A Classy Joint

[dreissig]

I've drank in some classy joints and I've drank in some dives. Classy joints are better.

As I see it, Skinner wants to upgrade DU so that it's the classy joint it started out as. No profanity, no starting fights, and behave yourself! That's how it is in all the classy places.

There are a few "patrons" who don't get it. They think the way to get back at somebody for disagreeing with them is to say something very nasty and personal. I think those people should be 86'ed.

[meegbear]

1. Then you should apply to be a moderator

when the next cycle comes up. Then you can play bouncer.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. I've attended both and they each have their merits

Honestly I have seen Skinner having concerns about personal attacks but not about issues such as whether the joint is classy or anyone swears.

It would seem to me that his agenda is his and yours is yours.

[dreissig]

4. On The Merits of Dives

Dives do have their merits, especially if you're boozing on the cheap. The downside is that they're not particular about the clientele. Some people prefer it that way.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. Understood

But some places actually INTIMIDATE others from participating. Frankly there are some views expressed here, that while I may not like them, give me an insight that I otherwise would not have had.

It also depends on what your interpretation is of classy. I think we all have different experiences of what that means.

[prolesunited]

3. You should go back and review the archives

from when DU first started. I really don't think it ever was a "classy" place as you have defined it. Politics is a rough and tumble blood sport, not a croquet match.

Although I do see your point, I guess you'll have to decide for yourself whether or not you care to continue to hang out with the riff-raff that is found at DU.

[dreissig]

6. Riff-Raff

I don't know Skinner's original vision for DU, but I support his efforts to upgrade it. If that involves 86'ing people who don't know how to have a civil discussion (or refuse to), that's how it has to be.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

7. The remedy would be to hit the alert on them

but I must ask why this is such an issue for you? You posted in ATA and here. Perhaps some have misinterpreted soe of your posts..or perhaps they haven't.

The point is...if you see a post that you feel breaks the rules...hit the alert and it will keep DU as beautiful as you wish to see it.

The mods do great job of tending to that.

[prolesunited]

8. Believe me

if Skinner felt people needed to be 86'ed, I'm sure he would. He's done it before and I'm sure he'll do it again. Perhaps your vision for "upgrading" DU is not the same as yours.

[dreissig]

9. I Support Skinner

I applaud Skinner's commitment to civility on DU. Some people resort to nastiness when their arguments fail. Let's hope they clean up their act.

[EV1Ltimm]

10. this already is a classy joint.

it just has a cockfight arena downstairs.

but i'm all for ditching personal insults for the classic "sir, you have insulted me. i demand satisfaction" and then slapping them with a glove.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

11. There is civility and then there is over-sensitivity

and then there are differences in how people express themselves.

Civility has its place in some situations. I don't think anonymous posting situations is conducive to this kind of environment. We can try to maintain civility within a community-and many of us do-but given the volatile nature of the subjects at hand it is nearly impossible.

Over-sensitivity: my dad always said if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. If someone or something offends you, hit 'ignore' or don't read the post.


With regard to expression: for example, I am blunt. I am from the Northeast. Here the word 'fuck' is an adjective. I am also a nice person. But my writing doesn't necessarily show this. The email/posting format doesn't reflect a person's inflection, expressions and what lies beneath the words. Hence there is a lot of over-reactions on DU when people use profanity or appear to 'attack' other posters.

[dreissig]

12. Eighty-Sixing the Infractors

I support 86'ing the infractors. It's one thing to make valid arguments, but nastiness adds nothing but unpleasantness. DU's new software will soon show who's pissing on the radiator.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

14. I think 86ing is the babyish way out

in a real life situation-like work, for example-you have to get along with all types of people. Developing coping skills is part of maturity. If a poster offends you, hit ignore. If a post offends you, don't read it!

DU requires a thick skin. There are ways to still enjoy the board (ignore button, avoiding controversial threads) without having to enforce a 'code of conduct'. Then we have to play by rules dictated by someone's over-sensitivity.

[prolesunited]

15. Do you perhaps have a list

of people you would like to see 86'ed? Who is on it?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

16. It's the I'm-Gonna-Take-My-Ball-And-Go-Home Method of Enforcing

civility. We're all adults on DU. The worst offenders of the incivility I find are the DUers who make inflammatory remarks, then go report the responses to a mod, getting the responding posts deleted. Shows a lack of community and a lack of maturity on their part.

Either don't post flamebait or expect a rash of opinions to come flying at ya. DU is not for the thin-skinned.

Hit ignore and you never have to read another offensive post. That's what I did during the Red Sox/Yankees series. ;-)

[HEyHEY]

13. Can we swear for fun in vanity posts?

[THUNDER HANDS]

17. I think my sex polls really classy up this joint

;)

[BigMcLargehuge]

18. Please repost your comments in the Ask the Admin forum

thanks

Big McLargehuge
DU Moderator