paxetaurora said:
Please give us your opinions on this. We mods are in a very tough place right now in FYM--moderate too little, and we're accused to allowing hatred and intolerance to flourish; moderate too much, and we're censorious despots. We need YOU to help us find a happy medium.
I warn you this may necessitate some of you growing thicker skins. That goes for EVERYONE.
That doesn't sound like a very nice position to be in. I don't blame you guys, I'd be afraid to jump in. No matter what you do or say you will be criticized for something. To me, there is nothing the mods can do except close a thread that has become too out of hand, or stop one that appears headed in that direction before it happens. Most people would complain about the second one, but those same people might not like how the thread turns out if it's allowed to fester. So what can you do?
No matter what, there will be people who don't want to hear something somebody says. But I think we are all at risk here, putting our own reputations on the line. Once people know how you feel about things, they look at you differently, and that can be a negative thing. So we all take a chance when we speak out. But, once we do, it's our own fault and the results are something we have to live with, even if it means some people hate us for it. So the solution is, if you don't want to take that chance, don't post here, or 'censor' yourself.
However, nobody should expect to be able to say everything they want and realistically expect no one to answer back in a way they might not want to hear. I am getting tired of the attitude all over the site, in most forums here, that people seem to feel they have a 'right to their opinion' and that means everyone else has to shut up and not disagree with them. Then if someone does, they are 'bashing,' or are a terrible person whose posts need to be stamped out. So I guess it all comes down to don't dish out what you don't want to take, and don't say anything you aren't willing to fight over or back down from if it comes to it. We all need to realize our comments may draw responses we don't want to hear.
In a way, it all seems pointless and hopeless, because no one is ever going to change anyonone's mind. What it usually turns into is a thing of ganging up and taking sides, and nothing is ever solved.
The main thing is, if you preach about your right to free speech, you have to be willing to allow the same to others no matter how much you hate their position. We are all different people. Although you have a right to speak your mind, so does everyone else!