An Observation and a Suggestion for the Mods

Hey, who posted a recipe? Gimme!

/me opens his Excel spreadsheet full of collected recipes

Sorry, for the delay, I was changing my password.

Speaking of recipes:

"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering." ~ Yoda

So if you change it and I don't get to post anymore, that would be worth it for you and the others. I take it I'm not as important as you and the others. Okay, I understand. This makes me sad.

It's been nice posting in all the different threads. I will miss that so much.

Haha, don't worry. Nothing is going to be changed. The new rules work too well. No matter what a vocal minority says, the proof has been in the pudding.

I highly doubt the rules will be changing again any time soon despite all the bluster. Don't you go anywhere, April. Your positive contributions are appreciated muchly.

I cannot for the life of me figure out why anyone would be against a postive change in the forums. (shrugs shoulders) to each their own I guess.

A positive change would be consistent moderation provided by a larger moderator base (preferably users themselves) coupled with free-speech reform (anything goes as long as it doesn't harm others). I'd also like a chance for a guaranteed review by a group of one's peers in the forum before ejections. Those are positive changes.

As for throwing out permanent bans so we're stuck with the worst of the worst forever? No thanks.

~Ulrika~

I'm sorry you feel the need to mock my concerns. I understand your concerns. I wouldn't make light of them. I'm sorry mine are so trivial to you.

Ironic....isn't it?

I think you misunderstand me April as I said "to each their own". That means that your opinion is "ok" too. I don't see how that is mocking. I did not call you out by name, I did not insult you. If anything I allowed you your opinion and I hope that you allow me mine.

The postive change I wish to personaly see is no belittling, no insults, no harrasments in these forums. I hope I have been perfectly clear.

Have a great day.

Cat

PS: I think your forum title is perfect for you that is a compliment.

My cup overfloweth with irony.

I am afraid that untying forum behavior from SL will create a more hostile environment. I have felt more comfortable posting since the new rule came into effect. Any change of that rule makes me afraid the forums will go back to the way it was.

The points you mentioned are very subjective. By shrugging and saying you thought I didn't want positive change felt like you were belittling me. As if I was somehow not being reasonable for wanting things to stay the way they are. Reread that statement. I just asked my sister to read it as well and she also felt you were indicating my concerns were somehow not reasonable. You were not saying to each his own as you stated in your reply.

You may not be able to figure out "for the life of you" why I am perfectly happy with the rules the way they are. But I am not asking you to figure me out.

I am stating I like the rules the way they are. I don't understand why that is a problem.

Not changing the rules would mean that ppl will continue to call each other "mentally ill" and "fucking whore" as they do now. Yes the forums have made a change in the right direction but I think we have a ways to go.

I agree to disagree on these issues with you.

Cat

But changing them could make them go back to calling me insignificant and following my every post with mean remarks and such things.

As for those words, which I am not even able to type myself. The only times I've seen them lately in the forums have been when you yourself use them. I wish you would stop. It's not very pleasant to have to see them. I feel they are being thrown at me to harrass me because my opinion differs from yours.

But I still believe untying the forums from SL will not prevent someone from using those words.

I'm not sure what your reading but since you think I am doing all these terriable things including harrasment. I will put you on ignore and spare us both any further problems..

Take Care.

Cat

The tense of your post seems to contradict reality. People may have said those things in the past, but they're not now. Thus, past tense is most appropriate. To further clarify the point: if someone said "Catherine Cotton continues to compare people to Hitler" they would be incorrect, as your ill-advised Hitler simile lies in the past. It is not behavior which can be considered present.

(This pedantry brought to you by the letter Z and the color purple.)

Maybe harass was too strong of a word. It is late and I should be in bed. But profanity for just profanity sake is used by some as a shock value. I am probably very naive and pollyanish in that I never ever use profanity and find it a bit abrasive to hear it and even more so to see it in print. As it didn't really add any more to the conversation, in my eyes, or could have been replaced with more refined words and/or abbreviations, it seemed to only be used as a tool in which to offend me as you have already made the same statement in this particular thread several times.

That is my perception. I apologize for my perception.

If you have put me on ignore because I have stated my desire to leave the rules the way they are, it is your choice and it is one of the tools available in the forums for you to use as such. In this way you have taken control of what you perceive to be a problem. I applaud you for this step.

The current rules work and are fine.

Its been what 2 days since they stopped after 2 years plus of the same tatics. I probably am a little gun shy at this point. Time will tell if things realy have changed.

Btw you just did say "that" drawing once again to it. It wasn't ppl it was a person, I apologized and she accepted it for 30 min.

My point being it's easy from this side of the pond to see why ppl will adapt their insults and enuendos but will they change? That reamains to be seen, I hope so.

I would however feel much better if after the forum rules had changed and I was once again viciously insulted; that person would of been held accountable to those new rules and at least been given a written warning. As she continued to post in the same manner I can only conclude that none was given.


Cat

2 days? Not quite.

"Its been what 2 days since they stopped after 2 years plus of the same tatics."

Is what I said.
I see a list of forums with your link. I however do not see how my mentioning that I had seen changes in the past two days refected that link in anyway. Especialy since it was a link searching for the word "whore".



Cat

PS: here is the origninal announcment thread on these fourm changes:

New Forum Changes

I feel as if the issue is becoming unclear at this point, as always seems to happen. Let me reiterate the conversation of these last three posts. You stated that "ppl will continue to call each other 'mentally ill' and 'fucking whore' as they do now." I responded that no one has called you a whore in recent memory, and that the behavior which you claimed was ongoing has, in fact, ceased. You responded by stating that "Its been what 2 days since they stopped after 2 years plus of the same tatics." I then linked to search results for the word "whore" which demonstrate that no one has called you or anyone else a "fucking whore" within the last two days. In fact, I have yet to find a single post in recent history which fits your criteria. Admittedly, it's now 2:30 AM and I'm ending my search early. There's a distinct possibility that I just overlooked it, or that it was edited by a Linden. If that's the case, feel free to correct me by linking to the relevant post or edited post. I'm fallible, and it's quite possible that I missed such a post while browsing the search results.

The issue is, I feel threads have been closed prematurely.

Along those lines, and in view of other concerns, I propose three changes to the forums:

1. Rescinding the rule that says get banned from the forums and you lose your game.

2. Removal of that wishy-washy line in TOS and more action taken on personal attacks.

3. A policy that those who disturb a thread with pictures or recipes or personal attacks will have to leave the thread, along with a warning or whatever the mods deem appropriate; while those trying to have a discussion can continue on.

coco

P.S. I have a fourth one in mind, too. I'm mulling it over now, and exactly how to word it.

A slight problem with your reasoning, Coco.

I could see your argument if this forum were a "public" forum on the internet.

As it stands now, it's privately owned by Linden Labs.

Think of this forum as a discussion around their dining room table or in their living room.

They have every right to do as they wish, whether you are a "guest" (end-user) or a family member. They can remove anyone from their home that they wish when they wish to do so.

There is nothing you can do about it, except complain loudly when it happens.

See, if I had someone sitting around my dining room table during a discussion who constantly used personal attacks, immature reaonings and temper tantrums to get their point across, I would simply show them the door.

Prior to that, I would try to a) speak privately to the individual and b) try to ignore the constant interruptions to the discussion.

In reading your posts on the TSO forums, the SL Herald, and here in SL (yes, I *do* my homework), I've found that you're pretty much the same when you want to lead a cause.

LL made a decision. It was probably based on posts, emails, and use of employee time it took to "calm the waters" -- and decided that (along with the TOS), it wasn't worth the hassle. Even if LL said to me that "we couldn't waste another employee's hours on this person's disruptions" -- I would have agreed wholeheartedly. In a business and professional decision, you have to decide when to cut your losses.

A simple suggestion. This is a private forum. It's not a public forum where you can scream and hollar "free speech" If you feel so damn strongly about the free-speech required on the internet, then get out and volunteer your internet "time" to the cause. A simple Google search will show you many organizations who would appreciate your help.

But please stop this cause on these forums. Influenced by end-users or not, LL has made a decision -- simply abide by it, realizing that this is their forum and they will do with it what they want when they want -- and even as a paying customer, you still have to abide by their rules.

It's really that simple.

It doesn't get any simplier.

You can bitch about the Lindens, you can bitch about the software, you can compliment, complain, agree or disagree.

But if and when you cross that line -- they have every right to implement and follow their own rules of conduct -- just as you would if you had an unruly guest in your home.

I know it's hard, but bury this issue. Mourn for the loss of your so-called "free-speech" cause here on the forums, but move on with your SL. Or your SL won't be enjoyable at all. Then again, maybe you enjoy the discourse too much.

I think the pictures are fun.

Humor and levity should not be allowed!