What's happend to the civility at BladeForums?

F

Full Tang Clan

Joined
Jul 22, 2000
Messages
981
Perhaps I'm just being too sensitive but when I joined BladeForums back in Y2K, it seemed to have a much more friendly atmosphere. The regulars like Tom, Steve, Sergiusz, Comrade Chang, Toothed, Glockman and everyone else were so eager to offer helpful suggestions and everyone treated each other with respect, and different opinions were welcome. It was like a family. There was an unwritten law that there would be no personal attacks or flaming.

Lately, people are quick to flame others with different opinions, launch personal attacks, make condescending remarks, etc.

I'm not just talking about the hit I took on my opinions at the WTC Commemorative thread. I just viewed a thread on the Sebenza and people were flaming others for not liking a Sebenza. That's pretty petty.

I know we want to promote freedom of speech and thought here at BladeForums but how about maintaining that bit of civility we used to have?
 
Originally posted by Full Tang Clan
...The regulars like Tom, Steve, Sergiusz, Comrade Chang, Toothed, Glockman and everyone else were so eager to offer helpful suggestions and everyone treated each other with respect, and different opinions were welcome...
Click to expand...

Darn, how could I have forgot Joe Talmadge from that list. Then and now, he takes the time to patiently answer my newbie questions, no matter how silly, and gives sage advice. There's others I probably forgot to honor too and I'm sorry if I forgot to include your name.

In addition, I'm not saying the flaming is an epidemic. Just a few bad apples that need some polish.

P.S. Oh yeah, and I forgot Mike Turber too! (Duh), and also...
 
You don't like the Sebenza? Are you ill?;) :p

In truth civility has been on a downturn here for a long time.:(
 
I read the sebenza thread and it reads like every other one posted here over the last two years [Sebenza thread]. I did not see the "lack of civility" that you write about.

This is a "community" of over 16,000 personalities. The downturn you speak about is relative to the growth of BFC and not some unusal sign of this forum going down the tubes.

To the contrary, I have noticed a much calmer atmosphere here over the past two or three Months. Of course there will always be that one-half of a percent who must act like a TROLL. When BFC had 5000 members, that was about 25 or so formites who enjoyed disruption. Now that BFC is over 16,000, I sincerely do not believe that we have 80 idiots.

Matter of fact, things have been too quiet of late and more folks seem to be posting about knife related topics. Go figure........
 
Are you kidding??? Check the Archives. I think this place is alot calmer now than it was at first. Oh yeah, I almost forgot...
UP YOURS!!!
 
It's been such throughout Western History, the secular humanist
type(s) may disagree, but the human condition dictates that we may NEVER agree or be civil to one another. Jesus was quoted in the Gospel according to Luke as saying "...there will come a time one no one stone will rest upon another, that all will be thrown down..."
We ( the human race ) WILL NOT REST UNTIL WE HAVE LITERALLY DECIMATED
OURSELVES. Face it, sad as it is, this is the way it is, and if you don't agree, read a history book.

"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.."

George Satayana ;)


AET

BTW : Look also at the oxymoron known as "civil courts"! ;)
 
Personally I haven't noticed much of a difference in civility around here over the last three years. There have always been those that are only too willing to flame others and show their ignorance. As far as I am concerned it really isn't much different now than it was when I first started lurking here.

There will always be those that figure that because they have the anonymity of being behind a keyboard, that they can say things they would never have the courage to say to a persons face. I figure, all I can control is how I act and that the behaviour of others on this forum is beyond my control.

Besides, sometimes it is fun to read a flame war. It really does show how utterly sophomoric some people can be. Besides, sometimes people deserved to be flamed.

One thing I have noticed though that seems to be becoming more prevalent recently are the members that are so quick to call others trolls. It seems that any newbie with a dissenting view will be called a troll. Usually it is the same group of people that I notice doing this. This is usually done because these new members have the audacity to find fault with one of the icons of the knife industry.

Anyhow, everyone has the right to speak their mind, and if you can't take criticism don't post a view that is likely to garner it.
 
I've found the atmosphere to be pretty helpful, if not friendly. I guess as long as we don't put down Sebenzas or Pit Bulls we'll be okay

;)

Frank
 
Originally posted by SilverFoxKnows
I guess as long as we don't put down Sebenzas or Pit Bulls we'll be okay
;)
Click to expand...
*ROTFLMAO*

Say, nobody used a Sebenza to kill a PB?
Or better yet, what's the best firearm to stop a huge PB carrying a big Sebenza that looked at my on a funny way? :D

NsB
 
Anytime anyone notices flaming, name-calling, or trolling, PLEASE let one of us moderators know about it so that the problem can be delt with swiftly. We strive to make BladeForums the best, most comfortable place on the 'net...A place to come together to discuss our interest and love of knives, other sharp things, and related items.

There is simply no room here for folks who don't want to "play fair" or who don't want to be respectful of others.:).
 
Liek Ira and others have said, I too think that things are going along just like they always have. In fact, I haven't seen a real ugly nasty troll in quite a while.

But there is a list of threads one can start that will GUARANTEE negative remarks. That list includes, but is not limited to:

1) Sebenzas
2) Mad Dog Knives
3) Busse vs. anyone else
4) Anything dealing with 9/11
5) What are you carrying right now?
6) Any question related to something contained in the rules section, which EVERYONE should have read
7) Cliff Stamp
 
Originally posted by SilverFoxKnows
I've found the atmosphere to be pretty helpful, if not friendly. I guess as long as we don't put down Sebenzas or Pit Bulls we'll be okay

;)

Frank
Click to expand...
Please, don't remind me. :p :D
 
Just remember that this is just the internet and you will get out of it simliar to what you put into it. And it's not worth raising your blood pressure over.:mad: :mad: :mad: :D :D :D
 
I've got three people in my ignore list, since they routinely offer no useful information and have such atrocious spelling, grammar or manners that reading their posts really pisses me off.
 
My registration was not long ago, but I was reading before and I read a lot of threads from the archives, so let me add my 2 Cents:

Yup, generally, the atmosphere used to be more friendly, "family-like" so to speak, but this is IMO mostly due to the overwhelming increase in users. We are going to reach the 19000 users mark pretty soon - a forum that large is unlikely to provide an extremely nice and lovely atmosphere. Nonetheless, I think BFC is able to cope with the growing pains quite well and so many experts in one single place are an incredibly interesting source of knowledge.
And just look at those notorious Mad Dog threads...or TTO´s infamous Spyderco Civilian lie...things like that didn´t happen during the last couple of months IIRC. So I think it evens out. Flame threads are a bit less extreme now, but overall the friendliness has probably decreased a bit.
 
i dont think things have gone downhill at all, it's just that on certain thread when a specific knife is in question some people tend to take things more personally, i.e when people talk about the sebenza some people absolutely love it and some people think it's just another overpriced knife and a difference in opinion makes things a little tense, i think it's good that people voice their true opinions rather then just pretend they like something they don't, whenever i criticize a knife i make sure to indicate that this is just my opinion and that other people may like it just not me
 
I find the forums in general to be just as civil now as they were two years ago. The major changes have been the loss of JKM, and that several others have shown their true colors.

Paul
 
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