posted January 24, 2008 04:50 AM              

When I found this forum some time ago, I was delighted because it seemed different than all the other astro forums on the internet. Things were explained and discussed in ways that even newbies could understand them. And I thought this forum was about sharing ideas and opinions on astrology and about helping newbies to learn astrology. People seemed friendly and helpful around here ... and for a while it was very pleasant to be around. But it's not anymore!!! I am tired of being personally insulted by people who - to put it politely - are extremely challenged in the politeness category just because I don't happen to agree with them. I mean, if you can't state your own personal opinion without being called a hypocrite, a liar, a b**** and God knows what else, then I simply don't see the point of using a forum like this.

I'm sure gonna miss the fruitful and inspiring discussions I had with some people in this forum. But I am most definitely not gonna miss the personal insults by some other people around here!!!

posted January 24, 2008 04:53 AM            

But you know you're not obliged to respond to people you don't want to talk to, you can just ignore their posts and not reply. I know it's hard.

posted January 24, 2008 04:59 AM              

Curious?...

Have you contacted a moderator in regards to this clearly abusive behavior?

It's important to note that moderators DO NOT magically see every post thread and situation brewing...

As an example:
On this "Astrology" forum there is just one person responsible for 15661 Threads with 224971 individual posts.

As a member here, people are expected to follow certain guidelines. If these guidelines are not being followed it is the moderators responsibility to do something about it. Contacting a moderator to help resolve a situation can easily be done discretely. Anyone of us would step in to help resolve a uncomfortable situation.
This you can bet on.

FOR EVERYONE'S INFORMATION:
At the top left side of each forum is a link to the moderator. Click on it and send an email. Please include the offending thread or post link or links "URL" with your message. Heck, you don't have to say a thing at all just send an email with the link. We are each bright enough to follow a link and recognize a problem.

posted January 24, 2008 05:24 AM              

PEACE!!!!

posted January 24, 2008 05:53 AM              

etheric distortion:
I am both embarrassed and ashamed by your behavior here this morning.

You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use this bulletin board to post any material which is knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, insulting, invasive of a person's privacy, or otherwise violative of any law. Source

posted January 24, 2008 07:24 AM              

it seems that what started as fruitful discussions somehow tends to become a battle with personal insults.
I don´t know why this is so. And it saddens me to see the direction some discussions are taking.
There`s no excuse for insulting someone. After all we only can share our personal opinions and experiences, and everyone is entitled to their opinion. Live and let live. That`s my motto.

However, it would be too bad if you let those "events" drive you away.
you said yourself you`ve had some interesting discussions here, too.
I for my part enjoyed very much talking to you. And I would really miss reading your posts.
So, I`d rather you stayed here.

posted January 24, 2008 01:37 PM            

I enjoyed reading what you've shared here -- you're articulate and thoughtful and I'm sad you've decided to depart.

In order to make this a better place for EVERYONE, I would like to emphasize that if a Knowflake has ANY issues with other Knowflakes, PLEASE contact a Moderator, any Moderator, with the details. You can also contact Randall the Webmaster -- he is "Moderator" of the Oober Galaxy and Global Unity forums here at LL and his name is an email hyperlink at those forums. You have recourse when there is objectionable conflict going one -- Write us!!

I want to emphasize what YFIS said:
Moderators cannot *possibly* read every post in every thread. We are unpaid volunteers and there are only 24 hours in a day. We count on others to let us know if there are threads that could use a referee

The departure of even one valued member is a loss for us all

posted January 24, 2008 01:50 PM            

As for etheric distortion, adios.

posted January 25, 2008 10:06 AM            

But it disturbs me to see all the insensitive replies;
"suck it up", "get over it", "oh the drama", "its a cop-out" etc.

Some people are sensitive to negativity.
Some people dont want to traffic in its midst,
and "overlook" it, or report it,
every time it rears its ugly, regenerating head.

Some people gravitate to more peaceful environments.
Truly spiritual people often gravitate to monasteries,
and other places of retreat from the world.
Are they "giving up", "copping out"?
Are they being drama queens?
Maybe in a few cases, but I doubt its the rule.

On the contrary, they know that,
although they could "toughen up",
it requires a lot of energy to grow a thicker skin
without growing a harder heart as well.

I wrote something once that describes this:

That which is mortal in us is undisturbed by loud noises and harsh words.
Being of the same nature as these,
it will only grow louder and more harsh itself,
in order to accomodate them.
But that which is divine is truly delicate.
The slightest noise,
the merest hint of discord,
is enough to dispel it.
A mound of stones is not upset by a strong wind,
but a mound of powder is lost in the weakest breeze.
Though we may not disturb what is coarse by behaving in our usual way,
we must take greater care not to disturb what is fine.
So it is that we must be gentle with one another,
not for the sake of what is mortal,
but for the sake of what is divine.

I just think its a very personal decision,
and its not anyone's place to judge SagSun,
especially at a time like this,
when you only add insult to injury.

If she wants to stay here and get her hands dirty,
cleaning up the LL "streets", she knows she can do that.

If she wants to seek out a purer environment, that's fine too.
This place is not for everyone.

Unless you are a highly sensitive person,
empathetic to moods in your environment,
then, you are in no position to understand,
let alone judge her.

Sag, I'm sorry your experience here
has been such a disappointment, and,
I'm sorry if anything I posted contributed to that.
I just hope you find your place, here or there.

posted January 25, 2008 10:55 AM            

I found this to be especially beautiful and true:

quote:

---

That which is mortal in us is undisturbed by loud noises and harsh words.
Being of the same nature as these,
it will only grow louder and more harsh itself,
in order to accomodate them.
But that which is divine is truly delicate.
The slightest noise,
the merest hint of discord,
is enough to dispel it.
A mound of stones is not upset by a strong wind,
but a mound of powder is lost in the weakest breeze.
Though we may not disturb what is coarse by behaving in our usual way,
we must take greater care not to disturb what is fine.
So it is that we must be gentle with one another,
not for the sake of what is mortal,
but for the sake of what is divine.

---

posted January 25, 2008 11:50 AM            

I have learned...

posted January 25, 2008 02:25 PM              

two years ago i would probably have reacted the same way. now, the stuff etheric said hardly registered and i could just roll my eyes and not let myself get upset by it. however i can see how it WOULD be upsetting to one totally open to it.

i think it's good to be so so sensitive (i am) for MANY reasons but it is important to not take these kinds of things personally. you don't necessarily need a thicker skin to do this (and mine is, literally, very thin and almost transluscent metaphorically and physically!) but you do need to be able to deflect it, protect yourself. whatever REALLY bothers you may be something you need to look at more closely in yourself since the pain may be triggering some unresolved issue.

posted January 25, 2008 02:43 PM            

quote:

---

We managed to get rid of some determined trolls w/out banning anybody and the board has thrived (IMO due partly at least to the heavy-handedness of the mods on "that other board")...stillatlarge

---

posted January 25, 2008 03:03 PM              

Some people are just cretins and they're just insulting you because you're there, not because you're you (i.e. how could they really know anything about you?). I would respond to "Compost" (see Forum Flame Warriors thread in Free-For-All) with bared teeth and the nonverbalized suggestion that you might just dig a hole at the bottom of the garden and stick them in it. (i.e. think firm, defensive stance; tank; mushroom cloud)

Speak softly but carry a big stick. The best Scorpios are good at this sort of thing. Observe their action and mimic it until it becomes part of your own behaviour.

Lots of love,