85 replies to this topic

[MRLXSS]

I also hear many a time the comparison with saying what you type to someones face at a pub.... hardly a good example. It would be unlikely that some of the topics on here would have as many different view points at a local bar (particularly involved in a conversation)... that is the beauty of the forum, a very diverse range of people.. I personally would have no problem saying anything i type on here...

When I go to the pub, normally all i talk about is toranas, cars, motors, girls, jokes, politics etc etc... much like what we discuss on here... Only difference here, is you can't show emotion and sarcasm very well... And once you type it, its there FOREVER! Unless you are a mod and can go back and edit it... At least at the pub the next day you can say.. "I don't remember saying that" On here it is there for the world to see!

So technically you should think EVEN harder before saying something on here... Because once you submit it, you cant reverse it (ok you have like 5min to edit it)

[Toranavista]

Rory, The reason for mods is to moderate the forum

Just some clarification from my perspective. The mods give up there own time at no cost to the forums to assist in its smooth running. I don�t think there job is to clean up every ones else�s crap!

[MRLXSS]

I agree on the thread not being removed, just closed (and any slanderous posts removed). Also a PM to the thread owner stating why the thread was closed (Would be good if it was an automatic thing, would help the admin guys out too) But i guess these guys do all this work for nothing... So we can't expect it to run like a big cashed up company.

Also, things can be forever... Any person who knows how the internet works, could pull up a post of yours that had been deleted... How do you think celebrities, politicians etc get into trouble.... People track down things that they said years ago and things come back to haunt them... Same with emails, SMS messages and stuff... If you are writing something down, you are putting it on record... and should be VERY careful with what you say. That being said... I'm never going to be a celebrity or politician.. so i got nothing to worry about!!

[meanmachine72]

yep i have to agree with skap,threads should not be deleted,they should be closed
if things got out of hand,that way every body can see what was said and by who and then
you at least have a idea on why such and such thread was closed.... "moderated and edited "
is the go

[dattoman]

Once I was a mod

Threads aren't deleted
They are removed to a different area of the forum to be reviewed , cleaned up if necessary and returned

Many aren't worth returning though
Thats why they don't come back

If you just close them in their curreent form with everyone carrying on like a pork chop... and new members join and read them without knowing the history and background of the forum they might get the impression that the group is a bunch of pre pubescent teens with nothing better to do than play keyboard warrior during school holidays

We'd like to think we live in a society with free speech but the reality is that we do not
Forum admins are responsible for what goes on here and can be sued or the forum closed down if someone sooks about something someone else says
Even if the admin isn't involved its still their responsibility and their fault if things get out of hand

So if a post or thread goes bye bye.... suck it up

Though... the person deleting the post or thread should IM the numpty responsible for acting the goat and tell them to pull their head in... or impose a penalty.

[TerrA LX]

Im finding good success with coopers atm.

[Tiny]

With any gathering of people you are going to have differences of opinion. And that difference is what makes the world go around, and makes us individual.

As a moderator/Admin it's a really difficult line to walk whether to close a topic, delete it, warn or suspend a member for what they've said or done, But it HAS to be done at times.

When i was first asked to join the Mod team, It was stated to me that the forum "Self Moderates" to a large extent and that we rarely need to intervene. The problem is that people seem to be more willing to personally attack and taunt other members based on their comments and beliefs.

I remeber a time when we would "attack" a rotary owner who came on here, Mostly out of fun than anything malicious. But what we've noticed these days are members who actively seek out and attack other members for their ebay ads, projects, plans or the percieved value of their equipment. Now think about it if it was coming the other way!
You've got an item for sale and youve got a value in your mind that YOU think it's worth, yet someone comes along, Or even a few people come along and "tell him he's dreaming", and often not in such a nice way! Understandably you'd be angry and likely to retaliate with comments toward that member which only bring another retort and on it goes.

As much as we possibly can we like to allow "Free Speech" but unfortunately this is more and more being taken from us in many ways.
Those members who see The admins removing a post as "anti-free speech" should have a look at the value of that thread to the forum as a community.
IF the thread was started only to say "Geez have a look at this bloke's car in the trading post for $150,000... he's a dreamer" - and he comes on and starts a tirade of abuse, What value has that thread added to the forum? None in my eyes so it's fit for removal.

If a thread descends into chaos due to some posts, then those posts are pruned as much as possible and the thread either left to run it's course, or closed.

This thread comes up from different people about every 6 months or so, so it's about due again.
And yet again all i'll say is this:

If you cant say anything nice - dont say anything at all
If you have a negative comment and MUST say it - think about HOW you word it... that can make a HUGE difference.

We all try our best, The mods/admins AND the members, so let's try and keep helping each other out!

Cheers
Rob.

[orangeLJ]

I think some people need this-



and some others need this-



I can confess to poking the bee-hive on more then one occassion.

Did someone say full mooon? AOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

[ToRunYa]

and a bit of this...

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=unkIVvjZc9Y

[Heath]

just because someone else gets away with saying it, doesn't mean that you will.

Most relevant point in this thread IMO.

Monkey see monkey do...

[TerrA LX]

On one of my other sites , I have never seen one comment that doesn't show their passion ,With a thousand members , there are no cheap shots , or deleted threads . They are not there because they like to hear their own voices .

So its not about post count, damn I thought I was clocking up for the stupid posts.

I do hear you tho, and there are good arguments for and against posting whether it be dribble or constructive criticism, it is a public forum so where do you draw the line?

[Toranavista]

My wife is a nurse in a hospital. When there is a full moon the casualty department has a huge increase in admissions and the patients become harder to deal with. Believe it or not.

[Mort]

I agree with Rory, lately i have only been browsing the forums (work and erecting the pool fence and pergola get in the way) and it seemed that nearly every time i opened a post someone was having a go at someone else and i can't be bothered replying (sometimes have nothing to say or am biting tongue) and am getting bored with the dribble.

It doesn't make for very interesting reading when all you can see is people stirring others up or shooting them down in flames and i would hate to be a newbie or a guest coming in halfway through some of these attacks.

I agree with the freedom of speech and all that crap but how about we all just grow up and give up, like was stated if you don't have something nice to say to someone then don't and if there is some sarcasm in what you say or having a friendly jibe at others there are emoticons to express your mood (note to mods: need more emoticons).

Just my 2 cents worth and hoping we can all get back on track and start talking about about the interesting stuff again.


Mort

[ToRunYa]

yer it was one of the mods, something about the speshal olympics, fitting i thought...

[Joshua]

Doesn't somebody have a comment in their sig about arguing on the internet?

[MRLXSS]

I swear i have seen a photoshopped version of that, with heaths head on it! LOL