I'll add two things. Newbies - I'm also pretty new here. I have no props earned. Also, I think we've gotten mostly splendid newbies, with only one difficulty and he was suspended.

I also have no grammar.

I’ve seen it denied here, but the naked truth is that this community does have a distinct tendency to tell newbies “shut up and wait” in no uncertain terms.

I'm so new here that sometimes I even offend myself. Although my opinion may not matter much to some, I want the old-timers to know that newbies get excellent treatment here. Newbie posts are never flamed or disparaged, you don't hear old-timers constantly nagging newbies to read the FAQ, or saying such-and-such was discussed just last week. At worst a newbie post may be ignored.

I also want to say its refreshing that this community is very open about everything. I'm gratified that stompy feeters and other buffista old-timers discuss "housekeeping" issues in open forums and give even newbies a chance to give input on these topics. I'm sure it would be tempting to have an "admin" only thread with password access or limited posting ability and I'm glad there's none here. It's like the Sunshine Act.

I think the problem NOW is that we're talking about "how you talk to friends" vs. "how you talk to strangers" when that is rarely, and in this case clearly not, the issue.

The issue is that someone took a clumsily worded but entirely inoffensive remark, that was not directed at any specific person, badly, name calling ensued and when the person who made the initial remark defended their position they were soundly blasted by a large group of people. Seemingly for having the gall to defend himself.

Of course there are differences in how I talk to you guys vs. how I talk to my friends. I'm MUCH cruder with my friends. But that's not what started the recent event.

I've read so much, I want to make sure I'm following and am not purposefully playing obtuse. I'm just asking outright with names. MM are you referring to Rob's comment on Schmoker's '6 person audience' post?

The issue is that someone took a clumsily worded but entirely inoffensive remark, that was not directed at any specific person, badly, name calling ensued and when the person who made the initial remark defended their position they were soundly blasted by a large group of people. Seemingly for having the gall to defend himself.

I made this point once before. Everyone is free to defend themselves ad nauseam, and everyone else is free to jump down everyone's throat for doing it. If you don't want to get bitch-slapped, don't be a wiseass.

Yes.

If you don't want to get bitch-slapped, don't be a wiseass.

Ah. Well, then, there goes most of my conversation.

Or most of the conversation in Natter.

Or 80% or so of the conversation in the show threads.

MM, the "clumsily worded but inoffensive remark" was on the heels of a long series of "people who don't like the kind of tv I do are stupid" posts that I, personally, found to be quite offensive. In all three show threads. So while, yes, the specific remark he brought up here may have been relatively innocuous on its own, iin context it was just one more obnoxious remark from someone who had been pissing me off all week.

So it's the "straw that broke the camel's back" argument?

I don't see how his poor timing warranted the treatment he received.