We're all pretty open-minded and honest people here. I love the community and the reivews because people aren't afraid to speak their minds about all sorts of issues. Most of the time no one means to be offensive or harsh in any manner, but simple disagreements can be misconstrued and come off as being harsh.
In reviews we're all told to give our honest opinions on products and not to try to "sell" anything. If it doesn't live up to its claims we should provide details as to why it doesn't in a useful way but not to start flipping tables and punching holes in walls in our review.
Here in the forums we're told not to be judgmental, harsh, offensive, or insulting just like is suggested for reviews. Most of the time this isn't an issue, but it becomes slightly subjective because it's easy to take things out of context and can be difficult to word things so that they don't come off in that manner, but on the other side of that we're a community of free and open expression.
After a recent warning from the staff in regards to something I posted that was seen as an attack on a manufacturer that I didn't mean to come off as such I'm beginning to wonder where that line stands between objective criticism and offensiveness.
As reviewers and community members, how do you handle that fine line between the two? How do you make sure that you're disagreeing with things or are disappointed in them without taking it too far and making sure you come off in a manner that isn't offensive? Do you feel comfortable when disagreeing with controversial things or expressing you opinions on them?
In reviews we're all told to give our honest opinions on products and not to try to "sell" anything. If it doesn't live up to its claims we should provide details as to why it doesn't in a useful way but not to start flipping tables and punching holes in walls in our review.
Here in the forums we're told not to be judgmental, harsh, offensive, or insulting just like is suggested for reviews. Most of the time this isn't an issue, but it becomes slightly subjective because it's easy to take things out of context and can be difficult to word things so that they don't come off in that manner, but on the other side of that we're a community of free and open expression.
After a recent warning from the staff in regards to something I posted that was seen as an attack on a manufacturer that I didn't mean to come off as such I'm beginning to wonder where that line stands between objective criticism and offensiveness.
As reviewers and community members, how do you handle that fine line between the two? How do you make sure that you're disagreeing with things or are disappointed in them without taking it too far and making sure you come off in a manner that isn't offensive? Do you feel comfortable when disagreeing with controversial things or expressing you opinions on them?
