As I've been told time and again by the mods, it's not what is said but how it's taken and how it's said. I sure have felt that "Stop slapping sense into the newbies" attitude from you guys- with all respect due you because of you position- and it does come across kind of like how Summit describes it: dissent is not to be tolerated and feelings are more important than what should be the true purpose of a forum like this- learning from our peers. Granted, I will give you that I deserve about 30-50% of the "knock it off" warnings I get for being a little too personal in my responses, but at the same time I've been dinged for things that I would stand up and say in front of any of my peers.
Peers bicker, peers argue, and they hurt each others' feelings. I've seen doctoral degree holding scientists have each other by the coat lapels during arguments in bars at conferences and I've heard words used in academic debates that would get me immediately banned from here for repeating. Actually I've seen a full out fist fight among cardiac arrest researchers in Stavanger, Norway (would up handcuffed on a curb until the cops sorted out who was involved and who wasn't). Why is it that similar discourse (not the physical violence part) is not at least tolerated in a field that needs it more than any other because of the open door hiring and training policies and the minimal entry and testing standards? I understand we are striving to be an exemplar, but at the same time there comes a point where the debate equivalent of a boot to the head is the only recourse likely to result in progress of any sort.
I'm not really taking sides one way or the other, because I've seen both appropriate and appreciated responses (such as telling a new member that I may be many things, but I'm not childish because I pointed out the risks of his goals) and possibly excessively heavy handed responses to more or less innocuous comments (infraction and moderator review for telling an EMT student to calm down when he posted about a state EMS inspection). That said, all in all, I like the way this forum is run, but still think the subtle encouragement- intentional or unintended, whichever is the case- that has cost us many of our senior members here is to the detriment of everyone, even those who may not appreciate getting taken to task. Hell, I've been put in my place by VentMedic on a few occasions and as much as it hurts my pride to have that happen, I am a better person and provider for it.
