A look at recent posting behavior
I'll start by saying that this is not a reprimand toward any one person. If I felt this was an issue specific to one or two people, I would contact you privately.
We've come a long way as a community to keep this Helpline clean. Our community members seem to be more and more comfortable with reporting issues (and there are a lot less of them!) to the webmaster whether someone is advertising, promoting unlawful behavior, being insulting to others, or otherwise breaking rules. While some issues still pop up here and there, most are quite isolated and we do our best to clean that up when it happens with one exception.
Negativity can still be a significant issue here. The reason why this is a problem is that it drives regular community members, new members, and would-be members away. Seeing as we all are here with the goal to help people with their travels (if that isn't your goal, why are you here?), we shoot ourselves in the foot when we let negativity control our conversations.
Aside from direct insults which are clear examples that we all understand cause negativity, there are two main ways that we let this happen. First, we don't always respect each others' opinions enough. If you don't like someone elses' opinion, let it be and don't respond directly to it. You can, and should, post your own opinion to show a different and/or contrary viewpoint. However, on the flipside, if someone else responds in a way that is contrary to your posted opinion, let it be. If you feel attacked, contact the webmaster... though I would hope that all of us have the language skills to post a contrary opinion without attacking one another.
Webmaster
Edmonds, WA USA 8/25/11
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Second, don't respond directly to each other if you feel attacked. In at least 80% of the arguments that are moderated by the webmaster here, both parties feel that the other one started it. Seriously. What happens is that someone feels a varying sense of being disrespected/annoyed/slighted/offended/etc and they respond to it. Naturally, the person receiving that response then feels disrespected/annoyed/slighted/offended/etc and responds. Thus, both sides feel justified in their response. These responses are exactly what cause the arguments that appear on the Helpline which is why, despite your sense of justification, your actions are inappropriate. This is exactly why we have Guideline #5 and it is by far the most violated guideline we have. Most of you don't even realize you're doing it. As a reminder of this rule, "Avoid direct responses to others' comments as such behavior leads to bickering. Do not react openly to guideline violations. Someone else's violation is not an excuse for you to respond or react in a way that violates our guidelines. Stay on topic. Report violations."
The golden rule of forum behavior is that if you don't like something you see posted, move on. If you feel wronged/disrespected/annoyed/slighted/offended/etc, contact the webmaster. That's what we're here for. Following this will help everyone achieve what we're here for: helping (or getting help from) others.
I hope that reading through my explanation above will give you an awareness of your own behavior. We don't blame or think less of any of you for having behaved in this way in the past. Many of you don't behave like this at all (thank you!). You are all huge contrbutors, very helpful to others, and selfless with respect to your time that you give to others. We recognize that what happens here is, to an extent, human nature. However, it is something we can all improve upon to prevent fellow travelers from leaving our Helpline community and reinforce the notion that the Rick Steves community is here to inspire, inform and equip others to have European trips that are fun, affordable and culturally broadening.
Thank you for your understanding.
P.S. Please do not respond to this thread (and if someone does respond... don't respond to it!). If you have questions or concerns, please contact the webmaster privately. Please assume that discussion of improvements to the Helpline system is another topic entirely. We are acutely aware of this forum's technical shortcomings and are working toward improvements.