Have you been lableled yet?

[visaveteran 1]

One poster was labeled a "coward" and "racist." I am labeled a misogynist (woman hater) and wife abuser. And I've even wrecked the once illustrious Russian Forum and driven off the good people single-handed. My ex wife of many years would roll with laughter at these concocted labels, and I plan on sharing this with her when next we talk.

But, in a serious vein, personal attacks with rather nasty name calling directed at me and on my wife (in a sideways fashion, but with obvious intent) have been both made and more such attacks have been encouraged openly and provocatively. You need some pretty thick skin to stay around this forum. Some people play hardball...often to dominate the forum and stir up mischief, and anger, and maybe just for fun. Or maybe they just take it all too seriously. They should listen to Slim when he says, quite rightly, "Hey, it's just an internet forum. Chill out."

Nobody "owns" the forum, and I think the good side of this forum is a history of wide open exchanges of ideas which are always welcome and often feisty. People with differing views or political stances or social views are never cast out. Challenged, yes. Back and forth with some heat an energy from time to time, yes. But always there was a standard of good conduct and open-mindedness, and no nasty name calling or labeling. Oh, maybe somebody calls someone a "right winger, or left winger," but usually in a civil manner, if not in jest or a little nose pulling.

As the marriage counselors always point out, "It's never only one person's fault" and following that idea, no one person can make or break a forum. First, the moderators would be stepping in and second, a vast hue and cry would flow from many posters, not one or two who are allies to begin with.

I also think that when things get highly charged and "personal," it's time to go PM and work it out without insulting and disparaging someone and/or their wife in public view. I think the British taught me that you can be tough and combative but still remain a gentleman. I find it hypocritical for someone to invoke the lack of female posters while posting "####" and "sh!t" throughout their posts, as if we're all in a junior high gym locker room.

I will close by simply saying there has never been a "great group" that came and went due to one poster. This forum is too cantankerous and combative to allow that. People leave because they have completed their visa journeys and have better or more important things to do.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

One poster was labeled a "coward" and "racist." I am labeled a misogynist (woman hater) and wife abuser. And I've even wrecked the once illustrious Russian Forum and driven off the good people single-handed. My ex wife of many years would roll with laughter at these concocted labels, and I plan on sharing this with her when next we talk.

But, in a serious vein, personal attacks with rather nasty name calling directed at me and on my wife (in a sideways fashion, but with obvious intent) have been both made and more such attacks have been encouraged openly and provocatively. You need some pretty thick skin to stay around this forum. Some people play hardball...often to dominate the forum and stir up mischief, and anger, and maybe just for fun. Or maybe they just take it all too seriously. They should listen to Slim when he says, quite rightly, "Hey, it's just an internet forum. Chill out."

Nobody "owns" the forum, and I think the good side of this forum is a history of wide open exchanges of ideas which are always welcome and often feisty. People with differing views or political stances or social views are never cast out. Challenged, yes. Back and forth with some heat an energy from time to time, yes. But always there was a standard of good conduct and open-mindedness, and no nasty name calling or labeling. Oh, maybe somebody calls someone a "right winger, or left winger," but usually in a civil manner, if not in jest or a little nose pulling.

As the marriage counselors always point out, "It's never only one person's fault" and following that idea, no one person can make or break a forum. First, the moderators would be stepping in and second, a vast hue and cry would flow from many posters, not one or two who are allies to begin with.

I also think that when things get highly charged and "personal," it's time to go PM and work it out without insulting and disparaging someone and/or their wife in public view. I think the British taught me that you can be tough and combative but still remain a gentleman. I find it hypocritical for someone to invoke the lack of female posters while posting "####" and "sh!t" throughout their posts, as if we're all in a junior high gym locker room.

I will close by simply saying there has never been a "great group" that came and went due to one poster. This forum is too cantankerous and combative to allow that. People leave because they have completed their visa journeys and have better or more important things to do.

People get labeled in debates when the other guy runs out of arguments and resorts to name calling instead of logical arguments. At the point it happens, I do my victory dance. I have won.

I would never speak to my ex-wife. I would never insult my cirrent wife with the things jealous American women say about FSU women in general. She may be offended at their ignorance.

Characters, personalities and lively debate enhance a forum. Hopefully it will never become boring.

[Scott and Iryna 2]

...

People leave because they have completed their visa journeys and have better or more important things to do.

Good point. I'm outta here.

[Waitinggent 2]

I have only been here a few months, but compared to other forums I have been on, this one seems quite tame and generally quite supportive. Bringing up political or religious opinions is always a bad idea, as this forum is not about that. In my experience, those uwanted and unasked for opinions are often the cause of disputes. I see that some have political cartoons or quotes on all of their messages, which often deal with charged political issues. I would urge those to remove them. Let's stay on topic, and not advertise our political beliefs in our messages.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

This thread appears to be a continuation of two previously locked threads and is importing information discussed there over to here. As it is a violation of TOS to restart a thread closed by a moderator for TOS violations, I am closing this thread.