kimmy Posted March 8, 2016 Report Posted March 8, 2016 "What should the Mods do (without actually having to do anything)"? Now that's a difficult question to answer. Nobody goes to a hockey game to watch the referees. And I don't think people come to the forum to see which messages get removed or edited either. The more of you and the less of us, the better. But at this point it is starting to feel like this has become a game where opposing teams are trying to score points by calling for moderator action trying to get the other team's posts removed. People are complaining about posts not because they believe any actual harm has been done, because they want to score points in this ridiculous game. I don't think the moderators should play that game anymore. If you're complaining about a post because it's actually offensive, that's one thing. If you're complaining about a post because you think it's an opportunity to score "points" for your "team", that's a different thing. Looking at some of the reports that are coming in, I can only conclude that some of you are looking very hard for reasons to cry foul so that you can complain to the moderators, because we're now seeing people cry foul over issues that nobody over the emotional age of 6 should be upset by. I think the moderating staff should be less indulgent of frivolous complaints. -k (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻ Friendly forum facilitator! ┬──┬◡ﾉ(° -°ﾉ)
The_Squid Posted March 8, 2016 Report Posted March 8, 2016 People are complaining about posts not because they believe any actual harm has been done, because they want to score points in this ridiculous game. I don't think the moderators should play that game anymore. "actual harm" - If you mean to me... then no. No "actual harm" is done to anyone here. But certainly harm is done to the forum itself... If you don't remove posts that call people a "piece of shit" or a "stupid shit", but have the time to worry about whether there is a Youtube embed or excessive quoting, then I think the Mods' priorities are way out of whack. Don't you think the name-calling posts like the ones I quoted do more harm to this forum than the excessive quoting or the odd Youtube link.
kimmy Posted March 9, 2016 Report Posted March 9, 2016 "actual harm" - If you mean to me... then no. No "actual harm" is done to anyone here. But certainly harm is done to the forum itself... If you don't remove posts that call people a "piece of shit" or a "stupid shit", but have the time to worry about whether there is a Youtube embed or excessive quoting, then I think the Mods' priorities are way out of whack. Don't you think the name-calling posts like the ones I quoted do more harm to this forum than the excessive quoting or the odd Youtube link. Obviously the examples you mentioned are cut and dried, and degrade the quality of the forum. That's not the kind of stuff I'm talking about. Some of the reports that come in are so frivolous that they make me feel quite embarrassed for the people who send them in. To protect the identity of those involved I won't name any specific examples, but when I look over some of the reports I wonder "what is this? Is this a cry for attention? a cry for help? does this person have some sort of mental health problem that causes them to believe this is a real issue? Does this person need medical help? should I be trying to contact the law enforcement authorities in their area? Are they a danger to themselves or others?" I am becoming quite concerned about some of our members. This is really quite stressful. I believe I now understand why Charles has gone mental. -k (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻ Friendly forum facilitator! ┬──┬◡ﾉ(° -°ﾉ)
eyeball Posted March 9, 2016 Report Posted March 9, 2016 From where on the political spectrum do most of the reports come from and towards which are they directed? The answers shouldn't invade anyone's privacy and I have a hard time imagining our moderators haven't developed a sense of what those answers are. I trust they're not embarrassed to give us their insights or believe that doing so might actually be dangerous. I can see why answering, one way or the other, might only confirm the biases of those who feel the moderators are biased but it might also cause them to reassess their assumptions if the answers are obviously cut and dried. Knowing would be better than not knowing unless that causes someone to go postal and if that's really the case I'll probably just post in The Positive Thread from now on. Maybe it's time for a new avatar. A government without public oversight is like a nuclear plant without lead shielding.
kimmy Posted March 9, 2016 Report Posted March 9, 2016 It's less a matter of political spectrum and more a matter of gamesmanship, I believe. -k (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻ Friendly forum facilitator! ┬──┬◡ﾉ(° -°ﾉ)
bush_cheney2004 Posted March 9, 2016 Report Posted March 9, 2016 It's less a matter of political spectrum and more a matter of gamesmanship, I believe. Agreed....for years I never reported anything, 'cause that was for wimps. Fighting it out was lots more fun. But that approach puts a member at a tactical disadvantage in the overall game scheme. Still don't do it much, but it is an option when needed/desired, and the mods have really begged for more of it to help "workflow". Economics trumps Virtue.
eyeball Posted March 9, 2016 Report Posted March 9, 2016 It's less a matter of political spectrum and more a matter of gamesmanship, I believe. -k Between partisans and with more or less equal numbers of complaints from each team? A government without public oversight is like a nuclear plant without lead shielding.
Big Guy Posted March 9, 2016 Report Posted March 9, 2016 It's less a matter of political spectrum and more a matter of gamesmanship, I believe. -k I fully agree. For some reason, over the years, the different participants have painted themselves into corners - especially political corners. That avatar is a lefty and that one is a righty and that one is a troll and that one is anti-Semitic and that one is ... Also, the tone here is confrontational by default. Any criticism is taken as a personal insult and the knee jerk reaction is to reply with greater "force" followed by another comment of escalating force followed by .... This escalates until the envelope of acceptable dialogue is challenged and the referee has to get involved. Unfortunately, there are a few posters who continue to treat this as a "competition" where there are winners and losers. I see the same posters battling the same posters for years with "you are wrong" no "you are wrong" and "you righties are ..." and or "you lefties are ....". I think they have been doing this for so long that they can no longer see how adolescent and juvenile that kind of posting appears to others. I do believe that some posters should consider changing their avatar and start anew. They have made mistakes in the past, have been labelled as either "not very bright" or "closed minded political cheerleader" whose reaction to any issue can be anticipated and adds nothing of substance to a discussion of an issue. This is by nature an adversarial medium where few posts are made to agree with others. Most comments exhibit disagreement with either the OP or another posters opinion. The natural reaction of taking it personally is anger and escalation of the "battle". You can see that in different prolific posters who constantly berate all others posts. This medium is supposed to be a venue for informative interaction and pleasurable exchange of views. Why do some folks spend so much of their time obviously angry or unhappy or combative - unless they enjoy being angry or unhappy or combative. Using the sports analogy, the poorer the level of talent in the competition then the greater need for refereeing. High quality participation needs little refereeing. Note - For those expecting a response from Big Guy: I generally do not read or respond to posts longer then 300 words nor to parsed comments.
Argus Posted March 9, 2016 Author Report Posted March 9, 2016 Also, the tone here is confrontational by default. I wonder if certain people didn't routinely disparage everyone who disagrees with them on topics under discussion as in "the bright lights over there think such and such" things might not default to confrontation quite so often... "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
Big Guy Posted March 9, 2016 Report Posted March 9, 2016 (edited) I wonder if certain people didn't routinely disparage everyone who disagrees with them on topics under discussion as in "the bright lights over there think such and such" things might not default to confrontation quite so often... Thank you for providing an example of the point I was trying to make. I have no interested in getting involved with a dialogue with you. You do seem to need to get in the last word. So I shall leave it to you in your response to this post. Edited March 10, 2016 by Big Guy Note - For those expecting a response from Big Guy: I generally do not read or respond to posts longer then 300 words nor to parsed comments.
Argus Posted March 9, 2016 Author Report Posted March 9, 2016 Thank you for providing an example of the point I was trying to make. An example of your confrontational attitude, you mean? "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
GostHacked Posted March 12, 2016 Report Posted March 12, 2016 If everybody ignores it, then there is no need for moderator intervention. Ignoring it does not make it go away.
Argus Posted March 14, 2016 Author Report Posted March 14, 2016 Why shut down the whole Israel thread simply because someone was using foul language and engaging in Jew baiting? Would it not be better to simply suspend that individual? "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
cybercoma Posted March 14, 2016 Report Posted March 14, 2016 Why shut down the whole Israel thread simply because someone was using foul language and engaging in Jew baiting? Would it not be better to simply suspend that individual?Or just edit/delete the offending posts and any responses to it.
The_Squid Posted March 14, 2016 Report Posted March 14, 2016 (edited) Or delete the entire thing... there will be plenty more of those threads in the future. I find it funny that some posters from "both sides of the debate" only post in Israel threads. They have virtually no participation anywhere else on the forum... It's like the pro and anti Israel trolls scan the interweb forums ready to do battle... it's the strangest thing... Edited March 14, 2016 by The_Squid
Bob Macadoo Posted March 14, 2016 Report Posted March 14, 2016 Why shut down the whole Israel thread simply because someone was using foul language and engaging in Jew baiting? Would it not be better to simply suspend that individual? You want to suspend someone using foul language on themself?
Argus Posted March 14, 2016 Author Report Posted March 14, 2016 You want to suspend someone using foul language on themself? People are suspended for disruptive behaviour, are they not? Isn't this site's whole concept of what constitutes 'trolling' based on disruptive behaviour? "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
Argus Posted March 14, 2016 Author Report Posted March 14, 2016 Or delete the entire thing... there will be plenty more of those threads in the future. I find it funny that some posters from "both sides of the debate" only post in Israel threads. They have virtually no participation anywhere else on the forum... It's like the pro and anti Israel trolls scan the interweb forums ready to do battle... it's the strangest thing... I've noted that myself, wondering at the motivations of people who constantly bemoan that Israel did this or Israel did that. Why do they care so much? It's not like many countries aren't FAR worse human rights abusers. Yet they only seem to care about Israel. "A liberal is someone who claims to be open to all points of view — and then is surprised and offended to find there are other points of view.” William F Buckley
Bob Macadoo Posted March 14, 2016 Report Posted March 14, 2016 I've noted that myself, wondering at the motivations of people who constantly bemoan that Israel did this or Israel did that. Why do they care so much? It's not like many countries aren't FAR worse human rights abusers. Yet they only seem to care about Israel. Like those who go out of their way to constantly bemoan what arabs did today. Everyone has their niche, others more abhorrent than others.....both justified and appropriate....suitable for countering or support.....as the day suggests.
Smallc Posted March 14, 2016 Report Posted March 14, 2016 I've noted that myself, wondering at the motivations of people who constantly bemoan that Israel did this or Israel did that. Why do they care so much? I've never seen a country so small get so much attention.
Smallc Posted March 14, 2016 Report Posted March 14, 2016 (edited) I find it funny that some posters from "both sides of the debate" only post in Israel threads. I've noticed that too. That's (part of) the reason I don't bother with said threads. Edited March 14, 2016 by Smallc
The_Squid Posted March 14, 2016 Report Posted March 14, 2016 I've noted that myself, wondering at the motivations of people who constantly bemoan that Israel did this or Israel did that. Why do they care so much? It's not like many countries aren't FAR worse human rights abusers. Yet they only seem to care about Israel. I've never seen a country so small get so much attention. I do understand the attention it gets... and I can see how regular contributors here would debate the issues. It's the people who parachute in to only those threads and write 10,000 word essays, or make a point of only starting a multitude of threads on that one single issue that amuse and baffle me.
Smallc Posted March 14, 2016 Report Posted March 14, 2016 I don't understand the attention or why we care.
The_Squid Posted March 14, 2016 Report Posted March 14, 2016 I don't understand the attention or why we care. To answer would be thread drift and risks attracting the parachutists into this thread... let's keep them to the "rest of the world" section.
Smallc Posted March 14, 2016 Report Posted March 14, 2016 To answer would be thread drift and risks attracting the parachutists into this thread... let's keep them to the "rest of the world" section. But I don't go there . I'm kidding. I understand the attention. I guess I just don't care.
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