Rudeness has got to stop

[ami]

I have received many messages complaing about rudeness, both northern and southern.

We have gotten suggestions about splitting some forums into 2 groups, Yanks and Rebs.

we are not going to do this, this will promote clicks, and in the end more hostility.

Everyone here has strong convictions, and everyone here has the right to their opinion, but when you joined CWT you essentially signed a contract to be nice, and leave the attitude at the door.

From now on any member who gets a complaint towards will have their posts reviewed, if we decide your post truly was nasty you will receive 1 demerit.

After 3 demerits you will be banned for 1 week.

When you come back from your one weeks bannishment if you get three demerits again, you will be permanantly banned, but may appeal to Mike and I.

We will review your case and then decide wether or not to lift the bannishment.

For the complainers...

I do not want to see complaints refering to "he used God's name in vain" or similar.

The complaints now have very serious consequenses.

I am truly disappointed that it has come to this.

Ami
CWT Admin

[8thvacav]

If you would notice there are four knot head Unionist on here that very seldom start a thread. They wait for some one else to start one then descend on it saying that it is all wrong. All they want to do is prove you wrong You being from the north I can see why you would let this go on. As long as this continues, you don't have to worry about me posting and you can kick me off if you want to. This isn't the forum I joined over a year ago. Just my two cents worth.
Martin

[ami]

I am sorry you find that I am biased.

I am not.

I generally do not read the posts here at CWT, they are too far over my head and quite dull for my tastes.

I do not grant northerners any excuses to be rude or nasty.

If you leave CWT that is your choice, but do not call me biased.

[blue_zouave]

From one knot head Unionist, I think the board is a great place. Ami, I've moderated Civil War boards and it's a tough job. Hard to balance "freedom of speech" and "fair play." And I'm with you, most of the threads are just too dull and wordy to wade through. I envy the folks who have the time to post that much!

Mike and Ami, keep up the good work.

Zou

[samgrant]

I agree with Blue Zouave, it must be a pain to keep things under control.

I mostly see polite, agreeable disagreements between us posters (and also discusssions which got heated, but eventually were settled down by the principles involved), but have discovered that there are some folks among us who apparently seemingly must will find something in a post they consider offensive to themselves (usually if the poster is from a different region), and cannot help but lashing out at even the most benign or innocently sincere postings.

I try to keep in mind the sensibilities of others when posting, but it seems one never knows what simple turn of phrase or simple comment can set someone else off on a rage.

(I've personally experienced posting what I had meant to be a tribute to so-and-so, only to have someone come back accusing me of disrespecting that very so-and-so, or simply accusing me of 'typical Nothern response'. How would any of us feel if their posts were replied to as simply 'typiclcal ..... response' with no other explanation of what was objected to?)

Aw, nuts. Love this stuff, but sometimes so disheartening.

[lrd89]

Originally Posted by ami

I generally do not read the posts here at CWT, they are too far over my head and quite dull for my tastes.

They are sometimes over my head too, but I am learning so much from the good folks here at CWT.

[FSPowers]

I support this action. We can have a proper discussion without emotions getting into the way.

If you all want to parley, I assure you all my weapons will be stacked.

[JohnW in E.TN]

I can agree with those guidelines. I really only have a problem with one person on this forum. He takes it upon himself to arbitrarily dismiss anyone's opinions or arguments and shows little respect for the rights of other members to have their opinion. Berating and tearing down the thoughts of others, inhibits the participation of many who are registered here. Just check the number of registered vs the number of those who post. Be that as it may, I really like the forum and the people here, regardless of their leanings.

Regards,

John W.

[johan_steele]

John W, PM him w/ your concerns and ask him how we can make the site a better place.

Some point out inaccuracies rather bluntly and that is considered rude by others;yet the poster may not see it as such. A lot of people like to say "certain members" and the particular member may not know he/she is the person who is setting the fires.

That someone doesn't think to talk w/ someone they may disagree w/ via the PM system is how some of these things get started.

THe idea that there is a double standard here is laughable; frankly a lot is said here that would get members instantly banned on other legitimate moderated sites. To my knowledge the only censorship that has ever happened here has been the removal of blatant flame posts.

Ami & Mike have created a site that allows the mod team to participate w/out dictating. I think there is an excellent hands off approach that allows us mods and all members to participate. And yes we mods do have opinions and we even voice them.

I am a varocious reader and prolific writer yet I see probably only 1/2 to 2/3 of the posts that come through the forum generally ignoring subjects that don't interest me thus I don't think I cover the board half as well as Aphillbilly and others who read almost every thread. If the mods don't know about something going on, or don't see it as insulting doesn't mean something can't or won't be done about it. THe ! in the corner of each post is there so that if there is an issue it can be dealt w/ by Ami or Mike and they do a wonderful job of doing so. But they also do a bit of research and don't act w/out some serious thought and consideration.

Having been a member in quite a few other boards over the years I think this is certainly the best of its kind w/ some of the most learned people on the subject that I know.

[rivrrat]

I think that we all need to remember that that Ami and Mike provide this service to us at no cost. They don't have to do this for us and we should abide by their rules.