Want to know how to win a gold star in forums?

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   Spirit Whispererposted 13 years ago

   I recently visited a forum in which someone posted a paragraph of nonsense the kind you get when someone spams your website blog. There was a reference to depression in that paragraph and it attracted people from all over hubpages. People were tearing each other to shreds and when I and one other hubber mentioned that their comments had nothing to do with the question posed by the spammer I was told that I could have a gold star for pointing that out and basically told to scram. so if you want a gold star simply go the post by louron titled clinical depression. Just proceed with extreme caution they bite!

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      Marisa Wrightposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Spirit Whisperer, by coincidence I just finished reading the thread in question.
      
      As you say, the initial post was nonsense, but the way I read it, people felt it raised an important question which they wanted to discuss.  You'll notice they didn't address the OP directly in their replies. 
      
      I was surprised to read your aggressive posts and wondered why you seemed so determined to shut the thread down, and why you were so abusive to Aficionada, who is one of the gentlest Hubbers I know.
      
      If you're going to be so thin-skinned, I suggest you steer clear of the topic forums and stick to the HubPages-related area.

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         Rochelle Frankposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I read it too. Everyone had very  valid points but there was an extreme case of touchiness and annoyance  by many involved. Can we all just take a hot bath and use some anti-itch cream? (Not all together.)

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            Lisa HWposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I read that thread too.  It was obvious that the original thread was what it was, but so often it's clear that people (intentionally or otherwise) often end up elevating some threads, and they turn into something fairly worthwhile.
            
            There's does seem to be a particularly high degree of touchiness on the forums recently, not to mention a lot of jumping to conclusions about the motivations of one person or another.     It's kind of as if the post-Panda edginess has kind of died down and left, in its wake, a mass edginess about "everyone" elses's motives (and, in some cases, ability to think).
            
            Hot bath, cold shower - whatever would help.  Or maybe a lot of folks just need to step back and forget all the negativity and edginess that's been going on (and everyone start new and on a clean slate from here).   

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               DIYweddingplannerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               I wish this were an isolated incident, but from the time I started HP, I've been subjected to rudeness and name calling.  This was from well-established hubbers who should have known better as well as the crackpots that seem to flock here.  One particular female hubber seems to be on a fault finding mission to crucify everything I say.  Why?  Who knows? She doesn't like my face, my hubs, whatever.
               Another troll on here has called me all kinds of names.  I would call him a hubber, but I'm not sure he ever writes anything. Is it any wonder that alot of new writers like me don't want to stay here?
               I've done my share here in the short time I've been here.  I did two 30 in 30 challenges. I flag, I hubhop. I participate, I write when I can. I'm a single mom with two kids still at home and a full time job, and an on the side wedding business, so a hub a week lately sometimes doesn't even fit into the schedule.
               Maybe I'm just too tender hearted to be here, but the way people talk to each other is unbelievable to me sometimes.
               I came here at a bad time, just as Panda hit.  So I don't know what the good days were like here.  I just know these days are not happy ones.  I do thank SW for sticking up for me, though.  Was he more persistent than he needed to be?  Maybe.  But at least it made me feel like someone was paying attention.  
               And I hate to even post this knowing I'm gonna get slammed and picked apart for saying it. But so be it.

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                  Baileybearposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  It hasn't been as nice a place to visit past few months - people have been on edge, I think. 
                  There is the odd person that seems to think it's ok to call people names - I've only been called names by a few religious extremists.

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               Spirit Whispererposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Nice one Lisa. BTW I like the way you have stopped replying to comments in your hubs. I don't see anywhere else where authors feel obliged to reply to comments made by readers except here in HubPages. who made this rule and have people really checked if it actually gets them better results?

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         Aficionadaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         
         
         Thanks for these kind words, Marisa!  I'm not so sure I deserve them these days, though.  I've been on a sort of feisty streak, and if that's all that Spirit Whisperer has seen of me, he may very well have figured I was worth abusing.   !!
         
         I actually have been very fascinated with the way people have read that other thread.  SW called it "tearing each other to shreds"; DIY mentioned (there, I think) that posters got into a tiff; and even Rochelle Frank and Lisa HW mentioned touchiness and annoyance.  I guess an awful lot of that went way over my head, because I really read nearly all of those posts as being just some interesting back-and-forth, primarily unemotional disagreement.  That is, until I stepped in. 
         
         But whatever the reason for SW's reactions and tone, DIY said that he and she are buds, and that's enough to raise him up a whole bunch of notches in my estimation.  As I've said elsewhere (and as I've experienced enormously lately), we don't always come across in our posts the way we intend.  And that probably means we need more exposure to one another, not less.
         
         Thanks again for your kindness.
         
         Spirit Whisperer, here's your thread back. 
         
         
         

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            Lisa HWposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Aficionada, I noticed the thread, but I maybe should have been clearer that my reference to some of the edginess/touchiness I've noticed was related to the overall forum picture these days - not just that thread.  That thread aside, it seems to me like cutting remarks and insults about real or imagined "misdeeds" have been rampant ever since Panda made everybody mean.         (By the way, I wish you'd start a thread to debate the Hierarchy of Needs.  I think it would make a good, emotion-free, discussion, but I don't want to start the thread (for reasons I won't go into     ).

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            Marisa Wrightposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Aficionada, that was my reaction, too.  In fact when I realized you and SW were sparring, I went back and read the earlier posts and it seemed like a perfectly peaceful discussion to me. SW did post about the OP but the response from Baileybear and others wasn't rude as far as I could see.

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         3. 78

            Spirit Whispererposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Aficionada, you have gone more than a few notches in my book after that comment. It takes a special kind of person to stand back and put their hands up.
            We are all from different parts of the world and from differing backgrounds and I would say a good rule of thumb is that we are all from the same family if we continue to write hubs and express ourselves as we do and as such we should give people the benefit of the doubt.
            I enjoy a good laugh but found it a little weird that people get so serious here in forums.
            My humour may need a bit of getting used to but I am looking forward to the banter especially with you now Aficionada.
            You can call off the rottweilers  now!

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            DIYweddingplannerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Where are your other five points, Aficionada?  That was a "100" response in my book!

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      3. 78

         Spirit Whispererposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Marisa you read too much into things you should learn to chill out. We are all adults here and if you don't understand the humour then that is not my problem. I am sure Aficionada and the others are well able to take care of themselves and I don't appreciate you telling me where I can and cannot express myself in HubPages. You have a good day.

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      Baileybearposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      SW
      'People ripping each other to shreds....told to scram.' & accusations of aggression on that thread.
      
      This is more than exaggeration.   I pointed out to you directly & neutrally that yes, we did notice the OP is crap and depression was spelt wrong, but people are having decent discussion.  You ignored this & continued with you repetitive attention-seeking spiel, which quite frankly, I found irritating.  I posted the comment about the gold star with mild sarcasm, not overt aggression, like you claim.  If I had been aggressive, I would have called you names. 
      You were very rude to Aficionada and the only aggression I observed was from you. 
      And to start a thread to sulk about it...really!

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         Spirit Whispererposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         You are a sweetheart Bear!

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            Baileybearposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            ???

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      BRIAN SLATERposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I think gold stars are a bit over-rated, not that i'm ever likely to win one, but I think fridge magnets are the way forward. Maybe hp could adopt this idea, instead of giving out accolades, just send me a new fridge magnet. One with San Francisco bridge on would be nice.

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         Spirit Whispererposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         You getting rid of the wife?

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            BRIAN SLATERposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Nice one, no the wife will outlive any fridge magnet

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               Spirit Whispererposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Too bad because HP could have sent you a new model!

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   DIYweddingplannerposted 13 years ago

   I'm starting a chart on my refrigerator!

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      Spirit Whispererposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I wonder why you chose refrigerator? Am I sensing a coolness coming on ?

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         DIYweddingplannerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         

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3. 77

   psycheskinnerposted 13 years ago

   What do you have to do to get a smiley face sticker?

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      DIYweddingplannerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I'll give you one....here.....

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         psycheskinnerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         My work here is done... going to pin it on the refrigerator.

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      Spirit Whispererposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I don't think comments like that would be approved by OP ...

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4. 69

   Cagsilposted 13 years ago

   A gold star? No Thank you.

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      DIYweddingplannerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Would you prefer a smiley face?  We also have those available.

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         Spirit Whispererposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         you are making me jealous now!

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5. 69

   Cagsilposted 13 years ago

   No need for the smiley either.
   
   But here are a couple of "Gold" stars for anyone who wants one.
   
   
   
   
   
   

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      Spirit Whispererposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      
      You are a star!

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      Julie2posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I like the first star

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6. 67

   DIYweddingplannerposted 13 years ago

   Wow, not THAT'S a STAR!

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7. 66

   2uesdayposted 13 years ago

   The second one is like a sheriff's badge - so it may be useful at times.

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8. 91

   Cardisaposted 13 years ago

   I saw the post but quickly got outta there!

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      agentmomoposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      A star for you for being smart!

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         Cardisaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks, is it gold?

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            Rochelle Frankposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Would you take silver?

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9. 77

   psycheskinnerposted 13 years ago

   Stars for everyone
   
   

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      Baileybearposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      thankyou

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   2. 78

      Spirit Whispererposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      How did you do this? Please tell me.

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    DIYweddingplannerposted 13 years ago

    Love it!

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    1. 78

       Spirit Whispererposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Great fun. Thank you all for such a great laugh. I am looking forward to much more of the same!

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