Thanks guys and gals! Everyone's response to what I intended to be a friendly reminder among "family" has been exactly what I've come to expect from you folks.
Thanks again for the TexasCHLforum you created.
Chas.
Search found 2 matches
- Sat May 06, 2006 8:07 am
- Forum: Site Announcements, Questions & Suggestions
- Topic: Do I Smell Smoke?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 3985
- Fri May 05, 2006 1:12 pm
- Forum: Site Announcements, Questions & Suggestions
- Topic: Do I Smell Smoke?
- Replies: 16
- Views: 3985
Do I Smell Smoke?
I have received PM’s from some concerned members and I share their concern. We are starting to get some posts that do not overtly violate the forum mission statement, but that certainly strain the spirit of the forum. To paraphrase the old adage “no one is above the law,� “no one is exempt from the forum Mission Statement;� not me, nor anyone else.
We have had very few problems since the forum was launched toward the end of December, 2004 and for that I am very appreciative. In fact, I have only edited or deleted a relative handful of posts, most of which were mine! At one point, I jumped-the-gun and banned a member unjustifiedly and after input from members and reconsidering my own action, I removed the ban, publically apologized to him and tried to better explain my concern. I hold no one to a higher standard than I hold myself.
Even among friends and family who know each other well, misunderstandings as to what was meant by a statement can and do occur. TexasCHLforum is a community of over 600 men and women of all ages, backgrounds and experience, the vast majority of whom have never set eyes on one another. A misinterpretation as to someone’s meaning, motive or intent is far more likely to occur under these circumstances, especially when trying to evaluate intangibles in an Internet post.
Much of the information sought and provided by members is very clear cut with little or no room for varying opinions. Examples are: what’s the duration of a CHL, what do certain instructors charge for courses, or where can I find a shooting range in my area. Other subject matter is open for discussion and often disagreement and those discussions can be extremely valuable as they force us all to consider issues we may have never thought of, or to reconsider what we knew or thought we knew. While respectful disagreement on issues is both natural and healthy, we must be cognizant of the effect each post can have on the willingness of others to participate. It is very rare that the substance of one person’s opinion would discourage others to join or stay in a discussion, but the manner in which that opinion is delivered most certainly can. If a response makes a person wish they had never asked a question or joined a discussion, then it doesn’t belong here. A post that is condescending or demeaning is just as unacceptable as one that contains a direct personal attack. This must end today.
Trying to decide when to make a post such as this is difficult. Some may feel I acted too soon, some may feel I waited too long. One thing is certain, it’s much easier to prevent a forest fire than to put one out, so today I’m doing my version of Smokey the Bear.
Regards,
Chas.
We have had very few problems since the forum was launched toward the end of December, 2004 and for that I am very appreciative. In fact, I have only edited or deleted a relative handful of posts, most of which were mine! At one point, I jumped-the-gun and banned a member unjustifiedly and after input from members and reconsidering my own action, I removed the ban, publically apologized to him and tried to better explain my concern. I hold no one to a higher standard than I hold myself.
Even among friends and family who know each other well, misunderstandings as to what was meant by a statement can and do occur. TexasCHLforum is a community of over 600 men and women of all ages, backgrounds and experience, the vast majority of whom have never set eyes on one another. A misinterpretation as to someone’s meaning, motive or intent is far more likely to occur under these circumstances, especially when trying to evaluate intangibles in an Internet post.
Much of the information sought and provided by members is very clear cut with little or no room for varying opinions. Examples are: what’s the duration of a CHL, what do certain instructors charge for courses, or where can I find a shooting range in my area. Other subject matter is open for discussion and often disagreement and those discussions can be extremely valuable as they force us all to consider issues we may have never thought of, or to reconsider what we knew or thought we knew. While respectful disagreement on issues is both natural and healthy, we must be cognizant of the effect each post can have on the willingness of others to participate. It is very rare that the substance of one person’s opinion would discourage others to join or stay in a discussion, but the manner in which that opinion is delivered most certainly can. If a response makes a person wish they had never asked a question or joined a discussion, then it doesn’t belong here. A post that is condescending or demeaning is just as unacceptable as one that contains a direct personal attack. This must end today.
Trying to decide when to make a post such as this is difficult. Some may feel I acted too soon, some may feel I waited too long. One thing is certain, it’s much easier to prevent a forest fire than to put one out, so today I’m doing my version of Smokey the Bear.
Regards,
Chas.