Sheesh, can't you all take a kindly joke?

Ahhh! -4, -5! She can't take much more of it captain!

I don't think it's a question of whether or not Monks can take a joke. Reading through many of the posts makes it clear that we have a sense of humor. However, that has been a lot of concern expressed that we don't become another /. (Slashdot) in terms of poor behavior.

I'm not saying that your post was a bad thing, but I am one of the ones who voted it down (just thought it would be fair to tell you that). However, if you go to Slashdot -- they're just the easiest example -- you can see what I refer to as the other Slashdot effect. In this case, if someone makes a post that others do not like, the thread quickly becomes a bunch of juvenile mudslinging.

If you check out Best Nodes and Worst Nodes, you'll see that several of the best and worst nodes are related to this issue this issue and not with Perl. Many Monks are rather defensive of the Monastery and we would like to see this be a place where people communicate positively with one another. It's not that Monks don't want negative posts... that would defeat the purpose. But we would prefer to see people attack ideas instead of Monks. I really don't think your post was that bad, but the title Flame On! is what got my attention and earned a --.

I should also add that I've read through some of your other posts and generally have enjoyed them.

Cheers,
Ovid

First, I would like to thank you for your reply, I appreciate it verily!

Second, I'd like to thank my dope-iness for taking so long to reply to this. I had a reply done, but I managed to hit the nice little X instead of the _, and well, you know the rest.

So lets see if I can recreate any of my original post.
I'd like to say that I understand and appreciate the idea of punishing someone's comments if they do not represent what the community would like to see. And I'd further say I'm happy to comply and take these negative votes if my post falls under that realm.

However, the brevity and wording of my original post was specifically targeted to avoid what Ovid states as: "attack(ing) ideas instead of Monks". I hope that no one actually thinks I was attempting to attack maverick! My appologies to maverick and to everyone if you all thought so. (I admit that I did not put much of an effort into attacking an idea).

My original intent was simply to "kindly joke" (Dive, Dive, Dive!), and thus remind everyone that an ocassional holy war is good for you (helps the brain).

In anycase, I'd ++ your post Ovid, but I used all my votes much earlier in the day. I recommend everyone else ++ him in my stead if you would :) .

Ciao,
Gryn