In every community, regardless of size, rules are put forth to ensure the proper functioning of the community at large. Laws are set to keep members of society safe, and to protect their wellbeing. Up to this point, there have been very few regulations on this forum, which we see as having harmed this internet community.

Therefore, please consider the following:

There will no longer be flamewars or personal attacks of any kind on this forum. This is supposed to be a safe place for people to come and express their opinions and thoughts. If you disagree with someone's opinion, please state yours in a well-thought and well-expressed manner. I don't think that anybody here would go up to someone in person and say some of the things that have been said here. This, like Mena and surrounding areas, is a community. The forum was created for people to express thoughts, to post events and happenings, to advertise FOR FREE their small businesses or websites, to post garage sale events, and to post things for sale. The MenaForum is for the people in the area, and we will NO LONGER ALLOW a few to ruin it for the whole. We're not talking about censorship; we encourage people to continue to post their opinions and such. But remember, this, like any other community, has rules. We understand the desire of some to remain anonymous. That is a safe internet practice. Some people may come foward with information or opinions which they may not want associated with their name. There is nothing wrong with that in the least. We ask that you keep it clean. If somebody visits the forum for the first time and sees that someone who shares their same opinion is getting bullied and flamed off of the forum, do you think they'll come back? NO!

Here's the skinny. If you are unable to live or participate in this free internet society, bye bye. We don't want you here and neither do the people who play nice and post things for the good of the community. If anyone has a problem with this, they are immediately invited to log out and never to log back in. If there is flaming or the throwing of "crap", the flamer or thrower will be warned and temporarily suspended. If such activity continues, said member will be banned.

That's all we have to say. Thank you very much for your cooperation and understanding of the events which have caused these rules to be. Questions, concerns, or opionions may be made known by PMing any admin or moderator. Feel free in your questions and opinions, as they will NOT be made public.

-Admin

Amen!

:agree:

I'm just tryin to get my posy count up................................

well, i certainly agree since im new to the forums, and will be your new neighbor in just a few short weeks,,,yay! :clap:

I have been a member for over a year, but just recently became active again, I fully agree with what you've said. I just posted a question in the general discussion room about how to reply to someone directly. Believe me, I wasn't asking that to get on and pick a fight with someone. I feel opinions can be expressed in a civilized manner. You can disagree without being cruel or hatefull. I just happen to have a private Law Enforcement members Yahoo internet site with officers from all over the world who use the site to send each member on the group an email. We have over 150 members and even if Chris in Austalia doesn't agree with Stu in Scotland, the matter is talked out and smothed over. Nobody is allowed to be vindictive or hatefull. If you have a different opinion, state it and why, and then move on to the next topic... Jim

:agree:

thank you for addressing this. Some topics were really angering me with all the bad mouthing and that.

:hugg:

The admins here try to let members talk about what they want. If we lock a topic we get grief from the people who still want to argue about it, and we're accused of 'censoring' them.
It's hard to make everyone happy, but we try.

We've had some threads here that were REAL doozies, but for some reason they were always the most popular. Kind of like looking at a train wreck.

:agree: I have been a member for over a year but, do not post
for the reason that you are addressing. I also miss Focus.

funny, those are the reasons that i do post. :coverlaugh:

What I meant is I do not want to give an opinion and then have everyone
put me down for having an opinion. We are all entitled to have an opinion. I hope
that I was able to explain myself this time. on of my weaknesses is putting my opinions down so someone can understand what I am trying to say. I had a fall and hit my head and sometimes have a problem making someone understand what I am trying to say.

:D

I can understand what you are saying. Some people no matter HOW you word things are going to take offense. You just have to understand its their problem as long as you as write your post like you would like to read about yourself (as in do unto others style)

I hope you will post someday and not worry so much about what others think. Like I said, there's always SOMEONE out there who won't like what you say. OH WELL! :har: :coverlaugh: Just be kind and dont be offensive or attacking, state the issue not attack the person.

I'm not an expert, this is just MY opinion. Take it or leave it. As you can with ALL posts here. :hugg: