InyOutty,
As your note was posted here, and I am the moderator of the Professional Firms forum, I'll take this opportunity to address your concerns.
Originally posted by InyOutty
(1) Your standards must apply to everyone--EVEN THE SPONSORS OF THIS BOARD
Absolutely, but to be truthful I have yet to see representatives of EchoTrade, Bright Trading, Leiber & Weissman, TerranovaOnline, Interactive Brokers, etc. stoop to
personal attacks. Sure, they get frustrated when the same questions are asked over and over, also when they are the recipients of mud-slinging, but I don't see them telling people to "grow up", or calling people "idiots", etc. If that were to happen on this forum, I would apply the same standards to them.
(2) You should take the time to read the posts of the members who provoke the "personal attacks" before you jump the gun. A little research quite often uncovers the suspect and antagonistic nature of many prominent members posts on this board.
I may disagree with certain sponsors relentless marketing, etc. but they pay for that privilege and if it bothers you please tune it out as best you can. And I rarely see anything that passes for their so-called antagonistic nature....unless failing to answer a question, or answering a question in a manner that is unacceptable to the questioner can be considered antagonistic. Again, I read
ALL posts on this forum.
(3) Not all "personal attacks" are without merit. The slope is slipery when you start censoring to save someone's reputation or edit someone's "tone."
I am not editing or censoring to save someone's "reputation". But I disagree with you regarding personal attacks; on this forum they are
all without merit. And that also goes for commentary from members directed at other members, not just at sponsors.
If you want to turn this into a church chat or sponsor-protected venue then that's your choice. But the free rebuttals of individuals who aren't afraid to challenge the institutions of this board are the best checks and balances system I know of, and the only reason many people tune in to this station.
I welcome the rebuttal of individuals and the challenging of institutions. And I agree, that provides an excellent checks 'n balances to individual and corporate excess. But that does
not require personal attacks, and that is the sole issue I was addressing.