The Art of Threading & Posting: A Retro-spective

[surely]

You have a right to write what you will

You have a duty to say it with style and grace.

These are my guidelines and I propose that the Fedora Lounge formally adopt them.

There have been many excellent posts in this recent bout of self-analysis. I would like to gather them here along with your new thoughts on:

* How to compose and manage a thread

* Posting guidelines

Feedback please

 

[nobodyspecial]

I agree with the duty component. We have the rights given to us by the site owner as enforced by the bar tenders. For example, I believe politics are to be avoided.

 

[Vardeman Sneed]

I only have two points to kick off this guideline:

• When quoting, only use what is necessary. Remove photos and text that doesn't pertain to your point.
  
• Don't post comments that should be private. Use the PM feature.

 

[KeyGrip]

Good plan pointing out the difference between right and duty. Simply because one can does not mean one should.

 

[surely]

Mr. Hum your post in another thread is one of the excellent ones.

Keygrip: But I was looking at it: If I have a right you have a duty to respect it

Nobodyspecial: I have to think about what you said. Get back to you.

 

[Diamondback]

Problem: how do those of us with all the natural "grace" of a sledgehammer play it? Is being "blunt" as long as it's not "crass" an acceptable compromise there?

 

[surely]

Sounds good to me.Blunt can be ok, even desirable, when it's not meant to hurt but to strengthen. But first lets have some of your examples, Diamondback.

 

[Diamondback]

I'd cite my entire posting career here for an example--while I try to tread carefully, I've also tried to make clear upfront that my nature is that of a "blunt instrument" rather than a diplomat. One can be blunt without being disrespectful, after all... Guess that's the point I'm trying to make, and also to say that those of us with that nature can exercise it and still meet basic standards of civil conduct at the same time. The gauntlet's been thrown down, now let's see how many others of the "diplomatically challenged" pick it up, lol...

 

[Paisley]

Problem: how do those of us with all the natural "grace" of a sledgehammer play it? Is being "blunt" as long as it's not "crass" an acceptable compromise there?

Diamondback, you need charm lessons like Dave Thomas needed an MBA.

 

[Art Fawcett]

Diamondback, believe it or not, that is one of my problems also and why it often takes me a long time to write a post. In real life, where I'm facing someone that knows me, I can just say "THAT idea sucks" with all of the conotations attatched to that statement, but here, because someone can't SEE the twinkle in my eye or the frown that shows I'm really thinking about it. Here, I have to say,
"I don't think that idea would be feasible because of the overall cost to initiate it and resulting benefits would be too low to constitute a reasonable return."
Short version? "THAT idea sucks"

I know it's a pain in the rear, but that's what we are dealing with on the "net" as you know. I believe it's ALL of our duties to try our best to remember this when posting otherwise our shortness & lack of reasoned explanation can and is often misinterpreted. Such is life on the "Net"

 

[surely]

I agree with the duty component. We have the rights given to us by the site owner as enforced by the bar tenders. For example, I believe politics are to be avoided.

Ok, this is how I see it: What you call "rights given to us by the site owner" I call privileges or rules, which if we break, the site owner may impose sanctions.

By rights I mean the legal rights we all share, for eg the right not to have our property stolen. It remains to be seen whether we have for eg copyright rights in what we have posted.

 

[surely]

Hey look what's finally coming out of the fawcett, a reasoned response. now do I have to use an emoticon? No, I don't think so. So what i wrote below is saying the same thing....I think.

Diamondback, I hear you!
And I''l back out for a spell to see what others have to say.

BUT, first this: there is a difference between a drill sergeant barking at recruits in order to build teamwork under command. More like poster 1 saying what a nice hat, and poster 2 saying that hat does not look good, and poster 3 saying you look stupid in that hat.

I'd say that poster 3 was being mean unless he had a prior understanding. The burden of proof has now shifted to poster 3 that s/he was not being mean. How do we know the intent? Well it's like art, we know it when we see it. If you say you were not mean and I say you were, we should drop it after one exchange. If one picks up again then the burden shifts to them and it made clear that the guillotine may drop. :rage: [huh]

 

[Art Fawcett]

By rights I mean the legal rights we all share, for eg the right not to have our property stolen. It remains to be seen whether we have for eg copyright rights in what we have posted

OK, I'm a hatter, not a Lawyer...what does the "eg" part of you statement mean Surely?

 

[Art Fawcett]

Hey look what's finally coming out of the fawcett, a reasoned response.

ouch

 

["Doc" Devereux]

OK, I'm a hatter, not a Lawyer...what does the "eg" part of you statement mean Surely?

It's an abbreviation for "exempli gratia," which is Latin for "for example."

 

[Art Fawcett]

AHH!!! Thanks Doc, the more I looked at it the more I thought that's what it meant, just have never seen it.
scuttles back to the workbench

 

[KeyGrip]

Blunt doesn't always mean rude. In fact, interpreting subtext and intent over the internet is difficult to the point where it is often better to be blunt unless you are talking to someone who is familiar with you and the way you type.

 

[surely]

this is in response to a post which seems to have magically disappeared and which said my bonne mots were actually mal ecrit.

ooops do as I say not as I do

But this is a good example of unintentionally saying it the wrong way. I was trying to play with Fawcett and faucet and I actually wanted to compliment Fawcett for stating in a direct and understandable way what I thought I had said in a more complex way.

They're coming for me now, got to run. .

 

[Twitch]

What Art is saying is the simple, basic epitome of what the web forum should be. Everyone knows it. I've stated it on occassion. You don't talk down to people on a forum in a surley manner simply because you conceed them the grace of cordiality.

Just because you talk trash with your homeys doesn't mean you can do the same to aquaintences either in the real world or online.

A. With your homeys- "I saw a UFO once." "Yeah is that why you're weird? That stuff is a lot of freaking bunk!"

B. At a real social gathering- "I saw a UFO once." "Well, sorry I don't believe in them, later.

C. On the web polite FL- "I saw a UFO once" "Wow, but I just can't believe in that stuff."

D. On the web other sites- "I saw a UFO once" "You must be a retard!" "There ain't no proof of any of that crap!" "anyone that is into that is a jerkwad!" "What @%@$#^ fairytale #^#%@*"

It just boils down to where do ya wanna be folks, C or D?

 

[dnjan]

Remove photos and text that doesn't pertain to your point.

Thankyou! Thankyou! Thankyou!

May not improve what a person is saying, but it will sure make it easier to get to what the person is saying.