Criticism, a Critique

[Quaffer]

I wrote this years ago for another forum.  If memory serves I may have posted it in these forums as well but I feel it is worth repeating.  I post this as a new thread as the last thread I posted it in was moderated into coventry.

 

In some of the threads of late I have noticed a tendency to attack the credentials of the people making posts rather than addressing the aspects of the thread which expresses an opinion that differs from yours. Such posts are usually met by emotional counter-posts of posters coming to the defense of themselves or others. In extreme cases the entire point of the thread becomes lost and a few people post back and forth riling each other up.

It's ugly, unprofessional and leads to ill mannered behavior and worse.

There is a better way to handle it.

When trying to resolve an issue determine what is right, not who is wrong.

Before you post ask yourself. Have I made my point or am I just upsetting someone. Calling someone (fill in your own depreciating phrase) isn't nearly as rewarding as demonstrating that they are incorrect in a way that will have your reader nodding and saying "Wish I had said that". The whole name calling thing is best left on the playground. Dare I say...it is not mature.

Saturday Night Live used to feature a point and counterpoint session with Dan Akroyd and Jane Curtin. Dan would always start off with "Jane you ignorant ..." It was funny because it was a stupid way to start a discussion. In logical rhetoric the technique is called poisoning the well. Let's leave the poison to the exterminators.

Thank you for your kind attention.

I won't pretend that I am better, more knowledgeable, or more intelligent than any one here.  I certainly won't pretend I am without faults.  But I am 58 years old and have learned a few things along the way.  I hope you can learn from me some of the things I needed to learn the hard way.

 

For instance;  If you must get into a heated discussion about who said what do it through private messages.  Any conversation in a forum of that nature that goes on for more than a few posts on either side is not a distraction which most of the forum readers will enjoy.

 

And again, thank you for your kind attention.

[anonym_auUiRfWCi1jI]

This is repost from another thread, right?

 

ADD EDIT:

 

I thought I saw it some where, in a locked thread.

http://forum.worldof...6632#entry46632

[Crag_r]

Excellent post Quaffer, i have seen far too many personal attacks around here of late.

[sgtpepper500]

Always good to remind people of forum etiquette.

[brian333]

It is good to know there are players here who remember Dan and Jane's 'Point/Counterpoint' episodes. Also, that I am not the oldest player here!

 

p.s. Well said.

[ElvenLord]

t42592, on 05 January 2013 - 04:39 AM, said:

This is repost from another thread, right?

ADD EDIT:

I thought I saw it some where, in a locked thread.
http://forum.worldof..._240#entry17635

I fail to see the point you are trying to make and how it is relevant to the topic in question....



However, that being said, yes Quaffer this is the ideal situation and I believe that for the most part the people we have here will follow this, but as the forum grows I think that so will the issues, at least looking at the WoT forum as an example....

[International_Barfighter]

Yeah, but if we try to minimize the personal attacks now, maybe we can set a decent precedent going forward.

[anonym_auUiRfWCi1jI]

Of all people, you should be aware that reposting comments from one thread into another is inappropriate.

 

Here is the original post (Locked Thread).

http://forum.worldof...6632#entry46632

 

 

2.5 Off Topic, spamming and trolling

 

This category includes:

• Excessively communicating the same phrase, similar phrases, or pure gibberish

• Creating threads on topics that already exist on the forums, (Please use search and add to existing topics were possible)

• Offtopic Posting

• Creating threads/posts for the sole purpose of causing unrest on the forums

• Creating threads/posts for purpose of reporting or discussing in game violations. Such incidences are to be directed to (World of Warships Support)

• Causing disturbances in forum threads, such as picking fights, making off topic posts that ruin the thread, insulting other posters

• Making non-constructive posts, or posts with non-constructive topics

• Abusing the "Reported Post" feature by sending false alarms or nonsensical messages

• Numbering a thread, posting “First!”, “IBTL” (“in before thread lock”) or any other fad statements

• “Bumping” posts. Some sections may allow “bumping” in moderation, but users are to check the subsection of the forum to make sure that it is allowed in that section

• Petition posts or polls that are not aimed at conducting a discussion.

 

Users should make sure that they post your new threads and postings in the appropriate forum, and users are asked familiarize themselves with the forums. This helps other users and moderators maintain an overview and so be able to respond faster with an appropriate answer to questions. Before beginning a new thread, look to see if an active thread on that topic has already been established using the Search feature. If so, place your comments there instead. Keep discussions about one topic to one thread only.

 

Posts which drift off topic, or content-free posts will be edited or removed. Posting multiple messages with the same content across several forums is unwelcome and inappropriate, since such activities divide the targeted discussions and makes gathering feedback considerably more difficult. Such ‘cross posts’ will be merged, closed and redirected or removed. Before beginning a new thread, look to see if an active thread on that topic has already been established using the Search feature. If so, place your comments there instead. Keep discussions about one topic to one thread only.

 

ElvenLord, on 06 January 2013 - 01:28 PM, said:

I fail to see the point you are trying to make and how it is relevant to the topic in question....

 

 

 

However, that being said, yes Quaffer this is the ideal situation and I believe that for the most part the people we have here will follow this, but as the forum grows I think that so will the issues, at least looking at the WoT forum as an example....

[ElvenLord]

t42592, on 06 January 2013 - 07:34 PM, said:

Of all people, you should be aware that reposting comments from one thread into another is inappropriate.

Here is the original post (Locked Thread).
http://forum.worldof...6632#entry46632

2.5 Off Topic, spamming and trolling

This category includes:
• Excessively communicating the same phrase, similar phrases, or pure gibberish
• Creating threads on topics that already exist on the forums, (Please use search and add to existing topics were possible)
• Offtopic Posting
• Creating threads/posts for the sole purpose of causing unrest on the forums
• Creating threads/posts for purpose of reporting or discussing in game violations. Such incidences are to be directed to (World of Warships Support)
• Causing disturbances in forum threads, such as picking fights, making off topic posts that ruin the thread, insulting other posters
• Making non-constructive posts, or posts with non-constructive topics
• Abusing the "Reported Post" feature by sending false alarms or nonsensical messages
• Numbering a thread, posting “First!”, “IBTL” (“in before thread lock”) or any other fad statements
• “Bumping” posts. Some sections may allow “bumping” in moderation, but users are to check the subsection of the forum to make sure that it is allowed in that section
• Petition posts or polls that are not aimed at conducting a discussion.

Users should make sure that they post your new threads and postings in the appropriate forum, and users are asked familiarize themselves with the forums. This helps other users and moderators maintain an overview and so be able to respond faster with an appropriate answer to questions. Before beginning a new thread, look to see if an active thread on that topic has already been established using the Search feature. If so, place your comments there instead. Keep discussions about one topic to one thread only.

Posts which drift off topic, or content-free posts will be edited or removed. Posting multiple messages with the same content across several forums is unwelcome and inappropriate, since such activities divide the targeted discussions and makes gathering feedback considerably more difficult. Such ‘cross posts’ will be merged, closed and redirected or removed. Before beginning a new thread, look to see if an active thread on that topic has already been established using the Search feature. If so, place your comments there instead. Keep discussions about one topic to one thread only.

And what is funny, is your post was off-topic.... The thread that you linked to had absolutely no context with the topic.


And to be perfectly frank he posted it as a single comment in a thread which got locked, he then decided that this was a topic that needed it's own discussion

[anonym_auUiRfWCi1jI]

That was my fault, an error on my part.  The link has been changed to reflect where the original post came from.  Regardless his motivation, it is still a forum policy.  Had he changed the wording, I could see this thread being of some value.  As it stands, it reflects an ongoing debate that started in a locked thread.  If you don't understand that, I leave you to your devices.  I have nothing further to add, considering our past exchanges.

[Quaffer]

Quaffer, on 05 January 2013 - 04:38 AM, said:

I wrote this years ago for another forum.  If memory serves I may have posted it in these forums as well but I feel it is worth repeating. I post this as a new thread as the last thread I posted it in was moderated into coventry.

Yes this is a re-post. You can see that from the first paragraph.  As the post was made most recently in a locked thread which will disappear in a week I thought it was worth its own thread.  If this is indeed against forum policy by all means feel free to use the report button and let the moderators sort it out.

The intention of the thread was to make people think before they start picking at each other.  I fear that it has not succeeded.  I apologize if I have provided a vehicle for continuing past quarrels.

I ask of you, that you post any comments you may have on the first post, and let the rest of it fade away.

If that does not happen then this thread will be moderated as well.  There is a word for that; irony

[Quaffer]

Necro Attack!  The critic is back.