Loosing Integrity Of The Forum

[Ringer]

I must have missed something. This forum is probably one of my favorite places to gather information because of how helpful and nice everyone is. I belong to other forums where you get butchered for asking questions and there are bullies everywhere waiting to "enforce" the punishment for asking simple questions.

This place seems great to me but I'm not on here all the time reading every thread.

 

[justplainbob]

imagine if we had the internet in high school
what kids go through now must be hell

 

[bmudd14474]

imagine if we had the internet in high school
what kids go through now must be hell

Thats a great point. I know its hard to interpret intent in text sometimes. I know I have personally read something and got pissed because of the mood I was in and then reacted. Then after the fact either the person I reacted too told me what they meant or I read it again when I was in a better mood and I couldn't believe I reacted the way I did at first.

Thank you for the folks that have sent me PM's as I have received a few good suggestions.

 

[fxsales1959]

HeyY'all,
this is like Sunday school compared to some of the miscreants I see on Jeep and boat forums. I've shifted my efforts on social media recently and enjoy the "cooking fellowship. thanks for allowing me.

 

[Gonna Smoke]

Of the several forums I visit, this is the most pleasant and helpful.

Agree...

I must have missed something. This forum is probably one of my favorite places to gather information because of how helpful and nice everyone is. I belong to other forums where you get butchered for asking questions and there are bullies everywhere waiting to "enforce" the punishment for asking simple questions.

This place seems great to me but I'm not on here all the time reading every thread.

As a couple of others have said, I haven't seen some of the things that have been spoken about, but then again I don't know how the chat room works so I don't participate there. Also, I only read the threads that appeal to me so I may be missing some of the "action".

Anyway, I am a long time member of a very large fishing oriented forum that I've completely quit participating in because of all the negativity, hateful and vulgar comments about other's questions, comments, and the cliques that have formed to belittle others. There are a few bullies who seem to be able to get away with anything and the moderators seem to have long ago quit policing that forum and enforcing the rules that are clearly spelled out to the members. But rules can be open to interpretation and that's where the moderators SHOULD step in and spell it out for those who try to skirt them.

I was a member here for just over 2 years, reading and "stealing" recipes and techniques, before I ever started participating and I really like the environment. I would hate to see the same type things happen here...

 

[bbqbrett]

I have noticed a few things here and there but not very much. However I sadly don't get to read as many threads as I would like. That being said I would still much rather participate on this site than a couple of the other forums I have been to for BBQ and smoking. Lots of great people and info here.

 

[olaf]

I've also seen this a few times and just bit my tongue, figure if no one responds it will kinda disappear. This is still my favorite place to learn something.

 

[gmc2003]

Ok, first I'd like to apologize to @yankee2bbq for calling him a banjo man. Sorry Justin, I was just picking on ya.

Compared to years past the site seems pretty tame to me, but I haven't been on as much as I used to be.
I would like to ask a question. What's the difference between Staff, Administrator, Moderator, etc etc.. as far as what they do/responsibilities?

Chris

 

[normanaj]

I'm not a prolific poster but I have been a member here for many years and for the most part this place is pretty tame,but from time to time I've seen things posted that bothered me.Like @bmudd14474 said use that flag button and then move on.

I can speak from experience as to how bad things can get on an online forum.I was a LONG time member of a fishing forum that was specific to my region and this place was a bastion of great information and camaraderie until a political sub-forum was added and it all went downhill from there.Friends became enemies,incredible amount of verbal attacks,threats of violence etc.It was very hard not to get embroiled in it because a handful of a-holes would attack anyone if you didn't think/believe the way they did so I eventually asked the site owner to delete my account as it was no longer worth being a member and the crazy thing he still allows it to go on to this day.

There's a forum for every subject under the Sun and we all know SMF stands for.Lets get back to smoking and helping ourselves and others get better at it.

 

[Displaced Texan]

Sounds like I need to avoid fishing forums.

 

[normanaj]

Sounds like I need to avoid fishing forums.

Just the one I was a former member of.It was brutal to say the least.

 

[Displaced Texan]

Just the one I was a former member of.It was brutal to say the least.

My feeble attempt at humor as it was the second reference to fishing forums I saw.

 

[culpepersmoke]

I guess when you can hide behind a screen name some folks feel like they a can say anything. I’m lucky in that I really haven’t experienced any of that here. I think while we’re on the subject a quick shout out to the Moderators is in order. It can’t be an easy job and you can’t stop it all. I’ve been on other social media cooking sites that don’t seem to be moderated nearly as well. So, hats off to you guys and thanks for what you do.

 

[SmokyMose]

I'm not a prolific poster but I have been a member here for many years and for the most part this place is pretty tame,but from time to time I've seen things posted that bothered me.Like @bmudd14474 said use that flag button and then move on.

I can speak from experience as to how bad things can get on an online forum.I was a LONG time member of a fishing forum that was specific to my region and this place was a bastion of great information and camaraderie until a political sub-forum was added and it all went downhill from there.Friends became enemies,incredible amount of verbal attacks,threats of violence etc.It was very hard not to get embroiled in it because a handful of a-holes would attack anyone if you didn't think/believe the way they did so I eventually asked the site owner to delete my account as it was no longer worth being a member and the crazy thing he still allows it to go on to this day.

There's a forum for every subject under the Sun and we all know SMF stands for.Lets get back to smoking and helping ourselves and others get better at it.

There aren't a lot of rules here other than common courtesy, but one of the main rules is "No Politics Allowed".
There are folks here from all over the U.S., U.K and beyond and we all enjoy the interaction.
Political talk would ruin it.

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

As a matter of fact I got a coleslaw recipe from a woman on here that I just don’t remember her name, on my first day on here, and I still use that same recipe.
Al

I’m a coleslaw addict.
Can you repost that Coleslaw recipe?

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

I guess I'm guilty of posting off topic sometimes and apologize. I value the options of people on here and maybe have become to comfortable here. I will try to stick with smoke related post from now on. As far as negative post I have not really seen much of that. I guess I have not read those threads.

 

[Colin1230]

Very interesting thread and I will be following it to the end.
I have not been here long, but long enough to know it is a place I enjoy. Like others, I have been a member of other forum's that have turner caustic. Here, I don't feel the need for a flame suit. Almost everyone I have interacted with has been courteous and helpful. I don't do the Chat thing and I don't read every post so maybe I'm not seeing the big picture.
I have used the report button once and BOOM, problem solved.
Many thanks Mods.

 

[TNJAKE]

Brian you have never posted anything that's inappropriate for this forum. You should keep being you. This should be a place people feel comfortable sharing life with one another

 

[TNJAKE]

I guess I'm guilty of posting off topic sometimes and apologize. I value the options of people on here and maybe have become to comfortable here. I will try to stick with smoke related post from now on. As far as negative post I have not really seen much of that. I guess I have not read those threads.

Brian you have never posted anything that's inappropriate for this forum. You should keep being you. This should be a place people feel comfortable sharing life with one another

 

[bauchjw]

I’ve been absent from this forum for a few years, but after a recent return I haven’t noticed a toxic environment either. However, I appreciate the dialogue and attention given to ensure it doesn’t take hold. I have noticed the size has grown a lot, interaction does seem to move faster. That said, Im happy to be back and appreciate the camaraderie I’ve found. Again.

maybe I’m not on enough to notice though?

I’m not an online guy, but will definitely stay clear of those fishing forums