Unreserved Apology

boomacat said :

I am also bored bored bored with the “what’s the best cat washer/back shaver/male escort in Canberra” posts, which seem to reduce what was once an ace community driven news website into a yellowpages type affair.

That’s a toss-up between “Cat Washers, Back Shavers and Male Escorts ‘R’ Us” in Hume or “Bruce’s Shaved Pvssies” in Mitchell.

Interested in the Harcourt thing, and rarely enough, am in town that day/evening. Haven’t been there for (I kid you not) about 20 years!

Danman, George Harcourt is a great pub, but unfortunately I can’t travel back in time to 1800, any chance of holding it this year or at some time in the future? (sorry for the terrible Dad joke, couldn’t help myself).

I agree about personal attacks bringing the site down. I am also bored bored bored with the “what’s the best cat washer/back shaver/male escort in Canberra” posts, which seem to reduce what was once an ace community driven news website into a yellowpages type affair. But that’s just a matter of opinion.

To avoid RiotAct deteriorating in other blog’s of times past, perhaps an in-the-flesh forum or alternatively a “webinar” (I think that’s what the young folks call ’em) should be held to discuss:
– An ideal content mix for RiotAct; and
– A Code of Conduct/User’s Charter for posts, ie nothing with the sole purpose of insulting another member?

In other news, I had a great afternoon nap today.

Why don’t you just mind your own business?

“Whilst I didn’t see the offending comment, I am a little mystified as to how allegation could be so bad that VG couldn’t have defended it by stating facts.”
You, like others who seem to know all about it, did not even see the comment in question so keep your ill-informed judgements to yourself.

Read the thread, it will give you the general gist. This was between Ingee and myself, the rest of you should just leave it be. You also need to learn a bit about defamation laws.

Defamation: “The tort of publishing to persons, other than the person defamed,, imputations the effect of which is to lower the reputation of the person defamed in the eyes of the public at large”. Nothing to do with me being able to refute it through facts. How the f*ck do you think defamation is proven in a Court being as one of the defences to defamation is truth? By proving it to be untrue perhaps? Facts will refute the lie but defamation still exists.

I’ll give you the tip, the remark fulfilled the above. Now I just wish the rest of the amateur SC’s and persons uninvolved would resist the urge to comment on every single thing on this board including the above.

Ingee apologised in an unsolicited fashion, I accepted. It’s nothing to do with the rest of you

Whilst I didn’t see the offending comment, I am a little mystified as to how allegation could be so bad that VG couldn’t have defended it by stating facts. If VG didn’t do/was involved in whatever was alleged, surely he could of defended himself without resorting to legal threats. Defamation laws are, as far as my understanding of them goes, usually reserved for people’s names being publicly slandered where they cannot launch a defense. Sorry to ruin it for you people, but comments and articles on Riot-Act are generally not the most reliable sources of information.

If Riot-Act is going to descend into an exchange of legal threats, THEN it will truly be a dark and scary place. If not just f-cking lame.

Of course, I didn’t see the offending comment, but I’m racking my brains to come up with such a bad comment as to warrant legal action.

You made fun of someone on the internet ? oh noes.

If the George is north side, what is Gungahlin? South Goulburn?

Post it up Danman

Just discussed with friends being at exactly that venue, at exactly that time, so yes, I vote the George, 6pm 4th July….

Danman said :

George Harcourt Friday 04 July ~1800 ?

But that’s Northside!

I’m sorry, couldn’t help it………

I have to agree with the comments people have made about the personal attacks… the last series of posts I made on this site quickly deteriorated into a series of personal attacks on my character. I’m clearly not the only person this has happened to.

It’s a tough one isn’t it? On one hand that is what the site is all about but on the other we don’t want things going completely down the gurgler. I guess we’ll have to keep a stiff upper lip (or perhaps the moderators may need to wield a bigger stick).

George Harcourt Friday 04 July ~1800 ?

I’m up for a pub session. And I am looking forward to asking Papadoc how he can reconcile being disappointed with the standard of posts on the Majura Ave thread at the same time as being the one making all kinds of accusations, whipping up the grief and then trying to call an end to it!

I think people are worrying too much. RiotACT is excellent in my opinion.

I’m in. Let’s get it happening.

I suspect that you’ve hit the nail on the head Mr E.

I know that it would be hard for some, given what they have said and the positions that they have taken on certain topics here. But I for one am always up for beer drinking, especially if it includes the opportunity to meet some new people.

Now to agree on a venue without starting another slanging match …

papadoc said :

………Lately the site has descended into a (reluctant to use the word “mean”) umm… an unwelcoming place. Posters are apologising for their “best/worst…” posts, comments have been disrespectful and in some cases quite offensive, much to the RiotAct’s detriment……

Maybe RiotACT needs to have a session at the Pub?

It’s a bit harder to offend people from behind a keyboard when everyone knows who you are or what you look like. 🙂

“well done to Ingeegoodbee for their apology. if the post required them to apologise, it must have been pretty bad in the first place. It isn’t soft, it is just the right thing to do.”

“Exactly right. Being as Ingee had no access to contact me personally they did the next best thing. It is of concern to no-one else”

Fair enough

la mente torbida said :

Ingee apologised….VG accepts….nothing to see here, move along

Exactly right. Being as Ingee had no access to contact me personally they did the next best thing. It is of concern to no-one else

Ingee apologised….VG accepts….nothing to see here, move along

the thing is, we are all anonymous. if you want to make personal attacks, fine. go down the pub and sling the mud about. The punch in the nose you may get will wake you up for sure.

if it is your idea of clever to attack another poster, be aware that I don’t mind things like the “4-poster nut job” comment, but if you seriously have a go at me, without knowing who I am or anything about me, I will go elsewhere, and stop recommending this site to others. I enjoy the banter here, but I am not going to cop abuse that I find unnecessary for my views. If you disagree with me, tell me politely. (the bluecoat server that I connect through will weed out any obnoxious comments, anyway – then ban me from the site)

well done to Ingeegoodbee for their apology. if the post required them to apologise, it must have been pretty bad in the first place. It isn’t soft, it is just the right thing to do.

it is interesting that this post/thread has come about because i was thinking of posting a similar one – not because i read the police convention post that this thread in particular is about or because i felt i had something to apoligise for myself – but because i felt like i had noticed an increase in personal attacks on RA.

around this time i felt i made this observation, i also read this article http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/cyber-snipers-cry-foul/2008/06/07/1212863425071.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1 about an old blog (now defunct) called ‘the spin starts here’ which i used to read years ago, which basically died (anyone who also used to read it please correct me if i’m wrong) because of an increase in personal attacks between bloggers.

whether i read the article first which made me more sensitive to noticing personal comments on RA is beside the point, what it did was make me wonder whether the same sort of thing might happen to RA – and that it would be a shame if that happened.

of course people are going to disagree and a blog is about discussion and differences in opinion but often i think people could be a bit nicer or more factual (base your opinion in proper argument or facts – not just straight out personal sledging) in their disagreements.

Dalryk,

Its pretty simple. If it is something you wouldn’t like said to you, or you ususally would shy away from saying said comment to the face of the recipient – don’t post it.

Just because its ‘anonomous’ or impersonal, doesn’t make it impolite, untoward or not really helpful. Secondly, you can look like a bit of a t!t having a spray without who your identity being known.

V twin venom said :

I didn’t read the original post but it sounds like it would have been best settled out the back of the shelter sheds after school rather with the threat of legal action and an organised apology. Get over it VG and pull your head in Ingee. FFS.

On the topic that is developing in this thread, I agree that the standard of communication and quality of topics have deteriorated greatly, particularly since the WRX crash on Majura Ave thread.

I didn’t solicit the apology, in fact to the best of my knowledge no-one did, so why don’t you just mind your own business. If you read the original post you would see that it was something well and truly worthy of what I originally discussed, but its good to see you’ll fly blind without having any idea of what went on and offer your brilliant opinion as to what should or shouldn’t have been done.

The fact that you’d offer a seemingly ‘valued commentary’ on something that you know nothing about speaks volumes. i.e. ‘I have no idea of what went on but here’s my opinion for what its worth’. Guess what, if you don’t know what went on the opinion is worth zip

This site has a lot going for it. But its potential is diminished by off-topic insults.
Until about a year ago, I lived in Brisbane, and the Council there ran a very good site for announcing events etc, but it lacked the feedback mechanism built into Riot Act.
Maybe if everyone stopped occasionally and thought “Am I contributing to the quality of the site?” before posting, then the standards might improve.

V twin venom said :

I didn’t read the original post but it sounds like it would have been best settled out the back of the shelter sheds after school rather with the threat of legal action and an organised apology. Get over it VG and pull your head in Ingee. FFS.

On the topic that is developing in this thread, I agree that the standard of communication and quality of topics have deteriorated greatly, particularly since the WRX crash on Majura Ave thread.

That was the thread I was hinting at. I think the problem there was that there was a lot of grief coupled with some pretty harsh comments and it all went a bit nuts. Bound to happen and I don’t think there’s anything that can be done about it unless they just want to lock threads like that from the start which doesn’t really achieve anything.

Ewe,,,,,nearly time for a group hug.

On the topic that is developing in this thread, I agree that the standard of communication and quality of topics have deteriorated greatly…

It’s an issue that has been raised or alluded to a number of times of late. Is there an easy answer?

I didn’t read the original post but it sounds like it would have been best settled out the back of the shelter sheds after school rather with the threat of legal action and an organised apology. Get over it VG and pull your head in Ingee. FFS.

On the topic that is developing in this thread, I agree that the standard of communication and quality of topics have deteriorated greatly, particularly since the WRX crash on Majura Ave thread.

———————————————

here’s one…

In the interests of future good conduct, can anyone explain in general terms what the line was that was crossed? Personal attacks are pretty counter-productive as far as winning an argument goes, but on the net you need to roll with the punches occasionally. Where’s the line?

suitably magnaminous, that is…

good upon you, ingee – a public forum like this should foster robust discussion, but needn’t descend to petty grievances and sledging for its own sake.

sometimes, passions are aroused, but an apology for overstepping is a laudable gesture and one that should be commended. (i write here in ignorance of your post, having been off-board for a couple days) vg’s response is also suitable magnaminous and we should heed the advice therein to let it rest and move on… (not that i’ve heeded my own advice!)

[next…]

VicePope said :

I didn’t read the original thread, and so do not know what Ingeegoodbee wrote. If he/she thinks his/her words were inappropriate, he/she should be commended for doing the right thing and correcting the record. It’s not soft, it’s the right, honourable and courageous thing to do.

I agree with PapaDoc’s comment about some of the times when things get over the line.

I read the original thread; however, the offensive message was removed. I am guessing here, but I suspect that a certain apology was borne from the threat of legal proceedings rather than the honourable thing to do. It is amazing how fast people become honest or honourable when caught red-handed.

I applaud VG in finally taking taking to task one of those who post irresponsibly under the cover of anonymity. Although this forum is primarily anonymous, clearly it does not provide any form of protection or immunity. Post at your own peril, as every word you write is open to scrutiny. It is something to remember when posting, as the last thing we need is legal threats everytime someone gets passionate or argumentative.

It takes courage to apologise – hats off to all concerned for dealing with the issue in a positive way. Perhaps this event is a salient lesson for us all.

And the only ‘soft’ thing about the apology is the head of the poster in comment #1. I think there is nothing soft about a public mea culpa such as Ingee made (not that Farout would know what that means).

Ingee

I won’t perpetuate this any further but suffice to say I appreciate the fact that you have had the balls to not only apologise for what was said, but also appreciate the context and ramifications of what was said. The imaginary line was most definitely crossed, something for everyone to think about

I accept your apology and appreciate the fact that you have made it so public. Now lets move on

I didn’t read the original thread, and so do not know what Ingeegoodbee wrote. If he/she thinks his/her words were inappropriate, he/she should be commended for doing the right thing and correcting the record. It’s not soft, it’s the right, honourable and courageous thing to do.

I agree with PapaDoc’s comment about some of the times when things get over the line.

farout said :

soft

Thankyou for proving my point. Why sledge someone who has apologised for their actions? How does it affect you?

Out of respect to this site I will not comment on this apology or the reasons behind it, but as a frequent visitor to The RiotAct over the last few years it seems that this may finally be the line in the sand.

Lately the site has descended into a (reluctant to use the word “mean”) umm… an unwelcoming place. Posters are apologising for their “best/worst…” posts, comments have been disrespectful and in some cases quite offensive, much to the RiotAct’s detriment.

I, like many posters, enjoy coming here and reading every story on a daily basis and I believe that the free speech comments that accompany the posts are often useful and great in helping to understand particular topics. It’s when the comments fall into personal attacks that they become frustrating to read. I know that when they’ve been aimed at me I feel like I have no right of reply as there is sometimes a pack mentality about them.

Opinions are great, I welcome everyone to share theirs, but when their opinion is just rude or derrogatory, why not keep it to yourself? Obviously there has been some pretty serious allegations made on this site and the last thing I want is to get my local news from The Canberra Times.

I’m not saying that the site needs to change, or the people for that matter. I just think we’re all old enough to respect each others opinions and gracefully understand that when the shit hits the fan, it’s the admins that have to clean it up. Their work is what keeps this site alive and if they get f**ked over, we all get f**ked over.

Thankyou.

soft