Address to All Forum Members

[The Dandy 73]

I am by no means someone who is worthy of being the spokes person for this community, or these forums, nor do I see myself as one, but there is an issue I feel should be addressed, and has not been.

 

Simply put, the standard is slipping. People post on topics not even reading what it's about, people don't discuss the topic, but rather insult each other, people aren't friendly to each other, People try to gloom these forums by posting status of how sad they are, rather than trying to lift the sprits of those that come by. This was once an intermingled group of people which all talked to each other, but as it's expanded, it's lost it's way. You can tell yourself you'll be friends with anyone on here, but it's not true, the same can be said for myself. I'm not saying we need to be BFF's with everyone, but would it be so horrible to try and start friendships with others? People opt for posting their opinion and then leaving, rather than getting an idea of what's going on, and posting accordingly. Especially on debating topics, people are more likely to start insulting each other if they get into a one on one debate, rather than continue talking about the topic. I understand people may have personal problems, and talking about those is what makes these forums great. But, there is a time to be serious, and a time to not be. We should try our hardest to create a happy community here, not a solemn one, at least outside of person chats or PM's. I'm guilty of all these things, and as I said, far from a worthy spokes person.

 

So I suppose the point of these is, can we improve our standards?

 

On a more personal note, would we be able to stop patronising everyone in our posts, be friendly all you like, but in every single topic you don't need to say how great everyone is.

[SCS 7,537]

@The Dandy, I moved your topic from the Forum Lounge to Feedback & Suggestions. The latter is the best place not only for site suggestions but for meta discussions regarding the MLP Forums community such as this. It will hopefully garner more attention here than it would in the Forum Lounge, as that generally houses silly and laid back topics as opposed to topics involving serious discussion.
 

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I haven't noticed a huge problem myself. I do see off-topic posting and arguing from time to time, but that's to be expected. I don't see any harm in small numbers of off-topic posts here and there, but as long as they, particularly the ones involving bickering are kept to a reasonable low, I don't see any immediate cause for concern.
 
As for patronization, I haven't seen much of that either. I don't see any harm in posts talking positively about others -- quite the contrary, such things help form a friendly and accepting community.
 
That being said, your concerns are definitely things we should all be on the look out for and make sure that we do not partake in ourselves. Everyone's contributions make a difference in whether this community is good or bad.
 
Additionally, if you see off-topic posting or abusive behavior, I encourage you to report it to the moderation team.

[Dattebayo 2,850]

Haven't seen any of this behavior that is big enough to make a thread about it. This forum is pretty standard fare in terms of everything you've said.

 

Though, I generally don't like it when people tell others how and what they should feel/act/post and suggest it gets enforced.

We should look into that, all of us.

[The Dandy 73]

@The Dandy, I moved your topic from the Forum Lounge to Feedback & Suggestions. The latter is the best place not only for site suggestions but for meta discussions regarding the MLP Forums community such as this. It will hopefully garner more attention here than it would in the Forum Lounge, as that generally houses silly and laid back topics as opposed to topics involving serious discussion.

 

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I haven't noticed a huge problem myself. I do see off-topic posting and arguing from time to time, but that's to be expected. I don't see any harm in small numbers of off-topic posts here and there, but as long as they, particularly the ones involving bickering are kept to a reasonable low, I don't see any immediate cause for concern.

 

As for patronization, I haven't seen much of that either. I don't see any harm in posts talking positively about others -- quite the contrary, such things help form a friendly and accepting community.

 

That being said, your concerns are definitely things we should all be on the look out for and make sure that we do not partake in ourselves. Everyone's contributions make a difference in whether this community is good or bad.

 

Additionally, if you see off-topic posting or abusive behavior, I encourage you to report it to the moderation team.

Okay then, I appreciate it. I was originally going to put it there, however it seemed as if that area was more for moderator-members interaction, then just general interaction.

 

I wish I was on the same forums as you, I'm sorry to say that at least 1/2 (probably more) of the topics I go on have had or continue to have one those heated arguments. Either way, it's not a dire situation, I just feel that those which do so are capable of stopping, which is why I raised the point.

 

I apologise if I misspoke, I have no issue regarding people being nice to each other. But, only when it is necessary. For instance on a topic like say "Do you support homosexuality?" Feel free to write positive things about them and the community. But, as an example, I went onto a topic called "You are NOT special" (maybe you saw it), which had a video containing a really good speech. However, the majority of people didn't even watch the video and just said how great everyone was, and likened it to cutie marks (finding ones special talent). When people's determination to complement one other jeopardises the possibility to effectively and properly discuss topics, then I feel that, perhaps, we should give it a rest.

 

Appreciate it.

 

P.s How do you just mention the name (as evident I always quote the whole post)?

Haven't seen any of this behavior that is big enough to make a thread about it. This forum is pretty standard fare in terms of everything you've said.

Though, I generally don't like it when people tell others how and what they should feel/act/post and suggest it gets enforced.

We should look into that, all of us.

I understand your point, but considering some other topics that have been made in the times of these forums, I would consider even a minor one, which aims at improving the community, to be a worthwhile one.

 

I suggested that we look into that ourselves, at no point did I demand people change their ways. My very question was "Can We (we: as in, includes me and as a community) improve our (being the communities) standards (being the way we conduct ourselves)? And I believe when people's posts and feelings serve the purpose of getting attention rather than replying to the actual topic, then perhaps we should reconsider submitting those posts. I more heavily refer to people which either overreacted to their situation (e.g talking about how sad their life it because they have lots of school work to do), as apposed to those discussing an actual problem. As I said, there is a time to be serious, and that would be on topics which ask or allow for it, not just any old place because you feel down. Consider it more organisation than something totalitarian.

[Dattebayo 2,850]

Post (member= ), with the parenthesis replacing these things []

Edited April 11, 2014 by Dattebayo