It seems like people assume hostility quite quickly. I've noticed people thinking I'm mad at them and getting very snippy in return, and a I've heard a couple other people here say this as well. Pleeeeze! Unless somebody is clearly assaulting you, can we avoid heated insult-contests? It's hard to convey 'tone' through text.
In general, I wouldn't be too concerned about being insulted over the internet. :\ Sometimes I tease and prod here or there, but I really mean no ill will. Most would probably like me if they met me in real life.
It is quite easy to take a post the wrong way. All I can suggest to anyone is, if someone takes something you post the wrong way, DO NOT REPLY to them. Simply click ignore, avoid the thread, then let the mods know the situation. You may still find you get a warning or something, but if you avoid replying to anyone who takes your post the wrong way, the argument won't continue, and they are the only ones carrying on, so you should find yourself in less trouble. I have also found that if you simply avoid discussion in general, you won't find people taking your posts the wrong way. Hence why I rarely post.
In addition to this, if you read something that irritates you and feel like you must respond, just don't do it right away. Sometimes comments people make piss me off, but then I get off the computer, and when I come back and reread it, it doesn't seem so bad. Nice thing about the internet is that it's not like a conversation in real life. You don't have to answer right away.
Maybe because I am new to foruming, but I have never had an issue or argument with another poster. Why can't we all be friends?
*stares at your post number* Well, there are plenty of fourms (aka political fourms) where people do nothing but rip at each other just for having a different opinion than the other. It's like the rule, instead of saying to be nice and cordial to others, said: "Feel free to insult, demeen, belittle, threaten, and mock as many people as you dang well please." That's why I love fourms like this.
Well in a political venue, I can see sour feelings becoming the norm; though I suppose its more than enough reason to avoid them. Well my post count is nominal compared to some I have seen, like yours, Link.
I'm pretty much adored by all... I'll echo Lavarian on this: being insulted over the internet is not high on my list of worries.
Remember that in a conversation over the internet, you are missing some important elements that are of equal value in the process of communication as the actual words of a language. You are not privy to tone of voice, or body language, and these two elements can take identical sentences and render them in very different ways. More than anything, pick your words carefully knowing that these elements are missing and thus some room for misinterpretation is inevitable.
