As per Caroline Davies' posting yesterday, can we please remember that
the purpose of the online forums is for mutual support, informed
professional debate, and to promote best practice, etc., i.e. as a
resource intended to assist others.
While I am not advocating that we remove all traces of personality from
the postings, as a little gentle humour is entertaining and can improve
what is otherwise a rather sterile medium, the tone of some of the
messages posted lately has been quite uncomfortable if not actually
hostile.
The JISC mail etiquette guidelines offers the following:
"Don't call someone names or be overtly rude, blatantly sarcastic or
condescending"
I would submit that certain recent postings do exactly that ... no
names necessary, as a quick review of recent threads will serve to
highlight the offenders.
To date I have deliberately kept out of this, even though I am aware of
several blatant inaccuracies being bandied about on certain lists (both
open and closed), however enough is enough, and unless something is done
this unpleasant situation will obviously continue, with offenders
feeling entitled to foist their opinions (justified or not) on the rest
of us.
I have no problem with honest debate, and feel that as insiders we
should actively question (and thereby, hopefully, improve the system),
however there is a world of difference between debate and mud-slinging,
which is what certain postings have been approaching recently.
As it seems quite inappropriate for a public forum to be used in this
way, I would ask that the list owners consider taking firm action
against anyone (regardless of 'status') acting unprofessionally
on-list.
Regards
KF
Karen Farmer
DSA Needs Assessor
Learning Support
University of Bedfordshire
Park Square, Luton
LU1 3HZ
Tel: 01582 74 3422
Internal ext: 3422
Fax: 01582 489349
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