Man is a social being and from the beginning of time has always been a part of a social forum.
What started as a family unit grew to include multiple families. Some nomads became settlers, villages and then towns were founded and so on. As communities grew, small groups were created based on commonalities of age, interest, activity, profession, etc.
From the time of cave paintings to the instant messaging and social media we use today, communication has been a vital part of this growth and as it evolved, so has the very nature of social forums.
Information, discussions, opinions; it has never been easier to share than it is today. But along with these new levels of openness and transparency, something inherent has changed as well. The fine lines of appropriate conversation, the un-written rules of decorum, the respect for space and privacy; all of it is different now.
Marketing messages, political fanaticism, spreading rumours, sharing other people’s private information; the list goes on. Everything seems to have become fair game to some. Add to this, they take offence if you point it out or will blatantly ignore the unwritten rules, even after being reminded of them.
All my life I have been taught and have followed a basic principle of appropriate content and/or conversation, depending on the medium; I still do! Images, conversations, forwards - they have to make sense to the person/s you are sharing it with. You can’t be all willy nilly about it.
Would you share painting techniques on a Biology forum? I think not!
When you are part of multiple social forums, it is by and large very clear what each one represents. Whether specified or not, there are always some rules to follow. If unsure, ask; if you upset people, stop. There will always be different opinions within a community, but you can’t forget basic manners and good behaviour. Respect the forum and your fellow members.
