I can't help wondering how much anonymity has to
do with people's posting styles. It may be a
contributing factor to abuse - but it may also be due to
the tendency on some people's parts to think that
their way is the right way and that people who disagree
with them are simply wrong /and or bad.

As I've pointed out in the past - the art of
reasoned, intelligent argument is a skill not easily
acquired. Sound reasoning will conquer unreasonable
generalisations every time.

For instance if arguing
over politics don't say, "All conservatives are stupid,"
this makes you appear to be arguing on an emotional
level - not a mature intelligent one. A more efective
approach would be a subtle hint that some conservatives
may not be making intelligent decisions in their line of
work in Opposition. This response may be unlikely
in the heat of the moment but it has more chance of
winning you points in the discussion. The same would
apply if you were to say, "All unions are corrupt."
Not a very fair statement either.

After all - no likes, or supports an abusive, illogical or weak
debater. Perhaps it would be better if we all read what we wrote
before posting or better still - give our posts more thought
before sending.

Lexi your post is quite true.
But I think we are over cooking this subject.
GY put a point with a link.
We got the staggers a bit and went sideways.
But just maybe we are looking for something no longer seen here.
Reading things from say 4 years ago maybe.
And I would target a few, very few now, and put myself in the same sin bin.
But robust debate is not abuse.
Here I go again, PC demands I do not do this, but free speech calls for it.
A few always any site, are doing the best they can, see? turned coward! they know no better.
Gets hard, very much so, when they call us fools!
Often snipe at any one, little narky things,single paragraph posts aimed at? who knows.
A control thing lives in the average one of us, we pull back, even in our most heated moments, some lack that skill.
Over all we are not doing too bad some of my harshest critics have my respect.
And while I get heated and yes rude, I know, with certainty, I am often wrong, better ways exist to fix things than my thoughts.
But that difference that divides us is the fuel that drives us.
CJ Morgan was a mate, he did take his views to extremes sometimes warning me if I did not stop talking anti green I would be sent to Coventry.
I miss his contributions

Well, I for one have no problem with anyone knowing who I am, even where I live.

It is no secret that my passion is IR, but I find it frustrating at times when I get accused of not knowing what I am talking about, especially when I have been an employer for in excess of thirty years.

During my thirty plus years, I have witnessed a deterioration in the relationships between workers and bosses, mainly due to governments policies of trying to make one size fits all IR policies, mainly from labor governments.

It's funny how so many are anti work choices, yet, our country boomed during this period of very flexible IR policy.

For me the most irritating part about OLO is that so many posters are perceived experts, yet they have lived their entire working lives, as workers, relying on someone else to take risks.

Then there has been the growing setiment amoung many of, 'it's my given right to expect a good job, with good pay and conditions, that suit me', giving little to no regard to the well being of the workplace.

As for anonymity, my opinions would be no different if I were to meet face to face.

As for fellow posters, I have respect for all, and feel I'll of no one, although I am finding OLO a tad boring of late.

Dear Belly,

I don't have a problem with robust discussions and
as I've stated in the past a healthy, vital society
is not one in which we all agree. My views are not set
in concrete - and I've had many re-thinks on quite a
few issues since becoming a contributor to OLO.
Each of us goes through transitions and transformations.
The important thing is that we acknowledge them and
learn from them. I certainly don't have all the answers.
I'm still on my own road to discovery. However, I've met
some amazing people on this forum and this is what keeps
me posting here.

Belly>>Sonofglion is one of a very few, why claim a tribalism exists here. In my view it does not.<<

>>Some, once again, find them selves on the outer because of posts like those<<

Can't have it both ways Belly my china, in one breath you claim no tribalism while decribing me as seperate from the whole, relegating me to “one of a very few”. Then in the next statement you play passive aggressive by suggesting that posters that don't suit you "find themselves on the outer." Make up your mind chief.....Just kidding, you have the right to say whatever you want Belly.

Getting back on task, what about the human trait of being more honest and direct at a distance. For example, I suspect that most people would be more comfortable delivering bad news, or a negative assessment, over the phone rather than face to face. It is about seeing the body language and facial expressions now coupled with the verbiage that makes most of us feel further discomforted. Unless we are sociopaths we feel a compunction to soften the message when we are face to face having to deal with the distress and response in three dimensions.

Although I do have empathy, I do not feel this way. If you are literate a spade is a spade excepting in the case of youth or inexperience where tutelage rather than sledgehammer factual enforcement is the best tool.

Given this I would venture that an open forum would elicit a more direct un garnished response than face to face dialogue. Whether it is abuse or a negative assessment the blade delivered from a distance is sharper.

Dear rehctub,

For what it's worth -I've understood where
you're coming from in your posts as an employer.
And although I may not agree with everything you
post, I certainly understand your position and
respect your experience.