No question, that histories between people are complicating things. I am asking for a very difficult thing- for people to bury the hatchet without any guarantee the other guy is going to do the same.
It isn't shocking me that many are skeptical of doing so, although I do wish more would give it a try.
Perhaps you need to be more specific.
There are many cultural differences throughout the United States. Recently there was a
Yankee study of college students that concluded that Southerners were quicker to anger than yankees. The study involved the deliberate bumping and name-calling of students in the classroom hall, no apologies and then some sort of cursing. Apparently, the southerners reacted more negatively than the northerners.
What the study organizers failed to understand was this: When a Southerner curses, he is very angry and is challenging someone to a fight, or threatening them. Northerners, on the other hand, have several curse words that are apparently just colorful adjectives, and carry no implied threat.
Northerners and west-coasters cringe at the idea of being "more specific" while Southerners pride themselves on teaching their children very carefully what not to say to others, even those with whom they disagree.
For instance, we do not allow our children to use the words "stupid", or "dumb" and we certainly frown on any cursing. We also teach our children not to swear or take impulsive oaths. We teach our children to comment on a particular
behavior, rather than labeling an entire person based on certain actions.
Mr. Lead Moderator, I am suggesting that you be more specific about acceptable vs. unacceptable posting.
Some possible specific guidelines might be:
- Be prepared to provide proof to substantiate any claim that you make.
- Refute with logic rather than claiming an argument is simply wrong.
- Read an entire post, before responding to the first sentence in the post. (Ideally, when joining an argument, you should read the entire thread or all of the posts of the user to whom you are responding).
- Avoid use of the recognized curse words (sports threads and terrorist threads excepted, LOL).
- Be ready to admit when you are wrong.
- Ask the moderator to pull a post if you regret what you have said.
While the above recommendations may appear obvious to those from the our more seasoned FReepers or to those trained to debate, undoubtedly, there are many who are
not sure what "acceptable discussion" is.