Gold Star for the group on this bb

[Thomas]

I have been a poster on a few wine oriented bulletin boards. In the past week I've noticed a sort of meltdown going on, one that is likely to chase me away from posting on bulletin boards.

People argue and fight over what someone thinks and says; people accuse webmasters of underhanded dealings; people who are seemingly adults converse in a frat house style; people chase new arrivals away; people scream at posters who have the nerve to ask the guru a question; acrimony abounds; arguments perpetuate.

This is the only one of five bulletin boards that I sign onto where this kind of stuff has been at a bare minimum in general, and nowhere to be found in the past week while the others have their meltdowns.

Congratulations to all.

[winoweenie]

Totally agree there Foodster. I found out long ago that most boards are the only outlets for hostility, agendas, predugists, ill-informed, arrogant, no-knowledge bigots that have the same amount of knowledge of wine as they do about civility. Haven't posted on another board for over 2 years since I found the offensive(to me) "F-Word" used to describe a wine. If that is the only descriptive adjective a person can use to describe a wine then he has nothing to say I want to hear. WW

[Bucko]

What the !#$%^? do you mean, you sorry sack of !#$%^*. Git the h3ll outta here. [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/biggrin.gif[/img]

Man, do I ever hear you, Thomas. The nastiness on so many of the boards has cut my participation by 80 percent, and it has driven many people away for good.

We have a nice, small family here....

[Thomas]

WW,

I've been posting on bulletin boards for two reasons: I like educating people about wine, and I am in the business and want to keep up on things.

I rarely post TNs because of my profession as a wine writer--don't want to be in a position to be accused of shilling for anyone, producer, importer etc.

My aim has always been to pass along what I have learned and to also learn whatever I can from others. But this climate of nastiness and incivility has truly strained my patience.

It's a sorry commentary first on so-called adults and secondly on humans in general. Makes me feel vindicated for a belief I have always held about the promise of the Internet--that it offered the identical promise of TV in its early stages and it has taken the same general path to the lowest common denominator.

[Bucko]

Verne, curse words do not bother me. Personal attacks do. There are a few well-known cyberbullies on the wine boards who delight in intimidating newbies, or people not in their clique.

I have a friend who was literally ran off of WLDG by a couple of cyberbullies. She has not come back. I hope she will post here. I know she has came over and looked around. Hopefully she'll see we have not beat up WOW or Georgie beyond recognition.

Now if we could just do something about those flamingo legs of yours....

[TheEngineer]

It's one thing to be passionate and argue for what you believe in (i.e. is United that much better than Juventus) and it may be heated, but its very different to just spread ill will for no specific reason other than you can. The former I would applaud you for the later shows just how small a human being you are.

I agree, this is a great BB.

[dananne]

Don't get me started on United. I'm a Gunners fan [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

[stevebody]

I'm not on here as much as I used to be but was there ever a real jackass on here besides me, back when I was using you shamelessly? I don't remember one since. That's why I like this one, too. There is actually WINE-related content!

[Kcwhippet]

I lurk on several other boards on occasion. I used to post on them every so often, but I didn't particularly like the way newcomers on some of these board are either attacked or totally ignored. To me that says "Go away, we have our own little clique here and you're not part of it." I've been on some of the old boards back about 15 or so years ago, and up to all the current ones, but this WineBoard is the best. The folks here are so unpretentious and just downright friendly. I could go on and on about this, but suffice it to say, this is the finest group of people on any wine board I've ever been involved in. So.....let's all convene in Napa in July and rag on all those other guys.

[Bucko]

Nah, you're a rookie compared to some of the online folks, Stevebody. They take nastiness to a new level.

I don't mind a spirited debate. I do mind when people deliberately seek to hurt others. It is uncalled for.

We are all misunderstood on occasion. It is hard to show a wink or inflection of voice when online -- that can lead to an offense that was never intended.

[brappy]

Yeah, I couldn't agree more. On the other boards, if you disagree with someone, you end up fighting the entire clique. It gets quite annoying. I stopped posting on other boards almost exclusively, because of the civility of this board. Thank you, everyone here, for being so wonderful!

mark

[winoweenie]

Of course you wulnt be turned off by vulgarity Buckinheimer. Whenced youse have to look out yer window daily at the clouds and rain it's understanable the use of them dudies. I don't really mind them either except in the context of descriptive adjectives pertaining to taste in wines. If your vocabulary is so limited an expletive is inserted every other sentence for emphasis then I do object. And you know the board of which I refer. WW [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img] Why in the blue-blazes would anybody including the idiots you mention ever say anthing harsh to the sweet ladies on our board. Teach and WOW are the very fabric of womaness we seek in this sphere.

[This message has been edited by winoweenie (edited 03-17-2006).]

[hotwine]

The Foodster's right on. I've quit posting to other boards and spend available time here, with family. Life is 'way too short.

[robr]

Two things I have noticed about the members here that may account for our civility is a high level of education and maturity. I sometimes wonder if I am the youngest one here, and I am 48! Actually, the only person I know that is younger than me is Brappy.

I'm not going to ask anyone to reveal their age, or their alma mater, but I'd be willing to bet I'm right on both counts.

[TheEngineer]

Nope. you are not the second youngest....I am at least a bit younger than you... [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]
Next week is my birthday and I turn a very senior 36. [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]

[Kcwhippet]

Californiagirl is only 36, going to be 37 in just about a month. I'd bet there are a number of folks here younger than you, bern.

[newtoowine]

Man I am number 1 at something on this board. A big whopping 33, 34 in May. You guys are dead on when you say this is the top forum, I no nothing about wine and I no it is obvious but no one throws that back and this board is helping to keep my interest in wine and I no at some point I will gain some knowledge.What I like the most is that for me most of my questions, with a little more research i could answer myself, but with time at a premium right now and the respect i have for the folks on this board why not ask who you trust.

[WileECoyote]

27 years old here. I feel very comfortable on this BB also. I am very very new to this thing, but you guys have made me feel at home. I am not too scared to post something knowing I will not get flamed. Educated maybe... You guy's credibility is unsurpassed.

-Typing after a couple glasses of Jerez is most challenging.

[Findnfish]

I am new to this BB and greatly appreciate all the wonderful advice I get here. everyone here is so nice and Knowledgeable I find myself checking here almost daily. I have been browsing for about 4 months and tasting for about 6 seriously. You all have given me great ideas and advice for new wines to try...so many i can hardly keep up. I look forward to many more great posts. BTW I am 33 soon to be 34 in April


[This message has been edited by Findnfish (edited 03-17-2006).]

[Thomas]

I started this thread out of disgust and frustration and you have all lessened those feelings to a great degree. This is the first wine bulletin board I ever visited and I suppose I should have been content with that and not looked at others.

Incidentally bernkastler, I don't think it's our general level of education that makes this place more civil. Most of the people on most of the other sites I have visited are highly educated and probably upper middle income too. But I learned a long time ago that fromal education and money are not necessarily the right tools for creating humility, decency and/or smarts.

As to age, all of you under forty better stop saying so--I'm getting jealous. In a few days I am going to spend time with someone I spent two years in the Air Force during the Vietnam War (that gives you my age). We haven't seen each other in nearly thirty years and it will be like being young again to see him, I am sure, especially when we start recalling some of the things we did together back then. This is the guy I was with when I drank my first and only too large dose of grain alcohol--somehow, I persuaded him to eat potato salad with me before we indulged; now that was one hell of a mistake [img]http://www.wines.com/ubb2/smile.gif[/img]