In The News - Comic Response

[JGHR]

 

Ah Colin good of you pop your head up from behind the parapet.

Yet more proof that illiteracy is bliss.

 

AAAAND - here's George.

 

Hi George I suspected that my previous post to Colin highlighting cowardly behaviours would likely draw you out of hiding as well.

 

If you choose to be part of a group that bullies someone until they quit the forum and then disappear when your behaviour is called out by other posters, only to pop up to post the odd like on posts which make you feel safe, don't be surprised when that's called out for what it is. Cowardice.

What I didn't expect was just how beautifully you'd expose yourself.

 

My work with you is done.

[JGHR]

I'm not going to disagree that folk have a responsibility for what they say and write,

 

<SNIP> a whole pile of mollification and conciliation < /SNIP>

Buy the boy a bicycle, he's really got the hang of back pedaling.

 

My work with you appears to be done as well.

[Colin]

"My work with you appears to be done as well."

 

I decided a long time ago never to respond directly to any of JGHR's posts but, in this instance,  

[Space]

<thoughtCrime> The social norm as far as I am concerned is not to cause offense and if offense if caused (whether impact of needlessly negative remarks, instults, trolling, bullying etc.) to call it out if you so choose. In most circumstances, including this forum, while dismissing other contributors comments, saying it is entirely the problem of the offended person and that they should put up or get lost is repulsive. </thoughtCrime>

Edited August 5, 2018 by Space

[JGHR]

"My work with you appears to be done as well."

 

I decided a long time ago never to respond directly to any of JGHR's posts but, in this instance,

Colin Colin, stop digging. You don't have to make excuses or try to justify why you were quite happy to club together with your mates and harass a female poster until she felt she couldn't remain a part of this forum, but all of a sudden you were nowhere to be found when the heat came on. People will make up their own minds, it's writ large in the early part of this thread and your actions speak far louder than words. Your behaviour gives the lie to your excuse - I decided a long time ago not to respond, yeah right. Nice try F-

[Colin]

@SPACE

 

Well, I certainly did not set out to cause "offense".  It's just that some people are so easily "offended" and, I have no intention of living my life "walking on eggshells".

 

I never expected the OP to "spit her dummy" the way she did, I never expected to be sworn at and lectured by her either and, unlike some posters, I did not start throwing personal insults around at anyone.  Do you condone that type of behaviour and, if so, what about the "offense" that causes ?

 

FWIW;

My original comment on the legality of 3D printing a Firearm is correct for the UK and a lot of other countries.

 

A US Federal judge DID ban a particular individual/company from uploading the plans.  That ruling, AFAIK, still stands and the fact that a large number of other US Citizens chose to ignore it (as they saw it as "un-constitutional") and uploaded their own plans is irrelevant.

Edited August 5, 2018 by Colin

[Space]

I agree, there were things thrown from both sides that perhaps shouldn't have been at the start of this before the lynch mob got started. I'm not on the attack in that respect. I was challenging the whole pervasive, controlling attitude here that some people's views are more equal than others and the negativity that is detracting from meaningful discussion.

I'm guilty of it too, using sarcastic markup tags in my last post... aimed at the 'more equal'.

Edited August 5, 2018 by Space

[mikeyboy]

Agreed!

[JGHR]

Well, I certainly did not set out to cause "offense".

In that case the right thing to do would be to apologise and be more thoughtful with your posts in the future. I don't know but i have a hunch Fetlar Writer may still be following this thread so its certainly worth a try.

 

unlike some posters, I did not start throwing personal insults around at anyone.  Do you condone that type of behaviour and, if so, what about the "offense" that causes ?

I presume by 'some posters' you mean me, but I guess we'll never know seeing as you've long since sent me to Coventry.   I have made what most sensible people would consider to be personal insults to two people Ghostrider and sufferer' but I'm of the understanding that their position is offence cannot be given, only taken, so therefore I cannot have caused them any offence. If I'm mistaken and either of them do infact believe that it is possible to be offended by someone, and either of them are offended by anything i have written, I stand ready to apologise. All they have to do is acknowledge that offence can indeed be given and let me know they are feeling offended. I've pointed out that I believe you to be both a hypocrite and a coward and explained what has led me to those conclusions. I still believe both of those labels to be true and appropriate in your case but if you care to point out how and where my reasoning is incorrect, once again I stand ready to apologise .

 

 

[Colin]

I agree, there were things thrown from both sides that perhaps shouldn't have been at the start of this before the lynch mob got started. I'm not on the attack in that respect. I was challenging the whole pervasive, controlling attitude here that some people's views are more equal than others and the negativity that is detracting from meaningful discussion.

I'm guilty of it too, using sarcastic markup tags in my last post... aimed at the 'more equal'.

Thanks for that.

 

I have never seen anyone else's views as being more equal than mine, and I have never seen my views as being more equal that anyone else's.  They are just "views", everyone has them, and they can change by the hour.

 

I enjoy a good discussion and, if I am wrong/incorrect on anything, I am more that willing to retract/apologise, but what gets me is the "shark attack" mentality of some trolls who assume that they have greater intellect than the "pond life" they are referring to and contribute nothing more than personal insults to the "feeding frenzy" in a very condescending manner.  Kills everything "stone dead" and I just will not get involved in it.

[Suffererof1crankymofo]

Speedreading, attempting to gaslight and jumping to assumptions aren't usually good ideas.

[admin]

We refer users to our Guidelines and Netiquette section and urge you to consider how your conduct on the forums help or hinder these objectives.

 

 

 
Needless Negativity - We want to the forums to be a friendly, supportive and positive 'living room' where people can discuss issues and share their thoughts. As such we welcome and encourage constructive criticism and discussion, but discourage needless negativity, antagonism and hostility. 
 
Repetitious overly negative, antagonistic and hostile posts discourage other people from joining in discussions - this is the number one complaint the Shetlink moderators receive and is the main reason folk stop, or don't start, contributing the forums. All too often threads are snuffed out due to voracious and repetitive groaning, griping and belly-aching.
 
The odd rant, moan and whine are inevitable but there's a line to be drawn. If a Shetlink member is deemed by the moderators as being unnecessarily negative, antagonistic and hostile, and are damaging productive conversation, then they will be warned and ultimately banned.

 

The Shetlink team

 

 

The reality is that a guest in our "living room" has felt compelled to leave because of how they have been made to feel by other guests.

 

Many others guests have chosen to stop contributing to the forums citing the sustained actions of a small group of people.

 

So be aware of how your posts impact other people's feelings, the quality of discussion, and the inclusivity of the forums.

[JGHR]

The administrators post above is well noted, so I'll do my best to temper what will, I hope, be my final post on this subject. Prior to this week I had not posted on Shetlink for two years, perhaps more I'm not sure, mainly for the reasons the administrator identified above. But this week I was reminded of David Morrison, chief of the Australian Army's address to the international Women's day conference in 2013. It was while expressing his disgust and utter shame at the culture of bullying and harassment which had grown within his organisation, under his watch, that he made his now famous quote:

 

'The standard you walk past is the standard you accept'

 

I don't accept bullying, I don't accept harassment, I don't accept trolls, and as much as I might have wanted to - it would have been the easiest thing to do by far - I couldn't walk past this thread.

 

Nit picking, pointing out grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, posting of snide emoticons followed by phony insincere well wishing, it is bullying and it is trolling, and I condem it. I make no apology for that.

 

After that came the victim blaming, which I find more repugnant than the original bullying by far. The initial behaviour could perhaps, if you were feeling charitable, be excused as simple ignorance. Victim blaming deserves no such quarter, it is a calculated callous attempt to inflict further injury and at the same time excuse the perpetrators. I robustly condem it, i make no apology for that. 

 

Now we have victim playing which is simply pathetic and I will not let it go unchecked. There is one victim in this sorry tale and one victim only and that is Fetlar Writer. Having your own behaviour scrutinised and called out in public does not make you a victim, irrespective of how ashamed it makes you feel. Being labelled with adjectives which describe your behaviours does not make you a victim, irrespective of how uncomfortable they are to wear.

 

The standard you walk past is indeed the standard you accept and if Shetlink is to ever again to be the thriving vibrant online community it originally was, the people who wish it to be that way should not walk past. 

 

My work here is done.

Edited August 5, 2018 by JGHR

[mikeyboy]

Well said!

[Frances144]

'The standard you walk past is the standard you accept'

Thank you.  That quote stopped me in my tracks and really made me think about everything, especially on this forum.

 

Appreciated, again thank you. x