I follow a simple maxim: People would "rather be loved than hated but they would rather be hated than
ignored.
I struggle meeting the essence of this concept, i.e., skip the hate and go straight to ignore. The temptation to have the last say is enormous and that inevitably leads to the rancor and flaming one occasionally sees.
I had a recent kerfuffle with someone I considered a troll and my brain exploded. I misidentified a poster as the troll and said things I regretted. I failed to jump to ignore. I also need to be more careful about who is the post's author

.
I believe it takes a big man (woman, child, whatever) to know when to shut up. But since we all generally fall short of that ideal, here's where the Mods earn their keep. Of course, they're human as well, so the system can still fail. C'est la vie...
Anyway, I'm a BIG 1st amendment sort. It's my right to discuss, if I so choose, any subject whatsoever. No one is forced to listen. But in the context of this (or any) forum, limits are appropriate, especially given the international makeup of the members. Some topics, even for the "Lounge", are simply too hazardous and we all know, or at least should know, what they are (as listed above).
That said, a ban would only serve to belittle the members as a whole and assume ("make an
ass of yo
u and
me) a censorship authority. A PC attitude I find offensive. As much as I would like to see ETO as a shining light of forum decorum (nice rhyme, eh?!), it is still populated with everyday people. And **** happens.
I respect the Mods here. They too, of course, screw up from time to time but for the most part they are fair and even handed.
And I know that I often forget the "Report" button. I've never used it. Sort of like ratting out a member. But I'm rethinking my hesitation towards using it (primarily for trolls) as it ought to work as a pressure release mechanism. Hopefully it'll keep me from being very
public arsehole. Leaving me to just be a private one...

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