| As most of you
realize, while online forum's can be a useful and valuable tool, they can
also be a place where some folks choose to take out their anger, frustrations,
and differences of opinion in a less than admirable way. While this type
of nonsense is bound to happen (you can't stop it all!), when it gets out
of hand it can have a significant negative impact in regard to forum participation
(i.e., folks get fed up with the attacks and drop off).
As
such, in order to have some level of control over the content and overall
tone of this forum, we will require that all who wish to post "Pre-Register"
(FYI - you do not need to register to "Browse"). Registration
entails providing us with a name, forum "nickname", and an email
address. The primary reason for requiring this information is so that
we have a way to privately contact you if we deem it necessary (i.e.,
if you are not playing nice!)
Having
witnessed first hand numerous situations where valuable participants on
other forums have been run off (or driven underground!) by members with
suspect agendas, we are very sensitive to the issue and will not tolerate
such behavior on this forum. As such, we ask each and every one of you
to put yourself in the position of those reading the forum before you
post and refrain for personal attacks against any individual, business
or organization.
While
there are times when constructive discussions in regard to a position
taken by an individual, business or organization are warranted, it should
be done in a factual and fair manner. Rather than stating that "Company-A's
rods are junk" (an actual quote from another forum!), try saying
that "Company-B's rods are great and this is why…" The
same goes for businesses and organizations. Instead of saying "I
can't believe that those morons from Organization-X would support that",
try saying "I think the position taken by Organization-X is flawed
and this is why…"
If all else fails and "Bashing", "Flaming" and other
counter-productive behavior becomes an issue on this forum as it has on
some other forums, the involved parties will be contacted privately and
asked to cease the nonsense and play nice! If it continues, the member's
forum registration record will be deleted and all attempts (up to and
including monitoring and manually pre-approving registrations) will be
made to keep the guilty parties off the forum permanently.
Note:
While we realize that the majority of folks out there play fair, we recognize
that some do not. For those who play fair, please understand that this
message is not meant for you but that it does in fact need to be sent.
For those who do not play fair, think about it - what is to be gained
by trying to ruin it for everyone else?
Owners
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