swordfights! deminishing the enjoyment of the forum

[SweetSecret]

Sanantone and I sparred, but we made up pretty quickly and I think she knows I appreciate and respect her input).

I think she & I had this issue as well, but it was short lived. I had a high level of respect for her when I first joined. We did butt heads on something awhile back, and I honestly can't even re-call what, because we were both civil enough to drop it. I still to this day hold her in very high regard with lots of respect!

[sanantone]

I think she & I had this issue as well, but it was short lived. I had a high level of respect for her when I first joined. We did butt heads on something awhile back, and I honestly can't even re-call what, because we were both civil enough to drop it. I still to this day hold her in very high regard!

Rebel100 and I butted heads over something that stemmed from a political discussion. There were a lot of people who butted heads over that. That's why they say you shouldn't discuss politics or religion. I normally don't hold grudges. There is one person who will indirectly attack me when I haven't even posted in a thread just because I pointed out a couple of her errors, so I mostly avoid her. She also supports people who have made racist and sexist comments and have called the Big 3 degree mills. I also try to avoid the individual who has made the racist and sexist comments. When it comes to a black and white issue of something like "does this test meet this requirement," I don't know why anyone would be offended by a correction. I've been corrected before when saying that a test didn't meet a requirement, and it didn't bother me. I was happy that the OP was able to receive the correct answer. When you become offended by a factual correction, then it means that your ego is more important than helping the OP.

[Prloko]

I agree with you 100%. It seems like every thread turns into a debate/argument over something. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but why does it take post after post after post to get your point across, why must you dig up things people have said in the past, etc. It is just getting old. I just don't understand the whole point. Offer what beneficial information you have and let the OP digest and make their own informed decision. You do not need to debate everything someone else has to say. If you have a bone to pick with someone, do it in private. It really is taking away from the forum, at least for me, and it seems to happen A LOT!

I agree, if you have a private issue, use the PM to have your discourse.

It also makes it difficult for anyone to pick out the good nuggets of information when it is drowned in drivel.

[dposborne]

That's actually a good idea. All debates that go off topic can be moved to a debate thread.

This probably wouldn't be a good idea considering I used to be a sailor (cussed like one too) and I'd end up saying something to get me banned for good LOL... Sometimes I have to read my posts 3 or 4 times over just to make sure I didn't say something stupid. Needless to say some of the more recent debates have really tested my ability to stay professional and courteous.

[sanantone]

This probably wouldn't be a good idea considering I used to be a sailor (cussed like one too) and I'd end up saying something to get me banned for good LOL... Sometimes I have to read my posts 3 or 4 times over just to make sure I didn't say something stupid. Needless to say some of the more recent debates have really tested my ability to stay professional and courteous.

LOL. I have seen many debates die, though, after being moved to a separate thread.

[KittenMittens]

I don't see anything wrong with civil debate. If someone is potentially giving out misleading information, then it should be pointed out. People have different points of view, and it's up to the individual to determine which point of view works best or makes the most sense for him or her. One new member has recently attracted debates from about a dozen different people. Her point of view is very different. It's just the way it is.

It’s not very different in general. Most people are looking for the easiest ways of completing credits - that’s what instantcert.com, 123collegedegree.com, and bain4weeks.com are mainly about. My views are just different to what some active posters believe on this very specific forum if we’re being precise. A large number of users, and people in general are of a similar sentiment as me it's just that it's harder to find those posts and users who don't post nearly as frequently as some of you do. I always provide evidence for my claims too which is why I speak confidently on these things, and nothing is more compelling than hard facts.

its the non relevant ping ponging back and forth that I'm finding tiresome from certain people who have arrived and contention that has followed.

Well, it’s like the pot calling the kettle black and it takes two to tango. Inevitably, debate is going to happen when there is a disjunct in opinion. Naturally, that will entail some level of conflict, hopefully civil. But contention isn’t always a bad thing, it can lead to greater understanding of something. A lot of people have stood up against the majority, for example, scientists, feminists, civil rights activists, gays, etc. and many try to suppress or quell their opinions, but eventually that leads to greater awareness and acceptance. A lot of people to this day are against the freedoms of gays, immigrants, minorities, etc. and even against scientific concepts and principles, so I am all for embracing civil debate for the sake of progress and advancement.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but why does it take post after post after post to get your point across, why must you dig up things people have said in the past, etc. It is just getting old. I just don't understand the whole point. Offer what beneficial information you have and let the OP digest and make their own informed decision. You do not need to debate everything someone else has to say.

Since I’m being indirectly addressed, I’ll explain it here. My points will often be taken out of context, or misunderstood since some people here will try to argue some things over semantics or technicalities in my arguments. It ends up like that when the other side partakes in arguing tit-for-tat as well. Pot calling the kettle black.

Almost every single person who has posted or liked something in this thread so far has had a disagreement or more with the same individual in the past month. If the person is not breaking the rules, what can you do?

Well, you did call to censor me and my thread, so you could always do that again. A few forum users here are not representative of the entire internet community, and as I’ve said elsewhere, there tends to be a herd mentality on what prevailing views are. That effect becomes more amplified the smaller the user base is.

The goal was to hopefully educate the OP on different methods of earning credit to complete a degree. It was not my way or the highway...but simply this was the method I used, here are a few others, you choose. I felt like a kid in a candy store when I encountered this forum. I have to be honest and say, had I been introduced recently, I would have had a much different first impression.

That’s a straw man fallacy you’re making. I’ve never indicated, stated, or implied that it’s my way or the highway. I have never said that one cannot go to TESC or Excelsior or that there is only one way to do things. I merely present arguments for and against different options and I’ve even considered options and admitted where my ideas or plans may not fit.

There is one person who will indirectly attack me when I haven't even posted in a thread just because I pointed out a couple of her errors, so I mostly avoid her. She also supports people who have made racist and sexist comments and have called the Big 3 degree mills. I also try to avoid the individual who has made the racist and sexist comments.

I assume you’re referring to me. I’m not sure if you are insinuating that I support people who make racist and sexist comments or that the big 3 are degree mills (which I do think they are to some degree if testing out of a degree in a few months) or if this is being directed elsewhere considering that this thread is directed towards me (and passively aggressively so). If it's not me, then my apologies.

[Lindagerr]

When I joined this forum way back in 2007 the idea was we were helping each other to think differently about how to complete our degree. The operative word there is help, no one was put down for stating their opinion and everyone knew it was just opinion. Anyone who comes here should know we are not official college administrators and everything we say is just from our own experience or what we have heard from others. Anything read here needs to be confirmed with the school the reader is attending.

I do not return to this forum to read long winded debates, I come here to pay forward all of the advice and support I have been given.
I do not come here to be attacked for stating my opinion, if you disagree with me try stating it in a friendly non accusatory tone.
I do not come here for political commentary, if you want that you can discuss it in the off topic thread.
I do not come here to listen to bigotry or slander, there are plenty of other forum you can go to if you want that.

Please try to remember no one is making money for or has to give their advice, we do it to help others that is all.

[bricabrac]

Originally Posted by bricabrac
The goal was to hopefully educate the OP on different methods of earning credit to complete a degree. It was not my way or the highway...but simply this was the method I used, here are a few others, you choose. I felt like a kid in a candy store when I encountered this forum. I have to be honest and say, had I been introduced recently, I would have had a much different first impression.

That’s a straw man fallacy you’re making. I’ve never indicated, stated, or implied that it’s my way or the highway. I have never said that one cannot go to TESC or Excelsior or that there is only one way to do things. I merely present arguments for and against different options and I’ve even considered options and admitted where my ideas or plans may not fit.

KittenMittens,

My post did not address you nor speak to anything you said specifically. As stated in my post, which if you missed was addressed to EI2HCB, I was spraking to the current forum culture; which unless otherwise stated, would include everyone. BTW, I don't have a problem quoting someone when referencing them directly. Please refrain from including me in your diatribe; not interested in being party to this.

Thank you in advance.

[KittenMittens]

KittenMittens,

My post did not address you nor speak to anything you said specifically. As stated in my post, which if you missed was addressed to EI2HCB, I was spraking to the current forum culture; which unless otherwise stated, would include everyone. BTW, I don't have a problem quoting someone when referencing them directly. Please refrain from including me in your diatribe; not interested in being party to this.

Thank you in advance.

See that's the problem with what you're saying. One one hand you discuss the current "forum culture" yet the tone and context of the thread is clearly about me. I have no problem with that, but just don't pretend that the "current forum culture" isn't about me which is really what this thread is getting at. My comments are as much of a "diatribe" as the ones in this thread as well. Nor am I interested in being a party of this as well, though I will take the opportunity to clarify myself as needed and call people out when they're indirectly referring to me.

[Tedium]

I agree that things have taken a turn for the worse lately. I may not be the prolific poster that other members are, but I do stop in and read the threads here often, if not daily. This is supposed to be a Q&A operation; people come here with questions and we try and give them answers. Anything past that is going against the spirit of why this forum and InstantCert are here to begin with. There is absolutely no room for ego or trash talk or any of the other ridiculousness that has been going on lately. There just isn't. The internet is filled to the brim with other forums and communities where that sort of childishness is acceptable. If that's how you need to get your rocks off then find somewhere else to do it. This forum should be about love, respect, and self-improvement.

That being said, I love all of you guys and I'm glad that I found you when I did. Let's all just try a little harder to keep our eyes on the prize.