Following some upset and strident and argumentative conversation on the spoiler boards, I feel it is necessary to make this board wide policy clear.
Following the closing of Touchy Topics, our patience as board moderators for argumentative behaviors is going to run real thin, real fast.
If you're getting emotional about any topic, then you need to walk away from the keys, or at least the topic itself. The use of the word "emotional" here is a broad brush. Dismissing others' points of view as irrelevant with what you believe are the logical facts of the situation is just as much an emotional response as telling people they're jerks, screaming, or any number of other behaviors which are NOT OKAY.
When you see an opinion here that you disagree with, turn away from the keys and try to make that opinion's case to yourself. Play devil's advocate with your own disagreement. Make sure that before you type word one, you understand the other guy's point of view and the ways in which he or she is right AS WELL AS you.
This is not a good practice that you can exercise only occasionally. It's the price of admission here. It's necessary every day, with every post.
Getting upset about the topics here, getting strident, or cloaking yourself in the language of the jerk just because you're so certain you're right, is not worth it, and more to the point, not in any way okay.
The things you publish here when you post are going out on the internet. Anyone could see them. Your lover. Your mom. Your future grandkids who are looking for a reason to be proud of you instead of embarrassed. Post like you've got an eye on that. Just because you're not sitting next to these people you're getting so, ridiculously upset with is no excuse to throw mud at them.
Be your best self.
It's mandatory.
