Moderator Apology

There were some conservative members of Political Forum that complained about an OP I posted claiming it was flamebait.

http://www.politicalforum.com/polit...tupidity-prejudice-linked.html#post1060773739

The moderators have discussed this at length and, if nothing else, the paraphasing of the linked article's title of "Low IQ & Conservative Beliefs Linked to Prejudice" into "The Conservatives, Stupidity & Prejudice Linked" was found to be objectionable. If nothing more the use of "Stupidity" instead of "low IQ" was politically incorrect and could be considered to be flamebaiting.

It was not my intent to flamebait in any manner, nor was I attempting to condemn conservatives in general and attempted to establish that in the OP, but I can understand that some might see it as flamebaiting. I agree with those that have stated that a moderator, even though our posts on political topics are submitted as members, should be held to a higher standard than those of other members.

With that said I would submit my apology to the members of Political Forum. Additionally I've closed the Part II thread even though I used the exact title of the linked article on it.

Respectfully,
Shiva_TD
Member and Moderator of Political Forum

 

We all make mistakes.....but no lives were lost in the exchange!

Keep up the impartiality...your work apart from this small indiscretion cannot be faulted!

(I may not say this again and may wish I had never said it)!

Regards
Highlander

 

Glad you've seen the light, even if it had to be shined in your eyes by others.

 

Thank you for your comments.

Many know my position in opposition to racism and bigoted discrimination and it was never my intent to imply a generalized indictment of conservatives and obviously I failed to adequately "limit my attack" to specifically those that I see as propagating racism and bigoted discrimination. As noted, if nothing else, the OP title could be interpreted as an "attack on all conservatives" regardless of my attempt in the OP itself to establish that was not the case.

Anyway, I learn from my mistakes so in the future I will be much more specific to avoid any potential misunderstandings. I'm sure that racism and bigoted discrimination is a topic of interest that we can address in a respectful manner and that is always my intent.

Once again I want to thank those of you that have commented with understanding related to a problem I created and which I accept full responsibility for.

Shiva_TD

 

Hummm, should you be banned?

How many posters have you banned over the years for flamebaiting? Just curious.

How many did you ban when even when the other moderators disagreed?

I'm sure others who have flamebaited and been banned, it was not their intent either.

Just some food for thought.

 

How many members have been banned for one instance of flamebait? I'd say none.

Geez...I man can come out with a sincere and heartfelt apology, and some people will continue to rub (*)(*)(*)(*) in his face...Let it go.

 

I didn't view that thread, because I see the link of political opinion and IQ to be nothing more than junk science. That being said, it was just a thread, people will get over it.

 

I've never really understood the full concept of "flamebaiting". I've seen threads in the past that I would consider just meant to insult....and they've gotten like 300 posts or so.

 

I am sorry, but every single one of the members of this forum who complained, would make threads that are identical to the one you posted, with the difference being they wouldn't have any science(no matter the validity of that science) to back it up!! They would just claim liberals are stupid, which is why they are so wrong about everything! They are just so lacking in self-awareness that they don't even realize how hypocritical and silly it makes them seem!! I appreciate that you posted this thread, it confirms something I already knew, which is that you are a man of integrity. I just don't think it was necessary.

 

...the man that never made a mistake, never made anything, btw.

Everyone makes mistakes, there are grey areas. Plenty of times I come in tired or stressed and post something, then have to edit or ask for it to be deleted. So what?

People who don't change behaviour when they've made a mistake are the ones who usually end up banned. If someone is open to realising what he's done is not quite right, then takes responsibility and avoids doing it again...that's what we should be doing, isn't it.

As to Makedde, I don't have a knowledge of specifics, but hopefully people are not going to use the thread to cast up every imagined personal issue with any passing Mod. That a Moderator has apologised for something, doesn't change the TOS relating to discussion of moderation in public threads...it probably isn't going to be discussed here.

 

I disagree with the definition of flame-baiting. A perons should be able to use any source they feel credible. If other people find it not-credible that is their opinion and is the subject of the thead.

I would consider a flame-bait thread something like:

"Liberals are stupid"

But

"Studies have shown liberals are stupid" I wouldn't as long as there is some sort of study to debate over.

 

ITA, but sometimes there seems to be no consistency in who is banned and why...left and right and in-between.

It was just food for thought.

 

I would prefer if there is any "heat" that it be directed at me. This thread is about my actions and on one else's and should be limited in that regard and I would respectfully ask other members to keep that in mind.

As I've stated while my intentions are never to flamebait the mere fact that some found the OP flamebaiting is enough to warrant my apology. As a staff member I feel the need to maintain a higher standard than any other member. We should not be discussing other member's posts or other moderators here as this solely relates to my actions which did not maintian the high standards as expressed in the Mission Statement of Politcal Forum.

Let the blame fall on me and me alone.

Thank you all for your comments.

Respectfully,
Shiva_TD

 

I'm sure it wasn't easy to write this apology and I appreciate that it was done.

Moderators have every right to post their own opinions and start threads on this board but they also are in a position to set an example for "how it's done right."

I never opened the second thread. I posted, I believe, once in the first one - a statement of disappointment that something like this would be coming from a mod.

I believe that the greater sin is to not accept an apology, whether a person believes it's heartfelt or not.

Your disdain for conservatives has never been a secret but, at this time and from me, your apology is accepted.

 

I am sorry, but I must be missing Shiva's clear and unabashed disdain for conservatives!! He has disdain for things that should be looked upon with disdain, and it would behoove conservatives to cast those tendencies aside. However Shiva is consistently critical of both sides, and is in line with many conservatives on certain issues(though he is actually consistent in his principles, unlike most conservatives).


I will say this again Shiva, you have no reason to apologize. You are simply doing so because you have integrity. The people who complained have no right to complain!!

PS. I see my earlier assessment was correct!! What a shock!!

 

Thank you. It's appreciated.

Ironically though I'm a card carrying Libertarian which means I'm extremely "conservative" related to government but also embrace civil liberties which is more identified with the "liberal" ideology today. The Libertarian Party was formed in response to Nixon and the Republican Party abandoning traditional "conservative" political values in the early 1970's.

Shiva_TD

 

I'm sorry you've missed it.

Once again, I know this isn't easy for you, Shiva.

 

It takes a man to man up. End of story.

 

Can I also say, this is why I almost never post threads. It is better to be critical of other peoples clear flame bait, than to post something that is borderline flame bait and be criticized for it. So I keep my threads to either long analyses or to ideas that can't be easily shoehorned into other threads(or that I am sick of posting over and over again in other peoples threads), and I let other people post the threads!! You know some other liberal is going to jump on the opportunity to post about how conservatives have been scientifically proven to be stupider(they haven't of course), so there is no need to get your hands dirty!!

PS. But to be clear, I unequivocally don't believe you did anything wrong. Now certain posters earlier in this thread may be justified in posting apology threads, but it was not necessary for you!!

 

I respectfully disagree. As a member of the Political Forum staff I have a personal obligation and commitment to ensure my posts are above reproach. Obviously I failed in that regard and that alone warrants this apology. If I don't maitain the highest standards how can I ask other members to do that. This is about more than just violation of a Forum Rule. I have to be "better than the Forum Rules" when I post as a member. I let the staff and the members down and for that I sincerely apologize.

Respectfully,
Shiva_TD

 

There is not a single moderator at this forum who lives up to that standard. The ones who come closest, do so because they are rarely in the trenches consistently posting about politics. Instead they spend most of their time socializing, and using this forum like Facebook(which I find nothing wrong with to be clear). When you do post about politics consistently, it is impossible to maintain the standard. If you feel you need to apologize when you fail to meet that standard, I respect that, and as I said it is because you are a man of integrity. However, all the other moderators at this forum fail to live up to those criteria(some more often than you), and I have seen no apology threads coming from them. I respect your desire to be above the fray, but believe it is unrealistic, and is not a standard your counterparts in the moderation position maintain along with you!!

 

Once again I appreciate your comments.

Actually it would have been far harder to not apologize. To not acknowledge a mistake would violate my personal integrity and, if my parents taught me anything growing up, personal integrity is the most important personality trait any individual can have.

Taking personal responsibility when we make a mistake should never be hard because it's always the right thing to do.

Respectfully,
Shiva_TD

 

This thread was not meant as an opportunity for members to attack other Moderators or other members. There is too much of that going on, therefore, the thread is being closed.

Thanks to Shiva for his sincere apology to members here.

JP5

 

Once again this thread is about my apology for my actions. It's based solely on my personal standards and commitment to the ideal established in the Mission Statement of Political Forum. It does not address the actions of other members whether they're staff members or not.

The Mission Statement establishes the goal of Political Forum is for members to engage in "vigorous respectful debate" and that is the standard I apply to myself. As many know I'm highly opinionated related to politics and disagree with many members on many political topics. That does imply that we cannot discuss virtually any topic in a respectful manner regardless of our personal opinions.

"Respectful vigorous debate" is a criteria that I embrace. By maintianing the highest standard related to this it is hoped that others will follow suit. That is my goal and obviously I failed in that regard. As noted I have extremely high personal integrity and when I make a mistake I take full responsibility for it. I won't just sweep it under the rug.

If anything I hope that in taking responsibility for my own actions by this formal apology will have a positive result for all of Political Forum. Perhaps others will also address the Mission Statement and try to comply with not just the letter of the Forum Rules but also their intent in fostering vigorous respectful debate. Perhaps others will learn from my mistakes.

Respectfully,
Shiva_TD