OK, my 2 cents.
These new members must not have much experience in forums or on the internet. One of the biggest drawbacks of communicating to strangers on-line is that we can not hear them. All we do is read what they say then in our head we add the tone of voice. Most of the time, it seems, we add a negative tone to anything that doesn't come across clearly. Even when a smiley face is added to the comment, some take that as someone making fun of them.
Most people who make comments are not trying to be insulting or make themselves seem "better" than the other person, so if the receiver of the comment "feels" he/she is being insulted then that is their problem.
I am not the greatest communicator and I do tend to be very direct and honest. Unfortunately, both of those traits are seen as being "aggressive" or "mean" by some people and that isn't my problem.
In my view, being direct SHOULD help cut down on having to repeat things because I am impatient about repeating things. If they don't understand what I said the first time, I try to find another way to state it so they can understand. I guess doing that can make them feel I am seeing them as stupid or whatever, but that just isn't the case.
So, if I understand this, by me trying to help, and them taking things wrong in their own head, they can report me for being rude or whatever.
Well, that just makes me NOT want to help new people.
I swear, so many people these days have to run to someone else to protect them because they are too thin skinned to handle things themselves.
I have received many, MANY responses to things I've said in the forums that I thought were a bit unnecessary, but so what. There are 2 options. Ignore it, or respond to them. The idea of running to someone to come protect me never crossed my mind. That's the nature of ANY forum, so if it bothers you, just stay out of forums. Seems simple enough. (Did anyone get offended by that?)
By the way, go ahead and rag on me for misspelling "member" in the title.
