Is there any chance of discussing a particular topic without people getting personal and picking at each other? Seems quite tedious to open a post with a new comment on it with great interest only to find its actually someone having a pop at someone's reply. Its dull, please stop.

Is there any chance of discussing a particular topic without people getting personal and picking at each other? Seems quite tedious to open a post with a new comment on it with great interest only to find its actually someone having a pop at someone's reply. Its dull, please stop.

i couldnt agree more! i come on here to give advice and take it. :D

Many contentious issues are discussed on here, and views are defended somewhat passionately at times. I agree though that abuse aimed at the person, not the opinion, is rather tedious. It seems that occasionally some people have a bit of trouble distinguishing between the person and the person's opinion. Criticise my views by all means, but don't get personal. It's silly.

In contrast, someone might chuck in a deliberately provocative reply (eg. dogs are evil. Shoot them all), apparantly trolling for a response from the dog lovers. Substitute 'cats' for 'dogs' in that sentence, and I occasionally find it difficult to refrain from calling the alleged troll a moron.

Many contentious issues are discussed on here, and views are defended somewhat passionately at times. I agree though that abuse aimed at the person, not the opinion, is rather tedious. It seems that occasionally some people have a bit of trouble distinguishing between the person and the person's opinion. Criticise my views by all means, but don't get personal. It's silly.

In contrast, someone might chuck in a deliberately provocative reply (eg. dogs are evil. Shoot them all), apparantly trolling for a response from the dog lovers. Substitute 'cats' for 'dogs' in that sentence, and I occasionally find it difficult to refrain from calling the alleged troll a moron.

Fair enough, but some people seem to be carrying on arguments from what appears to be a while ago and unrelated to the topic, which is irritating.

Is there any chance of discussing a particular topic without people getting personal and picking at each other?

Two chances;Slim and none. It really wouldn't be half the fun though if everybody was polite and helpful .....

Fair enough, but some people seem to be carrying on arguments from what appears to be a while ago and unrelated to the topic, which is irritating.
I know. Sometimes it's self-perpetuating though. When someone confuses the personality with the opinion and starts to type abuse accordingly, the natural response is to retaliate. Maybe not to retaliate in kind by throwing back personal abuse, but by pointing out the error of their ways. If the original poster takes that as a criticism.... well, you're off.

It would take quite a strong effort of will not to respond when views are being defended passionately, especially when the debate is getting a bit heated. As long as it (mostly) sticks to criticism of the opinion, I'm happy. We're all human though. If mud gets thrown, the temptation is to sling some back.

As long as it doesn't go wildly far off topic, I like how a thread evolves to take in a few side issues that are still relevant to the original topic. For example, a thread on text speak, might also discuss grammar for a little while, before going back to discuss text speak. Makes for an interesting discussion and saves a bit of space that would otherwise be taken up by a separte thread.

there are a lot of self pleasurers on here which makes any sort of discussion pointless...

there are a lot of self pleasurers on here which makes any sort of discussion pointless...

I think I can safely say that most members of the forum (male and female) indulge in a little self pleasure from time to time :heyhey:

Without being overly cynical, all internet message board sites are like this. Anywhere that a group of people meet up online and discuss things you're always going to have arguments, flaming, trolls, personal insults and user feuds. You can't stop it any more than you can stop the sun rising each morning.

It's all about keeping it in perspective and assessing the overall quality of the site, as opposed to focusing on the (inevitable) bad points.

:)

Without being overly cynical, all internet message board sites are like this.

I wouldn't say all message boards. Boards that are for a common hobby/interest, instead of all just being from the same place, tend to all get along better in my opinion.