Part of the guidelines of Fluther said: ”Be respectful; you can disagree without being disagreeable”, what happened to the enforcement of that?

@Hypocrisy_Central Despite all the rules, laws and prisons, the real world is anything but a perfect world and no reason to expect anything more of the Tide Pool. It tis what it tis and all up to the better sensibilities of the collective to maintain the decorum the founders had bestowed upon any Jelly who wishes to drift along here in the tide pool. If a Jelly does not appreciate the nuance of the welcome mat laid before us…a rip tide will sweep them out to the deep blue sea.

^ Whatever all that meant in it sure sounded good and poetic ;-D

Perhaps I did wax a bit nostalgic for the many stellar Jellies that have come and gone….

^ So who or what is the rip tide in the Tide Pool, Lagoon, Shark Tank, or however you can call this?

@Hypocrisy_Central define disrespectful?

@Hypocrisy_Central What is the one trait all real ocean dwelling jellyfish share that would thusly would not allow them to survive the tow behind an F 150 pickup truck many jellies receive here?

@Cruiser What is the one trait all real ocean dwelling jellyfish share that would be required to survive the tow behind an 150 pickup truck many jellies receive here?
Hide as thick as a rhino, elephant, armadillo, turtle, and a walrus all rolled up into one, with tones of flame retardant.

@Hypocrisy_Central BINGO The flame retardants are especially important! ;)

It is difficult to strike a balance between those who feel that the rules are enforced too strictly and those who feel that the rules are not enforced strictly enough.

Ultimately, the mods cannot control the culture of this website. It is up to the user base as a whole to improve Fluther’s community and treat each other more respectfully.

@PhiNotPi I do appreciate what you and the mods are up against and cannot deny the responsibility of the collective to set the tone for the atmosphere here. I remember vividly as a tidal wave of us Answer Bag expatriates were swept into the tide pool here and were given a less than warm welcome. Perhaps that is representative of the mindset here to protect the status quo. That said I do also remember a select few Jellies have then and still go out of their way to welcome each and every newcomer. It is what it is and up to each and every one of us to roll out or roll up the welcome mat.

I think it’s more of a suggestion than anything else. I never thought it was an actual rule, what I think it means is, just don’t flame anyone or don’t be a penis.
That said a lot of stuff flies under the radar around here, and I’m glad for the freedom of speech, but I am slightly saddened by the mob mentality which makes it thrive. (Hypo of all people knows what I’m on about)
I wouldn’t blame any moderator over this one either, because even if this HAD to be enforced, it would need to be flagged, and if it isn’t, then the mods won’t see it.
But such is not the case any way, I guess in the end it goes to show how great, or how lame, of a community spirit we got going. Each is the judge, works for some, doesn’t for others.

Works for me because I’ve never felt that I had to watch myself around here, besides the rules. You can’t force someone to respect another, because then, that is not even respect. Like when you’re in grade one and get into a fight with another student, you’re forced to apologize after. And you will; but whether you actually mean it or not is something else entirely. I like that Fluther does not impose such trite on us, what I don’t like is that it can be taken advantage of to truly hurt others.

But you know, I guess the solution to being online is, have a thick skin. Be Bruce Lee. BE DAT DRAGON YO lol.

Another freedom of speech bullshit thing. Fluther is like visiting someones house. If you walk in my house and call my mom a bitch you will be removed. The people that pay for the servers can decide what is allowed. You are in their house.

Freedom of speech is geared towards the government tossing you in jail for criticizing it.

Fluther is like visiting someones house. If you walk in my house and call my mom a bitch you will be removed.

You must live in a richer neighborhood than I do then. ;p

Let’s see, about half the community thinks the mods are too heavy-handed in enforcing civility, and about half think we’re not tough enough…

^ I think this is an important observation. It likely mirrors peoples’ positions on other important issues, from parenting to government. I suspect those that advocate for more mod involvement would be appalled at my parenting style, and disagree with my opposition to any limitations to free-speech.

No one can force anyone to be respectful, but they can warn them and then kick them off the site like they’ve done with past jellies.

I’ve even been threatened with physical violence once here for talking about my religion openly and it didn’t get modded and no one said anything to that person about chilling out. I’m fully capable of defending myself in every way, so it doesn’t really matter to me, but it seems like that would be one thing that wasn’t tolerated.

We should also be able to block people from PM’s with the push of a button instead of snitching to the mods.

It should be noted that some people are more overt than others in being disrespectful. Underhanded and backhanded insults are still just as rude. I prefer direct statements to feigned innocence.

@Symbeline That said a lot of stuff flies under the radar around here, …...I wouldn’t blame any moderator over this one either, because even if this HAD to be enforced, it would need to be flagged, and if it isn’t, then the mods won’t see it.
That is the rub, the mods have to see it and if there are too little people to bring any infractions to their attention it is like North Richmond, Ca*, who by its size and population is on par to beating out Ciudad Juarez, that was, if not still, dubbed the most dangerous city on the planet. Ciudad Juarez was, or still is, a center of drug cartel activity, and yet a US city is poised to dethrone it. The murderers in Richmond are not smarter or better, someone always sees or knows something, they just aren’t talking; why would they rat out a homeboy or fellow gang member for someone they don’t know or in a rival gang? Why would someone hear pull the covers of someone acting Boorish if they are cool with them and the act was directed to someone they were irritated with? Not as much as the mods are not doing their job, it is more of so much happening the mods cannot keep up.

*(For those who believe that things said here without a signed deposition or dossier, witnesses deposed, etc. is hyped, inaccurate, misinformed or a straight out lie the sites, anyone needing more can use their own mouse and Google it)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_25505067/north-richmond-most-killings-go-unsolved-tiny-enclave
http://richmondconfidential.org/2011/07/13/part-6-north-richmonds-unceasing-battle/

@KNOWITALL I’ve even been threatened with physical violence once here for talking about my religion openly and it didn’t get modded and no one said anything to that person about chilling out. I’m fully capable of defending myself in every way, so it doesn’t really matter to me, but it seems like that would be one thing that wasn’t tolerated.
Again, similar to North Richmond, someone seen it, but they are not going to say because they liked the other Jelly that did it or disliked you more. They may even thought to do something but when they see the person blasting you get so much support lurve felt they would stay out of it less the pack come for them next.

One can defend himself/herself but against a united front, it becomes harder, think of being at the office and someone trips you, and all your papers go flying. If you get up and shove the person that tripped you and the boss seen it and ask, those in the office know who started it but they will close ranks and say it was you who started it and guess who goes home? Even though you defended yourself rightly, many lying voices will out shadow the truth.

@Hypocrisy_Central I don’t take it too seriously.

@Hypocrisy_Central Personally I’m glad that this rule/suggestion isn’t enforced. We can say what we want. The price to pay though, is people using that freedom to insult and hurt people.
But comparing this to drug cartels is a little overboard, yo. :p Most especially since technically, being boorish or mean isn’t against the rules, whereas selling dope is.

@Symbeline And we can ignore or not talk to anyone that’s a freakshow fairly easily…lol

@Symbeline But comparing this to drug cartels is a little overboard, yo. :p Most especially since technically, being boorish or mean isn’t against the rules, whereas selling dope is.
I would not even compare this to a drug cartel for my own reasons. The comparison I was making is that a relatively small area can equal the murder capital of the world because no one bothers to report or otherwise get involved with stuff they see happening. What was that quote? The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Edmund Burke.

I first heard that quote in Castlevania Symphony of the Night. XD

I agree with @KNOWITALL. I prefer to fight my own battles too, since I’ve been the recipient of strange (at best) modding. For that reason I no longer flag it if someone flames me.