I agree with everything you have said. I have thought about – and been invited to – participating in the forum but a couple of days ago read a thread that was obscene and insulting about a writer on my friends list who I do consider a true friend. I thought it was totally out of order and I won’t be going back to the forum for some time. It wasn’t the only potentially offensive thread but it was the worst. I am here to write and support my friends, there are many lovely, genuine people on here and we need to keep it that way. I hope the guy who wrote to you takes your advice on board.

Yes, agree

I agree. The forum here has been abused and it\’s used to discuss things that are really out of the RIGHT topic. That\’s why I don’t join the forum here.

I don’t spend time on the forum here but have on other forums. What I have come to realize is this: The feeling of the forum and website ebbs and flows with the members. There IS sometimes negativity, but USUALLY it is because there is a poison that needs to be released.

Sometimes, it’s like cleaning house..

I liked this writing. Idon’t really “know” you, but I like you too. If we are able to connect with people we like here, we will build a community that is LIKE we are.

All good, valid, and well written points, lindalulu…

The forum should make us closer and not divide us.God bless us all.

As you know Linda I have very little time to even write so I have only visited the forum about twice…You have made me curious though sounds like there has been a little hijinx in the triond family. I am sure it will sort itself out!

I usually sty away from forums, they mostly boost a one sided topic and everyone has a different opinion, which will mostly end up in troubled times. I have enough of my on problems
Lee

It is such a shame this has happened Linda. When it started I thought the forum as a good idea, but if it is being abused I shall not be visiting it again. Thank you for bringing this out into the open.

Christine

Thank you for your wise words Linda! If you can’t say something nice, then keep your opinions to your self, right? I will keep your son in my prayers! (as well as the people flaming others in the forum)

Thanks guys for stopping by and making comments, but this article was not written so people would stop going into the forums, it was just a spank on the hand for those who have gotten out of control and to let the rest know we are only human. I think the forum will also be good for us all if this craziness stops! And Damon your right our opinions sometimes need to stay inside! Thanks again…

Wise thoughts, well expressed. There should always be room for good manners in any form of social discourse.

Well done Lulu,I´m with you.

Well done and I agree. The forum was meant to help new and old writers with advise and tips; however, it has become a waste of space for people to vent on topics that are meant for other sites.

Interesting thoughts Linda. I visited when it first opened, and popped back in and was shocked to see what was going on and left, never to return.

one good thing about those `abusive` topics is that you will know whom not to take in as a friend.. another is that some will actually open your eyes that not everyone is in agreement with your beliefs and you can`t force them to.. I am glad that you clarified that you are not dissuading others from going there again.. great share.

BRAVO!!! Thank you for being responsible and writing an article saying that which so many of us are feeling. I didn\’t get caught up in head games when I was a kid in high school and I certainly won\’t as an adult. Words are weapons when used as such. As writers, we should all know the power of the written word and act responsibly.

God bless your son, and please tell him that I personally thank him. And thank you for being the kind of mother to raise your son to become the kind of man this country is proud of.

This was a great piece. I agree with you that we are all equal and should not be put down because or race, religion, or financial status. We all are here because we want to be able to write. Comments from others are nice to get and if you have some constructive critism to give that is helpful. I don’t think that ranting against someone in a comment box is either of these.

I was tremendously disgusted by everything that was going on. I don\’t mind if people want to talk about edgy subjects but one can talk about such subjects without being so vulgar.We should respect each other, if we do so, then we could enjoy everything the site offers.

As far as I know it has stopped.

I have heard about all of the drama that has been going in the forum. I don\’t post there that often so I didn\’t realize that it was really getting out of hand. It\’s a shame that people want to mess things up for others by being insulting and not respecting other people\’s beliefs.

Wow, sounds like I’ve missed out on a lot of stuff over at the forum, and I’m glad I wasn’t there. But you’re right — the forum can be a useful and helpful place if people will treat each other with decency and respect. This is a WONDERFUL article — thanks for standing up!

This is a very good article with a very good message. However, I did notice some irony in comment #4. “If we are able to connect with people we like here, we will build a community that is LIKE we are.” I would like to think you article speaks to accepting differences in people and this statement is just slightly contradictory. If we are to truly accept those that are different then that acceptance should be unconditional. Even if someone becomes slightly vulgar or even insulting that is what makes them different. Maybe the failure isn’t with these people and their personality. Maybe the failure is with Triond and how they decided to format the forum. Don’t get me wrong, I agree with everything you said in the article and it is never a good thing to insult or berate anyone. It is our respect for other that speaks to how much we are respected ourselves. Good job, Linda. Forgive me for playing devil’s advocate.

nice work i wont be in any forums from here on I have found them a place that is not beneficial to my beliefs and i am unable to seperate my beleifs from who i am. I will not stand on the fence and take abuse from people who have no belief in the lord jesus and constantly want to yell fowl when you pin them or ask them to stop there rambling on of satanic, cult like, atheist brhavor or just plain evil. Im a American and i live in America America was brought about from men and women who beleived in God Jesus Christ no other person or god. my point the forum is a place to talk about writing and creativity its not some people want to cry when those3 same folks are the poluters of the forum they use it to convey there alternative live style beliefs and their wacky fowl mouthed jokes is it wrong for me to protecdt my beliefs and stand against them Im a christian man I will always stand firm for jesus and if the same viewers find it agravating to here about him then get out of America and join up with the people lke bin ladden God bless and I will be considering moving my stuff from triond oh and check out my article standing on the fence

I did go a couple of times but I didn’t feel comfortable there and I don’t have the time either. I am sorry it isn’t being used properly. I feel that everybody’s religion or non religion is their own business and people are not to be badgered because of it. We are free in America to believe anything that seems reasonable to us. We are not Nazi Germany.Non christians have the same rights as anybody else.

Rant on, girl! There are times that people need to be put in their place, when they are acting like complete idiots, but for the most part, people are just so mean to each other for no reason other than selfishness. Great read!

I don’t know you Lula and but not for the forum I would not have read this. I have used the forum and learned alot and made some good friends. I have to filter the “chat” and get to the good advice. I agree with others as well with you…Writing is the reason I came here, I have found some real surprises here that I never gave a thought to. I have had to stop over the last year and started over because of some surprises. I hope we all continue to use the forum and change the overall impact of it. It a wonderful resource. Thank You, Elizabeth Abbott

a great rant! I haven’t got a clue what the set off for it was, as I never go to any forums for time wasting, but what you have to say is valid in general, and that is certainly worth a good article.

Too sad the comments (at least one) are already slipping again. Isn’t it funny what rights people claim for themselves and don’t have the grace to accord them to others?

But it won’t keep me out of America, even though I am not a Christian

Very well-expressed, Linda, thank you very much.

I have always wondered why people end up being so mean to others that they really don’t know. I have had way to many people judge me before even getting to know me. I love to write and this site came about in a perfect time for me to share my thoughts. I spend everyday reading peoples articles on here, have gone into a few of the forums but, I would rather write and have people read what I have to say, instead of being judged over them not knowing who I am. Ty for writing such a good article and I hope many that read this and exspecially those that leave bad messages or comments will think before they do.

Thank you everyone for your comments. Triond has been part of my life since last fall and I love coming here. Of course every one is different and that’s what makes the world go round. One comment that bothered me is that they are thinking of leaving Triond because of this. Why??? I wrote this article so everyone could voice their opinions and let it all out. I also wrote this article so those who messed up can rectify it. I do believe Triond and ALL the people that write here, every last one of them are great people and have something to offer all of us! Sometimes we ALL mess up, none of us are perfect and we all make mistakes. Forgiving those that hurt us is what I try to live by. I will not leave this place I now call home, and I will not delete people that are on my friends list because they messed up. I will not stop going to the forum once in awhile to see whats going on. This is not going to change the way I do things here, this article was just a little spank and a wake up call to let everyone know that some actions are not accepted. That’s it! So I hope people don’t pull their articles and don’t stop going to the forum. The forum was given to us as a place to sit back relax and get to know one another. It is not a bad place and good things can come from it, that’s why Triond gave it to us.Thanks again for all your comments and things have changed because of it. We all contribute to this wonderful community!!!

There is a reason I don’t go into forums… It’s because it’s an open playground for individuals to act like immature, almost high-school like kids. I don’t know what’s been going on, not sure I want to know. But I do know that many individuals here go out of their way to help others. And if you can’t be appreciative of that, then perhaps you don’t need the help of the hands that feed you; so to speak…

Great article and some good points.

I have used the forums quite a lot since it has opened and I have replied to a couple of religious threads and replied soundly back to a few hardliners of another large religious group that continues to hound me throughout the forums. I usually do not back down from directly challenges against me or my faith in Jesus Christ. However, since I have realized that this type of discussion would be better served in writing articles about Christianity rather than discussing the issues in the forums.

The forums mostly is meant to foster good writers into better and more successful writers through the sharing of our mutual interests and differing experiences in the field of online publishing. This is the main reason that I have discontinued my responses to religious or Christianity verses Islam in the Triond Forums.

I do not apologize for sharing my faith in Jesus Christ, especially when the sharing had been done in the religious titled threads. If people are offended, then the problem is with those people, because no one has the power to change another person\’s heart or cause someone to convert to a particular faith or belief, just because those people have heard or read something that they have previously rejected in their hearts.

Freedom of Speech is one thing, but to pursue some other member, just to harass them every chance that a member gets, is not professional, respectful or welcomed. I have just simply stopped responding to those members who have harassed me in the past, because responding to these people would continue to empower worsening behavior in-between us.

God Bless and Much Success with this article.

Nelson Doyle

I\’m kind of glad that I haven\’t had time to visit the forum.
How someone worships is his/her own private belief. If you treat others the way that you’d like to be treated, everyone would get along so much better!
By the way…am I right in my understanding that “Icanfixthat” feels if we don’t believe as he does, we should join Bin Laden? Ha ha ha ha ha!
I think that before “Icanfixthat” tells others to leave America, he might be much more effective by loving those who are different rather than judging them.
But then, what do I know…I stole this idea from Jesus.

I have stumbled this a bit late!! (only just got firefox) I agree that the forum went through a bad patch (and another one since) but there are good people there and we have to let some things be “water off a duck’s back” and others just ignore and move on (don’t feed the trolls)

Glad to have caught up with you – revivor

Wow nice one