"Mean" to people who don't agree with the site's views?

[Bennalaya]

Originally Posted by Taboo

I think there are mean opinionated people here. For instance, the people who told me off in my introduction thread.

For starters, just as MotherofGambit said, there are mean and opinionated people everywhere. With that said, I've seen you around the forums every so often and I got the impression everyone got along fine with you. I didn't see anyone telling you off in your introduction thread. I also notice that there have been some members here in the past (just from searching through older threads) who felt the need to jump all over people and pretend to be the posting police and the mods quickly put them in their place.

I think most of the regulars here are just very passionate about animal welfare and it's extremely difficult to convey tone over the internet. What an original poster may intend to be a stern warning against a certain cage accessory that poses a safety hazard may come across as being rude or overly opinionated. Without being able to see that person, face to face, and read their facial expressions and body language we have to just take posts at face value.

Most of the time the members here won't jump all over newbies who have been misinformed. They try very hard to properly educate people. It's when people make fools of themselves and try and push a pro-breeding or "pet stores aren't so bad!" message that patience begins to wear a little thin.

[Taboo]

Originally Posted by Bennalaya

For starters, just as MotherofGambit said, there are mean and opinionated people everywhere. With that said, I've seen you around the forums every so often and I got the impression everyone got along fine with you. I didn't see anyone telling you off in your introduction thread. I also notice that there have been some members here in the past (just from searching through older threads) who felt the need to jump all over people and pretend to be the posting police and the mods quickly put them in their place.

I think most of the regulars here are just very passionate about animal welfare and it's extremely difficult to convey tone over the internet. What an original poster may intend to be a stern warning against a certain cage accessory that poses a safety hazard may come across as being rude or overly opinionated. Without being able to see that person, face to face, and read their facial expressions and body language we have to just take posts at face value.

Most of the time the members here won't jump all over newbies who have been misinformed. They try very hard to properly educate people. It's when people make fools of themselves and try and push a pro-breeding or "pet stores aren't so bad!" message that patience begins to wear a little thin.

You must not have seen my intro thread then. But esides that thread, people have been nice to me, so whatever, I'm cool with everyone and I'm not going to hold grudges. I agree with all the things this forum believes in like vegetarianism, rescuing, not breeding, against pet stores, etc. So, all in all its a good forum.

[dra&pigs]

Much agreed, MotherofGambit. I think the people who find themselves bashed are the ones who refuse to change their ways. On one of my first threads, I posted that I kept my sole boar in a pet store cage, and I wanted to know how much money and effort it would take to change it. I wasn't bashed at all, in fact I was given useful, kind advice that led to my four pigs in C&C's.

[QuackXP]

Even though I disagree about a number of things on this site. I do recognize that it is one of the foremost authorities on proper guinea pig care. I care about my pigs and want them to be getting the best advice as well as want to be part of the greater guinea pig community. So ill keep whatever negative opinions I have to myself, I guess that is to hard for some people.

[auburnmare5]

I think people get over heated too quickly, when they are given an answer to a question THEY asked. People make judgements about the members of this site and then they criticize them for what they believe in and what they are standing up for and defending.
You obviously are not going to get along with every one you talk to in this world, but don't criticize! Remember the old saying "Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover?" Same thing applies here.
If you joined, and are trying to support what you have read is wrong and brag about what you are doing in front of people who believe in the opposite of what you believe in, yes, you should expect for people to get a tad bit angry with you. But it isn't because we are being mean to people, we are trying to educate people.