Moderators on the GB?

[lavender]

i did a rudimentary search on your posts vs. her name, since oct 1, '04.

you've either posted her name, or quoted her in 36 of your posts.

that's a lot of non-interaction.

Especially for someone who hasn't been around hardly at all.

 

[Mia62]

i did a rudimentary search on your posts vs. her name, since oct 1, '04.

you've either posted her name, or quoted her in 36 of your posts.

that's a lot of non-interaction.

What are you - her own personal pitbull?

Considering the fact that the discussion of moderators/trolls/violation of rules has come up dozens of times since alexandraaah's little debacle, I am surprised the total is that low.

 

[Pookie]

I also think it ought to be pointed out that anyone who takes a GB Moderator job might as well accept the fact that their posting career will effectively be over. Can you imagine how much shit a GB Mod will take every time they post? They couldn't dare to voice their opinion on any contentious subject or express a personal opinion about another poster.

So I would expect a high turnover. No one is going to give their time for long to mod a board on which they aren't welcome to post.

No one would survive being a mod for long. Look at how much grief some forums give their mods now. I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to endure that on a board with as many users as the GB. Just imagine all the additional alts that some would create just to cause even more havoc for a mod(s) to sift through.

People know what the GB is all about. People know how to limit their exposure to certain risks. This board has been around for years. It's been like this for years. If people can't handle it, they might want to find a place more comfortable for them. Mods on the GB won't change anything.

 

[Queersetti]

I don't know... most of the people I am hearing say a mod is a bad idea for the GB seem to feel that just putting the trolls on ignore will keep them here.

The plan old little pissant, give me some attention 'cuase I have the maturity of a 12 year old troll doesn't bother me. They show up, I put them on ignore and go on my merry way. My main issue is the lack of enforcement of the guidelines which exist.

There are 11 rules and then a follow up statement that "Anything else goes". Doesn't make an exception for the GB. Either the rules need to be enforced and habitual violators dealt with, or the rules need to be thrown out.

I think everyone (except maybe Never) agrees with that.

 

[Calamity Jane]

Either the rules need to be enforced and habitual violators dealt with, or the rules need to be thrown out.

How does one define a 'habitual violator'? One post can do a hell of a lot of damage, if it contains the right information. That's not a habit. On the other hand, someone can repeatedly threaten someone, and it means nothing outside being annoying.

Also, when you say 'dealt with', what do you mean? It's nearly impossible to effectively ban someone from a site like this.

What is being suggested just wouldn't work. You can't effectively moderate some place the size of the GB unless you had multiple moderators online at all times. You'd actually have to shedule people to work shifts to make sure that ALL the issues that people felt needed addressed were addressed in a timely manner, so no one whined about preferential treatment.

It's an unweildy and unworkable solution to something that really isn't THAT big of a problem.

There's a heaping pile of bullshit, yes. But, for the most part, it's harmless bullshit.

 

[Debbie]

To Mod the GB it would be a 24/7 job.

This board moves incredibly fast at times.

I doubt that anyone would volunteer to Mod the GB without a huge pay packet, health benefits, a life times supply of sex toys and a free company car.

LadyG and other Mods have to wade through oodles of crap
to do the Modding they do.


Lance makes sense - ugh.

"Ad for Mod job - Must have armour like skin. Prefer Kevlar level type protection. Must be able to tolerate assholes, remain level headed at all times, despite being called names and people screeching about CENSORSHIP and favouritism.

A lack of needing any sleep at all will increase your chances of being suitable for this job.

You will be asked to go above the call of duty and listen to adults snivel about so and so being mean.

You must be able to speed read and have quick reflexes.
Being completely non judgemental and capable of being fair at all times is a big plus.

A strong stomach is also a must as some of the language, literature and pictures can be a bit on the nose at times.

We are hoping to attract someone who also has a background in Law or an excellent knowledge of copyright laws.

Excellent people skills are required because at times you will be dealing with numbskulls and petty people.

An inbuilt bullshit detector will stand you in good stead.

In return we can offer you stress, abusive PMs, on board drama, the odd laugh and a salary of $1,000,000 plus anything else that you fancy."



(And no I am not at all trying to make light of BB2 and someplace's friend being stalked in real life.)

The only people who can make this a great place to visit is us.

 

[honeylick]

What are you - her own personal pitbull?

Considering the fact that the discussion of moderators/trolls/violation of rules has come up dozens of times since alexandraaah's little debacle, I am surprised the total is that low.

my god mia, first you question calamity jane's commenting on your posts... now i cannot engage you in a discussion about them either?

i didn't realize that you were posting rhetorically these days.

you might want to hang out on the iso blurt thread if that's the case.

 

[Queersetti]

No one would survive being a mod for long. Look at how much grief some forums give their mods now. I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to endure that on a board with as many users as the GB. Just imagine all the additional alts that some would create just to cause even more havoc for a mod(s) to sift through.

People know what the GB is all about. People know how to limit their exposure to certain risks. This board has been around for years. It's been like this for years. If people can't handle it, they might want to find a place more comfortable for them. Mods on the GB won't change anything.

Look at how much shit the Howty Doodies gave Lady G, attacking her simultaneously for enforcing and not enforcing the rules. There are many times more GBers, and as a group, we are not nearly as nice as them. I shudder to thing what that job would be like.

 

[Never]

I think everyone (except maybe Never) agrees with that.

No, I agree. All the rules need to be thrown out. But, I understand that for legal reasons Literotica couldn't do that.

 

[Mia62]

There are many times more GBers, and as a group, we are not nearly as nice as them.

Heh...ya think???

 

[Pookie]

... the Howty Doodies ...

*snort*

Thanks, I needed that tonight.

 

[Queersetti]

No, I agree. All the rules need to be thrown out. But, I understand that for legal reasons Literotica couldn't do that.

OK. I didn't want to risk mischaracterizing your position one way or the other.

 

[linuxgeek]

I think everyone (except maybe Never) agrees with that.

I think the one thing which is suprizing me about your stand on this is the fact you are a mod of one of the forums. For someone is a mod of Lit to take the stand you seem to be just feels odd.

 

[Calamity Jane]

No, I agree. All the rules need to be thrown out. But, I understand that for legal reasons Literotica couldn't do that.

This would be an interesting fix though. In fact, several people have inadvertantly (i'm sure) suggested that very thing.

If we ditched the rules, then we'd have no expectation of consequences, real or imagined. We'd have nothing to bitch about. And, there'd be no need to ever have the moderator discussion again.

It'd be an interesting little social experiment.

 

[Thunderbear]

To Mod the GB it would be a 24/7 job.

This board moves incredibly fast at times.

I doubt that anyone would volunteer to Mod the GB without a huge pay packet, health benefits, a life times supply of sex toys and a free company car.

LadyG and other Mods have to wade through oodles of crap
to do the Modding they do.


Lance makes sense - ugh.

"Ad for Mod job - Must have armour like skin. Prefer Kevlar level type protection. Must be able to tolerate assholes, remain level headed at all times, despite being called names and people screeching about CENSORSHIP and favouritism.

A lack of needing any sleep at all will increase your chances of being suitable for this job.

You will be asked to go above the call of duty and listen to adults snivel about so and so being mean.

You must be able to speed read and have quick reflexes.
Being completely non judgemental and capable of being fair at all times is a big plus.

A strong stomach is also a must as some of the language, literature and pictures can be a bit on the nose at times.

We are hoping to attract someone who also has a background in Law or an excellent knowledge of copyright laws.

Excellent people skills are required because at times you will be dealing with numbskulls and petty people.

An inbuilt bullshit detector will stand you in good stead.

In return we can offer you stress, abusive PMs, on board drama, the odd laugh and a salary of $1,000,000 plus anything else that you fancy."



(And no I am not at all trying to make light of BB2 and someplace's friend being stalked in real life.)

The only people who can make this a great place to visit is us.

I guess being a member of a board that has nearly 20 times the number of posts as Lit in a given day leaves me kind of biased. Boards this size can be moderated, it isn't that difficult, and it isn't nearly as intrusive as a whole lot of you are making it out to be.

 

[Bluesboy2]

LOL

"Take my word for it. Never mind that I clearly have an agenda."

Also, I think it should be pointed out that 'making someone's life difficult", if in fact that was said, is a far cry from "I know that this person is receiving death threats as a direct result of this information, and I refuse to remove the info anyway."

Having re-read through them briefly it is in fact there. However since we have no rules I think I will just repost the whole set of logs since it makes for some great reading. I had forgotten what a fascinating person she is.
For now I am going to bed. I'll post them tomorrow.

 

[Queersetti]

I think the one thing which is suprizing me about your stand on this is the fact you are a mod of one of the forums. For someone is a mod of Lit to take the stand you seem to be just feels odd.

I'll gladly clarify my position, I can understand how it might seem contradictory.

I believe the GB and the GLBT board are very different in purpose. The GB is, as the name makes clear, is a forum open for discussion of any subject. The GLBT, on the other hand, is dedicated to discussion of a defined range of topics. The former needs not be moderated in regard to subject matter, the latter does.

 

[Equinoxe]

I have avoided this discussion as I don't think there is much I have to offer, but I shall offer whatever I have to give. My apologies if it is a bit verbose.

There is no good solution to the problems that people complain about. We have problems on the board, to be sure, and they are not easy problems to deal with.

The current, unmoderated environment is a bit chaotic and dangerous yes, but not particularly moreso than many other places (as has been pointed out). Bad things can happen, bad things do happen; but that is life.

If a moderator to this forum is created, it will do several things. Number one, it will destroy that person's ability to function as a regular member of the community. This place is in many respects a bit like a high school and nobody likes the Hall Monitor. It will also cause several people (apparently) to leave the forum as they would feel stifled by the presence. There are also things creating a moderator will not do and included amongst those are preventing the hacking of accounts and the posting of personal information. Not only are moderators human and fallible, they sleep and do other things. Even someone like me, who is on here for a much larger percentage of the day than most people, misses a lot of posts and misses a lot of threads.

Creating two fora is an even worse idea, as it will condemn this one to all the negativity that people would try to fix and take the interest out of the other. This forum would be quickly overwhelmed by trolls, the other would lose the very essence that makes this board what it is.

Can anything be done about those who would hurt the posters of the board? Not really, even if they were banned, even IP banned, they would simply come back. I used to post at a moderated forum, one with very specific rules for conduct. There was a very popular poster who was banned, IP banned; he came back, with everyone knowing it was him, no fewer than 10 times. The moderators and admins could do nothing, in fact many of them were friends of his.

Which is of course the other problem with moderating a forum. Deciding what constitutes a violation of the rules depends upon the individual. It may look easy, but it is somewhat more complicated. 90% of the complaints given to moderators are going to be about someone else saying something offensive. If someone says they have been threatened, do the moderators take all threats seriously? Why should they? Most threats on here are jokes.

You do not have the right to not be offended. Likewise, protecting your personal information is mostly your responsibility. If it erupts into a problem in real life, that is different, but how is a moderator going to fix that? A moderator can't prevent that, they can only take some steps retroactively. They are not omniscient and omnipresent.

It's a rough place, but there's not much of a way to fix that. Enforcing the rules is a difficult matter and the rules do not protect people. If someone steps over the line and things become dangerous and real, talk to the police, I assure you you'd have the support of most of the decent people on here.

 

[Calamity Jane]

Having re-read through them briefly it is in fact there. However since we have no rules I think I will just repost the whole set of logs since it makes for some great reading. I had forgotten what a fascinating person she is.
For now I am going to bed. I'll post them tomorrow.

Of course you will.

All the while not responding to the rest of my post.

You're an amazing human being. I really mean that.

 

[Calamity Jane]

This forum would be quickly overwhelmed by trolls, the other would lose the very essence that makes this board what it is.

I disagree that this place would be overrun by trolls. In fact, I think in some ways a separate board would help with the troll situation here. Because I'm betting that most of the people that are continually harrassed by trolls would go to the 'safer' board, and the trolls wouldn't have any fun here anymore.

That said, I still think the moderator idea, and the separate forum idea are both exceedingly bad ideas.

 

[Equinoxe]

I disagree that this place would be overrun by trolls. In fact, I think in some ways a separate board would help with the troll situation here. Because I'm betting that most of the people that are continually harrassed by trolls would go to the 'safer' board, and the trolls wouldn't have any fun here anymore.

That is a possibility, yes. I should have mentioned that, as my goal was mostly to discuss the probable outcomes of the different solutions.

Having said that, I don't know that it would make much of a difference.

 

[Calamity Jane]

That is a possibility, yes. I should have mentioned that, as my goal was mostly to discuss the probable outcomes of the different solutions.

Having said that, I don't know that it would make much of a difference.

I don't know that it really would, but I also know that - for me - the ignore button works quite well on trolls.

 

[Equinoxe]

I don't know that it really would, but I also know that - for me - the ignore button works quite well on trolls.

I've said before that I don't use the ignore button, but that I'm not sure if that's out of laziness or principle. That still holds true, I still don't and I'm still not sure why.

Nevertheless, it is there for a reason and works well for the common trolls.

Of course, like any other method available, it does nothing to protect you from harm.

 

[Calamity Jane]

I've said before that I don't use the ignore button, but that I'm not sure if that's out of laziness or principle. That still holds true, I still don't and I'm still not sure why.

I'd never used it until last summer some time. And now, there are nearly 100 people on my ignore list.

What's cool about that is, I got to choose who went on it. I get to choose whether or not I see their posts, and I get to choose whether or not I respond to them.

Mostly, I put people on it who 'clutter' up 'my' front page with 700 threads about the best shape to shave into their pussy hair, but some of the people on it are trolls or 'unsavory types'. But no one decides for me who I read and who I don't. That's the beauty of unmoderated discussion.

 

[Equinoxe]

I'd never used it until last summer some time. And now, there are nearly 100 people on my ignore list.

What's cool about that is, I got to choose who went on it. I get to choose whether or not I see their posts, and I get to choose whether or not I respond to them.

Mostly, I put people on it who 'clutter' up 'my' front page with 700 threads about the best shape to shave into their pussy hair, but some of the people on it are trolls or 'unsavory types'. But no one decides for me who I read and who I don't. That's the beauty of unmoderated discussion.

Exactly. Moderating the discussion can only change how we deal with the trolls and spammers, etc. It cannot deal with any hackers or dangerous criminal types.

If people want to avoid endless threads about meaningless things, they have that ability already. If that want to avoid having their information stolen, a moderator is not going to help. Even if there was something they could do (and they couldn't, at best they could put a band-aid on a gunshot wound), no one is on here 24-hours a day.