Hi friends,
I am not a frequent user of Boquete Ning, but recently I placed an ad that woke me up to a very negative spirited individual in our ranks. Does anyone have any suggestions regarding how to overcome the invasion of people who comment on one's classified ad merely for the purpose of engaging in a negative exchange (almost predator like). I was polite and simply provided real data to offset his disparaging comments, but after a few exchanges I realized that he was really into the conversation "for sport" and to bait me into a negative exchange. This was my first exposure to this behavior on this website and it was so antithetical to my experience with the expat community here. Thanks, Anya
Replies
Actually it is Boquete Community Group on facebook and has information with class and respect:
Hi Welcome to this group.
The idea of the Boquete Community Group is to offer a virtual space where all members of the community from young to old, can respectfully share information about various activities, product or service, where visitors may read and post topics of common interest.
RULES:...
1. This is not a group to complain about any person or business if you need to say something please go directly to the person and express your feelings.
2. Respect each others business and postings.
3. Do not post more than once the same ad in the same day.
4. Do not post anything inappropriate.
5. Be happy
Wonderful.....
Well that's the thing isn't it? Most people don't want to comment on here because of the abuse.....Being blown away from some of the treatment I have received on here for actually just trying to be a good neighbor I have discussed with my friends in the community if this is the norm and they have said "unfortunately, yes". So people actually do not want to speak up on here and I don't think anyone needs to be mocked or called ignorant because they would like an alternative to being shamed on Boquete Ning. Your post Fran speaks to why people feel alienated of having any kind of voice here. Of course this is your site and you can do whatever you want but should know the reputation of this blog is very poor,considered even considered abusive by the many who observe but never speak up. Yes, I do think that you and Lee could change the tone of this blog and I do think to some extent you both find the antics here entertaining. I don't and it's unfortunate....could be a really nice tool to bring community closer.
And who should be the judge of what is Politically Correct for this new Ning?
The last site that did that was abandoned by everyone over time because the censors decided what was or was not appropriate.
I submit many more people read this site without commenting because of feat of some of the comments made but they still glean what information they want. Most threads go without comments.
At this point I am sorry I deleted the thread that upset Ayna. She was upset because someone challenged the price she was asking for an item she is selling. It was inappropriate to her, but to me, if I was a potential buyer it would have been of great interest. Maybe I was wrong in accommodating and respecting her wishes. In doing so I might have offended the other person who may have been doing a community service.
Where is the line on censorship?
On November 4 2007 the first post on BoqueteNing
"Time to create a truly interactive Boquete Community Forum. This you yours to use, to post, to create topics, for community groups to use.
No more waiting for permissions, add pictures, create your own blog, add videos.
Groups create a section, add a calendar, post events."
In the event you were not here in 2007 I will explain that I created BoqueteNing because the then existing community forum Boquete.org was a highly censored forum whose secret moderators tried to make Boquete's "community forum" into their picture book story of Boquete by screening out anything disagreeable; no real community is like that.
Recently and not so recently I have been stoned on this site and on Boqueteguide too. I did not delete the threads, I left them. I did eliminate one poster on Boqueteguide when she attacked other people, not for attacking me.
That is why the rules here are so simple and why many anonymous, or false personas get away with so much here. This is a true window on a real community; complete with all it's warts and sometimes reprehensible personalities.
The Rules again:
"Neither the admins, nor anyone else posting on this forum is responsible for the posting, ranting, raving or good things posted by anyone else. It is not our intent to censor or delete any discussion relevant to Boquete, Panama. Just keep on topic, Boquete, and do not abuse other members."
3rd times a charmer.
Happens alot.....I have yet to post anything here I wasn't savaged by someone. Bored people. There are so many wonderful people on here, do not be baited or take it personally...just a hate monkey looking for a juicy banana....don't feed them.
So right. Thanks!
Yeah baby. :)