Hey everyone - we got some flags this morning on comments where they turned what looked like a proper discussion - disagreement on terms / importance / technical details into vague threats at the end of a polite request to keep the disagreement constructive.

When I say threat, that would be words to the effect of "Please stop, or there will be consequences"

I appreciate that people are using flags and disagreeing - we will reach out to people in private if needed and this doesn't self correct with some editing of the comments to remove some of the salt and let the technical parts that relate to the post at hand remain (as appropriate).

@bmike Re: 'words like "or else there will be consequences"', yes I'd agree "or else" is threatening; however that is not what I said! I specifically said "I'd recommend you read the Code of Conduct, because if you keep this behavior up there may be consequences." and I was very careful how I phrased it so it would be informative, as in the Enforcement section of the Code of Conduct, as that was the only intent!

@user3439894 thank you so much

Unless someone has gotten a private mod message already this morning alerting them to being unkind - you're in the clear and we appreciate your staying positive and constructive.

When someone rises to bait or posts something clearly outside the code of conduct - we will mod message so people know they clearly are in violation.

I sincerely appreciate the flags we got - they were all very timely, very correct and much appreciated. Comments on several posts left the "let's make this answer better" territory far behind and took on things that need to be worked out in Ask Different Meta or chat

@user3439894 you did very well, great would be just "hey - FYI - I'm seeing this post over here as unfriendly or unkind per this specific portion of the COC."

In other communities where I'm not a moderator, I try to end with a compliment even when I might not be feeling charitable - like, but I respect your position / point X here technically. There I'm not part of the team that has to moderate so I want to return the conversation to the tehnical point at hand as soon as I'm done reminding the "manners"

Here - I have to operate differently - handle the flags - dig up and review what happened, etc... So I really appreciate when you all seeing these minor disagreements pop up are thinking about the big picture and making the place better when you see a chance to do that.

I'm tempted to stay silent; I missed the "action", and didn't see all of the comments in that thread until just now as I was offline. I feel I should say this though, in hope of clarifying my feelings and intentions: In looking back over the comments that I made, I clearly strayed from the business at hand here. By that, I mean only that I made an effort (a poor one perhaps) to inject some humor in the discussion.

I apologized (twice) for that, the second apology after user343... called my assumption incorrect. As far as being "condescending"... No. I feel this is a case of the 'pot calling the kettle black'.

I will admit this: I did feel that user343...'s comment was a bit of a 'hangover', or retribution over the exchange on another answer. But that's only my opinion - or a statement of how I feel - nothing more.

I've stirred up far more controversy over the past few days here than I ever intended, and I do regret that. But I don't mind a spirited debate; in fact I look forward to them because it's a learning exercise - and that's really the only reason I'm here - to learn.