Oh my gosh. I am so sorry you have experienced that. I strongly urge people to report these things. They shouldn't happen. I know not everyone has found the "report an issue" link on the bottoms of pages and some still don't know that I'm here to report to as well. The new site has better reporting tools, including "report" buttons by all types of content and a "feedback" tab that appears on every page on the desktop site (also in the menu). The feedback option will enable people to report anonymously as well, if they're logged out. I know that some people are worried their name will slip out. I hope that these will help increase reporting of issues, so that they aren't left unattended to.

I sincerely appreciate your thoughtful response and hope that it resonates with others as it has with me. 

Avoid starting with the word "you." Best not to use it at all.

Avoid slang names.

It works better to start with the word, "I."

When we accept that our ideas are ours, we leave space for others to have theirs.

And this is the essence of respect.

Beautifully said. 

Its not, on social media

Manichean     or Manichaean

It's not possible because people don't separate the two or because it's truly impossible?

It's about showing respect towards other livings:

- Treat people as individuals.
[Don't stigmatise people because of colour/politics/religion/sexuality]

- Drop hate speech.
[Make your valid arguments, use sources but be aware they might be biased and thereby be open to criticise]

- Don't post if you don't want to hear what other have to add on your topic.
[listen and take the discussion if disagreeing with each other, eventually close the discussion down by agreeing to disagree.. It is actually okay to disagree in a democracy]

- Respond to the post/comment.
[Don't make up your own assumptions]


- DON'T MAKE IT PERSONAL.
[Criticising someone for not being consistent in their behaviour towards what they ask from others ISN'T a personal attack IF it's part of the discussion. Calling people names like fat, homo, ugly, whore etc. IS a personal attack unless we know anything about the others traits/life situation.. It still ISN'T necessary to point out though as an argument in a discussion, and thereby disrespectful and plain stupid. Wishing people all kinds of misery like cancer for their family, death, rape etc. IS A PERSONAL ATTACK and has no place]


Extra remark. There will be a grey zone where admins will have to decide whether the behaviour of a member is following another member to harass them, or not. This is the real hard challenge though, for both admins, aggressor and target.

Thank you.

Possible it could be made clearer and simpler.

I'll do some research and think about it.

I like to recommend the on-line videos of Marshall B Rosenberg on Non-Violent Communication. He makes it very simple. He's written many books covering almost every application. And during his life, he achieved some spectacular results.

Hello JA:

If people don't understand polite conversation, there ain't NOTHING you can say that will help them understand it.

excon

People have to understand that "free speech" comes with responsibilities.  One of those is being respectful of rules and other human beings. We can all learn how to express ourselves within those guidelines.

@DJAM -- For some reason I decided to look up some of 25-cent words I frequently see thrown around in (relatively) highbrow political discourse. I had a context-based notion of what Manichean meant. Now I (and you) have a more explicit notion.

Next up: revanchist...;-D...

Smokin!   (as in a visible suspension of carbon or other particles in air, typically one emitted from a burning substance)

Maybe this site would help:  http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Tactful

Love it!  

"I am unaware of any reliable methods for helping people who are strongly motivated in this fashion to understand how others perceive their behavior."

So true and very hard to remember when tempted to at least be heard by those that really have no desire to have a true discussion.  

I like 'eristical'.  :)  

Basically, 'argumentative, disputatious, controversial'

I'm not familiar with his work, but I'll look him up.

Well said.

I was hopeful that maybe if they had a tangible guide from their peers in a non-confrontational manner, that they might be able to open their eyes a bit and use the words listed here as a measuring stick. You could be right, though. Time will tell. 

Love it!

*like*

*like*