Sometimes its hard...

Re: Sometimes its hard...

Jonathan Peck - N.Y.

>Hi Lynn and all,

Regretfully i played my part in this. Sometimes it's far to easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment and loose sight of the big picture. At times like this, a gentle reminder is always appreciated.

Regards

Jonathan

Re: Sometimes its hard...

William R. Duffield on the Cohansey

>Thank you for the apology, Jonathan.

As you've noticed, I've signed on to do some unpleasant work, including deleting some posts and chastising some individuals. I had hoped to spend the evening doing some more constructive things, like participating in the Krenov chat, like tuning, playing with and commenting on some sharp shiny things that arrived in the mail today and last week, and replacing some plumbing, so I can shave and brush my teeth tomorrow morning. But, instead, I have to deal with the effects of some very harsh words, and some harsh words said in response to them.

Please, Friends, lets try to think about how our comments might be misinterpreted when viewed in black and white text. These comments upset and distract not only the poster and the intended recipient, but everyone who relies on this forum for advise and community.

Now, I have to go warm up the "Smite Key" and also try, once or twice again, to smooth some feathers, because I don't want to lose any of our valued and knowledgable contributors.

If anyone thinks I might find this job to be fun, he's wrong. I do it because I value this community, because Ellis needs the help, and because sometimes being a policeman it is necessary.

Re: Sometimes its hard...

Ernie Miller *Topeka

>Sorry I think I stirred the pot a little.

Pausing before posting

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>Thank you, Lyn, for raising the flag, thank you, Jonathan and Ernie, for your gracious apologies, and thank you, Sir William, for taking on the unpleasant task of being an administrator.

I try - though I don't always succeed - to stop before I hit "post" and ask myself, "Does this meet the test?"

The test is whether a post is civil, respectful of this community and of other communities, clear, and useful. I fail most often on the last two parts of that test - I think (someone please correct me if I'm blind to my faults).

Two of the disadvantages of the internet and e-mail are that you can't convey the nuances of meaning that body language, tone of voice, and so on allow; and that you also can't pick up from others' body language, tone of voice, and so on, when you've stepped over the line.

The biggest offsetting advantage is that you can look over the words before you "say" them to be sure you're meeting all the parts of that test.

We show regularly that we can disagree without fighting. I am always incredibly touched by the support this community gives people - when someone loses a family member or when the various natural disasters (floods, hurricanes, and so on) that have occurred hit someone in the group. I am also proud of this group when someone apologizes for mistakes. It's a sign of this community's quality that people do apologize - apologizing takes character, and it also takes knowing that you can trust the group enough to put it out there, and that it's worth doing.

That's a lot of value to maintain by our good behavior together.

{Set soapbox control to "off"}

I'm still here, too...

Ted Owen, Moderator

>William has been kind enough to join as co-Moderator of Hand Tools, as I've been busier lately with other things. Perhaps between the two of us, we can catch those rare downward spirals earlier.

Unfortunately I've had to delete one insulting response to William's latest ADMIN explanation. So let me remind everyone that ADMIN posts usually do not require response.

Best, Ted

Must be something in the air

Garrett in Victoria

>because the same thing is happening on other boards, too.

Usually our forums provide a refuge from the tension and pressure of day-to-day happenings, but maybe the outside "stuff" is higher than normal and creeping in here a bit.

Good that you're stopping it before it spreads any further.

Cheers, Garrett