Netiquette and online civility

[csgray]

Well, my topic certainly got some interesting responses, some of which I never saw since they were posted and unposted (is that a word?) while I have been tied up with a family medical emergency and work. So I will never know just what was said. I would like to point out that I did not ask for Rob to become a more heavy handed moderator, I merely asked people to use a little self restraint and keep their egos on a shorter leash so people who want to have a civil conversation with their neighbors can do so without being insulted or demeaned by rude remarks and gratuitous insults. The best regulation is self regulation.

There are those here on the board who seem to race to be the first to respond to every post. If they don't have anything to actually say about the topic they just pop off with whatever "humorous" comment they can come up with in 3 seconds. Sometimes those comments are pretty barbed, maybe not intentionally hurtful, but one man's joke can be another man's painful insult. For instance, inviting a dry alcoholic to share a beer might not be received the same way as intended.

As for as the person who wanted to know if I had posted in the introductions thread, and implied that since I hadn't we couldn't have a conversation: I thought the introductions thread was voluntary, available for those who want to post a bio, not that it is required to be taken seriously. I view Punaweb as an extension of the bricks and mortar community, I don't have to hand my neighbor my resume and biography to share a conversation standing in line at the Malama market, we just start talking. If I was posting incendiary remarks I could understand wanting to know where "I am coming from" but all I did was ask people to tone it down a little and be just a little nicer to each other so the overall experience here could be just a little more civil and welcoming, not a radical idea IMHO. I am a fairly private person, I don't care to put up my personal life story on an internet forum for all the world to see, but I do appreciate being able share information with fellow Punatics here. I really don't care what peoples' politics are, your religion is your own business, what you put in your brain and body is certainly none of my business, and I have no interest in what your sexual orientation is, I just want us to collectively be able to have a civil conversation without becoming the butt of someone's "joke." Is that so unreasonable?

By the way, amazing sunrise over the ocean this morning. We are so lucky to get to live here, cocquis, centipedes, mold, and cost of groceries not withstanding. I hope everyone has the best possible day!




carol