- Don't know how you think, it is just some of my random thoughts. I feel funny about the need to proclaim whatever I said and say is strictly my personal view.
The problem (if it can be called a problem, I rather call it the reality) of forum communication is the lack of body language. Everybody knows (or everybody should know) what is receptive between the two people who are talking to each others, is what's being told by body languages. The body language is precedence way before whatever they are saying.
Sometimes, multimedia such as images, emotion symbols, sounds, etc., helps for online perception, but it is never the same as face to face communication. So no matter to what extend, web relationship is still virtual and not complete.
Written language is the sole mean for communication here. Different people hear different tone and project different mental images from the words they are reading, based their own personal experience. Some words, look "yelling" or "censured" for one and simply neutral for another, or vice verse.
Furthermore, not everyone realizes that, for some of the postings, the author is merely using the forum as "stress-table" to dump whatever they need to dump and not necessary looking for any feedback and conveying any point. For these, it is up to the forum owner and admin to allow it or not as a rule.
Without common conscience and mutual agreement of the "forum" rules, many threads have turned into aimless, sometimes harmful word wars.
I can see the good intent from St Dude who tried to be instrumental for the discussion of certain topics. (Hats off, St. Dude). I personally disagree any posting should be set out to harm someone by using harmful languages. I do acknowledge that each of us are not immune from unintentionally setting feet on the path to "hell" with good wishes, even the "saints". I specially cherish this web cafe that aims herself to become a place that allows people with different views and styles to stop over for long and for short. Specially for those who may not easily belong anywhere because they are the fringes, genius/retarded, recluse -- haha, this is the beauty of the web, they are heard and they are voicing a lot, but they are still in seclusion, -- the loners, poets and writers, artists, (autistics too), the Wicca, the preachers, geeks (who are single-minded or accomplished in scientific or technical pursuits but are felt to be socially inept), etc.
Have a good day, fellow cafe friends.
rzp