It's good to see that the future of Wigwam appears to be going in a positive direction, however I'd like to make a few observations on some of the views Wammers are putting forward on pfm (which I know will be read, if not necessarily replied to, here).
It's being suggested that because it says that profanity is allowed on the Wigwam AUP, that newbies should simply accept what is written or go elsewhere, which I guess on the surface is fine, but here's the problem:
Probably around 80% of newbies to forums join directly from links to discussions on search engines, and so don't even SEE the AUP - and then when they join, it may take a while to become aware of it and read it, by which time they may already have amassed a number of posts and began to enjoy themselves, *until* someone starts with 'c*nt this' and 'f*ck that', which they then may find offensive, and that's when the problems start.....
If the warning about profanity was made blatantly obvious to new members DURING THE REGISTRATION PROCESS, as well as on the AUP, then people could decide from the beginning whether Wigwam was for them or not. And of course if that were the case, there would then be no excuses afterwards for complaints about bad language!!
However, my main point is this: outside of the off-topic areas, such as the Pub and Car Park, where people simply like to rant (and indulge in discussing certain topics of questionable taste), why is it necessary for people to use extremely offensive language, such as the 'c' word?
I've witnessed this sort of language spill onto the main hi-fi areas of WW, as well as existing in the off-topic sections. Surely people have sufficient command of the English language not to need to use profanity when discussing music or hi-fi, or feel it necessary to ridicule others who simply hold different opinions?
I've also met some of the 'worst offenders' of this at Scalford, and how they behave in person is not how they behave when behind a keyboard - so why the difference? Basically, those guys need to treat people with the same respect when on a forum as they would do when face to face.
Some folks say that 'it's only words on a screen', but I completely disagree - it is MUCH more than that, as offensive remarks made in the public domain on the Internet, which could be read by thousands of people, are just as disturbing as when directed at someone in 'real life'. Therefore, don't write anything on a forum that you wouldn't also say to someone, face to face!
Mutual respect and tolerance is the key.
Therefore I do hope that the worst protagonists of the behaviour I'm referring to, and who are nice enough guys in real life, embrace the sentiments expressed above, and start behaving like educated and civilised human beings when posting on WW, as opposed to little more than ignorant thugs, or the community that they value so dearly will simply slip down into the cesspit of the Web and never return.....
Marco.
