An observation on the APS community

[Fitz]

This forum is, on many issues, most certainly not an echo chamber. We disagree (sometimes pretty vehemently) on various things.

Perusing the comments sections of articles, I routinely am struck by just how civil we are with one another compared to the rest of the world.

Even when we're total aholes to each other, we're nicer than most everyone else.

[Jocassee]

Hear, hear.
*golf clap*

[Monkeyleg]

APS is a rarity. There's forums like ARFCom where people are rude and obnoxious, but that's not the worst one. There's one I belong to where people are just plain mean. Newcomers get jumped on as soon as they post, and the language used would give Art's grammaw a heart attack.

I've told them about a place like APS, but they don't believe me.

[Fitz]

APS is a rarity. There's forums like ARFCom where people are rude and obnoxious, but that's not the worst one. There's one I belong to where people are just plain mean. Newcomers get jumped on as soon as they post, and the language used would give Art's grammaw a heart attack.

I've told them about a place like APS, but they don't believe me.

SHHHHHH. Don't tell them!

[French G.]

Doesn't mean we couldn't do better. The closer we get to elections the more I self ban myself from polyticks so as not to sound like some of the other deliberately obtuse, argumentative, and insulting posters. And I don't always succeed at that.

[MillCreek]

Doesn't mean we couldn't do better. The closer we get to elections the more I self ban myself from polyticks so as not to sound like some of the other deliberately obtuse, argumentative, and insulting posters. And I don't always succeed at that.

I think the overall level of civility here has dropped significantly over time, and it seems to be a function of certain participants.

[Brad Johnson]

This forum is, on many issues, most certainly not an echo chamber. We disagree (sometimes pretty vehemently) on various things.

Perusing the comments sections of articles, I routinely am struck by just how civil we are with one another compared to the rest of the world.

Even when we're total aholes to each other, we're nicer than most everyone else.

To you Sir, a toast.

Brad

[cambeul41]

One is more generally persuasive when polite.  The other party is then free to listen rather than react to objectionable language.

I have a rule for myself based on the idea that some employers search the Internet to learn the character of prospective employees. My rule? Don't say anything that would rule one out of being considered for a job. Of course my being pro-2A and right wing politically can be seen as negatives.

[Balog]

Doesn't mean we couldn't do better. The closer we get to elections the more I self ban myself from polyticks so as not to sound like some of the other deliberately obtuse, argumentative, and insulting posters. And I don't always succeed at that.

Indeed. I know I have been part of the problem in the past, so now I try hard to either just ignore those that consistently troll or just avoid the topic altogether. Or go and yell at people on arfcom, that's a good stress reliever as well. 

Like you said it doesn't always work so well for me, but there is still some progress. As we get closer to 2016 things will take their inevitable dip I would imagine.

[charby]

I think the overall level of civility here has dropped significantly over time, and it seems to be a function of certain participants.

If you think someone is being out of line, just let one of the mods know.

[Perd Hapley]

If you think someone is being out of line, just let one of the mods know.

Monkeyleg never did give me those moccasins.

[BlueStarLizzard]

I wonder how much of that is real attitude and issues, and how much is joking and ribbing read wrong.

I do agree that APS is probably one of the nicest places online, in terms of polite behavior, especially considering the topics under discussion. I also like the fact that the behavior is more self-inposed by the participants then forced by the moderators. It allows for much more freedom of expression and it keeps it feeling like a conversation among adults.

We may not all like each other, but we (mostly) respect each other.
I also really like that while you and another poster may be vehnimently opposed to each other in one thread, you can cut up and joke around with each other in another. There are very few grudges held between posters and there has always been the attitude of disagreeing on a specific opinion rather then just hating on everyone that disagrees with you forever and ever.

[wmenorr67]

I will add that over most other online forums a lot of our members have actually met in person and share a multitude of interests other than the 2nd Amendment.

I like to think in a lot of ways we are one huge dysfunctional family, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles...etc.

[charby]

Monkeyleg never did give me those moccasins.

[Fitz]

I wonder how much of that is real attitude and issues, and how much is joking and ribbing read wrong.

I do agree that APS is probably one of the nicest places online, in terms of polite behavior, especially considering the topics under discussion. I also like the fact that the behavior is more self-inposed by the participants then forced by the moderators. It allows for much more freedom of expression and it keeps it feeling like a conversation among adults.

We may not all like each other, but we (mostly) respect each other.
I also really like that while you and another poster may be vehnimently opposed to each other in one thread, you can cut up and joke around with each other in another. There are very few grudges held between posters and there has always been the attitude of disagreeing on a specific opinion rather then just hating on everyone that disagrees with you forever and ever.

You and I are proof of this. I distinctly remember a heated discussion or two between us happening in one thread, while things were all good in another.




Yeah, I'm occasioanlly not always in keeping with the standards of APS... but I try. I'm probably one of the worst, and that says something about the quality of membership here.

[Balog]

If you think someone is being out of line, just let one of the mods know.

Bwahahahahaha, good one. I used to believe that was a thing, so I used the report post function. Then a mod told me that I was essentially the only person using the report feature (one of three people to report a post that month iirc). Now I report spambots, and nothing else.

[BlueStarLizzard]

You and I are proof of this. I distinctly remember a heated discussion or two between us happening in one thread, while things were all good in another.




Yeah, I'm occasioanlly not always in keeping with the standards of APS... but I try. I'm probably one of the worst, and that says something about the quality of membership here.

Hell, I'm pretty sure I've been in fierce verbal battles with people on one thread and supporting their arguement in another. *chuckles*

Although, I'll shamefully admit that, on my part, some of that may be because I don't always pay attention to who's posting (although I've gotten much better at noting the left side of the screen) and just pay attention to the posts themselves.

[wmenorr67]

I do my best to attack the post/thought and not the person.  If I have an issue with an individual I try to resolve it through a PM.

[Balog]

Hell, I'm pretty sure I've been in fierce verbal battles with people on one thread and supporting their arguement in another. *chuckles*

Although, I'll shamefully admit that, on my part, some of that may be because I don't always pay attention to who's posting (although I've gotten much better at noting the left side of the screen) and just pay attention to the posts themselves.

On a lot of mobile devices when you zoom so the text is big enough to read the left hand section gets cut off, so I had a similar experience.

[BlueStarLizzard]

On a lot of mobile devices when you zoom so the text is big enough to read the left hand section gets cut off, so I had a similar experience.

I was actually much worse on the real computer.

I tend to notice the signatures more then the side, so people with a distinctive sigline were the first posters I tended to activly remember. During the name switching fests of old, I tended to only get really messed up when the signatures were changed. The second thing was avatars, and I still have to go back and check a lot if I've responding to a poster who doesn't have one, and when people change those I have "wtf? Who is this!?!" moments until I get used to it.

[birdman]

This forum is, on many issues, most certainly not an echo chamber. We disagree (sometimes pretty vehemently) on various things.

Perusing the comments sections of articles, I routinely am struck by just how civil we are with one another compared to the rest of the world.

Even when we're total aholes to each other, we're nicer than most everyone else.

I completely disagree, and you suck :)

[charby]

I do my best to attack the post/thought and not the person.  If I have an issue with an individual I try to resolve it through a PM.

KU got their ass handed to them in the Big 12 Tournament!

[Fitz]

I completely disagree, and you suck :)

WELL F*&K YOU THEN!

*drops 20 dollar bill*






note to mods: inside joke. Dont banschwerk me

[Regolith]

Bwahahahahaha, good one. I used to believe that was a thing, so I used the report post function. Then a mod told me that I was essentially the only person using the report feature (one of three people to report a post that month iirc). Now I report spambots, and nothing else.

Snitches get stitches. 

[lee n. field]

Bwahahahahaha, good one. I used to believe that was a thing, so I used the report post function. Then a mod told me that I was essentially the only person using the report feature (one of three people to report a post that month iirc). Now I report spambots, and nothing else.

I'll use it every once in a while, if I think the thread in general is going south.  And there are threads I drop out of entirely.