WestCoastRunner Posted February 22, 2016 Report Posted February 22, 2016 Everyone here participates at the pleasure of the owners of this site. I suggest that we remember that fact. From what I have seen, "respect and thoughtful response to each and every post" is absent from most posts. I have no idea why those who do not show others respect and thoughtful response expect themselves to be treated differently. And yet you presume the moderators here should be held above criticism and questioning. I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass. - Maya Angelou
On Guard for Thee Posted February 22, 2016 Report Posted February 22, 2016 And yet you presume the moderators here should be held above criticism and questioning. There are always those who are afraid of rocking the boat.
waldo Posted February 22, 2016 Report Posted February 22, 2016 How about you answer mine: Do you disagree with our approach? Would you moderate differently?? I suspect folks need the following clue spelled out: If 100% of a post is SOMETHING THAT SHOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO A MODERATOR AND IGNORED, then we tend to delete it. If 1% of a post is SOMETHING THAT SHOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO A MODERATOR AND IGNORED while the other 99% of the same post is on-topic furthering the discussion, we tend to leave it. ya see, here's the rub: since your percentages are wholly your subjective interpretation, when a post is left intact, left to stand completely as is by board moderation... MLW members are left with an impression that board moderation has accepted the post as "on topic and not thread jacking"... after all, what other choice/option can there be? Ergo, should a member venture into your subjective percentage realm and guess incorrectly... and reply to a portion of the complete post that, as you say, "SHOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN REPORTED", they MAY be subject to warning/suspension notice for a reply deemed to be "off topic and thread jacking". of course, this fits quite well with your other 'mystery meat' premise concerning trolling... again, your subjective call on what MLW trolling actually is! Should someone guess wrong and respond to a trolling post presuming it to be "on topic" given it stands as a visible post, you get to play your ready go-to gotcha and lay down yet another of your "warning/suspension "off topic - thread jacking" gems! the house... always wins!!! .
cybercoma Posted February 22, 2016 Report Posted February 22, 2016 My favourite is when a poster asks you a question or misinterprets one of your comments then your response to that poster gets deleted for being off topic, but the original question or misinterpretation gets left alone. That's always fun.
kimmy Posted February 22, 2016 Report Posted February 22, 2016 I'd just like to mention that this isn't really a science. Everybody is asking for black-and-white clarity, but these really aren't black-and-white decisions. It's all highly subjective. Charles and I have spent all weekend flipping tables over and throwing liquor bottles at each other, arguing over several different topics that all boil down to differing opinions on subjective matters. Forum members won't always agree with the moderators, and they don't always agree with each other, and I don't always agree with them either. I invite anybody who is upset over moderator actions (or inaction) to send me a private message, and I will try to "facilitate" a happier forum experience by expressing your concerns to the moderators, or at least explaining the rationale behind the decision. If you would like me to act as an ombudsman on your behalf, let me know and I will try to help. -k (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻ Friendly forum facilitator! ┬──┬◡ﾉ(° -°ﾉ)
ReeferMadness Posted February 22, 2016 Report Posted February 22, 2016 Thanks, Kimmy. I don't get upset over moderator actions but I do get confused. And when I try to explain myself or ask for an explanation, I don't usually get an answer. One thing I would like to know is what are warning points and is there a magic number I need to hit? Unlimited economic growth has the marvelous quality of stilling discontent while preserving privilege, a fact that has not gone unnoticed among liberal economists. - Noam Chomsky It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it. - Upton Sinclair
kimmy Posted February 22, 2016 Report Posted February 22, 2016 Warning points may be exchanged for valuable Kimmy Points on a one-for-one basis! The magic number is "Yes!" You can never have too many warning points! Ask your friendly moderators how you can get more warning points. -k (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻ Friendly forum facilitator! ┬──┬◡ﾉ(° -°ﾉ)
Big Guy Posted February 22, 2016 Report Posted February 22, 2016 Thanks, Kimmy. I don't get upset over moderator actions but I do get confused. And when I try to explain myself or ask for an explanation, I don't usually get an answer. One thing I would like to know is what are warning points and is there a magic number I need to hit? Big Guy has been awarded 8 of these "digital medals of honor" (DMOH) (also known as warning points) which recognize his courage of conviction and verbosity during his battles among various enemy threads. He thanks the academy, his family, his friends and all of those on this board who created the atmosphere required to create prose that would satisfy the high standard that the academy requires for consideration of presentation of DMOH's. While he no doubt deserves this recognition, he is quite prepared to sell any (and all) of his 8 precious DMOH's to interested buyers for 2 bit coins each. This will disprove the contention that his views are not worth two bits. The first 6 customers will also receive a free e-reader copy of “How I Will Change Canada when Elected Prime Minister” by Eve Adams. Offer available only until midnight last night. 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.
cybercoma Posted February 23, 2016 Report Posted February 23, 2016 I'd just like to mention that this isn't really a science. Everybody is asking for black-and-white clarity, but these really aren't black-and-white decisions. It's all highly subjective. Charles and I have spent all weekend flipping tables over and throwing liquor bottles at each other, arguing over several different topics that all boil down to differing opinions on subjective matters. Forum members won't always agree with the moderators, and they don't always agree with each other, and I don't always agree with them either. I invite anybody who is upset over moderator actions (or inaction) to send me a private message, and I will try to "facilitate" a happier forum experience by expressing your concerns to the moderators, or at least explaining the rationale behind the decision. If you would like me to act as an ombudsman on your behalf, let me know and I will try to help. -k I think all anyone is asking for is a little consistency. Posts get deleted for "derailing" threads when they're direct responses to other posts that are left standing but started off the tracks. Charles says to ignore trolling and off topic comments, but if those posts are left standing then it's reasonable to assume that it's fair play to respond to them. If the mods don't want things derailed or people to respond to trolling, then start taking down the original comments that put the train off the tracks instead of blaming everyone else for responding to them. If a post is left up, then on can only assume that it's worthy enough of being responded to according to the mods.
Big Guy Posted February 23, 2016 Report Posted February 23, 2016 I do not see what is so unacceptable with "thread drift"? The nature of a forum is that it is the participants who initiate thread topics and allow the forum to thrive. If, during the course of the sharing of different views, the topic drifts into another area then so what? Those wanting to stay on topic can bring the flow back to the topic or start another thread on the same original topic. Face to face communications among people often "drift" from topic to topic. As long as everybody involved goes along with the drift, then the participants, the posters who keep an opinion board alive, control the flow. I have followed threads, most often started and continued by the more informed and civil members, where the posters themselves start a new thread when the participants appear to want to follow the flow. I congratulate the moderators in taking the time to try to explain to the vandals exactly why their witticisms are deleted and those drive by cheap shots continue. I suggest that these kinds of posts be labelled as a PITA (Pain In The Ass) and removed without explanation. Unfortunately, that might disqualify some posters from being awarded DMOH's. 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 February 23, 2016 Author Report Posted February 23, 2016 There are always those who are afraid of rocking the boat. Or who want to use the opportunity to take a shot at other members by way of congratulating the moderators in hopes they won't get punished for insults. "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
On Guard for Thee Posted February 23, 2016 Report Posted February 23, 2016 Or who want to use the opportunity to take a shot at other members by way of congratulating the moderators in hopes they won't get punished for insults.I can guess whom you refer to.
poochy Posted February 26, 2016 Report Posted February 26, 2016 Here is a suggestion for the moderators, 9/11 truther threads or others like it should be pinned to the top of maybe every section of the forum so that we can all be reminded about the kind of people we are conversing with when not talking about utterly ridiculous conspiracy theories. It would be helpful to be reminded of how little real world credibility some of these people have, or better yet, add a non removal tag to their user name so that ever time they post a warning that says 9/11 truther, etc, pops up, it will be easier to ignore them for all of their opinions, and not just the most ridiculous of them.
Michael Hardner Posted February 26, 2016 Report Posted February 26, 2016 Do you really want the moderators to decide what is a good or bad topic ? Think about it. In any case, we don't agree on such things between us so it doesn't matter. If you don't have an opinion or think something isn't worthy of a response then don't respond. There have been a few such topics over the past few months that have died out due to lack of interest. Click to learn why Climate Change is caused by HUMANS Michael Hardner
cybercoma Posted February 26, 2016 Report Posted February 26, 2016 You already do. There's countless locked threads around here where you decided the OP wasn't good enough.
Smallc Posted February 26, 2016 Report Posted February 26, 2016 In any case, we don't agree on such things between us so it doesn't matter. It does matter - there are clearly defined rules. The enforcement is getting less clear by the day, IMO.
BC_chick Posted February 26, 2016 Report Posted February 26, 2016 Ask for clarification and you are redirected to the link about which you asked for clarification. Nothing unclear about that.... It's kind of the worst thing that any humans could be doing at this time in human history. Other than that, it's fine." Bill Nye on Alberta Oil Sands
sharkman Posted February 26, 2016 Report Posted February 26, 2016 I think all anyone is asking for is a little consistency. Posts get deleted for "derailing" threads when they're direct responses to other posts that are left standing but started off the tracks. Charles says to ignore trolling and off topic comments, but if those posts are left standing then it's reasonable to assume that it's fair play to respond to them. If the mods don't want things derailed or people to respond to trolling, then start taking down the original comments that put the train off the tracks instead of blaming everyone else for responding to them. If a post is left up, then on can only assume that it's worthy enough of being responded to according to the mods. I've seen this too and its idiotic to say the least. Either remove both posts or leave both up.
GostHacked Posted February 27, 2016 Report Posted February 27, 2016 My favourite is when a poster asks you a question or misinterprets one of your comments then your response to that poster gets deleted for being off topic, but the original question or misinterpretation gets left alone. That's always fun. And that question is not considered trolling, interesting isn't it?
cybercoma Posted February 27, 2016 Report Posted February 27, 2016 I've just come to accept that there's some special and opaque definition of trolling here. I've given up trying to understand what it means. It's like reading a Kafka novel sometimes.
Michael Hardner Posted February 27, 2016 Report Posted February 27, 2016 There's countless locked threads around here where you decided the OP wasn't good enough. No, we don't decide if the topic is good enough. If the OP doesn't have enough information to start any discussion at all, that's different I think. Click to learn why Climate Change is caused by HUMANS Michael Hardner
Bonam Posted February 27, 2016 Report Posted February 27, 2016 Who cares? It's a forum. You're here for fun, of your own free will. Respond to things you feel like responding to, don't respond to things you don't feel like responding to. Your posts may or may not be there at some point down the line... why does it matter? Were people hoping their posts would be carved forever into cyberspace as their gift to humankind or something?
eyeball Posted February 27, 2016 Report Posted February 27, 2016 (edited) Who cares? It's a forum. You're here for fun, of your own free will. Respond to things you feel like responding to, don't respond to things you don't feel like responding to. Your posts may or may not be there at some point down the line... why does it matter? Were people hoping their posts would be carved forever into cyberspace as their gift to humankind or something? It is in fact being stored for as long as possible if not forever and if future historians and scholars mine all this content for insights into why their world is the way it is I want to leave my mark on that. For example, I regard it to be a bit of a duty to draw out the more egregious statements people make to justify some of the egregious things going on that will profoundly shape how the the world unfolds. Hopefully this will add to people's understanding and their efforts to avoid mistakes. Edited February 27, 2016 by eyeball A government without public oversight is like a nuclear plant without lead shielding.
Bonam Posted February 27, 2016 Report Posted February 27, 2016 It is in fact being stored for as long as possible if not forever and if future historians and scholars mine all this content for insights into why the their world is the way it is I want to leave my mark on that. Good luck with that. Eventually people will lose interest in this site, the owners will stop paying for the domain and web services and all the content will no longer be viewable. The server hard drives that store the content will eventually be overwritten or discarded. Some content will hang around in Google cache for a while but even that is purged eventually. It's happened to much bigger, more popular, and more impactful sites than this one. Historians a few hundred years down the road won't be scouring through MLW for insights about the early 21st century.
Bonam Posted February 27, 2016 Report Posted February 27, 2016 If you want to leave a mark, go write a quality wikipedia page or something.
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