How To Find Out

[LitChatActivist]

I would like to bring this up as it is deeply baffling. It seems as if a forum admin for the Lit Chat Support Forum has the capability to edit a user's post without directly responding/ replying or quoting the post and is doing so. Why would a moderator seek to edit a user's post if it did not violate any rules? Additionally the new thread was directed to another forum moderator as well as the owners and indicated so in the title.

The moderator is removing threads with 5 posts in them, claiming it’s for archive purposes on a brand new thread with five entire threads in the Lit Chat Support Forum.

If it's something to be addressed, what, where or whom should I ask?

 

[ToPleaseHim]

Welcome to the How To.

Each forum on the site has its own personality and norms, but I can try to speak to some of your concerns.

First, forum moderators do have the ability to edit others' posts, but only in the forum in which they are a mod. We typically only do this to remove photos or underage references, things that violate the forum rules. There have been a few times that I went to "quote" a post, but accidentally clicked "edit." That's pretty easy to do, but once I realized I was editing the post instead of replying to it I would quickly back out. I would guess that this is what happened and maybe the moderator didn't realize they were editing instead of replying.

With regards to deleting threads, that's also something we usually only do if the thread is violating forum rules. The forums archive themselves, really. If you look at the How To threads, there are two pages of threads and the oldest had its most recent post in December. Busier forums, like the General Board, have several pages of current threads. At some point, the threads just drop off of the main pages, but they still exist and will still turn up in searches of the forum.

If you have concerns that you'd like to get to the site owners, the best way is usually to PM Laurel directly.

Hope this was helpful.

 

[Amy_1988]

With regards to deleting threads, that's also something we usually only do if the thread is violating forum rules. The forums archive themselves, really. If you look at the How To threads, there are two pages of threads and the oldest had its most recent post in December. Busier forums, like the General Board, have several pages of current threads. At some point, the threads just drop off of the main pages, but they still exist and will still turn up in searches of the forum.

Thanks for the clarification for this, it's helpful.

The concern is this mod's pattern of behaviour silencing people when he disagrees. No rules were broken but he deletes threads he finds challenging for things. This last thread was deleted after about an hour. The poster was respectful and addressed his question to Laurel and Manu. The mod in question also deleted another thread documenting his and another mod's targeting of long time female chatters for personal reasons, without evidence. These are independent women who play by the rules, have been supportive of moderators or in some cases have even been moderators themselves, but don't spend a lot of time stroking the egos of male chat mods.

Then he arranged the site-wide ban of one of these women, with no evidence for anything that would justify her treatment for this. The thread filled with long-time chatters posting their legitimate concerns and support for her to be unbanned. Then he closed the thread claiming it's "no longer productive" and has become an "arguing thread". Yet it wasn't. Lots of threads get a couple of troll posts but the majority of people posting were measured and expressed appropriate concern, within the rules, including a couple of people who defended his actions.

Now he has erased the thread completely for an attempt of silencing the men and women who expressed legitimate concern. And called it "normal maintenance and archiving".

 

[LitChatActivist]

Thank you so much for responding with helpful information, it lends clarity where there was none before and seems so simple a thing that could have caused an entire thread to be archived on an all but empty forum, with three moderators assigned to it.

Not only have threads started today been removed but also around four previous ones which highlighted problems with the chat moderation to one extent or another. From what you have explained above, I feel all of it was an unnecessary move and an incomprehensible overreaction.

 

[redroses3377]

These threads were asking for some degree of transparency with moderation, as it appears that there has been some underhanded and heavy-handed behavior without justifiable cause by certain administrators/moderators of the chat. Chatters were then silenced by one admin/mod by closing the threads because he didn't believe that it was fruitful. Literotica has always been a place that advertised "free speech" when not violating TOS, but yet one man is censoring its chatters. These threads were "archived" to remove them from public view, as chatters were continuing to view them on a daily basis. When we have concerns about certain moderators' integrity, and then a moderator closes the threads and removes them from public viewing, it only cements in their lack of integrity. Moderators are not going to be perfect and that's not expected, but when a man then tries to hide the behavior rather than address the concerns, it shows his true character defects.

 

[_MissBehavingBadly_]

I've caught up with the posts. I think for me one of the startling things is how many other moderators who see the wrongs in this entire situation are unable to speak up or won't speak up for their various reasons. I can't begrudge them their reasons. We're living in an age of awareness and processing information, yet one of the greatest tragedies is that people in authority behave like unethical individuals pushing a personal agenda. I have been here since 2009, lit means something to me. Moderators are integral to lit and the chat and many have earned respect over the years as we've come along.

 

[mixhali55]

How can i contact a moderator? I have been banned for an incest reference. I realize that i was wrong, but a permanent ban is excessive. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[jehoram]

Are the moderators the ones who are listed as starting the thread? If so, you just need to go to the upper left-hand corner, click on the icon, and then click "start a conversation." Or you could just put out a plea on the thread for the moderator to contact you, and be sure you have the PMs turned on.

 

[ToPleaseHim]

How can i contact a moderator? I have been banned for an incest reference. I realize that i was wrong, but a permanent ban is excessive. Any help would be appreciated.

You have been in contact with the Lit Chat moderators in the Lit Chat Support Forum. If you wish to talk to the site admin, send a PM to Laurel. She doesn’t tend to respond quickly, fyi, and the site updates have likely had an effect on her response time as well.