How dare you!?!

[Wheekie]

One of my friends on this board just got a PM from someone telling her that because she didn't speak English perfectly that she should stay out of certain discussions! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?! This board is for EVERYONE! ( And yes, the caps mean I'm yelling!) This is just the kind of narrow-minded, holier-than-thou attitudes that are driving a lot of people away from here! I've been a member for years and the board didn't used to have members like it does now! Great info here...but some of the people...!

[SnowPrincess]

Not just...Was a mod, month ago. Right about when I stop posting..

Thanks you for sticking up for me forum mummy, I love you!

[Wheekie]

It was a Mod!?! That's even worse! What about the rule about how we can't tell members what to say!?! Wish I knew who to report you to...THATS DISCRIMINATION! If you want the board to be only for people that speak like you, say "THIS FORUM IS FOR AMERICANS ONLY!" Not allowed to say that, are you!?!
Guess I'll get banned or get an infraction for this...but guess what?!

[Catayn]

OK, now I am afraid to post here too.
I wish to get as much information as possible, but sometimes I don't get some words and specially expressions or slangs.

[blackarrow]

Wheekie, if you don't know the details (like I similarly don't) maybe you shouldn't be ranting about it, particularly since you're complaining about things which might have the effect of driving people away. (Witness Catayn's post.) It's called "stirring the pot."

[FlowersGrandma]

One of my friends on this board just got a PM from someone telling her that because she didn't speak English perfectly that she should stay out of certain discussions! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?! This board is for EVERYONE! ( And yes, the caps mean I'm yelling!) This is just the kind of narrow-minded, holier-than-thou attitudes that are driving a lot of people away from here! I've been a member for years and the board didn't used to have members like it does now! Great info here...but some of the people...!

You should forward the message to one of the mods. you are right this board should be for everyone. No matter what language, no matter where they got their piggies, they should be able to ask questions and feel safe doing so. I totally agree with you. Sorry this happened to your friend.

[Amy1981]

One of my friends on this board just got a PM from someone telling her that because she didn't speak English perfectly that she should stay out of certain discussions! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?! This board is for EVERYONE! ( And yes, the caps mean I'm yelling!) This is just the kind of narrow-minded, holier-than-thou attitudes that are driving a lot of people away from here! I've been a member for years and the board didn't used to have members like it does now! Great info here...but some of the people...!

While I don't necessarily think it's fair, as this forum caters to many nationalities, as is discussed in the posting rules. I'm not sure what all the PM that she received said, but according to her one post on a recent thread she said that the Mod's were quite nice about it... I agree with the stirring the pot comment. The board is for everyone, but the rules were clear to me and they request proper English and grammar. It's even stated that it's because of the fact that it's easier for programs to translate for the non-English speaking members... I understand your frustration, but I'm sure the Mod had a good reason for the email.

[ojars]

In all my travels about this world, the locals appreciated my attempts to converse in their language. Only my opinion, but I should think our folks might consider extending that same natural courtesy to those who have not so easy a time in communicating via English.

[blackarrow]

Only my opinion, but I should think our folks might consider extending that same natural courtesy to those who have not so easy a time in communicating via English.

I would think that would be an opinion we would all share. That said, I also don't think it's fair to decide an unnamed mod's unposted email, sent in response to we-have-no-idea-what particular exchange, wasn't courteous, especially when the person who received it has specifically said it was a friendly email.

[VoodooJoint]

This seems very staged to me. I don't believe that you didn't know that a mod was involved when you started this thread Wheekie. AND it's been a while since the incident, why is it coming up now? It seems a rather odd coincidence that this is coming up at the same time there is a whole different issue rearing it's head.

I'm not certain at this point which mod suggested that SP back off the board (it could have been me). I do know that it was said in response to her constant harassing and belittling of members and then claiming she was misunderstood because English is not her first language. It was a repeated performance, please go and read the threads she caused issue in to see for yourself.

SP was told, after she had done this, and made the same excuses for her poor behavior, multiple times that if she was having such a hard time with making herself understood that maybe she should stop posting so much, especially in heated discussions, and spend more time reading.

[Paula]

I'll shed some light, but first I want to say that I think Wheekie has actually done a tremendous disservice to SnowPrincess by bringing this issue into public view. I can appreciate that you're disgruntled, not only over this, but over a number of other things you've made clear in recent weeks, and I can certainly understand that you want to stand up for your friend and what you believe in, but it's exceedingly unfair to post only portions of a private issue without perhaps even knowing or understanding the full story. I'm going to be as delicate as I can out of respect, but there are some issues that need to be brought to light now that others have.

I was the moderator who asked SnowPrincess to stay out of heated discussions on the forum after discussing what was an apparent habit of "stirring the pot" with the other moderators here. There was a period of time where SnowPrincess seemed to be in the regular habit of jumping into arguments she didn't have the clearest understanding of and causing more problems and resentment and hurt feelings than there were in the first place, and then when things got out of control or uncomfortable for her, citing her "language barrier" as the reason she couldn't or shouldn't be held responsible for her words or understanding.

Forgive me, I don't remember this as clearly as I'd like to, partially because SnowPrincess politely agreed with me at the time and NEVER (until last night, when I prompted her) stated that she had a problem with this or felt she was treated unfairly. It's rather hard to know that issues exist without any articulation of them in the first place.

We've not excluded her, and in fact, on the contrary, I remember when she joined receiving a message from Ly that English wasn't her first language, but that she was trying and that we should be more lenient with our "many rules" with her. I know that we all, at one time or another, have taken extra time to talk through things with her and help her understand them better. It's only been lately, after a few posts in threads that a few folks are dissatisfied with, that this seeming atmosphere of discontent has prompted this type of thread and feeling, and I think it would have been in everyone's best interest to have started a thread about THAT instead of turning what might be an embarrassing issue for one member public.

I'm sorry that some folks feel there's an issue with "some people" here, I genuinely am, but I want to remind you that the first and foremost goal of this forum is to see guinea pigs and other animals living better, happier, healthier lives. That likely wouldn't be achieved without some personality clashes and arguments. There's a point, though, as I've always said, where you have to assume some responsibility for your actions and your responses to things. You will disagree with members here, of course, and as always and anywhere in life. That's normal. You can't control others or their actions. You can control your actions and your responses. As always, I'd suggest the focus should be on the things you can control versus stirring the pot on things you can't.

[CavySpirit]

I want to state that what Paula said is exactly what happened.

In the past, SnowPrincess was inadvertently causing a lot of unnecessary drama due to a combination of misinterpretation and an inability to express herself well due to language/culture/whatever. She was nicely and politely asked to refrain from such postings in the Kitchen and she agreed. The suggestion was also to allow her to get to a more peaceful state. We all need breaks sometimes.

So, now we discover that she's been festering about it. Okay, fine. But the issue was NOT what it seemed.

We do our best to keep unnecessary drama out of the forum, because I think we all know that there is enough of it as it is.

This thread is closed.