Should the Forum Facilitator be Deleting "Offensive" Material?

[WestCoastRunner]

At a different level, it does add a new twist to the game. Kind of interesting to see what keywords and hot buttons bring down the hammerI

It's called evolving to a more mature way of expressing thoughts and opinions. It's a way of blowing off immature posts.

Edited June 2, 2015 by WestCoastRunner

[Michael Hardner]

Why can't you speak for yourself on what you are doing?

Because I don't act independently.

[Michael Hardner]

Not even close, try again. Maybe you should keep track at least a little.

Because this thread came immediately after I deleted an offensive image I assumed that was the matter.

[Charles Anthony]

I think it's happened once this year.

Not even close, try again. Maybe you should keep track at least a little.

Please forgive us. We are not algorithms.

At a different level, it does add a new twist to the game. Kind of interesting to see what keywords and hot buttons bring down the hammer.

Perception trumps truth.

What if we asked management to clarify the policy?

Why can't you speak for yourself on what you are doing?

--- because not everybody defines "trolling" the same.

Just look at the nonsense in this thread. Do you expect a human to be able to keep up with that??

I've had a few of my posts completely deleted in the last couple of weeks alone. That certainly does affect conversation. No notice as to why either. I think a certain openness ought to be a part of michael's routine rather than having him skulk about deleting things without any explanation.

That is an interesting way of spinning things. MH is required to explain his interventions ---- just not to you. Are we missing something here? You come across as if your uncle owns this place.

There has been a lot of inane trolling lately that does not deserve the dignity of an explanation. We could not keep up with the volume. They were creating a negative affect on conversation. However, once the trolling dies down, we will do our best to promptly send warnings and suspensions to those who still do not get it and need to be treated like school children.

SHORT VERSION: A 1st offense gets a warning. A 2nd offense for the same thing gets a 2nd warning. A 3rd offense for the same thing gets a stern warning and perhaps a 1-day suspension. After that, all bets are off for the repeat offender. Depending on our humor that day, it could be a 1-day, 1-week, 1-month or a permanent suspension.

I did have a problem with the removal of 'f****k' when I started a thread about 'GTFO' because I thought the F word was relevant to the topic being discussed. Censorship in that case bothered me because it diminished the relevance of the post. IMO.

That is odd. The word is nowhere to be found on the link you provided to start the discussion. I am not sure we can help you with your problem.

Could you explain your complaint? From a moderator's perspective, it seems like you are making stuff up and misrepresenting your references.

[GostHacked]

What if we asked management to clarify the policy?

We've been seeking clarification on many things, for a couple years now. Where is that getting us?

[Michael Hardner]

Not even close, try again. Maybe you should keep track at least a little.

Because this thread came immediately after I deleted an offensive image I assumed that was the matter.

[sharkman]

Please forgive us. We are not algorithms.

Just look at the nonsense in this thread. Do you expect a human to be able to keep up with that??

That is an interesting way of spinning things. MH is required to explain his interventions ---- just not to you. Are we missing something here? You come across as if your uncle owns this place.

There has been a lot of inane trolling lately that does not deserve the dignity of an explanation. We could not keep up with the volume. They were creating a negative affect on conversation. However, once the trolling dies down, we will do our best to promptly send warnings and suspensions to those who still do not get it and need to be treated like school children.

SHORT VERSION: A 1st offense gets a warning. A 2nd offense for the same thing gets a 2nd warning. A 3rd offense for the same thing gets a stern warning and perhaps a 1-day suspension. After that, all bets are off for the repeat offender. Depending on our humor that day, it could be a 1-day, 1-week, 1-month or a permanent suspension.

I come across as if my uncle owns the place, and then you make a belittling response about school children. Whatever, Charles, my point is I've had about 3 posts deleted in the last month, none came with any warning. It seems posters are allowed to spew hate for Israel, Jews or the US on this site, but if you mock that, the hammer will come down.

I have found there is no point in debating hate. It is illogical and fanatical at times, so I merely laugh at it. If that's not allowed around here, it speaks to the bias of you leaders .

For everyone: I had a post deleted, and was given a warning a few months ago for using the word toots. I kid you not.

[bush_cheney2004]

...For everyone: I had a post deleted, and was given a warning a few months ago for using the word toots. I kid you not.

Seriously ? My great grandmother was nick-named 'Toots'.

[drummindiver]

I posted, and had deleted, and given a warning point, about the Ontario Liberal government tabling laws that allowed non trained, almost any agency to conduct no warrant or reason entry in a thread that was complaining about warrantless entry from trained federal officers.

I was told, after complaining that it was certainly relevant to the thread, to start a different thread.

While I realize Charles and Michael have a hard job, I do think sometimes their biases come through.

(just reread...sorry for the atrocious grammar)

Edited June 2, 2015 by drummindiver

[cybercoma]

For everyone: I had a post deleted, and was given a warning a few months ago for using the word toots. I kid you not.

Good. If you're addressing a poster as "toots," then your post should have been deleted because your intention was certainly to troll, incite a reaction, and be offensive to the poster. Oh but I'm sure you'll argue it wasn't because jail is filled with wrongly convicted criminals. If you addressed a female poster as toots, it's no different than calling a male poster "chump" or some other diminutive/insulting name. If you can't see that, then you're just being argumentative for nothing.

[Michael Hardner]

For everyone: I had a post deleted, and was given a warning a few months ago for using the word toots. I kid you not.

Not true -> you called another poster 'toots' when they did not want you to. Every poster is allowed to decided what they're called, you included. And before people go bungie jumping down the extreme-case rabbit hole, there are of course reasonable limits on that too.

[Michael Hardner]

While I realize Charles and Michael have a hard job, I do think sometimes their biases come through.

Well, we are human beings. We also seem to have different politics, which probably helps with these questions.

[bush_cheney2004]

Not true -> you called another poster 'toots' when they did not want you to. Every poster is allowed to decided what they're called, you included. And before people go bungie jumping down the extreme-case rabbit hole, there are of course reasonable limits on that too.

Really ? You mean we have an option about what other members call us ? Wow...all this time I thought "dumb 'Muricans" just had to take it.

[drummindiver]

Well, we are human beings. We also seem to have different politics, which probably helps with these questions.

Agreed.

I wasn't slagging you for it, as in your position I am sure my biases (not that I have any rolls eyes and laughs) would come through also.

[Michael Hardner]

...then your post should have been deleted because your intention was certainly to troll...

I quoted Cyber's post to illustrate that it's hard to put together a site-wide consensus on trolling.

If you think it's trolling, report it and ignore it. If you feel your worst reactions are coming out of your post then report it and ignore it. Nothing is 100% objective, and neither Charles nor I are perfect either. Hopefully if we're right more often than not, we'll have better discussions on here even if nobody ever convinces the other side of anything.

I have come to appreciate, especially lately, that there's a symmetry and an arc to well-placed discussion, even if you don't agree with the points that are being made, and Charles has helped me with that too.

[Michael Hardner]

Wow...all this time I thought "dumb 'Muricans" just had to take it.

Not again with the inferiority complex BC . You invited Google (you personally) so you get the same rights as everybody else here.

[Michael Hardner]

I am sure my biases (not that I have any rolls eyes and laughs) would come through also.

I don't expect people to not be emotional, just to try to control them if they're derailing...

[cybercoma]

I quoted Cyber's post to illustrate that it's hard to put together a site-wide consensus on trolling.

If calling another poster insulting names is not trolling, then nothing is.

[bush_cheney2004]

Not again with the inferiority complex BC . You invited Google (you personally) so you get the same rights as everybody else here.

Well, to quote a "great Canadian", I have been called worse by better people.

[Michael Hardner]

If calling another poster insulting names is not trolling, then nothing is.

Again - my point is that the original poster not only disagrees with you but in fact feels that removal of the 'insulting names' (your wording) warrants a complaint.

If we got consensus on anything around here, I would raise at least one eyebrow.

[cybercoma]

Again - my point is that the original poster not only disagrees with you but in fact feels that removal of the 'insulting names' (your wording) warrants a complaint.

If we got consensus on anything around here, I would raise at least one eyebrow.

Like I said, prison is filled with innocent people.

[sharkman]

Seriously ? My great grandmother was nick-named 'Toots'.

Yeah, the poster in question claimed it was an insult or sexist or something, and I simply defended myself by saying that my wife sometimes calls me toots, and I meant nothing rude by it.

And on the other hand you can claim that Israel/US is conducting acts of terrorism all day long using hate sites and leftwing activist garbage, but God help you if you laugh at the premise by mocking it. Apparently all you have to do is run to the mods and claim you got your feelings hurt.

[drummindiver]

I don't expect people to not be emotional, just to try to control them if they're derailing...

What you find derailing may not be what others find derailing. Hence this thread.

[cybercoma]

What you find derailing may not be what others find derailing. Hence this thread.

And when you're a moderator you get to make the decisions.

[drummindiver]

And when you're a moderator you get to make the decisions.

And when MH is a moderator, he can.

A facilitator is someone who helps a group of people understand their common objectives and assists them to plan to achieve those goals without taking a particular position in the discussion.

According to the International Association of Facilitators, facilitators:

• Take a strategic and comprehensive view of the problem-solving and decision-making processes and selects, from a broad array, the specific methods that match the group’s needs and the tasks at hand
• Support the group’s social and cognitive processes, freeing the group members to focus their attention on substantive issues
• Are trusted by all group members as a neutral party who has no biases or vested interest in the outcome
• Help the group understand the techniques being used and enable the group to improve its own problem-solving processes

Facilitators assume a position of responsibility that influences group outcomes. While facilitators should assume responsibility for the group process, they should not attempt to apply content expertise.

Conversely, a moderator is an individual who presides over an assembly, meeting, or discussion. A forum moderator oversees the communication activity. They monitor the exchange between participants and move discussions from one topic to another to keep conversation organized.

If the tone of a forum becomes hostile or starts to move in the direction of personal attacks, the forum moderator usually has the discretion to address the issues.

Moderator duties are as diverse as the forum topics themselves. Some moderators are virtually invisible; they surface only when situations arise that do not seem likely to resolve themselves. Other forum moderators are always there, ready to intercede at the smallest hint of discourse. Public forum moderators often have to enforce many rules of conduct and decorum.