"What this power is I cannot say; all I know is that it exists."

[cheshirecat]

I'd like to get it on with all you lovely girls here. At the same time.

Wait, I'd like to get along *cough*.

Jokes aside, in any community you are going to have conflicts. Whilst it's true that people shouldn't argue all the time and purposely stir up trouble, the moderators are there to keep the peace. On a personal level I have seen little disagreements in the areas I've been to - where's all this action going on, exactly?

[lynda]

cheshirecat, do not even ask hahaha

[laine175]

Cheshire cat you come at a time when there has been a wonderful peace in the forums...sadly that may not last for much longer

[giant]

World peace? not likely, Peace in forums? likely hope they both change one day

[wetnwild]

Cheshirecat, it has been very peaceful here lately, hasn't it? It has not always been this way. Some people like to stir the pot at any given opportunity. Let's just hope it stays this way now, so that we can all enjoy it!

[vita]

My own stance is based on many experiences of using interactive forums. Whatever anyone may think, this really isn't one of the worst. It's typical of all forums everywhere. Yes, people are drawn to conflict because conflict brings out strong emotions and that helps us know we're alive.

The issue for me is when people get locked into particular conflicts, make it personal, and it just goes on and on and on. I know of bitter internet conflicts which have gone on for over 10 years. They die down and every so often they spring up again. Conflict is inevitable...the trick is how conflict can be diffused as quickly , as fairly, and as effectively as possible on forums so that it doesn't become never-ending. I'm not sure it's realistic, or even desirable, for us all to agree all the time. It would be a very boring and sterile set of forums if that were the case. When conflict turns into bitter recriminations, dehumanising people, personal abuse...that's when forums are on a destructive spiral.

I think it feels more frustrating and annoying when we're in the middle of that type of phase (as you might be feeling now, laine), especially if we've got other stresses in life, than it feels when some water has washed under the bridge. I know for myself, I've often gained a different, more charitable, perspective on a particular personal conflict some years later. It can take a while

For me, the key responsibility we all have is not to turn conflict into a personal vendetta, accept we can't know who someone is or why they post certain things, based on forum postings alone, and move on from it without deciding that person is "good" or "bad".

[sexy_pleasure]

Originally Posted by wetnwild

Cheshirecat, it has been very peaceful here lately, hasn't it? It has not always been this way. Some people like to stir the pot at any given opportunity. Let's just hope it stays this way now, so that we can all enjoy it!

Hopefully this is not the eye of the sh** Storm !!! LOL

[cheshirecat]

You're right, it's been peaceful here and I like it. It would appear that users are being non-judgmental and all are joining in conversations of a nice topic. So long as it remains this way, I've good reason to stay. So long as we're all being friendly, who has the wine?

[wetnwild]

I thought YOU had the wine cheshire!! Did you drink it all already? Or has Houston already made her way over there?

[cheshirecat]

Well now, it's a long story...
I wont go into details but at the end of the story there was no wine left. It would appear my house has been deprived of it's lushious chocolates and fine wines and there is a distinct scent of perfume in the air. At least that's my story.
In reality there's a large stack of empty bottles near the door ready to be recycled.

Houston didn't quite make it in time so I plan to tell her the wine was, er, approaching expiry