Typing To Myself

My time on the SOC forums ebbs and flows. When a s/l or a soap is doing something I find intriguing, I will post prodigiously...for months at a time. Usually, this ends when the onscreen situation changes for the worse and I drift away from the forums, sometimes for a year or more. But what is making me feel like curtailing my time here right now isn't the show I'm watching (GH) or disappointment in the material (vets returning!).

No, it's the posting behavior of some of the members that is making me reluctant to stay. Complaints? Go for it. Disagreements and debates? Have at it. Why, though, does it have to be so *ugly*, so often? Why can't posters adhere to the forum guidelines? I've read the posts and it's obvious that they aren't stupid so that eliminates a lack of understanding concerning the rules. Plus, the mods often have reminders and rebukes in "sticky" threads at the top of the forum page.

I've followed the protocol: my "Ignore" button is about worn out, lol. I report the ugliest or most antagonistic threads/posts to the mods. I try not to reply to trolls. And, still, it never ends. Ignoring doesn't help if another poster uses the "Reply with Quote" feature. The mods have their hands full and, if I report more than one post a day, I do worry that I'm abusing the mod complaint system. And, in at least one instance, a very ugly thread went completely uncorrected despite the fact that a moderator was posting there.

As I stated above, I have no problem with debates, disagreements, complaints, or even the occasional outburst. But the malicious and profanity-laden posts just really wear me down. I'm no Pollyanna. And I've had my own posts deleted in the past when I've occasionally allowed myself to stray from the guidelines. But to repeatedly describe characters in derogatory terms, to bash other posters unabashedly is just unpleasant. There are forums more suited to that sort of communication. This one isn't squeaky clean but it would be great to come here and read, share, and express opinions without having to read the same posters make the same ugly comments over and over.

And, personally? Women calling women (even fictional ones, lol) "bitches" is just unacceptable. Like we don't here that sort of demeaning garbage often enough from men? Just my opinion...here on my blog. Those who take offense...are probably already on my Ignore list so it doesn't matter, lol.

Sticky should be as sticky does.