Respect for international members

[AimlessWanderer]

Here at MTO we have members from all over the world, and we pride ourselves with being one of the best places to hang out on the internet. For good reason too. One of the reasons for this is the level of respect we afford each other. This is a real community which extends beyond borders and other cultural divides, and brings us all together with positivity and friendship.

On the whole, forum members from the 200+ countries all around the globe show full respect and tolerance for all the various cultures, laws, and lifestyles we all face as individuals everyday, but it seems that SOME members from just ONE COUNTRY (mentioning no names) keep letting the side down.

These FEW members from this ONE country (mentioning no names) which represent less than 5% of the global populous seems to think they have the divine right to sneer, snipe, berate and mock the rest of us for being submerged in very different cultures, particularly in respect of knife laws and (in their minds) related issues. My country and those nearby are the ones that seem to get the bulk of the abuse and derogatory commentary. There are wildly inaccurate misconceptions about our legally protected right to self defence, and the largely sensible knife laws which we have lived with for many years.

These derogatory comments made about our countries, our cultures and our way of life have no place on MTO.

The (unnamed) members at fault are EITHER utterly clueless and blinded by their own arrogance, that they can't see why their inane rants and incessant bitching are inflammatory and cause upset to other members, OR they are doing it intentionally to bait and troll. These comments, and the exchanges that follow, often lead to upset between individual members, and have in the past led to members leaving the forum altogether. This is unacceptable.

There are MANY things that I could sneer, snipe, berate and mock this other (unnamed) country about, but I do not. Why? Because I have more respect for my fellow forumites. Why can't these members show the same respect to international members as the others from around the planet do?

Very rarely will such intolerance or culturally derogatory comments hail from members of any other country.

These people need to understand that, and that their ignorant and narrowminded perspective is NOT a universal ideology. It is merely one culture from one people, in one land, in which not everyone agrees with it anyway. This forum is Canadian owned, technically administrated in Europe, and moderated in several continents around the world. The sun never sets on MTO. This is an INTERNATIONAL forum, and as soon as you log in here you step outside of your country, and you can leave all your national ideologies at the door when you come in. Don't worry, you can pick them back up again when you log out.

I must say at this point, that there are MANY members from that very same country (mentioning no names) who DO show incredible tolerance and respect. They are absolutely fantastic members of this community, they are heroes and champions of MTO, who share their wisdom, enthusiasm, support and good humour with the rest of us daily, and I feel honoured to consider them friends. They embrace the true spirit of MTO, and I thank them for their continued warmth and friendship. I apologise wholeheartedly to any of those friends who feel these comments are in any way aimed at them – they most certainly are not – and I encourage other international members not to associate these good people with the banal and misguided arrogance of some of their countrymen.

There will of course always be issues which arise from time to time with members from other cultures, which we either do not understand or do not agree with. However, we should not attack their homeland or their cultures with snide comments, conspiracy theories, or any other kind of disrespectful ranting and barracking. Ask yourself how it would feel, if such comments were made about your homeland by people of a different land.

I would also ask that the moderators and admin allow this thread to remain in place, even if later locked, so that future “transgressors” may be forwarded here, and given the opportunity to understand why their comments are offensive, and why MTO is not the arena for their flag waving mantras. People will not amend their ways unless they are given “space” to understand why what they are doing is wrong, and why other people might be offended at what they say. I also ask that the mods and admin consider what actions to take against those members who continue to perpetually stir up these unpleasantries and attack the culture, politics, and lifestyles of other members around the world. I am truly sorry to have to raise this issue in this way, but unfortunately after 11 years we are still facing the same problems. Too many times has this issue resurfaced, and too many times have members felt hurt by the events that follow. We avoid politics and religion for this reason, and I feel we should do more to stamp out this divisive behaviour too.

I sincerely wish those few unnamed members from that one unnamed country would focus on addressing their own domestic issues, and refrain from preaching to the 95% of us in the rest of the world. There is a book I rarely quote from as I have no personal affiliation with it, but the phrase “physician, heal thyself” seems most apt.

Sometimes, I think it's probably a damn good thing that I don't have access to the ban button ...

[Aloha]

While I come from the USA I sure hope that I exhibit more than just "tolerance" of everyones culture and way of life.   

There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to anything IMO.  Be it way of life, laws, or any of the things we don't discuss here on MTO.  There are simply way to many people from far too many parts of the world represented here.  I would also say we tend to be quite good at respect tho at times we stray a bit. 

Thank you for your post 50ft  I think every now and again we need a reminder of exactly what you posted. 

   

[SteveC]

While I come from the USA I sure hope that I exhibit more than just "tolerance" of everyones culture and way of life.   

There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to anything IMO.  Be it way of life, laws, or any of the things we don't discuss here on MTO.  There are simply way to many people from far too many parts of the world represented here.  I would also say we tend to be quite good at respect tho at times we stray a bit. 

Thank you for your post 50ft  I think every now and again we need a reminder of exactly what you posted. 

   

+1   

[AimlessWanderer]

While I come from the USA I sure hope that I exhibit more than just "tolerance" of everyones culture and way of life.   

There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to anything IMO.  Be it way of life, laws, or any of the things we don't discuss here on MTO.  There are simply way to many people from far too many parts of the world represented here.  I would also say we tend to be quite good at respect tho at times we stray a bit. 

Thank you for your post 50ft  I think every now and again we need a reminder of exactly what you posted. 

   

Thank you Aloha 

Rest assured that I consider you as an outstanding and valued member of this community. I might not always agree with your tool choices  but it's great having you around here 

You too Steve 

[styx]

Why can't we live in the land of MTo?

[hiraethus]

Bloody Yorkshiremen, coming in here, getting things right again.

[AimlessWanderer]

  Yeah, I've been told I have a habit of doing that 

[SteveC]

Thanks Al   

Like Aloha said better than I would have. It's good to have a reminder every once and awhile     

[Smashie]

Very well said Al, I echo your thoughts on this completely and I think that this should be 'stickied' 

[AimlessWanderer]

Thanks Mark 

[LoopCutter]

TEXAS is a country?

It is sad when a few think think the world revolves around them. 

I truly enjoy the international flavor of this forum, and admire the positive feedback from all involved. 

Well said by those who posted above.  ^1000


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[Aloha]

TEXAS is a country?

It is sad when a few think think the world revolves around them. 

I truly enjoy the international flavor of this forum, and admire the positive feedback from all involved. 

Well said by those who posted above.  ^1000


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[Don Pablo]

Texas... The country(  ) that is theorised to have given us the BBQ multitool. 


https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,72940.msg1526621.html#msg1526621

[sawman]

I can assure you Al, that if I have reflected any kind of intolerance for other countries knife laws that I meant absolutely no disrespect towards anyone.

That said, I love you dirty foreigners 

 

[captain spaulding]

Obviously the (un named) is aimed directly at me due to a single comment I made in a thread the other day. I am to tired from work to properly reply to you at the moment but will do so soon enough. In the mean time thank you for your personal attack against me. You are trying to make me look like a arrogant American who hates foreigners which could not be further from the truth. Again, thank you for the personal attack and I will reply in full later but I assume anything I say will somehow be used to "prove" your point.

[sawman]

We're all family here....

[AimlessWanderer]

I assure you Cap'n that my opening post was not a direct attack on any one individual member. This is unfortunately a recurring issue with multiple members ever several years, but almost always from the same cultural background. As mentioned before, this has caused multiple flare ups in the past, some of which got very nasty with members (on both sides of the furore) withdrawing from the forum for an extended time, and some haven't been seen since.

I have been on the cusp of facing this issue head on for some time now due to the recurrent nature of the issue, and the tipping point was a few recent threads with more than one member involved. I was not the only member to feel this was potentially becoming an issue again, and wanted to set up this thread to try and stamp it out. That said I am prepared to face any backlash for it alone if necessary. It may be hard for those doing the preaching to see just how offensive and inappropriate their comments are, and please believe me when I say the version posted was a lot tamer than the first version I typed.

You did make one brief comment recently, and apologised for any offence your comment may have caused. I sincerely appreciate and accept your apology. Many people in the past (recent and longer term) have not done that. Some just ranted harder. Hopefully people will not need to apologise again, but I fear it will only be a matter of time before we start getting preached at again, and told how regressive our country is, and all the other usual insults. It's not just us that get the flak either, and others do get in the crosshairs too from time to time. That is why I hope that this thread can remain for directing people towards in future.

Get some rest buddy, and I hope this thread does not feel so personal next time you read it 

[AimlessWanderer]

I can assure you Al, that if I have reflected any kind of intolerance for other countries knife laws that I meant absolutely no disrespect towards anyone.

That said, I love you dirty foreigners 

 

I can't recall you ever causing offence Steve, and I know you would never mean to do so  you are right, we are a family, and I want I to stay that way. The vast majority of members here are of damn good intention, and there are as I said only a few that spoil it and create the rifts, but the wounds can be deeply felt when they do.

I am sure that some, like the good Captain, do not mean to hurt, even when they do slip into their occasional diatribe (no offence Cap'n), but some charge in headlong and try to tell the rest of the world that we must do as they do, believe what they believe, and that we are weak and foolish if we do not. They are wrong.

As someone wisely said above, there is no one size fits all, and it is sad when a few think the world revolves around them. I hope that anyone who gets directed to this thread in future, can see there are many more voices, and ways of life represented on these boards than what they will ever encounter in their daily lives, and that it may broaden their horizons.

[Pacu]

Texan here. Man, I love you guys and gals. 

[LoopCutter]

I do wish that all members would list their location in the profile.  I look at this frequently to determine why a member is listing a certain issue, or limitation, or another problem related to their location. 

I love to know more about other parts of the world and what better way than through our fellow members with same interests. 


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[Aloha]

I for one remember the temperatures from not long ago.  It was really unfortunate and I do recall we lost members as a result.  There was an attempt to diffuse the heat by a member who started a thread talking about how well we get on but unfortunately the damage had been done. 

I see this thread simply as a reminder to all which is a great thing.  I also feel it is to be taken personally.  We all have a personal responsibility to maintain the respect level on OUR forum.  Each one of us personally shares in that responsibility whether you have 100 posts or 10K posts.

Seriously tho, we do a really good job without a lot of moderator involvement.  Lets keep it that way.  As diverse as we are we do have common ground.         

[Pacu]

I do wish that all members would list their location in the profile.  I look at this frequently to determine why a member is listing a certain issue, or limitation, or another problem related to their location. 

I love to know more about other parts of the world and what better way than through our fellow members with same interests. 


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I think we use to have it under our avatar where we were from like state or region . Mine shows USA but even here things are way different depending on your locale. Certain places have different ways of doing things all under one flag.

[pfrsantos]

I like to know how different people from different countries (or even from the same country) think and feel about every issue we talk about here. It helps broadning the mind and look at things from different perspectives.

Sometimes, the occasional comment just makes me  and at the same time. I just let it go. Everyone has the right to be wrong, I see no need to "educate" others.

Just one more thing. I hope we're not family but friends. You can choose your friends, not your family. I care about all my friends (even the smurfing nuts half world away that I never met in person), not so much about my relatives.

 

[redmond]

I like to know how different people from different countries (or even from the same country) think and feel about every issue we talk about here. It helps broadning the mind and look at things from different perspectives.

Sometimes, the occasional comment just makes me  and at the same time. I just let it go. Everyone has the right to be wrong, I see no need to "educate" others.

Just one more thing. I hope we're not family but friends. You can choose your friends, not your family. I care about all my friends (even the smurfing nuts half world away that I never met in person), not so much about my relatives.

 

Well said. I too like to learn about other countries/cultures, their triumphs, their challenges. If I offend someone, please attribute it to ignorance or poor choice of words, not intent. By all means, educate me so it doesn't happen again.

I participate on several forums (mostly technical) and this group, by and large, seems to have the least conflict and best behaved members. Hopefully we can all be friends! BTW - it never hurts to proofread your response one last time before hitting POST.

Relatives? Yeah, we probably all have a crazy sibling, uncle or cousin to avoid.

[pfrsantos]

I like to know how different people from different countries (or even from the same country) think and feel about every issue we talk about here. It helps broadning the mind and look at things from different perspectives.

Sometimes, the occasional comment just makes me  and at the same time. I just let it go. Everyone has the right to be wrong, I see no need to "educate" others.

Just one more thing. I hope we're not family but friends. You can choose your friends, not your family. I care about all my friends (even the smurfing nuts half world away that I never met in person), not so much about my relatives.

 

Well said. I too like to learn about other countries/cultures, their triumphs, their challenges. If I offend someone, please attribute it to ignorance or poor choice of words, not intent. By all means, educate me so it doesn't happen again.

I participate on several forums (mostly technical) and this group, by and large, seems to have the least conflict and best behaved members. Hopefully we can all be friends! BTW - it never hurts to proofread your response one last time before hitting POST.

Relatives? Yeah, we probably all have a crazy sibling, uncle or cousin to avoid.

And when you don't have such a relative... it's because you're it!
 

[redmond]

And when you don't have such a relative... it's because you're it!
 

Hmmmm, you may be onto something there.
 

[gregozedobe]

Many times I have to bite my tongue (well, restrain my typing fingers) when someone makes disparaging comments about "nanny state" laws restricting guns in my country (Australia), but I mostly refrain from the obvious retort comparing rates of gun-related deaths and injuries (and especially multiple deaths from rampages and accidental shootings) in countries with tight restrictions on gun ownership/carry and countries with fewer restrictions. 

I've learnt from past experiences (on another flashlight forum) that it is nearly impossible to have a sensible, rational discussion on this particular issue with some people, even though they seem quite reasonable and rational on other issues. 

[an0nemus]

I really like the fact that there are flags next to profiles here at MTO as it shows the international flavor of this fora. Also reminds me to be extra sensitive as we come from such diverse backgrounds and cultures.

As for me, I just stick to my motto of not mixing politics and religion in online forum, especially in places where people own guns and knives/multitools!

Peace, everyone!

[El Corkscrew]

To be clear, I love awl the countries!!!...  even though I may appear partial to switzerland sometimes...

[El Corkscrew]

I really like the fact that there are flags next to profiles here at MTO as it shows the international flavor of this fora. Also reminds me to be extra sensitive as we come from such diverse backgrounds and cultures.

As for me, I just stick to my motto of not mixing politics and religion in online forum, especially in places where people own guns and knives/multitools!

Peace, everyone!