A Smite-Free Week ...Any takers?

[Anatta]

Kia Ora,

I have noticed that poor Brandon seem to be a smite magnet, it's as if some trigger-happy members can't wait to smite him , often taking what he said out of context...

Positive reps more often than not "encourage", however smites don't necessarily discourage what one might perceive as unwholesome behaviour, at times they can do the opposite and enforce it...

If you continually tell a person they are no good/bad, eventually the person begins to believe it and acts accordingly....

So any takers for a smite free week ? If enough come onboard, perhaps it could be extended to a month....And who knows maybe, just maybe smiting others will become a thing of the past...

I should add Brandon's a tough guy, can stand his own ground and more than capable of giving as good as he gets...But at times we all(even tough nuts like Brandon) need to be given some slack...

Metta Anatta

[Miss_Bungle1991]

I'm going to smite you just because you made this topic.

[alabamagirl]

That's a really sweet thought, Anatta. I don't know that it's necessarily going to change anyone's feelings on smiting, but I do kind of agree that it's to the point where it almost seems like picking on him, he gets smited so often. He doesn't seem like a bad guy to me, either.

I'll definitely agree to this, even though I'm not one of the ones who has smited him.

[Jamie D]

"Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be, and he will become as he can and should be."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

[Calder Smith]

I do agree with this.

I've gotten into an argument with Brandon before but religion is a hot topic and people can get heated easily. He isn't a bad kid and I agree that people take what he says the wrong way because he has a history of saying the wrong things I've seen. But, that's the past.

I feel bad for him. Getting all these smites is kinda excluding him from this community and could make him feel unwanted. Like I said, he's not a bad kid and he does bring up good points. If it was up to me, I'd get rid of the reputation system.

Anyways, yes! I haven't smited anyone yet but smite-free it is.

[JaimeD]

I'm not planning on using the rep system this time around anyway. And I don't think I've ever smited anyone and I haven't been smited yet myself. Although if someone feels the need to smite me, go for it...

[Ltl89]

I've never issued a smite to begin with, so this won't be an issue for me.  Something about the practice seems impolite and causes more hurt feelings than it's worth. 

[MadeleineG]

FWIW

[Nero]

I'm a non-smiter anyway. I'd rather just respond to the post or pm the person. Smiting makes the person feel bad long after the disagreement is over and has led to terrible feuds here. And there's not much room to explain why the post was problematic. Though this isn't needed when smiting someone for clear rudeness. And of course there are times when a smite is well deserved.

[Hikari]

No. I cannot recall having ever smited anyone, but I reserve the right to do so, if I see a post that is truly uncalled for and offensive (and isn't in the politics or religion subforums).

[Cindy]

I don't smite. Why hurt someone?

OK as a Mod I'm bound to hurt people but I do not do it lightly, and when I do it is with sadness.

[Ms Grace]

Have never smited anyone and don't intend to. People are entitled to their opinion...even if I think it's wrong or bat-poop crazy.

Generally I steer clear of highly emotive/divisive topics anyway - notably politics, religion, guns, medical insurance and whether clowns are scary (they are).

On the rare occasion I see a post that is highly offensive, disturbing or insulting I'll report it and let the mods sort it out out. (Sorry!)

[Brandon]

ThankYou.

[Jill F]

I personally have never used the rep +/- system.  I will simply say what I feel needs said and/or report the really egregious ones to mods.  I know that transfolk can be very sensitive, fragile or even broken and I could never live with myself if someone took my smite so seriously that they ended up harming themselves.

Every week is smite-free at Jill's place. 

Can we have a hug button though?  I'd dish those out all the time.

[Nero]

Can we have a hug button though?  I'd dish those out all the time.

I wish we did. 

[Anatta]

FWIW

Kia Ora G,

Interesting theory, but the proof is in the pudding and negative feedback( similar to the type inflicted upon Brandon) has been show on more than one occasion to either fuel ones negative behaviour or make the person feel like crap...

Beneficial aspects of smiting = perhaps a feeling of smug satisfaction for the smiter(which is short lived)... Negative aspects = seeds for grudge bearing material..."Tit for tat" mentality festers and grows...

Metta Anatta

[Anatta]

I wish we did. 

Kia Ora FA,

Why not ?   

Metta Anatta

[Nero]

Negative aspects = seeds for grudge bearing material..."Tit for tat" mentality festers and grows...

Metta Anatta

It certainly does. This has actually caused some serious feuds on here, all started by a smite. I think part of the issue is that long after the incident the person still sees that smite by their name. Makes it harder to forget the incident and move on.

[Miss_Bungle1991]

It certainly does. This has actually caused some serious feuds on here, all started by a smite. I think part of the issue is that long after the incident the person still sees that smite by their name. Makes it harder to forget the incident and move on.

I see your point but I think a lot of the negativity over a smite is the "smite-ee" having a massive case of severe overreaction. Is it really THAT big of a deal?

In my opinion, it isn't.

If people give me a thumbs up, then that's cool.

If people smite me...meh....so what?

Life goes on...The Dude abides. (and the Squirrel goes merrily along)

[JaimeD]

I see your point but I think a lot of the negativity over a smite is the "smite-ee" having a massive case of severe overreaction. Is it really THAT big of a deal?

In my opinion, it isn't.

If people give me a thumbs up, then that's cool.

If people smite me...meh....so what?

Life goes on...The Dude abides. (and the Squirrel goes merrily along)

A negative smite(numerous smites especially) can lull a potential smiter into reading more than what is there in a post simply to look for something offensive and that can lead to more smites and more hard feelings when on its own, a post may not really be smite worthy. That is what I think is happening with Brandon and its a shame, people need to take into account how he was raised and what influences him on a daily basis irl.