Discussion

[Wicked]

It has come to (not just) my attention that there doesnt really seem to be much room for discussion on here anymore.

Gone are the days of threads full of arguing members. Now it seems you cant even give negative karma. Others will just give loads of positive karma back completely nullifying it and not only that but you get nasty messages from the people you gave it to in the first place.

I thought the point of the forum was for discussion about one thing we all have in common (and some things we dont). If you cant tell someone thyre wrong or correct them without everyone getting huffy then whats the point? Are we all supposed to agree with each other? If thats the case then again I say, whats the point?

Negative and positive karma are supposed to show that you either agree or disagree. If everyone nullifies any negative karma then that suggests youre not allowed to disagree. And if it was just positive karma saying "I agree" then fair enough. But its not. Its "here have some positive karma to make up for your loss". Why? If someones wrong, or if someone disagrees then why make them feel like they were right all along?

I myself have had pms and various comments suggesting Im a bitch or whatever purely because I had the nerve to share an opinion that was different from other people. And I know Im not the only one.

I just think the board has kind of lost the point with everyone trying to be so nice to everyone to the point that they cant even have an opinion anymore.

So...discuss 😛

 

[Edmund Blackadder]

You are wrong!!!

I'm kidding, I just wanted to put that somewhere and not expect to be shouted at😉

I think the problem is that people make comments that are so unbelievably stupid that any comeback can only be read as though it is meant in a mean tone. Thats not the second posters fault, thats because first post is so stupid EVERYONE else is thinking the only response is a mocking one.

Personally, I feel that people should understand that this is just cyberspace, that words on here can't hurt anyones feelings and that should then allow people to be free in what they want to say.

I would draw the line at swearing, but I should be able to call someone stupid, when it is so obvious to all that they are.

 

[Wicked]

Well thats just it. Free speech and all that. I dont want to be told what I can and cant say (within reason obviously 😛) but thats the way it seems to be going lately. Ive been on here a good while now and it never used to be like this.

 

[lexicat]

Well I'm personally new to this board but it does seem like everybody's always right
I know that there's not really a right and wrong when it comes to opinions but there's a difference between arguing and a heated discussion...

If people want to take offence to a certain post, that's their perogative but it shouldn't be a case of "you can't say that, it's horrible"

am I right?

 

[Wicked]

Well thats just it. Obviously you cant stop someone taking offence. Thats up to them. But getting complained too cos you gave neg karma or whatever just doesnt seem right. You do on occasion get moaned at for being horrible just when you tell someone theyre wrong or disagree. It makes people not want to get involved anymore.

Ive noticed a lot of the older (by older I mean been on here longer) members barely even post anymore. I couldnt say why that is obviously but I know I havent posted much recently becasue I dont see the point anymore. You cant discuss things properly. Discussions need people with different opinions expressing those opinions. And if you cant do that you have no discussion.

 

[eponinethen]

this is just cyberspace, that words on here can't hurt anyones feelings

I don't know why you're saying that what someone says online can't hurt anyone's feelings?

Having said that, I agree that hurting someone and debating are two very different things. I have been involved in many debates and arguments on BB through the years I've been a member, and even though some of them got to me a bit too much, I'm never as excited about the boards as when I know there's a thread waiting containing a debate I'm involved in. If that makes any kind of sense...

 

[Harley]

I remember on a different forum I was on (CoA) where people regularily got into heated debates. The threads usually got shut down pretty quickly. The day the forum was scheduled to shut down, the moderators kind of let everything go. It was quite interesting.

 

[goldenboy]

I have no problem with negative karma, that's cool. Attacking people seems kind of pointless, but I'm more than happy to shred something someone might say—if it makes no sense. Usually just ignore it though. Screen-gems.net has a forum dedicated to "controversial" subjects.

 

[Buffy Summers]

Just because someone gave you a hard time because you negative repped someone doesn't mean that people aren't allowed to disagree. If you're making an argument, it shouldn't be in karma anyway. If other members are harassing you, bring it up to a staff member.

I would draw the line at swearing, but I should be able to call someone stupid, when it is so obvious to all that they are.

No you shouldn't, and you won't do it here. Calling someone stupid doesn't have anything to do with disagreeing with their argument. It's meant to make another person feel bad, and it will. Regardless of whether people should or shouldn't take offense at what's said in cyberspace, they will take offense. Plus it's a cheap way to win an argument. Boards where new members get called stupid and don't feel like they can join in on the discussion suck. A board should be for ALL members, not just the people who have been there the longest.

If someone says something stupid, disagree with them. But calling them an idiot is not necessary.


I can remove karma if it's going to be such a problem. But it shouldn't be. It's a stupid number.

 

[Wiccaness]

I agree With Buffy Summers, in cyberspace, you dont know how some one is meaning something, so if you call them stupid it might be read more offensive then it was actually meant to be, besides if its some one opinion or what ever then why is it stupid, it might be wrong or something but perhaps they just haven't seen any other

I dont mind if some one argues with me. In away its better, because i get to see other points of views or i see something clearer where it might actually change my mind. Every ones entitled to their opinion. So if some ones pm saying things just because you say your opinion straight up then i guess there giving there opinion to, and maybe they dont see that by doing that there doing something worse then the person that originally gave there opinion.

Now i haven't been here long, but it doesn't seem to me that there is that many that are all about being nice and giving positive karma, but once again if their nice its basically like there opinion, its what they have to say. If what you say is blunt then it also shouldn't matter,

i think all this is just about respect, every one should respect peoples opinions even if they don't agree. They can say there own but with out being rude

 

[Wicked]

Just because someone gave you a hard time because you negative repped someone doesn't mean that people aren't allowed to disagree.

Well when you neg rep someone because you disagree and everyone else pos reps them (not because they agree but because someone else disagreed) it suggests to me that you cant disagree.

 

[freakydorky]

I agree Wicked. People seem afraid to use the negative karma even in instances where it is needed. I'd like to think I'm living proof. Let's take a second to think back to the various comments I have made over the years and marvel at the fact that I was never kicked off the site.... now, take another second to look at that enormous number that is my karma. The only way I should have a number that big up there is if there is a negative sign in front of it.

I think the reason people refuse to negative rep or even voice an opposing opinion, is because they have no backbone. They are afraid if they disagree to a post, and author of that post will retaliate in some way or simply stop liking them. If people would just simply stop caring about whether or not they have friends on some silly message board, we might be able to scrounge up something resembling a debate.

 

[nerd4hire]

Oops. I'm sorry Freaky. I posted that rep comment above and immediately regretted it. Don't misunderstand me. I still think it's funny, I just think it sends out the wrong message.

I mean...if you guys could hear what you sound like to sane ears.

You're not talking discussion, or even debate. You're talking what you see as your right to flame, bash, bully, and troll. It's not going to happen. Such rights don't exist. Live with it.

I do deserve some neg rep retribution here though. Go ahead, I won't be mad. I can take my lumps. 🙂

 

[Mr. Pointy]

For what it's worth, here's my two penn'orth...

Discussion, the civilised kind supported by reasoned argument, is not only acceptable here, it is positively encouraged. What I don't encourage is calling people "stupid" (or any similar perjorative)...'cos "stupid", "dumb", "moron" leads to "retard", "spaz", "gay"...do I need to draw a picture here? It's all about respect for other members...and I don't believe that crap about "you have to earn respect"...as a fellow human being you have a right to respect from me unless you prove otherwise...

As for the karma, I think it's a useful function and, as a rule, I don't give negative rep (except when invited to - see above 🙂) because if I disagree with someone's post, I'll post my disagreement and explain why, thus negative rep is irrelevant. Positive rep is useful (to me) to say "thanks", "good point" or "congrats" and similar stuff that doesn't require a full post.

I'm not saying that all BB threads should be lovely and sanitised, with sunshine, lollipops and rainbows for all...what I am saying is bullying attacks on other members just for shits and giggles are not acceptable here.

 

[SpikedBuffy]

I agree that the major reason that some people don't post their opinions in topics is because they are afraid that they are going to be criticized or name-called. That's pretty frustrating and demoralizing to think that you don't have the right to express your opinions on a forum community. A lot of people need a heavy dose of respect training. That's always the number one rule in my classroom.... "You will be respectful to everyone!" No ifs, ands or buts about it.

With negative rep, I just don't really care if you disagree with me so much and want to distinctly make your thoughts heard by negative repping me, hey, knock yourself out. You should also then voice your opinion on the subject too, in response to furthering the discussion. But if you want to just give negative rep willy-nilly because your are too stubborn to really understand that you are reading someone's opinion, then you might need some counseling or professional help! 🙂