When I started posting at Resetera, the first thing I noticed was how polite and happy everyone was. Perhaps they were just happy to have a new forum. It was a chance at a new start with new moderators and administrators, and indeed the moderators and administrators continue to be very friendly and the users continue to conduct friendly, civil discussions on the whole. There is a wide range of interests and opinions and people treat the topics and users with respect and dignity in just about every topic.
However, there are a few select news items that are garnering negative, toxic commentary on a consistent basis. It's not that the user base is peopled by horrid individuals. It's just that these topics are so personal that people start forgetting their manners in favor of what they perceive as rational opinions. So one of two conclusions exists. Either we don't need such people, or we need a better framing device for our arguments.
Why? Well, after two paragraphs or beating around the bush, I'll say it. The way we discuss important issues like sexual harassment could use improvement. I'll bet there is not one of these topics about a celebrity being accused of this in which there isn't also red text somewhere. "Warned for victim blaming." "Warned for comparing women to this and such." "Warned for attempts to minimize the accounts of women."
These topics are so consistently catching bad arguments that it can't be an accident. I refuse to believe that there are so many horrible people posting here. So what's left is that we just don't really know how to disagree in these topics. People don't know what a civil argument looks like. People don't know how to strongly differ from everyone without themselves sounding overtly sexist, misogynistic, callous, or otherwise dismissive to a serious issue that affects people from all walks of life.
Am I wrong here? Is this something that is getting better? I only see it staying the same or getting worse.
I apologize if this topic isn't allowed. I'm not making commentary on moderation, just with the types of posts I've seen in certain topics, which I think it important to reflect on from time to time. Please close this topic if it's not something you feel belongs here. Thank you.
However, there are a few select news items that are garnering negative, toxic commentary on a consistent basis. It's not that the user base is peopled by horrid individuals. It's just that these topics are so personal that people start forgetting their manners in favor of what they perceive as rational opinions. So one of two conclusions exists. Either we don't need such people, or we need a better framing device for our arguments.
Why? Well, after two paragraphs or beating around the bush, I'll say it. The way we discuss important issues like sexual harassment could use improvement. I'll bet there is not one of these topics about a celebrity being accused of this in which there isn't also red text somewhere. "Warned for victim blaming." "Warned for comparing women to this and such." "Warned for attempts to minimize the accounts of women."
These topics are so consistently catching bad arguments that it can't be an accident. I refuse to believe that there are so many horrible people posting here. So what's left is that we just don't really know how to disagree in these topics. People don't know what a civil argument looks like. People don't know how to strongly differ from everyone without themselves sounding overtly sexist, misogynistic, callous, or otherwise dismissive to a serious issue that affects people from all walks of life.
Am I wrong here? Is this something that is getting better? I only see it staying the same or getting worse.
I apologize if this topic isn't allowed. I'm not making commentary on moderation, just with the types of posts I've seen in certain topics, which I think it important to reflect on from time to time. Please close this topic if it's not something you feel belongs here. Thank you.