gj Michelob -> RE: ** Changes to the Forum [PLEASE VOTE] (Jun. 4 2014 11:37:59)
|
quote:
This is a flamenco forum, established for the discussion of flamenco. I have had complaints about a number of offensive threads and posts. Mostly, these are in the off-topic section, but not always. These comments are public and do not reflect well on our community, they dilute the forum and discourage others from engaging. Please make the effort to indicate your preferences in this poll. You can choose more than one option. I'll run this poll for a couple of weeks and then see where we are. Two Points: 1.: The "off-topic" section was not created to afford us a chance to speak our mind about subjects unrelated to flamenco. It was created out of housekeeping needs, in order to "segregate" into a separate section the vast assortment of threads and post that were unrelated to flamenco. Hence, the "off-topic" section was in response to what appeared to be a need most members had, at one point or another, to simply chat with the friends they have here. And why not? We all have established certain friendships here –out of a common interest in flamenco guitar- and yet we recognize that these relations are cultivated here, on the pages of this forum, and rarely outside. With some exceptions, we are geographically distant, and this place brings us together –for many, everyday. Even the professional players who contribute here have other interests and hobbies, and why depriving them (and us) of the opportunity to share such interests, albeit unrelated, with their friends? My view is that a thread in the off topic section is not unlike a personal blog, on more personal matters than the general discussion about anything "flamenco". 2.: The irascible and aggressive behavior we often endure on this forum, seems to be a prerogative of ForoFlamenco. I post on many other forums and have never encountered the bullying and abusive posts, replete with petty and vulgar language, that certain members indulge here. It is not a problem to be excused as a linguistic impediment nor on account of the passionate nature of this music, Flamenco. Rather, other forums ban immediately and unconditionally any user who degenerates into offensive posts. However, those forums have thousands of members, their community is not as tight as this, and people come and go without being truly noticed or missed. Here, we have a numbered membership, and excluding one member resonates much more severely. Of course, the supreme example must be that of Jason McGuire who had much to share here. A fine musician, indeed, who regrettably launched consistently offensive and abusive attacks against other members, musicians or luthiers, without restraint. My understanding –in reply to some posts on this thread- is that he was not expelled for "legal" reason, but because of mounting complaints about his conduct. Since then, many here –including me- became disenchanted with the Forum; each time I would log out feeling that I had been in the company of drunks and thugs. And really, I had enough. This unpleasant state of affairs is now turning into a problem, again. A case study: The former Mayor of New York, Rudolph Giuliani resolved the plague of "graffiti" afflicting subway trains, by erasing them "swiftly". The underlying psychological theory was that the "artists" would lose interest in painting the subway cars, if their work was not there to be admired. I think that is exactly the sole change this Forum needs to implement. I too once, instigated (unintentionally and unexpectedly) a remarkably heated confrontation by commenting on some news of the day. My thread was deleted, and I know better now, than to drift into such subjects. There is unfortunately no rule or punishment that can frame the acceptable conduct for Forum's members, as much as experiencing the restrictions one (as I did) did not appreciate originally. Respect is the supreme operative word, I agree. And I believe it can be taught!
|
|
|
|