|
sojourner
|
Posted 06/10/2009 13:02:23
|
|
Group: Forum Member
Last Active: 05/02/2012 20:19:16
Posts: 868,
Visits: 7,133
|
I cannot help but compare the "forum system" to the rumour mill that is sometimes endemic in a small village. You could fall out with someone you've never met over something neither of you said or intended. In an enviroment where there is nothing to fall out over, people will fall out over nothing.I find a sense of humour is a vital characteristic in all walks of daily life. :hehe:
Roy L."SELUME PROFERRE"
|
|
|
|
|
lauderdale
|
Posted 06/10/2009 14:04:36
|
|
Group: Forum Member
Last Active: 10/07/2011 06:43:06
Posts: 2,136,
Visits: 4,278
|
The Forum System, brought to us as a result of that great British Invention, (Sir Tim Berners-Lee) of the Internet , has been a great benefit to Freemasonry in my opinion. I have certainly learned as much since posting to many Masonic Fora over the last 12 years than I did in Lodge or by reading books, no matter how erudite those tomes may have been.
Yes, flame wars occur, there was an infamous one running to fifty or more pages on this Forum some 3 years ago , as people will quite rightly defend that which they hold dear and feel is being attacked. However, the same occurs in the correspondence columns of newspapers and journals but this does not vitiate the positive aspects of such publications. It is for the Admins and Moderators to set their own standards and codes of conduct and to intervene if matters get too heated.
Again each Forum has its own "flavour", TFM is different to MFOL or The Chequered Pavement or Masonic Life Forum etc, and some of the US Fora have Games and something called "Kudos" which might not appeal to UK posters, they are a turn off to me I have to say so I no longer post to US Masonic Fora.
All in all I feel that a Masonic Forum such as TFM is a positive benefit to Freemasonry, an enjoyable means to make a daily advancement in Masonic Knowledge, and I thank The Freemason for providing it and the Moderators for keeping it running over the years.
|
|
|
|
|
bod
|
Posted 06/10/2009 15:07:38
|
|
Group: Forum Member
Last Active: 03/02/2012 19:06:12
Posts: 706,
Visits: 2,996
|
I find it always helpful to remember the following maxim with regard to forums
"It's the internet - not real life"
It is very easy to misinterpret the intention behind the written word
One study at UCLA indicated that up to 93 percent of communication effectiveness is determined by nonverbal cues. Another study indicated that the impact of a performance was determined 7 percent by the words used, 38 percent by voice quality, and 55 percent by the nonverbal communication.
With that in mind it is always best to read things several times before reacting, and to review one's response several times before hitting send
Easier said than done, but worth it in the long run for reducing grief and aggro - especially as our internal narrative is often incongruent with reality
|
|
|
|
|
lauderdale
|
Posted 06/10/2009 15:39:00
|
|
Group: Forum Member
Last Active: 10/07/2011 06:43:06
Posts: 2,136,
Visits: 4,278
|
Bod, business as usual, after a brief agreement on one thread we are back in our respective camps.
I totally disagree with you and for that matter UCLA. I mean what I say and I say what I mean. I use the written word quite a lot in my life both at work and in my leisure, e-mails being my favourite and default means of communciation unless physically speaking to someone present (I detest the phone) and take care in how I frame my answers. I have found that it is seldom that people misunderstand what I am writing or what I intend to convey and I rarely use silly cartoon faces either considering them to be banal. Again if discussing a serious matter, humour is a boring and annoying irrelevance and tends to muddy the waters. It may have its place at the meal table or in the bar.
I feel that the use of the wriiten word is sadly deteriorating in this age of "Text" or should that be "txt" and of youngsters who communicate in monsylabic answers or even grunts.
In the words of Pontius Pilate "What I have written I have written" and people can take it as they will.
|
|
|
|
|
bod
|
Posted 06/10/2009 15:48:34
|
|
Group: Forum Member
Last Active: 03/02/2012 19:06:12
Posts: 706,
Visits: 2,996
|
You miss the point - its not about what the sender, usually their import is clear to them, its about the recipient and the filters and colourings they bring to the words you have written.
And its hard to disagree with scientific fact, non-verbal messages are a significant part of our overall communication, it's something that we have needed since we swung down from the trees.
|
|
|
|
|
lauderdale
|
Posted 06/10/2009 18:28:21
|
|
Group: Forum Member
Last Active: 10/07/2011 06:43:06
Posts: 2,136,
Visits: 4,278
|
I seem to get by very well with non-verbal communication.
|
|
|
|
|
Mike Martin
|
Posted 17/12/2009 00:48:49
|
Past Master
Group: Administrator
Last Active: 3 hours ago
Posts: 2,322,
Visits: 11,823
|
Oh Colin,I've only just realised tht I never got back to you on this one. Sorry to have put the cat amongst the pidgeons! However, my own post was firmly tongue in cheek as I shamelessly plugged my own Masonic webring within the advice I was giving, I must admit I didn't think it would be missed. Anyway, let me belatedly apologise for the confusion caused.
MikeMersey Lodge No. 5434 WebsiteThe Freemasons'''' Grand Charity WebsiteSee my BALLS here
|
|
|
|
|
Fire Mist
|
Posted 31/12/2009 13:09:45
|
|
Group: Forum Member
Last Active: 02/02/2012 14:55:50
Posts: 523,
Visits: 738
|
Vintagemalt (28/09/2009)
...The first thing to learn is that what you type is not what others read!!! No kidding you can write something quite simple and very clear to you and someone out there will read it in quite a different way. And very often take offence when none was meant. Its all to do with the fact that you cannot see, and have quite often never met, the person reading your posts. One cannot hear the 'tone of voice' in your posting nor see the 'look in your eye' .... You have to learn the art of reading what is intended and not what it says in front of you. And you have to learn to give & take.. and try your very very best NEVER to 'Shoot From The Hip' .... It really is a very good forum and most of the regular contributors are really good people... I think that says it all. I have been on both sides of that equation myself. Colin, I missed whatever you'd posted, but nice site Happy New Year Y'all :hehe:
If you want to be free, there is but one way; it is to guarnatee an equally full measure of liberty to all your neighbors --Carl SchurzDarylee, 3°; (I am a women in Ohio, USA) Columbus,OH ; (Renaissance Lodge #5, Orient of Detroit)My posts are my personal opinions. The Opinions expressed herein don't represent the opinions of my Lodge, Grandlodge or any other Masonic jurisdiction. American Co-Masonry; The American Federation of Human Rights: http://www.co-masonry.org/
|
|
|
|
|
Sparker
|
Posted 23/01/2010 08:36:29
|
|
Group: Forum Member
Last Active: 2 days ago @ 16:33:10
Posts: 386,
Visits: 509
|
Mike,
it takes a big man to apologise.... but in my opinion you had nothing to apologise about. It was very clear (to me, anyway) that your comment was tongue in cheek and the brother to whom it was aimed, misinterpreted it.
However, on the other side of things, and this has already been mentioned.... by Vintage Malt, I think, it is SO easy to misunderstand the way a post has been intended to sound.
I hope that the two of you can put this behind you and work with that love and harmony which at all times characterises Freemasons.
Tony.
I.P.M. Neptune Lodge No. 1264.
P.M. of Wilbraham Lodge No. 1713,
P.PrJGD,
Member of Tranquility Lodge No. 2000 (USA):D
|
|
|
|
|
Sparker
|
Posted 23/01/2010 08:47:44
|
|
Group: Forum Member
Last Active: 2 days ago @ 16:33:10
Posts: 386,
Visits: 509
|
A FIRST CLASS website, Brother!
I'll be going back and forth to THAT site for some pearls of Masonic wisdom!
Fraternally,
Tony.
I.P.M. Neptune Lodge No. 1264.
P.M. of Wilbraham Lodge No. 1713,
P.PrJGD,
Member of Tranquility Lodge No. 2000 (USA):D
|
|
|
|