Just what is baiting?

I'll take a stab at this one...speaking as a forum member...and speaking generally...

Baiting to me is when one poster...posts either an entire thread, or on a post...with the sole aim of causing some sort of reaction that is not positive. Some sort of emotion, excitement, or commotion on a thread. There is sometimes also, a "singling out" that often spills into other threads as well.

Oftentimes the folks involved have a "history"....with the people they post in response to. Person A will post and person's B,C,D will always, without fail...be right on their heels...either in that thread....or perhaps starting a whole new thread directed in some obtuse manner...at person A.

There's always a predictable pattern to posts, if you pay attention...that can be topic related...or member related...or both.

I think what's good and helpful is to know that some folks in this forum...will never ever get along...would never be friends IRL...would never be able to work together happily, etc. That IMO...is normal, fine and good. Once you have accepted that....or admitted it....it's actually pretty easy to manuver here....you simply address the issue...and not the poster (someone bordering on genius said this here before I forget who tho!)....you talk to the OP...and the not the people responding....that way you can be 100% sure that you are doing your part when it comes to being helpful or keeping things civil.

Baiting to me is when one poster...posts either an entire thread, or on a post...with the sole aim of causing some sort of reaction that is not positive.

then if that is truly (and i do mean TRULY) the case, my post i made on page 4 alpha roll last night where i had asked xerxes for his opinion on my dog's scenario would not have been edited out as being "baiting" - i was honestly asking for his "expert" opinion on the matter..... and if the moderator had botherd to read the follow ups, they would have seen that the sole aim was NOT "to get a reaction that is not positive." but to get his subjective opinion on the matter. as it turned out, he wanted to see a video instead and so i said "nevermind" which was also red-inked... what is TRULY is that the red-ink double standards are laughable from an outsiders perspective.

i'm pretty sure that i've been singled out as a trouble maker and that's fine.... actually intentional on my part as showing what sort of double standards are going on around here.

I'm so glad you asked this question, DPU!   And thanks, Gina, for your answer.

Too many times, I take the bait, hook, line and sinker before I even realize I've been baited! LOL Bringing this out and defining is as such helps me to recognize when I'm being baited. That makes it so much easier to ignore, which I believe is the best response to this little game.

In the end it is YOU who is held responsible for YOUR behavior...and that goes for both sides of the conversation as well as the moderators. When I have to step in and start paying attention it isn't going to end nice...be sure to think about what you're posting before you hit that submit button because it is what is considered

*content removed, please PM Mod/Admin, for discussion of specific issues or edits*

rwbeagles

Baiting to me is when one poster...posts either an entire thread, or on a post...with the sole aim of causing some sort of reaction that is not positive. Some sort of emotion, excitement, or commotion on a thread. There is sometimes also, a "singling out" that often spills into other threads as well.

There's always a predictable pattern to posts, if you pay attention...that can be topic related...or member related...or both.

So Baiting is defined by the intent of the poster to get an expected not positve response, whether or not there is a response.  Or, Baiting is defined by the unexpected not positve response to the poster.  In either case the originator is at fault?

DPU

In either case the originator is at fault.

I believe that's what Jaime just said, no?...YOU are responsible for what YOU...post.

 We will not post something we have edited for the input of members, which we do not need and who will likely all have a different opinion, as with every other subject.  A member reposting something that has already been red inked is a good way to get more red ink AND a chat with me.   

If I may.....

 Sometimes baiting is crystal freakin clear- such was the case with a former member who posted something to the effect of, "pit bulls kill children."  It doesn't get any "baitier" than that..

Sometimes, however, the baiting is subtle and I happen to think there are a lot LOT LOT of people here who do that, whether it be intentional or subconcious.

 And further still, sometimes a statement is so contrary to the status quo that it is PERCEIVED as baiting, when in fact it was not meant to be so at all.

I think the difficulty lies in determining the differences. 

And I'm very glad to see we're talking about baiting PEOPLE and not dogs.....

rwbeagles

I believe that's what Jaime just said, no?...YOU are responsible for what YOU...post.

I am responsible for the contents of my posts and the intentions behind it.  And if the contents are misunderstood and communicated back, then I am responsible for clarifying in a timely manner.

this is a perfectly fine place to discuss the matter about baiting - after all, that is the topics title, is it not. sera_j did not think that double standards existed and that it needed to be prooved.

if you want to examine my post last night (page 4 as i had previously stated which has been deleted) and then compare it with mudpuppies 2 posts on page 5... you will see that there is baiting going on in mudpuppies post (4ic even noted it) but that was not edited at all.

what that suggest is that 1) either the mods are sleeping  2) that favoritism is going on here or 3) several people are under the microscope while others are not looked at -

either way, 2 standards are being invoked whether you guys realize it or not.

if you're not comfortable discussing it right here, then that only indicates insecurity.

Yes, DPU.  All true.  It is also true that what is perceived is an issue.  If a member finds themselves being repeatedly misunderstood, and edited for baiting as a result, or even not edited but in a thread going downhill because of a misunderstanding....then it is time to think about how one might work on how s/he phrases thoughts/ideas in order to reduce misunderstandings. 

Good post Badrap.  To me, everything you state is normal formum dialogue, a discussion that will either die by itself ("pit bulls kill children";) or create a stimulus ("baiting is subtle";) for more meaningful discussion.  When a "disruption" occurrs within a thread, members come forward and are excited to post their position-some very passionately.