Drive By Groaners

[Deep Purple]

I noticed quite a few groans in another thread and took the title for this thread from a comment in one of the posts.

Lange Erlen (public park) and dogs

My complaint is not about that thread and the rights and wrongs of the various posts.

What I dislike is people groaning without responding to explain their reasons. Everyone is entitled to their views and to groan posts that they disagree with. That is the great thing about living in a free society.

I think that it would be helpful to the discussion to explain the reasons for the groans. Your reasons may come from personal experience, professional knowledge etc. It would be a shame to miss out on such wisdom.

[Sada]

ah what the heck Rod. any animal or better pet related thread is always a high risk adventure. people get very touchy over what and what not is being done or said.
I don't even open them anymore I must say.

edit: Hey, congrats to your 1.700 posts there.

[Deep Purple]

	Quote:	Sada
	ah what the heck Rod. any animal or better pet related thread is always a high risk adventure. people get very touchy over what and what not is being done or said. I don't even open them anymore I must say.

As I said, my complaint is not about that particular thread. I used that as an example to illustrate my point that I wish people would explain their reasons for groaning.

[AbFab]

I don't explain my groans. They are obvious...

You picked a bad example to illustrate your point, Rod. It's crystal clear why people were groaning you in that thread. You set yourself up for it mate! As Sada said, ain't no better fodder for thanks and groans than threads about kindness and cruelty to animals.

[Uncle Max]

When it comes to their opinions, people have no sense of humour. Viz: pets / religion / politics / kids...

[Corbets]

	Quote:	Deep Purple
	] What I dislike is people groaning without responding to explain their reasons.

I don't feel the need to sit down and have a half hour conversation with every inconsiderate idiot who almost hits me with his car, either - I just flip him the bird and (usually) walk away.

Same thing with the groaning, really. Sometimes, it's just really freaking obvious why you got groaned at, and even the dullest person can understand why. Like, for example, the thread you linked above...

[Castro]

	Quote:	Corbets
	Sometimes, it's just really freaking obvious why you got groaned at, and even the dullest person can understand why. Like, for example, the thread you linked above...

Those that know Nick, know that he has a slightly ironic sense of humour which judging by the amount of groans he got, might not have been so obvious to others.

[NotAllThere]

I do know Nick. And he's very happy to let those who have no sense of humour or irony (aka most of the citizens of a certian North American country) reveal themselves. And to bait them. With which attitude I heartily concur. Pomposity is not an soley English trait. It needs pricking.

	Quote:	Uncle Max
	When it comes to their opinions, people have no sense of humour. Viz: pets / religion / politics / kids...

Depends whether it's funny or not.

[KangarooBen]

	Quote:	Deep Purple
	What I dislike is people groaning without responding to explain their reasons.

Just curious as to what you think the protocol should be, and if the same applies to the Thanks button?

I have done one groan. I was going to add a reply to explain, but I decided against it because it was in a topic that had already spiralled into total chaos, and me adding my reason for it, would have only added fuel for another war of words to start. So I groaned, and walked.

[PlantHead]

Receiving a groan does not make you a bad person, terrorist or murderer, so try to remember that it actually doesn't matter to your "real" life.
Whilst it would be nice sometimes to know why someone has groaned you, I generally accept that they are either; disagreeing vehemently with my opinion; find that what I have written is totally ludicrous or are a bloody moron (usually the latter)
I actually think you can tell more about the person that gives a groan than the person that receives them, there are people on this forum that have given out more groans than thanks.

Just like in "real" life I hear rubbish (Muslims are all murderers, there is no self-raising flour in Switzerland, the English are polite) and I choose to ignore it, so I generally choose on the forum. People that don't and groan away happily, clearly have the same issues in real life.

Edit: you can of course also PM people and ask why they have groaned you. Generally I believe the reason is clear, if it is not then often it is tit for tat groaning.

	Quote:	Castro
	Those that know Nick, know that he has a slightly ironic sense of humour which judging by the amount of groans he got, might not have been so obvious to others.

That's the thing about internet forums. People don't know the real you - your likes; your dislikes; your sense of humour. In the virtual world you are what you write. Fairly or unfairly, people judge you on your posts. Don't be surprised if they take your posts at face value.

[Lucy..TotallyLost]

Yeah I agree.. getting groaned for asking for directions and no comment or anything.. just an arrogant groan.. really p*ssed me off.
Nobody else on the thread had a problem with it/they were all really helpful. The person who groaned me wasnt even involved in the thread.

I know I could have found out the info I needed by searching on the internet, but so can most of the people who ask questions on this forum. Whats the big deal.. I didnt write to this person specifically and ask them to take time out of their life to help me.

I'm not from Switzerland, thats why I'm on this forum. So what if I ask for some reassurance sometime sighhh.

But I agree.. an arrogant little groan and no comment is frustrating.

[Deep Purple]

	Quote:	KangarooBen
	Just curious as to what you think the protocol should be, and if the same applies to the Thanks button? I have done one groan. I was going to add a reply to explain, but I decided against it because it was in a topic that had already spiralled into total chaos, and me adding my reason for it, would have only added fuel for another war of words to start. So I groaned, and walked.

I don't think that the same applies with Thanks. That is more clearly that someone agrees with the post or felt that it offered good advice etc.

I have mentioned elsewhere in the forum that I would prefer the groan button to be done away with all together. In my opinion it is often the cause of the threads descending into chaos. As the general opinion seems to be in favour of keeping groans I feel they could be more constructively used.

Even if it may seem obvious why someone has groaned, I still believe that an explanation is usually beneficial. If nothing else, it may make the poster realise where they went wrong. Of course, if a thread has already descended into chaos you are right to just leave it.

[Dougal's Breakfast]

It's usually pretty plain why one has earned a groan - and if not, who cares?

I collect mine like a badge of honour.

Not been doing so well recently, though...

(Where's Donavir when you want him?)

[krlock3]

Not worth taking seriously. On the rare occasions I have groaned people, I have occasionally found private messages in my inbox asking why i felt it necessary.

Im always faintly amused about the fact that people take it that seriously that they have to pm me.

It can have a practical usage though. One person wrote and asked why i had groaned him directly after quoting him and agreeing with everything he said. turned out i had wanted to thank him and just had fat fingers. oops!

lifes too short, see the thread about the best advice you have ever received, and take a little reality check.

[Lucy..TotallyLost]

	Quote:	Deep Purple
	I have mentioned elsewhere in the forum that I would prefer the groan button to be done away with all together.

I agree.. its like how facebook refuses to get a "dislike" button Its only purpose is to be rude..

	Quote:	Dougal's Breakfast
	It's usually pretty plain why one has earned a groan - and if not, who cares?

I do also agree with you
Its not actually the groan that bothered me. I was having a "I hate living in Switzerland" day (as Ive mentioned in other posts.. its constant ups and downs for me) and I was feeling anxious about being left by myself in Zürich (I dont live there and dont know my way around at all) and am nervous walking around at night (for reasons that are explained on the thread I was groaned on) and the groan was just a final little stab letting me know how pathetic I am here.. and as if to prove how pathetic I am, I'm ashamed to admit, it even made me cry.
It wasnt because I got groaned. Ive written many posts far more groan-worthy and couldnt have cared less if any of them were groaned.. but I guess my uselessness in CH is a touchy subject for me or something!!


Oh well. Like it really matters now. It was still rude though.


But yeah I dont see the necessity of the groan button.. but maybe Im just not tough enough to handle them yet

[Dougal's Breakfast]

	Quote:	Lucy..TotallyLost
	as if to prove how pathetic I am, I'm ashamed to admit, it even made me cry

You come from a country with the scariest spiders in the world: Nothing should make you cry, least of all a drive-by groan on a bad day.

I think you should paste a picture of a red back spider on the corner of your monitor, and, whenever the world is getting you down (which it will, repeatedly, so long as you are adrift in a land of Foreign Johnnies), you should look at it and roar: I am Australian! Hurrah!

Of course, being English would put you in a better position, but I guess second best isn't all bad, is it?

[Lucy..TotallyLost]

	Quote:	Dougal's Breakfast
	I think you should paste a picture of a red back spider on the corner of your monitor, and, whenever the world is getting you down (which it will, repeatedly, so long as you are adrift in a land of Foreign Johnnies), you should look at it and roar: I am Australian! Hurrah!

Hahaha Thanks. I'll give that a try
Someone groan me sometime (not now (unless you want to), cos I'm expecting it and all cheered up from Dougal's post) and see if my red back picture helps me handle it

[22 yards]

"I am, you are, we are ... Australian" ... but I really don't think the "hurrah" will work. Good-o, maybe, onya, definitely.

DB, don't you have a delicate medical procedure to attend to?