Non understood term

[JPG40504]

Yesterday the following sequence of PMs took place


Originally Posted by XXXXX
Do you believe that this jousting that we are doing is good for the forum? I do NOT.

We have been left on our own without a forum moderator because Shopsmith thought we could handle this on our own.

I am about to suggest to Admin that I believe this to be a bad decision and that relying on self control is not good for the forum.


Reply by JPG40504
Please explain "jousting"! Exactly what IS your concern? Examples might help me understand!


Reply by XXXXX
No comment. I'll not joust here either!


Now this leaves me with my request for clarification unanswered.

I would appreciate any response by anyone who may have an idea what is being referred to as 'jousting'.

This IS a request for Bluntness (aka Straight answer). All I ask is that you to stick to the facts as you see them!

TIA!

[foxtrapper]

Sparring, jabbing, bickering, fighting, squabbling, etc.

It comes up fairly regularly on any forum. Can't say I've seen much of it recently. But then with some of the comments made about me on this forum, I don't bother to post much either.

[Ed in Tampa]

Jousting is a sport played by two armored knights mounted on horses. It consists of martial competition between two mounted knights using a variety of weapons, usually in sets of three per weapon (such as tilting with a lance, blows with the battle axe, strokes with the dagger, or strokes with a sword), often as part of a tournament.[1]
Wikipedia

I think the term is used today where two or more people exchange comments in an effort to knock someone off their horse so to speak, to render the opinion of one invalid or inconsequential by offering a stronger argument for the an opposite opinion.

Actually I a little taken back by the comments that the person feels he has been jousted with on the SS forum. We often post differing opinions, differing ways of doing something and perhaps differing observations of similar events. But I don't see that as jousting, perhaps don't fully appreciate how this person is applying the term. With the exception of one individual who appears to be unusually negative to Shopsmith I don't recall seeing any jousting done on the forum.

I don't think any of us want to make enemies or hurt someone with our posting. I know I sure don't. It bothers me to think people are upset and stewing over something said on this forum by me or anyone else.

For Foxtrapper I hope I haven't made any comment about him that he found objectionable. If I have please PM and let me know, I'm sure I can make it right with you. Further if I have offended anyone else believe me that was never my intent. Please PM me and let us make the situation right.

[woodburner]

I hope that the small number of members on this forum who usually don't have anything nice to say anyways, do not start complaining to Shopsmith that us, the majority of the members who do use and post on this forum, are creating some type of hostile environment. That is very far from the truth if that small minority thinks we are.

I also find that most of the complainers are the ones that lurk in the background and never get involved until someone writes something they think is rude, mean, or what one certain person calls "jousting." Then there they are, complaining. But they never come up with a solution either. It seems they just want to throw gas on the fire.

And most of this is caused by them reading too much into what was written in the first place, and adding words that were never there, making it even worse.

If SS gets the idea we cannot self-regulate ourselves (and I do think we are doing a very good job of doing just that) they might feel they need to shut the forum down as it does cost them money to keep it up and running.

JPG, I find it funny that this person sent you a PM with this complaint and then failed to follow through with it even using the PM format. I guess XXXX feels that any comment other than their own is what they consider "jousting." To bad he cut you off that way, but I guess he didn't really have a stool to sit on in the first place, and he probably realized that.

If they dislike the content of this forum so much, he/she need not open the forum on their computer. It's that easy. Complaining to SS about who-knows-what on the forum can ruin the whole thing for the rest of us. We promise to stay out of their computer world if they stay out of ours.

[eartigas]

As I newcomer I have learned so much about Shopsmith in this forum that I could never imagine I would.

In fact I participate in many WW forums and I found this one much more polite and interesting that many others. Several people in the forum PM me with answers and help.

I can't see any troubles worth mention other than those that are part of basic human nature, in a forum or in our workplaces. Just exchange of ideas.

I think Shopsmith should rest assured that their money is well spent in the forum and that it self regulates great. Since I started reading this forum I bought 3 MARK V and spent more that I would like to admit in spares and accessories.

Sailing has rough days but sailing is what sailors like. The forum may have some exchanges that aren't perfect, but this forum with ALL its participants is what we ALL need.


Let's keep sailing.

[curiousgeorge]

Isn't that how it goes? One misguided soul takes offense of something they don't understand or misunderstand and end up ruining it for everyone else. Usually over something totally trivial. Maybe we need to hire some PC police.:rolleyes:

[bucksaw]

I've been fairly active over the last few months and have not seen much of a problem. On occasion I might see a comment that may be a little off, but if you just ignore the comment or send the member a PM suggesting he remove the entry, the problem should be handled.

I for one would like to see this forum stay as is. It is a great resource for us Shopsmith owners.

[heathicus]

Get a bunch of people together talking and you're going to have a disagreement or two. Doesn't matter who or where or what the topic is. Add the anonymity of the internet and people tend to say things they wouldn't say in person or they read a "tone" into a message that wasn't intended by the author. That said, I haven't noticed any problems here. This forum is one of the most well behaved and polite of any of the forums I visit. I think people are policing themselves quite well. I don't read every thread, but I haven't seen anything worth complaining about.