RationalLunacy
Meeeoooowwww!! Pffffft!!!
Here we go again. 
Every so often, I've noticed, JUB goes into cycles of drama. We seem to be approaching high cycle right now. There are those, it seems, who like to take the forum rules to the nth degree and see how far they can push the envelope and see how many people they can annoy. On the other hand, there are individuals who appear to take great glee in chastising others for violating their personal interpretation of what is de rigeur on this forum.
With so many registered members, I must say that I think the owners and the mods, for the most part, do a marvelous job of keeping this medium fun, entertaining, and upbeat without it turning into a chaotic free-for-all. Unfortunately, every so often, the drama level here increases to the point where I have to think twice before hitting the "submit" button for fear that my spontaneous wit may be misinterpreted as something other than it was intended. Let's face it -- even though this is a semi-anonymous on-line message medium, no one likes to be scolded!
I realize that a tiny few here are just plain downright rude. Others have no sense of humor at all. I'd say that the vast majority of the membership lies somewhere between those two extremes. In a forum this large, the phrase "Can't we all just get along?" is simply not going to happen. We are too diverse a community. It personally disturbs me when I see that diversity being squelched by a thoughtless remark, the selfish need to have the last word, or by someone hellbent for leather on absolute enforcement of the rules with no room for interpretation, often times because they do not care for a particular individual.
My television remote control allows me the opportunity to change channels if I do not wish to view a particular program. I also frequently use the "mute" button during annoying commercials. Just the same on JUB, if I do not care for the subject of a particular thread, I move on to the next one. JUB also comes with it's own "mute" button -- it's called the "ignore" option.
As long as there isn't anything illegal, homophobic, or hurtful/prejudicial being posted, as far as I'm concerned, we needn't take this place so damned seriously. Yes, there are serious topics posted here, interspersed with humorous ones, but no one should feel like they are being scrutinized every time they see a certain person's green light on and hightail it off the board. (I've done this myself, I'm sorry to say.)
Sooooo.....before pouncing on someone because you think they are too serious, rude, silly -- whatever -- consider first the words of Herbert Spencer:
"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which can not fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance -- that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
I thrive on spontaneous humor -- not drama. However, once in a while, I need to pull up my bootstraps and put on my "serious" costume. Tonight is one of those nights. I'll be going to bed now. Good night.
Every so often, I've noticed, JUB goes into cycles of drama. We seem to be approaching high cycle right now. There are those, it seems, who like to take the forum rules to the nth degree and see how far they can push the envelope and see how many people they can annoy. On the other hand, there are individuals who appear to take great glee in chastising others for violating their personal interpretation of what is de rigeur on this forum.
With so many registered members, I must say that I think the owners and the mods, for the most part, do a marvelous job of keeping this medium fun, entertaining, and upbeat without it turning into a chaotic free-for-all. Unfortunately, every so often, the drama level here increases to the point where I have to think twice before hitting the "submit" button for fear that my spontaneous wit may be misinterpreted as something other than it was intended. Let's face it -- even though this is a semi-anonymous on-line message medium, no one likes to be scolded!
I realize that a tiny few here are just plain downright rude. Others have no sense of humor at all. I'd say that the vast majority of the membership lies somewhere between those two extremes. In a forum this large, the phrase "Can't we all just get along?" is simply not going to happen. We are too diverse a community. It personally disturbs me when I see that diversity being squelched by a thoughtless remark, the selfish need to have the last word, or by someone hellbent for leather on absolute enforcement of the rules with no room for interpretation, often times because they do not care for a particular individual.
My television remote control allows me the opportunity to change channels if I do not wish to view a particular program. I also frequently use the "mute" button during annoying commercials. Just the same on JUB, if I do not care for the subject of a particular thread, I move on to the next one. JUB also comes with it's own "mute" button -- it's called the "ignore" option.
As long as there isn't anything illegal, homophobic, or hurtful/prejudicial being posted, as far as I'm concerned, we needn't take this place so damned seriously. Yes, there are serious topics posted here, interspersed with humorous ones, but no one should feel like they are being scrutinized every time they see a certain person's green light on and hightail it off the board. (I've done this myself, I'm sorry to say.)
Sooooo.....before pouncing on someone because you think they are too serious, rude, silly -- whatever -- consider first the words of Herbert Spencer:
"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which can not fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance -- that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
I thrive on spontaneous humor -- not drama. However, once in a while, I need to pull up my bootstraps and put on my "serious" costume. Tonight is one of those nights. I'll be going to bed now. Good night.
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. (Not 
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