Flaming

[Rosebud]

ATTENTION:

EVERYONE PLEASE NOTICE THAT RAGAN HAS CHANGED HER PROFILE TO READ KIMBA AND IS NO LONGER SIGNING HER NAME TO HER POSTS.   I had hoped that a cooling off period would help - unfortunately it has enabled Ragan - AKA Kimba to become more creative.  

While I am not disputing her right to a different opinion than that of others on this form - I am disputing her disruption and continued attempt to control certain topics, and her personal AND private attacks of several members of this forum.  The RR-Forum has a right to ban members for this and other infractions.  
Sandra

Not sure this is really the right place since there is not a section specifically for issues like this.

This type of behavior in forums is considered flaming and most forums will ban members for it.

Trolling is when the poster attacks others then sits back and watches the members argue with each other.

Michelle C

[Keeper]

unfortunately, yes.
Most people understand why RR-Forum came into being. 
Differing opinions have never bothered me, as I often air my own opinions.
But, when someone deliberately goes beyond their personal opinion and trys to slander another off the forum, or on...that is not the same thing. 

Sandra

[Rosebud]

Yes there is a huge difference in having a healthy debate of opinion vs. wording ones opinion in more of an argumentative way.

And I am sure that I have been guilty of posting in an argumentative way, but I try very hard to read, re-read and then re-read one more time to check my posts for tone content.

And when a poster seems to be set on having an argument sometimes the best thing to do is just move on to another topic or go back and see if someone else posted something interesting to make a postive comment about.

Michelle C

[Theresa M. Lyons]

Maybe the best way to avoid trolls is to have every member do an introduction.  Kind of like they did on the NGR list.  It was NOT by any means an approval process, just a way to introduce yourself along with your history in the breed, what you are looking to getting out of the list and what your goals are as an RR breeder/owner/etc.

In this post, you might need to require that they post their "real" names.  I have always been one for signing my posts and letting everyone know exactly who I am.  I also understand that there are many of this list (and other others) that use screen names as they are not completely confident with their ability to have conversations with some of the long timers.  I used to think that it did not matter, but I am not beginning to think names must be used.

Theresa

[caro]

Theresa has an excellent idea.  Introductions would be such a help in identifying people's interests and concerns. And I too think we need real names and not just screen names.  I always sign my posts and I see no reason why if somebody holds an opinion on something they should not want to acknowledge that they do.  I think some members have in fact written a short introduction to themselves in the Introductions section but a lot of posters have not, and I also notice that a lot have omitted to include their e-mail addresses, though of course, we can still communicate through the Forum.
Websites on the profile too seem to be missing a lot of times.  This would be a great place to put your kennel site.

For instance, somebody recently posted pictures of their puppy.  A really nice puppy but no name, no country of origin, and I would dearly love to know its breeding.  The screen name tells me absolutely nothing.

Caroline

[Rosebud]

Introductions are great and most who join a forum will usually introduce themselves in their first post.

I have no problem with posting my name, but I generally do not post my last name and that is only for internet security reasons, I'm just not to wild about the whole world knowing my last name. I do however post my last name when I respond to someone privately or through an e-mail that does not already know it.

I do however like the ability to have screennames, it gives us a chance to show character traits in such an electronic evironment.

I added my name and last initial to my signature line when we had a different Michelle join the list, maybe we could have members put their names in the first part of their signature lines and still use catchy or witty screenames.

Michelle

[Keeper]

good ideas.
Managers can see if there is a email address...Caroline, can't you see them in the profiles?
I think if there are identical names, as is Sandra on other forums, I generally use the kennel name too, or the first initial of my last name.  Even then some people make mistakes - but at least it is clearer to most who read the posts.

I will say this, there are many members on this list who are using alias' email addys.  I have tracked several back to their 'real' identies...but there are many that have email washers, go through G-mail and other sites specifically to hide their identities.  When they do that - there is a reason that they don't want anyone to know who is posting.  For that there is nothing we can do...except hope they slip up and I can track them back.  We have some good capabilities built into this site...but yesterday I learned something about the forum that I was not familiar with and it drove me nutz until I discovered what was happening.

You should have seen me speed reading the specs of the forum design!  And I had left my bifocals at home!   

If anyone has some ideas of how they handle these situations on other forums - I am certainly open to suggestions. 

Sandra
Sandra

[caro]

Yes  you can see the e-mail addresses on the profile IF they are filled in.  But in a lot of cases they are not.

Caroline

[Alfred]

i've just been sitting back and waiting for Ragan to be banned...

if ever there was a type of person that was not suited for discussion over an internet forum,
he/she is it.

it wasn't the difference of opinion, but the huge freakin chip on the shoulder

probably the kind of person that not only can never admit when they're in the wrong, but won't even acknowledge they've handled something improperly...
or behaved badly

i sure won't miss it

[Keeper]

i've just been sitting back and waiting for Ragan to be banned...

if ever there was a type of person that was not suited for discussion over an internet forum,
he/she is it.

it wasn't the difference of opinion, but the huge freakin chip on the shoulder

probably the kind of person that not only can never admit when they're in the wrong, but won't even acknowledge they've handled something improperly...
or behaved badly

i sure won't miss it

Alfred...you are just too cool....   Love your Attitude Dude!
Sandra