The tone and language of many recent posts is horrible.

[Black Landlord]

I think what you're seeing is that the mods have begun leaving "political" topics posted to the main forum rather then moving them, and these tend to be more heated.
Unless there's something you're referring to that I haven't seen.

[BigGuynRusty]

[quote wurm]I take back what I said. I just noticed one of the threads in question. I doesn't surprise me at all that it often seems to be the same culprit.

Hold on a moment. Let me check my spelling before I submit this post. Okay. I'm all set. Don't blame me.
I make a joke and somebody with too much Time on his hands starts attacking me.

BGnR

[Black Landlord]

[quote M A V I C]Recent posts? Been an issue for a while. I report posts, cite the specific rule a given post is violating and hope it gets pulled. Often it doesn't. Sometimes posts that didn't seem to violate any rules get yanked.
I agree that the lack of consistency has been a bit frustrating and confusing.

There are a few posting here who never assist with a mac problem but hurl insults constantly who seem to have impunity, while frequently helpful posters with a bit of color have been banned.

I'm willing to forgive a bit of sass if the person demonstrates some helpfulness to others.

[Stephanie]

[quote Black Landlord]
Unless there's something you're referring to that I haven't seen.
Like wishing death upon others? If you missed that, count yourself lucky.

[M A V I C]

[quote JJ]MAVIC,

I don't think posters need to be knowledgeable or experienced in order to be civil.

Also, it appears that some of the name calling is coming from knowledgeable and experienced posters.
Yes, I agree. I think I didn't clearly convey what I was getting at. Typically, when a forum is filled with lots of good information, there isn't much room for attacks & flaming. I think when helpful and knowledgeable people (signal) leave then the room for bad behavior (noise) increases.

On another forum I moderate, due to some loss of jobs for a few key people, this last summer there were no events for the forum. That meant the community didn't have much new to talk about. The amount of flaming, personal attacks... multiplied dramatically. Once the events started again, then all that died down as people had stuff to talk about. That sort of behavior isn't an isolated incident.

The signal to noise ratio is set by the moderators. And it can pretty much be set to whatever they want. The thing is, the more noise the more it will drive the signal away, and vice versa. So if people think having a lot of noise is okay, then they need only to ask themselves where some of the most knowledgeable people have gone.

For example, it used to be when I asked web related questions here I would get responses from three or four very knowledgeable people. Now I'm lucky to get a responses at all, and those people are gone.

[quote Stephanie]This issue of bad behavior has been a problem since way before this forum was even started.

Maybe it's just spring fever? Too much testosterone in the air? Male PMS (I only say male since most posters here aren't female)?

Definitely a long-standing problem.
True, but it's been getting worse, here, over the past 6mo or so. With some forums I frequent, the problem is almost non-existent. Many communities are understanding how to better manage the end result, so there are are lot more choices these days that don't have that problem.

[Stephanie]

[quote M A V I C]True, but it's been getting worse, here, over the past 6mo or so. With some forums I frequent, the problem is almost non-existent. Many communities are understanding how to better manage the end result, so there are are lot more choices these days that don't have that problem.
I agree that it seems to be getting worse here. I'm quite impressed that you know of some forums that are nearly utopias! Flame wars and stuff have happened on almost all forums/mailing lists I've been involved with. HOWEVER, I've never seen people stoop so low as I have here and "the other place" where we all came from. It's one thing to get upset at a poster but to lodge personal attacks and say things which could easily be construed as threats of physical harm - that just goes above and beyond any flame war I've seen.

[Black Landlord]

[quote M A V I C]
The signal to noise ratio is set by the moderators. And it can pretty much be set to whatever they want. The thing is, the more noise the more it will drive the signal away, and vice versa. Well said.

[quote M A V I C]For example, it used to be when I asked web related questions here I would get responses from three or four very knowledgeable people. Now I'm lucky to get a responses at all, and those people are gone. Could be, but also realize that you've become more knowledgable-- the field of those more knowledgable than you may have narrowed.

[M A V I C]

[quote Stephanie] I'm quite impressed that you know of some forums that are nearly utopias! Flame wars and stuff have happened on almost all forums/mailing lists I've been involved with.
I wouldn't quite say they're utopias, but personal attacks or flames usually only occur a couple times a year. Rules are in place on how to deal with that, and it's dealt with swiftly. A few keys to it I think are enforcing the rules evenly and for everyone. We've even given a mod a short ban for his momentary lapse in common sense. So the community knows we're serious and none of us are "above the law."

We also do not ever delete posts or threads unless they are way overboard. Personal attacks and flaming usually result in warning from a mod and if it continues the thread is locked. Then every one can see the true colors of other posters.

If one person attacks someone else for no reason, the community as a whole gets behind the person being attacked and defends him in a civil way.

[Black Landlord]

[quote Stephanie][quote Black Landlord]
Unless there's something you're referring to that I haven't seen.
Like wishing death upon others? If you missed that, count yourself lucky.
Last of that I recall is Otto with the piano wire, circa 1999.

Could be I have the offender on "muzzle".

[M A V I C]

[quote Black Landlord][quote M A V I C]For example, it used to be when I asked web related questions here I would get responses from three or four very knowledgeable people. Now I'm lucky to get a responses at all, and those people are gone. Could be, but also realize that you've become more knowledgable-- the field of those more knowledgable than you may have narrowed.
I wish. One such person is Seacrest, and he's had one post in the last five months.