Rant and/or Question: Style and Etiquette in Online Communication

[artimrj]

Yes we do have a great community. That's why when I see postings at other sites saying "The sun always shines here for DTG" in a negative way makes my blood pressure go way up. If I was a millionaire I would go and find these people and confront them in person. I would love them to say it to my face instead of in a forum that allows the negativity, where they can hide and say it is OK to say those things. I am glad I make tombstones, too many people are so negative and it is not always about trains forums. Life is too short. Everyday I make stones for people who are my age or younger and I cannot figure out why they die so young. Lately there has been a run for people from ages 15 to 35. Are they so negative that it kills them?

[ForceGhost]

I think all it started when we stopped opening doors for the ladies and the old folks

We had a fellow who did that where I work. He got dragged to the office, where he was told that what he did was perceived as unwanted attention and could be grounds for dismissal under the sexual harassment policy.

Language, respect, decency, and common sense. All casualties of the PC Police State.

[EngineerJohn]

Everyday I make stones for people who are my age or younger and I cannot figure out why they die so young. Lately there has been a run for people from ages 15 to 35. Are they so negative that it kills them?

As a part of the younger generation where my college and most other colleges see about 3-4 suicides every year and a few each year in high school depending on the year I could have a separate discussion with you in PM's if you're curious to see a younger generation perspective.

Also, getting the talk for holding the door for another gender? How about any gender? If your first to the door and you got a few people behind you it doesn't matter the gender...

But there is absolutely no doubt that the age of hiding behind a computer is changing societal behavior as people simply don't have the people skills anymore.

[buzz456]

Everyday I make stones for people who are my age or younger and I cannot figure out why they die so young. Lately there has been a run for people from ages 15 to 35. Are they so negative that it kills them?

As a part of the younger generation where my college and most other colleges see about 3-4 suicides every year and a few each year in high school depending on the year I could have a separate discussion with you in PM's if you're curious to see a younger generation perspective.

Also, getting the talk for holding the door for another gender? How about any gender? If your first to the door and you got a few people behind you it doesn't matter the gender...

But there is absolutely no doubt that the age of hiding behind a computer is changing societal behavior as people simply don't have the people skills anymore.

Has it begun to occur to the young people that if you weren't brought up by parents who corrected the brain washing going on in our educational system at least in the US that you think we are headed for Armageddon when in fact we may be headed for a great golden era?

[artimrj]

I get to hear sometimes why they did it. "Someone called her fat" another did not get 1600 on their SAT test. Another lost their girlfriend.

I always hold the door no matter what sex or age the people are. They always say Thank You too. I also open and hold the door of my car for my wife to get in and then close it for her once she is in. When other people are near they smile about it.

[ForceGhost]

Also, getting the talk for holding the door for another gender? How about any gender? If your first to the door and you got a few people behind you it doesn't matter the gender...

The complainant stated that the gesture made her feel uncomfortable and unequal to the opposite gender. Seems to me line she just had an axe to grind with the world and this was the perfect way to get some needed attention.

Speaking of which, another reason for rudeness on social media, attention seeking. "Maybe if I say the most rude and outrageous thing, all my peers on here will get off on that". It's also another reason for suicide. There are folks who spiral into deep depression if the "likes" aren't coming in.

[AmericanSteam]

I know this predates social media, but anytime one can hide behind a facade, keyboard or microphone you will have people saying rude and inconsiderate things. Remember CB radio from the '60s and all the rude and obnoxious chatter on that.

[wacampbell]

My peave is the lack of tolerance for diverse opinions in the online community. People who like to run Train Sim on a gaming console are called Konsole Kiddies or some other such offensive term. Why not say console users - because that conveys no insult. Fanboy is another such term. TSW users, or TSW fans is OK. But when you say TSW fanboy, its insulting and you are doing it deliberately. You are showing intolerance for the part of the community that likes to play that game. And fanbois is even worse - throwing in a little gay disparagement to top off your insult. People can hold their opinions, and disagree with others, and make their point without insulting people.

Wayne

[crosstie]

But there is absolutely no doubt that the age of hiding behind a computer is changing societal behavior as people simply don't have the people skills anymore.

Oh, how true that is.

[IronBladder]

I take the view that because writing is an 'unnatural' invented form of communication, it's necessary to include the written forms of body language. Things like a polite greeting, thinking about what you want to say, checking what's been written and ending with a respectful farewell are just the written form of what we do when communicating face to face to get the outcome we want. We smile, we catch a stranger's attention, we use a friendly tone of voice, and so on. If don't do these we tend to arouse hostility or annoyance. It's just part of being human. You can dispense with niceties in writing, but expect the reader to disengage and to not give you the help you want.

BTW, I'm dyslexic, so writing can be a chore, but I know how important it is to get spelling and punctuation right. Thank goodness for spell checkers!