AFAIK, there has been no change in the past 2 years in how to become an Advanced Reviewer.

As for expressing one's opinions, of course why wouldn't one express their opinions, as well as quote facts? It's the way to make a point. A lot of us have opinions, just because one can express oneself well, and make good arguments doesn't meant they think their opinions are "better" (whatever that means.)

As for "expressing opinions where they weren't asked for" Uh, this is an open forum. If someone starts a thread, or expresses an opinion, or asks for "help" with a personal problem, everyone on the forum has every right to respond. There is no such thing as a thread only meant for "some" people. (Or only people who are going to tell the OP what he or she wants to hear.)

I think that when in the world of internet forums are taken as a whole, Eden is pretty kind and thoughtful. I also think that as I was, years ago, told to do on an other forum, people may want to try to grow a thicker skin. (I HAD to, as I was a Moderator. So, I did. Life is much better when one doesn't see "offense" in every statement others make.)

Words don't always come out in print the way they sound in speech. Some people are simply more assertive than others, it's that way in real life, as it is in internet forums.

I actually find the whole idea that one takes offense to some "people who state their opinions where they aren't wanted" a strangely unusual thing to talk about on an OPEN internet forum. If I want something to stay PRIVATE, I don't post it on an internet forum. If I ONLY want to talk to one person about something, I either PM them or send them my email and we can talk privately.]

If it's really private, I don't take it to the internet at all.

If one posts a problem they are having with the statement "What can I do about this?" then ALL on the forum are allowed to chime in.

I'm one of those people who are not afraid to speak to others, nor their opinions. As well, I state my opinions the way I see them, most usually based on reason, thought and fact. What terrible place Eden would be if we all had to walk on eggshells around each other all the time.

Also, many issues go beyond "opinions" and require facts to be clarified. Using facts to prove a point or clarify an issue is what educated, intelligent people do to speak, debate and communicate.

I find those who rely only on "feelings" and don't let fact intrude on their opinions or decisions extremely difficult to deal with. But, they do exist. (Knowing you can have your own opinions but you can't have your own facts.) I was raised in an Academic family (my father was a University professor and my mother was a technical writer) and in my house, you had better be able to back up your comments and ideas with facts and figures! When I got to college, the same way of communicating was taken even more seriously. Emotions are good, but only when they are tempered by also including objective intellect, as well.

It's the way many people think and communicate with others. It's effective and workable. Many of us operate on more data than just "how I feel" about things a good portion of the time.

I honestly think this entire thread is a bit of a challenge to a lot of the long time posters, who have no problem stating their opinions. (As we've, for some reason, been singled out more than anyone else. It doesn't bother me, personally, but is it the right tact to take?)

I think one needs to perhaps go to the person who you perhaps didn't understand and ask them to clarify their comments, if you are confused. Rather than starting and adding to a "nobody in particular" is whom this thread is about POV.

I find it a bit passive/aggressive to start or add to this thread from the "some people are too opinionated, but I don't mean anybody in particular" when directly talking to the person in question would be much more honest and yield better results.

As Beck said; many of us voice our opinions to protect something we value. Eden is a fair and kind community, and the entire passive/aggressive taste to this thread is a bit concerning.

Catty? No, honest. Honesty is the best policy. Tip toeing around an issue never changed anything. less

"Never assume contempt when incompetence will answer." This is the razor by which I survive this thing called life.

Sometimes people don't mean to be rude, but without vocal intonation, the written word can craft its own voice.

But, I also share with you this excerpt from The Big Kahuna.

"Larry is an honest man."
"Is he honest, or is he just blunt?"
"There are people in this world, Bob, who are honest. And yes, there are also people in this world who are blunt. But being blunt doesn't mean you are honest. Larry is one the few people who is blunt because he is so honest."

I do believe that you meet people in life who are are honest, and blunt is the voice they use to express their honesty. But, there are also people you meet who are blunt because they hope you will believe they are also being honest. It's up to you to determine which person you are dealing with, and you have the freedom to decide how much their opinions, honest or otherwise, should affect you.

A wise man once said, "The truth must be protected by a bodyguard of lies."

The way I look at this very wise and very eloquent man's idea is, you can be honest, and truthful, but sometimes it is best to soften the blow of truth and honesty with a cushion of delicate lies. Truth is not an all-knowing, all-encompassing thing. Nor are lies a blackened sin that must be considered reprehensible at all times. Sometimes they are the necessary armor for your honesty and your audience.

The truth, and people's feelings, are delicate and fragile things. Perhaps not speaking one's mind to its most basic core, but crafting honesty in a way that will truly affect someone is better than sending it screaming at them like a baseball bat to the head. Break the audience, and you no longer have an effect on whom you choose to impart your honesty.

Find balance, and understanding for these fragile things called people, and you can affect the world while you keep all the world from affecting you.

Just my humble opinion. less

AFAIK, there has been no change in the past 2 years in how to become an Advanced Reviewer.

As for expressing one's opinions, of course why wouldn't one express their opinions, as well as quote facts? It's the way to make a point. A lot of us have opinions, just because one can express oneself well, and make good arguments doesn't meant they think their opinions are "better" (whatever that means.)

As for "expressing opinions where they weren't asked for" Uh, this is an open forum. If someone starts a thread, or expresses an opinion, or asks for "help" with a personal problem, everyone on the forum has every right to respond. There is no such thing as a thread only meant for "some" people. (Or only people who are going to tell the OP what he or she wants to hear.)

I think that when in the world of internet forums are taken as a whole, Eden is pretty kind and thoughtful. I also think that as I was, years ago, told to do on an other forum, people may want to try to grow a thicker skin. (I HAD to, as I was a Moderator. So, I did. Life is much better when one doesn't see "offense" in every statement others make.)

Words don't always come out in print the way they sound in speech. Some people are simply more assertive than others, it's that way in real life, as it is in internet forums.

I actually find the whole idea that one takes offense to some "people who state their opinions where they aren't wanted" a strangely unusual thing to talk about on an OPEN internet forum. If I want something to stay PRIVATE, I don't post it on an internet forum. If I ONLY want to talk to one person about something, I either PM them or send them my email and we can talk privately.]

If it's really private, I don't take it to the internet at all.

If one posts a problem they are having with the statement "What can I do about this?" then ALL on the forum are allowed to chime in.

I'm one of those people who are not afraid to speak to others, nor their opinions. As well, I state my opinions the way I see them, most usually based on reason, thought and fact. What terrible place Eden would be if we all had to walk on eggshells around each other all the time.

Also, many issues go beyond "opinions" and require facts to be clarified. Using facts to prove a point or clarify an issue is what educated, intelligent people do to speak, debate and communicate.

I find those who rely only on "feelings" and don't let fact intrude on their opinions or decisions extremely difficult to deal with. But, they do exist. (Knowing you can have your own opinions but you can't have your own facts.) I was raised in an Academic family (my father was a University professor and my mother was a technical writer) and in my house, you had better be able to back up your comments and ideas with facts and figures! When I got to college, the same way of communicating was taken even more seriously. Emotions are good, but only when they are tempered by also including objective intellect, as well.

It's the way many people think and communicate with others. It's effective and workable. Many of us operate on more data than just "how I feel" about things a good portion of the time.

I honestly think this entire thread is a bit of a challenge to a lot of the long time posters, who have no problem stating their opinions. (As we've, for some reason, been singled out more than anyone else. It doesn't bother me, personally, but is it the right tact to take?)

I think one needs to perhaps go to the person who you perhaps didn't understand and ask them to clarify their comments, if you are confused. Rather than starting and adding to a "nobody in particular" is whom this thread is about POV.

I find it a bit passive/aggressive to start or add to this thread from the "some people are too opinionated, but I don't mean anybody in particular" when directly talking to the person in question would be much more honest and yield better results.

As Beck said; many of us voice our opinions to protect something we value. Eden is a fair and kind community, and the entire passive/aggressive taste to this thread is a bit concerning.

Catty? No, honest. Honesty is the best policy. Tip toeing around an issue never changed anything. less

AFAIK, there has been no change in the past 2 years in how to become an Advanced Reviewer.

As for expressing one's opinions, of course why wouldn't one express their opinions, as well as quote facts? It's the way to make a point. A lot of us have opinions, just because one can express oneself well, and make good arguments doesn't meant they think their opinions are "better" (whatever that means.)

As for "expressing opinions where they weren't asked for" Uh, this is an open forum. If someone starts a thread, or expresses an opinion, or asks for "help" with a personal problem, everyone on the forum has every right to respond. There is no such thing as a thread only meant for "some" people. (Or only people who are going to tell the OP what he or she wants to hear.)

I think that when in the world of internet forums are taken as a whole, Eden is pretty kind and thoughtful. I also think that as I was, years ago, told to do on an other forum, people may want to try to grow a thicker skin. (I HAD to, as I was a Moderator. So, I did. Life is much better when one doesn't see "offense" in every statement others make.)

Words don't always come out in print the way they sound in speech. Some people are simply more assertive than others, it's that way in real life, as it is in internet forums.

I actually find the whole idea that one takes offense to some "people who state their opinions where they aren't wanted" a strangely unusual thing to talk about on an OPEN internet forum. If I want something to stay PRIVATE, I don't post it on an internet forum. If I ONLY want to talk to one person about something, I either PM them or send them my email and we can talk privately.]

If it's really private, I don't take it to the internet at all.

If one posts a problem they are having with the statement "What can I do about this?" then ALL on the forum are allowed to chime in.

I'm one of those people who are not afraid to speak to others, nor their opinions. As well, I state my opinions the way I see them, most usually based on reason, thought and fact. What terrible place Eden would be if we all had to walk on eggshells around each other all the time.

Also, many issues go beyond "opinions" and require facts to be clarified. Using facts to prove a point or clarify an issue is what educated, intelligent people do to speak, debate and communicate.

I find those who rely only on "feelings" and don't let fact intrude on their opinions or decisions extremely difficult to deal with. But, they do exist. (Knowing you can have your own opinions but you can't have your own facts.) I was raised in an Academic family (my father was a University professor and my mother was a technical writer) and in my house, you had better be able to back up your comments and ideas with facts and figures! When I got to college, the same way of communicating was taken even more seriously. Emotions are good, but only when they are tempered by also including objective intellect, as well.

It's the way many people think and communicate with others. It's effective and workable. Many of us operate on more data than just "how I feel" about things a good portion of the time.

I honestly think this entire thread is a bit of a challenge to a lot of the long time posters, who have no problem stating their opinions. (As we've, for some reason, been singled out more than anyone else. It doesn't bother me, personally, but is it the right tact to take?)

I think one needs to perhaps go to the person who you perhaps didn't understand and ask them to clarify their comments, if you are confused. Rather than starting and adding to a "nobody in particular" is whom this thread is about POV.

I find it a bit passive/aggressive to start or add to this thread from the "some people are too opinionated, but I don't mean anybody in particular" when directly talking to the person in question would be much more honest and yield better results.

As Beck said; many of us voice our opinions to protect something we value. Eden is a fair and kind community, and the entire passive/aggressive taste to this thread is a bit concerning.

Catty? No, honest. Honesty is the best policy. Tip toeing around an issue never changed anything. less

So, I really don't get too much flack. I think if I don't have anything nice to say, I usually just don't comment on this site. However, I have noticed some female reviewers who I would describe as making catty comments on just about everything. Have you experienced this? Do you consider yourself catty?

I know it's not exclusive to females to have this kind of personality, but from my experience on Eden, I have not noticed any men like this. This poll is also not intended to single anyone out. less

So, I really don't get too much flack. I think if I don't have anything nice to say, I usually just don't comment on this site. However, I have noticed some female reviewers who I would describe as making catty comments on just about everything. Have you experienced this? Do you consider yourself catty?

I know it's not exclusive to females to have this kind of personality, but from my experience on Eden, I have not noticed any men like this. This poll is also not intended to single anyone out. less

So, I really don't get too much flack. I think if I don't have anything nice to say, I usually just don't comment on this site. However, I have noticed some female reviewers who I would describe as making catty comments on just about everything. Have you experienced this? Do you consider yourself catty?

I know it's not exclusive to females to have this kind of personality, but from my experience on Eden, I have not noticed any men like this. This poll is also not intended to single anyone out. less