Hostility on forums.....

[G]

From reading various posts recently, I sometimes note a lot of hostility and awkwardness on the forums.

Do other people ever get this feeling? Sometimes its really awkward and it makes you think 'blimey are they like that in real life or just on the internet where personality and the manner in which things are put across don’t always come across right?'

Personally I would hate for people to think I was an **** (bum) and therefore not want to ever attend a group ride out, or likewise think errrr I hope he doesn’t come along to our ride out.

When I first signed up the forums seemed pretty damn friendly, but recently sitting back watching topics escalate into full blown arguments have been finding it more hostile, to the point where I have been trying to avoid posting in certain topics to avoid getting on any ones wrong side or thinking badly of me.

Does anyone else find this?

And if anyone does think I'm an **** (bum again), I'm genuinely not and apologies for anything i say coming across that way.

soft

[fizzwheel]

I've found that everybody I've met in real life, have been really decent people and great company on rideouts etc. I find that things that happen on the forum stay on the forum and if I've had a disagreement on the forum that it doesnt continue in real life or when you meet somebody face to face.

Those heated / hostile debates are part of what makes the forum tick, debating / discussing things that sometimes get a bit heated is all good and theres not many forums IMHO that we'd get away with some of the threads that we do. Idle banters just like a pub really, you have to think of it as a group of mates all having a natter / debate / rant over a pint or two, it gets heated but nobody actually falls out over it.

World would be boring if everybody got on and everybody agreed all the time, sometimes by reading those heated threads I learn stuff, if I dont learn anything or I dont agree well it gives you an insight into the world at large and how people think and why they think like they do.

Its helped with my work as well when I go into meetings I find now that I'm able to argue my point more effectively after getting better at debating in threads. I'm still not brilliant at it though.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

Its helped with my work as well when I go into meetings I find now that I'm able to argue my point more effectively after getting better at debating in threads. I'm still not brilliant at it though.

Have you tried locking the meetings too?

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by Filipe M.

Have you tried locking the meetings too?

Not yet, good idea though, I know where they keep the master key...

Originally Posted by graemepaterson

... Does anyone else find this? ...

To an extent I do see this and also find it from time to time ... in fact, I probably contribute occasionally PMSL

But it's all about debating/discussing (as Fizz says).

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and if people choose not to like me because of an opinion I hold on a subject, then fine ... that's their choice. However, I try not to make assumptions about a persons character based on a single opinion they may hold. I'd rather reserve judgement until I've met them face-to-face.

I'm a very placid and quite laid-back kinda guy (no honestly I am ) see? -> but occasionally someone will say something that will "strike a nerve" or I'll feel the need to "vent some frustration" ... and what better place to do it than on an internet forum? I'd rather do it here than out on the road

However, as you say Graeme, if I offend anyone in doing so, then I apologise - just don't take it personal. If I was going to personalise anything like that I'd try and have the decency to PM them, and not make it public (unless I felt it warranted it).

Thanks,
Pete

Originally Posted by graemepaterson

Does anyone else find this?

And if anyone does think I'm an **** (bum again), I'm genuinely not and apologies for anything i say coming across that way.

Sometimes people allow disagreements on a subject to get a bit personal, which is never a good idea. Generally though, people here are very civil, even when they disagree.

If anything, the fact that there is a good real-world presence of people from here meeting up in real life keeps it this way. No one is too much of a mouthy **** if they know they will actually have to be meeting up with person they are slagging off in a week's time. Conversely other forums I belong to which have almost no real life aspect and no one knows each other in the real world, tends to be populated by "internet tough guys" who think they're Charles Bronson, but come across as inadequate 14 year old boys who get picked on.

Personally what is said on the forum stays on the forum, I find it easier to argue or debate behind words than face to face. I agree with Fizz that its what makes this place tick. I like getting involved In the more tricky subjects, its more fun.

I know I have a tendency to get on my soap box on certain topics and to put my point across sometimes quite aggressively but peeps please don’t take personal offence to it.

Sometimes I have thought what people think about me in real life after some of the things I say on here but I would like to think that people would have the guts to tell me face to face I am not welcome, as personally I would prefer that than being in a bad atmosphere.

I am actually a lot more reserved and chilled in person, honest.

Oh and all feel free to slag me off as much as you want, I don’t care, its water of a ducks back and I can fight my own corner quite well I think.

Originally Posted by neio79

I have a tendency to get on my soap box on certain topics and to put my point across sometimes quite aggressively

Really? I've never noticed that.

Is there a sarcasm smiley?