Hairspray0901 said: "I feel like this is silencing BroadwayWorld posters of having any negative opinions. Unless they're positive, we will get reported on. Stupid. I was never a fan of Lea Salonga but after she called people here "b*tches" I will officially never be a fan. I think all of the praise Patti is getting from the "broadway" community is interesting. Do they not realize most of us here spend $$$ on their shows? We have opinions, good or bad. They literally get critiqued as a profession but they have a problem with people here having negative opinions about their shows or performances? Give me a break. I think this board does need an ounce more of kindness but I think this whole thing is being blown out of proportion."
Nothing has or is really changing. There are forum guidelines - and perhaps the moderators have been more lax. Or perhaps there's been less reporting of late.
But the latter half of your argument holds little water. There's nothing stopping from critiquing. Patti and other members of the community know well enough that they are open to criticism from the public. But there's a difference between saying you didn't like someone's performance and writing that their voice is like 1,000 razor blades piercing your throat and then having alcohol thrown on it.
We are all people. All human. And people should be treated with some level of respect. I am pretty sure none of the actors that get so flamed here personally injured you or came over to your house and killed your puppy. There's no need for extreme nastiness. And sometimes - that's what is showcased here.
Further - it's hypocritical that those hiding behind screen names (and that is fine - but own it) to get annoyed for getting called out for it. Your REAL name isn't being dragged through anything - unlike some of these performers.
I remember several years ago that a performer was hurt by some things being said about their latest production. That performer PRIVATELY PMd a few members here who were OUTRAGED because they felt "violated" by the performer since he personally reached out to them. The performer wasn't mean or rude - he just wanted to take the conversation offline.
What you write lives forever on the internet. Perhaps more people - even being anonymous - should behave as though they would stand behind those words if their name was attached. Further - much of what is actually being criticized about in regards to what posters write are statements no one would EVER make to someone's face.
Lastly (sorry this is so long) but I am sure the moderators here would get plenty of notifications if another poster here was ripping into them personally on a regular basis. And that - again - is under anonymity. It's not even "you" who is being ripped apart - but some online persona. It doesn't have to be rainbows and puppy dogs here... but it's not unrealistic to want to raise the level of conversation and interaction here to a human level.
/end rant
"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men" - Willy Wonka
