Civil Discourse

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The mega kudo's thread was locked, but I just have to comment on a post there. My comment comes after:

"Marbry wrote:

You can report that you did a dive with someone. The problem lies when people start rendering opinions on others, positive or negative, because there is always someone that wants to disagree and it just takes off from there.

It is much simpler to eliminate those opinions from posts (unless you wish to privately inquire with the author) than to make judgements on endless shades of gray as to what should be allowed and what shouldn't.

The whole point is to ultimately maintain a civil atmosphere.

Marbry"

Is it possible to review the past so many years of posts, including the locked ones, flame wars, etc., and actually see how many times initial positive statements about specific people, shops, services, etc., became negative? I am not so sure that there is this assumed relationship between positive beginnings and bad endings. I trust Marbry's perception on most everything (ooops, sorry accidental violation!), but empirical data may be worth looking at if it's available.

And one other comment: I can't imagine anything more civil than what they thread was before the violations were noted. After the violations were "black-barred," well, things got a bit less civil, but that was cause-effect and would not have happened otherwise - or if Marbry's right, it was inevitiable!

Nothing personal Marbry; hope you'll still dive with me.

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[Cave Ranger]

I am actually a bit stunned at the turn my original post took. It actually got locked. Imagine that.
That was so far out of the realm of anything I anticipated or intended I'm starting to think that Johnny (Last name deleted so as not to endorse any particular instructor or opinion) is right about just remaining silent.
I'm kind of a loner and I'm not real quick to warm up to new people. So when I met the aforementioned people (who's last name is unmentionable here but is synonymous with a certain American coin made from copper) and they actually took the time to show me some cool sites I hadn't seen before and go diving with me they really made my day and I wanted to not only thank them but share the experience publicly with anyone else who might also feel like an outsider whenever they visit "Cave Country"
I don't take any of this personally because my life is much bigger then any internet site. I enjoy posting on here because I'm a better writer than talker. I think the MOD Squad do a good job overall and since they volunteer their time I won't be overly critical. Just because my knowledge (and Nitrogen) soaked brain can't comprehend the reasoning behind this interpretation of doesn't mean it's wrong. It may be silly (Oh..It's silly all right) but not necessarily wrong. I can always just vote with my feet....or fingers if I don't like it.
I'm all for avoiding a "Flame War" at any cost.......................or am I?

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Yes, I agree, it is odd the turn it took. You'd think we could say nice things about nice people and I suppose we can. I have met many nice people and few not so nice ones, but the nameless couple are some of the best. I have suggested before and will again, that a separate topic area be created just for thanking people, dive shops, dive site personnel, and such, who are the ones that make cave diving safe, sane, civil, and go out of their way to help out. I just don't see the harm in it.

however, I do see the right of the moderators to moderate as they see fit whatever the rules are. I was here years ago, got stomped on about my first post and didn't come back for a year. It was really difficult for awhile to post anything without someone calling you names about it. Much better today; so if that's what it really takes, well.....it's a sad state of affairs.

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I'm like the traffic cop that pulls you over for not wearing a seat belt - "I don't make the laws, I just enforce them." It's a shame a strict interpretation of the rule caused so much grief.

Rule #6 seems odd, but not allowing shades of gray has worked for several years. However, a change to Rule #6 is being bounced around and will probably be announced tomorrow.

FWIW, billyf wasn't banned for disagreeing with the moderators. He was banned for blatant profanity (Rule #3).

[Big Easy]

I have not posted here in a long time, and find myself checking this board less frequently than others. There is simply less and less information posted.

I suppose the mods deserve thanks, but I figure they would not do it if they did not want to.

Some boards become useless do to a lack of moderation.

I think this one might be the first to find the same fate for the opposite reason.

Shame.

Matt Lammon

[Tegg]

I'm like the traffic cop that pulls you over for not wearing a seat belt - "I don't make the laws, I just enforce them." It's a shame a strict interpretation of the rule caused so much grief.

Rule #6 seems odd, but not allowing shades of gray has worked for several years. However, a change to Rule #6 is being bounced around and will probably be announced tomorrow.

FWIW, billyf wasn't banned for disagreeing with the moderators. He was banned for blatant profanity (Rule #3).

So people get banned immediately after breaking one of the posted rules one time?

Wow... guess lots of people will be banned for breaking #6...

That ban stick comes down fast... (having been on the end of it once myself, without any warning)

[Tegg]

I have not posted here in a long time, and find myself checking this board less frequently than others. There is simply less and less information posted.

I suppose the mods deserve thanks, but I figure they would not do it if they did not want to.

Some boards become useless do to a lack of moderation.

I think this one might be the first to find the same fate for the opposite reason.

Shame.

Matt Lammon

Matt,

As we all know, public forums can go through "cycles".

I hope that this is just a cycle and that some of the issues lately get cleared up a bit and maybe even "relaxed" for the sake of brining the forum activity back to what it has been in the past.

Personally I think this board can be a great place with many active members if some "shifts" can be made to bring it back "on track" and encourage people to want to come here.

Where is Herbie when you need him?

[Wizard]

I'm like the traffic cop that pulls you over for not wearing a seat belt - "I don't make the laws, I just enforce them." It's a shame a strict interpretation of the rule caused so much grief.

There's quite a bit of difference between a warning and beating someone down. (sorry, the deputy came out in me)

According to the "strict"interpretation of rule 6, I can't get a recommendation of where to get a good burger or who to call if I need a reg fixed.

I have thought rule 6 needed an overhaul for a time, I am looking foward to the descision and hope it opens up more informed discusion rather than quelling it. I do thanks for admins for seeing the member side and giving their opinions some considerations!

I like this board, it foregoes the crap and egos that seem to dominate the internet, but it seems like we hold back everything at all cost because something might or could happen.

[dgschott]

I agree with you completely. This board is and has been a joke. If you want to post something and not have your thread deleted, censored, locked, or banned, go use TDS, RBW, or ScubaForum. Last time I checked, we lived in the United States, not China.... The nice thing is that we have the choice not to use this website, which I have maintained until now. It runs along the same grounds as a 'private' forum for the CDS. That's been a great success as well....

Every thread I have posted here that has been deleted or locked has passed muster at TDS, RBW, and ScubaForum with no problems. Go figure.

I have not posted here in a long time, and find myself checking this board less frequently than others. There is simply less and less information posted.

I suppose the mods deserve thanks, but I figure they would not do it if they did not want to.

Some boards become useless do to a lack of moderation.

I think this one might be the first to find the same fate for the opposite reason.

Shame.

Matt Lammon

[bletso]

Every thread I have posted here that has been deleted or locked has passed muster at TDS, RBW, and ScubaForum with no problems. Go figure.

Yeh, there may be less noise on this forum, but RBW is pretty much sensless banter and a lot of doodoo.

I prefer the lighter traffic. I hate wasting a lot of time sorting dribble and doo from fact or good info.

Dale