It's rather saddening when I'm reading threads on here and find people start bickering. I've posted elsewhere about this, but I think it deserves repeating.

Message boards, by their very nature, do not allow the reader to have the physical cues of eye contact, facial expression, or tone of voice that one has in face-to-face conversations. This can make a poster's intended tone and message easy to misinterpret. It's very important to keep this in mind when reading posts, and to give people the benefit of the doubt when you start to feel upset about something they said or the 'way' in which you felt they said it.

I honestly don't think anyone comes on here to be mean, nasty, or to try to insult people. Perhaps one person doesn't get another's sense of humor, or just misses the real point behind what someone is trying to say. But rather than letting things dissolve into nasty back-and-forth sniping that ends up getting more people upset, administrators involved, and running threads that the original posters made to honestly seek information and advice off-track, there is a simple solution. If you find that you simply don't like the way someone expresses themself on here, you can use the ignore settings. That way you don't have to ever read anything they post again. Simply click on the arrow next to your name at the top right of the screen, click on "Manage Ignore Prefs", and enter the name of that user. You can ignore their posts, signatures, and private messages. Simple solution, yes?

If you get into this kind of back and forth bickering and this solution isn't to your liking, then perhaps you should reexamine your reasons for being here...

Just my 2 cents worth...

It's rather saddening when I'm reading threads on here and find people start bickering. I've posted elsewhere about this' date=' but I think it deserves repeating.

Message boards, by their very nature, do not allow the reader to have the physical cues of eye contact, facial exp<b></b>ression, or tone of voice that one has in face-to-face conversations. This can make a poster's intended tone and message easy to misinterpret. It's very important to keep this in mind when reading posts, and to give people the benefit of the doubt when you start to feel upset about something they said or the 'way' in which you felt they said it.

I honestly don't think anyone comes on here to be mean, nasty, or to try to insult people. Perhaps one person doesn't get another's sense of humor, or just misses the real point behind what someone is trying to say. But rather than letting things dissolve into nasty back-and-forth sniping that ends up getting more people upset, administrators involved, and running threads that the original posters made to honestly seek information and advice off-track, there is a simple solution. If you find that you simply don't like the way someone expresses themself on here, you can use the ignore settings. That way you don't have to ever read anything they post again. Simply click on the arrow next to your name at the top right of the screen, click on "Manage Ignore Prefs", and enter the name of that user. You can ignore their posts, signatures, and private messages. Simple solution, yes?

If you get into this kind of back and forth bickering and this solution isn't to your liking, then perhaps you should reexamine your reasons for being here...

Just my 2 cents worth...[/quote']

Excellent advice, the best reaction is usually NO reaction

I agree and personally refuse to engage in that stuff. I come on he to support and be supported! There really is no need for that stuff on here!

Here here! Well said.

I'm a fan of civil debate - we all have different experiences, different opinions and different sources of knowledge, and it can be very useful to get this additional information or consider a different point of view, then discuss the pros and cons of each. But note that I said CIVIL debate. That means understanding that our way is quite probably not the only way, or the best way for everyone. Wouldn't it be more useful to remain respectful and discuss things rather than be snarky to each other? Then the experience remains supportive and positive.

Discussion and debate are awesome. Threads where the bickering picks up just make me feel stressed, annoyed and frustrated. I stop reading those threads, even though I may miss out on useful info, because it's not worth the irritation to me.

Of course, perhaps it's just me. Feel free to have a snarky free-for-all insult fest if it makes you happy and the administrators allow it. Just don't expect me to join in; I'll be off reading threads I consider more constructive and helpful

I disagree. I can't believe you would post this! I disagree with all of this! Shame! Shame! Wait was the topic again?!

Fyre, I respect your right to feel this way. Please feel free to start a thread and rant about it all you like. Me, I'm going to play turtle and hide in my shell till it's over

Thanks for making me laugh!

@fyre_storm

I wholeheartedly agree! Differences of opinion are fine and welcomed but the bickering makes people hold back and not fully share.

It's rather saddening when I'm reading threads on here and find people start bickering. I've posted elsewhere about this' date=' but I think it deserves repeating.

Message boards, by their very nature, do not allow the reader to have the physical cues of eye contact, facial expressian, or tone of voice that one has in face-to-face conversations. This can make a poster's intended tone and message easy to misinterpret. It's very important to keep this in mind when reading posts, and to give people the benefit of the doubt when you start to feel upset about something they said or the 'way' in which you felt they said it.

I honestly don't think anyone comes on here to be mean, nasty, or to try to insult people. Perhaps one person doesn't get another's sense of humor, or just misses the real point behind what someone is trying to say. But rather than letting things dissolve into nasty back-and-forth sniping that ends up getting more people upset, administrators involved, and running threads that the original posters made to honestly seek information and advice off-track, there is a simple solution. If you find that you simply don't like the way someone expresses themself on here, you can use the ignore settings. That way you don't have to ever read anything they post again. Simply click on the arrow next to your name at the top right of the screen, click on "Manage Ignore Prefs", and enter the name of that user. You can ignore their posts, signatures, and private messages. Simple solution, yes?

If you get into this kind of back and forth bickering and this solution isn't to your liking, then perhaps you should reexamine your reasons for being here...

Just my 2 cents worth...[/quote']

I agree that reading the bickering just stresses me out! Then I want to eat!