Well, I can only speak for myself, but if I had to be attacked on a personal level, I would prefer it to be out in the open on this board. Now please hear me out. This has not happened to me on the board, and believe me, this board is one of the most civil and respectful ones I've seen...especially when compared to some college boards I've visited. They act like 12 year olds...truly disheartening.
Imo, most participants here are mature and reasonable in their arguments.
Another thing to keep in mind is, you post at your own risk, i.e. don't dish it out if you aren't willing to take it. Most folks here understand that. Also, there's nothing in the rules that says you can't just walk away from any argument by saying, "We agree to disagree."
A potential problem which may arise from locked threads, is the e-mail feature located in the Profiles section, which, as Ripsnort has pointed out in an earlier thread, enables registered members to send e-mails to each other. I would not be at all surprised if this was sometimes used to convey ill feelings...where the wrong people might read it, and then it truly does become personal. I'm sure there are some in here who won't tolerate that either.
I say, keep it open and honest on the board. If someone gets your goat, just consider the source and wish them a nice day.
An ordinary man will draw his sword when ridiculed and will fight risking his life, but he may not be called a courageous man. A truly great man is not disturbed even when suddenly confronted with an unexpected event or crisis, nor angered upon finding himself in situations not of his own making, and this is because he has a great heart and his aim is high. ---- Gichin Funakoshi
Thank you.
Les
