Easy on the Moderator...

[2dumb4gears]

Something I can't help but open my big mouth about:

Jeff put out a series of posts to try to democratize forum moderation, and give users a sense of ownership over how we police ourselves here, etc. He spent time, effort and concern to try to do right by everyone.

Then, a couple of long-term, heavy users come unglued. Excessive tyrades get posted about constitutional rights, free speech, and even some attacks on the man's stature (e.g. "Napoleon Complex").

Your rights to be a bigotted, homophobic, or abrasive individual aside (I'm a big fan of civil liberites), maybe consider the fact that this is a public board, free to use, open to anyone. Hence, some basic rules of civilty apply. He's not deleting posts he "doesn't agree with"; he pulling stuff that's BLATENTLY innapropriate and offensive to everyone with a sense of decency (mine's pretty under-developed, and my stomache's still been turned a few times).

Your desire to take the "moral high ground" aside, I've seen some behavior that defies even the most BASIC rules of quasi-polite social interaction. If you came to someone's house for a party, insulted everyone present, then started screaming about "censorship" at the top of your lungs when you were asked to settle down, you'd be leaving on your head. Maybe consider a similar standard of appropriate behavior, and leave Jeff (who's obviously working harder than a lot of us) alone?

[tryandgetme]

Thanks, you put what I was thinking into words better than I did.

I'm suspecting time will heal things, we just need to give it a chance.

[rockhound]

Something I can't help but open my big mouth about:

Jeff put out a series of posts to try to democratize forum moderation, and give users a sense of ownership over how we police ourselves here, etc. He spent time, effort and concern to try to do right by everyone.

Then, a couple of long-term, heavy users come unglued. Excessive tyrades get posted about constitutional rights, free speech, and even some attacks on the man's stature (e.g. "Napoleon Complex").

Your rights to be a bigotted, homophobic, or abrasive individual aside (I'm a big fan of civil liberites), maybe consider the fact that this is a public board, free to use, open to anyone. Hence, some basic rules of civilty apply. He's not deleting posts he "doesn't agree with"; he pulling stuff that's BLATENTLY innapropriate and offensive to everyone with a sense of decency (mine's pretty under-developed, and my stomache's still been turned a few times).

Your desire to take the "moral high ground" aside, I've seen some behavior that defies even the most BASIC rules of quasi-polite social interaction. If you came to someone's house for a party, nsultedveryone present, then started screaming about "censorship" at the top of your lungs when you werre asked to settle down, you'd be leaving on your head. Mayb consider a similar standard of appropriate behavior, and leave Jeff (who's obviously working harder than a lot of us) alone?

I thought this was already understood...

[2dumb4gears]

I thought this was already understood...

By reasonable folks such as yourself, absolutely. But did you see the long string of self-pitying posts from yesterday? About 7 new threads in a row. Yikes.

[rockhound]

By reasonable folks such as yourself...

Wowzers...I even got that in writing...that'll come back to hurt you someday...just kidding. :D


Maybe my threshold is higher than most, but I haven't seen anything that is blatantly racist or homophobic that hasn't been moderated appropriately.

[2dumb4gears]

I've never thought you weren't reasonable (just really wrong sometimes:D ). Probably more so than myself (that's a pretty poor litmus, but take it as a compliment).

My comment was directed at the temper tantrums that have gone on because of it. I just wanted to publicly acknowledge that Jeff is doing a great job, and point out to the culprits responsible that they need to relax, quit taking it personally, and not abuse a generally good guy who's trying really hard to do his job. Social justice (e.g. "Lefty") issues on my part.;)

[S. cerevisiae]

Hear, here.

One of the forum rules (self-administered) should be no drinking (to excess) and posting. Seems to me that ones inhibitions being lowered can lead to inappropriate posts. Maybe one could save the message composed when "on the piss" and read it again when sober. Kind of like not sending nasty-gram e-mail until edited after a 24 hour waiting period.

Probably be fewer self-pitying threads started that way.

[davkatreb]

Hear, here.

One of the forum rules (self-administered) should be no drinking (to excess) and posting. Seems to me that ones inhibitions being lowered can lead to inappropriate posts. Maybe one could save the message composed when "on the piss" and read it again when sober. Kind of like not sending nasty-gram e-mail until edited after a 24 hour waiting period.

Probably be fewer self-pitying threads started that way.
So you say I gotta surf the forum, THEN get sh!tfaced? Screw that; not enough hours in the day as it is.

[hairygrump]

So you say I gotta surf the forum, THEN get sh!tfaced? Screw that; not enough hours in the day as it is.I'm with Dave. Surely there's plenty of gray area there.

Enough gray area to tell the good apples from the bad before bans get instituted, anyway.

[S. cerevisiae]

Like I said, it's a self-governed guideline. Feel free to post whilst loaded. For some it does enhance eloquence. Others...not so much.

Those can be quite the amusing ones. They are often the ones that beget the most animosity.

Again: guideline, self-governed

[rockhound]

Those can be quite the amusing ones. They are often the ones that beget the most animosity.

Or the biggest invite to a relationship pity party...:rolleyes:...just let the chips fall where they may.

[Ripp]

So you say I gotta surf the forum, THEN get sh!tfaced? Screw that; not enough hours in the day as it is.

Amen!

I'm reminded of a bilboard I saw recently it read "Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving" I'd say the same applies to posting.

However nobody gets killed from a post. And like any other area in life if a person chooses to have more than a few drinks and engage in an activity where their judgement may be impared (like anything at all!) then if they can't control themselves that person will have to live with the consequences. I can accept that.

Self moderation is the key here. Jeff and the other moderators are doing a great job of letting people be themselves and only removing the totally out of hand stuff. As a whole we do a good job of getting under each others skin in an acceptable manner!

Honestly I think this whole thing is being blown a bit out of proportion. How many posts (non spam) have been removed in the last month (I don't know for sure) 2-3 out of how many total posted? And this has been a busy couple weeks for the moderators. There really is not a censorship problem on these boards.

[rockyrider]

However nobody gets killed from a post. I dunno, the virtual body count over the past 10 days seems pretty high.

[Ripp]

I dunno, the virtual body count over the past 10 days seems pretty high.

Good point.

But they made their own choice to leave. Hopefully they will reconsider.

[rockyrider]

On the plus side I don't think I've seen a single new SPAM post in the same period.

[tryandgetme]

hmm, that's interesting...

[myron]

Yeah, I have not seen any either since you guys came on board. Good work!!

[nogearshere]

i understand taking it easy of jeff, but isnt there some sort of hazing ritual we can grace hairy and try with...i'm not talking paddles or anything...

[tryandgetme]

Yeah, I have not seen any either since you guys came on board. Good work!!

the thing is...I havn't been killing any. maybe hairygrump checks this place more neurotically than I do?

[hairygrump]

I thought you were deleting all the spam.

Clearly the spammers fear our combined powers, and do not wish to incur our wrath.

... or we've just been doing this since Saturday afternoon and all the real spam shows up on Friday night.

It's probably one of those two.

[dave66]

so tell me which of you all is festus and which is Quint Asper?
[ahh, i have been dying to make a Gunsmoke reference here!]
good work guys - remember, if ya piss off the locals you risk a bar brawl at the long branch saloon!
-Miss Kitty

[DirtRagArt]

Brad deleted two spam messages early this morning. I saw them, but I was leaving them for you guys. Don't worry, though, there will be enough spam for us all.

[nogearshere]

Dear sirs i have a want you should buy me some stuff.
Thankyou i do have a bikes.
MY BIKE PAGES ARE YELLOW (http://www.stupid.com/index.html)

[tryandgetme]

that guy needs the oozing cheese spam dragon as an avitar.

[rockhound]

Dear sirs i have a want you should buy me some stuff.
Thankyou i do have a bikes.
MY BIKE PAGES ARE YELLOW (http://www.stupid.com/index.html)

Cool, now I can win any internet fight...
http://www.stupid.com/stat/MRTP.html

[hophead]

Hey, at least the spam is easy to find and destroy here.
Check out the weirdo spam that we get on the MORE board:
http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6209&page=1&pp=10
and.....
http://www.more-mtb.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6264