> ... PING! I suggest reading the article and ignoring the TROLLS. DO NOT RESPOND TO ANY TROLLISH BEHAVIOR IN THE THREAD. THERE IS A LOT OF IT ALREADY. ... let them have their fun talking among themselves.
I thank you for your work maintaining the Apple Ping List, and bringing articles of interest to those of us who own and/or use Apple products. I do get good info from the threads and appreciate your diligence.
I'm sure it's extremely difficult to toe the line you wrote above, about not responding to trollish behavior.
I would be interested to find out (if such a survey were possible, with honest answers) how many, or at least which, of the posters on the Apple threads actually own or use Apple products.
I have a Ford F-150 pickup. If I got on a Chevy forum, I might have a few things to add (I had a couple of Chevy trucks in years past), but if I got on a Mercedes forum, I really ought to sit back and just read, or perhaps ask polite questions.
Overall, there were some useful exchanges in this thread, including a couple of good thoughtful arguments. But all the bickering and fighting really does no one any good. Who said what about whom is just garbage, regardless, and embarrassing to all.
My personal desire would be that folks who don't own or use Apple (or Microsoft) products be invited to the respective threads as readers, or to post polite questions, and those who come only to start fights be asked to leave. Sort of like the religion threads, or the caucuses. I realize that opens up a world of sarcastic derision along the lines of, "See, the Apple (or Microsoft) users really ARE a religion", but you know what? It would almost be worth it, for some peace and quiet to discuss the actual article and related topics like civilized beings.
But then, I'm old-fashioned, and have this quaint notion that a conservative forum might encourage good manners. Silly me. :)
Anyway, carry on. Your efforts are appreciated.
Of course, I still get to comment on pretty much every thread, because I own and use products from just about every major vendor out there... :)
Except BeOS. Don't have any BeOS systems. I have a copy of the OS from about 5 years ago, but never got around to installing it.
Oh well.... I guess I'm a reader on the BeOS threads.
Thanks, Dayglored. I appreciate it. For a short period of time, when the admin mods were backing me... and actually would give time outs and some out right banishments to the trolls, we had such a paradise in Mac Apple threads. But somehow, someone got put in charge who no longer will do any moderation at all. Who ever the Admin Mod is allows a free-for-all melée to take place and actually threatens those who hit the abuse button. I know. It happened to me.
It is sad, but it has made the overall tone of FreeRepublic worse.
I have decided that I will make that warning every so often when I ping the list. If that is not effective, I will start including specific names of WHO not to respond to... if that gets me banned, so be it.
Swordmaker