"Bullying" on the forum - part Two

momoyama

Woofles wrote: »

Right I've just written an extremely long reply and lost the damn thing, basically in my book re-opening a thread that Andrea has expressed a wish to be closed is Trolling.

Well, it depends on how you define "trolling". Please consider my motivation for startin this thread - IE with the best on intent and not to cause problems in any way. Unlike trolling.

Woofles wrote: »

If this degenerates like the last one I will have no hesitation in reporting it.

Fair enough.

momoyama

rosieben wrote: »

I noticed last night that your posts on the bullying thread were actually the first that you made on OS and I was a bit mystified by your great interest in a thread which was directed at OS specifically.

I just selected "new posts" and pulled up any that looked remotely interesting. As I do. OS has no significance to me. I'll take your word that I've never posted there.

rosieben wrote: »

The point I made about people being desperate because of illness, debt, redundancy etc applies to all parts of the MSE forum, not just OS

That was how I read it.

geordie_joe

rosieben wrote: »

I noticed last night that your posts on the bullying thread were actually the first that you made on OS and I was a bit mystified by your great interest in a thread which was directed at OS specifically.

This was my point in my previous post. Not necessarily about the person you are replying to, but the fact that some people are reading the forum but not posting. Then when they see a thread where they think they will not be the only one with the same opinion they pluck up the courage to post.

We have to ask ourselves "How did someone who has never posted in the OS board suddenly find that particular thread and post in it".

Could it be because they regularly read the threads on OS but are afraid to post, until they find a thread where they feel they will not be made to feel an outsider.

Or was it because they just happened to google "Bullying on the OS board" at just the right time?

zippychick

geordie_joe wrote: »

First can I say that I agree with everything you have said so far, but I feel I must comment on this one point.

Some people may have seen it as a b***h fest about OS, but there were people who came in to say they were not comfortable posting in OS because of the way people are treated.

I suspect those people read OS but are afraid to post because of the reaction of regular posters. They would not go into a thread and say something like "I posted in here yesterday and was made to feel unwelcome". Because they were afraid they would be on their own "against" all the regular posters.

But when a thread came up where other people were saying the same thing they spoke up. Perhaps because they thought they would have a little support and not be "one against the regulars".

If this is true, then what does it say about OS? "You are welcome as long as you fit in and toe the line, but if you don't then we'll let you know you are not welcome" ?????

Posters on the OS board may think it is a nice place, and I am one of them, but I was surprised that there were people on the outside looking in, reading the tips and using them but not daring to post in here.

I agree with the fact it gained a lot, and i was strangely proud people had the courage to post - and was saddened they felt they couldnt.

However, in my personal opinion, by the latter few pages of the thread, there really was no point in it and it was a culdesac conversation. Who on earth would have felt the nerve and courage to post after the way the thread went at the end?

I didnt explain that well - I agree, but i was overwhelmed with the new posters, and was proud they felt they could contribute.

It did make me question myself and my OS behaviour, but I really hope i have nothing to be guilty of or blamed for. So on a personal level I did step back and evaluate my own posting behaviour.

I would hope that I post enough on here for people to know I am not being a cow or bully. And if anyone was upset with me, to pm me and we can sort it out in a nice old fashioned polite way. I would genuinely hate to upset anyone.

geordie_joe

zippychick wrote: »

I agree with the fact it gained a lot, and i was strangely proud people had the courage to post - and was saddened they felt they couldnt.

Thank you for your reply. I haven't quoted all of it, but I agree with what you say/feel. And I believe most OS users will agree too.

In response to part of your post (which I have not quoted) I have to admit that I was a major culprit in sending the thread down a cul-de-sac. For this I would like to apologise to everyone.

I would also add that describing it as "going down a cul de sac" was a polite and tactful way of putting it. I would have described it in much more basic terms

Nordictat2

Regarding spelling...as a person with Dyslexia I know it typing and reading can be quite a pain in the bum at times. I try to make sure all my words are spelled correct but there are times I don't notice.
I mean this is a forum and we come here to chat and get knowledge from various topics and I think it's kinda of petty of a person to judge or critize a person fro their spelling? If this was a school and we had to turn in/write our posts to get graded might be a different story..but on here? People need to get a grip. There are way more important things out there..like making sure we all get by each month and helping each other with how we can make our money go further.
How about we focus on that instead of trying to internet bully or spelling nazi.

Former_MSE_Andrea

Hi everyone

Just to say, the reason the OP apparently wanted to post was to apologise for something they'd said on the last thread.

Now hopefully we can all get on with what we're here for?

Thanks!

Andrea