Your kind words are appreciated, truly - but really, it isn't about me, it's about behavior in general. I hate to see this personalized, because with personalization comes an inevitable fire fight. When I first joined SI I overvalued "truth" (which I've always seen as personal, anyway, since I don't believe in universal truth)- over manners. Now I value politeness more than any personal "truth"- mine or anyone else's. I'd be the first to admit I tried to fight fire with fire in my first years on SI (how naive I was)- fire fights which (imo) merely cause all involved in a firefight to sink to the lowest level of discourse.
I have no idea what positive engagement of people who want firefights might look like. Having tried several different options- I have found ignoring objectionable posts, and the posters who routinely make them, to be the most time saving, and the easiest option. If I see a better option, I will take it. Life is change, death is standing still, waiting for your heart to stop. (imo, of course)
Right or left doesn't manner when it comes to politeness- what matters is, how low do people want to stoop? I don't discuss politics with people I know I disagree with in 3d- because in 3d we don't want to scream at people, or harass them, or follow them around when they don't want to talk to us, and continue talking to them, no matter how they move away from us. I think more self control on SI would be a good thing, and the sooner more people embrace manners, and unembrace the fire fight, the happier I will be. But opinions on such things will differ. |
