The "tone" of RedsZone

[GIK]

I've noticed lately that RedsZone has become a lot more abrasive in the posts many users have made to one another. This may be due to the fact our team and certain players are slumping, but it doesn't mean we can take this frustration out on each other. I've let a lot of this slide lately and I shouldn't have. Boss and I created RedsZone to get away, far far away, from this type of attitude and I'm not going to let us become infected by the virus that was Cincinnati.com's message board. We can disagree, we can argue, we can post "mad" smilies, we can vent here with each other and voice our displeasure...but we cannot tear into each other maliciously. Message boards often allow people to say things anonymously they would never say in person. Please don't let that become you. Treat everyone here as if they were a member of your family and not an "internet stranger" and I think we'll see a much more fun and productive RedsZone.

Thanks!
GIK

[SirFelixCat]

Finally....someone with power speaking up like this. This place has been miserable the last week +. Thanks GIK :GAC:

[Cedric]

Thanks Bud!

[Spring~Fields]

I had thought all along that GIK had a different vision of what exchange between people should be, thanks for restoring my faith in your judgement GIK.

[Redny]

[KronoRed]

I agree

[WVRedsFan]

Thanks, GIK. I've haven't spent much time here the last few weeks for this exact reason. It may be the large number of new posters, I don't know. I do know that I always looked forward to a lot of the members' insight on what the Reds are doing. Those folks have chosen to not be around much anymore, too. I hate that.

Yes, this should be a place where, like family, we can discuss the Reds and not fear someone calling you "stupid" or "lame" or "idiot." Unfortunately, that's what we appear to be becoming. More fights and hurt feelings have happened on here since the season started than I can count. And it started the middle of last year and has continually gotten worse. Let's hope this "heads up" settles folks down.

[TheBurn]

Salud!
:GAC:

[zombie-a-go-go]

Word. I feel the same way. And stuff. Thumbs up.

[redsrule2500]

^No It's just all the subscribers are on the "IN"...lol i think...

[Matt700wlw]

Folks...if you wanna bash the ball club and the FO, and dispute topics...I'm all for it

We're all friends here, let's play nice!

[TeamCasey]

Let's just respect the message and try to do better. GIK hasn't singled anyone out.

I'll take my own shot here:

Steel, I was short with you this week. I'll try and choose my words better next time. My apologies.

[37red]

Ah yes, the old Cincy.com mess. GIK, you hit it on the head, this is the reason I haven't been on in awhile, this has just not been an interesting fun place to spend my time. I hope the conversations rise back up to a better level.

[SteelSD]

Steel, I was short with you this week. I'll try and choose my words better next time. My apologies.

You were? I honestly don't remember. And there's certainly no reason to apologize.

As to the board's "tone" in general:

I think one thing folks forget about is that with so diverse a group there will be a lot of different communication styles. Some folks are more amiable, some more expressive, some more direct, and some more analytical.

Those more "amiable" will often see a post from an expressive or more "driver-like" poster and be taken aback by the post's perceived "tone". An expressive might see a passage from someone whose communication style is more analytical and think it's "dry" or "devoid of emotion". A driver might see a post from a more amiable person and stop reading after about one sentence if the post is more than 50 words long.

And then there are trolls. These folks are the exceptions and they'll go away soon enough if one of two things happens. Ignore them or beat them senseless with irrefutable data. I think we all know which track my train runs on in that regard.

Personally, I think that most discussion that spirals out of control is due to either a difference in communication style resulting in perceived slights, or by emotionally-charged rants. Can't do anything about the irrational, so I worry about what I can (the rational folk). Disagreements are going to happen though. It's inevitable. Unavoidable.

IMHO, I think we'd all do well to take a step back from time to time, hazard a deep breath, and understand that we may have to adjust our own communication style to better "fit" the needs of others. I'll be the first to say I'm as guilty as the next guy (or girl) of forgetting that at times, and that's something I'll continue to try to work on.

Sincerely,

SteelSD
"Snide Cuss"

[smith288]

I think all forums who have a large contingent of posters always has a sort of clique built in. It cant be avoided. The hard part is making sure this "clique" is open to new members or sparse posters and not making them feel inferior for having a differing opinion.

Then there is that whole conflict of personalities... Sometimes those instances just need mediated.