I really hate to have to do this and I definitely don't plan on doing this much in the future. Normally this board and all of it's members handle thing so well that everything runs so smoothly I don't have to worry. Obviously that has changed with regard to the Bullieness (praise/scold) option.
As you have probably noticed, I removed the ability to "scold" someone else. For better or worse, that's how the forum will be (for the time being at least). I'd like to think taking such measures isn't necessary - I don't like to feel a forum overlord or something, dictating what can and cannot happen. Naturally there are some basic rules and controls that must be maintained, but in general I want members to be able to engage in friendly and legitimate discussions on all things Bulldog, forum related, and even non-bulldog (in the Chit Chat board for example), without the need to intervene.
Personally I don't have an issue with differences of opinion and discussing disagreements or even trying to convince someone why you feel they are wrong about something - AS LONG AS IT IS DONE IN A RESPECTFUL WAY. This means, stating your position and backing it up with relevant facts without resorting to personal attacks and namecalling or other such behaviors. In short, when the drive to WIN the argument replaces the original sentiment to teach someone something helpful, arguing is no longer acceptable.
Now to Bullieness specifically. Bullieness as originally intended is by and large a way to allow you to rate someone's helpfulness anonymously. Over time, you'd start to notice certain members with higher Bullieness - most likely a well earned score. Think of it as a reward for being a good citizen of the Domain. Of course there is the "scold" option - why? Well, this allows people to rate less than helpful forum behavior as such. Again the ratings should be based on Domain behavior only. It allows someone who may not feel comfortable confronting someone about something that occurred to provide feedback about another member's behavior - granted their is no listed reason available to the member scolded (or praised for that matter), but that is not the point. Both praise and scold work together to provide an overall Domain Citizen score. I cannot imagine the size of the can of worms we'd open if we had reasons for scolding listed
.
While I have no data specifically to support this, I feel that having the scold option available to members has avoided personal arguments and fights on the site, because if someone is upset with another member, they can scold them, feel better, and be done with it. Is this true? I don't know, but I bet some of you have experienced this very situation.
The recent issues seem to have come from members abusing the option - i.e. scolding for non-Bulldog Domain behavior, scolding to get back at someone for scolding them, scolding multiple times for a single incident, etc.
I'd like to revisit the whole Bullieness concept in the near future but for now it will remain scold-free. Please think about the above and I may be looking for some input in the future.
Also, I've locked the recent Bullieness discussion, because let's face it, enough is enough.
Thanks for understanding and working with us to keep Bulldog Domain the best "Bulldog Place" on the web.
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