a discussion thread about moderating this forum

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

JOMAR

Trouble is, most of the folks whining about their hurt feelings are first in line to serve it up. What goes around, comes around.

 

[sr71plt]

JOMAR

Trouble is, most of the folks whining about their hurt feelings are first in line to serve it up. What goes around, comes around.

Which you'd best keep in mind.

 

[Darkniciad]

You probably know, but just in case...the few threads about finding a new place, forum moderator and ignoring stem from a couple of posts that really did go out of bounds. Unquestionably vile and cruel.

Exactly. There's no ambiguity here. Everybody, even people that can't normally agree on what color the sky is, agrees that these posts are above and beyond any tolerance. This isn't about censorship, silencing the opposition, etc. It's about removing words that are beyond the pale, designed to cause maximum pain to someone already suffering from a tragedy.

This isn't your normal poo-flinging.

Something similar, questioning the truth of a claim (in a far more civil manner), also happened not too long ago and people got riled to no end, but things settled down.

And that's called progression. It's getting worse, because it's been allowed to happen with no action. There are at least three in the collection of cretins now, and their behavior is getting worse, on top of being multiplied.

How bad is it going to be the next time someone suffers a loss and dares to share it here?

 

[S-Des]

Which you'd best keep in mind.

Frighteningly enough, I agree with both of you.

I believe that's one of the sign's of the apocalypse.

 

[jomar]

JOMAR

Trouble is, most of the folks whining about their hurt feelings are first in line to serve it up. What goes around, comes around.

Yes, we should all take a look in the mirror.

Exactly. There's no ambiguity here. Everybody, even people that can't normally agree on what color the sky is, agrees that these posts are above and beyond any tolerance. This isn't about censorship, silencing the opposition, etc. It's about removing words that are beyond the pale, designed to cause maximum pain to someone already suffering from a tragedy.

This isn't your normal poo-flinging.

Agreed.

And that's called progression. It's getting worse, because it's been allowed to happen with no action. There are at least three in the collection of cretins now, and their behavior is getting worse, on top of being multiplied.

How bad is it going to be the next time someone suffers a loss and dares to share it here?

I won't cry foul if the owners delete BFW. Scouries stays to himself these days and he's mostly amusing, not hostile. But what if BFW had said, "You know, not to be disrespectful, but, I find some inconsistencies in her story and, as much as I hate to say, question the truth of her statements."

Would that have been taken differently? It wasn't the last time.

I don't disagree this is worse, not at all. But here's the thing - there will be no moderator on the AH. And leaving lets trolls win. So ignoring and shunning seems the best practice. There are by far more good people here than not so certainly we can provide safety and support despite the assholes.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I won't cry foul if the owners delete BFW. Scouries stays to himself these days and he's mostly amusing, not hostile. But what if BFW had said, "You know, not to be disrespectful, but, I find some inconsistencies in her story and, as much as I hate to say, question the truth of her statements."

Would that have been taken differently? It wasn't the last time.

You're referring to Christabelli being so ill? No, it wasn't taken well, at all. But at the same time-- it wasn't trolling. It wasn't egregriously hateful, although it wasn't kind. And it involved people who cared about the community and its reactions, in a way that BFW does not.

I don't disagree this is worse, not at all. But here's the thing - there will be no moderator on the AH. And leaving lets trolls win. So ignoring and shunning seems the best practice. There are by far more good people here than not so certainly we can provide safety and support despite the assholes.

"letting the trolls win" will be, I can promise you out experience in many many forums, merely a matter of time. I just don't see why anyone's time here should feel like a matter of principle, a strike against trolls. That's not what I came here for, certainly...

 

[Darkniciad]

I don't disagree this is worse, not at all. But here's the thing - there will be no moderator on the AH. And leaving lets trolls win. So ignoring and shunning seems the best practice. There are by far more good people here than not so certainly we can provide safety and support despite the assholes.

So long as they're allowed to do this as they please, without consequences, they're winning.

Who's going to replace those that do leave, when new people ( who have no idea who the vile individuals are, let alone to ignore them ) see something like this allowed free rein?

It's a cancer, it's spreading, and too many people are putting their trust in the faith healer of "ignore it and it will go away".

 

[Stella_Omega]

Apparently too tricky to answer for the ones promoting it?

Yes, moderation-- in moderation-- works. Honest. yes, it can be misused as well.
I would hope we can set up checks to prevent egregrious misuse of moderator priveleges.

No one wants to change the tenor of this forum. I just think we deserve to have a handle to flush the toilet on occasion.

 

[Darkniciad]

Most of the forums I post on are anarchy incarnate. I'm about as staunch an opponent of overbearing moderation as you can imagine. I can't stand it, and I'm not quiet about it.

Day to day flame wars, insults, poo-flinging, photoshopped pics, down and out hate, blatant bigotry... It's all part of the fabric.

But when someone crosses the line, and the overwhelming majority speaks up, the moderator steps in and squashes the vile little insect.

When a mod gets on a power trip, the majority speaks up, and the mod is stripped of power, returned to the land of mortals once more. It happens every so often, but there's still a solid core of mods that let the kiddies play, and only smash the monsters when they rear their ugly heads.

Finding the people with the ability to rise above the fray and the willingness to do so is the problem, but they're out there in every community.

Oh, and while it's in my head, there should be either a thread/forum section for moderation, a place to contest moderator actions, and where posts of that nature can be moved to keep them from disrupting threads where the action takes place. Perhaps a sub-section of Stella's suggested Dungeon of misanthropic posts.

 

[jomar]

So long as they're allowed to do this as they please, without consequences, they're winning.

Who's going to replace those that do leave, when new people ( who have no idea who the vile individuals are, let alone to ignore them ) see something like this allowed free rein?

It's a cancer, it's spreading, and too many people are putting their trust in the faith healer of "ignore it and it will go away".

Maybe it is getting worse...but there has always been drama since I've been here (11/06). Seems the only thing that has really changed is fewer writerly and challenge threads. I wrote that off to ebb and flow, but I could easily be wrong...

I'm not arguing against a moderator, I just don't think it's gonna happen.

 

[JagFarlane]

Maybe it is getting worse...but there has always been drama since I've been here (11/06). Seems the only thing that has really changed is fewer writerly and challenge threads. I wrote that off to ebb and flow, but I could easily be wrong...

I'm not arguing against a moderator, I just don't think it's gonna happen.

It happens a lot in focused forums. You end up with alternative discussions and things just slowly grow away from the focus.

Its kind of a wonder why not? I do know a lot of the newer people to the forum have asked why there isn't a moderator, and I'm sure the owners have received PMs questioning why not. One can hope that the owners would pay attention enough to realize one is needed. At the same time, you would also hope that they take the time to choose the right person.

 

[Darkniciad]

If someone doesn't take a firm hand, it won't matter. There won't be anything to moderate.

There's strength in numbers. Unfortunately, sociopaths need far fewer numbers to do exponentially greater damage than those they're attacking need to withstand it.

 

[cloudy]

It happens a lot in focused forums. You end up with alternative discussions and things just slowly grow away from the focus.

Its kind of a wonder why not? I do know a lot of the newer people to the forum have asked why there isn't a moderator, and I'm sure the owners have received PMs questioning why not. One can hope that the owners would pay attention enough to realize one is needed. At the same time, you would also hope that they take the time to choose the right person.

We've never wanted a moderator. In fact, I'd bet you that right now, even in the midst of all this, if you were to take a poll, most still wouldn't want one. I don't, simply because those who want to be moderators are usually the exact people who don't need to be given the job....kinda like cops.

The GB isn't moderated. Why should we need one? Aren't we as grown-up as they are?

 

[Liar]

No one wants to change the tenor of this forum. I just think we deserve to have a handle to flush the toilet on occasion.

Ah but then you do, no?

Because the turds are part of the tenor. For better or worse.

Mostly worse. But still.

 

[damppanties]

We've never wanted a moderator. In fact, I'd bet you that right now, even in the midst of all this, if you were to take a poll, most still wouldn't want one. I don't, simply because those who want to be moderators are usually the exact people who don't need to be given the job....kinda like cops.

The GB isn't moderated. Why should we need one? Aren't we as grown-up as they are?

What does being grown-up have to do with it? Do you think grown-up people act responsibly all the time? Obviously not, as we have seen.

 

[jomar]

You're referring to Christabelli being so ill? No, it wasn't taken well, at all. But at the same time-- it wasn't trolling. It wasn't egregriously hateful, although it wasn't kind. And it involved people who cared about the community and its reactions, in a way that BFW does not.

Agreed, but the underlying issue was truth and trust and how we deal. That was my point.

"letting the trolls win" will be, I can promise you out experience in many many forums, merely a matter of time. I just don't see why anyone's time here should feel like a matter of principle, a strike against trolls. That's not what I came here for, certainly...

I said, "And leaving lets trolls win," is that what you refer to?

I feel you...abstrusions, dryer lint, clique, facebook not so much.

 

[Liar]

What does being grown-up have to do with it? Do you think grown-up people act responsibly all the time? Obviously not, as we have seen.

Psst, this is the Interwebs. Are you sure they're grownups?

 

[damppanties]

Psst, this is the Interwebs. Are you sure they're grownups?

No, and I don't care. I just want offensive posts smashed.

 

[jomar]

It happens a lot in focused forums. You end up with alternative discussions and things just slowly grow away from the focus.

Its kind of a wonder why not? I do know a lot of the newer people to the forum have asked why there isn't a moderator, and I'm sure the owners have received PMs questioning why not. One can hope that the owners would pay attention enough to realize one is needed. At the same time, you would also hope that they take the time to choose the right person.

I'm distracted by the UNC 'blowout' over Villanova, though there is 13 min left.

Interesting, I hadn't known newbies wondered about mods. But I don't know a lot...

 

[cloudy]

What does being grown-up have to do with it? Do you think grown-up people act responsibly all the time? Obviously not, as we have seen.

No, I don't.

Still don't think we need a moderator, simply because the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. *shrug*

 

[JagFarlane]

I'm distracted by the UNC 'blowout' over Villanova, though there is 13 min left.

Interesting, I hadn't known newbies wondered about mods. But I don't know a lot...

It gets posted every now and then

No, I don't.

Still don't think we need a moderator, simply because the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. *shrug*

Considering how rare the incidents really are, you are right there. -shrugs- People become power hungry

 

[damppanties]

No, I don't.

Still don't think we need a moderator, simply because the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. *shrug*

I don't agree with you, but okay.

 

[shereads]

Again, ditto the statement made to Cantgog. Why do you give your friends a free pass? I would favor monitors providing they would give me always a free pass and damn those who refuse to accept my point of view. Would that be the utopia of which you dream?

Parlez vous some sort of written language?

 

[Guest]

Parlez vous some sort of written language?

I'm kind of digging the Cantgog label.

His new name, I'm thinking!

 

[JagFarlane]

Again, there is no rule against hate speech, although I think it is unethical, no doubt. But to allow Stella to determine what hate speech is, is a greater sin than hate speech. Speaking of group epithets and personal attacks, Stella's speech rejecting these would be meaningful if she were not the master of such.

Its interesting how you've been using this SN all of maybe 2 months now, and you already presume you know all about Stella. Its also interesting that in your signature you refer to yourself as a "nice Christian lady", perhaps you need to re-read King Solomons proverbs?

I personally don't recall in any of these threads, that Stella herself asked to be a moderator, therefore she would not be the one determining the hate speech. But that would only be if we were to get a moderator, of which the consensus is that its a slim to none chance anyways.