Behavior here versus in real life at meetings?
 

Hello

Lately, because of my political views (which are pretty much in the middle of the political spectre in my country) I have been subjected to a row of personal attacks in OMNI (view below if interested).

This has first of all resulted in the fact that I (at least for a while) no longer want to post in OMNI. I do have better things going on in my life than being subjectet to new examples of nasty comments and the very worst of people America has to offer. I used to like spending time on FlyerTalk but lately I cannot say the same.

Some of the authors of the recent personal attacks are members of FlyerTalk who also participates in live events. Some of the people behind the personal attacks do not participate in FlyerTalk meetings (and some do not even list an email address) - furthermore, some of them seem to use upwards of half their online time trying to comment negatively on stuff I write; consequently I do not care so much for those.

I do however find it strange that FlyerTalkers who do participate in meetings would write the things they have done here. With the prospect of once meeting me would they then repeat their stance to me in person? I think not, because then it would be obvious how extremely rude and nasty that would be. Then, would they not find it strange to meet and greet a person who they had attacked so vigerously in writing here? I certainly have greater wishes than meeting these people in real life, to put it mildly.

I understand (and have admitted to before) that it is possible to get heated up in a discussion - however, these last posts are not just heated discussion, they are plain personal attacks, something I have not prior experienced. Very sad.

Should there not be some minimum to decency even online? I am aware that my posts lately (although to the record) may be perceived as insensitive but even if I had an extremist stance (and I do not) the facts is what should be discussed - NOT my person.

I find it difficult to understand how adults can react like this to me. I speak what my heart tells me, I do so here (well, not any more) and I do so in real life (at FlyerTalk events for instance).

What people think of Goldlust:



[This message has been edited by Goldlust (edited 10-09-2001).]

I wish you success in your quest to understand why people are attacking you.

I'm 100 times nastier and more impatient in person. I avoid personal attacks here only because I am in someone else's "house" at the time.

Otherwise, I would be delighted to call a qualified moron, a moron. To their face.

I should add that I have made exceptions to my own rules in the case of Kokonutz however. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

I made the other list in the Goldlust self-imposed time-out thread in OMNI, http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...ML/002848.html , but you left me off this one. Because you obviously have better things going on in your life than being subject to new examples of nasty comments and the very worst of people America has to offer, I'll save you the trouble and copy my most recent personal attack:

1. I am told that ozstamps was quite delightful in person. (I know that in general though, he was often railroaded on this board. Sometimes with good reason.)

2. There is a WAR going on right now. American's have died and will be dying in the near future. Events like this tend to put people on edge. Are you even the slightest bit concerned about a biological attack on your country? Well right now, many Americans are. Try to understand our mind set, and you may understand why some of us react the way we do.

Best regards,
-levi aka eastwest

I do not frequent omni but I did read this post and had to go back and read your omni posts. I would agree with those who railed you. You got what you deserve and here's hoping that you get much more of it.

However I would love to meet you in person, that would be interesting. I've never met such a pathetic loser.


[This message has been edited by TrojanHorse (edited 10-09-2001).]

[This message has been edited by TrojanHorse (edited 10-09-2001).]

Maybe just one more edit would be good! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

C'mon everyone, PLEASE!

Who has not erred?

How 'bout cuttin' a bit of slack?

I'm beggin' you ! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Gotta agree with Doc on this one. I really am not sure why this thread was posted here in the first place to continue the matter, but a break from that Forum sounds wise by Goldlust so things can cool down.

Personally, I think FlyerTalk would be a much more civil place if people thought for a few seconds before they hit the send button. I've met tons of people in person from this board, and only a couple of bad apples in the whole bunch.

But civility is not our only value here on FlyerTalk, others like spirited and lively debate, and controversy always begets controversy. So if one starts controversial topics and posts confrontatively, one cannot necessarily expect civil responses in reply.

I would be glad to discuss the issue with you via private e-mail if you like.

Thank you Dgolds. You wrote what I was thinking.

I'm just bothered that goldlust left me off his "list" of those above who found his comments in Omni highly offensive, and thoughtless. Guess he didn't get my point either. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

bj-21.

I haven't read all of the threads in question, but I have met Goldlust in real life and he is a delightful young man.

The thing that most amazed me when I met him was the fact that, while his English sounds fluent and amazingly complete, it is for him a school room and only occasionally practiced-in-real-life-language, obviously enhanced by a great deal of reading, listening and study. I am so jealous, jealous, jealous of his tremendous skill and talent, and very aware of how very difficult it must to to discern nuances in a foreign language.

Couple that with the exuberance of extreme youth, and I think you will find an intelligent, thinking, questioning young man to admire.

How well would any of us do if we were all posting in Danish?

Very diplomatic, Punki, per usual. But I don't buy it. This wasn't an isolated instance - - it was a series of posts over quite some time, many or all of which met with the same criticism. And he has sufficient command of the English language to debate ad nauseum. One simply can not make provocative and inflammatory posts and then cry foul when someone responds in kind. As evidenced by this post and the companion post, in my view he's simply starved for attention. And doc, while your peace-keeping efforts are legendary, I believe that even you "personally attacked" (i.e. disagreed with) Goldlust recently.

This is not the issue, IMHO. The position being taken was that the U.S. brought this attack upon itself through it's support for Israel. To many of us who lost friends in the 9/11 attacks this theory was both wrong-headed and scandalously unfounded.

I am certainly willing to forgive and forget, but, IMHO, to chalk these comments up to a language barrier is not credible. These were not "nuances" and many cautions were offered that a line was being crossed.

Just one man's opinion.