AB Etiquette?

[Gavmacp]

I am rather confused about The AnswerBank etiquette. I had a thread removed because I typed it in CAPITAL letters. I was not aware that this could be interpreteted as being shouting. I was not, I was just trying to highlight a scam my mother fell into.
I have been following some of the threads and have been quite shocked at what some people call acceptable 'Etiquette'. Name calling, being down right rude, telling people what they can and cannot do and a feeling of been mugged by a gang of thugs trying to state their 'facts'.
Some of what I read leaves a nasty taste in my mouth and I find quite a lot of it offensive.
I enjoy a well educated and interesting debate but I feel it often turns into a slagging match with people just throwing insults.

[bednobs]

oh, there is a simple solution i guess.

[daffy654]

Typing in caps on the internet has been considered rude for ages, it isn't just and Answerbank thing.

[Gavmacp]

So you think bullying people into submission is acceptable?????????

[daffy654]

To be fair, if you had read the Site Rules you would know about the typing in caps thing, it is mentioned right at the top of the page.

[ABerrant]

It is customary when joining an internet forum to acquaint oneself with the Site Rules... in this case the link is at the bottom right of the page.

Any post which contravenes said rules should be reported using the appropriate link.

[Gavmacp]

Well I am obviously not making myself clear. Yes I did not aquant myself with the Site Rules but I have yet to meet someone that has accepted 'The terms and agreements' to have actually read them. But obviously everyone on here has.
My point is that seem to be obsessed about the 'Evils' of religion' appear to be on the same road by their behaviour on this site. I personally find what people call a 'debate' is more offensive than typing something in CAPITALS.

[tiggerblue10]

I don't think I've ever read the Site Rules in full.

[NoMercy]

Oh for pity's sake, who's been bullied?

Most people can take a ribbing and give as good as...

[LazyGun]

@Gav The answer is simple. If you feel a post is offensive, obscene or whatever, report it. Remember though- just because you think something is rude or offensive is purely your own subjective interpretation - Doesnt mean it actually is.

[Gavmacp]

When someone talks of etiquette I expect etiquette. Maybe I am old fashioned but what I read does not equate to etiquette.

[bednobs]

eh? i'm not really getting where you are coming from. If there is a thread you don't like, don't reply, or don't read it. If you want interesting, well educated debate i would suggest this site might not be the right place for it

[LazyGun]

@ Gav Etiquette is in the eye of the beholder. One could consider your instance that we all conform to some sort of posting behaviour that you consider acceptable to be a form of repression? You know, free speech and all that?

[Gavmacp]

LazyGun
Very good point. When we write something it can often be misunderstood.
But name calling and what made my blood boil telling someone what they can and cannot do I find offensive. We live in a democracy where you can say what you want even if it may offend. When we start telling people what they can and cannot say we are just going back to a dark time in our history.

[B00]

As a moderator Gavmacp, I'll suspend (or if it's seriously nasty, ban) a user if I see owt untoward going on, as I know other mods do, not to mention the Editor. Which name calling threads are you talking about?

If you are genuinely worried about some threads the best course of action would be to report the thread and await for the Ed's decision on it.

[Ann]

Oh dear reading this, it seems I must sometimes break the rules by typing a word in capitals to accentuate a point, in my case quite harmlessly. As there is no facility to underline or use italics how can we make a single word stand out to emphasise it? Sorry Ed, didn't mean to be a rebel -I hadn't read the rules on joining! I wish there was a spell checker on it too....... :)

[B00]

Aww we all do that Ann, don't worry. ;-)

[tiggerblue10]

We could write in italics a few years ago Ann. There have been a few changes over the last couple of years.

[Ann]

Phew - for a moment thought I was going to be banned! How could I exist without my daily "fix" of AB?

[jno]

ah, there's a special secret rule in R&S that you don't actually listen to what anyone else says; so that's different.

As for anywhere else, typing in Caps is considered rude anywhere on the internet, though I'm surprised anyone took umbrage let alone actually removed a post because of it.