Robert Scoble

I can't argue with that. I've noticed a lot more pointless lashing on Twitter & FF. It's noise that's pointless (and I like noise too). - phil baumann

Pretty sure we can agree on that. :) - Aaron Brazell

Let's keep FF civil. - Jay Tannenbaum

Jay: it's a lot easier to tear down than to build up. Plus, by fighting with people you aggregate attention (everyone in High School pays attention to a fight, but rarely pays attention to the smart kid building a science project). - Robert Scoble

cool rule and analogy... Is that an analogy? I agree with you. No different than phishing for followers is attacking people for the sake of attention and then hoping attention = followers. If everyone was nice... THen everyone else would be nice!! HUH? - Cody Heitschmidt

The only problem with this argument is you can't exactly mimic your real life behavior with your virtual ones. - Muthu Ramadoss

bravos, robert. there is never an excuse for bad manners - Dave Martin

Muthu - Not true in this case you sure as hell can defend and protect those your care about in anysituation - Cody Heitschmidt

Attacks are a cheap way of scoring points and often say more about the attacker then the victim. Like Jay says, it brings attention, but if done simply for that purpose, it can be a difficult ledge to step back from. - Ross Maguire

Depends on the context, I guess. Reasonable people can disagree and have opposing points of view, but repeated ad hominem attacks are simply unacceptable, no? - Andrew Feinberg

I think everyone needs to go outside and breathe some actual air. Maybe see that thing called sunshine all the cool kids are talking about. - Cyndy

Something we all should do. If there were consequences to being mean rather than rewards more people might try being nice. - Summer

Andrew: a disagreement is one thing. I'm talking about something else. Agree. Cyndy: I live in Half Moon Bay. It's overcast right now. And, anyway, I saw enough of the sun this week in Washington DC to last me a month! :-) - Robert Scoble

I think part of the problem is the term "friend". Just because you subscribe to someone's feed doesn't mean you have to like or even respect that person. - Mike Doeff

Mike: I'm talking about real life friends in this post. You know, those kinds of people you've had dinner with and done stuff with and who've been over your house, and all that? But, yes, I'd apply this same test to the people I'm following here on FriendFeed. If I saw someone attacking one of my online friends over and over I'd block them too. It's behavior I don't need in my life. - Robert Scoble

I agree. Who needs the negativity? There's enough of that in the world. Having a respectful difference of opinion is one thing; but a situation where one person constantly attacks other people is not helpful for anyone. It's pointless in person or online. - Cathryn Hrudicka

I agree - online attacking or bickering or arguments are pointless anyways most of the time - having said that I think I've only ever blocked one person on twitter and that was 'cos they were spamming adverts for some sort of crap - Joe Breen

Civility is important in all arenas, but we must remember that there is a difference between online interactions and real life. Humor, etiquette, and context are all things that are radically different online, and as such, do not have the gravity of face-to-face rudeness or niceness. Besides, Twitter and FF are tools, as are many of the people I follow on them ;) See? That joke might not fly IRL. Oh wait... It didn't here either. - Juan Aguilar

Yes, but you can still hear about attackers from others, blocking only works half well. - Jeremiah Owyang

So right. Even if you are having a disagreement, there's basic respect. Either you are building the relationship or you are destroying it. Be honest about that choice, and ask yourself if that's really the kind of person you want to be. If you make the choice to be a jerk, don't go labeling yourself a hero. - Ro (Lilyhill)

Jeremiah: that would work just like it does in my living room. My friends often tell me about people who hate me, attack me, or lie about me to Valleywag. That doesn't mean that I need to let those people into my living room (or get unblocked here on FriendFeed). - Robert Scoble

then again on the flipside it's interesting for us onlookers if/when arrington & scoble argue/attack/bicker. :) - Joe Breen

The lack of truly personal interaction has brought about a lack of civility and too many pointless arguments. - David Z

a very sound sentiment - Andrea Baker

@David Z: Very astute observation IMO. Amazing how many 'fierce and fiery' folks via email or IM suddenly become very cordial when you get them on the phone, much less have a face to face. - AJ Kohn

I used to think like this when I had a BBS in 1990s. The BBS actually was in my living room so I had no worries about telling people the rules. I learnt then that some people who are reasonable in the "real world" are nutjobs online.. - Stuart Woodward

You are an inspiration to many of us Scoble. - Satya Boora

Fair enough, though for me, FriendFeed is *not* my living room. - Brent Newhall

I agree - there is no reason why people should treat people online differently than they would IRL. Although on the internet it is difficult to behave the same way .. as you may meet people online you would have never met IRL, talk to people would have been too self conscience to talk to, etc. so it gives weak people a place to get all that real life anger out on people they will never meet. which is pretty messed up, but as a former shy girl .. i went through that when I 1st went online a million yrs ago. - Jenz

It depends on your definition of attack. If by attack you mean disagree, even passionately, then I disagree. - Michael Tefft

I've been pondering this myself. But then, I'm zealously guarded about whom I let into my house... I don't necessarily consider FriendFeed on the same level. But I'm very confused about what seem to be 'mixed standards' from folks of late. Like why one sort of attack is deemed "funny" or "keeping it real" and another is just deemed "trollish" when they seem the same to me. It's a very grey area for me. - Lucretia Pruitt