Look out, folks, I've been thinking....

[Johnny Stew]

I've been thinking that, given the significance of this date and the effects it has had on us all... worldwide... perhaps we should all take this time to step back and re-evaluate how we deal with each other on these boards.
Sure, this is "just a message board," and in the grand scheme of things, it has little consequence... but I tend to think that how we deal with each other here can be very reflective of how we deal with people beyond the cyber-realm.

I've noticed lately that many posts are steeped in sarcasm... weighted with not-so subtle jabs at one person or another (or even groups of people)... and often times just downright confrontational.
I think for many people, it has become a game of "who can snipe whom with the most withering jab."

Now, I'm not talking about refraining from debates, or from sharing opinions... we can't all be of one-mind or one-thought, or else it would be a very boring world indeed.
I'm merely suggesting that we all let bygones be bygones.
When you go to respond to something, maybe stop for a moment and think about your reasons. Do you really have something to add, or are you just trying to get a little snide remark in there?
When you create a new topic... are you doing so to spark a conversation, or are you doing so in an attempt to tear someone down?

If you're doing so because of the latter reasons, maybe you should ask yourself why.

I know sometimes it's hard to let things slide, but after a while, this "eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" way of dealing with people will leave us all with nothing. Life's just too short for that nonsense... which is something we should all be very acutely aware of now.

Given the emotional weight of the day, I guess my hippie-tendencies are in full evidence... and I'm sure some people will read this and roll their eyes at how goofy I may sound. And yes, maybe this way of thinking is all very naive of me, but hey, I'm not afraid of embarassing myself.
If we have any hope of making our world a better place, we can't be afraid to stick our necks out once in a while... or of starting small, and working our way up.


Johnny Stew (who's now down from his soapbox)

[tyshiria]

that was actually very sweet of you. :nod:

mimi:)

p.s. i was so gonna take that quote from her journals and add it to my signature, but i see you got to it first. how could you? :lol:

[Grainuaile]

Well said Johnny Stew! :thumbsup: I agree wholeheartedly with what you've said.

[Lisa1769]

I see nothing wrong with your request. I live by those rules everyday of my life!!:nod:

[sara1998]

WOO-HOO (clapping wildly; tears steaming down my face) Please, lets all take Johnny Stew's advice.... lets build bridges, not walls.......

Maria

[thewhitewingedd]

I agree...Its time we all tried to get along a little better...I know we can all do it...

Adam:)

[Nightbird_Brett]

Thank you Johnny Stew for posting that. I could not have said it better my self.
Brett

[DownOnRodeo]

Thanks JS. Good sentiment.

I think those who are bored by pettiness are able to ignore or sidestep it anyway, so that's my recommendation. But as for a good ol argument occassionally - therein lies the fun! Don't forget, Rumours was built on differences.... Deductively, we can define things only by differentiation. (It can be done inductively but that's more communist/spiritual!!)

Hmm I think I stood up on the Crackpots Only soapbox accidentally.:distress: :confused: :(

[CarneVaca]

At least one person who's already replied to this thread should take one look inward and stop creating threads meant solely to bait. Therein the hypocrisy.

[FiercestCalmSea]

I totally agree with you JS...good thought :)

[susieq]

Thank you Johnny for your excellent post. :)

I stopped coming here a few months ago because of one or two people who just were so negative and mean all the time.

I couldn't take the stress. :distress:

I've been stopping by again recently and now I see that the same thing is going on only by different people.

Some threads are probably very interesting. I don't know, I stop reading when the fighting starts.

Yeah, I'm overly sensitive. The evening news can make me cry. I don't like to see people hurting.

I'm looking for "the diamonds along the way". Hope to find them here.

Sue :wavey:

[BellaDonnaGypsy]

Originally posted by CarneVaca
At least one person who's already replied to this thread should take one look inward and stop creating threads meant solely to bait. Therein the hypocrisy.
I apologize to everyone else in advance, but this needs to be said.

CarneVaca, you need to shut the hell up with your holier than thou attitude. By posting what you did, you've proved that you're just as much a hypocrite as anyone else round here. You can say what you like to me in response to that, because I really don't give a damn, you pathetic troll.

Laura.

[tyshiria]

you know i really do love you laura, cause you always, ALWAYS, make me smile!

btw, we really need to have a chitchat ok? lot to tell, so little time! ;)

mimi:)

[BellaDonnaGypsy]

It's been a long day, and it's Friday 13th... and I'm kinda glad there's not a full moon tonight or I might just turn into something hideous... oops, too late.

Anyway, hon... we *will* have a chat... I have Monday afternoon free (no rest for the wicked) and I'll get online then. I'm sorry I haven't been around much; you can blame school and homework and my job and the short film we're making and various other things for my absence. :distress:

Laura.

[tyshiria]

Originally posted by BellaDonnaGypsy
Anyway, hon... we *will* have a chat... I have Monday afternoon free (no rest for the wicked) and I'll get online then. I'm sorry I haven't been around much; you can blame school and homework and my job and the short film we're making and various other things for my absence. :distress:

Laura.

you got a job? when? doing what? and CONGRATS!!!!

and don't worry sweetie. we'll talk whenever you get the time. i understand that you're busy.

mimi:)

[David]

Originally posted by BellaDonnaGypsy
Anyway, hon... we *will* have a chat... I have Monday afternoon free (no rest for the wicked) and I'll get online then. I'm sorry I haven't been around much; you can blame school and homework and my job and the short film we're making and various other things for my absence.
Will you two chat via telephone? e-mail? messenger pigeon?

Why is your Monday afternoon free? No work? no school? any interesting errands you plan to run?

What sort of homework do you have? Did you finish it in time for class? did you remember to proofread it? Was the homework an exercise in pointlessness or a genuine learning experience?

When you reach the end of your shift at work, could you just plotz?

[tyshiria]

Originally posted by David

Will you two chat via telephone? e-mail? messenger pigeon?

Why is your Monday afternoon free? No work? no school? any interesting errands you plan to run?

What sort of homework do you have? Did you finish it in time for class? did you remember to proofread it? Was the homework an exercise in pointlessness or a genuine learning experience?

When you reach the end of your shift at work, could you just plotz?

ROTFFLMFAO! laura! check it out!!! lmao!

mimi:)

[BellaDonnaGypsy]

Originally posted by David
Will you two chat via telephone? e-mail? messenger pigeon?

Why is your Monday afternoon free? No work? no school? any interesting errands you plan to run?

What sort of homework do you have? Did you finish it in time for class? did you remember to proofread it? Was the homework an exercise in pointlessness or a genuine learning experience?

When you reach the end of your shift at work, could you just plotz?
Yeah... if you could just point me to where the word 'plotz' is listed in the dictionary, I might actually be able to answer your question.

Laura.

[tyshiria]

Originally posted by BellaDonnaGypsy

Yeah... if you could just point me to where the word 'plotz' is listed in the dictionary, I might actually be able to answer your question.

Laura.

ROTFFLMFAO! let it go girl! so not even worth it lol!

mimi:)

[BellaDonnaGypsy]

I'm serious! Someone tell me what it means, or it'll bug me!

Laura.

[Johnny Stew]

Two days later, and I see everything's back to "normal."

I think some are losing sight of the entire reason I posted my thoughts to begin with... and apparently the spirit behind the thoughts is being overlooked.

Perhaps everyone should re-read the initial post in this thread, before they add anything more to it.
Or simply let it stop right here.



Johnny Stew

[Sugar]

plotz (verb)
fall down dead right now Usage: "oy, after all that shopping I'm about to plotz" Or "Ham and cheese sandwiches? If your grandfather weren't already dead, he'd plotz." Also see shikse for usage.

[CarneVaca]

Originally posted by BellaDonnaGypsy
CarneVaca, you need to shut the hell up with your holier than thou attitude. By posting what you did, you've proved that you're just as much a hypocrite as anyone else round here. You can say what you like to me in response to that, because I really don't give a damn, you pathetic troll.

Laura.

Your desire to stick yourself in the line of fire is absolutely astounding to me. Clearly I wasn't referring to you, but if you want to pick a fight and call me names... First, you don't know what a hypocrite is. Sue your school and demand your money back because it's not helping. But ignorance can be cured, so there's hope for you.

And by the way, as David cleverly pointed out, no one gives a **** what you're doing in school and how busy you are, so why don't you take that drivel about your very small life somewhere else? This is a discussion board about a band, not a slumber party for silly little girls who can't control their temper.

Now, Jooooohnny, does "pathetic troll" qualify as a "strike-able" offense?

[Rainman]

Criminy, this place is like a dysfunctional family.

Johnny Stew posts an absolutely marvelous sentiment (and thank you JS), and within two days we have people at each others' throats over this very post.

Mindblowing.

[Johnny Stew]

CarneVaca... as always, when there is a violation of the FAQs, appropriate action is taken.



And again, I'd like to remind everyone to read the FIRST post in this thread.
And maybe re-read it, if need be. I'm not entirely sure that it has sunk in.

I'd also like to suggest to one and all, that if you're not interested in a particular thread, read another.
And if you don't care for the postings of one Ledgie or another, take advantage of the "Ignore" feature offered here at The Ledge.
(By the way, this is not now an opportunity for people to begin listing all those they have ignored. If you have put someone on ignore, or if you plan to, then do so privately. Announcing it merely invites more arguments.)

And finally, in the interest of keeping the peace...
when possible, please try to keep private conversations exactly that... private.
We have a terrific Private Messaging system here for those kinds of things.


Marty couldn't have made this more user-friendly, folks!... so take advantage of all the cool perks and options.



Johnny Stew

[CarneVaca]

Originally posted by Johnny Stew
CarneVaca... as always, when there is a violation of the FAQs, appropriate action is taken.

So let me get this straight: If unbeknownst to me someone reports me and I get a strike I never find out who my accuser is. And if I am on the receiving end of a violation I never find out if the perpetrator was warned or given a strike?

Who wrote these rules, John Ashcroft?

[Johnny Stew]

Originally posted by CarneVaca
So let me get this straight: If unbeknownst to me someone reports me and I get a strike I never find out who my accuser is. And if I am on the receiving end of a violation I never find out if the perpetrator was warned or given a strike?

Who wrote these rules, John Ashcroft? CarneVaca... we do not now, nor have we ever, let Ledgies decide who gets a strike or a warning.
We DO review the situation if something in particular is pointed out to us by a Ledgie (we can't be everywhere after all), but the final decision on what kind of action to take is ALWAYS left up to the moderators.

And in the event that a matter is initially brought to our attention by a Ledgie, we do not disclose said Ledgie's name to any party involved.
Reporting a post is something that everyone should feel free to do without fear of repercussion (though this doesn't mean that anyone has carte blanche to abuse this option. Please always use the "Report This Post" feature with discretion).

Conversely, we do not inform anyone of who has or hasn't received a strike or warning. That is a private matter between the moderators and the person in question.

We realize that our methods will not please everyone, but we feel this is the best way to handle a situation when it arises.

Before anyone registers here, they are always advised to read the FAQs. If they disagree with any of the rules here, or don't wish to abide by them, it's always their right to opt not to register or post.

And while we try to handle all matters here as democratically as possible, in the end this is a private forum.
I know of many other private message boards that don't ask questions, and don't give second-chances. If you violate their rules, you're out. No ifs, ands, or buts.
So I think we handle things pretty darn fairly here. And if, as the saying goes, one keeps their nose clean... they'll have nothing to worry about.


Hope this answers your question, CarneVaca (and anyone else who was curious).


Johnny Stew

[Rumours]

Perhaps if you all would quit posting things that would earn you strikes in the first place, you would not have to worry about who reported you!

Anyway, what does any of this (strikes, personal conversations, name calling, etc...) have to do with Stevie Nicks......I am in the Stevie forum still, right? I mean, I don't remember clicking over to any other forum or anything......

That was a nice post, by the way, Johnny Stew.....sorry it seems to have been wasted.......thank you for it anyway.

Stephanie :distress:

[CarneVaca]

Originally posted by Johnny Stew

Hope this answers your question, CarneVaca (and anyone else who was curious).


A simple yes or no would have done the trick.

[ChickenShack]

Originally posted by CarneVaca
This is a discussion board about a band, not a slumber party for silly little girls who can't control their temper.



Right on Bro!!!! They are tiresome creatures aren't they? (Girls, girls, girls!! Get thee to The ****-Shat Forum!!! ::nod:: ) Stop clogging up discussions. Who wants to wade through all this stuff for some intellect! Speaking of intellect, it's the "silly little girls" and psycho-posters who get away with MURDER whilst the intelligent, brilliant-writer, amazingly knowledeable TRUE MAC FANS such as you, Carne, get strikes/banned! Go figure!!! ::lol:: So here's what I suggest. Just use the link below as a standard reply and say NOTHING. This fan message board would be nothing without your edgey wit and bravery! Sitting on traffic cones may be just the ticket to curing some of this teenagery ~**manic depression-I-"ball"-all-night-long"**~ stuff that's rampant here. If not some prozac and a polo mallet:

http://www.petting-zoo.org/EM3Graphics/HPorn41k.gif

;) :wavey:

[BellaDonnaGypsy]

Wow... that was so intellectual.

Laura.

[greatdarkwing]

Alright, maybe it's me, but I see nothing wrong with Laura and Mimi exchanging in a conversation, and I see no reason why they should be attacked like this, and be subject to such insults as "tiresome creatures" and "silly little girls", oh and by the way, I think that little cartoon thing was very inappropriate.....I have made some great friends on this board, and it sickens me to hear them get made fun of because they had a discussion....ISN'T THIS A DISCUSSION BOARD?!?!?!?! Let us discuss freely! Yes, this is a board based on Fleetwood Mac and its members, but there are some very good friends here, who would like to discuss friendly matters....I don't think they should get crucified for it....Its been a tough week guys, let try to end it...because I know by Monday this thread will have over 50 posts! I've seen the pattern! Believe me, and 50 is an understatement. Johnny Stew, I am sorry that this thread has been wisted around in this way....Your ideas were great, and I could not agree more. I LOVE EVERYONE ON THIS BOARD! It's wierd, because I consider some of you like my family members! I always think of Alex, Sonia, Mimi, and Laura (and many others who I am going on a blank on) as true family members....So please, lets not pick on eachother anymore....Life is short, and we saw that first hand on 9/11 when 3000 people were killed in 2 hours...Lets not spend our lives focusing on these stupid little things...Life is too short for that...


Much love to everyone,
~Alex:)

[Johnny Stew]

All right.
It's a shame it has to come to this, but I have decided to exercise my option to close this thread.
I don't think it could possibly have veered any further from the reason it was started in the first place.

I thank everyone who weighed-in with their thoughts on my original post... and I apologize that others seem to have missed (and/or ignored) the point altogether.

I'm actually kind of embarassed.
If I were a newbie, and happened upon this thread (and many others), I doubt I would ever post here.


As a side-note... while everyone is strongly encouraged to conduct one-on-one conversations via private messaging or the Chit-Chit Forum, having an occasional personal conversation within a thread on the other forums is *not* a violation of the FAQs.
Just please keep such private conversations to the absolute minimum.

However, harassing people, degrading people, and purposely causing an uncomfortable atmosphere IS a violation of the FAQs.
And that's the difference some people clearly fail to see.

Once again (and again, and again, and again... until it sinks in), if you do not wish to read a thread, don't.

If you do not care for a particular person, put them on your ignore list.

It couldn't be easier, folks.

End of discussion.


Johnny Stew