I realize that when people are passionate about a subject that they will sometimes become frustrated with other people either not understanding or not believing their point.
One problem, as I see it, is that sometimes people become beligerent in the heat of their frustration. (Actually, some people are just beligerent all of the time, but that's another problem.) The fact that they are beligerent does not make them wrong. However, it does make others not want to listen to them.
This is typically what I call "the messenger getting in the way of the message".
I've been lurking on the board for a while and have just recently decided that I've read enough to actually join the board and start to post. I want to thank everyone for their differing opinions, because this type of discourse is what I believe a discussion board is all about.
That having been said, I must say that I've seen some people post very hostile remarks to each other. I've also been able to "filter" that hostility out of their statements and realized that even though I think that their points could have been expressed more eloquently, they actually had something of value to say. I have learned a lot from those discussions.
At the same time, I've also seen most people really try to help each other with a spirit of comradery. I've learned just as much if not more from those discussions. The advantage to those discussions is that a greater number of people were willing to ask more questions. It seems that less hostility fosters a better discussion. When more questions are asked, I believe more learning takes place. People will only change their minds when presented with new information and that is why I believe any discussion is of value - to learn new information and then evaluate it in light of what we think we already know.
I was actually in the middle of reading the infamous "Pony Bottle" discussion when it got pulled earlier today. It was up to me to separate out what was valuable info and what was not. Once that was done, I found the overall information to be of value to me. I learned from it. (Please don't take this comment to mean that they shouldn't have pulled the thread because it's up to me to filter the material, that's not what I meant.)
Another problem I've noticed is with written communications in general and does not just apply to a discussion board. Some people don't realize how things they've written sound when other people read them. They don't mean to sound hostile and if it were a face-to-face discussion, you would hear the tone in their voice and not take the same comment as a hostile one. Sometimes it is difficult to hear the intended "tone" in writing, whether that be a post or an email.
So, to sum up. Although I agree that everyone has the right to "freedom of speech", I've always believed that one needs to earn their right with others to be "heard". What I mean by that is that when people feel that a person has established a reputation of being "the voice of reason", then they are more apt to "listen" to what that person has to say. If those who have a propensity to lose their cool would just think about how their next comment will affect their message, they would win more people over to their way of thinking. It's not that I think they should somehow "not be themselves". I just think that they would accomplish more for their way of thinking if they were to keep their cool. It's the difference between winning the battle and winning the war".
OK, this was a little longer than anticipated, so I'll stop now.
On the whole, I think this is a great board and that's why I joined this one.
Christian
One problem, as I see it, is that sometimes people become beligerent in the heat of their frustration. (Actually, some people are just beligerent all of the time, but that's another problem.) The fact that they are beligerent does not make them wrong. However, it does make others not want to listen to them.
This is typically what I call "the messenger getting in the way of the message".
I've been lurking on the board for a while and have just recently decided that I've read enough to actually join the board and start to post. I want to thank everyone for their differing opinions, because this type of discourse is what I believe a discussion board is all about.
That having been said, I must say that I've seen some people post very hostile remarks to each other. I've also been able to "filter" that hostility out of their statements and realized that even though I think that their points could have been expressed more eloquently, they actually had something of value to say. I have learned a lot from those discussions.
At the same time, I've also seen most people really try to help each other with a spirit of comradery. I've learned just as much if not more from those discussions. The advantage to those discussions is that a greater number of people were willing to ask more questions. It seems that less hostility fosters a better discussion. When more questions are asked, I believe more learning takes place. People will only change their minds when presented with new information and that is why I believe any discussion is of value - to learn new information and then evaluate it in light of what we think we already know.
I was actually in the middle of reading the infamous "Pony Bottle" discussion when it got pulled earlier today. It was up to me to separate out what was valuable info and what was not. Once that was done, I found the overall information to be of value to me. I learned from it. (Please don't take this comment to mean that they shouldn't have pulled the thread because it's up to me to filter the material, that's not what I meant.)
Another problem I've noticed is with written communications in general and does not just apply to a discussion board. Some people don't realize how things they've written sound when other people read them. They don't mean to sound hostile and if it were a face-to-face discussion, you would hear the tone in their voice and not take the same comment as a hostile one. Sometimes it is difficult to hear the intended "tone" in writing, whether that be a post or an email.
So, to sum up. Although I agree that everyone has the right to "freedom of speech", I've always believed that one needs to earn their right with others to be "heard". What I mean by that is that when people feel that a person has established a reputation of being "the voice of reason", then they are more apt to "listen" to what that person has to say. If those who have a propensity to lose their cool would just think about how their next comment will affect their message, they would win more people over to their way of thinking. It's not that I think they should somehow "not be themselves". I just think that they would accomplish more for their way of thinking if they were to keep their cool. It's the difference between winning the battle and winning the war".
OK, this was a little longer than anticipated, so I'll stop now.
On the whole, I think this is a great board and that's why I joined this one.
Christian
