Is The Forum Getting More Antagonistic?

[Zardnaar]

There's report and ignore functions? Things you learn.

 

[Alzrius]

Pretty much this. People who disagree with a mod's personal opinion are very likely to think twice about expressing their disagreement, and may decide to hold their tongue. That could lead to frustration, and possibly to more passive-aggressive posting.

This is especially true when the mods become confrontational, flippant, or snarky when posting with the colored text, because then any response is cited as being "confronting moderation" or "discussing moderation in public," and the poster is immediately punished for that, with no recognition of the fact that the mods themselves were engaging in action that, from anyone else, wouldn't be allowed.

The usual response to that is, "well, then you should contact the mods privately," which misses the point. If someone is impugned in public, the remedy for that needs to be done publicly as well. Otherwise, as far as everyone else is concerned, the mods can apparently abuse their status freely, with no accountability to the community they ostensibly serve.

 

[Fifth Element]

A major problem with a solution of the form, "If only everyone did X," is that it requires everyone to actually do X. You yourself note how this place is like herding cats. Such solutions are a non-starter.

Did anyone suggest it's an all-encompassing solution? It's good advice and the more people who take it, the better the discourse.

 

[Fifth Element]

double post

 

[Fifth Element]

That language was the act of an individual. That individual should not be the subject of discussion here, other than to note that an individual act is not a sign of, nor should be attributed to, "general" anything.

A reference to a 'general erosion' can't really be read as a reference to a single incident or act. Arguing that an individual act should not be contextualized as being part of a pattern seems bizarre. In that case, we could never discuss any pattern because each observation could be excused as the act of an individual.

 

[MGibster]

But, we can as easily say that a lot of problems might be solved if everyone was conscientious and always put some variation of "in my opinion," into their posts when they were actually stating their opinion. The amount of pushback I get when I suggest that is prodigious.

You could,( but in my opinion), it's a bit silly to think adults need to clarify that they're stating an opinion. I don't know about everyone here, but when I was a wee lad in grade school we had lessons on the differences between factual statements and opinions. I had to take a test and everything and I'm not really bothered when I see someone make a blanket statement like, "D&D is a great rules set for a campaign featuring a lot of subtle political intrigue." I disagree vehemently with that opinion, but it doesn't offend me. You probably get a lot of pushback because we'd have to write "In my opinion" before almost every single post here, because, you know, most of what we discuss are just opinions.

That aside, there's also an issue in that "if everyone imagined" is, well, mandating thought - it is thought policing. "If everyone wrote," still allows them to think what they want, it merely puts expectations on how thought is expressed. Most forms of publishing have style guidelines - an "online discussion style guide" might include such suggestions on structure.

Okay, well, forget about the imagination and just accept that people have different opinions and it's usually nothing to get upset about even if it's radically different from our own.

 

[Fifth Element]

You probably get a lot of pushback because we'd have to write "In my opinion" before almost every single post here, because, you know, most of what we discuss are just opinions.

That's a good point. Plus reading everything with an implicit IMO (unless there is a specific reason not to) is just an application of the principle of charity, which is a good thing to keep in mind for any discussion.

 

[Waller]

To be fair, I think at least part of that can be attributed to a general erosion of trust in this site's mods.

Cite?

This (and other threads) make it very clear you have beef with the staff here, because you're all over every thread like this, but one loud person doesn't equate to 'general erosion'. Honestly, I think they do an incredible job and this is one of the least toxic places on the web, despite any general increase in antagonism here and elsewhere.

So let's see your figures -- show us this 'general erosion of trust in this site's mods', because it sure as heck ain't shared by me.

 

[Alzrius]

Cite?

Sure, here you go.

This (and other threads) make it very clear you have beef with the staff here

Cite?

 

[Fifth Element]

So let's see your figures -- show us this 'general erosion of trust in this site's mods', because it sure as heck ain't shared by me.

The idea that this is one of the least toxic sites is not incompatible with the idea that it could still be better, or that some recent mod actions have reduced trust in them. I'm pretty much in agreement with Alzrius on this so now it's two to one I guess? I doubt posting a poll would go well however, so I don't know how you'd ever get the data you want. Probably better to read the post as referring to personal experience rather than assuming it's intended to speak for everyone.