Parting shot ...?

Question

... as I give up Y! Answers mostly because I find it way too addictive, but partly because i find there to be far too many rude people on here (and lots of great people, too, of course)--

do you teach your child the golden rule? do you model it? do you think when you answer a question on here about whether it's an answer you'd be proud of if one of your kids read it? when you answer a parenting question, is your motivation to help someone or to bash someone? at the end of a day, do you consider whether you've been a net asset to other parentsor a net nuisance?

I'm not so naive as to think everyone will be polite all the time, and sometimes it's the helpful thing to do to express strong disagreement. But I do think there are a fair number of people on here who are probably perfectly nice in real life but who forget on the computer that there are real life people on the other end of the computer screen.

Be nice, everybody. Good luck with your families. Raising kids is

Answer 1

I admit, there have been a few times that I have been less than polite.  But mostly I try to be polite and answer honestly.  I avoid questions that are on here seemingly to just stir up contention because I don't want to get sucked into a pointless argument.  I try to help out and use what I've learned from parenting and other aspects of life and share those tidbits with others.  I hope I'm a good model of the golden rule and that I'm teaching my kids to be kind to others.  You can look at any of my other answers.  I think I've been pretty fair and polite.

Answer 2

I hear ya.  I do try to instill the Golden rule into my children and in my answers on YA and even when people run off  at the mouth ( keyboard), I try to take the high road.  I have noticed the same with you and I have appreciated your kindness.   I understand why you want to leave.  

Good luck to you!!

Answer 3

I have to admit that this section can be more annoying than helpful a lot of times, but if all the good contributors leave, we'll be stuck with all the nasty self righteous ones.  Maybe instead of leaving entirely, you could just come here less often.  That way you won't run into as many jerks if you're not on as much.  I have to avoid the religion and spirituality section for the same reason.

Answer 4

sometimes ppl are very judgmental , here  but lady arnt ppl  judging us everywhere?

Answer 5

I teach my children that if they think they are right, then they can fight for what they think. I also teach them kung fu, so that they CAN fight for what they believe in.

Answer 6

I struggle with Y/A as you do at times.  I definitely come on here with the attitude to help people, and I try to be very polite and nice.  On occasion though you get a troll or someone that is so ignorant that I find myself bordering on rude on my answers to them.... its easy to be when its all anonymous.

When I find myself getting too addicted, I definitely take a break for a while.  I hope you'll be back!!

Best wishes!

Answer 7

I have long felt that you are the most polite person who posts on this site. You are insightful, kind, gracious and obviously loving. You are able to get a point across like no other, always without judgment, always without anger, always helpful and always considerate. I admire that.

I can certainly be rude and angry at times. I just can not seem to help myself if I feel a child is being harmed or if a parent is just so ignorant that

they should not even be a parent. But who am I?? I must learn to realize that not all people are like myself and that there really is a person on the other side of this post. Sometimes it is really difficult for me to remember that and I find myself saying something I would never dream of saying if the person were sitting face to face. All I see is an avatar.

I have also found myself addicted at times and I too am slowly pulling away simply because I do get angry, feel sad or feel that many of the questions have little to do with parenting or are repetitious. My kitchen could also use more attention.

Anyway, for what it is worth..........I will miss reading your posts and your beautiful red hair! Regards.

Answer 8

It IS too addictive.. I do teach my children the golden rule.. I try to help people on here, with a little bit of humor, and THANK GOODNESS for the block user option.

Answer 9

My kids are often reading over my shoulder when I'm typing on here.  And, yes, we do live by the golden rule here.  It's really the basis of the principles that we live by in our house.  And, not just the t*t for tat interpretation of the golden rule, where you only do what you would accept in return, but the broader philanthropic interpretation that encourages you to do good in the world when you can.

I'm sure that I sometimes say things that make people feel bad.  Or that make people think that I disapprove of their choices.  I wouldn't be honest, otherwise.

I see Y!A as a QA forum, not as a support forum.  It is a place where questions are asked, of perfect strangers.  Questions asking for an answer from the perfect strangers.  Questions asking the perfect strangers to say how they feel or what they think about the issue.  

If someone asks what I think or feel about an issue, and I answer, even if it's not what they wanted to hear, is that bashing?  Or, is it offering another point of view for them to think about?  

Do I want my children to hide their well thought out ideas & principles under a bushel, not examine them & share them, not enter into discussions about them?  No way!  

And, if they see someone doing what they believe to be wrong & justifying it, do I want them to say "Well, to each their own" & turn their head away to the injustice & illogical justifications?  Or, do I want them to let the other person know that there is someone out there who they have not convinced & who thinks that they are wrong?  

To paraphrase Socrates, an unexamined life is a big waste of the short time we have to make this world a better place.

Sure, I'm proud of most of my answers here & don't mind having the kids see them & talk with me about them at all.  

I'll miss having you around.  I wish you many sunny, fun days ahead!

Answer 10

When I answer questions on here, I try to think about what would happen if I died and someone in my family found this

Y!A account and read everything.

But I also think a lot of people use this as their outlet to act the way they never would in "real" life.

Answer 11

Well I have to say I am sorry to see you go.  You've always been able to maintain a good level of respect for others even when your opinions differ from others.  I'm starting to greatly decline how much time I spend on here now due to the same type of thing....rude people.  

I do teach and model the Golden rule in our home.  It's one of the teachings of Christ that is held close to our hearts.  I would not be ashamed if any of my children ever read what I have written as an answer regarding any question I have answered.  My motivation most of the time is to give my genuine personal opinion though at times I will admit out of spite I have made a snide comment or two, but I am truthful and I do my best to be kind to all.  I think you have the general idea of how to answer someone's need for advice with respect.  I will say I will miss you.  Best wishes to you in all you do and good luck to you as well.  

Raising kids is hard work. :)  Thank goodness moms like you and I have great confidence as we raise them.

Answer 12

Responding via email is an interesting topic.  I am a teacher and you would not believe the number of emails that are received from parents that are down right nasty or rude.   For some reason, many people feel as though they can blast someone because they do not see them face to face.  

Teaching the golden rule - I would love to get back to the basics with parents.   At the middle school level many parents are more concerned about being their kids buddies than their parents.  

I agree with you 100%.   Respecting ourselves begins with how we respond to anything when no one is looking or knows who we are.   We need to get back to our basic values!

Answer 13

I type the same things I'd say to someone face to face. I really despise a lot of things. It seems that a lot of the kind of people are on here. Fussy, whiney, irresponsible, ignorant, overindulgent, ect. My kids would look at my answers and say "yep thats mom".

The golden rule is nice, and yes thats the way things should be done. However when someone is just completely idiotic..I have no problem calling it out. In daily life, or in person.

These are the kinds of things I am critical about on here...copy/pasted right off my profile.

I am a really nice person,don't let my expectations of decency cloud that.

I tend to p**s a lot of people off on here.I don't like Ignorance.People that whine about bills.People that whine about their choices in life, People that talk c**p about young moms, People that are irresponsible parents, liars, cheaters, whores, racist, druggies, drunks, obesity, materialism, perverted men, low lifes, people that beat their kids.

I don't see where I am wrong to call someone of that type of disgrace to the human race, out on their lack of brain cells, or reasoning.

Other than that...I'm pretty darn nice most of the time lol.