A plea relating to 'Posting Guidelines'

[ProudhonPJ]

The reminder about forum rules has become necessary due to obvious reasons, yet I think a further qualification is needed.

The situation isn't as straightforward as respecting others' opinions. What we've been experiencing are posts that are designed to antagonise others and to provoke a response (and the angrier the better). Yes, trolls should be ignored. Yes, individuals seemingly against the orthodoxy shouldn't be insulted. But during stressful times this is easier said than done.

Yet we're also being distracted by desperately trying to keep our emotions in check and, worse, having a go at one another. What is actually going on is akin to someone infiltrating a group that they not only don't belong to but to which they are also vehemently opposed. Imagine a forum for ardent atheists that a deeply relgious person joins and offers their views. Or one for meat lovers/producers that has found a vegan in its midst. (Reverse this scenarios too, of course). In these cases the problem is nothing to do with someone simply having a different opinion. The problem is that any post made by such a person offers nothing constructive. It doesn't matter at all who's right or wrong (even if that can be determined). There's no point in the post. No point apart from winding people up and perversely getting a kick out of it.

There might be better forum examples than those above, but I think what I mean should be pretty clear.

So, the rules and guidelines surely should include something about such infiltration, especially if the harm caused to others is much worse than the harm caused by name calling. Granted, it seems more subtle (and much harder to regulate), but arguably infiltrator comments can attack others' identities quite severely. When's the best time for such an infiltrator to up the ante? When others are feeling anxious and feel their livelihood is being threatened, of course.

Sorry for the length of this message!