Quote Originally Posted by spanx View Post
I am with you on the spirit of this thread however I do not think it is appropriate to talk down to someone because they allowed their emotions to get the better of them.i am no wise man but I believe that insulting comments are better left ignored rather than responding and adding fuel to the fire.
That is probably true at a personal level (ie. for you and the other users).
For us, it is not as simple as that.

SRP is one of the few forums on the internet (that I know of) where insulting comments are very rare, and where childishness is not part of a conversation. This is partly because most people here are old enough to shave but also because we simply don't allow it, and that kind of behavior is absent from the discussions that newbies will see.

If we allow insults to remain on the forum without taking action, then we risk creating a level of mild profanity throught the forum. If that happens, then newbies will arrive here, and assume mild insults and disrespectful behavior are just fine. Once that general tone is set, it will be much harder for us to manage, because we can't react to those things anymore, because we can't moderate 1 person for doing the same as the rest.

We are a community who allows disagreement but insists on good behavior. People are hardly ever banned permanantly from this site, and if they are, it is not over single incidents or without warning. Even temporary bans are rare, considering our membership size.
Members know that we do not allow bad behavior. As a result, they generally watch themselves and the whole forums stays a place where everybody can feel welcome

All in all, this approach seems to be working.