Thanks Chris !! Merry Xmas ...to you as well..

Thanks, Chris!

We'll try to be really, really good.

Happy Holidays to you and yours.

Thank you Chris. This forum has become an important part of my life and I dreaded giving it up for good. I realize that I can get a bit mouthy at times but I promise to do my very best in the future to keep my cool and do all I can to make the moderator's jobs easier.

Have a Merry Christmas.

Quote:

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If you don't like someone else's opinion, recognize that they are entitled to it, however wrong it is in your opinion and keep the discussion above board.
Don't bait an argument either though. You all know what gets some people's goat.

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You've exposed the main points of the problem. If moderators will immediately recognize

1. name-calling as characterization,
2. provoking arguments on character instead of a technical point being answered,
3. diverting a conversation away from the point to characterize instead of answer a point,
4. if you make a statement, harass people who give references to their research, when you don't,

they will be doing their job.
Too often, moderators join in to 'fan the flames' by using these techniques. Most everyone recognizes their use as they are being used, but some insist on believing that these tactics are invislible although pointed out for five years.

Put it in writing in the warning pages that these techniques are not permitted on this site and although the main provokers won't have as much fun any longer and might leave, there will be peace beyond their understanding.

What? Really? Thank you, Chris!! If you need any help, please ask, there are a ton of great and talented people who would gladly grab a shovel.

*bigsmooch*

Liz

.
.Thanks............it WILL be interesting..!!!!!

Perhaps with you as moderator, (dirty job, I know) and since you set up the rules
it will be more of a final say if a post comes down to "edited" - "locked" - "deleted"

The moderator should have the final say (after all, he's moderating) and there
should be no repercussions on following posts and PM's calling the mod a (whatever).

I sense that the present and previous mods don't want the hassle anymore,
and this was IMO one of your reasons for dropping the ATS.
I can see, after above thread, that it would appear NOBODY wants to jump into the
"Mod Job", and that's certainly understandable.
The Mod has to be totally separated from any posting and discussion, and simply "mod"

As I mentioned before, nobody needs the stress, and typically, there should not be.
'The final word'...so to speak.

The 'written word' is sometimes hard to distinguish as to whether it was
meant jokingly or as a snide remark, or simply a lead-in to a heated argument.
The poster has to determine that, and either make reference to such,
or (after some consideration) not post at all.
The blatant posts are recognizable by all, and usually (hopefully) had
been pointed out with the 'report to mod' button.

Admittedly, I don't post in ATS a lot, but do garner some info,
and certainly a lot of chuckles 'listening' to other posts......

So now that we've all been 'threatened',
and have 'seen the light' .....
perhaps sensibility will rule.....
Otherwise, you're the Boss ! ! !


I wish you (all) well, and a Merry Christmas Season to all..........

.

Thanks!

Quote:

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sometimes hard to distinguish as to whether it was
meant jokingly or as a snide remark, or simply a lead-in to a heated argument.

---

True ...
BUTT
when someone leads with a "you're a ...."
OR
"you really need to ... to be acceptable"
OR
"people who (look like) are ..."
INSTEAD of
"A reference to your point is [here.]"

Almost anyone can catch a clue it isn't going to sit well.