Be Respectful to Others

[Guard Dog]

EVERYONE (no particular finger pointing here):

Over the last month I've noticed more and more negative posts here at AGD and a lot more 'attack' style posts. I have also had a record number of people approach me about this. Many great affiliates come to AGD for the simple fact that we act professional towards one another and produce very helpful threads and topics. These are the type of webmasters that we should all want to surround us, keep us on track, and share great ideas with.


Here are some of the excerpts of comments I have received over the last 3 weeks time:

'It's simply not worth posting anymore if people are going to bash me and anything I discuss'

'The members at AGD are not allowing communication of many topics and it's frustrating me!'

'I'm done with AGD. Tired of being thrashed. Sorry.'

'People are iritating the hell out of me, I request my account be closed'



Those are only a select few of the nicer comments, BTW, and only from some very highly regarded webmasters None are from today or even this week - I will not publish those, it's too soon to do that and make the webmaster feel like they have been 'sold out'.

The reason I even publish the ones above is to let folks know that it is time for me to step in and simply not allow this.

I am creating a plugin for vBulletin which will notify you when you are out of line. It will come with privilege decreases and eventually banning if the attitude isn't changed.

Sorry to be so direct, but I added forums at AGD in order to be able to have a nice community of very qualified/serious webmasters and a level of discussion not seen everywhere these days.

It's time to treat everyone as if you are standing in front of them - with RESPECT!

[Guard Dog]

Well, I guess the first warnings are given without the vBulletin MOD.

Thanks to Simmo and Arkyt, they are now both set up with limited privileges. Sorry if this irritates people, but I want AGD to be the professional board we should ALL hope to have here.

Andy

[arkyt]

Wooohooo - I get personally attacked by a member of the good ole boys and I get limited privileges - thanks and have a great holiday season.

[dominique]

Arkyt, YOU are a good ole boy. You've been around for a long time. Probably longer than most that are here.

[arkyt]

Arkyt, YOU are a good ole boy. You've been around for a long time. Probably longer than most that are here.

I ain't a part of any clique! Sure I've been around longer than most 9+ years, the last 7 years I been doing this full time, but I have always been the primary oponent of the cash cow affiliates sites and fraudsters alike always more than willing to tell it exactly how I see it never holding a punch back!

[AussieDave]

Hi All,

I was going to make a completely different post. However doing so would amplify the reason this thread exists. Granted it would be ironic, it may have produced a few sh#ts and giggles but it would definitely be counter productive.

I'm all for everyone being professional and maintaining a forum that is not a hot spot for flames and generalised stupidity.

However I don't think anyone should lose sight of the fact the AGD catch cry is "Protecting Affiliates Interests". Does this only mean this forum exists to enlighten affiliates about aff programs changing their T&C's. I certainly hope not.

Or does it also include a means for affiliates to watch each others backs!

If it includes the latter, there will be times when threads of this nature become passionate and heated - never lose sight of the fact people's income and livelihood are always at stake.

I agree snide & or personal attacks degrade not only the person on the receiving end but also the forum that allows it. However I'm also a strong believer in shooting from the hip.

As a member of AGD I'm willing to embrace what's been pointed out by the OP. On the same token though, it needs to be one rule for all. These need to be clearly defined and laid out - set in stone if you like!

Having experienced being publicly chastised for hijacking a thread, only to see others get away with the same actions, makes an ass out of anyone who uses this hit & miss doctrine.

In closing, forums bring together people not only from different cultural backgrounds but also people with different values. Combining these into a medium like this and your bound to get misinterpretation which are likely to fuel heated discussion.

Maybe it's time for some more Mods to be added.


Cheers



Dave

[Guard Dog]

I agree, Dave. Rules should apply to all.

I try very hard not to interfere with threads no matter who derails it. I've done that for quite some time and there have been few cases where I have intervened. Maybe there should be more interventions, but I prefer to let things ride unless they become counterproductive.

I'll work on that part, that is my own cross to bear, but certainly admit I have not *in all cases* stepped in.

Will there be disagreements, yes. But should we allow the anonymity of the web allow us to say things we wouldn't normally say... NO. And should we beat down people into silence... NO.

I stand by the reason for above, but agree that I will have to be more fair in the future. In the first offense mentioned above, I was as fair as fair can be.

and.... if there is an 'ole boys club', I have not been invited.

[NoDepositCasino]

Thumbs up for ensuring that important things like these - that can bring a community closer together or make it fall apart - are being addressed head-on and do not fall through the cracks.

[dominique]

There isn't any old boys club - just a bunch of old timers who all got to know each other over the years and who post in various forums and exchange ideas there. And Arkyt and Andy and Simmo and Webscaz and Dave and King and Christine and and and....dozens more are all part of it.

We are all very different people with different backgrounds, live all over the world and sometimes perceive things very differently, but we have one thing in common: this industry.

Sometimes we have different outlooks and opinions - but that is what makes message boards useful in the first place.

I wish everyone would just sit back and accept others the way they are and focus on what we are all here for - to make this industry a better place for affiliates and players.

The issue is not derailing threads (can't think of anyone who hasn't done so at one time or another) or presenting opposing opinions - the issue is personally attacking one another. Once that starts, it goes round and round and sooner or later everyone feels attacked. Reminds me of kids throwing sand at each other in a sand box - soon it will get into everyone's eyes and everyone cries.

That sort of thing helps no one. We got work to do here, and we are a community, a family. We need to get over the differences and focus on our goals, and then we will rock.

[Guard Dog]

Being respectful of AussieDave's and Arkyt's wishes, I have closed their accounts at AGD. I wish them well.

Screw it...I'm out here, close my account!

and

If AussieDave closed his account - close mine too!