So true. Nuance, subtlety, and delicacy are challenging to convey when you have a mastery of the language in which you are writing. When you are still developing in that language, it's nearly impossible. The end result is that things often sound much more harsh than they are intended.
One thing I've noticed is that there seems to be a double standard to an extent - people always say "use emoticons to communicate tone". But what if the tone is one of dismay, disappointment, or anger? The rule around here is essentially "Don't use the sad or angry emoticon if you have an issue". We might not like to see those messages, but they are valid and we should address them. Of course, if somebody is just here to spew, that's something entirely different.
Then there's customer support threads - EBMM doesn't want this forum to be a CS forum, and that's fine. But one thing to recognize is that it is very common for a company to use their forum as a CS venue (I know my company does), so people become accustomed to going to a company's forum when they have issues requiring CS. So when this happens, I think it would behoove all of us to remember to gently remind somebody who mistakes this forum for a CS forum that contacting CS by phone or email is the proper mode of discourse.
Overall, this is a great forum. Well-moderated, well-maintained, and with a strong company presence. It's also got unbridled enthusiasm, which is a double-edged sword. It's fantastic when it's in a positive direction, but it can be a destructive force if not kept in check. We've all got a lot of drive for these great guitars, let's just remember to use our brakes, too.
