Politics and religion

[John Cooper]

I realize this is an OT forum, and the point was to discuss anything without me having to moderate. But when I receive personal msg's or emails of people who've been offended, then I begin to feel disappointed about the ability of our group to maintain a little self-control! Do NOT reply to this post by criticizing those people as being too easily offended - that's missing the point.

Certain people, you know who you are, remember you promised me the last time around to avoid obviously inflammatory posts, lengthy quotes from questionable news sources, etc - please remember, this isn't the place for that kind of behavior.

So, please continue to discuss whatever, but remember that planetz is supposed to be a place of good vibezzzz, for an extremely diverse crowd of music lovers. If you KNOW that what you are posting is pretty much solely for the purpose of propagating some bad vibes, or starting a flamewar, then PLEASE reconsider. There are plenty of other places you can go to start a fire.

Please be respectful and mindful of others. Too easy with your words on a screen to forget that there are real people reading them - people from a very diverse set of cultures, languages, religions.

Thanks,
-John

[braincell]

It's really not for me to say but I hardly find the flame wars offensive in an OT forum. I think people can see the direction a thread is going and nobody is forced to read it all. I find the art to be especially amusing and entertaining. I emailed several of the images to some friends and they had a good laugh.

[John Cooper]

I thought I'd bump this back up, for a little perspective (check the dates!) We've been thru it all before (back with a certain members-with-an-agenda like dxl and lifechanger). We came out of that ok, as people began to focus again on topic, with positives instead of negatives...

Again, I'm repeating myself, but I think people become numb to the impact of their words when writing in anonymity. If people would just stop briefly before posting and ask themselves- would I say this like this if I were with this person in the presence of all our friends? Will this person understand me how I intend it - even tho they may be from another culture, another country, working with an english dictionary, etc??

I don't mean you need to tiptoe thru every posting- but just take the time and consideration that you would if you were speaking in person with a friend!

Similarly when reading someone's post, ask yourself am I understanding their intention, is this really as negative/insulting as it seems, or maybe is there a language/culture difference here?

Someone once described planetz as "john's living room", and we're all hanging out together here talking about music, and other stuff. Perhaps if you keep that image in mind next time you post, it might temper some of the topics, some of your style, some of the reactions.

Cheers,
-John

[hubird]

I agree to every word of it.

I don't wanne put me in the centre, but as I played an obvious role in it, I wanne spend a few words on it, if you don't mind John

John already knows about, and I got a similar and true response btw., so this is more directed to the Planetz community

I'm conscious that I did not follow these rules of John during the last weeks.

If I may concentrate about the Holy thread thing:

I know that I was breaking the rules.
That's why I said I played a 'devil's role' in one of my recent posts.
I wasn't argueing anymore, I instead was attacking on a personal and 'psychological' way.

That's never correct.
(I admire Astroman for his always to-the-point- replies, even while it was him who was attacked from several sides, not me ).

So, I apologize to everyone who feels attacked by me, directly or indirectly.

The only justification I can offer you, is that I did it just to get back our lounge community.
Relaxed discussions about every subject, including -possibly controversial- political ones) are no problem for me, not at all, why would it?

So I hope noone is thinking I was trying to fight one or the other opinion, that would really be a far-from-my-bed-show.

The interest of Planetz as a friendly ánd to-the-point community, even when political, was my motivation.
I didn't see any other way-out than what I did.

Which doesn't make it right.

the started Big Hug trend was more efficient I guess

From now on I will be back on track again, that's what I can say

hubert

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: hubird on 2006-08-23 21:42 ]</font>

[emzee]

I'm guilty too. Maybe this one needs to be a "sticky" for a while. I apologise.

[Shroomz~>]

On 2006-08-23 20:10, hubird wrote:
I wasn't argueing anymore, I instead was attacking on a personal and 'psychological' way.

Well you've succeeded Hubird.

Let me be the first to congratulate you.

If I can't get my PlanetZ account completely deleted I'll delete every word I've ever written here.

I hope you're extremely pleased with yourself.

Cheers

(edited bad language)

PS. I think It was very poor taste also to start sucking ass on John's thread here, but who am I to say.

ta ta

[Gordon Gekko]

[John Cooper]

Shroomz, this is a very disappointing reply to huub's (albeit complicated) apology.

If your only path to self-reparation is to leave, then your wish will be granted. If you can let this all go, learn from it and leave it behind, then you're welcome to stay.

-John

[Shroomz~>]

John, I hadn't realised it was an apology at all never mind one meant for me. Seems more like trying to smooth things over in the public eye.

I haven't been apologised to for *any* of the weird sh*t that's been planned & carried out against me.

An apology isn't needed anyway, as it's way too late for that to be genuin.