I caught this bit of discussion in the "US woman gets 20yrs" thread...
Dane Allen wrote on 07/18/13 at 08:55:22:


The TT is what you make it... it wasn't like this originally...
It has devolved into this...
If you want to make it better,... start being better...
Start posting something other than sharp jabs at each other...
This started as a moderated thread in the Cafe'...
MJ got tired of complaints and decided to leave you to your own devices...
The muck you wallow in is your own...
Want to make it better?... Feel free,..
There are uncalled for insults coming from both sides here...
Each side only sees the other''s offenses...
At this point,... that is all there is here in the TT...
You all are free to continue, or leave,... or make this the forum you wish it was...

Personally,.. I like a lot of the people in here, but I try to stay out,... because I don't like what you've done to the place...
...

Now,... feel free to yell at me and call me stupid, or whatever...

We all disagree with each other from time to time but the name calling is uncalled for, I'm lucky, I've met a lot of great guys on this forum and when we all get together its fun.

Quote:


This is an excellent point of discussion. I think the creation of a forum to move the fights away from the thinks was a great idea. Our human nature makes us adversarial and competitive and to have an outlet for that which is away from the good parts of this site is probably one of many reasons it is soo successful. If you wade into the TT then you do so willingly.

My love of freedom, and freedom of expression in particular, reminds me that this important right comes with a cost. It's a steep cost that maybe some didn't expect to pay, but well worth paying for the freedom we enjoy. We become alarmed, disgusted and even sickened when we see something like what was written about another member's daughter. There are people in the world who are just downright garbage but they have the same right as I do and I have the right to not read their posts and/or stay out of the TT altogether. I can change the channel.

I spar with Srinath alot and, while rocky at first, we seem to make it work now by using a little sarcasm and word play instead of insults. It is unfortunate when someone takes the discussion to a depraved, viscious and evil extreme but, in my mind, that is part of the cost of being able to freely engage in adult banter while at the same time insulating the rest of the forum.

Each is responsible for their own behavior but I wouldn't want to place a censor on our speech, and I have experienced my own share of vile nastiness directed at me so I know how it is. The TT is just an added feature to the real reason I am here which is to enjoy my S-40 to the fullest and meet great people like Versy.

Updated: "censor" - thanks Srinath

Dane Allen wrote on 07/19/13 at 11:43:39:


Censor ? or Sensor ?

Cool.
Srinath.

"We become alarmed, disgusted and even sickened when we see something like what was written about another member's daughter. There are people in the world who are just downright garbage".

...that didn't take long either. Any normal person would read that post and understand that I was making a point. And a very important point at that. It was an example of how someone would feel if the tables were turned and the Trayvon murder happened to a close family member and not just to another anonymous n*gger down south. Our resident white trash here instead of expressing empathy with the victim lashed out yet again with the violist kind of verbal attack imaginable. This is his 'stock in trade' with his sidekick egging him on. I think these two are too immature, too nasty, too vile, too crude, and just plain too stupid to participate in this thread. They have lowered the standards here to the lowest common denominator imaginable, and I'm sure it sickening most of the rest of us here. I would urge them to clean up their act, or get the hell off and out of this thread.

...standing by for an even nastier version the usual vile name calling....but then how much worse can it get?  

Nope jog, he's a perv...  That line with someone's kids shouldn't be crossed. F' him.

Hey, I seem to recall if you posted two spam links  back to back, the auto feature would delete your sign on. Is that right?

Dane you've not been here for as long as webby and star have had their "discussions".
Look @ the joining dates of some of these guys ... look @ their post counts ...
I've been here longer than JOG by a few weeks if I recall, but somehting happened to JOG's first ID that's why he became JOG2 (correct me if I am wrong JOG I dont know for sure)- anyway his post count is 10X mine ... I used to be very casual observer till I got the right to vote. In fact the year or so leading up to that and my getting citizenship, and promptly getting called to Jury duty got me into the political mood.

Cool.
Srinath.

srinath wrote on 07/19/13 at 13:13:52:


Oh, I know, but it seems the mood here ebbs and flows and Sero, in his knowledge gained through experience, has brought it to our attention that the pendulum has swung too far to the flow. This seems like a "going forward" thread so I am trying to follow Sero's lead. I am totally against imposed censor but am fine with voluntary self-censor.

I had taken a break from the TT, it got too viscious and I made that decision for myself. I made a conscious effort to focus on the topics and less on the personal and I came back and tested my new resolve. Seems to be going well. I choose who I interact with and I always try to add more than I take.