I have been noticing lately that some of the posts are getting very negative. It seems people are much to interested in being right to actually offer help to the original poster. I came to this forum hoping to get information or to help if possible. And what I have been witnessing is human cat fighting and disrespect of others opinions. Maybe you do not agree with someone, and I often do not, but it should be done in a courteous and respectful manner.
To come here just to get slammed, if I don't agree, is not to interesting. Gawd forbid that I make a mistake spelling, someone will say I am not intelligent. Well guess what, we are all human and all make mistakes. Get over it people and lose the negative attitude !!!!!!!!
To those of you whom this does not apply , I give you my apologies !
Respectfully Yours (Zomo) Susan

Take from the forum what you need, Susan. If you are looking for information, it's here. If you see that a thread starts going in a direction that annoys you, skim through to see if anyone answered the question you were looking for, and if you don't see it there, hit the back button and move to another thread. You can post positive things as well, and will no doubt get a positive response. We love pictures and funny animal stories! There are many more positive threads than ones that have turned negative, just concentrate on the ones that don't bother you.


Edited to add-- the spelling here is often atrocious. You won't often see anyone getting slammed for that, I've noticed, unless they are acting like a jerk, or have acted like a jerk in the past enough that people know them and do not like them.

***Edited By: shinyblackpit on 11/17/2008 9:25:28 PM***
Reason: added

Shiny, we've been told this before. If you don't like what's being posted, just don't read it. I thought there were forum rules, like having some kind of respect for others, and not being downright rude on purpose. I will be the first to admit I'm not perfect, and have also been guilty of negative posting. I enjoy sharing information,and telling stories as well, but when someone posts a direct insult because they don't agree with you, I find it offensive. I know that the forum is losing members because of the rudery directed at them. I also know that there are quite a few forums that don't tolerate this kind of behaviour. Why do we here?

It's always been fairly relaxed here as far as censorship, or at least as long as I have been here. I can only speak for myself, but I choose to let adults here handle things on their own for the most part. I will immediately delete any name calling, curse words, sexually explicit posts or links, or advertising the moment I am aware of it. Also anything just completely over the top like "I hope your dog dies", threatening other members, soliciting money from other members, scamming in general, slander (for example, "X kennel in Atlanta GA sells sick puppies."

As far as disagreeing or even bickering, I don't feel the need to jump in like a babysitter. Grown people should be able to handle themselves on a forum. These are issues that adults can either solve or not solve. Remember that the threads would quickly drift off the front page if they did not generate interest and responses. If it was truly the case that nobody wanted to see any drama, dramatic threads would not have such a large number of posts/views. People will read 4 pages of bickering and then complain about the bickering. (not saying that the OP did that, because I have no idea.) come on! You read 4 pages! You read it to entertain yourself and you know it! (Again "you" doesn't mean anyone specific in this case.) People choose to argue, people choose to continue to argue, and people choose to read it.

Besides, people would complain if we deleted or locked threads that got dramatic every time as well, because 1)they enjoy reading it, and 2) they had something to add and didn't get to because it was zapped away. Then they start a new thread so they can say what they wanted to.

Honestly, with all the good info and fun posts, if we are losing members because they choose to read posts that upset them instead of reading the overwhelming majority of pleasant or informative posts, maybe a very strictly moderated forum ruled with an iron fist would be a better match for them. Not every website is right for every person.

I will even go as far as to say that the fact that the moderators and admin are NOT post nazis, hitting the delete, ban and lock key at every minor unpleasantry, is probably something that many members value in a forum, and why they stick around for years and keep coming back.

I have always tried to encourage folks to attack the post not the poster. I do edit out foul language and will lock or delete a thread "gone wrong". Having said that, I have been known to slip off my Mod stool every once in a while when a specific poster pushes my buttons, not often, but sometimes members come face to face with the fact that mods are human too.

***Edited By: pyrmom on 1/17/2009 7:33:04 AM***
Reason: *

I’m going to wade into this one as I do do agree with Zomo that a bit more tolerance on behalf of some members would go a long way to making this a much friendlier site – some posts lately have seemingly turned into slanging matches. Yes I agree I have seen some lunatic postings, mostly by first time posters who either have a severe lack of common sense or perhaps just like to stir things up on purpose on the forum.

I certainly think the forum has a lot of positive features and there is plenty of information available but I don’t think that should deflect from the fact that as adults it shouldn’t be too difficult to maintain a level of decorum and basically treat others as we would like to be treated. Of course there are going to be a difference of opinions about many of the postings, its up to the Op and readers to extract the useful information and keep it for future use. No one can say there is one set way to do anything, even in the field of medicine opinions constantly change. I think constructive critism is fine but I don’t personally feel there is a need to name call or try to ridicule another member.

With regards to your remarks shinyblackpit about the fact that members quite often find these negative postings interesting, yes I agree, look how long the Jerry Springer show ran for, if ever there was a show that should have been banned for bad taste that was definitely it!

I have joined a couple of breed specific forums after finding TP (breed research for my new pup). I honestly have to say that I prefer the frankness that TP offers. If a post is negative or borders on rudeness, it's still better than giving BYB a sugary sweet response just to avoid being rude. There are definately some harsh replies, but most of them are well deserved. I'm a terrible speller and haven't been called out on it yet. The posts that are in all CAPS or text message form are a different matter. From what I've seen it's the new members, who get a response they don't like, that resort to name calling and insults. JMHO

I am on three other sites and in no way would you be allowed to use the type of rudeness that I have seen here.There is total respect and they welcome a difference of opinion. They even have a section for it. And if you owned a BYB you would be told in no certain terms that it was not welcome on their site.You would also be told why. I like TP there are people here that really need help. It's just that I feel slinging insults when you don't agree with someone is childish and serves no purpose other than self indulgence. There are some very articulate and nice people here. At the same time there are some people that are here to stir s&*t.
I guess that if certain mods find it okay to sling personal insults and that using rudeness to make their point is okay then, I am not in the right place.
I am not talking about one post in particular because I have seen many examples of what I find deplorable. Personal insults are just not tolerable. What I am saying to you might be thought by other members that are less willing to make waves.
I know that I am but a drop of water in a bucket. I hope you can take this as constructive criticism and make your site a place where people can have respectful differences of opinion.

Rottluvr, I don't personally see anything wrong in a heated response or harsh words being used within reason, but as Zomo points out lack of respect there definitely is at times. As for spelling mistakes, we are all guilty of that one...
I still think that some people's responses are uncalled for and unnecessary and I am sure if they were in a discussion group face to face with members their behaviour would not be the same.

I agree with almost everything everyone has said. I came here originally searching for information because after having dogs all our lives, hubby and I had buried our last over 2 years earlier and found ourselves with a rescue 4 1/2 mths old, we were determined to try and raise and hoping we were not too old. Turns out I guess we are just the right age :D

There is so much great information on this site. I have posted on threads that have turned ugly and most of the time it turns ugly because someone makes a "crack" unwarranted or in an insulting way and boom it grows.

Once that happens I tend to ignore that post. Seems like in trying to defend someone or some point of view sometimes just adds fuel to the fire.

I hope you stay and keep posting. I can tell you from my short experience, I have learned a lot!!! And I am still learning. You can learn from ignorant people as well...

As in most other sites, I have one observation, during Christmas, summer, spring, whatever vacation. The troll residency climbs :D

The mods do a pretty good job of troll hunting however. Just enjoy the friendship extended to you and contribute and enjoy!!

Norma

We have always been told if something bothers us, to contact a mod.
It must be extremely hard spotting all the vile things that tend to go on

I welcome all opinions, haven't always. I've even learned things from the ones so off the wall they annoy me to no end. It does take a lot to offend me, and even when I get offended I've become more the type of person who looks within and figures out why something bothers me so much.

I remember when I was a new member. Let's just say tp was a hobby, dare I say the "a" word? "Addiction"? I have since replaced it with several other things and I feel very mellow and indifferent these days, much more fun and far less effort.

As I said earlier, the mods attempt to be impartial and keep the forum running smoothly. We can't control the thoughts and words of others, but do attempt to step in if things go far awry. Again, we (mods) are also human and will at times (speaking for myself here) fall prey to responding when a long time member pushes the wrong buttons. We all also attempt to keep much of the strife off the forum, so deal with it "behind the scenes" via PM. So sometimes, there is a lot more going on than meets the eye.

I love this forum because of it's laid back nature. It is beyond informational, it is also realistic and we don't have to worry about posting what we really think just so we don't hurt someone else's precious little feelings.

Lets face it, sometimes someone just says something really stupid, or the trolls attack and smear their strange or insulting posts for reasons unknown.

I admit I have shamelessly engaged in attacks against those who post things that are just plain stupid. Anyone who remembers CatClyde knows that. I have freely disagreed with the opinions of others, just as they have disagreed with me.

Have I ever felt disrespected by anyone that has posted against me? NO! Why? Because at the end of the day I don't really know any of these people, and while I may find their opinions, advice, and stories helpful or entertaining, I honestly do not care what they think of me as a person. I read what I want, laugh at what I like, ignore what I don't, and comment on treads I have an opinion on. I enjoy this place and I intend to keep coming here as often as I can manage.