soda wrote:I'm okay with discussing a topic as long as the other participants don't start to take it personally. Once someone views my opposing opinion as a personal attack then I opt out of the conversation because it quickly goes downhill. When entering such a conversation, the participants should recognize that their opinion will be challenged and should learn to end the conversation with: 'Then let's agree to disagree.'
I also think there is a learning curve to online discussions of this sort. Some get it more quickly than others and the art of simply stating one's opinion without a trace of a personal attack is difficult. It's also difficult to stay focused. Many times there are phrases or comments that someone says that sidetracks the conversation. I think it's when the conversation gets sidetracked that the nastyness starts.
Best to enter into these things rarely.
Indeed.
It's very unfortunate that we've lost a great member of beta.
Hopefully, in time, perhaps she will make some periodic appearances, like dbzmomma (who herself, unfortunaltely, seemed to be put-off by the whole X-mas... pic... thing).
Anyway, point being that an on-line conversation between people who don't really know and can't
see each other needs to be taken less personally. When things
do get personal (as they sometimes will) and all esle fails, you gotta be able to just walk away. I mean hey, it's just digital.
