It has become very evident to me in a number of posts recently that there has been a huge drop in civility and decency. When reading an number of posts I'm finding ongoing arguments between 2 or 3 people. Lots of time involving name calling, curse inuendos, and simply, poor manners.

I don't remember this ever being this way in the past, to this extent. Am I the only one or have other people noticed this?????

It is almost not worth going to some of the forum areas because of the squabbles. This in turn leads to the original post not being answered, or twisted in such a way the purpose is totally skewed. Again, am I the only one seeing this.

Usually somewhere, a Mod gets in and throws a warning. It sticks in my mind this type of argument used to simply be closed.

At any rate does anyone agree/disagree?? If I'm alone guess I'll keep quiet.

ed

Are you saying that RCU is UNDERmoderated??

We can't win!

If we shut all of these threads down, we're accused of overmoderating, but when we let things slide a bit, well, you see what happens.

We do our best to keep the peace, go with the flow, and keep things on track, but obviously we can't please everyone every time. Sorry

Hey Minn. Please don't misunderstand my meaning. I'm not, in any way saying anything about the mods.

I am saying it seems the manner others post has really deteriorated into ongoing arguments, name calling, rude comments, inconsiderate comments etc.

People will always disagree, but there is civil way to disagree without the above. I simply don't recall, in the past several years, where it is as bad as it is right now. This is only in several of the forums.

I realize the effort and time mods put into this, as well as the head guys. It is appreciated also.

Ed

Divesplat,

I have to agree with you. I'm relatively new to this site but the thread "So and So's a Moron" poll was a little bit much. It reminded me of the club I belong to. For the last three years we've had some pretty dominant egos going head to head with each other and it even resulted in graffiti on our flying field done up artistically with "Roundup" weed killer. (just before our annual show, I might add.) It's definitely put a bad taste in my mouth and for a number of months I didn't want anything to do with the club. Just kind of slid to the back and kept my mouth shut, paid my dues, and flew by myself on early morning weekdays.
So, I agree with you. Keep it friendly, if you don't care for someone, be man enough and gentleman enough to close your mouth.

Just my two cents. Thanks for listenin'.

we read all the threads and as usual we consider both sides of the fence in debates and for everyones sake the derogatory comments aimed at rcu members are addressed....sometimes not as quick as some would like, but they do get addressed. we reply to all the pm's we get daily from individuals pointing these out as you all know. no personal attacks on people will be allowed in forums and i believe most are aware of it[8D]

Funny this is one of the first threads I should read after "dropping out" for awhile. The reason for dropping out is this exact thing. Seems some just want to be antagonists, or argue for the sake of argueing.
I'll give it another shot, but when it's no fun, I'll take a break.
I did get a lot of flying and building done while I was away..........the "air recreational park" is coming along nicely too.

Jetts

I have to agree with Ed and I think I know the root cause. Too many folks are overly defensive of their opinions and beliefs. I have a times found myself guilty of this very selfish trait. You could even sum it up as "folks being too thin skinned." The good news is there's an exercise that can help. I use it all the time and it works. Just scroll down and you'll see.




























Very Good! Now that's enough exercise for your first day.

I agree 117.2518%

this is the reason I never venture over to the Nitro car section. Bunch of children bickering about how their car is far superior to anyone elses...

I find that some forums are much more "adult" then others. The AMA section. forget about it. It's like crossing over the tracks to the bad side of town. Instant argument, just add thread.

My nickel. Keep the change.

IMHO, This tends to happen all over the 'net where there are forum members discussing anything.

The 'anonymous intimacy' the Internet provides us all, greatly encourages people to have less than their normal manners, as the medium lets them speak directly to somebody with different views and yet they can assume they will never see the person they are flaming, so they are less inhibited.

Also, other stuff like voice tone, body language and facial expressions are absent, so we all rely on the subtle use of the language to show humour and gentle sarcasm, which is extremely difficult.

- my 2 yen!

-David C.

That's antagonism and innuendo, pal. Can't you spell?!?!?!

... All too frequently that's all it takes to set these things rolling.

I say we rise above it and ignore the obvious trolls. The mods do what they can, but they can't be everywhere all the time...

Divesplat - not picking on you - highlights for illustrative purposes only.

Dive, a lot of what you are seeing is due to the net not showing feeling or emotion. This has always been a problem on RCU and every other site. One person asks a question, someone else answers it and the person that asked doesn't like the answer or doesn't agree and fires off a smart alec comment and everyone jumps in to try to make him see why they feel he is wrong or right. Sometimes both parties feel so strongly that they keep trying to make the other see their point, when it isn't going to happen. Words get stronger, feelings get more bent and then feelings fly.

The moron forum you spoke about was a member being frusterated because a lot of members were trying to help someone who obviously didn't want the help, but made a comment about just wanting to toy with the people helping.

I have seen it many times on here and everywhere else. Unfortunately, I got too involved in a couple of those threads because I felt the system being discussed is dangerous and wouldn't take much to fix.

Have fun on the boards. They are usually pretty good. All you can do is enjoy yourself, try to help the people you can and go on.

I totally agree with David C., it's the anonymity of the internet that causes it.......I think that if some of these discussions were held in person, people would be much more civil and well-mannered.....if not, the entire world is heading in a bad direction.....

Trolling 10, section 3, paragraph 2(b):

Solid conviction in your own position allows you to be harsh & condescending towards others, because "Dammit - I am right and I must do all in my power to force enlightenment on others".

In such circumstances, given that your opinion is gospel, all others should be required to act gentlemanly towards you when they post. Since you are "in the right", no such restriction applies to you. (Rules are for peons, not for you).

If someone else should dare to be so uncivilized as to post opinions or even (shudder!) facts that are contrary to your position, then clearly they are stupid, and need to be told so.

Now here is the important part : If that person is gullible enough to respond to your personal attack in even a scaled-down version of the attack you mounted on them, then you should shout and scream about how you are being victimized by this uncalled for behavior. Given your low opinion of everyone else's intellect anyway, you can be certain that no-one is smart enough to see through this ruse and realize that you actually started the fight in the first place.

Here endeth today's lesson.

When Taught manners and respect for others its difficult to forget, and to carry those traits throught life is to honor those who taught them.

Shine it on as an internet thing or whatever, modelers used to be a very helpful group as a whole. Some were self centered and very opinionated but most were enjoying and sharing the hobby, not looking to fight over small things like te way someone words a phrase.

Undermoderated/Overmoderated?? Is self regulating working??

Grnbrt closes a thread' then comes back and re-opens it?? does the whinner's win just because they send PM's and cry on the mod's shoulder?

If there are rules let them stand, enforce them and don't bend over



















































backwards for the extra slobbering and sniffels coming from the same old list of those who have to push the PM button.

"EDIT" Thank's ED for the exercise suggestion

You should come to one of my club meetings. Or better yet, a City council meeting. Some guys thrive on getting into someones face and degrading them and geting into fights either verbally or physically. This is the one reason why I hate some team sports.

It seems like some of the bulleys who tease kids into submission on the third grade playground never change when they become adults, and worse, they pass it on to their kids.

Scott

Fred P, that is pretty good.

Ummmm - no.

I posted the moron poll because I truly feel that member is a moron. His constant bickering and whining and failure to understand the difference between fact and fiction makes him a moron in my eyes. There have been at least 3 posts on this thread that have negated his theory/feelings and posts on 2 other boards that disagree with him. His "buddies" kept shopping around for the answer they liked, and when they never got it, they insinuated that it was because those of us against them were unintelligent / unelightened bafoons. If you noticed, I had a lot of people who seemed to agree with me.

In this case, the member reads every result of every post as a case to back up his point of view when the numbers have never added up in his favor.

It was also made as light humor, but for the most part represented my true feelings. Does this make me a bad person? In some people's minds it does, but at least I am not playing games by kissing his butt and coddling him and then behind his back bad mouthing him.

Taxman

You posted the moron poll because you are a spoiled brat with no positive virtues that are redeemable. I fyou can't get your way you cry foul, and go on the offensive.

Here's proof positive of that notion.

I do not need any polls to back me up on this. You seem to take every opportunity to go on the attack, thereby backing my contentions up 100%. Black and Black.
And here you go again.

If you want to have fun, and NEVER see anyone (and I mean that 100%) knock anyone down, swear or curse, or generally be anything but helpfull here is the solution:

start flying 1/2A aircraft and hang out in the 1/2A forum.

What I cant believe is that in all aspects of modelling I have only been a part of one that this is true in - small planes.

If that bunch of guys (who I am proud to be a part of) can fly different planes, engines, etc and allways get along, help each other, provide support and freindship without EVER fighting like a bunch of kids, why not others? I dont know.... but its a wonderfull place to hang out - ALLWAYS!

Andrew J. Coholic

I don't think you can blame it on the Internet entirely. The same divisiveness, bitterness, rudeness and lack of respect has become the norm in American politics, usually spearheaded by the guy who won on the platform of "bringing us all together". People just seem to have less interest in listening to other sides, less interest in compromise, more interest in finding differences and less interest in finding common values.

Thanks.

I like being a spoiled Brat [>:]

Virtues??

Since when has shooting somebody's plane down and saying "Sorry bud, ya should of known that could happen when you brought it to the field" been considered virtuous??

Since when has bashing yellow aircraft in a public forum simply because no one would bow down and say that the ziroli was better considered being virtuous?

Since when was stating the yellow aircraft planes were "too Small" which made it seem as if you were too good for them been considered virtuous.

I admit that some of my postings may have been crass and rude, but I am not going to sit back and give you a blank slate when you are just as guilty.

Remember that thread? It seems to me you are constantly trying to run across the grain.

Taxman

Wow! This is entertaining.

I must chime in and tell you that as an admin, I receive way too much email every day about this and that. One theme runs through a bunch of emails we received early on in the site changeover -- rampant disregard for the mods, us and the site. I mean emails like "You suck" , "this sucks" , "you took away my blankey" etc.

We tried something: we replied to these emails and reminded the individual that we are people, the same as all the members who post here. We invited them back to have a second look... Unbelieveably, close to 100% of the folks we responded to wrote back and apologized.

I think the lesson here is that folks need to be reminded that the Net is not an anonymous, nameless, faceless place. Perhaps on every post page we should have this reminder:

"Before you post, remember that behind each post on this board is a person who hates being abused as much as you do. Keep it civil."

Dunno? What do you think?

Michael

I think for the most part, it wouldn't change much. If someone missinterprets what was said to them, maybe half the time they are still going to make a smart ass comment that will start it all over again.

Mike,

Perhaps another little window that pops up when you hit OK an the reply screen that says:

"ARE YOU REALLY SURE THAT YOU WANT TO POST THIS?" or another "ARE YOU THINKING" or one other "***WITWIPTMF" ask me for the meaning..........

sometimes emotions get ahead of the thinking process........

Ummmm, I missed the MORON poll? Damn!