Well, for what it's worth, here's my thoughts on it. I stopped visiting the forum primarily due to an RTA and its subsequent effects on my health. Having said that, at the time, I (perhaps stupidly, with the benefit of hindsight) was too easily involved in arguments on here, particularly about religion, and found myself increasingly wound up and pissed off. I also felt frustrated at times at what I felt was over moderation. I know, it's a forum that can be used by anybody, and we need to be mindful of causing offence, but there were times when I felt unable to say what I really felt due to this. In conjunction with this, I recieved a number of e-mails from an ex forum member that were leaving me feeling that I couldn't be bothered with the hassle any more. Fast forward a year or two, and I feel I now have an entirely different prospective on life (a near death experience will do that, let me assure you). It was really nice to catch up with people I remembered when I was posting regularly on here, and the forum doesn't seem as cliquey or sterile as I had chosen to remember it. I suppose time will tell whether the never ending arguments will start again, but for now, for me at least, the forum is a welcome distraction from chronic pain and worries about my future prospects.
I also felt frustrated at times at what I felt was over moderation.
I'd like to think that that at least has changed for the better.
Hope you're feeling better matey.
While my original couple of U31 and variations of that username may have had multiple bans after one particular mod royally pissed me off, (Barnsley mitch, nail on the head, overmoderation at that time, it would have been 5 or 6 year back) I came back with this version of the name about a year after the ban, when Ali (Gryphon) approached me in the real world to give someone on here advice about DJ equipment
As flattering as it is to be thought of as whomever, if you know me in real life, you'll know my opinions are my own and I don't hide them in any way shape or form
And in that same breath, what happened to Ali?
Cheers Cougar. To clarify, my comment about over moderation was simply my opinion / perception at that time. As I said, with hindsight and a fresh outlook, what seemed important to me then isn't that important now. Life's too short to get wound up about the small stuff isn't it?
It wasn't just your experience mitch, I got in to multiple boiling arguments with mods over moderation, were in the end I took it as a personal challenge to see how quickly I could get them to wield the ban hammer, until I got bored with that and real life took over
I've never had an issue with the moderation on here, but I tend not to stray into the controversial topics where it's most prevalent. I use a couple of other forums which are utterly ridiculous. On telling someone to "suck it up" I was told that wasn't appropriate language for a family friendly forum. I feel like directing them to Mumsnet.
The problem with one or two of the mods is their lack of impartiality.
Other than that this forum is a good part of the internet.
I was a way more argumentative person back then, Njee, as others have said above, real life experiences have a tendency to chill your outlook on life and settle on what's important.
That aint saying I can't still have me more facetious moments, mind...
[quote=Cougar ]
has Chewkw left then?
Seems he's serving a momentary ban (and not creating an alternative login, fair play).
It would be kind of hard for him to post his usual [s]shit[/s] stuff without making it blindingly obvious who he was. Unless I've missed his more sane work - like others have said, not somebody I'm missing, amusing for a short while before just becoming irritating (I'm sure some people think the same about me).
[quote=njee20 ]I've never had an issue with the moderation on here, but I tend not to stray into the controversial topics where it's most prevalent.
I used to stray into those all the time, and amazed I've not been banned more - though I realised that some topics were bad for my blood pressure, so tend to avoid them now.
I used to stray into those all the time, and amazed I've not been banned more - though I realised that some topics were bad for my blood pressure, so tend to avoid them now.
Yeah that's why I don't bother!
Going back to a point on the last page, I definitely find the forum quieter now than it used to be, particularly 'out of hours'.
Good to see you back Barnsley Mitch, good luck with your recovery.
Just to echo what Ton said, drop us a line if you fancy a beer or a slow pootle, when you're up for it.
I like chewkw, for what it's worth.
Excellent seeing toys leave the pram, just because he has an alternative point of view.
I followed a link to an old post the other day - I'd forgotten quite how nasty some of us used to be.
I try and avoid the religion and politics threads these days too.
Just not possible to discuss some things sensibly unless face to face.
I try and avoid the religion and politics threads these days too.
Just not possible to discuss some things sensibly unless face to face.
nail on the head pete. life is far too short to get annoyed and angry with folk you either dont know or have not met.
I'd forgotten quite how nasty some of us used to be.
Aye, i took it on myself, more than once, to defend Surfmatt's points of view when they were perfectly reasonable, and you lot still ripped him a new one, mercylessly
I try and avoid the religion and politics threads these days too.
Plenty of unfortunate stuff can still get posted on the religion threads, but I have found them far, far less vitriolic recently than they sometimes became a few years ago.
Indeed, they can be tolerant occasionally ! 😉
[quote=Rusty Spanner ]Good to see you back Barnsley Mitch, good luck with your recovery.
Just to echo what Ton said, drop us a line if you fancy a beer or a slow pootle, when you're up for it.
I can bring the tandem over for that if you fancy it 🙂
I think its more that their a variety of mods and they dont always make the same sort of decisions so we think its "favouritism" when its just the nature of a lack of clear instructions allowing them to use their judgement - not a dig When I modded a forum the arguments//views/disagreements on modding were as spectacular as the ones that led to modding. I used to refer some posts to others as I just hated the posterThe problem with one or two of the mods is their lack of impartiality.
Absolutely not true at all. no one has ever accused you of been amusing, even for a short while 😉amusing for a short while before just becoming irritating (I'm sure some people think the same about me
testament to how tolerant the mods are. I always know i will get them - though i try not to get them. I think i get them for a drip drip affect rather than an individual post. These days I just post less and ration my bile. I dont do unmoderated sites and I support the mods in general if not every example.amazed I've not been banned more
Agreed the politics threads are not for the fainthearted.
While my original couple of U31 and variations of that username may have had multiple bans after one particular mod royally pissed me off, (Barnsley mitch, nail on the head, overmoderation at that time,
I've just looked back and the final post from "U31" predates me being a moderator by two years, so I can't really comment on that I'm afraid.
The problem with one or two of the mods is their lack of impartiality.
Is that directed at me? I do try to be, well, as honest and transparent as I can be (hence replying to questions in public). Though really, [i]true [/i]impartiality is very difficult.
It would be kind of hard for him to post his usual shit stuff without making it blindingly obvious who he was.
See, it's kind of self policing. Someone gets a ban for bellendery, they either come straight back on being bellendish in which case they light up like a Christmas tree, or they behave themselves and fly under the radar but then all we wanted folk to do is be more middle-of-the-bell in the first place so the system's worked.
Spotting a returned banee is routine, they'll generally get flagged up internally within a day or two of their arrival (me not so much, but one of my colleagues is [i]very[/i] good at this). Working out who it is is [s]a fun game[/s] a bit more difficult, but proving it conclusively can be a challenge.
In an ideal world we like to be certain before hammering but of course, that's not a mandatory policy. (-:
This thread has still not brought me piemonster 🙁
I think its more that their a variety of mods and they dont always make the same sort of decisions so we think its "favouritism" when its just the nature of a lack of clear instructions allowing them to use their judgement
That's certainly true (I've said as much previously). There is very little in the way of "official" policy beyond the same T&Cs that everyone can read.
We can - and do - challenge each others' decisions sometimes, which is a good thing because it helps create more of a hive mind approach (I suppose "team" is the word I'm looking for) rather than all pulling in opposite directions.
Ultimately though we're still several different people making individual judgement calls, and whoever reacts first might make a different call to whoever would've responded next. C'est la vie.
I think i get them for a drip drip affect rather than an individual post.
That's probably true as well. (-:
This thread has still not brought me piemonster
Dunno what happened there. He's not banned, seems to have just stopped posting.
Erk. Hope he's ok. 😕
getting twds a personal record though for not having a post deleted...you probably need to measure days rather than posts though
I'm [i]sorely[/i] tempted to delete that for comedy value.
go on go on go on
I've had a look at your deleted posts U31. It seems you were quite happy to offend all mods as you had a few posts deleted. The thread back tired as other members called you attention whore and waved you goodbye. Best of all though is your account isn't banned under U31.
Ive slept since then dude, so cant remember if it was individual or mods in general, i was certainly more full of piss and vinegar back then, for sure!
Im surprised the ID wasnt banned, i must have flounced before the hammer, there were plenty of other unmoderated places i frequented back then, so it wasnt such a biggie posting here or not. Thinking back forum; (fora?) per se may have started becoming a distraction, and if im annoying myself i sure as shit are annoying other folk so its best to self censure. I assume the U31 id was linked to a former email address begining with E?
If so is there anyway the i.d. can become merged or renamed with this one, as i said a few pages back, im rather attatched to U31, most log ins on other corners of the web are in some form a varation of such, and i dont as a rule hide behind alter egos to express an opinion (Harry H Corbet and Thieving Gypsy Bastard are exceptions to this rule, and i was outed pretty soon;) )
`Hmmm U31 account is marked as a spammer...
7 years ago i'd have taken that personally! 😛
middle-of-the-bell
🙂
Prince Albert?
Well, we've got enough ends, haven't we?
Best of all though is your account isn't banned under U31.
It is now.
Yeah i noticed.... 🙄
im rather attatched to U31
Not attached enough to use it once in six years. Figured you'd made your choice which one you wanted. A meringue?
Not while on the iDave diet, you should know that
Piemonster is fine. He's just been very, very busy. He [i]should[/i] be riding with me next week. I'll see if I can steal a photo just to prove he's still alive.
As regards bannings, I decided when creating my current userid that I'd try to avoid that fate (though my most famous banning was still wrong).
Now I'm intrigued, Scotroutes ...
I'll tell you who I don't miss. That onion Druid bloke. He was awful. And Scottish.
You mean northerns use this forum...?
Onion is southern. And short. His sort should no be aloud.
But, he's got layers.
You mean northerns use this forum...?
Only ones who've travelled to the south, obviously the lack of internet precludes most from joining.
I was innocent of all my banning
I was very guilty when I did get banned - though I'm quite proud that AFAIK I'm the only person to ever successfully get my ban lifted by arguing with Mark (it was related to freeloading)
