What I notice is that comments rarely stay on topic. But........that is usually the way it goes in most conversations. You start off on one thing and have no clue how you ended up on a particular topic that is totally unrelated.

I haven't noticed any snarks.

I agree with Rusty. Not many on Kitchen Table, but some of the other forums have been pretty rough of late.

I kind of hang (and rarely post) out here in KT the most but Houzz, in general, allows people to post rather anonymously. There are people who like to hide behind a screen name and post things they may not say to someone in person. There are people who like to "stir the pot", again using a screen name, in an attempt to either generally annoy or sometimes outright bully others.

Having said all that, it is difficult to ascertain intent in written word. How I write something and read it in my head will be different than how someone else interprets it. It's a tough place when everything is written.

I see what you're saying and see it all over the internet. Folks will say something for the sake of commenting on a story or post; the comment is not relevant and, for the most part, generally disparaging. It's like all manners have gone out the window! To these folks, I just roll my eyes and scroll past. I don't engage or respond to comments like that, even if they were to be directed to me. Life's too short to worry about other people's insecurities.

Hang in there Rusty! :-D

Rusty, thank you for addressing this negative behavior. I expect comments made by cartoon characters to usually be snarky and just ignore them. I prefer comments that stay on topic and have positive input.

I love bad shark movies. A shark week is fun. Maybe the snarks and snarkettes need more fun in their lives.

I only notice it on one forum and those that are particularly rude in my opinion I just ignore. Some of the posters I will recognize as having a bad day and cut them some slack. It happens to us all.

There was one in another forum, someone who was new to the board resurrected a 5 yr old thread to complain about all the replies. Snark got shot down pretty thoroughly by the regulars.

I already admitted earlier today, in a different forum, that it was "a low tolerance" day for me. :) So, maybe I'm a bit snarkier than usual. Although, I think I'm fairly low-level on the snark meter comparatively speaking....maybe...

Dees_1, you're probably right, unfortunately.

Nope, OJ, no ideas, other than just ignore, as I usually do.

Sushipup, that's what got me to noticing. I took the new member's comments as kind of tongue in cheek, and thought those responding were being pretty snarky. I've just about quit posting on that forum because of some of the attitudes there.

And then I got to wondering if maybe it's just the way I interpret comments. Which is why I was wondering if others here noticed any of it. As someone said above, sometimes how someone reads a comment is not how the person who wrote it intended it to be read.

Rusty

I also saw that post and it didn't hit me until later that the post was dug up from long ago and a stupid comment was made. It was then that I realized why the others were so incensed. I think there are those who just do that kind of thing to stir people up because they are bored and want to light the fuse and then sit back and watch the fireworks. And yes, there are some forums here that are less friendly than others. I went to one garden forum once and posted a question about a certain type of plant and got hit back with some comments that made me think the posters were all experts and didn't appreciate a newbie no-nothing's innocent inquiry. I guess they only want to use the post to convey how smart and expert they are about the subject.

Rusty, I took the replies to that poster to be more like protective of Annie. She is well loved, I don't think anyone not liking her would sit well with the forum. But that's just my view on it, biased on my fellow Cherokee and Irish ancestry, potato-loving sister (Annie and I both are all of these).

;)

I don't know the post you are referring to, so I can't comment on that. On this forum, I find sometimes comments are misinterpreted......not 'snarky' just misunderstood.

Topics do veer off, which I think is a common problem based on my experience. I attend several self help meetings each month, and my observation is that a skilled facilitator is crucial to keep the dialogue on topic and relevant. Otherwise, we end up discussing the price of produce or something that does not pertain to the purpose of the meeting.

Interesting topic, Rusty. Maybe we can learn something.

I know the post referred to but I think it could have been taken two ways definitely could be a nit pick but also could have been a touch of dry humour, as in enough about how it looks..how's it taste..

Misunderstandings are bound to happen when you can't hear the tone of voice or see body language...this is why it would be beneficial if Houzz had emotions.

There are some individuals in the garden forums who come across as very rude to newbies and it irritates the heck out of me. Funny thing is, these people are not knowledgeable at all, but have an inflated sense of self importance.

Approach resurrected threads with caution. It's common that a troll has revived the comments solely to cause dissension. Another reason is to spam.

Of course, newbies will bring up an old post out of ignorance, not knowing that it's more productive for them to create their own new thread in order to have a question answered.

And every so often a post with the title of this thread comes around to get a discussion going - again - about "nasty" replies, etc. And we all reply. :)

I started a thread, on another forum....lots of snark ensued. :0) Very self important people claiming to know-it-all....but not giving the answer to the question I asked.

That is my issue with veering off topic. Doesn't seem fair to the original poster. If you want to go rogue and be generous with your opinions, fine but seems fair fair to also ANSWER THE QUESTION. I think it wise to remind us all, we cannot consistently and fairly infer emotion from the written word. Perhaps an answer was offered in a rush and the responder just did not have the time to triple check that the comment had all its nicest filters on. It is often our own insecurities that show when we interpret responses as harsh/insulting/negative/snarky. Differences do not have to be interpreted as SNARK. Opinions vary GREATLY and one is as valid as another whether you agree or not.

Yes, there is a big difference in being nasty and just being disagreeable.

I like when we share a wide variety of opinions.

I do agree that sometimes it is difficult to really understand what someone is saying just by the printed word. Others times it is obvious and there are certainly people on here that don't get along with each other and show it when they respond to a post.

As long as the comments are not too mean spirited, I enjoy the bantering back and forth. It makes this forum more human and real.