quote:
Originally posted by David Alford
Strict enforcement of no ad hominen attacks. Respect for all posters mandated. Up front policy on this next to your logo. Brian, you would be amazed at all the emails I get by people who will not post on your forum because they don't want to be attacked as I have should they disagree with TGM. This is just wrong. Golf is a sport, not a religion. Without rules and respect everything disintegrates. Thankyou.
<One of the things I like most about these forums are the ability to strongly disagree, we dont have to tip toe around>
<<Does "respect for all" include not telling forum readers that you are their "Master"? >>
Strong disagreement is fine.. It's personal attacks which are out of line. If someone is attacked personally,
you CAN EXPECT a similar response or at the very least SARCASM (as in Ali's "Master" quote).
The person WHO INSTIGATES ad hominem attacks should be warned (or post deleted) and if it keeps up after a second or third warning, kicked out for a few months. This WILL solve the problem.
Without some rules and enforcement of those rules, bickering and feuding follow. This is not just occuring on this forum, it is net wide.
It's like spam, it's everywhere and very few REALLY like it.
On this forum, it is primarily directed toward anyone who disagrees with TGM or HK.You can disagree with Hogan, or anyone else, just not TGM/HK.
If I could reveal the many emails on this subject by people who have taken the time to write me, it would be an eye opener. I can't, because that would be a betray of distrust. I'll just say the common sentiment is along the lines of "interesting forum, but damned if I'll ever post what I think"...
IMO, Brian needs to make a decision. Will this forum be a truly open forum or not. If it is to be truly open, it has to be fair handed and the viscous cycle of personal attack: rebuttal: personal attack: rebuttal: personal attack: rebuttal, etc. ad infinitum has to be stopped.
It can be stopped by having some basic rules of respect. No debate, and no information exchange can really take place once people are in the personal attack mode. That doesn't mean one shouldn't be able to attack ideas, or purported facts. Or what is written in a book! That type of debate should be WELCOMED! And in a truly open forum, it will be welcomed.
Maybe it's asking too much, because obviously most of the regulars here are extremely loyal to TGM. But, I will emphasize this again: a lot of smart people refuse to contribute to this forum. How is that good for anyone?