A Little Perspective

July 15th, 2007 at 7:04 PM

Folks, when we started out, we wanted a place where we did not have heavy rules and expected the members to police themselves. In the early days we got away with it but for a while, it has become harder and harder to operate without having a reminder.

To get us back on track, it is important that we all remember the idea that first prompted Scott to start SMP. Maybe that has been lost over the last few years because it has been so long since we started out, so I would like to remind everybody about the way they are expected to conduct themselves while they are on here.

Respect other members. (The most important rule of all)

If there is a debate going, do not try to win it by shouting the other person down. Anytime a thread deteriorates into a slagging match any good points that could have been raised are lost. Just because a person disagrees with you, does not mean they are wrong. By all means, say what you feel but do not step into the personal attack territory. If we witness any personal attacks, we shall step in and deal with it. This may be in the form of asking a person to reconsider their post or if we feel that it should not be left on the forum, we will either edit it ourselves or remove it. If we have to step in, then it will more than likely result in a warning, or a ban of some description.

It gives me no pleasure having to do this, so I would rather have you folks use your head when posting. If something has upset you, then count to ten before you post a reply. Do not call anybody names or throw insults. Win an argument based on sound judgement and facts.

If you have a problem with a post, contact either myself or one of the other mods. Do not get yourself into the predicament of fuelling an already heated situation.

This place is supposed to be here for people to enjoy themselves and have a laugh. We are not here to have fights or bad feeling. We are here to make friends and have a chat. We have got this far by sticking to the ideals that started SMP and I do not want to have to start changing them now. This was supposed to be a place where people could chill, ask questions and enjoy themselves without fear of being ridiculed by others. Maybe that is why we have so many newbies who start posting as soon as the 2 day wait is up. I would like to think they know they can ask a question and get a decent answer back without someone trying to be patronising to them. We all have to learn at some stage and we are all still learning. The day we stop learning is the day we die....

Get a grip folks and lets get back to the original concept. Every forum seems to go downhill because nutters infest it. I am not going to let that happen without a fight. I have seen it too many times to let all the hard work go to waste. Remember though, we will only manage to keep the forum at the level we have previously attained, if all of you work with us.

Remember folks.. Keep your head whilst those around you....

Your comments are welcome, pm me directly. If people disagree with what I have said, then make your opinions known and tell me why.