[Chris Campbell]

Are we really going to get our knickers in a twist every time someone hits the ratings button?

This forum has been the most respectful public forum I have been on. Unfortunately that feature is built into the software and some people hit it for reasons unknown. They might think they are saying they don't agree with the post but are not commenting on the person behind it. Maybe there are even a few who hit it to stir things up or push someone's buttons in a passive aggressive anonymous way ... BUT ....the majority here are excellent folks who honestly want to help and we shouldn't be judged by a few random acts.

As Mea says, only post messages you believe in and stand behind.
Then, does it matter if someone clicks that button? Unless they have the courage to honestly stand up to state and defend their opinion I don't think it counts at all.

[JBaymore]

Chris Campbell, on 14 February 2012 - 11:47 AM, said:

Are we really going to get our knickers in a twist every time someone hits the ratings button?

This forum has been the most respectful public forum I have been on. Unfortunately that feature is built into the software and some people hit it for reasons unknown. They might think they are saying they don't agree with the post but are not commenting on the person behind it. Maybe there are even a few who hit it to stir things up or push someone's buttons in a passive aggressive anonymous way ... BUT ....the majority here are excellent folks who honestly want to help and we shouldn't be judged by a few random acts.

As Mea says, only post messages you believe in and stand behind.
Then, does it matter if someone clicks that button? Unless they have the courage to honestly stand up to state and defend their opinion I don't think it counts at all.

What she said!

best,

..............john

[Idaho Potter]

Yes, I've noticed that testiness has been creeping into some comments. If you have a bone to pick with someone or want to get personal, be upfront about it and send them an email. It could be that other person is carrying a heavy burden of their own that comes out in their comments. It could turn out that you share a lot of the same ideas and feelings, and by reaching out you could acquire a new friend.

Rather than stirring up contentious feelings within the thread, check out your own reactions to what has been posted and maybe wait a day before replying.

[Pres]

Idaho Potter, on 14 February 2012 - 01:52 PM, said:

Yes, I've noticed that testiness has been creeping into some comments. If you have a bone to pick with someone or want to get personal, be upfront about it and send them an email. It could be that other person is carrying a heavy burden of their own that comes out in their comments. It could turn out that you share a lot of the same ideas and feelings, and by reaching out you could acquire a new friend.

Rather than stirring up contentious feelings within the thread, check out your own reactions to what has been posted and maybe wait a day before replying.

Wow! talk about ways of starting a discussion. At any rate the thoughts here mimic my own, as I would think an adult would approach a post with sincerity and conviction. None of us have all of the answers, and that is one of the reasons we are here. I too have been bothered by the negative feelings that have seemed to permeate the forum of late. I would hope that folks can get beyond this as the community here has been very helpful to so many of us looking for answers to the specific and the broad. Just a personal opinion.

[~janie]

I see a red -1 on your post, is that what you are talking about?

I would not have noticed it, had you not said something about this subject.

I just figure I can't please everybody all the time, although I would hope to not upset anyone, hurt any feelings, or get any knickers in a bind. I am here to learn as much as I possibly can, and if I can share something that I know that might help someone, then I would be happy, happy.

I hate getting my knickers in an uproar.

I agree with the comments posted.

[Chris Campbell]

That is so funny ... putting the minus on my post!! I had not noticed.
But that brings my rep to 13 which has always been my lucky number.
Cool!

[Marcia Selsor]

I gave myself a minus early on thinking it was a delete button. since then, I really haven't paid attention to it.
Mea helped me rectify my mistake. I haven't really paid attention to them since then.
Marcia

[lynny]

Hi all,
I'm not sure why this thread started......... but because of it discovered I am -2 ?!?!
If I have said anything to offend pls accept my apologies, no intention there.
This forum has proved to me to be the most sharing and wise discussion group I've come across. An incredible resource for learning from.
I read all discussions regularly and have learnt so much from here- thank you for the variety of topic and the breadth of response, knowledge and experience shared
Having never noticed my negative rating before I'm choosing to ignore it and if anyone has a beef with me I hope they contact me to discuss
cheers Lyn

[Marcia Selsor]

I wouldn't worry about it. Like I said, I thought it was a delete button.
Marcia

[Chris Campbell]

Obviously I agree with Marcia ... Most of the forum members are helpful and polite making this the best place I have been on the Internet for advice. How can you stop anonymous people from pushing buttons and hiding behind the scenes?

[Seasoned Warrior]

Chris Campbell, on 14 February 2012 - 08:47 AM, said:

Are we really going to get our knickers in a twist every time someone hits the ratings button?

This forum has been the most respectful public forum I have been on. Unfortunately that feature is built into the software and some people hit it for reasons unknown. They might think they are saying they don't agree with the post but are not commenting on the person behind it. Maybe there are even a few who hit it to stir things up or push someone's buttons in a passive aggressive anonymous way ... BUT ....the majority here are excellent folks who honestly want to help and we shouldn't be judged by a few random acts.

As Mea says, only post messages you believe in and stand behind.
Then, does it matter if someone clicks that button? Unless they have the courage to honestly stand up to state and defend their opinion I don't think it counts at all.

I was not sure if that was what the buttons stood for and I am not sure what it means to have a number as a reputation. No shy violet here, I tell people what I think, I do it directly and be done with it! if you disagree with it I may agree with you or stand obdurate. Regardless I never devolve into obscenities, name-calling or dragging red herring! Never cared much for herring anyway!

regards,
Charles

[Chris Campbell]

Don't even like herring with sour cream ... Vodka chaser?
You are so obviously not the type to hit a button and hide ... I always enjoy your posts

[Seasoned Warrior]

Chris Campbell, on 14 February 2012 - 06:50 PM, said:

Don't even like herring with sour cream ... Vodka chaser?
You are so obviously not the type to hit a button and hide ... I always enjoy your posts

Thanks Chris!

Herring with sour cream, yechhhh! Rollmops is another disservice to that poor fish, although I understand that the Swedes consider it a great delicacy. I did make a post in the Stuck Banding Wheel thread where it now appears my original post caused a stir. I went and did a bit of research. I hope that my post helps to ameliorate the discord although I am unsure of what followed my post since I hadn't returned to the thread until this evening.

Best regards,
Charles

[AmeriSwede]

Chris Campbell, on 15 February 2012 - 03:50 AM, said:

Don't even like herring with sour cream ... Vodka chaser?
You are so obviously not the type to hit a button and hide ... I always enjoy your posts

As one of those people living within the Swedish culture.... I'm starting to think... why are we now getting drug into this issue and 'put down' on this board ... it wasn't enough that the Republican party had to continually slam this country as being Socialist (aka Communist in their eyes), though it is actually a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy that maintains some social programs just like the U.S. (i.e., Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Unemployment, etc). It no longer supports that earlier 'Cradle to Grave Welfare system' that so many of those talking heads keep trying to frighten the American populace with... though in retrospect it is nice to know that the lack of homeless and starving people in the country is because of a more compassionate state of awareness.

HA HA! .... Just kidding, Chris! I take no offense to your remark or anybody else's as far as that goes! And having grown up in the desert area of Eastern Oregon where fish was not a staple of the diet, I have also learned to eat and LOVE herring (we call 'sill'). Not with sour cream...(as Charles said, 'yechhhh!')... but with a wonderful mustard sauce or tomato sauce and not with Vodka but with a good shot of Schnapps. But we all have different tastes, because we ARE human!

On topic, I understand how some could be offended with the 'sophomoric' point rating system attached to this website. Too bad the programmers of this system won't remove it. For the most, I think those that are actually using this site are beyond the infantile thinking that desires to have a 'likability' factor association. I too, feel it has no place here, as this forum has proven itself to me to be more helpful than any other that I've ever been linked with. The amount of wisdom, sharing, professionalism, and consideration of other members rates the highest I've personally witnessed. With 6,950 registered members (at present and growing), there will always be some that, through a measured level of anonymity that these forums and the internet maintains, feel that apparently they are a part of 'the group' by voting on comments, without having to make comments. I've seen the diversity of answers/responses on this forum as being a great boon and enjoy the fact that people don't mind posting alternative answers, that they've gleaned from their experiences.

Like others, I was unfamiliar with this 'voting' thing until it was pointed out earlier ... along with the 'stars' (whatever they're supposed to symbolize). The communal sharing of advise/experiences has nothing to do with these type functions.

However.... we should Bless people (I won't mention any names, Marcia--) who 'in consideration of total fairness' elect to give themselves negative points. What a kind soul!

I'm sure we can continue on this website with the same level of professionalism and considerate sharing of advise and experience that has made this site such a treat. And I do hope and know that we will continue to attract other serious and professional ceramic minded folks as the one that we just sadly lost with this issue.

Meanwhile, maybe Sherman, Jennifer and/or Bill could press upon the programmers to eliminate this annoying little feature. As artists, don't we get enough criticism from the public and art world through our sales and exhibitions? Should we really feel content with the anonymous unsolicited/unwarranted criticism from our supposed ceramic peers?

[Seasoned Warrior]

AmeriSwede, on 15 February 2012 - 12:32 AM, said:

Chris Campbell, on 15 February 2012 - 03:50 AM, said:

Don't even like herring with sour cream ... Vodka chaser?
You are so obviously not the type to hit a button and hide ... I always enjoy your posts

As one of those people living within the Swedish culture.... I'm starting to think... why are we now getting drug into this issue and 'put down' on this board ... it wasn't enough that the Republican party had to continually slam this country as being Socialist (aka Communist in their eyes), though it is actually a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy that maintains some social programs just like the U.S. (i.e., Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Unemployment, etc). It no longer supports that earlier 'Cradle to Grave Welfare system' that so many of those talking heads keep trying to frighten the American populace with... though in retrospect it is nice to know that the lack of homeless and starving people in the country is because of a more compassionate state of awareness.

HA HA! .... Just kidding, Chris! I take no offense to your remark or anybody else's as far as that goes! And having grown up in the desert area of Eastern Oregon where fish was not a staple of the diet, I have also learned to eat and LOVE herring (we call 'sill'). Not with sour cream...(as Charles said, 'yechhhh!')... but with a wonderful mustard sauce or tomato sauce and not with Vodka but with a good shot of Schnapps. But we all have different tastes, because we ARE human!

On topic, I understand how some could be offended with the 'sophomoric' point rating system attached to this website. Too bad the programmers of this system won't remove it. For the most, I think those that are actually using this site are beyond the infantile thinking that desires to have a 'likability' factor association. I too, feel it has no place here, as this forum has proven itself to me to be more helpful than any other that I've ever been linked with. The amount of wisdom, sharing, professionalism, and consideration of other members rates the highest I've personally witnessed. With 6,950 registered members (at present and growing), there will always be some that, through a measured level of anonymity that these forums and the internet maintains, feel that apparently they are a part of 'the group' by voting on comments, without having to make comments. I've seen the diversity of answers/responses on this forum as being a great boon and enjoy the fact that people don't mind posting alternative answers, that they've gleaned from their experiences.

Like others, I was unfamiliar with this 'voting' thing until it was pointed out earlier ... along with the 'stars' (whatever they're supposed to symbolize). The communal sharing of advise/experiences has nothing to do with these type functions.

However.... we should Bless people (I won't mention any names, Marcia--) who 'in consideration of total fairness' elect to give themselves negative points. What a kind soul!

I'm sure we can continue on this website with the same level of professionalism and considerate sharing of advise and experience that has made this site such a treat. And I do hope and know that we will continue to attract other serious and professional ceramic minded folks as the one that we just sadly lost with this issue.

Meanwhile, maybe Sherman, Jennifer and/or Bill could press upon the programmers to eliminate this annoying little feature. As artists, don't we get enough criticism from the public and art world through our sales and exhibitions? Should we really feel content with the anonymous unsolicited/unwarranted criticism from our supposed ceramic peers?

Great post AmeriSwede! I'm glad that you have pleasant memories of childhood delicacies. My maternal grandparents were Russian and most often when we visited my grandparents my grandmother would deploy her latest gourmet acquisition. These acquisitions usually consisted of smoked herring, pickled pigs knuckles and various other items I am hard pressed to identify and translate. My Grandmother would unwrap the smoked herring, tear of a piece and stuff it in my face with the imprecation "Eat" so I have developed a bit of a reluctance to consume these things based on childhood trauma. I have since had smoked herring and while I still don't put it on my grocery list I can at least tolerate it unlike some of the other items. I have since embraced other cuisines (Chinese and Mexican in particular) but the mention of Russian food generally causes me to head rapidly in the opposite direction.

regards,
Charles

[Marcia Selsor]

While asking Sherman, and company to get rid of the plus and minus system, we should also get rid of the birthday notice. No one has ever had a birthday acknowledgment on it. The message is.no one is having a birthday today.
Marcia

[phill]

Chris Campbell, on 14 February 2012 - 04:32 PM, said:

That is so funny ... putting the minus on my post!! I had not noticed.
But that brings my rep to 13 which has always been my lucky number.
Cool!

thanks chris. it was me. i was just testing you to see if you really lived up to what you were saying . haha im glad you thought it was funny! that was my intent.

best,
phill

[meisie]

One of the things I struggle with in this day and age of forums and online classes is the way I think I sound in my writing. I can't write the way I talk. I'm reasonably articulate in my speech, I'm friendly, ask lots of questions and tend to be a researcher and a bit cynical once in a while. I laugh a lot and smile a lot but none of that comes through when writing. I hate writing, I'm dyslexic and agonize over every sentence. I will never take an online course because of that, I love the art of conversation.
So I tend to read and only respond to a very few posts.
My only impression of people here would of course be the writings and I try to keep in mind it's a very one sided way of knowing someone. I have never seen anything that would cause me to want to rate someone. I think everyone has been polite and helpful and I've learned lots just reading. So Thanks!! :-)

[JBaymore]

meisie, on 18 February 2012 - 07:32 AM, said:

I hate writing, I'm dyslexic and agonize over every sentence. I will never take an online course because of that, I love the art of conversation.

meisie,

For my students that have a difficult time in writing for one reason or another, I often reccommend the "Dragon Speaking Naturally" series of software packages. They are an amazingly accurate verbal speach to typed text system. You might want to check it out. Easy to set up and use.

http://shop.nuance.c...s=1329576431591



best,

.................john

[meisie]

I watch those commercials with much interest. It would be fun and helpful.
Renee

JBaymore, on 18 February 2012 - 09:48 AM, said:

meisie, on 18 February 2012 - 07:32 AM, said:

I hate writing, I'm dyslexic and agonize over every sentence. I will never take an online course because of that, I love the art of conversation.

meisie,

For my students that have a difficult time in writing for one reason or another, I often reccommend the "Dragon Speaking Naturally" series of software packages. They are an amazingly accurate verbal speach to typed text system. You might want to check it out. Easy to set up and use.

http://shop.nuance.c...s=1329576431591



best,

.................john