Can I ask for your thoughts on how to stop the abuse and start to show more compassion?

Question

In honor of Red Queen and so many others on here who have seen good people either get deleted accounts or decide they can no longer tolerate the treatment on this forum.

I think that there has to be a fine line between freedom of expression and freedom from harrassment on here. People get offended and we truly use this forum as an example of the Cat-kicking world (someone gets us angry and we take it out on the next person and it spreads, ultimately to kicking the cat who never did anything to incur the anger).

So, I'm wondering if those of us who are regulars should set up our own code of conduct? If so, what can we do to eliminate the hurt feelings and the resulting excessive account deletions?

I'm not suggesting having a "R&S squad" that decides right and wrong, instead I'm suggesting voluntary standards we all agree to, so we can enjoy being here.

Your thoughts?

Answer 1

Lots of Yahoo Answers people have already united to do that very thing.
It is the Concerned Yahoo Answers Members.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/concerned_y_members

Answer 2

Hi Red Queen! I trust that you are off to a wonderful new week. I am a fan of your questions.

I strongly agree with you that R&S can be quite intense at times. I have had a few derogatory words spilled all over my post. When I first came on to this site I actually started out posting on the Political and Government section, and I would only come to R&S occasionally to see what other questions and comments were being raised by Christians from various denominations. Soon I discovered that not all were religious on the R&S site, and the more I logged on to R&S, I discovered that there seem to be a concerted effort to marginalize God and discredit faith in the principles of Christianity. I was somewhat disturbed by this trend and decided to shift my focus from the daily politics to Religion and spirituality issues. This without a doubt is the toughest site to post questions on this particular network. I am not sure what Yahoo can do to improve on the system. There community guidelines are very clear and they have dealt with many violaters.

I don't think we can silence those who are opposed to belief, but I think we need to stand firm for the faith and do our best to share the message of Christ to those who are not ready in heart to receive it. The seeds we plant today in the hearts of those who do not believe may very well bear fruit ten or twenty years from now. Don't allow the negative remarks you will sometimes receive to cause you from uplifting the message of Christ. Christ will change their heart when the time is right. Just keep pouring on that Love. Don't give up, and whatever you do don't stop asking thoughtful questions. We see way to many silly questions on this site. Someone said, "evil triumphs because good people keep silent". Speak up for Jesus, and some will both hear and see the truth.

Thanks for this concern post.

John 3:16
Romans 10:9
Revelation 3:20

Answer 3

I think that the Christian aphorism about the whole mote and splinter thing should be looked at. This isn't directed specifically at you, but at patterns I have seen in this section in general.

If someone is violating the TOS here - even if they think they're being "funny" or "cute" or "harmless" in doing so (raids, "Whatevers", etc. etc. etc.), do they REALLY have any room to complain when actions are taken as a result of those violations?

Or are violations only bad when it's "something you don't like"?

Jibba's spamming of the Forum with those scrolling messages, the spate of "bran muffin" questions, the whole WISDR (and clones) crap... all of it violates TOS. Why should those violations be "okay" and "shouldn't be reported"?

Either ALL the TOS rules apply equally, or NONE of them do. And for people to complain about others breaking the rules when they themselves are guilty of it is ridiculous.

I realize this will likely get lots of thumbs-down, like I get when I comment about raids, but ah well...

Answer 4

That's a remarkably mature (for this forum) suggestion. I don't know that I can do anything to help make it happen other than take it as inspiration to be kinder. I do kinda come and go in that respect, sometimes just throwing my hands up into the air and laying into people when they're particularly rude, hostile, or deliberately ignorant. Perhaps I should work on turning the other cheek.

Answer 5

what does it mean to have freedom of speech... that some say it's OK to speak and others it is not... it's those who abuse the violation reports as a means of censoring others that is offensive not necessarily who says what.... why cow down to their limited censored view of truth... It should all be said... and since we do not see each other face to face this forum is about as peaceful as this topic can be discussed without throwing a few punches.... if you do not like what the person has to say stay away from their questions... if you do not like their answers give them a thumbs down and it disappears from your screen... other than separating religion and spirituality into two separate categories, I don't think yahoo could have done a better job of giving us a place to hash out this topic (and it has always been a violent exchange and discovery...) truth need not be cesored again and again. let it all be said over and over again till the whole truth comes out for a change.

Answer 6

Totally, absolutely depends on the question. I do not abuse people on here but I do respond in the manner the question is asked.

I do not report people either, no matter how absurd their question or answer. If we could all just not report people, but ignore those that use abusive terms and such, the problem would take care of itself.

I am very selective in which questions I answer and everyone else should be to.

Answer 7

i don't know how we can change anyone. all we can do is not to spew hate ourselves.

i had a disagreement with someone once. they said some pretty hateful things. when i asked why they said this they told me that they should be able to say whatever they want.
i told them that while they have the right to say whatever hate filled thing that pops into their head that doesn't mean they should. then they were surprised when i stopped speaking to them.

i really don't like the idea of reporting anyone, but perhaps we should start doing that very thing when someone is extremely nasty for no reason.

just my thoughts.

Answer 8

It's a noble and optimistic idea, but I'm skeptical it would ever work.

A more practical solution to all the hate speech is something I try to adhere to: ignore the ignorant.

We will always have idiots who come here to push people's buttons and to see just how many howling red-faced answers they can accrue.

If the mature and semi-intelligent among us would agree just to ignore them, I guarantee they would eventually get bored and go masturbate or whatever they do besides play on the computer.

Answer 9

Well based on the first couple responses, an optimistic attitude would be a good start. But the biggest problem I see is respecting each other. No matter who believes what (or doesn't believe anything). Obviously we disagree on many issues. But it can be done politely and in a friendly way, without the name calling, condescending attitude, etc.

Answer 10

Anonymity inspires honesty.

It's the same effect as sitting in the comfort of your vehicle, with the windows rolled up, and shouting racial slurs at someone when they cut you off. Nobody would do that with the windows down, but nearly everyone here has said (or thought) such things in the comfort of their car.

Add to that a topic as volatile as religion, and R&S is a powder keg on a daily basis.