In the time I've been posting on DS I've made sparing use of the Alert button. I've probably used it most on the SCD board, but that's been alerting posts that give away the spoiler outside the spoiler thread. I've alerted a couple of posts on GD or Politics where I've found the views posted particularly offensive. There are some posters down there who appear to think Muslim is synonymous with terrorist and where I've felt they have been particularly offensive to individual Muslim posters. I can remember one occasion when such a post remained on the board. I didn't conclude from this that the mods were wrong and weren't doing their job properly, but that having reviewed the post they disagreed with me and had judged in to be within the rules. I've always felt that the ultimate decision as to whether a post should be removed or not rested with them.

No, you're not the one I've cast in the role of Lord Chamberlain. That's why I used the plural. There are several posters who spend more time arguing about posting style than engaging with the content. Personally, I never disagree with posters. I disagree with posts...and most of the time I can't remember who said what, just what was said.

I wouldn't go near the GD board for the reasons you have given. Sometimes I think when Jimmy Young retired from Radio 2, the bigots who used to contact his show found the GD board on DS.

Sorry I misunderstood your Lord Chamberlain reference. There are days when I know I'm too sensitive to what other posters post and at the moment I'm upset to be giving in and leaving DS because I have had such a great time over the years. I'm going to stay off this thread now.

What is the GD Board?

general discussion board

Is that like a "cyber bar fight?"

When reading a book you're not usually engaging in a written debate or discussion with the author of the book over their meaning.

Yes, when reading a book, you are the passive receiver. When you are on a forum like this, you are an active participant (unless you are a lurker). So when you have a real forum or in the past when people step up on a soap box and deliver a speech, you not only hear the words, you see expressions, gestures etc.. So in a discussion board or forum, when you don't see real facial and body gestures, smilies becomes an important tool to express the non-verbal communications that face-to-face conversation/discussion/debate take for granted.

Thank you for reinforcing what I tried (and obviously failed) to say earlier!

(Although if we wanted a discussion about reading would have to disagree about the passive ... better not start a philosophical philological discussion - too late and I'm too tired!)

That's the point, it isn't necessary because the writing is considered and self explanatory.

Message boards aren't a one to one immediate discussion all the time.
That's why many people like them, they can engage in a discussion (which can quickly turn into an argument) if they choose.

Or give an opinion and move on, but what they post should be readily understood by most..

Where the BNP/EDL congregate (in my experience). It is quite shocking some of the things you read over there.

Except here in the forum it's not just writing, it's communicating. Like two people having a conversation. You engage your senses other than the sense of sight, such as hearing and sometimes (if there is a fist fight) touch(ing) as well.

For instance, if I write, "I am not angry," you may choose to take it at face value (or as it is written), and you might be right.

But if see me saying, "I am not angry," while at the same time witnessing me violently banging the table and giving you an evil stare, you might decide that I am either being ironic, sarcastic or simply losing my marbles...

A picture speaks a thousand words. Cliche, I know but consider this:

Hello. (I am happy).

Hello. (Oh, it's you again, I'm giving you a wry smile).

Hello. (I am sad).

Hello. :yawn: (I am bored).

Hello. (I am flirting).

Hello. (Gosh, this is embarrassing.)

Is there a smiley for "Whatever?"

Yes. or :sleep:

Are you flirting with me?!

*gasp! mock horror*

Of course not! I often wink at my friends. Even strangers, within context, especially young children!

But I did like your acting guide to smilies. You did leave out the

And less of the horror, thank you matey!
Last edited by ysbryd y ddawns : 14-12-2011 at 01:03

Alright, then.

Hello. (Very pleased to meet you).

Me too. I think we may have been passing acquaintances - literally - on another thread!

I think it's good that there is a chance to air very wide opinions and anything else that comes up. I appreciate the guidelines being flagged up. Very helpful on such a thread as this.

ETA i wouldn't put anyone on ignore except 'dear Terry' as he is a bit :yawn: That (about Terry) is probably breaking the rules and being personal. I have asked the Mods about him/her and even asked if h/she is one of them.

While I'm at it, I do worry that the Celebs and pros read these threads. Maybe others don't think they do, but I believe that they may? It's the mother/grandmother in me.

I really hope Jason or Kristina do not read this forum. I remember a poster saying that Kristina used to read this forum/Artem also

Kristina used to post on here during her first year.

By the look of it, I hope all of them finalists have NO TIME whatsoever to read this forum!

I don't think that can be true if it's supposed to mean that verbal communication is missing 70 - 80% of the relevant information.

Think of all the times when people communicate by text, e-mail, letters, books, etc. It can't be that 70 - 80% of the meaning is missing, or we'd be far more confused by such things than we are.


I don't use "ignore" because I still see that the person has posted, just not what they said. The posts are still there, cluttering the thread when I try to read it.

I think the forum is the least of their problems. They have to go looking for it to see the bad stuff written here.

A lot of them have twitter accounts and I would have thought that would be much worse for getting abuse because anyone can @ them and abuse them and they will see it.

Whether it should be readily understood is a moot point because it quite clearly isn't always understood. The reason being you don't have the person in front of you to see their face or hear the inflection in their voice.
When reading a novel you are being given direction by the writer as to what the person is feeling.

I could preface all my posts with - Cadiva wrote angrily/enthusiastically/excitedly/in an upset manner etc - "why do people always have to be nasty" - but it would get very old very quickly as well as being really irritating. That's what the use of smileys have come to represent when used correctly,