02-15-2011, 01:12 PM
Aloha,
I have been thinking a lot about the recent changes in both the quality and quantity of discourse here on Punaweb, while also trying to keep the influx of new members straight in my head in terms of who said what.
When I first found Punaweb I lurked for a long time, partly because web forums were new to me, and partly because I am actually pretty shy around new people (which may explain why I still haven't made it to Scuba Sunday). By lurking I was able to get a sense of the preexisting community and that community's culture. It took me a long time to start posting, and a long time to do more than ask pretty mundane nuts and bolts questions. That time spent lurking was well spent, I had a good feel for Punaweb before I put in my 2 cents worth and I am glad I didn't just dive right in.
Web forums are everywhere now, and there is an overall web based culture in which people are downright scathing and insulting to anyone they disagree with. Unfortunately, that culture is now seeping into Punaweb, with people diving right in with personal insults and flaming responses the first day they stumble upon Punaweb.
Because at times this can be such a caring and hospitable community I issue my plea: when you first find Punaweb, please spend a little time getting the lay of the land and a sense for how people here interact before treating this like just another anonymous web forum. We are more than that, we are neighbors here, both physically and virtually, and even if you disagree with your neighbor, people usually don't start calling names and hurling insults.
Please understand that the above really and truly is not directed towards any particular person or persons, but is a generalized observation. It is also probably colored by the fact that I spend all day with middle school kids who overall handle their disagreements in a more mature fashion than I have seen here lately. When Rob says he feels like a middle school hall monitor it is actually an insult to my students who spend WAY less time calling people out and creating drama than Punaweb has recently experienced.
Mahalo for reading,
Carol
edited to fix a really stupid typo once again!
I have been thinking a lot about the recent changes in both the quality and quantity of discourse here on Punaweb, while also trying to keep the influx of new members straight in my head in terms of who said what.
When I first found Punaweb I lurked for a long time, partly because web forums were new to me, and partly because I am actually pretty shy around new people (which may explain why I still haven't made it to Scuba Sunday). By lurking I was able to get a sense of the preexisting community and that community's culture. It took me a long time to start posting, and a long time to do more than ask pretty mundane nuts and bolts questions. That time spent lurking was well spent, I had a good feel for Punaweb before I put in my 2 cents worth and I am glad I didn't just dive right in.
Web forums are everywhere now, and there is an overall web based culture in which people are downright scathing and insulting to anyone they disagree with. Unfortunately, that culture is now seeping into Punaweb, with people diving right in with personal insults and flaming responses the first day they stumble upon Punaweb.
Because at times this can be such a caring and hospitable community I issue my plea: when you first find Punaweb, please spend a little time getting the lay of the land and a sense for how people here interact before treating this like just another anonymous web forum. We are more than that, we are neighbors here, both physically and virtually, and even if you disagree with your neighbor, people usually don't start calling names and hurling insults.
Please understand that the above really and truly is not directed towards any particular person or persons, but is a generalized observation. It is also probably colored by the fact that I spend all day with middle school kids who overall handle their disagreements in a more mature fashion than I have seen here lately. When Rob says he feels like a middle school hall monitor it is actually an insult to my students who spend WAY less time calling people out and creating drama than Punaweb has recently experienced.
Mahalo for reading,
Carol
edited to fix a really stupid typo once again!
Carol
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb
Every time you feel yourself getting pulled into other people's nonsense, repeat these words: Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Polish Proverb
Tho, that's just me.