Open Question!

[Missy-Q]

I often write long posts then don't bother posting them as I feel that my use of English will lead to misinterpretation. I also can't be bothered to post my opinion if it's different to other more distinguished forum users because I don't feel I need to cause friction or draw attention to my team or myself. I don't mind a good debate/argument, I do have a back bone, but those that know me well enough will know I'm a relaxed guy that hates upsetting people.

See. A classic example of an 'amiable' personality.

Amiables are the most likeable personality type, and the one that I often wish I was. Considerate and prone to avoiding topics/discussions where they know others may be upset or disagree. Will avoid confrontation. The hardest guys to sell to, because they don't like to say no, so they keep saying 'maybe'...
The way I just turned the attention back to my own knowledge of personality profiling is a classic example of an 'expressive'.

Most people exhibit 2 types of personality traits, with one being dominant.

 

[Buddha 3]

Not me, I have no personality. I'm a bot...

 

[Robbo]

A cyber slap in terms of forums and suchlike would be getting yourself banned. I'm sure you're fair in the sense of letting someone express an opinion and provided it's kept kosher, speaking freely - but obviously there's always going to be a point of someone arguing (or shall we call it debating ) with you (or another mod) and the fear of being banned. The large majority of forum mods will rightly say "As long as it's all within the boundaries, of course we wouldn't ban them!", but sometimes in practice - it doesn't always work that way.

Besides, you lose one member, and it hasn't really got any effect on your member-base. They lose access to P8ntballer and they've lost what is probably one of their main sources of recent goings on, not to mention a massive trade-site; but if they want to try and argue their case, it'll be through private messages, which won't make much difference - or through someone else, which could see them banned as a result of.

More often than not - arguing with the powers that be just isn't worthwhile.

I think you're more or less right here and your somewhat astute analysis of the knife-edge some people believe they walk when 'debating' with myself [or indeed another mod] is an enlightening one .. for me at least.

You are also bang on the money with regard to the effect it has on our member list, it's less than negligible if aggrieved parties up sticks and bugger off never to return; Mind you, I'd never even considered the other side of the coin that you mention in that these people then lose a valuable part of their paintball lives ....hmmmm ....... I don't much like the thought that all you mention here is true and yet I suppose I know it to be.

It's no secret I have a problem with people who I believe are being deliberately contrary or are just plain stupid .... the former frustrating me more I think.
And so, what to do?

Before I answer this question, I wish to recount a point I alluded to earlier, two people who had posted in that other 'UK players abroad' thread pm'd me to tell me they also hated the back-slapping bs that made it all look as though we had 'taken it to the Yanks' but they were unprepared to state as much... this is what pi$sed me off a little because it kinda leaves me hanging when people clam up in such an instance.

A couple of those guys who were responding to me in that thread were either congenitally less than gifted in the neuron department or were deliberately not reading whatever it was I was saying and in that sort of instance, I don't give a rat's ass if they bugger off and never darken my doorstep again but .... I think I should try and be a lot more tolerant here but I've yet to locate a single brain cell in my head that agrees with this act of tolerance .... and maybe that's part of the problem.

I'm kinda stuck in the middle on this one ......I suppose I shall resolve to try and be a lot more tolerant on the basis I know other members of my site believe it the right thing to do.
I'll see how it goes though it will probably mean I have to end up biting my lip when I see instances I feel are either BS or are just plain wrong.
Anyway, you made a cracking good post ...cheers.

 

[Robbo]

Sorry, you got me wrong. I dont feel threatened, far from it. Never have, and if I did, that would be when I would join in. I dont mean that people are threatened either, sorry, maybe bad wording but if someone less able was to pose a thought and get some part of their thought structure messed up, maybe use one word wrong (like threatened) they would get pounced on

But threads do sometimes get a little heavyweight. I know you know what I mean.

Personally, sometimes I dont care for the subject, sometimes I cant be arsed, sometimes (most times) Ive had a long day and dont want an internet argument with someone I havent met.

But, if thats anyones cup of tea, thats great. I dont mind what goes on, I post when I see something I want to post in, other times, I just dont. Doesnt mean I dont have an opinion, or that im not a grown man or whatever.

Smash my head in? You'd have to catch me first

Maybe the word intimidated was more appropriate Ad??

I most certainly agree with what you say if I do the swap because some threads do get heavy for sure but basically, you could look at any of these threads and all you will see is one person saying something and another person answering, or at least trying to.

This, in essence is what you might see in a heavy debate ... people become emotional, some even go as far as to physically threaten [keyboard heroes] but none of it ever comes to anything mate ... I suppose it just comes down to whether or not it's your cup of tea or not maybes.

However, there are a group of people [nick brockdorrf the worst] who love to see themselves write what they feel is an 'informed' opinion and when others show them, and everybody else the folly of their post, they kick off and all hell lets loose.
People haaaaate being shown they are wrong, especially in public; it's humiliating and maybe one day I'll find out what it's like but until then ... I think I'll keep smiling

 

[Missy-Q]

Maybe the word intimidated was more appropriate Ad??

I most certainly agree with what you say if I do the swap because some threads do get heavy for sure but basically, you could look at any of these threads and all you will see is one person saying something and another person answering, or at least trying to.

This, in essence is what you might see in a heavy debate ... people become emotional, some even go as far as to physically threaten [keyboard heroes] but none of it ever comes to anything mate ... I suppose it just comes down to whether or not it's your cup of tea or not maybes.

However, there are a group of people [nick brockdorrf the worst] who love to see themselves write what they feel is an 'informed' opinion and when others show them, and everybody else the folly of their post, they kick off and all hell lets loose.
People haaaaate being shown they are wrong, especially in public; it's humiliating and maybe one day I'll find out what it's like but until then ... I think I'll keep smiling

I just read the thread that started this, about the teams at WC, and to be honest Pete, you did piss all over their back-slapping frenzy...
A little inconsiderate perhaps, and not something I would want to read after slogging away in the heat and then getting on a long flight home. I would probably have allowed them to get home and over the jet-lag before dropping their performance into a global perspective.
The perspective is dead-on, however you really pissed all over 'em...

Here's something to lighten the mood...

 

[Sinister]

That's an amazing T-shirt right there Missy.

 

[DJForbes]

I think the biggest problem with people not wanting to speak their minds is that mods tend to be heavy handed when they disagree.
Hell I may even be banned for posting this.

The reason I stopped posting here was also due to the way you treat typos and spelling errors. I write in a hurry and my spelling is ****. I don’t always have a spell check near and I don’t enjoy getting ripped for it. Especially when it’s supposed to be grown men doing it

 

[Buddha 3]

I think the biggest problem with people not wanting to speak their minds is that mods tend to be heavy handed when they disagree.
Hell I may even be banned for posting this.

The reason I stopped posting here was also due to the way you treat typos and spelling errors. I write in a hurry and my spelling is ****. I don’t always have a spell check near and I don’t enjoy getting ripped for it. Especially when it’s supposed to be grown men doing it

C'mon man...
I never banned anybody for disagreeing with me.
And people do indeed catch flak for their spelling, but if you spell like you do above, you shouldn't have anything to worry about. Mistakes will be made, some of our mods don't even spell too fantastic, but at least what they post makes sense.
The people that catch hell for their typing skills are the ones that make no effort at all, use no punctuation and tons of textspeak.
We'd never expect a person that has always worked with his hands to be flawless at spelling, but we do expect him to make an effort. Just like we do. I'm a bloody foreigner for heaven's sake and my written English is better than that of some English people! If I can make that sort of effort, why can't other people?

And again, people don't get banned for disagreeing, people get banned for being disrespectful while doing it.

And if you think you'll get banned for posting what you just posted, well, that says more about you than it says about us to be honest.

 

[Buddha 3]

Especially when it’s supposed to be grown men doing it

Sorry to bring your post up again, but I think you touch upon an interesting point. I personally feel that "grown men" (meaning an older, more mature demographic) tend to look less favorably on dreadful spelling then "the young'uns".
Really old people usually take great effort in their writing skills and have beautiful handwriting. Sadly this is a skill that is becoming less and less common.

Again, we don't expect anybody to be perfect at spelling, we just expect everybody to put in some effort. If something is worth saying, it's worth writing down properly.

 

[DJForbes]

[FONT=&quot]Don’t really want to argue about it or get into it anymore than i already have.

But that’s what comes across. Lucky for me I had a chance to put my last post into a spell check.

and on the banning issue. One wrong word to Robbo send him over the edge. There is no disagreement with him he is RIGHT!!!

That could have changed in the last few months but I only check out the gun whores and a few other threads these days.[/FONT]