RE: Todays News Thread (s )

[Tricky]

Just a post from me to say I think the moderation approach to the above is a strange one, and one I don't currently understand it.

If , for instance, I go and create a new topic in the Politics and News section about a single current news or political item that I think it worthy or discussion, does that automatically get closed, and if not , how do you decide whether it allowed to exist?

I'm not trying to be deliberately provocative here, I just genuinely don't understand the approach - I saw the exchanges immediately prior to the closure of the old news thread, and it was one, and only one poster that was out of line Iand hence caused that as far as I could see- why don't you just ban him for a while, or even for ever? - it's not as though that was a one-off, he obviously has issues, and that's unfortunate and I feel for him but here is not the place for him to unleash his nasty side.

I was also surprised that the offending posts were removed- far better to leave them there along with a mod post stating action taken and why for others to see IMO.

Anyway, this is just my five-bobs worth, am not looking for any response, just thought you might be interested in opinions/feedback.

[weeksy]

I'd love to have the right answer... there seems to be many wrong answers and everyone seems to want things differently.

I have person A saying "ban XYZ" then person B says "it should be a free for all", then person C says "i want more moderation", then person D says "just close the section"

You see there's only a right answer for some of the people, for others, their right answer is 100% different to anothers.

Even the 'out of line' can be interpreted different ways compared to opinions from different posters.

So, the simple answer is... i don't have the answer.

All i do know is, i'm fed up with it.. like properly fed up with it.

If that means at the moment i close every thread i don't like in the Current Affairs section, then sure, that's what i'll do.

For me, this forum is being spoiled by petty bickering, sniping and bitching from a select few posters, i know who they are, you know who they are, i'm assuming THEY know who they are.... but they'll all have their 'side' and think they're in the right. None of them are exactly breaking forum rules other than "don't piss the Admins off"...

I could quite easily put all the posts back... i didn't fully delete them, but really, what would that bring to the forum ? Not a lot from what i can see.

There's a lot of posts, postings, posters that save my sanity on here... but really, there's a few that make me just want to turn off the lights and walk away.

I'm all for feedback, ideas and thoughts though, not just from yourself but from anyone here... if you guys feel i'm doing things as you wouldn't, please feel free.

[Felix]

For me, this forum is being spoiled by petty bickering, sniping and bitching from a select few posters,

Deal with them rather than spoil it for others no?

[weeksy]

For me, this forum is being spoiled by petty bickering, sniping and bitching from a select few posters,

Deal with them rather than spoil it for others no?

I don't know mate.... i'm not sure how in truth. Unless i completely re-write the rules to "don't be a dick or i'll ban you"... it's rare that these people are actually doing anything more than just being bitter obnoxious arseholes... and as if we were in a real pub, you can't ban someone just because they're an arsehole. But we all know there's a select number of people who just lock horn with eachother time and time again. I've pointed it out, i've PMd them and everyone plays nice for a while... but as with all 'groups' there will always be conflicts amongst them

What you also have to get is that ignoring someone IRL is different to here. If for example you were again in a pub and had strong political views, you'd either walk away or move away from the bloke with opposing views. Whereas on here, posters see that as a challenge to flutter their feathers, show their intellectual prowess or whatever you want, but the last thing they do is ignore it and move on. Why, i have sod all idea.

There's a line to be drawn here, we have that line and 99% of the time the line isn't being crossed... but that doesn't mean people are trying to do things to help the forum.

Where i struggle is, where people are going with this.... what's their end game. To show everyone they're superior ? I mean who the fuck cares if you're right about XYZ, whether that's where you live, what you own, how big your pension is or whether you voted Brexit or not... Does it REALLY fucking matter in the world ? I'm 99% sure that the vast majority of these conversations wouldn't happen in real life because someone would instantly shut them down with "mate, shut the fuck up and save it for someone who cares"... Game over, conversation killed. But on a forum, you can type and type until you rant away, then post it... Once it's written, it's there for all to see.

Part of my closing and deleting was 2 fold.
1. To make them think "oh, maybe this was wrong..."
2. So i can do partly what Tricky suggested and put their posts back up (which i'll do shortly) and i'm hoping the people look at the thread and think how embarassing they've become to themselves, even if they don't openly admit it.

I'll repeat what i keep saying... I'm just a normal bloke who happened to press a few buttons and create this place. I did have an idealistic goal and dream with it, but in many ways it's gone 50-50. Half the time this place is amazing.. half the time it's a pile of shite.

As you can imagine... that's quite frustrating.

[weeksy]

I believe that Screwdriver, a bloke that might be struggling with mental health issues,

has been bullied by a clique of people that are pretty vindictive.

The top half I agree with.

The bottom half I'm less in agreement with.

I've not seen bullying of him, I've seen people disagreeing and telling him he's got issues. Is that the same as bullying hmmm I dunno.

Frankly I don't understand why some threads are allowed to stand, threads that either genuinely mess with peoples heads, spread hate, encourage outrageous political misinformation, or even take stuff into real life, which to me is frankly disturbing

Report them. Personally I don't understand why anyone would even start some of the posts/threads on here, this place bemused me. I'm a very very simple boy, but I'm happy to have things I do wrong pointed out to me.

disagree with a lot of the moderation that allows (for example) poisoned tabloid nonsense, poorly informed rants against religion, or foreign governments without facts or understanding, hate against trans people, people that join in bullying vulnerable members when they smell blood, etc, etc

You're the one who kept telling me we should have a political / current affairs section we're you not?
How do you propose I moderate it better and decide which is nonsense or not? I'm not sitting here watching bollox on the internet in a YouTube link that's for sure.

[Dodgy69]

I'd just let everything go...let them fall out, argue, whatever. Doesn't affect me in the slightest.

[weeksy]

I've not seen bullying of him, I've seen people disagreeing and telling him he's got issues. Is that the same as bullying hmmm I dunno.

Screwd posts in a certain rambling way because that's where his head is at, I can easily pick the salient points out of it without resorting to calling him a nutter and making him feel really awful in a place that might be a great relief valve for him.

It's bullying IMHO.

However no one has reported a sexist thread about women and tampon throwing so that's ok yeah?

I'm sure that'll be my fault soon too

[weeksy]

I like having somewhere to debate issues, but it needs moderating by someone with intelligence and a balanced viewpoint,

Optimistic round here. I'm not even sure we can stretch to intelligent

[JackyJoll]

Am I right you’re getting loads of reports from actual grown men telling on each other?

[Count Steer]

Am I right you’re getting loads of reports from actual grown men telling on each other?

Very, very few and usually raising issues of taste and decency.

If we started deleting posts simply because people are being obnoxious or lacking in taste or decency it would leave a few gaps in the forums. The jokes thread would look a bit bare in places. If we moved on to deleting posts that we disagree with or think are misleading or provocative there would be some even bigger gaps, particularly in the news and politics.

Once you start with that sort of moderation where do you stop? I don't think any of us want moderating to be a full time job either. Some people disagree-by-insult rather than discuss, a few are relentlessly obnoxious etc that's the way the world is - deleting selected people won't change how things are. In the 3D world you'd avoid such people (assuming you don't work/live with them), on-line, people need thicker skins because they don't just give 'keyboards' to thoughtful, polite, intelligent, well-informed people who all agree with each other. Sad but that's the way it is.

However, there are boundaries...but some people will moan if action is taken when lines get crossed.

[DefTrap]

Most of you are aliases anyway.

[Horse]

Most of you are aliases anyway.

ftfy

[KungFooBob]

Most of you are aliases anyway.

ftfy

Eh?

[weeksy]

Well that's the bit I don't get, you create a forum, then create a section where you allow people (that by your own admission are not too intelligent) to post ill-informed, poorly thought out nonsense and prejudice. I don't get why you let them do it,

I was kinda hoping they'd post interesting/funny/decent stories about current affairs. There was also at the time a Covid thing going on, a Brexit thing going on and all kinds of other political day to day topics. People want to discuss them.

I didn't realise how hard 'discuss' could actually be.

I still think the section has a place within the forum... I just don't always like how people treat it.


Lets establish one thing here, neither you or Yorick had issues on that little spat with 'politics', both of you were being dicks, it just happened to be in that section.

[Horse]

ftfy

Eh?

Read carefully

And I did

[KungFooBob]

ftfy

Eh?

Read carefully

You too

[Ant]

I've not seen bullying of him, I've seen people disagreeing and telling him he's got issues. Is that the same as bullying hmmm I dunno.

Screwd posts in a certain rambling way because that's where his head is at, I can easily pick the salient points out of it without resorting to calling him a nutter and making him feel really awful in a place that might be a great relief valve for him.

It's bullying IMHO.

I think screwdriver has been hounded and bullied and because the ring leader is possibly a mate of someone, that someone let it rides. That someone also jumps on everything screwd says. Knowing what screwd is going through, that's disgusting bully boy tactics. Yes it may be a forum, but come on.

[weeksy]

I've not seen bullying of him, I've seen people disagreeing and telling him he's got issues. Is that the same as bullying hmmm I dunno.

Screwd posts in a certain rambling way because that's where his head is at, I can easily pick the salient points out of it without resorting to calling him a nutter and making him feel really awful in a place that might be a great relief valve for him.

It's bullying IMHO.

I think screwdriver has been hounded and bullied and because the ring leader is possibly a mate of someone, that someone let it rides. That someone also jumps on everything screwd says. Knowing what screwd is going through, that's disgusting bully boy tactics. Yes it may be a forum, but come on.

Spit it out boy, if you're going to lob fucking accusations about at least be a man and name names instead of hiding behind innuendo

If you're implying that Yorick is my mate, fuck me you couldn't be further from the truth with that. I've met the bloke twice in my life.

[weeksy]

You know what, I can't put I to words how pissed off I am this this has now become my fault. After the time, effort and patience I've shown on this place trying to build it into a community that people seem to think I'm the fucking problem here.

I'm completely lost for words I really am.

[Mr Moofo]

Some people just seem to be intent on grinding point out.
If you don't like it on here, then feel free to not bother.

Being a mod on here used to be no issue at all - however just like my experiences of other sites, sooner or later, the naughty kids start to blame the mods.

Or maybe this place should just close down because Ant and Potter seem to be intent on delivering it to the underworld ?