Community Forums

DriVer · 11-27-2011, 05:20 PM

Active discussions are good if they accomplish 1 goal; the exchange of relevant information that can be substantiated or backed up with fact. Debate has always been a part of how we have grown up. In school some of us have enjoyed being on a debate squad. People can either be receptive to the message or be able to justify their position and rebut the facts in evidence or totally dismiss the conversation and assume that they can't possibly be wrong. You can see it's like herding cats at times.

The only thing that keeps the debate in focus is a moderator that can intervene immediately if the conversation turns personal. Rules help level the playing field. Once you start pointing your finger at your opponent, and loose focus on the subject the entire purpose for the discussion goes out the window.

Two or more people can exchange information freely about any topic without getting personal if you can do so respectfully and thoughtfully.

I want to be one of the guys that will type something here that I would not hesitate to repeat in a campfire session in person and feel good that what I said might help someone.

flounda42 · 12-02-2011, 08:08 AM

oh well, I was hoping to start my campaign on your forum.

rebuilder · 12-03-2011, 01:59 PM

i just want to talk about rv'ing and rv's leave the politics and religon for the camp fire...

cummins all the way

UFO Pilot · 12-08-2011, 04:00 PM

The problem comes when people post comments such one on a topic I saw the other day: "Jesus is/was a democrat because someone had to sit across the isle from the devil". I was and am highly offended even if it was posted in jest. I should have reported it to the moderator and didn't.

Some people can't be sensitive when it comes to political issues.

nalcon · 12-08-2011, 06:47 PM

We shouldn't be able to disagree either, that may hurt someones feelings. Oops! Is sarcasm against the rules?

**JohnRR** · 12-08-2011, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nalcon

We shouldn't be able to disagree either, that may hurt someones feelings.

Community Rule refresher

Quote:

Do not engage in personal attacks. Challenge others' points of view and opinions, but do so respectfully and thoughtfully. Sarcasm, belligerence, insults, profanity, extreme anger, offensive comments about race, gender, sexual orientation,and national origin are not acceptable.

Vicap · 12-08-2011, 07:15 PM

I unsubscribed from a thread earlier today because I was unsettled by some of the gun related comments.

Thanks for making this site more enjoyable to read.

TXiceman · 12-08-2011, 07:20 PM

Disagreeing and telling someone that they are stupid or a moron are totally different.

Ken

Perry White · 12-08-2011, 07:38 PM

My wife tells me that all the time.

Ramblin · 12-08-2011, 08:14 PM

The problem I see with these new rules is that there is discussion that is relevant to RVing that involves politics and guns. It does the community a disservice to forbid discussion of these topics, and amounts to laziness in the moderation of this forum, in my opinion. There is already a rule against personal attacks. Civil discourse is possible (probable even, given the calibre of participants here) even on highly polarized topics. Enforce the rules, but let relevant topics continue, as long as they keep to the overall RV lifestyle focus.

All that having been said, I realize that my use of this forum is a privilege granted at the pleasure of the forum owners, and so any rules they impose (no matter how unreasonable *I* feel they might be) must be adhered to as a condition of my continued participation. And so, as long as the rule is in place, I will endeavor to keep my own experience on these topics to myself, difficult as that may be.

**NLOVNIT** · 12-08-2011, 08:55 PM

With tens of thousands of members, there's just no way to make everyone happy. The one thing we can do is try to keep this site focused on RV'ing - one thing we ALL agree we enjoy & the reason we all came here.

Personally, I feel the focus needn't be on the 5 off-limit topics (which is pretty small, don't ya think?), but on the hundreds of topics we can enjoy. Helping a member troubleshoot a mechanical issue, recommending a great campground/vendor/product, RV modifications/improvements, showing off your new or new-to-you RV, group/regional/national campouts, anticipation each year of new floorplans/models....the list goes on & on. Let's concentrate more on what brings us together & less on what divides us.

Lori-

CD · 12-08-2011, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NLOVNIT

With tens of thousands of members, there's just no way to make everyone happy. The one thing we can do is try to keep this site focused on RV'ing - one thing we ALL agree we enjoy & the reason we all came here.

Personally, I feel the focus needn't be on the 5 off-limit topics (which is pretty small, don't ya think?), but on the hundreds of topics we can enjoy. Helping a member troubleshoot a mechanical issue, recommending a great campground/vendor/product, RV modifications/improvements, showing off your new or new-to-you RV, group/regional/national campouts, anticipation each year of new floorplans/models....the list goes on & on. Let's concentrate more on what brings us together & less on what divides us.

Lori-

Well stated.

HD4Mark · 12-09-2011, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramblin

and amounts to laziness in the moderation of this forum, in my opinion.

The moderators do not receive any payment for the work they do and do not always have the time to read every thread here. They have been very lenient IMHO. Some of the things posted not only deserved deletion but the poster should have been banned.

Let's give them a break. They help out because they want to help and deserve applause.

BTW Not sucking up. If I say something dumb, fire away.