We don't have the right to say whatever crosses our minds, if this whatever becomes thoroughly insulting, thus violating another people's right not to be insulted. We have the right to express our opinion respectfully, and 'respectfully' includes not insulting other people. Other people, obviously, have the same duty (because everyone has the right not to be insulted, I'd say).
Not insulting people is necessary if we want to maintain a certain level of civility, that helps the conversation go on smoothly.
Example: if I came here and said something like "you're an idiot, are you so stupid that you don't see that mods are here to defend us from some retarded members who have nothing better to do with their lives that pi$$ing people off with their bull$hit?"... Well, this would be quite disrespectful to you (and those members I gratuitously insulted), don't you think? You'd have every right to feel hurt by my way of putting things. (Obviously, I do not mean anything of which I just said, it was an hypothetical example...
)
Point is, being respectful is important because it should prevent annoying escalations of insulting sessions. That is what I mean when I say "Don't spread hate". I ask (not order, but suggest) people to act in a way that helps the discussion be a constructive one. When a topic degenerates in a flamewar the problem is, it spoils the fun of everyone who comes here to have a good discussion with other people, and that's why moderators are required. On the other hand, it's also true that it can happen that sometimes some people take a respectful exchange of opinions for a flamewar, and in this case they are wrong.
As always, if everyone managed to keep a level head, not mix opinions with facts, and not attack other people over their respectfully stated opinions, then there would be no need for mods. Since it's not always so, mods are here to prevent this forum becoming a battlefield: if this forum is still a rather peaceful haven for fans of this series it's also because mods have done their job well so far.
As for opinions like "DMC/DmC is complete bull$hit", those are not insulting other people directly, but, once again, they don't help the discussion to be a civilized one either. Some people may not be offended by an opinion stated as such, but some other people may find it at least somehow...how can I say? Annoying? Yeah.
What I mean is, if you come and say "DMC is bs" without even trying to discuss your claim, you're not directly insulting me, but at the same time your attitude doesn't help in putting up for a civilized discussion, but is more likely to get me all riled up and angry. But if you come and say "I don't like DMC because of x and y and z", then I'll be more willing to discuss those x and y and z, and a civilized discussion is more likely to take place. (Assuming that having a civilized discussion is the purpose of a forum)
If you think about it, it's the same as the title of this thread and your posts: if your only contributions to the discussion had been "Stop telling me what to do, 'cause I'm doing it anyway", then it wouldn't have helped to bring about a civilized discussion; but since you explained what you thought respectfully, then other people found it easier to answer you in an equally respectful way, and so on.
So, to sum up: we have the right to express our opinions, but we don't have the right to insult other people, and thus we should maintain a respectful tone when proposing or discussing our opinions. This helps the conversation to go on smoothly, for the fun of everyone.
The fact that "accidents" (people being disrespectful) do in fact happen is not a reason for saying that it is ok if they happen.
...Now, sorry if I'm being THE one who spoils the fun for everyone, but shouldn't this (very interesting) thread go in the General Discussion section?
EDIT
Thanks... :blush:
