I appreciate the thought behind the post. I will have to disagree mildly with this part:
" if your post is mean-spirited or bashing on our mission, team, or implementation, just go"
The problem is, who gets to define what "bashing our mission and implementation" is? If the implementation has problems, I say go ahead and bash it. It's when projects only have "yes men" attached, do they truly go off the rails. "Bashing" is really in the eye of those who feel slighted. IMO. the project has made some funky decisions, and it's stirred things up in the community. Am I being negative feeling that way? Maybe.
I'm not suggesting people bring bad attitudes to their posts. I am suggesting that anyone who thinks they know exactly what appropriate criticism is and isn't, is probably not speaking for everybody. The problem is nobody can seem to define the edge where valid criticism becomes unproductive. There's a whole gray area between cheerleading and being slovakia. We should make sure and no alienate anyone who feels alienated, that they are heard. For those that just want to post nonsense let's just smile.
If Christianity and any of us here are so thin-skinned that we can't take some bashing, then maybe our little coin isn't ready for top 200 yet? I don't get why we get so thin-skinned among ourselves, and hope to change the world?
When people get down to "love it or leave it", it's usually a sign of some serious problems. Nobody wants baseless negativity, and nobody really wants censorship either. I'd like to see us take criticism in stride with a genuine smile and interest. Fighting negativity only gives it power. Let the mods do their cleanup, and let's press on.
Thanks for the response.
I agree that there can't be a "love it or leave it" mentality. Calling out problems and mistakes are fine. Making people feel like trash because of it, or saying they suck, or are a joke, or a scam, or don't know what they are doing - that crosses the line to me. I don't THINK we are disagreeing, but yes, if I failed to clarify that it doesn't have to be sunshine and rainbows, let me do that now.
I don't think it is about being thin-skinned, though. Maybe a little, maybe that's fair. But I think it is odd and sad that the more good we try to do, the more negativity is attracted. I know, I know, "haters gonna hate." And sometimes we all make bone-headed mistakes, or bad calls. No point in pretending otherwise.
In any event, I'm trying REALLY hard to live in that gray area you mentioned, I really am.
Stick to your guns, there is a love it or leave it mentality in extreme circumstances.
We are commanded to forgive but after being trashed a few times and having our orphan sponsorship levels hurt because of people who could care less if we live or die (for example when Slovakia said to me, why dont you just hang yourself, maybe Rob will kill himself etc), they actually do not care about us at all. Sure I care about others, I will pray for them and pray that they repent and turn from their behavior. And not give up on them. But after a few times, I think we have the right to ask for an apology according to the bible (Matthew 18) but we should forgive a person who seeks to be forgiven.
If the person is asked to apologize and they dont repent, we should cut all ties with them, as to me that proves they aren't Christian. Christians forgive and love and attempt to mend. Non Christians come to steal, kill, and destroy a project. We have something here to protect: the integrity of the project, the investors stakes, the orphan sponsorship levels, our own integrity, etc. We shouldn't lose all this because of the 10% that have demons.
It's similar to how the Jews stoned a person that was a net negative for the community.
And as far as the community goes, they should be more courageous and stand up for the greater good (not cowardly and cowering down and being afraid of the derelicts).
Let me see if I can think of an example of another business, in a certain business I remember from 10 years ago, if you badmouth the rep on the phone your account is frozen and you can no longer use the account, and all the reps behind the desk have to adhere to the frozen status "You are not in good standing" "Go to another provider". DONT DO IT.
We deserve to treat each other with respect here.