Originally Posted by Halx

If airing out your social frustrations is important to you, I'm not sure what to say. One thing I'd like to change about the status quo here is the labeling that goes on. Opinions have the right to be heard. I think the invitation to "call a spade a spade" has demonstrated quite quickly that the real power is in the majority. This, to me, is unacceptable.

Originally Posted by mixedmedia

I interpreted the invitation to "call a spade a spade" to be an invitation to speak your mind freely without breaking the rules. I can see where that idea is open to interpretation, though. From what I gather in previous posts there seems to be a fair amount of people who don't feel free to voice differing opinions with a little passion or vigor without getting tapped on the shoulder by a mod. While I've not encountered any situations grave enough to mention here, I have noticed mods take great strides to avoid conflicts among members. I'm supposing that's what is being referred to and I'd have to agree that a little passionate talk, especially on controversial subjects, is not a bad thing. It's that subtle line between passionate defense or rebuttal and personal attacks that needs to be carefully walked. For the most part I think the mods here do a great job. Of course, I came here from a politics board where being called a "scumsucking liberal traitor" is almost de riguer for any self-respecting liberal. *shrug* BUT, that said in discussions there with REASONABLE people all that passion and vigor often translated into mutual respect and acceptance in the end. When this is allowed to happen there can often develop a tendency for the community to take care of itself. I think TFP is already doing that to a large extent due to the mindset of of the regular contributors and their longstanding relationships.