It's not a camp fire, it's a message board

[BigB]

So, we have had a few posts recently where either a fire was started and had to be put out or one nearly started.

Let's get something straight here. This is a message board and is cold 1 way transmission of information. In the chat (private members can see the chat), you can get a rapport going and say a few things about favourite rugby teams and so forth. In your posts though, it is very much more difficult.

Seriously, the reader only gets to see the words and not the message. A message includes things like the intent of the words and the mood. Example:

Get lost
Get lost LOL

Here you see (in your minds eye) the intent of the second post BUT NOT THE FIRST. So, use the smileys. Nobody knows you are laughing if you don't say so.

Also, keep familiarity to a minimum. I know you use some colourful descriptions of your buddies in their company but a post on the board is being read by others who have no clue about your past, your feelings, your opinions, and so forth. In a recent incident people took great offense to a comment that had what they perceived to be racial overtones. I had to more than agree, the post was way out of line. You have to watch what you say and how you say it. The readers do NOT know you, do NOT know your background, your opinions, and your thoughts.

I will thank you all to do your best to moderate your own posts to include the smilies and to remember the camp fire analogy. Your friends are not the only ones reading your post and you don't get to physically wink, change your tone of voice, smile, and so forth. You only get to explain a mess after it happens.....

[..ralphie..]

ha ha ha what u say in cases like that....the Campies are Raging!!