General

Site

Are condescending responses/replies allowed?

I've been reading through the forums lately, and have noticed some user's responses come off as very condescending, which often makes the other person they were responding to rather annoyed or angry.

Is this kind of behavior allowed on basilmarket? There's nothing explicitly prohibiting it in the rules, which is why I'm asking (although I suppose it is possible it could fall under some of the first few rules)

April 4, 2015

14 Comments • Newest first

LimusocoBobo

On the Basil forums, there is no blanket ban on condescending posts. However, as others have mentioned, if someone is being particularly flame-baity or off-topic, then their post can be removed and they can be suspended. Something like this is judged on a post-by-post basis.

Reply April 8, 2015
BobR

[quote=Duzz]if the mods were actually suspending every rule breaker, basil would only have a handful of members.[/quote]

Popular rationalization, but untrue.
Basilmarket has hundreds of people who use the site to post and read messages and comment on them every day without having to break any rules.
It's just a vocal minority who apparently seem to have trouble when they get near a keyboard.

Reply April 8, 2015
Duzz

I just hate how inconsistent suspensions are. I mean obviously mods can't get around to every single person that says the word "retarded" or makes a drug reference, but if the mods were actually suspending every rule breaker, basil would only have a handful of members.

Reply April 8, 2015
Dorks

[quote=Avatar]We should have all posts be reviewed by moderators to ensure that there isn't a phrase, or even a word in any of its meanings that can be construed under some ideological context as being obtrusive or otherwise an invitation of ill-mannered feelings. OR people can stop being such sensitive babies. I dunno what's easier honestly.[/quote]

The former is too tight. I'm sure many basilers will be upset at not only the policing/reviewing but also because there aren't too many active mods atm who would be able to handle it. That's why there's the censor system but that needs to be revisited as well.
The latter is not a good idea either. Not everyone is tough as nails. Like rn I'm disagreeing with both points and if it were any other person, they might think I was being condescending when the sad fact is that I've been in this community for a very long time.

Reply April 8, 2015
BobR

@loxiona Comments like that are almost always treated as "flame bait" which means they canl be removed and suspended but as was mentioned, it also depends a lot on context.
Another thing that has a lot of weight is reporting from users, as that can indicate the "baiting" context pretty well.
Also posting history can enter into it if this turns out to be a frequent occurrence from a specific individual.

Contrary to "popular opinion", not everything is "censored", but obvious attempts to stir things up and provoke fights or derail threads are not tolerated when seen or reported.

Reply April 5, 2015
mmorpg

It depends on the post. If it's obvious bait or unhelpful spam, then it's not allowed.

Reply April 5, 2015 - edited
loxiona

@TrampMonkey I agree that it does have that potential to be flamebait since the condescending person usually puts down the other persons intelligence or knowledge, which could also be an attack on a person as well. I also agree context is also important.

@kingkimster It might be best to ignore, but the nature of it is difficult for people to simply ignore.

@Avatar I don't see either of your options as viable, as moderators can't do what you said, and not everyone is thick-skinned enough to handle condescending people in a way that doesn't make the situation worse. However, if condescending behavior is against the basilmarket rules, people can report/flag the user, and mods can take action based on that.

Reply April 4, 2015 - edited
iDrinkOJ

@Thiefy996: lol you're not the one i was thinking about. alotta ppl here coming off pretending they're so smart or better than anyone else. its damn annoying

Reply April 4, 2015 - edited
kingkimster

It's passed off as passive-aggressiveness... Best to ignore it.

Reply April 4, 2015 - edited
sparkshooter

Unless there is a direct insult, usually you'll get away with it.

Reply April 4, 2015 - edited
iDrinkOJ

I hate condescending ppl. Thinking they're smart when they're not.

Reply April 4, 2015 - edited
TrampMonkey

You [i]might[/i] be able to argue that it's flamebait, but it's purely contextual. I think at most it'll only get a warning, though.

Reply April 4, 2015 - edited
Avatar

We should have all posts be reviewed by moderators to ensure that there isn't a phrase, or even a word in any of its meanings that can be construed under some ideological context as being obtrusive or otherwise an invitation of ill-mannered feelings. OR people can stop being such sensitive babies. I dunno what's easier honestly.

Reply April 4, 2015 - edited
zomgitbeandy

Whether or not it's allowed it's inevitable you'll find some form of condescending individual lurking these forums for the sake of a reaction. I don't think its a punishable offense but if they do it to the point they're off topic I think that's when they'll get suspended.

Reply April 4, 2015 - edited