No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

[OCNRN63]

I thought those words earlier today after reading another thread that started to go sideways because some had an issue with the OP. This seems to be happening frequently; the OP will start a thread with the best of intentions; then someone responds with personal attacks against the OP (and misses the point of the post); then others pile on additional negative posts against the OP,

rendering the thread useless.

I wonder if those who try to debate the poster and not the post do anything to make AN a more welcoming place. Do they share their knowledge or experience with others? What have they done to become a valued member of AN?

I'm sure I'll be criticized for starting this thread. I may even have a few people take shots at me. I'm tough; if I can handle cancer, I can handle criticism from anonymous posters on a forum.

So how have you helped to make AN a positive place where nurses can learn from each other?

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

.... some AN members feel they can give you a personality test and a long-distance psych eval right through their keyboards!

Oh, SING it! Sometimes I have to read and re-read and read yet again when someone gets bent out of shape about something I've posted (or someone else, for that matter) that isn't even CLOSE to the offense taken.

Sometimes, I think people WANT to find an offense, as it then allows them to have an online tantrum and call it "justified".

Cheaper than therapy, I guess.

[Muser69]

But how would anyone get to eat popcorn if everyone agreed with each other? Just asking.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I absolutely defend everyone's right to make the occaisional snarky, cranky post. None of us is perfect, we all make snarky posts from time to time. (Except for those of you who are perfect, and you can cast the first stone . . . er report the first post.)

But don't make a snarky, nasty post attacking someone personally and then "report" the post where that poster snaps back. And if the moderators see fit to "moderate" a post where someone quotes a snarky comment, perhaps the original snarky comment should be "moderated" as well. And folks who gang up on other posters to pile on the personal attacks are the bullies they're always spotting coming out of the woodwork.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I absolutely defend everyone's right to make the occaisional snarky, cranky post. None of us is perfect, we all make snarky posts from time to time. (Except for those of you who are perfect, and you can cast the first stone . . . er report the first post.)

But don't make a snarky, nasty post attacking someone personally and then "report" the post where that poster snaps back. And if the moderators see fit to "moderate" a post where someone quotes a snarky comment, perhaps the original snarky comment should be "moderated" as well. And folks who gang up on other posters to pile on the personal attacks are the bullies they're always spotting coming out of the woodwork.

TRUTH.

Missed you!!!

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

The irony is rich since the entire post with this quote is written from a victim mentality.

But Ruby wasn't the one running to the little yellow-triangle thingie when people disagreed with her.... and Lord knows plenty of posters disagreed with her. And some have been pretty rude about it, too.

Of course, people have the right to report whoever they want to the moderators for any reason they want. That's why that button's there. It's just sad so many posters apparently do not understand the difference between a post that is truly offensive... and one they simply do not agree with.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

TRUTH.

Missed you!!!

Out of town for a family situation. The timing was really excellent to step away from the keyboard for awhile.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

I would just like to add that the snarky/snide comments suck.

Oh, I don't know. Some of them are pretty funny.