Is It Just Me?

I didn't know it had a sense of community... but there are a lot of nasty ranters on some pages whre I would normally be happy to read, but feel to intimideated to say anything. So I wonder how the people can tolerate the attacks-- I know I couldn't.

but as far as community, no, gather hasn't been this either. maybe not sophisticated enough, but feel way out of it-- and rejected by the cliques.

Mary, Unfortunately the nasty ranters successfully intimidate others from publishing things about which they know the ranters will abusively object.

Yankee,

Gather is indeed a community, a microcosim of the world.
Like the world it has a group of extremly gifted, caring people and a group of Jackasses. As in the big word,
The braying of the jackasses often ovrewhelms the wisdom of the decent. Please don't make the mistake of
seeing stronly held opinions as rantings. Those who are regularly nasty will fall away if they are ignored.

John, I respect strongly held opinions, even those with which I disagree. What I object to is the lack of civility making it impossible to engage in a rational discussion.

The answer does lie with the courtesy with which one disagrees. I must admit that I shy away from controversy because some of the arguments are put forward with over-zealous vehemence. I still feel a sense of community and like any such there are disagreements. On the other hand perhaps in the summer heat we're all suffering from Gather fatique. Discuss. Moya

Moya, Perhaps you nailed it - Gather fatigue. But is it brought on by summer heat, a lack of civility, or something else?

Gather fatigue, plus coping with the New Gather during hot weather. I've found my interest falling off and haven't published anything for quite a while. But I still read and comment, at least some of the time.

There have always been point hogs calculating how to get 'em on Gather, and I suspect they may be the same people doing the sabotaging of other people's ratings. There have always been cliques, too, and they become more and more obvious. The personal attacks are a PITA, and I wasn't immune, especially when Gather was new.

Meryl, I agree that the new version of Gather has something to do with why I think Gather has become just a huge unfocused group blog. I've eliminated most of my e-mail notifications and find content interesting to me by scrolling through Articles.

Boy, I'm sorry to say I'm glad you picked up on this and in case you didn't see it, - I published I'd Like To Know... a bit back, and got alot of responses. I just do my best to concentrate on the worthwhile content and the nice people....

Oh- and I guess you better read this- it had some great responses- This is in Response..., cuz I am also responsible for my own childishness...

CY,

I haven't spent a lot of time on Gather lately, between being too busy and somewhat put off by the new Gather, so I haven't seen so much uncivil behavior. I suppose it is somewhat inevitable and I'm thankful for people like you who make a point of maintaining civility. You are a good role model for seeking out and commenting graciously on things that you don't necessarily agree with. You make a point of inviting contrasting points of view to your groups, so you are creating important threads in the social fabric which will maintain Gather.

I am not afraid or ashamed to admit that I do not award ratings to any of the articles I read. I feel that my responses to what I read is measure enough to the author of wether I like or dislike an article. There can be constructive criticism without being nasty or mean.

CY, there are indeed trolls here, and everywhere else on the Net and in life. Personally, I just don't respond to people like that. They can run off at the mouth (or keyboard) to their heart's content, but I won't be involved with them. I enjoy discussing issues with people, but will not engage in flame wars. Just ignore 'em. They won't go away, but if you aren't involved in their game, it won't be so upsetting.

I haven't been here long enough to notice anything different. So far it seems like any other online community where you have the nice people and jerks. I tend to try and gravitate towards the nice people avoid the jerks.

I rather like what I've seen so far and hope to continue having great experiences here.

I believe the bitter and insulting dissent in comments about some articles is a sign of the success of Gather. Truly socially disconnected people tend to follow the successful trying to get some recognition in their otherwise pitiful and lonely lives. Even negative attention, they believe, is better than no attention at all.
They will say anything to get a reaction. That's why ignoring them totally is likely the wisest move. They feed off upset of good and sensitive people.

Gerry, Thanks for the kind words.

I really haven't run into any unpleasant people here, but certainly have on other sites. Bill Allin has made a good point above, and so have many others. The ones who gripe and rant are usually the losers who are trying to build their own self esteem by tearing others down.

I'm new on this "blogging site" . I 've been on the'net since the early nities and got into developing web sites, creating FLASH animations, banner ads.... I recall when blogging first hit the scene and I pretty much ignored it. I only ended up on here by following a newspaper article. The author, which I don't even remember who it was anymore, had some sort of reference to the gather site, so I decided to follw it and here I am.
I typically like folowing the politically related articles. I also peruse other interesting things. I do find a lot of politically left content , I don't mind expressing my perspective on the topic at hand. Usaully it isn't a perspscitve appreciated by the majority of otehr commentators, but Oh well :>) I though that was the purpose of commenting on articles...to give your opinion and perspective. One thin I do need to do is to pay more attention to what keys my fingers are hitting, I really do know how to spell all those misspelled words that end up in my posting

I have subscribed to genealogy mailing lists and boards, as well as the game site Pogo for many years. They too are a microcosims of the real world. You meet downright nasty people with an axe to grind, but for the most part they are a minority to be ignored. Gather, or the other sites are not my whole world so I take things with a grain of salt if someone disagrees with me. And, I am actually better informed just by being a member of Gather. It makes me seek out unfamiliar information, both by reading articles and when I publish something.

I think its been better lately ONLY because I stopped going to people's articles who participate in those articles in a negative way. We do have MANY people on here that don't attack each other. I hope that they all stay because we are a very good part of Gather. I do think the people who like great debating should be here too I just tend to take things too personal to get involved in those articles. Every once in a while I venture into someones debate when I am feeling up to it. Its good that they are here. I absolutely think Gather should squash any article that is offensive or rediculing of another Gather member and hope that they do that. (my opinion of course:)

My time is devoted to writing for other mediums, as I do not have the time required to network here in order to have a "successful Gather experience." This appears to be a static chat room of sorts, based on popularity contests within popularity contests. I do think the ability to post work here satisfies many, as it functions beautifully as an online vanity press.

It is unfortunate, and I am fairly new here myself, but I have seen this crap destroy every single open writing community that I have ever subscribed to. There are small minded people everywhere, and like terrorism you just don't know when they are going to strike.

It's a bit like driving isn't it? You get all manner of idiot on the road but on the whole people are considerate and the road gets you where you are going.

We tend to spend a good portion of our lives sequestered from society and we forget how ugly it can get until we engage in some public activity, like driving, standing in line at a supermarket, or participating in an online forum, and the good and bad of humanity leaps out.

Flaming is bad, (mmkay?) but people kind of fall into naturally. It's like road rage. And flaming begets flaming and causes a bunch of bad feeling. I've "accidently" flamed people a few times. You get a charge out of it that only dissipates after you've thought about it for a while and realize you're an idiot. Insulting people is fun. If there were just a way to do it without offending anyone or being an ass, I'd do it all the time.

Trolls I think, are really the net version of tail gaters. If you've ever driven in a car with a tail gater you find out that they think they're providing a service. "If I don't get so close to him" they might say, "He won't realize he's going slow." Reason and logic tend to fall to the wayside, in their arguments but the sentiment at least is understandible. If you're driving behind someone going slower than you like it takes a great force of will NOT to tail gate. You have places to go and this moron is in your way. You have to consciously say to yourself "whoa hold back"

Same thing goes with trolls. I think they think they're providing a service. "If I don't flame him, he won't know how wrong he is." In reality they're just frustrated, as I think we've all been from time to time about someone disagreeing with them. They don't seem to be going the same speed.

I get a kick out of disagreeing with people. I haven't posted much yet but I've made numerous lengthy harangues in comments such as this one. I try to be as cordial as possible even though in essence I'm saying "you're wrong, fartface, neener neener neener!" but perhaps the best policy is not to say anything at all. However if you don't say anything at all then you don't have comments.::shrugs::

Anyway I guess my point here is that flamers, trolls and the like are people too.

On second thought they should just go to hell. Along with the bastard outside my apartment window who's car stereo is blasting out bass so loud its like a whale regurgitating an elephant. Screw 'em. Screw 'em all.

Arrrgh.

I absolutely think Gather should squash any article that is offensive or rediculing of another Gather member and hope that they do that.

It's been done.

Zorknot 42... I completely get what you said and yet I am different... I only, usually that is, flame someone in my mind and not out my mouth. I must admit I have had several chuckles over the most brilliant smart a$$ comments that come to my mind but I usually hold them in... I guess I am a bit of a prude that way... because unless you catch me on a bad day... I stay pretty quiet around people who act stupid.
I am sure I have my stupid days and appreciate all those who hold their tongue and only mentally flame me. Snicker.

There are many opinions ... I love to hear them. EXCEPT when the person thinks I must agree with them and their wish is to run me into the ground until I say they are right. Mental flaming happens then.

Pam,

You're wrong. You absolutely must agree with me 100%. I refuse to accept differing opinions. What I say is Truth (with a capital "t" unlike everyone else's truth) and cannot be denied.

^_^

I am completely unable to supress smartass comments. They just come flying out of my fingers, totally unbidden!

chuckle snort... Mentally Flaming you Zorknot!

Auntie I let my funny smart a$$ comments slip out on occasion (mostly with my hubby because I think that is my right as a wife;) Ha ha) but I try to never let any mean smart a$$ comments come out.

Though... Catch me on a PMS day ... and beware... I am a totally different animal those days. :)

I always try to be nice first. If that doesn't work then step away from the situation... I won't fight unless I am protecting my own (family friends and personal) I have no problem opening my mouth or holding my own then. I just try to not get into that predicament. Too much drama. I need LESS drama in my life.

Hi C Y--
I'm relatively new here, almost a month to be precise, and I'm finding a lot of warmth and encouragement here. If it was better before, it must have been an amazing place. Thanks for provoking a response from all of us. Nothing like a good question to do it.

I think this calls for a group hug!

Scott L, that is so 70's. gag I always hated the hug bs.

CA Yankee.
I have always enjoyed the sense of community on gather even as many of us posted opposing views in comments. I have had trouble with the new arrangement. I find it now takes a few more clicks to check on things. I also hate that I don't get to view all the postings. I really dislike having what I can read filtered for me. That plus the very unpleasant string of days with temperatures over 110 that we have been enduring in the Central Valley of California has caused me to just not bother with gathering.
I think there is some loss of community, I think there is some very good even high quality work posted here to read. I think the community will survive, perhaps the destructive members will grow bored with this site and move on to the next new thing to attack. I like the mix on gather, and read accordingly. Sometimes I read political pieces, sometimes creative and poetry, sometimes a few of the personal experiences. There is a strong community here.
If our daily temperatures drop from the 109-113 degree F range I might get active again.

Honestly, CY, I didn't know what Gather was when I first logged on, though I did think of it as a "small community" in the blogosphere. My only experience was on Blogger, and I may have helped to spread that mentality here. If so, I'm sorry.

No one explained Gather's "mission" to me, although you came closest, with your definition of "A welcoming and lawful society at gather" group.

All of the things you describe come with the wider exposure Gather is getting, with it's expansion to 20,000 members, or whatever.

I enjoy some of the "head-butting" debates, but too often they devolve into "kool-aid" contests, with digressions into issues unrelated to the post. I'm guilty of this, on my own posts, as well as others' posts.

I doubt this problem will get any better, unless you come out and criticize, or correct, where you can. I appreciated you pointing out to me that some of my posts weren't "on topic" for the "Welcoming..." group, and you should not hesitate to continue your constructive criticisms, because most of us need your competent direction.

That sounds like either a big kiss-up, or sarcasm. Well, it's both, and neither. You are a voice that I respect, and try to pay heed to. I haven't posted off-topic pieces in the Welcoming group lately, have I?

Great post, and NO, it's not just you.

scott l - thanks for the laugh!

cy - no its not just you. i know what you mean, but i also like it here most of the time. i've learned to avoid the bull$hit as much as possible, don't participate in childish behavior (except for the occassional bad joke), and don't fish for points. i am connected to a good group of people who post interesting writings and images, and who provide insightful and helpful feedback. the rest can get bent (that might be the heat and humidity talking).

CAL. YANK. I don't know why but I feel like that was a personal attack on me. but I'm not really sure I'm actually new to this whole scene computer, Internet and all. Although I try to stay clean enough for everyone I do think I strongly represent my point( maybe?)everyone I have personally known is poor and I've been surrounded by bad element and most recently illegal immigrants my whole life. I think everyone should fill out ALL the pertinent info on their profile and SHARE it I try to read respond and rate anything I read I'm personally sick and tired of seeing Americans rights crapped on and their land and tax dollars being given away by a government of self serving bunch of rich pigs what we need is a real government of the people for the people of this country. (don't know how I got here but whatever) see what I mean sometimes I even feel like I'm just ranting and raving but just cant help myself. I'm personally interested in feedback positive and negative on anything I write I generally believe the analogy opinions are like (whatever negative symbol everyone possesses)

SO in the end are we exact opposite or do we really think the same after all isn't diversity the spice of life or what makes the world go around or something .( maybe the latter is attributed to love) but that is another often bogus over or under rated subject

I just started here at Gather. and I'am realy having trouble making friends.They just will not let me in. no one will talk to me because they don't know me and they don't know me becausr they woun't talk to me.