Staying on topic

[Leama]

I feel I must post this. Maybe I am wrong but as I see it there is tension behind some posts and the people who write them. To me this forum is both fun and educational. I like that I can ask a question and think I can just post something for the fun of it. For example my “Say Thank You” was for fun to make people feel good and my last thread “/ignore” was for me to get a better understanding of this in game function.

What I expect here is respect from all the people who post their ideas. I really think all this arguing back and forth over things is unnecessary. If someone has something to say it should be done in a way as to not offend anyone else. We must remember there are people looking for a game to play and they read this forum. So do we want them to think, ‘What a bunch of jerks here?” and possibly turn off a potentially great player that could bring in more players? I think not if we want the game to grow.

So I would like to see people put in a little thought to their posts. Think about who might read them. Think if you might offend someone. Think to keep the personal batter out of the forum. That is what Personal Messages are for. Mostly I would like to see a thread stay on topic. It should not be a hard thing to do.

Most of us know each other in this forum but we must remember the new player and the potential new player that read these forums also. Let us show how we love PlaneShift by showing it here.


Thank all of you for your time.

Leama.

[Earl_Listbard]

Nothing brings people together like a good scuffle, a friendly debate, even. I see nothing wrong with debating... Its mud slinging thats a problem. Really I enjoy debating back and forth a little, seeing people's views, and then disagreeing or agreeing and stating why. I once read in a story of sorts where someone stated something along the lines of "You never really know someone until you get in a good fight with them"... Take the word fight however you want, but really a debate can be like a fight, you parry other people's words, you make thrusting opinions, and clever rebuttals to better express how you feel. Debating is essential to the growth of a game. And sometimes people need to see the holes in their ideas, god knows how many times I've been shown the folly of my ideas, through debating we grow, and learn.

I say people should stop getting all worked up about this kinda thing, just chill and take everything posted with a grain of salt.

[Suno_Regin]

Amen Earl.

Topics have to be able to expand. When you limit them, the discussion is limited and people can't get out exactly what they wanna say. It isn't necessarily off topic unless someone, in a post like this, just up and asks "where are da sewers?"

But, if something was mentioned in the topic and people expand on it, it shouldn't be much of a problem.

[Socius Rockus]

Read a Book.. Yeah

Seraph: The Oracle has many enemies, I had to be sure.
Neo: Of what?
Seraph: That you were The One.
Neo: You could've just asked.
Seraph: You do not truly know someone until you fight them.

"the book"

[Earl_Listbard]

Read a Book.. Yeah

Seraph: The Oracle has many enemies, I had to be sure.
Neo: Of what?
Seraph: That you were The One.
Neo: You could've just asked.
Seraph: You do not truly know someone until you fight them.

I was thinking of the Helen Keller...

[Socius Rockus]

Oh well  , at least i was original 

[Raa]

If no one argued, we would agree on everything, and if we agreed on everything, we'd be hippie cavemen.

~ A word from the wise Raa.

[Duraza]

I agree with Earl on this one, especially this point here.

Its mud slinging thats a problem.

And to help end that I'd say people need to not take words written down offensively. Since everything is being typed you don't know the tone someone is speaking with. I'm the kind who often uses smiles to show what my tone is to make it easier for people to understand me. Some people don't and just because something sounds like an insult to you it doesn't mean you should take it as one.

[zorbels]

Staying on topic .... *Sighs* this is not an easy one.

It is hard to stay completely on topic with anything because new issues and ideas come up as you have a conversation. People feel the need to talk about these new ideas. Sometimes we misread each other, but we are only human right? How can you know exactly what someones tone is? With no face to see or body language to read .... of course there are bound to be hurt feelings or people taking offense. Even better that one post meant to be an insult turns out to be a compliment for the receiving poster. Words can be a powerful thing.

But see here look in this thread. Already we have people focused on the negitive of it. "Well it's all about the mud slinging" perhaps for some. Remember though there are different ages and maturities in this community. What you may see as fighting the two posters may actually only be them discussing an issue and working it out. Or it could be two teens freaking out on each other thinking their both right and not letting up.

The forums will never be peaceful. People will never fully agree with one and other. It all about perspective and eveyone see things differently. There are many different factors to why we don't stay on topic and probably never will.

[Phinehas]

Also... I resent the insinuation that my offending people is the result of carelessness... I'll have you know I offend people very carefully.

Zorbels, for instance, there's nothing like calling someone a godmodder to get them to want to prove you wrong...

Duraza's right, though... You just can't take offense at every little thing. I know for a fact that he has taken criticism from me which 95% of the people on this forum would have been insulted by and would have blown up over, but he took it in the teasing, older-brother way it was meant and turned it to good use.

For the rest, this post really has nothing to do with me... As I'm offended at almost nothing anyone else does here on the forums.

[zorbels]

Zorbels, for instance, there's nothing like calling someone a godmodder to get them to want to prove you wrong...

* zorbels chuckles

Let me explain my point of view on this comment ....

It wasn't because you called what I did godmodding. At least I thought you were calling my actions godmodding not me or my character personally. Pehaps I was wrong? I wasn't trying to prove you wrong. I was trying to get your perspective on the situation. I was trying to learn a new way to deal with the situation that could be better. (Trying to stay on topic ---->) That is how we are supposed to work on the forums. Look at anothers point of view and see if that person has something to point out that you never thought of or learn something new from them. In our case Phinehas I was disappointed to learn that only one action seemed to have you think I was godmodding and I really learned nothing from your post besides that you think I am teaching newbies bad habits. You seem to think I can't do anything right though from my encounters with you (This statement is just fact not a cry out poor me bit  ... just so that is clear ). It can get discouraging and has me wondering if perhaps your expectations of others is a little to high. I have only been in the community for almost three years and I have never considered myself a super awesome roleplayer (It is others who have branded me as that, something in which I cannot control). Actually at times I still consider myself as a roleplayer that is new to the whole world with some past experience in certain roleplay situations.

@Leama: Sorry seems like this thread couldn't stay on topic either. I apologize for my part in that as I know you hate it when this happens. I didn't post this as a lack of respect for you or others. I posted this in hopes that Phinehas will understand me a tad better. And also so the general public doesn't get the idea that I only post to prove people wrong, because that is not correct in the slightest.

[Leama]

Ok ok I agree there are different points of view that are part of the same topic. It might lead a thread in a totally different direction then originally intended. Still I do not think disagreements that should be handled in a PM should be held in public. It is like hanging out your dirty laundry for all to see. Again I do believe we need to think of who is reading these forums and be respectful.

Zorbels you must know how glad I am to see you return. Your opinion is valuable and I believe much admired. I just wish that no one bothers you enough here in the forums or in game to make you leave again. That goes for everyone. Stay on topic and keep the forums something we all can be proud of.

So again I say:

So I would like to see people put in a little thought into their posts. Think about who might read them. Think if you might offend someone. Think to keep the personal batter out of the forum. That is what Personal Messages are for. Mostly I would like to see a thread stay on topic. It should not be a hard thing to do.

Most of us know each other in this forum but we must remember the new player and the potential new player that read these forums also. Let us show how we love PlaneShift by showing it here.

[Phinehas]

I think we can all take a page out of Leama's book... Hopefully she won't have a book left after we do.

It's a nice appeal, Leama. I don't see, though, that if people have been behaving in a certain way that you showing up and saying they shouldn't will really change anything. I mean, it's a nice sentiment, but not practical from my point of view.

For my part, I don't mind the personal-ness of things. Maybe it's easier for me since I'm not easily offended, but I'd rather the forums be more personal, even if that necessarily includes being more personally offensive, than that they be more general or more unrealistically positive. That's an opinion though. Don't sue me for it.

[bilbous]

If everyone stayed strictly to the topic most threads would die pretty fast. The thread title is the initial indication of the topic and it is modified by the body of the first post.  Often the two are not enough to clearly present the boundaries of the topic and many allow a wide range of possible comments the first poster does not consider to be on topic.

I am not sure I am saying anything here though I am using a lot of words. At least I think I am on topic.....

[Leama]

* Leama feels the earth move - thanks neko