Unfriendly Behavior

[Jeff V]

I have noticed that this forum has some unfriendly personalities that seem to love to insult each other. This will no longer be tolerated. Discuss the items and keep your personal insults out of the discussion. Anyone unable or unwilling to do this will be taking some time off the forum. We are all collectors on here and should be able to behave as adults.
Jeff

[kyles bullets]

I have noticed that this forum has some unfriendly personalities that seem to love to insult each other. This will no longer be tolerated. Discuss the items and keep your personal insults out of the discussion. Anyone unable or unwilling to do this will be taking some time off the forum. We are all collectors on here and should be able to behave as adults.
Jeff

I've noticed it too. 4 or so good threads have been closed due to poor bickering. A shame, as now the topics will never surface again unless someone gets lucky and finds it using the search bar.

[uscob]

Well spoken!
I observed this since some years too, also on other Forums.
Is it because they didn't got the same Item, others got?
I allway's think: Do they really want to be treated the same way as they do?
collecting could be so nice and funny, so be happy and friendly to each other, it makes collecting more satisfying. It's not a contest who got the best or the rarest Item. I, for myself, stopped posting good stuff on other Forums and show it here, as I know in my area of collecting, all People are friendly in the Sub-Forums.

[transvision]

i remember a better time .manners maketh the man..

[popskipa]

I try to work on the principle that you should treat others as you would like to be treated yourself, not just with collecting but in all my dealings with other people.

More often than not this is reciprocated...

Enjoy the hobby, but keep it in its place as there are far more important things in life such as ones health, relationships, children, spouses, and parents...et al.

Keith

[Martyn1]

I have noticed that this forum has some unfriendly personalities that seem to love to insult each other. This will no longer be tolerated. Discuss the items and keep your personal insults out of the discussion. Anyone unable or unwilling to do this will be taking some time off the forum. We are all collectors on here and should be able to behave as adults.
Jeff

About time

[der-hase-fee]

Thank you !

[alexanderautogr]

Well spoken!
I observed this since some years too, also on other Forums.
Is it because they didn't got the same Item, others got?
I allway's think: Do they really want to be treated the same way as they do?
collecting could be so nice and funny, so be happy and friendly to each other, it makes collecting more satisfying. It's not a contest who got the best or the rarest Item. I, for myself, stopped posting good stuff on other Forums and show it here, as I know in my area of collecting, all People are friendly in the Sub-Forums.

Yes, a bit of civility would be nice. I honestly think that the fact that people on forums can be anonymous paves the way for malicious attacks and mob mentality.

If you don't already know about Milgram, read this!!!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment

[Stan]

Well done Jeff. It needed saying

Stan

[David Fettes]

I try to be as polite as possible at all times but if I am poked once too often I will bite back. Human nature I suppose.

[Coburg]

This has all been very sad to see and read.

This should be a pleasant hobby where people with whatever knowledge and at whatever level can post and ask for advice etc etc.This behavior will result in less and less people posting on the forum and feeling even less comfortable giving opinions.

It has happened before and will no doubt happen again.

Jim

[JimW]

I believe the reason we have lost a lot of good members and moderators is because of the few individuals that are just rude and do not seem to really care about the subject.

I totally agree those few should be monitored.

[Wim Vangossum]

It is sometimes a difficult balance. Heavy discussions can happen when badge types are defended on one side and called fake on another side. But I agree that the discussions may not come on the level of personal insults. I think it is wise to stay on the topic whatever the lenght and grade of disagree.



Regards, Wim

[Jon Fish]

Jeff, would be good to have this posted on every section of WAF, as the issue is surely not just confined to this board. Also however let it not be forgotten there are many friendly people on WAF, I have made some fantastic friends and contacts due to WAF.

[Br. James]

I know what you mean, Wim and Jon, and it would be great if colleagues did not take the bold approach that "I am right and YOU are wrong!" But people will be people, and such can get beyond control.

I recall a most unfortunate exchange that I became involved with a while back. Someone had posted a photo and asked if anyone knew who the main person in the photo was. It was immediately obvious to me who that person was, so I responded with something like: "I believe this person is NAME AND RANK." Another viewer of that thread came in an hour or so later with: "No, you are mistaken." He didn't offer any other possibilities as to who the person in the photo was, nor did he give any details as to why he though my response was incorrect. So I replied that I believed it to be the person I named. He replied with a short note that again stated that I was mistaken in my ID. I should have let it go at that point, I suppose, but I didn't; again I responded that everyone here is welcome to his own opinion on any matter, and I still believed that my initial response was correct...especially since he didn't offer any other possibility as to the ID. That obviously angered him and he challenged my last reply by stating that he had long experience in such IDs and I was only trying to cause trouble by insisting that my response was correct. I then saw the dead-end to any further discussion or reply, so I withdrew from the conversation. He tried again to get a response from me, and it was clear that he couldn't abide the idea that he was unable to get me to agree with him. But that's how I left it.

We all have the right to our opinion, whatever that may be, and what becomes lost in such conversations is any sense of respect for another colleague's point of view. I don't always agree with other opinions, but I am willing to give my own opinion when asked here. I have occasionally been presented with good reasons to change my opinion and I am thankful for that, but simply telling someone that he is wrong -- with no further backup -- is never a respectful way to have an exchange of views or information.

Sorry for this long reply,

Br. James