Ok, this is something that's been formulating in my head for a while now, I sense it in other people on the forum, and I'd like to get feedback from the community.
Thus far, I've had a great time here. I've learned a ton, created my own build thread, and have become generally addicted to the app on my phone. I've found lots of good articles, information, build threads, how-tos, how-to-nots, and people generally sharing in the enjoyment of Jeeps.
But...at least once a week, often times more one of "those threads" comes along. Here is what I've generally observed to be the sequence of events:
1) Someone posts something stupid, hateful, inappropriate, and generally just looking to stir things up
2) A host of usually 5-15 people (and usually the same ones) jump in to shut it down
3) This goes on for a while. Sometimes the person even gets their own thread devoted to duking it out. I think they usually end up banned, but some weather it out and stick around
The results of this series of events are
1) Clutters up the feed on my phone of active threads (minor inconvenience)
2) Results in the person who said the stupid thing usually leaving. Not always a bad thing, but I've said some stupid stuff before too. I think a bit of understanding/forgiveness would go a long way and I have, on a few occasions, witnessed this on the forum
3) Gives a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths that aren't even part of it. We're the other X thousand members just standing in the corner waiting for it to end so we can get back to something productive. Some of us even leave because it rubs us so wrong. And it gets us a bad reputation in other Jeep communities
So, my question is honest and I really do want to understand:
Why respond in such force? It often times stoops to the same level as the original stupid comment. If someone says something stupid, it'd usually take one tactful, polite "Check yourself" from a moderator and the person would either (a) apologize and clarify or (b) respond with something else stupid and we can give them an infarction, which is a tool we have in our own forum rules. Is it really necessary to respond with a bunch of name calling telling the person to get out without asking for any clarification or giving a second chance? I think we make the problem far worse than it would be by a bunch of people commenting, calling person a douche/etc and telling him he can leave. They'd probably leave much sooner if they were just ignored.
I fully realize there is a lot of history to this forum and Eddie. I don't know any of that personally. I also have never run a forum and have only been on this one for about 6 months. So, please don't take this as an afront. Just trying to understand. Hoping for some thoughtful responses. I hate that I call this my Jeep community and I'm nervous posting this thread. I shouldn't be nervous in my own home.