rudeness on the board

I suggest you provide a link to the post in question and start a poll so the members can decide if the response was inpolite or justified.

Hahahah, very well put Nicodem, as usual!

I think that a sudden realization of knowledge or epiphany is perhaps one of the most elating experiences one can have. There is no shame in accepting correction if you are wrong, however, it is shameful to not take it in stride. Besides, what is ignorance anyways? Are not all of us here in one way or another ignorant? No one is omnipotent and all-knowing (irregardless of the God-complex we might have )

Now Chemrox, maybe he didn't sugarcoat it, and perhaps he was a bit 'rude' (another relative term), but for him, maybe it seemed warranted and that was his version of an amiable correction. I for one would be glad if someone took the time to correct me, because that shows they actually care and don't want to keep me in ignorance; this is much along the lines of "Therefore I appreciate those who can make me realize my ignorance".


There is no shortage of intellectual people on this board, and as a consequence, no shortage of pride. Just as Nicodem mentioned though, accepting criticism is part of being a scientist. We're mostly scientists here--rational thinkers, and mostly we're searching for enlightenment and the augmentation of our own knowledge. We take and we give back in our exchanges.

However, I do think there should be certain level of ''politeness'' on this board. Let's call it patience with newcomers, but for the more senior members who ought to know better, I think they could stand more serious criticism. Just keep in mind everyone makes mistakes even if it's just occasionally: no man's above correction.

Keeping it civil elevates and honors all of us.

[Edited on 13-2-2007 by Fleaker]

This isn't right

Ignorance or mistakes are rarely criticised harshly. What *is*, and rightly so, criticised, are posters insisting on being right while being wrong, or being cocky, or obnoxious, or stupid (it happens) or entirely thoughtless with zero effort with regards to what they are posting. Pretty much exactly how it works in real life!
Why should it be any different online?
Food for thought



[Edited on 14-2-2007 by chemoleo]

People can be rude, get over it. The only people that I usually see complaining about people being rude on the internet are those that either get no real outside social interaction or are sheltered from real social interaction with diverse groups of people outside their own clique.



It's only when a topic gets drawn into a contest of wills or name calling that it annoys me then it is strictly for the sake of chemistry. By then though it is above and beyond the passing definition of 'rude'.

[Edited on 2/14/2007 by BromicAcid]

You know what I think is very very very rude? Organizing a party for somebody without inviting him

Everybody makes the occasional mistake and most ppl won't blame you for it. One mistake is human, two mistakes is stupid but three mistakes form a pattern. When you have developed a pattern, you need ppl to kick your rectal side. If someone cannot deal with this psychologically, he should do chemistry with his mummie or go studying psychology I never like to be flamed, but when it happens, I can often see where I was wrong. One noteable exception was this weird psychotic meth/benzohead that sent me pictures in pm of ppl covered in diarrhea.