As one of the resident self-appointed AFW busybodies, I feel once again compelled to make a post re courtesy. In doing so, I'm not trying to point fingers, nor am I trying to sidestep my own responsibility in this latest donnybrook. It's just good to step back sometimes and remember some general guidelines. A lot of this is distilled from earlier posts, so might not apply to recent discussions. But still, IMHO, worth remembering.
1) Personally, I find it less than helpful to make generalizations about people based on where they live, what they do outside wine, etc. And don't be too sure you know someone's nationality or residence- at least 3 assumptions made recently were incorrect (to the best of my knowledge). 2) Let's try to cut the personal comments, OK? If you don't like someone, filter their posts. 3) Try to avoid stating opinions as certainties. The use of terms like "in my opinion" (IMO, IMHO, IMNSVHO, etc.) add nuance to statements which might otherwise irritate or offend. 4) If you're being funny or teasing, use emoticons. If someone uses a smile or wink emoticon, take a breath before you get offended by their words! 5) Please try to not relive old arguments. 6)Try to be precise if you can. But if someone isn't, correct only if there's a real possibilty of confusion, or if you feel it can contribute to the general readership's wine knowledge. 7)This is Usenet , a tool for discussion. Don't expect to post something w/o possibility of someone refuting it. 8) No one is superior (In My Humble Opinion) based on either the simplicity or elegance of what they eat or drink. Isn't this group big enough for someone to have Shiraz with BBQed chicken and another to have rack of lamb with a fine Pauillac? Does it somehow offend you to read about a meal you wouldn't eat yourself? 9)New Folks: you're here to learn, right? So if someone who has been serious about wine for many years corrects you, learn from it, don't get your feelings hurt. 10) Old folks (speaking from perspective of how long you've been on AFW , you can be new at 66 or old at 26 in my view): remember you were new (to wine and AFW) at some point, too. Correct if need be, but let's try to do so graciously.11) Newbies: we welcome your participation (this is speaking as someone who has participated for a few years, I'm neither an old-timer or a newbie). But as in ANY social situation, whether on or off line, it is wisest not to attack a respected member of a community while a newbie, it really won't win you any points.
So there. I'm sure I've offended a few people, including some I regard as "friends" (in the newsgroup sense). But please try to take these as general thoughts, not accusations or fingerpointing. And as I said, I'm aware that I was a participant in the Venice discussion, no better than many others.
Please do not respond with posts about " well poster X broke number 3 before I broke number 2", or even worse "the (insert Europeans or Americans) ignored number 6". Let's try to move forward with a modicum of grace, ok?
Dale PS:I'll add an excellent post Mark Lipton wrote a while ago (bad word wrap edit my fault): "Over the past few days, there has been a mini-spate of people takingexception to the posts of others in this group. As I noted in anotherpost, from my perspective this group has operated with a minimal amountof interpersonal friction (for the most part) since I first started reading it in 1999. I think I speak for everyone here when I say thatwe all want to *encourage* others to post freely and without fear of"reprisal," so I now offer some advice for negotiating this newsgroupwith a minimum of Strurm und Drang:
- Please keep in mind that many of the contributors to alt.food.winedo not speak English as their first language. Their comments may lacksome of the nuances of native Anglophones' and consequently appear harshor rude where in fact no such intention exists.
- Internet-based communication is treated by most people as informal(like spoken communication) despite the fact that it's written and solacks the inflection of spoken communication -- this too can lead tomistaken impressions of the writer's intent. This is one reason why"smilies" and other emoticons have been embraced on Usenet. However,not all use them when they should, so we must also take all comments onUsenet with a thick skin and open mind, as we are forced to read intothose written words the emotional content that written words lack.
- The pseudoanonymity of Usenet also encourages some to behave moreaggressively than they would in actual conversation. Taken to theexteme, this results in that phenomenon known as the Usenet "troll":someone who purposely tries to create havoc in newsgroups throughpersonal attacks and ridicule. Short of that, one might still find thatthe posts of a certain individual annoy or disturb. In such cases, onecan always employ the filters that virtually all newsreaders areequipped with to filter out posts by certain individuals or regardingcertain subjects. The details of how to do that vary according tonewsreader software, but tutorials exist on the Web for employingfilters in all the popular newsreaders.
- Most of us who frequent this newsgroup do so out of a sincere desireto discuss and learn more about wine. Part of this aspect of the groupis that people routinely question or correct mistakes made by others.To some, this may be "nitpicking," but such a definition is necessarilyin the mind of the beholder. After three years of reading posts here, Iknow that such correction is rarely if ever offered in anything but ahelpful spirit. However, if being corrected bothers you, you shouldtake care to check your facts *before* posting to reduce the probabilityof being in error -- because erroneous statements will almost invariablybe corrected here.In summary, this group is fantastic resource for learning about allthings wine-related. There will be times when a particular post mayupset you, but free speech in this forum is encouraged. However, wemust all strive to give others the benefit of the doubt and to avoid asmuch as possible taking any comments made here too personally. As a sage once remarked, "relax, it's only Usenet!" ;-)HTHMark Lipton"
Mark, hope it's OK that I quoted you
Dale
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