Couldn't have said it better but you know me, I still got something to say.
We live in inflammatory times, simple debate doesn't take place around us so why should we expect that here? Because we deserve better, that's why. We come here to leave all that on the outside, which is why politics doesn't happen here.
I have three suggestions, most of which I focus on using about 95% of the time but find myself slipping at times because we are all human, at least 95% of us are human. One here is 95% human.
One, bring your sense of humor. Don't come angry and bringing that nasty ole real world with you, come with the idea of escaping that and disappearing into our little world. The large majority of us come here habitually, good to keep reminding ourselves why we like to do that. I need this fix on a daily basis, need to see your shining monikers and avatars. I also need the laughs and the sarcasm that has become a Cowboys fan's best friend. If sarcasm didn't exist, we would have created it.
Two, stay focused on the debating the opinion, not the poster. Once it becomes the poster, easily denigrates into a slap fest. Debate the idea and don't make it an attack on a opinion but a discussion. Act as if that person is right across from you, would you say those things to their face? Don't picture them angry, picture them hurt because that's what is happening. and I do not think that's the intention.
Three, cut the other posters here some slack as you would a friend. If you go to the OTZ, you will see a lot of our members here dealing with some issues of family, job and health and they're most likely looking for a break from that in other parts of the forum. Bullet aptly used respect, I would like to add kindness. We do not know what battles are being fought away from here, allow them not to have to fight battles here as well.
Unfortunately, a thread like this falls into the "Staff Come to Jesus Meeting". I spent most of my career in management and in one of my first management jobs had to have one of those "Staff Come to Jesus Meeting" things and it just so happens my first boss and life mentor was there at the back of the room. I finished, all beaming and certain I'd delivered a Sermon on the Mount worthy address.
I stood there and they all filed out with my boss the last in the room and he walked up and said "get ready". I said "ready for what"? "For several to come to your office". I said "good". He smiled and said "oh no, these will be the ones that the message wasn't intended for. The ones you were really addressing didn't think it applied to them". Dead on, I needlessly worried people who shouldn't have been. And like always, he let me learn the lesson instead of teaching it to me.
Folks, this place is too necessary for us not to take better care of it. Treat not only each other with respect but your forum because it is your forum, you help make it what it is.
