A Humble Request

[Gatorman]

Rob:
You will be sorely missed on this board. Your POTW posts were the stuff of which legends are made.
Your comments were always welcomed, your demeanor delightful and your humor refreshing.
In the "real world" I could imagine calling you friend.

[Lyehopper]

well, I can't speak for everyone and neither can you or rob, but what bothered me about his request was that it smelled of being too pushy and authoritative. If this was his site, then he can ask whatever he wants, but it wasn't even his own thread, and he was asking that the entire universe of users to conform to his beliefs..what's next, will he ask that we all start the day with prayer, or to vote a certain way? If you or rob are offended by certain language from certain posters then there is an ignore feature. Don't try to impose your will on everyone who comes to the site. And to be perfectly honest, you should be listening and reading, not posting. NOw how's that for being offensive without using profanity?

Tatnic.... So you think the following post was too pushy or authoritative?

I'm wondering if it would be possible to clean up the language around here. One of the things I have enjoyed about this site (the whole forum) is its relative lack of profanity. I'd really hate to see that change ... well, unless it was to an absolute lack of it. I've noticed a marked increase lately. When I cease to enjoy coming to this site, I will cease to visit it. Maybe that means nothing to anyone, but I just thought I'd mention it anyway.

Hmmmmm. I don't see what you mean Tatnic.

I've know Rob for many years and I never heard a curse word or off color joke proceed from his lips. He was simply stating how he feels about profanity on the forum and in my honest opinion he has taken his leave (pretty much) because of you and your lack of respect for his "humble request".

Rob's the kind of fella that would walk out in the midst of a movie or comedy performance it turned too off color. He'd walk away from a conversation at work if it turned too profane or off color. He'd leave a party if one person made him feel uncomfortable due to their in-your-face profanity. Rather than stress over it.... he'd simply remove himself from the situation.... Rob has "left the party" here for that very reason and I personally think it's a huge loss to the group as a whole.

Hey, I can cuss with the best of em Tatnic, yet I watch my mouth when I'm in Rob's company because I respect him and know he's an honorable person and loyal friend.

You owe Rob an apology for the disrespect you showed, not for your initial cursing, but for your disrespect of him in this thread AND your disrespecting his flesh and blood sister. A Virginia Gentleman would not behave the way you have.... nor spoken to her like you have. If she were my sister? I stomp your d--n A$$ into the sidewalk.

Dues

The check is in the mail.

[peanuts]

Hi Mary

Don’t listen to either Peanuts or Ski, the dues goes into mine and Gwhiz college funds.

Sticky, Ski, you guys are going to confuse poor Mary. Look, how's this: She sends me the money then I distribute it equitably between us?

Mary, I still don't have the funds....

[skiracer]

What are you tryin' to say Ski???

Doug,
I kind of got you on that one didn't I Doug. Finally. I was just kidding and that post couldn't be farther from my feelings towards you. Just kidding bud. But I did get you. Next to me you're so easy.

[IIC]

Jeez, I wish you'd quit this one.

What are you tryin' to say Ski???

[JohnHenry]

Don't listen to him Mary. The dues always go to the keeper of the POTW.

Hi Mary

Don’t listen to either Peanuts or Ski, the dues goes into mine and Gwhiz college funds.

[skiracer]

Hi Mary,

I have not received your membership dues, yet. Did you read the thread, "Do you want to become a member? Read This!"

Let me know if you need the info...

Don't listen to him Mary. The dues always go to the keeper of the POTW.

[skiracer]

Personally, I think this discussion has gone a bit overboard. Rob is entitled to his opinion. He's also entitled to quit visiting if he wants to. Too bad 'cause I like him...But I've quit a lot of forums over the years because I didn't like the way things were going and/or handled. It was never because of profanity though.

The decision is Rob's as to whether he stays or not. But after the dialogue here I imagine he'll leave...I wish Rob all the best...Doug(IIC)

Jeez, I wish you'd quit this one.

[peanuts]

hey new member

Hi Mary,

I have not received your membership dues, yet. Did you read the thread, "Do you want to become a member? Read This!"

Let me know if you need the info...

Respect

I personally start everyday with a prayer. You guys can to if you want to. Mary we know you love your brother Rob. There's nothing wrong with showing that. I hope Rob chooses to stay and bear with the limited profanity. I actually think that we are all now aware of this profanity issue and the need of some to express themselves with it's use and the others who don't find it necessary. I think this recent dialogue will in itself move us in the direction of at least trying to limit our use of it. Let's let things lay and move on to see where we go with it. We are all old enough to be able to try to coexist and to respect each other feelings on both sides of the fence.

I agree with Doug that the discussion has gone a bit overboard. Additionally, I don't feel that my $0.02 worth helped. I think it had the opposite effect.

I agree with you, too, Ski, especially the bolded portions of your above post, and I hope this will all die down. Then I can get down to the business of learning something about the stock market in a fun atmosphere.

[skiracer]

I'm not trying to speak for everyone, nor do I think Rob is, nor is anyone else that I know of. How can a request be pushy or authoritative? It's a request, not an order. The "humble request" thread is Rob's own thread. I don't know which thread you are referring to when you said it isn't his thread. As for the "what's next" comment, I generally don't pay much attention to slippery slope arguments. Making an argument that Rob may next ask everyone to start the day with prayer or tell everyone how to vote is a ridiculous giant leap and I've no idea where it came from. I am not trying to impose my will on anyone, nor is Rob. Rob humbly asked the folks to refrain from the use of profanity and stated that if this forum ceases to be fun for him, he will stop visiting it. That's imposing his will on himself and no one else. As for me, my biggest mistake as one of th newest members here was to stick my nose in to this disagreement. It would have been better for me to be silent and watch from the sidelines. However, he is my brother, so I felt the need to show my support for his point of view.

I personally start everyday with a prayer. You guys can to if you want to. Mary we know you love your brother Rob. There's nothing wrong with showing that. I hope Rob chooses to stay and bear with the limited profanity. I actually think that we are all now aware of this profanity issue and the need of some to express themselves with it's use and the others who don't find it necessary. I think this recent dialogue will in itself move us in the direction of at least trying to limit our use of it. Let's let things lay and move on to see where we go with it. We are all old enough to be able to try to coexist and to respect each other feelings on both sides of the fence.

[IIC]

Personally, I think this discussion has gone a bit overboard. Rob is entitled to his opinion. He's also entitled to quit visiting if he wants to. Too bad 'cause I like him...But I've quit a lot of forums over the years because I didn't like the way things were going and/or handled. It was never because of profanity though.

The decision is Rob's as to whether he stays or not. But after the dialogue here I imagine he'll leave...I wish Rob all the best...Doug(IIC)

Pushy? Authoritative?

well, I can't speak for everyone and neither can you or rob, but what bothered me about his request was that it smelled of being too pushy and authoritative. If this was his site, then he can ask whatever he wants, but it wasn't even his own thread, and he was asking that the entire universe of users to conform to his beliefs..what's next, will he ask that we all start the day with prayer, or to vote a certain way? If you or rob are offended by certain language from certain posters then there is an ignore feature. Don't try to impose your will on everyone who comes to the site. And to be perfectly honest, you should be listening and reading, not posting. NOw how's that for being offensive without using profanity?

I'm not trying to speak for everyone, nor do I think Rob is, nor is anyone else that I know of. How can a request be pushy or authoritative? It's a request, not an order. The "humble request" thread is Rob's own thread. I don't know which thread you are referring to when you said it isn't his thread. As for the "what's next" comment, I generally don't pay much attention to slippery slope arguments. Making an argument that Rob may next ask everyone to start the day with prayer or tell everyone how to vote is a ridiculous giant leap and I've no idea where it came from. I am not trying to impose my will on anyone, nor is Rob. Rob humbly asked the folks to refrain from the use of profanity and stated that if this forum ceases to be fun for him, he will stop visiting it. That's imposing his will on himself and no one else. As for me, my biggest mistake as one of th newest members here was to stick my nose in to this disagreement. It would have been better for me to be silent and watch from the sidelines. However, he is my brother, so I felt the need to show my support for his point of view.

When Rob first started this thread, I don't think he was being hyper-sensitive at all. He politely explained that profanity bothers him and made a humble request. I suppose you could say (as you did) that he is being hypersensitive about the response he has received. However, in response, I would say that some of the initial responses to Rob in this thread were hyper-insensitive. Is it really that difficult to give up using foul language when politely asked to do so?

While I agree, especially in light of the recent new thread about profanity begun by Karel, that there really isn't a huge problem with profanity here, if a member is bothered by it and asks others to stop, what's wrong with that? On the other hand, I do see something wrong when, after being asked to refrain from using such language, to write posts containing exactly the language that is offensive.

This can be applied to anything, not just profanity. Hypothetically speaking, imagine your friend is doing something that bothers you and you politely ask that friend to stop. How do you respond if, instead of stopping, your friend does exactly the behavior that is bothering you? My guess is that you leave. Are you then being hyper-sensitive? Or are you just removing yourself from a situation that bothers you?

well, I can't speak for everyone and neither can you or rob, but what bothered me about his request was that it smelled of being too pushy and authoritative. If this was his site, then he can ask whatever he wants, but it wasn't even his own thread, and he was asking that the entire universe of users to conform to his beliefs..what's next, will he ask that we all start the day with prayer, or to vote a certain way? If you or rob are offended by certain language from certain posters then there is an ignore feature. Don't try to impose your will on everyone who comes to the site. And to be perfectly honest, you should be listening and reading, not posting. NOw how's that for being offensive without using profanity?