Forum Etiquette: Share Your Wisdom

surfinpure · #1 Apr 26, '05, 11:02 pm

I think we'd all benefit from sharing our lessons learned about discussion, debate, and plain ol' diatribe here on the forums. I've come to a few conclusions thus far:

1) Keep posts as concise as possible, particularly when in heated conversation.

2) Debate only one point at a time.

3) When starting a new thread, write as respectfully as possible, in order to draw as few loose cannons as possible!

4) Try not to get off on personal tangents; keep steering the conversation back to the original topic.

5) When things get heated, take a breather!

6) Admit it when you've made a mistake. We all make them.

Now let's hear your suggestions.

~Mary

Milliardo · #2 Apr 26, '05, 11:06 pm

No all caps. Ever.

ThornGenX · #3 Apr 26, '05, 11:38 pm

Your suggestions look good to me. I can't think of anything to add. I do agree with no "all caps".

Darrel · #4 Apr 26, '05, 11:58 pm

Give respect to those you might not agree with. Use tact and proper manors at all times. Think globaly and question fundamental assumptions. Never assume you are correct about a posters internal motives via typed text, we are not mind and heart readers so it's better to ask. Above all treat people as part of Christs family.

-D

geezerbob · #5 Apr 27, '05, 2:23 am

Take a few days to read the old threads before starting one. Notice that we have two polls entitled "Coke or Pepsi" and "Pepsi or Coke". The list goes on and on. Also, read some of the threads in each forum to get an idea of what goes where so that a new thread can be posted in the proper forum. The mods have plenty to do (and they are volunteers, by the way) without the juggling act.

**puzzleannie** · #6 Apr 27, '05, 2:39 am

be very careful using humor, metaphor, simile, exaggeration and other figures of speech, especially satire or double entrendre, most people won't get it and will take everything you say literally, because the nuance of speech is lost in the written word. also because computer chats are a lot like verbal conversations, most of us are focusing on what we want to say, and only skim what others have written.

Mysty101 · #7 Apr 27, '05, 2:54 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darrel

Never assume you are correct about a posters internal motives via typed text, we are not mind and heart readers so it's better to ask.
-D

I would go even further and say do not even discuss motives---we cannot know, and it is very unfair to speculate.We can say how something appears, but never how it is.

Also refrain from any accusations, even if they are true--there are far more effective ways to say things than in an accusatory manner

Scott_Lafrance · #8 Apr 27, '05, 4:11 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfinpure

I think we'd all benefit from sharing our lessons learned about discussion, debate, and plain ol' diatribe here on the forums. I've come to a few conclusions thus far:

1) Keep posts as concise as possible, particularly when in heated conversation.

2) Debate only one point at a time.

3) When starting a new thread, write as respectfully as possible, in order to draw as few loose cannons as possible!

4) Try not to get off on personal tangents; keep steering the conversation back to the original topic.

5) When things get heated, take a breather!

6) Admit it when you've made a mistake. We all make them.

Now let's hear your suggestions.

~Mary

I try to follow all of those general principles, however, in the event that I am confronted by obstructionism or obtuseness, I carry around a book of these and hand them out freely and without bias.

ElizabethJoy · #9 Apr 27, '05, 4:40 am

I used to tell my Father he looked like such a newbie when he used all caps in chat and emails. He could see them better, he said. HIs eyesight wasn't as good as it used to be. And let's face it, when you're a two-fingered typist like he was, capitalization and punctuation slows you down.

But, I'd razz him, anyway.

"You look like a newb, Dad!" I'd say. "I CAN TYPE FASTER."

"You look like you're shouting," I'd say. "I CAN READ IT EASIER."

So much would I give for the chance to read an ICQ chat or message from him, again. So much would I give to have a chance to razz him about his all caps just one more time. I have so wanted his perspective, his guidance, his comfort and love over the past four years, especially after 9-11. Almost 50, but I still wanted my Daddy. But, comcast doesn't reach that far.

So, when I see someone's typed a message in all caps, these days, it's like a little blessing to me - as if my Dad is passing on a secret message - and maybe reminding me that someone is doing the best they can to tell me something. And it might be something important, so I better listen, even if it can be a bit inconvenient to decipher it at times.

I know I'm in the minority of the population for whom this is not an issue, but I've tried to start a movement of tolerance for those who, for whatever reason, need to set that caps lock on and bang out a message.

I LOVE YOU, TOO, DAD!

(You ol' newbie, you!)

Elizabeth

Mysty101 · #10 Apr 27, '05, 5:10 am

Of course there are exceptions to every rule, but all caps was always considered rude or shouting from day one.

And why was this? becuse it is. It calls attention, as does putting a 1 or asterik before a name (bumps to the front of the list). Doesn't matter what is the reason--it calls attention and offends. You can just as easily type in all lower case---serves the same purpose without shouting<G>

(I think all lower case is easier to read, since there is still the variety of size)

Almeria · #11 Apr 27, '05, 5:22 am

Always read the entire thread before posting. If you don't, and actually say that you didn't bother reading the full thread, why should we read your posts?

**mercygate** · #12 Apr 27, '05, 5:27 am

1) In an initial response to an apparently hostile question (that usually begins with, "Where in the Bible does it say . . ."), respond as if the query had been made in the most docile and engaging way possible.

2) When Catholics start breathing fire against Protestant interlocutors, report them to the moderators. A lot of Protestants cut their teeth on the notion that the Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon and the Pope is the Antichrist. Cradle Catholics have little sense of how deep that conviction lies in some Protestant hearts. This is an apologetics forum; it is our job to disarm the attacker and set a tone of respect and mildness.

**mercygate** · #13 Apr 27, '05, 5:27 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Almeria

Always read the entire thread before posting. If you don't, and actually say that you didn't bother reading the full thread, why should we read your posts?

Lisa N · #14 Apr 27, '05, 6:14 am

I realize everyone makes typos and not everyone is a great speller, but I get totally annoyed at posts where it's obvious the person didn't even make an effort to spell their words or punctuate sentences properly. I also dislike posts where someone doesn't bother to capitalize the first word of a sentence or is unacquainted with the use of paragraphs. These posts are more difficult to read and as someone said, if you don't bother to make it reasonably easy for the reader, why would I want to bother to read your post?

As to real pet peeves, those who think we don't see through a supposedly innocent question when they are simply trying to stir the pot are at the top of my list. You know who you are

Lisa N

MooCowSteph · #15 Apr 27, '05, 7:50 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mysty101

I would go even further and say do not even discuss motives---we cannot know, and it is very unfair to speculate.We can say how something appears, but never how it is.

Also refrain from any accusations, even if they are true--there are far more effective ways to say things than in an accusatory manner

A little charity goes a long way