Announcement: In-thread Moderator Warnings

I was never even told I was thread banned, I just tried to post and saw the banner that said I didn't have permission to post in that thread.

 

I don't think it's necessarily falling on deaf ear. I think there has to be a point where they have to draw the line. You also have to think that this is a private forum, meaning at any point in time they can change the rules. As long as folks understand the rules, post under the understanding of those rules, it's fair game. Freedom of speech implies everywhere, but private organizations can have their own rules. For instance, I can own a restaurant and say that you can only eat in total silence. If you talk or make a sound, for any reason, you will be kicked out of my restaurant and will have to pay me the full bill, regardless if you ate it. If you accept these terms, come to eat in my restaurant, then we've both agreed to the terms and I'm freely capable of enforcing my rules. I may not get very much business, but hopefully you get my point. In the context to this, if I add that you will also have to wash all of the dirty dishes before you go, after the restaurant is open, it's my duty to inform everyone of these changes, and if you still come to eat at my restaurant, you are subject to my rules and I'm free to enforce them.

The way I see this, I've never read the rules, most forums are fairly straight forward, discuss the topic of the thread & don't insult others. I've been insulted many of times, I've yet to report someone. Why, you may ask, I have a tough skin and can deal with it. Eventually it gets old, but that's when I just move onto another topic and let them be. Folks just need to realize they're discussing an issue with some anonymous person, who'll you probably won't even meet in your lifetime. Some people wish to get out their hatred, because they're anonymous, let them. I'm more so concerned with the government tapping into our communication than if someone feels like belittling me to get their jollies. Whatever helps them sleep at night, I'm glad I'm the one that gave them that opportunity to sleep better.

In the end, I come here to discuss a few things, post up things that are meaningful to me, and then I call it a day. I don't care enough to insult folks, but I'm more than capable of returning fire, in a civil manner. I believe folks just need to re-word their posts, make it civil, while still being a smart @$$ but giving them the same attitude in return, without the heat. As the saying goes, give them enough rope, they'll hang themselves.

 

Yeh, what he said. heh heh

The two main problems I see with the rules are how the mods interpet alleged 'insults' and or the ever nebulous flame bait threads.

Many posters are so overly sensitive that they will feel insulted if you prove their argument wrong. Some mods understand there has to be allowance for give and take....some do not and are too quick to issue warnings or infractions.

And the constant liberal 'comeback' of "waycist" and 'bigot' to a thesis or argument they disagree with becomes quite redundant after a while.

Something that the owners need to look at is how the mods will go with the 'majority' meaning those who make the most complaints...instead of looking objectively at an issue or alleged problem.

 

It will tell you if you can find the post...LOL

 

I can see your point of view, however I've never had a warning given to me either. Now, I'm not saying I'm some goody two shoes and don't get close to breaking any rules, but I think about what I'm writing before I post it. I can't tell you how many times I deleted some words before I post it up. However, I do think the amount of bigotry & insults are fairly high. I think it's all in the context of how it's used. Let me give you some examples.

If you don't like my post, you can fairly say that my post is stupid, illogical, childish, and lacks understanding of the real world. All of wish I believe are passable within the rules of the forum. If you say my posts look like someone who is mentally retarded, a moron, someone who couldn't tie his own shoes, that's where I think it starts getting a bit into a direct insult. This is also me not knowing what is being discussed behind the scenes in the 'Mod Forum', as they could be discussing if the meaning of certain phrases are a direct insult or not.

However, this is my own personal opinion and from my limited time on this board.

 

No that is a very fair assessment. The reality is, if you don't know what a personal attack or personal insult is, then that poster probably isn't going to agree with anything a moderator does.

But if someone really needs help understanding a personal insult or attack, if you respond to a poster and you think they are offended and need to get a thicker skin, then you are probably just lobbing insults. The best thing to do is stereotype a group such as Liberals or Conservatives, when you start saying things to an individual person, you are probably starting to get into the personal insult arena. I find it humorous that folks who got thread banned are complaining that they don't understand what a personal insult is. And like many forums they are blaming the moderator(s). The moderators do a really good job on here. I have had posts deleted (deservedly) and even thread banned (deservedly), I am not going to come on here and cry and say the moderators were not fair. Part of being an adult is being able to be responsible for ones actions... even if it is on a politics forum.

 

You have a good take on how the mods should look at the 'insult' issue......but I do not think there is much discussion if any (would be rare I think) when a mod decides to issue a warning or infraction....too often in my opinion they are just responding to some complainant without really being objective or in some cases mods do not like a particular poster or his topic and thus take their revenge.

Bottom Line...no way to achieve a perfect message board....the best the owners of the site can strive for is to achieve some semblance of fairness and allow as much freedom of speech as possible.

It is encouraging to see that this thread is still up....on of my biggest arguments against any board(not particularly this one) is that the moderators get too arrogant and highhanded and seem to enjoy being vindictive and issuing threats.

 

Not in my case it didn't, I looked. There was no notice of any kind given to me.

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That sounds like an insult and personal attack to me. By todays standards that is a bannable offense!

 

I think that regular Posters who have been here for some time need to have
a different standard applied for Temporary banning.Whereas newbie posters,
Under one year as members should rate a single warning before temporary
banning { I believe it's a full week } and older more established posters 2
or 3 warnings depending on length of time as members.
I know that could be interpreted as self-serving as I'm an older member.
But I've been banned for a full week a couple times for things totally
within the bounds of regular discussion.
I'm not asking for the kind of permission certain Talk Radio jocks
like Michael Savage or Mark Levin ascribe to themselves.Levin and Savage
literally ball-out callers practically every 5 minutes.Telling them far worse than
Ah Shut up and get out a here.Take a hike ya { words like Idiot,Dope,Moron,
and even more insulting }.

 

Thar makes no sense. People with less time on here should get benefit of the doubt. You been on here for more then a year, the rules should be pretty apparent when it comes to what is appropriate.

 

One possible solution would be to have a forum where anything goes ...well at least sorta anyhow...I mean a place where people can insult, name call and personally attack someone. Might at least bleed off some of the emotion on the modulated forums.

 

Too much liability for the forum owner. I guess my question is, why do you feel personal insults need to be used on here. If you don't like what people say, just stick them on ignore. I have quite a few folks on there, I find the experience of using this site to be much more enjoyable because of the function.

 

That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Sorry, just trying to lighten the mood a bit

 

Agreed. However, I like to get folks to discuss things away from the generalistic terms (IE: Liberal/Conservative). This is because this pulls in too many people, with varying views, into one pool. I don't think that's a fair assessment and one, I try to avoid as well. This is why, when I discuss things, I direct my comments to that person I'm responding to. In part, I sometimes utilize the general view of 'Democrats' & 'Republicans', but that's only when a majority of the folks show that same view.

However, back to the point of this, I think folks just need to understand when things are crossing the line. Too many times I've seen folks want to return volley on insults. That's where I think the blood begins to boil and things just spill over. I try to deflect such cases by saying, something to the effect of, 'Leave the insults/snarky remarks at the door'. This is my way of saying, 'You're getting close to that line, refrain from persuing forward'. Again, I don't report anyone, I simply become the bigger man and move on to a new thread.

Then again, to each is their own. I don't expect others to do the same thing, that's why I chose my own recourse.

 

I agree if you respond to insults with insults you are also breaking the rules

 

Another alert that your site should post prominently on the opening screen is a warning that ANYTHING GOES for a conservative thread poster, but that mildly anti-conservative threads will often be shut down, so liberals shouldn't waste their time coming up with any hard-hitting threads.

 

That's not necesarily true...

The problem is that there are many, many posters here who know precisely how to skirt around the rules so as to not get banned, or have their threads deleted...

It's obnoxious...

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No...

I meant idiots, just like I said...

 

Hey, I'm not the one being ridiculous...

 

People who gave up like to cover their cowardly submissiveness by claiming they grew up. Netiquette Nannies treat us like children, so "being an adult" in Sheepica means that we accept the Mod Squad's judgment that we have the mind of a child.

 

I know there is some feature on these message boards where if a post is reported, then everyone can see who reported it, actually I think you would create a section where all the reported posts go and make them visible to everyone. It really cut down on the reports and made people toughen up and actually use the ignore feature, which here on this board becomes a moot point because you get a notice when the ones you place on ignore quote you. I have never understood how that was productive. I also think that mods that participate on certain threads should leave the moderation to the ones who are not participating because it can create bias, and of course I know some will argue and say it does not, but it does.

 

That's easy enough to test out:

Here are the last 5 threads that were shut down in the "Current Events" section:

"Detective says Trayvon's father said 911 screams were not his son's." Author: MolonLabe2009 - Conservative

"Political Failure: 10 Murdered, 55 Wounded over Holiday Weekend in Chicago." Author: DonGlock26 - Conservative

"Teresa Heinz Kerry Hospitalized" Author: exotix - Liberal

"Curfew considered after massive brawl in downtown Greensboro" Author: DonGlock26 - Conservative

"Another Young Black Man Gunned Down by a White guy with a gun" Author: Whaler17 - Conservative

Note: I skipped two that were "spam" threads, and are not relevant


It appears that your complaint about moderation is not based in reality, Jeff.

 

And those were shut down because of what the thread discussion devolved into, were they not?

And that's usually the case when threads are shut down around here, as I've seen...

 

Completely irrelevant. Jeff implied that "ANYTHING GOES for a conservative thread poster", when in fact, almost all of the recently closed threads have been made by conservatives. His statement simply didn't match up with reality.