Referring to
this. The topic is locked now, but although I can still post something in it, I'd rather start a new thread since the issues are much broader.
First of all, I don't know how trolls in an offsite IRC channel who clearly don't have an understanding of what they're talking about (thinking Axe was some kind of BASIC enhancer) was relevant enough to the development of the Axe Parser Project: where the thread was for some reason moved to. I feel like the extra attention a topic like that receives is actually feeding trolling/bashing more than it is helping to prevent. For that reason, I'm glad the topic was locked.
I was very surprised that even DJ, who is defending omni and its member's work, wrote a rebuttal in all large red ink which I felt was a little rude and ironically was actually reenforcing the negative comments. I'm not bashing DJ, I completely agree with him, but no one should give into trolls or stoop down to their level. I think having an always calm, positive attitude and maintaining dignity and respect in situations that are otherwise disrespectful is the best way to fight it. When someone makes a rude and insulting comment on IRC or elsewhere towards someone else, it is usually hurting their own reputation more than their target's, and feel free to point that out.
Also, there is a very fine line between bashing and having a difference of opinion. I think the issue above was definitely bashing, but in the past I think a few people have been just a little too sensitive to criticism. To clarify, criticism is well informed opinion about a piece, coming to a conclusion based on specific likes and dislikes. By nature, criticism is NOT generally friendly or nice, because you're trying to give an honest opinion. Things like "This was bad" or "I really don't think it deserved __" or "I really didn't like that" fall under criticism in my opinion. Bashing on the other hand is usually less informed and judging the work on superficial artifacts perhaps with little, if any, experience actually using it. It also comes with excessive or inappropriate denouncement. Things like "It Sucks!" or "I don't think I've seen a worse __" or "You're wasting your time if you download __" would fall under this category.
Sorry for ranting... I don't normally give rants. But I've noticed this type of thing coming up more and more.
TL,DR: Please stop feeding trolls. The way to stop trolling is to be better than them.
