Chile Forum

Looks like Hightower is deleting himself off the forum.

No farewell address Hightower?

Yeah noticed that the other day when doing a search on some topic.

You know, I did not agree with PDC on very much, but he was definitely a nice, civilized sort of guy. Bummer he's gone, I almost miss being scolded for making un-PC generalizations.

For all that disagreements here can be pretty sharp, there are really only two posters with whom I'd just as soon never speak, for any reason. Well, only one, now. Bye-Bye.

John Hyre

JHyre wrote:You know, I did not agree with PDC on very much, but he was definitely a nice, civilized sort of guy. Bummer he's gone, I almost miss being scolded for making un-PC generalizations.

For all that disagreements here can be pretty sharp, there are really only two posters with whom I'd just as soon never speak, for any reason. Well, only one, now. Bye-Bye.

John Hyre

i just noticed? what happened?

zer0nz wrote:i just noticed? what happened?

I can't say what happened in this particular case, but in general terms I would offer that this forum is becoming a hostile place for people who do not hold the same views as a (generally libertarian in the US-sense of the word, and very black-and-white) hard core of posters. Add inconsistent moderation (yes, I read Olivier's post, it went some way to making the situation better), plus an implicit promise that anyone disagreeing with the core values expressed in the forum will be drowned under a deluge of riot p0rn, or whatever comes to hand, and you've got the picture I think.

Funny. When I first started posting here, I felt the place was a haven for anti-Bush, anti-US, pro-left sentiment, with some "off the grid" (looking more attractive lately) types thrown in for good measure. Instead of whining or leaving, figured I'd get into the fray and tilt the scales a bit. Hostile? Yeah, if by "hostile" one means "others do not agree with you and will argue their point hard", this place is definitely "hostile".

I do not agree, for example, with Spang or john on plenty. But somehow, we manage to have a civilized exchange here & again. Perhaps hostile is as hostile does?

I might agree in re moderating forum. I'd keep the poli-talk for hits, but also keep it off of Board Index and in the Lobby, allowing Chile threads to be Chile threads, and perhaps not scare off people looking for Chile info, but not flaming ideological wars. But I ain't in charge, and have no pecuniary interest in the site, so my opinion is just that & no more.

John Hyre

Frank,

Being outnumbered at times or overwhelmed after an innocent or intentionally provocative post is not equal to POST DELETION better known as CENSORSHIP which some falsely accuse this forum of in the spirit of a bitter sore loser.

Even I have been jumped on which on an average forum would never be allowed against moderators or admins.

You've got to admit we've done pretty good with the diversity of expats from all parts of the English speaking world and beyond to Chile expats returning and abroad.

eeuunikkeiexpat wrote:Being outnumbered at times or overwhelmed after an innocent or intentionally provocative post is not equal to POST DELETION better known as CENSORSHIP which some falsely accuse this forum of in the spirit of a bitter sore loser.

Even I have been jumped on which on an average forum would never be allowed against moderators or admins.

I hear you. Deleting posts is an extreme reaction... it's happened before, I don't agree with it, I'm just suggesting why it might be happening.

I agreed with much of John's post as well... something wrong here , but to this:

JHyre wrote: Hostile? Yeah, if by "hostile" one means "others do not agree with you and will argue their point hard", this place is definitely "hostile".

We can have a civilized exchange of views and even a decent argument with no hard feelings but I would say that posting 100 times when one post would do isn't arguing the point hard any more.

On line forums and social media are fascinating from a social-psychological perspective. It's interesting how emotional folks can get, based on text only communication with people they have never met and likely never will meet. I understand being annoyed at being misunderstood, or misquoted, or insulted or whatever...but geez....some of this stuff is really elementary school level behavior. Just walk away and spend some time in the real world instead of getting so absorbed in the fantasy bubble of cyber space.

I don't really understand the thing about deleting posts. Is that supposed to be punishment of some kind? A temper tantrum? What is that? If someone wants to delete personal information for security purposes, fine, but why ruin an informative thread? That seems retaliatory to me. What's the point of that? I have an image in my head of an angry 5 year old with his arms crossed who says..i hate you...i'll never talk to you again...wah!

Regarding post self-deletion: I admit El P, eeuunikkeiexpat, Rune, Hightower and others have not set a good example here but then again, this is a free flowing forum of little to non-existent moderation, it be the animal it be, (so why spend the time criticizing it when you should be outside chopping wood? ).

Px,

Beware! Patagonia may become (by default) the last frontier for disillusioned 'libertarians'.

cali_chile48 wrote:On line forums and social media are fascinating from a social-psychological perspective.
...
I have an image in my head of an angry 5 year old with his arms crossed who says..i hate you...i'll never talk to you again...wah!

Aaaah, a head-shrink...

Where's that dot when I need it?

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