dawn27 | 07-18-2014 01:23 PM | Quote:
Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom
(Post 4465267)
Hi all -
Firstly, I just want to say what a wonderful community YT is, and that I hope this thread can help us all think about improving our presence here during interactions…even if it just means tweaking our posting styles a bit.
I’ll get right to the point: we’ve been receiving a huge amount of communications from members who are concerned/venting about some of the harshness and aggression they’re seeing/perceiving in the community. This harshness pertains to both new and old members - on both the receiving and giving end of things. We’re hearing there is a pervasive feeling that members are being driven away via disrespectful, snarky, disdainful, extremely aggressive, and downright mean posting styles. This needs to stop.
We cannot be a community or call ourselves a community if we don’t come together sometimes, as a collective, and agree to do better. Well, it’s time to come together and agree to do better...to be more aware of giving (yes, GIVING) respect, to be more kind, to be more compassionate and supportive.
No one is asking anyone to be a Pollyanna or to not be themselves. We’re merely asking that, in your interactions, you strive harder and TRULY commit to what is mentioned in the previous paragraph. It’s not that hard -- and if it IS hard for you, then perhaps this isn’t the right board for you and perhaps it’s time to move on from YT to find an environment that does fit.
We are not asking much. If you do think we’re asking too much, then 1) this is not the community for you 2) you’re being self-centered and 3) you need to develop your insight into human beings, other than yourself. WE ARE NOT ASKING MUCH.
It is okay to speak your mind here at YT. However, it is not okay to simply justify any means you deem fit to meet your end goal. We believe in being STRONG advocates for dogs/animals - but not, however, at the expense of the human being behind that dependent and innocent dog. Please do not assume or think that it’s okay to behave any way you please merely because it’s in the interest of an animal. We all need to be decent here and post w/ a modicum of respect…EVEN when and especially when dealing with someone who is doing everything we are personally opposed to. Your opposition to another human being’s behavior does *not* mean you are right, nor is it a fact that they are universally and categorically wrong….it merely means you have opposition. Please learn to deal with it because it’s not going away.
If we see excessively negative and/or badgering posting styles, we will be warning people or suspending people and/or permanently banning members’ accounts.
This is an open discussion in terms of feedback, thoughts, concerns….so please feel free to share. This post is not aimed at anyone, so please do not make assumptions. It was driven by the sheer amount of concerned members who expressed themselves via PMs and on the forum itself. Thank you for reading! :) | Quote:
Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom
(Post 4466914)
I hear you in terms of having strong views and sticking to them, however, what we've been seeing here are views being shoved very rudely at times down people's throats -- and that's not helping anyone at all. It's one thing to have strong views and be direct -- there is NOTHING wrong with that. It's another thing to have strong views and be rude and badgering at the same time. That's what needs to stop on that front. I think that's what the posters with a less direct posting style are looking for...at least that's what we've heard and seen.
Now, on the flip side of things...what I'm hearing form the more direct posters is "please don't preach to me about my posting style". What the more direct posters are asking is that if one of their posts is seen as inappropriate, to please *just* report it, rather than telling another person how to post or that their post is rude. We're hearing that loud and clear. I think it's a fair request. That said, it's well within the rules to state an opinion such as "I think this thread is bordering on badgering this member and I'd like to see that tone change" -- a member is allowed to state that sort of opinion, whether we like it or not. But the request has been heard, very clearly, that people who find things offensive to please use the report icon.
I want to comment on another aspect of this subject that we've heard much about behind the scenes and that is when members are VERY clearly juuuuust riding the cusp of our rules here -- where they're just on the edge...not quite breaking rules, but very clearly getting as close as they intentionally can. We know when you're doing it, and you know when you're doing it. Going forward, if a member is clearly riding that edge -- the post will just be deleted, period, gone....and any/all educational info you shared will have to be rewritten. And if that sort of cusp-riding behavior accumulates - suspensions or bans will follow.
As for "why this thread" instead of private PMs - it's because this is a community problem, and the community deserves to know it's being addressed. And the members of the community deserve to have a voice about what's been happening and what they've been seeing...no matter where you land on the issues. When there is an outcry for action, the community needs to know we've heard it and are addressing it. It's a public matter, therefore, we want to be transparent. |
I totally agree with both of these statement and ALL of the above. There is so much good here on YT and most if not all of us mean well. Some just choose to go about it more aggressively thank others. Granted our views are clearly different and each of us go about stating them in very different ways which is great. That is until it gets personal and by that I mean "Tagging", using tags for your own person use and to discredit or in my eyes bully a person only because you disagree with their views and think that you know it all. I have had this happen to me and I was very taken back by the tags that were used to describe me. To the point that I seriously though about leaving. But No I was dammed if I would give this person and You know who you are the satisfaction of running me off ! This is something that has been in the back of my mind and until now I didn't feel comfortable bringing it up.
My Personal Experience: Several months ago I came across several threads where I stumbled upon tags and than went on a wild search in search of any and all tags where my name was associated with several bad terms used here on YT and quite frankly would be considers inappropriate in any forum or use of the words. I myself (My real name, YT username and my website) was tagged and I felt that the use of these certain tags had no other purpose other than to put me down or try to soil my good name. Which in my eyes was a form of bullying. Yes I said it, "bully" because when someone uses the term BRB in reference to my name or anyone else's on not just one but on several occasions on several different heated discussions mine and others just because they do not like or agree with what I or that person does is bullying to me. Correct me if you want but you will never change me feeling on this matter. I reported it and it was brought to my attention that is was clearly a personal attack. Reason being they were all done by the same person. So, yea... thats just one of my experiences with YT that have really made me wonder why anyone would take it upon themselves to do this and to target me ?
Lets face it None of you really know ME, and vise versa. You don't know what I do or what I stand for. Not have very few of you even taken the time to ask. I have been brought to tears and have been so hurt on many occasions in the past three or so years I have been a member all because someone figured they had me pegged as a BYB, a bad person, someone who was unworthy of their or anyone else's respect. Well that is your opinion any I guess by YT standards you and anyone else are entitled to your opinion but for myself my friends, family and those people who I have dealt with on a personal level they would have to disagree. Ann: We discussed the thought of bringing this matter up so here it is. If you feel that this is not the right place to have this discussion, than please feel free to move it. Honestly, I feel that it needs some further review. Also if all of the members took the time to actually search their own threads and those where a heated discussion took place they may just find some of those inappropriate tags. Truly a very sad and disturbing use of tags if you ask me. |