[Closed] "it's really quite intimidating on here"

Nicely said, Mark.

People seem to react to Internet forums in two ways. Either they'll just type whatever first comes into their heads and hit send without a second thought, tending to produce emotional posts. Or they'll type something, read over it, think a bit more, edit it and continue faffing with it until it either says what their considered opinion is or they decide that it isn't worth posting, so tending to produce more intellectual posts.

I suspect that people who react and post quickly don't realise how other people could interpret their posts. Once you get a few people reacting quickly, emotionally and disproportionately to each others' posts then it can rapidly get out of hand.

I'd literally piss myself if this thread turned into an argument.

No you *ing wouldn't, you'd figuratively piss yourself. Learn some *ing English.

😉

ChrisL, I think you're forgetting the third kind, the people who think long and hard about how to make a post that will wind people up the most.

I reckon we should setup a boxing ring at the next bike event - and let the 'usual suspects' slog it out.

============================

In all seriousness, people to seem to develop an alter-ego online. Either they are very close in personality to the 'real' them, or the complete polar opposite. By using the anonymity of the internet, they become keyboard warriors ready to take on the world, knowledgeable on all bike topics and vastly a vastly experienced athletic rider.

In reality, they're too overweight and unfit to even swing a leg over their shiny new Five which has been sitting there untouched for 5 months.

I find it quite amusing, some of the outbursts that people have, ranting and raving at each other. Almost like toddlers fighting over a toy.

Also, when somebody starts a controversial thread ("Superstar brake pads - are they any good?"), it makes me smile when people post "I've put the kettle on, who wants one?" knowing it's going to be a long thread..... often ending up in bashing from someone to someone else... How many people read STW for the 'entertainment' as opposed to bike related technical information/posts? Me for one...

Having met quite a few people from various forums in the flesh, it's very difficult to put their face (and 'real life' personality) to their online ego - especially if they're known to get a little hot under the collar.

Cougar, I can't work out if you're serious?

I get that a lot. (-:

It was a genuine question. Cheers for the info.

nickf - thanks for the info, now I know what it means 🙂

STW does seem to be the worst forum I've been on for people who are looking for something to get all offended and indignant about.
You only have to post some personal opinion, like "I prefer bridleways to trail centres" for someone to come back with "What's wrong with trail centres, ? No ones forcing you to ride them."

RealMan - you never know. Perhaps he would literally piss himself. He might be doubly incontinent. He might even poo a bit too 😉

10 years on here and I thought I'd seen it all.

Take STW with a pinch of salt.

Although I miss the days when it was ultra friendly back in 2001 and banter was the worst insult, now everyone has to be 'right' or wind someone up.

It's a crap forum like any other forum - so don't take it seriously 😀

I'd never say anything on the net to someone that I wouldn't say in real life, but I'm increasingly reluctant to post here because I'm frankly tired of the negativity and petty nit-picking attacks that some people seem incapable of refraining from.

I'm pretty much the same in real life as I am on here, I think most people who've met me would confirm that. I don't really get why people who feel the need to adopt some aggressive, chippy, online persona then will barely open their mouth when you meet them in real life.

'I'm much nicer in real life' always strikes me as a bizarre thing to say. Like Mark says above, this is 'real life' in the sense that you're interacting with real people with real feeelings and emotions. And no, the whole intermittent 'love in' thing doesn't make up for the negative crap that permeates a lot of threads on here.

It's a crap forum like any other forum - so don't take it seriously

I much prefer the Singletrack forum to other biking forums - I generally find the atmosphere is a lot friendlier and a lot less laddy.

Although perhaps it's because I have a much higher tolerance for middle aged IT workers having handbag sessions than teenage gnar-meisters having handbag sessions. At least the massively abusive posts on here still manage to be reasonably eloquent! :p

I'd literally piss myself if this thread turned into an argument.

I already have in anticipation.

There is a lot of petty bickering on here. But its mainly tongue in cheek. Maybe sometimes the sarcasm and humour gets lost a bit in all the miserable curmudgeonlyness (is that a word?).

On the other side of the coin, if your after advice on routes, parts and ... [i]whisper it[/i]... tyres, then frankly this is the best place in the world.

And having been out riding with loads of people on here, I can say that it attracts some rather marvelous people

So there!!

Wow! Honestly, I'd be proud (sad but true) - I guess it all comes down to how you perceive the post. I don't think for one second that anyone types "baby robin" with the intention of being anything other than humorous, and am also sure no-one types it to get at you

As a long time poster of 'baby robin', I apologise wholeheartedly for any offence caused. I, and I'm guessing the majority of the other users, aren't even aware of the original source of it now, and that it would be causing offence. I have to say I'm quite surprised that the use of it can be construed as bullying though. Sure, I can imagine some people might find it irritating, but could you explain to me why it's not nice and is bullying as I genuinely don't see it, but would like to hear your point of view.

nah, you're getting me slightly wrong there; i'm not in the least bit offended by it, it's mostly just boring and tiresome that it still gets reeled out, that's all, and simply an example of how there are some people on here who aren't worth interacting with.
i suppose they'd probably say the same about me; that's fine, i doubt i'm missing out on anything!
the bullying thing wasn't meant to mean the actual "baby robin" part but was in reference to what happens when someone on here actually responds to what they perceive to be a dig at them; the aftermath i mentioned. they get ganged up on by the usual suspects.
hence why i said i never bother saying owt basically. not worth the grief.

There is a lot of petty bickering on here. But its mainly tongue in cheek. Maybe sometimes the sarcasm and humour gets lost a bit in all the miserable curmudgeonlyness (is that a word?).

On the other side of the coin, if your after advice on routes, parts and ... whisper it... tyres, then frankly this is the best place in the world.

And having been out riding with loads of people on here, I can say that it attracts some rather marvelous people

So there!!

100% agreed!

As binners has said, for bike,roue and general helping folks out with information it can be a top place. I don't really understand the "internet persona" thing that some folks use just be yourself it's easy with faceless strangers as they don't have expectationas unlike friends and family

Who wants a headlock then?

😛 etc

I'm nice now...

I reckon some of the worst offenders post whilst 'in drink'. That is to say they do a lot of drink-typing! As a result their posts lack temperance, sense and on occasions – charm.

Of late, I’ve noticed one or two of the more garrulous or opinionated contributors mellowing out somewhat and have wound themselves in a bit.

STW still remains a source of constant entertainment for me and amongst the dross there are some really fantastic glimpses of genuine wit and insightfulness.

Damn! Too late to edit. So....

Hora - if you're reading this, then NO, I'm definitely not including you in the "Marvelous people' reference. You a complete ****!!

And this weekend I'm going to tell all the Welsh people I meet that you were dissing their hills. Saying they were gay 'n stuff. Then I'm going to give them your address. And a pitchfork 😉

Oh and proper LOL at "the Edinburgh Defence" - did it not previously have another name?

If you want bickering and backbiting and stabbing in the dark and burning and general spurned keyboard hacks then get yerselves over to:

CyclingNews..

Enter the Clinic..

And fill your poisoned veins with turgid venom.. That place stinks.

This is like riding through Bluebells man.

C'mon, there have been some cracking threads on here. Some of you lot now ride together having met on here (MWAxxxx) and the MM an no doubt BBB threads will be full of gossip and bikes and beer and pies, just how it should be. There are some inspiered photo threads, techie nerd stuff, general "help me out" stuff..

At least there are a fair few of you that actually ride a bike, you can tell that bit a mile off..

Who mentioned Tyres...?? Oh it's you at the back again eh..

Some of the more vocal and opinionated members are a bit tiring and sometimes it's hard not to bite, but it's generally easier to ignore them than get upset or dragged into an argument.

Unless they're particularly offensive or regularly trolling I don't think banning them is very fair though. If folks are that bothered about it why not add an ignore <member> option? There could even be a report page where you could see who was the most ignored - that would allow everyone to enjoy the forum in peace and give the gobshites something to aim for 🙂

"internet persona"

*whispers to Tazzy* I don't, this is me, I jsut chat BS, claiming a persona is just another example of this *Shhhhh*

There are a couple on here who are just wind-up merchants. That's 'vocal minority' syndrome though.

Most of the rest of the arguments seem to be of the form where someone expresses an opinion, someone else misunderstands it as a statement of fact and tells them they're wrong, and it all snowballs into tedium.

I have to say the wind-ups genuinely entertain me, as it does when folk have proper strops.

I hope for the sake of mankind, that everyone is a wind up merchant on this forum.

Most of the posts on here can't be serious, can they?

Al, you're no Gripper. You and TJ are like Tucker and Benny.

I take that as a compliment - Tucker was well cool.

TSY I'll find out what you are really like when I drag you into the deep dark secret bits of cannock

gradually.... I'm only wanting to post when I can write something positive.

I now believe I can spot a likely flame-up just by reading the title of a thread, along with knowing what some of the regulars on here are like.

So then. I just don't go there. Theres plenty other threads of a nicer atmos.

Generally, these days if I can't have a good chat, or a bit of a laugh, I'd really not bother posting at all.

When someone trys to flame me, I just laugh it off.
Its the ****in inturdnets, innit.

Have a good weekend all.
I will probably be working 🙁

So I may drop in for some weekend shift [i]action[/i]...

Don't be intimidated. Just join the nice threads.

😀

OOoh !.

STW have auto stars now for low level swear words.

How space 1999

As a relative newcomer to MTB I've joined a number of forums over the last few months and asked advice. I did feel intimidated by STW at first, but I stuck it out, and learned to be careful which threads I got involved in. I'm glad I wasn't put off, as it's turned out to be the most useful, and most entertaining of all the forums I've joined.

It also makes me cringe the most, and I'd like to remind some of the apologists for antisocial behaviour that knowing whether something is just harmless fun or a real insult only comes with experience as you learn the 'rules' and context of the community. And, as others have said, an unwarranted insult or abuse is no less intimidating because it is online. It is, unfortunately, easier to do because of the anonymity and lack of repercussions with online communications versus a face-to-face interaction, but that doesn't make it any more acceptable.

Personally, I try and carry over the same tone and attitude I would use in a face-to-face communications, to my online ones. However, I realise I may soon be in the minority, as a whole generation grows up with the values (or lack of) in online communications being the 'norm'. Scary!

I generally stick to the bike forum, which tends to be far more 'high-brow' and on-topic. It appears the chat-forum can be a rather more intimidating place.

I have no idea what this 'baby robin' malarky is about though!

There is some really good bike advice and some seriously funny stuff on here, but the `recession thread' last night was a good example of why I think twice about posting anything in the Chat Forum.

I think the hammering that some folks get here is extraordinary - the banking chap who made a relatively innocuous post being a good example - and as a result I take note of who I discuss things with

I thought the banker made his point very poorly and it was ambiguous tbh but his better worded explanation was fine. ..not really sure why you would single that out tbh as it ended in an agreement/accord/truce from all sides.

Not having a go at you personally, more the general "attack the banker" tone of the thread as a whole.

I thought the point made was clear, and given that the OP was asking how people were surviving the recession, the comment that someone was doing OK was entirely reasonable. I took note of the response and then decided not to post.

Totally uncalled for the bashing that guy got. The point was very valid and very well put IMO

Tucker was well cool.

I was thinking more along the lines of a harmless irritant. 😉

This is extraordinary.

I almost don't know what to say about it.

I'm barely holding this piss in now.

When I first joined, I was more aggravated than intimidated. I posted a picture of my brand new GT i-Drive (of which I was WELL proud) on one of those show-us-yer-bike threads. Imagine my surprise when about 40 complete strangers pointed and laughed, called my pride and joy, "fugly" and complained about the state of my lawn / neighbours brickwork / tiny flecks of mud on the tyres. 😥

I know now that it was all a bit of banter - back then, I took it all very personally. It's all about understanding the language and oddities of a particular forum - they all have a different way of doing / saying things....

i-Drive's are still fugly, no matter how immaculate your lawn is... 😉

Don't you think that too much focus is being placed on a few negative threads and the many, many positive threads are being overlooked?
I think it's wonderful that I can go head to head with someone on one day and a couple of days later they're offering help through their personal email.
There have been some seriously hard threads, I'm not going to single any one thread out, where the camaraderie has been overwhelming. We're here because we want to be, so don't be intimidated, have your say and walk away.
There are still some who hold grudges, but that's their problem. 😀

Besos.
don simon

It seems that this thread is a result of a comment I made on another thread about how long people have been members of this forum. I would just like to clarify that what I meant by 'intimidating' is the way some people seem very quick to attack others for very little or no reason, and can be very rude. I don't have time for such attitudes and will simply choose not to post. I do find the forum very interesting however, but i'll leave the bickering and arguing to those who want to waste time doing so. Meanwhile, there is loads of great information about technical matters and rides, so I'll just focus on that instead.

Aye.
Too much of this:
[img] http://i.eprci.net/itg-quarterly [/img]

not enough 'good guy greg' behaviour:
[img] ?1306968562[/img]

Bitchy posts depress.
Winter nights filled with scorn.
New name so care less.