I'm done here

[madakri]

I happen to agree with Paula 100%.

I had a not so pisitive experience with Paula when I started posting here and it hurt me tremendously, but she was right and I was wrong.
There was no need for any profanity and inappropriate insults.
After a few days, I got ahold of my very sentivie emotions and opologized to her.

We do however, still have our differences of opinions, but that's ok with me, since no one in this world is perfect and everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

I would rather accept that I am wrong than too loose one of the best places I can get advice for my GP's, specially from Paula.

Thank you, Paula!

[Paula]

I think the mods do "gently correct" members that offend or violate the rules. They send private messages and (I believe) explain the problem and post links (if appropriate) to the rules and guidelines. And yet there are still people that do the same things again and again and again. And, too many times, post a rant about how mean people are here.

I think it's absolutely fair to hold all members to the same standards when the rules are clearly stated and posted.

To my way of thinking there are two common issues with new members on this forum - 1)members who want to do things that are against clearly stated rules - like post in color or use chat speak, and 2)members who want to advocate things that are against this forum's philosophies - like breeding or buying from pet stores.

The first issue is easily corrected if the member will read the rules or follow them after they are pointed out by a mod. The whole "wheeking" and "impaction" system is in place to point out these offenses, and in my opinion, corrections are done quite tactfully. I don't see members constantly "correcting" those types of offenses.

The second is vastly more complicated, because people have strong feelings on both sides of those issues. I think the folks that end up feeling attacked are the ones that get here and insist on doing something members have strong feelings against - things like buying from a pet store or breeder, housing in an inadequate cage, etc. In that case, I think all members want to have a say and voice their opinion. And honestly, while in a "perfect" world the same thing wouldn't be said repeatedly by different members, it's not a perfect world and members are entitled to post as they see fit (within forum guidelines).

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by WICavy

Now how is that tactful? I don't think it's appropriate to make fun of people for any reason and if someone said something like this to you, would you find it funny?

You are complaining about ME not being tactful? Forgive me but did your READ the post this person made?

I probably would find it funny. I'm not making fun of her. I'm commenting on her colorful and obnoxious posting method. When someone posts like she did, with all of the color and fancy fonts, I can't help but get an image in my head of Rainbow Brite, Strawberry Shortcake, the Smurfs and all of their friends decorating the Gumdrop Forest for the My Little Pony's 100th birthday bash. It's ridiculous and considering that she was directly PMed a link to the rules (including the posting rules) at least once you would think she would be able to understand that we don't appreciate her artistic expression here.

Originally Posted by WICavy

Why is it okay to laugh at the member who now can't reply without being moderated?

I don't see anyone laughing at anyone. People laughed at the wording I used to describe the writing. I think my wording was much nicer then:

The 3rd Reich
Who needs this crap
Get off your high horses
You aren't the GP GODS,
@$#%$ kisser
C-YA @$#%$
@$#%$ mods!

Who is more offensive? Me making a joke or someone with wording so filthy and offensive that it needs to be censored?

Now let's see if she is going to be infantile enough to run to another forum to whine about how awful we all are for not allowing her to post in color and place pictures in the gallery she thinks should be there even though the rules are clear on these very subject matters.

[madakri]

Originally Posted by VoodooJoint

When someone posts like she did, with all of the color and fancy fonts, I can't help but get an image in my head of Rainbow Brite, Strawberry Shortcake, the Smurfs and all of their friends decorating the Gumdrop Forest for the My Little Pony's 100th birthday bash. .

Now, that was funny :-)

[guineapigluver1]

Originally Posted by Nymphae

Well, I did say that? So does that make my name 'No One', I don't think so. All I know is this, the way people talked to me in the beginning was far from nice and I was treated like a small child.

I think the mods are doing a good job, or at least the best they can. No criticism for me. I just think people nowadays can be far too harsh to one another.

Where in my post did I refer to you?

Originally Posted by blackarrow

When you came back on board I went back to see what bad beginning you were talking about. I fail to see how you were treated badly by the people who disagreed with you, and in fact, it sure seems to me that you were acting like a small child when you responded that people should get off your back and when you called everyone here "idiots." I'm just beginning here, and certainly no one has treated me poorly or talked to me as if I'm a small child. I don't think it's a coincidence. For what it's worth I can see that you are trying a lot harder this time to keep your cool, which is admirable.

You may have missed it that the person who you were quoting wasn't paraphrasing you but another poster.

Exactly.

Originally Posted by WICavy

Whether or not you understand it, does not change the fact that is the way they feel. We as human beings have feelings, and even if their feelings seem are accurate or not to us, they should be able to say, "Hey, I think what you said was mean," or, "Thanks that was really helpful." Neither is wrong.

But, either the "new" person's case or the "seasoned" members case can be stated in a way that offends the other. I think it very easy to be misunderstood online and people are more prone to go on attack.



But, you need to understand were they are coming from too. People come on the internet to find quick answers. In doing a search they happen upon this site and see a large member base. The probably make assumptions that this forum is like any other and quick join without reading the rules, because in their mind, they just want a quick answer and they don't have time to read ALL the information on the site.

I'm not saying that what the did is neccessarily right, but I don't think it's appropriate to start "laying down the law" on an introduction and/or first post. The problem is one member will say something, and that would be sufficient to get the point across without offending. But then 3, 4, 5 more people come along and say the same thing, the new member is going to justifiable feel attacked.

And why is not okay for the offending member to resort to name calling, but the long standing member can call the new people "lazy, whiners" and tell them they need to "get over yourself." How is that nice or helpful?



I completely agree with you on this point. But I think some allowances should be made to give new members time to ajust.



But see that's the point. People assume that all forums are that way, because most don't have the grammar/spelling rules that are here.




Now how is that tactful? I don't think it's appropriate to make fun of people for any reason and if someone said something like this to you, would you find it funny?



Why is it okay to laugh at the member who now can't reply without being moderated?



Now this is getting childish.



I agree that the rules are simple enough and common sense. But, even though this is an "adult based forum" you have people of all ages visiting it. And I think when the long-standing members and mods start making fun of caged/banned members it sets a bad example and starts to become more "highschool based" then "adult based".



I agree! With technology the way it is, it does not encourage proper writing/grammar. I'm glad this site has these rules and I do appreciate the mods for enforcing the rules.

Maybe a good balance for this is if the members allowed the mods to remind people of the writing rules. That way, the new member wouldn't feel so attacked when corrected by one person, instead of multiple people.



This is just my point. There has got to be a better way to help new members understand the rules, but like I said before some allowances should be made. I think it'd be better to let the person know they are welcomed, before nitpicking about rules.

I'm really not trying to pick a fight here. I'm just saying, maybe there is a better way?




Unfortunately, I've seen many people treated the same way. I lurked around here for awhile before I joined and I had a decent understanding of the rules. Which is why I don't post often. I'd rather lurk and find the information I want then risk offending or being treated rudely. While some members lash back, others avoid I guess. :)

And I agree the mods are doing a great job, I couldn't even imagine.


Of course all of this is just my opinion and everyone is entitled to their own. I guess the point I'm trying to make in all of this, is that there must be a better way for everyone to get along. There are faults on both sides, but it really says something when the threads that get the most posts are the ones where people are fighting. If we were honestly trying to be helpful, wouldn't it be better to help than argue?

So many people say they are afraid of getting "attacked" or whatever because they state their opinion, when that is just not the case. People disagree. It's not wrong to disagree, but lots of people say they were "attacked." I have never typed any post to be nasty. Ever. I always try to word it the best way that I can so nobody will be offended. But that is hard. Some people take offense very easily and they don't stop to think about how somebody meant it. Sometimes I feel as if I need to put in parenthesis what and how I mean it because some people take offense so readily.
Nobody was laughing at her. Like VJ said:

People laughed at the wording I used to describe the writing.

Personally I don't see why she feels this way. Whatever everyone said was put in a nice way, trying to help her and explain something to her.
No one did anything to her.

[Ly&Pigs]

Originally Posted by WICavy

I'm not saying that what the did is neccessarily right, but I don't think it's appropriate to start "laying down the law" on an introduction and/or first post.

But I think some allowances should be made to give new members time to ajust.

Yes it is appropriate to start laying down the law when the member first comes here. This way they can read the rules if they haven't and 90% of the time, a new member will respond better to being wheeked on a first post instead of letting them do what they want for 20 posts and then wheek them. In the majority of cases they will take the time to read the rules after they've been wheeked and then follow them. It's maybe one in twenty or more who will keep ignoring the rules. But then when they get the actual poo then they start doing better. But once in a while, you get that one member who just flagrantly ignores the rules. We mods once tried being lax about the rules and in a matter of less than a week, the forum was not a fun place to be and you couldn't read half of the posts.

Originally Posted by WICavy

And why is not okay for the offending member to resort to name calling, but the long standing member can call the new people "lazy, whiners" and tell them they need to "get over yourself." How is that nice or helpful.

I did say that people are lazy typers and that it's laziness that prevents them from hitting a shift key. I didn't point to someone and say, "hey VJ, you lazy bum, start using your shift key". I made generalized statements that happen to be true.

Originally Posted by Ly&Pigs

*Rolls eyes and moves on.*

Originally Posted by WICavy

Now this is getting childish.

Hmmm, I don't consider it childish at all. You weren't the one getting cursed out in the original posters thread. I chose to ignore the comments, which is why I rolled my eyes and moved on. It's like when I saw the thread, I thought to myself, been there-done that, doesn't bother me anymore, time to move on. You members don't know the vast amount of times we mods have received pm's full of foul language cursing us out, calling us names and telling us how horrid we are as mods and people. You said people have feelings. I have feelings too. My feelings do get hurt by being called foul names but I just don't let it get to me or bother me anymore.

Originally Posted by WICavy

Maybe a good balance for this is if the members allowed the mods to remind people of the writing rules. That way, the new member wouldn't feel so attacked when corrected by one person, instead of multiple people.

There is a rule that states that members aren't allowed to act like mods and tell people the posting rules. If they do, they are infracted for acting like a moderator.

Originally Posted by paula.m.moore

I think the mods do "gently correct" members that offend or violate the rules. They send private messages and (I believe) explain the problem and post links (if appropriate) to the rules and guidelines. And yet there are still people that do the same things again and again and again. And, too many times, post a rant about how mean people are here.

Every impaction notice has links to the rules, policies and guidelines. In some instances, we send a link to a specific rule or tell them a specific rule. All impactions are via private message. Once in a great while we do have to remind someone in a thread about a rule.

Originally Posted by paula.m.moore

I think it's absolutely fair to hold all members to the same standards when the rules are clearly stated and posted.

Well, you can't treat one member differently regarding the rules than another. It doesn't matter if they've been here a day, a week, a month, a year or 5 years. The senior members and stars/champions can get impacted the same as newbies if they break the rules.

[Amsley246]

Dear lord, is anyone else wanting to leave over something so ridiculous? If so, please go quietly. Things like this just make you look like a toddler...sorry, toddlers are more well behaved then this. How hard is it honestly to come here and just read and obey the rules? It's supposed to be fun for everyone of all ages. If you can't respect that, get out. Someone else made this forum and made the rules, if you can't accept that and follow the rules and play nice, your being disrespectful. Being on a forum is no different than being out in public. If you make a scene in either place, you still look like a moron. The mods are trying to protect young children that come on here to learn. What gives you the right to interfere with that? You have no right! Grow up and move on.

[madakri]

Originally Posted by Ly&Pigs

Well, you can't treat one member differently regarding the rules than another. It doesn't matter if they've been here a day, a week, a month, a year or 5 years. The senior members can get impacted the same as newbies if they break the rules.

last week I received an infeaction from Ly, due to using too many smilies, that's no reason to go psycho on someone.

[blackarrow]

Originally Posted by madakri

last week I received an infeaction from Ly, due to using too many smilies, that's no reason to go psycho on someone.

Your post seems ambiguous to me. I can't tell if you mean Ly "went psycho" on you for using too many smilies, or if you mean you didn't "go psycho" for receiving a correction like the original poster in this thread!

[madakri]

Originally Posted by blackarrow

ambiguous

I'm really having a lot of fun with you, everytime you use one of these big words, I have to look it up.

[Peggysu]

I have to say that I really like this forum. I don't belong to any others because I can't follow them let alone read them. Any information I get from here I can read and usually there is no question on what someone said.

I just don't understand why someone changed this whole thread into a thread about questioning the rules. The rules are there because they work and it's very nice. I don't care who you are and how long you've been here but everyone should be held to the same standards. There shouldn't be any special rules for some people. That wouldn't be fair at all.

If people are going to leave because the forum wasn't warm and cozzy then so be it. I like the fact that this place doesn't sugar coat things. People can either accept it or not and move on. Many of the memebers here seem very pasionate about their pets and animal welfare. That's what this site is all about. I've learned a ton here and I'm on here everyday I'm not working. Don't worry about sugar coating things with me. I won't take it personally.

This particular poster kept stating that she was going to buy guinea pigs from a breeder regardless of what we told her. She kept saying that there were no adoptable guinea pigs in her area. I find that offensive because we are against breeding and we all know that there are guinea pigs needing homes no matter where you are! Anyways we tried to get the message accross and she decided to take it the wrong way. Maybe we saved a pig maybe we didn't but we can't give into something we don't believe in.

Anyways, my guinea pigs are happier because of this site. I'm truely grateful that I found it!

[Nymphae]

Originally Posted by blackarrow

When you came back on board I went back to see what bad beginning you were talking about. I fail to see how you were treated badly by the people who disagreed with you, and in fact, it sure seems to me that you were acting like a small child when you responded that people should get off your back and when you called everyone here "idiots." I'm just beginning here, and certainly no one has treated me poorly or talked to me as if I'm a small child. I don't think it's a coincidence. For what it's worth I can see that you are trying a lot harder this time to keep your cool, which is admirable.

You may have missed it that the person who you were quoting wasn't paraphrasing you but another poster.

I was only reacting to you 'cause you took a couple of words straight from MY post. Which means, in a way, you were reacting on me, not someone else. I'll even look it up for you..
Your post..

I don't really understand why some people say they were "attacked" or "chewed up and spit out." No one who has ever said it really has been "attacked" or "chewed up and spit out."

My post..

Basically, new members that have different views get chewed up and spit out. Then burned, before it starts all over again.

You pretty much quoted me without the actual 'quote' stuff.
And if you really wish to go on on a subject from months ago alright. If you read closely in that topic, you'll find I've asked people multiple times to quit pushing me to get a guinea pig from a local shelter. 'Cause simply.. It's too far away for me. I've also got another reason I didn't name there 'cause I didn't want to give myself away like that, but I'm also suffering from Agoraphobia. Which means basically I can't go very far without getting a panic attack. So even if I had to go by bus and then by train and another bus.. I still wouldn't make it. You see how it's pointless to argue about something like that? It's like asking someone in a wheelchair to stop whining and get to his feet. So excuse me if I lashed out when even after I explained I really couldn't go to a shelter.

I want to finish with this though, I may sound angry now. But it's not directed at you, it's more at the whole situation having taken place in which I had to defend myself while people pretty much had made up their minds about me already. Also directed towards the moderators; I'm sorry if I should have posted this somewhere else and I'll refrain from posting in this topic any further.

[blackarrow]

Nymphae, the problem is, the post you're attributing to me that you looked up wasn't my post! It's someone else's (guineapigluver1's), and she wasn't posting about your specific situation either.

[guineapigluver1]

Nymphae I would just like you to know that I was not even thinking of you when I posted that. I did not in any way mean for it to refer to you.

I'm baffled as to why you are explaining this to me because I did not say anything in your first thread, I even, somehow, missed the whole thread.
I did not push you to go adopt from a shelter. I'm not arguing with you to go get a pig from a shelter.

[Peggysu]

Nymphae, Do you possibly have friends that could help you get another piggy? I understand if you already did it and got another piggy at the pet store. I'm sure guinea pigs give you great comfort. If you talked to a rescue and they were friendly you could explain your situation and maybe they could have met you or possibly brought it to you. Those are just some options. Try not to take things personally no one is being mean to you or was trying to be mean to you.

[katiewilson]

Originally Posted by LUVMYKVs

What is this? The 3rd Reich?? I got in 'trouble' for using COLOR in one of my writings??!!

HA!! Yes, because as our history books have taught us, Hitler rounded up all of the Jews and handed out poo's for using too much color in their guinea pig posts.

I wish you could be here to witness my sarcastic "slow clap" in person.

But I think some allowances should be made to give new members time to ajust (sic).

Isn't that precisely what the poo/impaction system is?! If a person is so darn sensitive that they can't handle a gentle reminder (AND insists on posting in magical rainbow colors, for that matter), then I'm not entirely sure they're mature enough to engage in online forums.

[MomtoO&O]

Originally Posted by katiewilson

HA!! Yes, because as our history books have taught us, Hitler rounded up all of the Jews and handed out poo's for using too much color in their guinea pig posts.

I wish you could be here to witness my sarcastic "slow clap" in person.



Isn't that precisely what the poo/impaction system is?! If a person is so darn sensitive that they can't handle a gentle reminder (AND insists on posting in magical rainbow colors, for that matter), then I'm not entirely sure they're mature enough to engage in online forums.

Very well put.

[sophistacavy]

All I have to say is that I am sick and tired of being sick and tired of this sub-forum being abused. Maybe it would be better if no posting was allowed in here, but people who feel like they need to post something like the OP can read through the hundreds of almost exactly the same threads, and feel better without essentially birthing more spam.

Honestly, every time someone posts something new in this sub-forum, I want to sing "Here we go 'round the mulberry bush, mulberry bush, mulberry bush" or that new song from Flo Rida entitiled "You Spin My Head Right 'Round". *sigh*

[pringles70]

I can't help but get an image in my head of Rainbow Brite, Strawberry Shortcake, the Smurfs and all of their friends decorating the Gumdrop Forest for the My Little Pony's 100th birthday bash.

Ok, that was so funny I just spit out my drink and woke up my roomate!!

[Ly&Pigs]

The fact is that this forum isn't being abused. It's the "Why can't we all get along" aka "YOU'RE ALL SO MEAN" forum. It's not really spam either.

I'm sorry but you don't get to set the rules here. We have this forum section for a reason, mainly for these types of threads. If you are sick and tired of these threads, stop coming to this forum section, stop reading the threads in here and be on your merry way to another forum section. No one is forcing you to read these threads or to reply to them. Just ignore them if they bother you so much.