comment doesn't apply to you personally. And even i it does in some cases, nobody is calling you a rotten person. It's that ONE situation, issue, etc. that's being discussed.

 

[can'twait]

Well, it's very easy to speak off the top of your head here. That can be fun but it can also be hurtful. Sometimes there is a nicer way to tell someone that maybe they are wrong, or that they might want to look at something from a different perspective. I've seen some doozy one liners that I doubt people would say to someone's face, or that I thought must have been typed before they were thought out well, and I hoped were regretted later. Maybe it DOES need to be said, and the OP DID ask our opinion, but opinions can be worded gently. It's also tough to remember that we don't always know the whole story. Maybe someone just had a bad day.