Re: Forum Rules Updates
 

That's not something to be proud of...at all.

You seem to be completely missing the point of why the threads were a problem.

Re: Forum Rules Updates
 

The threads where a problem because people like you think they HAVE to view every page and than complain about it when they don't like what has been said/viewed.

I DIDN'T shove this stuff down your throats. YOU CHOSE to click on the link.

What's the problem that I seem to be missing?

Re: Forum Rules Updates
 

Ok guys enough!
Matt this change had been talked about in one form or another for several months. The leadership of the site gets many complaints some legit and some not. We look into all complaints and take mental notes to predict future problems. Your recent post was just one instance that needed to be considered.

We (the leadership) after careful thought felt a small change was in order to like many have said, to point out that moderators will close threads if needed.

Please do not panic over the words non-robotic. The wording clarifies a safety valve when needed. We encourage the sharing of information and conversations regarding FIRST and robotics associated topics. Some spill over to other topics is expected and tolerated. The small change only brings to the forefront the rules already in place. We could wordsmith the rules to death but that would not be energy well spent. The rules we have at this moment are solid and fair but will always be under review.

Our moderators are very dedicated FIRST'ers and make the operation of the forums possible. Without them the forums would would be in chaos and not as friendly as they are.

When you see new posters, welcome them into the Community of FIRST. Shared with them your expertise and make them feel safe in this friendly atmosphere of FIRST.

Re: Forum Rules Updates
 

All right.

I've mulled this over, and honestly - I DO NOT see my error. I posted in the correct fourm. I didn't go all about screaming it with my head cut off. Just some people seemed to get 'disturbed' on a posting that was going on in the REAL WORLD. I can see if I was making it up, but what's wrong with posting something up in the real world? You DON'T HAVE TO REPLY do you?

Wanna talk more - pm me or drop me an e-mail. redwingvksm@gmail.com

Re: Forum Rules Updates
 

You may not have gone to that extent, but the way you respond to people's posts come off as being rude. Such as:

What's with all this caps stuff? Does that mean you're trying to emphasize a word or that you're just 'yelling' ? People might want to respond to someone who is genuinely just wanting to have a discussion, but no one likes to be batted down.

In my opinion, had you approached the topic with a cooler head and a lesser sense of "this is the almighty truth", then things would have gone over better. But you came out swinging saying that this is it, the facts - and the truth is that your sources could not be cited as entirely credible.

And perhaps those threads being closed and the response from the CD community is just telling you that maybe this isn't the best time to bring up certain topics. That seemed to be the case anyway.

Re: Forum Rules Updates
 

Also, those topics are sensitive and controversial and there are much better places to discuss it than CD. It just doesn't belong here, even in Chit-Chat. There are plenty of places much more suited to that form of discussion. When people tried to point that out to you, you responded in the method Ryan described in the previous post, which did not come across in a calm or respectful manner at all, thus irritating the people you've already stirred up. Not to be blunt, but I think it's time for this topic to get dropped, it's been dormant for a while and brought up again with you fighting to prove your point yet again, perhaps we all need to just let this remain in the past and not discuss it further.

Re: Forum Rules Updates
 

That means indrectly I've tolled you guys.

I post stuff that in the real world. Not ready to handle the real world? Agian, I DON'T make you post or anything for that matter.

Consider myself rent-free. Sorry Brandon - rember what I told you? It's comming soon to give the cd.com community to reailse that it's not NECESSARY to post in EVERY subject. Be warned. You may have the say now, but I'll always get the final saying in, no matter how/who/what.

Agian, I don't make you post and you still do otherwise. I'm not saying bash me, but how are opnions wrong? They aren't, and most of my negative rep points are from posting up FACTS about the real world. Does this make me a bad person? No, it makes you thin-skinned.


I don't plan on talking about this in this thread. I'll only respond to people in this thread if they make it public - wanna talk to me - dew it one-on-one. PM me or e-mail me - redwingvksm@gmail.com

Re: Forum Rules Updates
 

Matt,

I'm not sure if your comment, "I don't plan on talking about this in this thread. I'll only respond to people in this thread if they make it public -" means that you want a response in public or private. My apologies if I haven't figured out where your typo/error is that confuses me. I don't expect a response from you, but I did want to comment.

I'm just curious as to why you believe CD.com should/has to be a forum that allows all types of discussions. Don't owners/operators of any business/service have the right to create rules? Why should you feel that you are being singled out just because you are one of several people who have posted on controversial topics here? Moderators and Team 47 coaches have been discussing this sort of rule change for a very long time, most of it without ever mentioning your name or any other specific name for that matter. CD.com is about FIRST Robotics, related topics, and has a chit-chat section that allows some discussions to take place.

Indulge me in an analogy for a moment. Suppose I own a regulation-sized softball field and I say that only softball teams under proper supervision may utilize the field (think FIRST only discussion on CD). Then a little league baseball organization asks for permission to utilize the field. Gee, I hadn't considered that. It's hardball, but little league needs the same size and dimension of field and it makes sense. Besides it's no undue wear-and-tear on the field and not much extra work for the owner (think other robotics and similar discussions on CD). Now, other community organizations see little league baseball taking place on my softball field and they see that an exception has been made to the "softball-only" rule. So, these other organizations start using the field (think the advent of chit-chat on CD). Over time, some obtain permission, some don't. Some fit the field, some don't. Some are no extra work/problem for the owner, some are. The owner is a community oriented person and wants the field to be used, but starts to see that the local tractor pull team along with the polo league horses are creating quite a bit of extra work for the owner to keep the field in shape (think really controversial topics on CD.com that have no tie to robotics or FIRST). Thus, I go back and rewrite the original rule to state "Only softball and other approved activities may take place on this field. Under no circumstances may tractor pull, polo, or other similar activities that cause undue work for the owner take place on this field. The owner reserves the right to make all final decisions on field usage" (Think our current rule change on CD.)

This really isn't about you Matt and I think you actually stumbled on a great explanation in your own posts in this thread. You post in the "real world" which I assume is posting on other message boards around the internet. These other boards represent popular culture. FIRST, as you know, represents an effort to change the culture, which frequently goes against conventional and popular thinking that exists. Thus, it should be no surprise to anyone that CD.com elects to be a message board that is very different from those that exist in the popular culture.

It's my sincere hope that emotion will subside over time so we all can move forward together. Matt, you've been a wonderful contributor to CD in the past and I look forward to that continuing - within the rules of course. Namaste.

-Rich

Re: Forum Rules Updates
 

I think, in part, you just answered why the moderators can't allow this to continue. The CD community is a diverse one with many different opinions. When you bring controversial issues onto the forums, you (although unintentionally I am sure) may cause heated debates that are not in the spirit of FIRST. Discussions turn into heated battles and then moderators have to step in. The moderators are real people with real lives and I am sure they don't want to have to spend all of their time having to intervene and ending bitter conflicts. Nobody wants to see the CD forums turn into something its not meant to be.

Believe me when I say that I am not shooting you down because that is the last thing I am doing. Nobody is telling you that you shouldn't have or express your political views, but rather that you should express your opinions over PM or through another (non-CD)place more suitable for political discussions.

Re: Forum Rules Updates
 

To me, it is very simple. I choose not to let people shove things down my throat by using a little feature that works wonderfully everytime when it's needed: the Ignor list.

There is a link in everyone's profile that says "Add XXX to Your Ignore List". Just a simple click of the mouse, and problem solved :). No fighting, no arguing, no debating, no time wasted on anything I don't need to see. It's like turning off the TV when there's nothing interesting on it.

See ya later~

Re: Forum Rules Updates
 

Ok well i started my post at around 6:30 then had to go to class before i could finish, the posts since then seem to cover it, but if you have an urge to discuss politics please do so on these sites,

http://www.politicalcrossfire.com/
http://www.whistlestopper.com/
http://www.itsallpolitics.com/
http://www.politicalhotwire.com/
http://www.politicalforum.com/
http://www.politicalforums.com/

and take a look at this post by the Ever Awesome Brandon
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...58&postcount=7

Re: Forum Rules Updates
 

Okay guys seriously, theres enough controversy going on, can't we all just get along and be friends?

I mean yes, some people are right and some people are wrong, but we're just making this a hostile place if we just keep pointing fingers at everyone.

What he says is true, but do I think what he posted is 100% appropriate? No, so I took it upon myself to not click it. And the way he handeld the situation, he could of handeled it better, but if everyone was just accusing you of doing something, wouldn't you try to defend yourselfs to?

I'm not saying we have to like everyone, nor am I standing up for Matt Attallah. I'm just saying maybe we should just suck it up a little bit and if something is posted that we don't like, just ignore it.

But like Mike Martus said...
This isn't just about Matt Attallah. Its about what people are posting on CD and how everyone who is apart of CD is liable. To me this rule is just another step for those who make CD happen to make sure they don't get into any legal trouble. So yes, there is an addition to the forum rules, I don't think theres anyway we're going to change it, and if we did what would we get out of it? Nothing much.
----
And just a side note. I'm slightly disapointed in how this thread tuned out. I hight doubpt that when Brandon made this annoucement he wanted this thread to turn into a "Bash Matt Attallh" thread. This thread was suposted to be about the rule change, now look at it. It's terribly off topic. Which..I'll just leave it at that.

Re: Forum Rules Updates
 

It seems ironic that a thread about a rule to keep things robotics related and peaceful could be closed for hostility on the terms of the rule it was originally created to highlight.

Let's put this back on topic.

Re: Forum Rules Updates
 

Let's just close it .. everybody's had their chance to speak.