I will add the thread link as the first reply
The change is good
Aweb in the past would delete entire sections of comments or just delete the question compleyely.
The change leaves all intact, just reduces the offensive part of OP comments
If members approve the policy HIT THE LIKE button
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Its better than letting people rant on off topic, but why not just delete any comment at all that is not on topic? - in the example you mention the comments by cheshire were obviously nothing to do with answering the question and were obviously going to draw a negative reaction so they could have just been deleted along with any further responses.
Of course it could all be avoided if a) people didn't make assumptions about other people without knowing the facts, b) treated everyone with respect and c) if the OPs ignored inflammatory comments and moved on
Whilst I agree with you in general principle, I still think the OP was the main instigator in this case.
He is the one that introduced the irrelevant point of £700 being "a lot" for child maintenance, which is what triggered Cheshire's irrelevant responses. He was also far less respectful and more inflammatory in his responses (you should have seen them before the moderator edits).
Yes the regulars here, myself included, can get drawn into irrelevant arguments. But it doesn't alter the fact this forum is supposed to be for professionals sharing knowledge, not people looking for freebies. It is the latter getting upset when there is pushback on this (even if it includes helpful advice) that causes most of the issues.
He also contended that his wife earned £150k a year, to his £40k. I'm sure she doesn't!
(I was sufficiently intrigued to look this up in case the panel had got it wrong. What if his avaricious wife really did earn a six-figure salary, yet was greedy enough to grab half of his disposal income as well. I'm happy to report that she operates a small business from home; IMHO £15k pa would be nearer the mark. So good call by those who didn't swallow his poor me charade.)
Don't post any response if you wouldn't say it to a client's face. We are meant to be professionals.
Catch with that is as I have got older there is a lot that I would now say to a client's face that I would not have when younger, also of course it depends upon how well one knows the client, how long the relationship has endured. I have certainly uttered phrases like "don't be stupid" direct at a client, with some there might even have been an expletive in the mix, I have ticked them of, in fact I have been quite grumpy at times, especially if I have taken time to explain something which they have them omitted to do/ignored.
Tact with clients is all well and good but imho one should never be afraid of losing clients by speaking very bluntly, it is for their own good, much as often with children expressing anger is not merely one venting steam but a mechanism to steer the child in the right direction; clients, at times, are like children and need the hairdryer approach.
You are old Father William:
"I have answered three questions, and that is enough,"
Said his father; "don't give yourself airs!
Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff?
Be off, or I'll kick you down stairs!"
Don't post any response if you wouldn't say it to a client's face. We are meant to be professionals.
I would say you need to be even more polite on here - you can say things in real life using a certain tone of voice to lessen the blow - you cannot do that in writing.
eg "dont be such a silly billy" face to face with a smile is acceptable, say it on here and someone takes offence!
I can vouch for that. I have had to abandon (as best I can) my brand of mild sarcasm in here - I get called toxic three posts before I even begin to use it and I have even received the birch (? trying to remember what DJKL called school discipline... I had a final warning anyway) for a gentle joke with another contributor (at the expence only of her and me - not about anything or anyone else) which someone else completely misconstrued. [And I still don't begin to understand how or why that happened, or even, what possible offence could have been taken. The intended recipient of my joke knew exactly what I meant.]
But yes, some things simply do not 'work' in print.
You can use inflection with tags.I would say you need to be even more polite on here - you can say things in real life using a certain tone of voice to lessen the blow - you cannot do that in writing.
And emphasis with tags.
Sounds like a very angry accountant!eg "dont be such a silly billy" face to face with a smile...