I don't even bother checking the Coffeehouse

It's the same reason I don't scroll down when I look at a Slashdot article.

I bet there's TONS of awesome content here, and plenty of great folks who have incredible ideas and will change the world.  Heck, forget betting - I KNOW there's great people here who are doing or will be doing world-shaping things in the next few years.  So it's not that I just hate people on forums.

It's the fact that I get about knee-deep in the thread, laughing at all the funny jokes people make, following most of the interesting links, and generally having a good time when it happens.  Somebody didn't see something as funny or someone decided to drop a political barb in their post.  Then the next person goes off on how horrible/idiotic/braindead/silly the first person was.  Then someone else chimes in on their side of the situation.  Soon, we have a perfectly good thread that has been overrun with people yelling and screaming and ranting and raving and flaming.  I'm not going to point any fingers - I don't know any of you.  I just see it happen, get angry at you people for totally missing the point and instead of posting my thoughts, I just leave.

So, if you're going to post in the Coffeehouse, I politely ask of you to please:

1. Read the entire thread before you post.
2. Go back and read it again.
3. Read the post you are replying to.
4. Go back and read it again.
5. Make absolutely sure that the person wasn't joking.
6. Write up your reply, but don't hit Post yet.
7. Read over your post for simple grammatical and spelling errors.
8. Remove any and all political statements from your post (unless that's the whole point).
9. Hit post if and only if:
   • Your post isn't a blatant character attack.
   • Your post doesn't contain any highly offensive slang (cursing).
   • Your post isn't designed to provoke others into posting (trolling)
   • Your post isn't a reply to a post designed to provoke others (feeding a troll).
   • Your post doesn't accuse anyone of doing the above things (be forgiving).

I'm not going to pretend to be the best example of following these rules, I'm not going to pretend that everyone will follow them.  I'm just asking that you people please be nice to each other.  It makes Channel 9 a great site to read, and an ever greater place to post comments and ideas.

sk4rlath, if this happened I'd be so happy I'd likely become a flamenco dancer. Immediately.

I use Sage in FireFox to pick new posts. So this one was easy to find. Sounds like another reasonable guy trying to change the world one heart at a time---and I am not being sarcastic. We just need know what ancient forces we are up against.

i agree coffeehouse is falling apart unfortunately.  maybe lenn's words will stop the fighting, if not, the videos are a great reason to keep coming back.

Yeah, I also just subscribe to channel9 via RSS so that I get to see all the great threads and videos without having to:

1) Remember which are new threads.
2) I can ignore the threads that don't interest me.

I would agree with you Sk4rlath !

Basically it boils down to respect.

Agree or Disagree, thats fine, but debate, listen and understand.

... and use your language as a tool ... not a weapon.

-Sabot

Sabot wrote:

I would agree with you Sk4rlath !

Basically it boils down to respect.

Agree or Disagree, thats fine, but debate, listen and understand.

... and use your language as a tool ... not a weapon.

-Sabot

I agree, a good way to solve disrespect is to tell people to watch http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=74 video one more time. If they are normal they would understand what this site is all about.

But for those who use vulgar language and disrespect admins, I don't think there is any hope.

Alex YOU and YOU alone are the sociopath who has ruined channel9 for many people! Yes Alex, YOU have some very serious problems and need professional HELP, the kind of help that chat rooms and forums cannot offer.