In response:
Things I thought were "unacceptable": (And I'm not saying I never did any of this stuff. I'm not casting stones in my glass house.)
1. Ad hominem attacks, attacks on the poster not the ideas posted. We'd eliminate a lot of problems is we cut out the ad hominems.
For those unclear as to ad hominem:
An Ad Hominem is a general category of fallacies in which a claim or argument is rejected on the basis of some irrelevant fact about the author of or the person presenting the claim or argument.
Typically, this fallacy involves two steps. First, an attack against the character of person making the claim, her circumstances, or her actions is made (or the character, circumstances, or actions of the person reporting the claim). Second, this attack is taken to be evidence against the claim or argument the person in question is making (or presenting). This type of "argument" has the following form:
Person A makes claim X.
Person B makes an attack on person A.
Therefore A's claim is false.
2. Obscenities. Even the clever little ways folks try to bypass the BBS language filter, like with misspellings.
An old Ops Officer once told me "Vulgarity is the first recourse of the truly unimaginative."
Anyway, they add nothing to the discussion. We can do without.
3. PrOn, of course. This place should be worksafe so the desk slaves can check it to enhance their daily grind.
Things I think are acceptable and should be in here.1. Life events; birthdays, injuries, getting a pilot's license, marriages, etc. This stuff makes people real, enhances the sense of community.
2. The obviously "normal" stuff.. flying, bbq, hot rods, photography, etc.
3. News. People are going to discuss the latest world/national/local news and weather.
4. Politics. Yep; part of life, an interesting part. No reason it can't be discussed with a little respect and polite discourse on all sides.
5. Religion. Yep; part of life, an interesting part. No reason it can't be discussed with a little respect and polite discourse on all sides.
6. Other miscellaneous items.
They key, however, is showing some basic decency and respect. All else flows from that.
I'm glad it's back. Somebody tell me if I slip into jerk mode. It's only a keystroke away for any of us on any given day.
Thanks!
