[Closed] So here's the deal

For clarity, I'm not saying "don't report posts," I'm saying "don't make posts that need reporting."

What we need is shadow bans. 8)

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For clarity, I'm not saying "don't report posts," I'm saying "don't make posts that need reporting."

Reported for being paradoxical 😉

Amazed that you've put up with it this long Cougar.

I imagine that fat pay packet helps.

Might we also incude the amount of **** swearing that appears on any * thread that's about ****** politics?

(Note - asterisks for effect to illustrate the usual style of posts in said threads. No intention to evade the swear filter! I'm more creative than that...!)

Respect is earned. Respect is not to be confused with fear. Collective punishments reduce respect for any institution imposing them. Think back to school. They facilitate bullying creating a negative dynamic in which victims are doubly punished. The good student who is also a keen swimmer misses out on his swim session because the bully group gets the whole class caught up in a detention.

You know who the villains are Cougar, and the guy who's served the longest ban and still come back isn't one of them. While the sniping, sneering condescending villain of the piece continues the taunting with impunity, I've come to assume the villain benefits from immunity due to a share holding or something.

Anyhow, what works in a school will work here, "firm but fair". If anyone who gets a ban can see at least some justification then you'll still earn and merit our respect (because you do), start punnishing the victims and the bullies will reign supreme.

If you're really fed up with it, take a break Cougar, if you're going to continue doing it, do it right.

Here's the thing though, this isn't a democracy and sure as hell doesn't have to be fair. If YOU don't like it YOU can take a break. I did, well after my last ban ended, because I was sick of the constant word twisting and often downright fantasy being applied to the things I say by the same people. The first person you refer to (assuming TJ here) was one of them and in fact the one that wound me up so much I lost my temper and posted a rant that got me banned.

Frankly I'm still sick of the passive aggressive BS on here, if this was a pub most of the "big hitters" would have been barred or glassed long ago. A lot of people need to take a long hard look at themselves and ask if they really would treat people the way they do on here. THM isn't the only villain (again, assuming he is no.2) and to his credit has the decency not to make stuff up to be outraged by. Just because you agree or disagree with someone doesn't make them better or worse than you.

So yeah, as critical as I can be of this place and the mods I'm glad they are taking a stand. Frankly if a few folk buggered off never to return I don't think the place would be any the poorer for it.

TL:dR - live with the rules or leave.

If we get one more reported post of someone being a bellend on these threads, irrespective of who's guilty or innocent I'll blanket ban all the big hitter parties for a month and to hell with collateral damage.

Crikey.

Would it work if there were some sort of deputy mod? These people, could monitor specific subject areas, i.e. religion, North American politics or European politics., veganism etcetera. Each deputy mob would only then need to follow one or two threads more closely and deal with any issues. They could then escalate any problems to a mod which may prevent large scale bans. This might take the pressure off mods who oversee the forum as a whole. It would be preferable the deputy mods have a grounded understanding of their specialised subjects though, to reduce personal bitching or confusion.

Well I’ve banned you all from my forum already. It’s a great feeling.

Remove anonymity for reporting posts.
That'll be sure to make the bedwetters think twice and is certain to lighten your workload. 🙂

Divisive topics lead to divisive opinions, however, the aggressive and sometimes passive-aggressive way in which opinions are sometimes expressed is a shame. Perhaps subject related bans for persistent offenders?

I would prefer it for this forum not to resort to 'posts awaiting moderation'.

Either way I don't envy the task of the mods.

I know this will never happen*, but some forums have a bunfight section where all the angry adult sized toddlers can throw poo at each other to their hearts content. No rules, no reporting etc.

?
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*New forum coming etc etc

If you're really fed up with it, take a break Cougar, if you're going to continue doing it, do it right.

You may have a point.

Remove anonymity for reporting posts.

Um... I have some bad news for you...

Couger. Just for clarity what would I have to do to get the EU thread closed and all the big hitters banned and would I be allowed back in time for the 6 nations rugby spite?

Maybe just post some warnings out there in the thread? Maybe a generic

Det. Insp. Jack Regan: All right, Tinkerbell. You're nicked!

Um... I have some bad news for you...

I think they mean that your name is affixed to the post you report. So everyone can see you have reported a post.

Not anonymity from your good selves.

Someone needs to have a read of article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

If we get one more reported post of someone being a bellend on these threads, irrespective of who's guilty or innocent I'll blanket ban all the big hitter parties for a month and to hell with collateral damage.

TBH I rarely visit them. I assume its the same few folk keeping them going. It's not like any of them are going to change their position either.

Couger. Just for clarity what would I have to do to get the EU thread closed and all the big hitters banned and would I be allowed back in time for the 6 nations rugby spite?

😆

I think they mean that your name is affixed to the post you report. So everyone can see you have reported a post.

Ah, right.

We want to encourage people to report things, not the opposite. Reporting posts isn't a problem, rather that it's difficult to make a decision on who's in the right / wrong when there's a thousand pages of context.

Just do a facebook live of the mods summit
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on who's in the right / wrong when there's a thousand pages of context.

you dont have kids do you?

It doesnt matter who did wrong, or who snitched. They're both in the shit for interrupting Ski Sunday.

But those mega-threads are known to be a primary influence on gov policy, and not just in the UK. Without them the country, maybe the civilized world in its entirety, would be dead in the water. Hammer with care, think of the children.

Also - was anybody else [i]really[/i] tempted to report Cougar's OP?

I did but they did something to sto

[quote=mikewsmith ]Just do a facebook live of the mods summit

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That TJ's flat?

nah it's just Mark's shed, TBH it would be good to know if you were being reported a lot or if your posts were being classed as fine but reported by someone who was grumpy that day... I've had a couple of warnings in my time and responded by looking back and taking note before posting again.

I’d like to report AA for insulting me on page 16 post 13 from the top of the 2017 rugby thread. 😉

If we get one more reported post of someone being a bellend on these threads, irrespective of who's guilty or innocent I'll blanket ban all the big hitter parties for a month and to hell with collateral damage.

Don't worry Kryton, you'll both be banned anyway when the troublemakers are expelled en masse by Cougar

Me? Im neither a big hitter or a troublemaker. Ok i lost my rag before Christmas, but that was a rare occasion, and with some help form another forumite ive modiefied my forum behaviour appriopriately since.

Note how i quickly left the Trump thread when rounded upon on Friday.

Could you automate a reporters next ten posts to "snitches it get stitches" regardless to what they put in the box?

I appreciate its not going to help anything but it would be amusing.

That TJ's flat?

[i]One[/i] of TJ's flat[i]s[/i]...

Just do a facebook live of the mods summit

I always picture it as more like this:

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Just ban the three morons who ruin the forum. You're welcome.

I’d like to report AA for insulting me on page 16 post 13 from the top of the 2017 rugby thread.

And page 17, 19, 20, 22, 24-36 inclusive and page 45

Lings a mod? HTH did that happen

Hang on , clicks = revenue stream.....

And page 17, 19, 20, 22, 24-36 inclusive and page 45

😀

We want to encourage people to report things, not the opposite.

and a quote from an e-mail I got after reporting someone repeatedly making false accusations of lying and making things up to me and others which must surely constitute negative use of the forum. As nothing was done I reported until I got a reply which included:

"your reporting of these types of posts really isn't helpful when we have a very active Forum to moderate. Thanks."

When you were the go-to computer geek on here you seemed happier, Cougar. You helped us out and joined in on the controversial threads without being accused of favouritism or breaking the rules you are here to uphold. Has becoming a mod added anything to the experience or is it just a bed of nails? Would you like to borrow my "reformed troll" tag and see if it's easier to live with?

I assume its the same few folk keeping them going. It's not like any of them are going to change their position either.

People ‘report’ things they read on the internet? Golly, well I never. I mean i’ve Seen the report button but just assumed that was for things like when someone’s identity had been revealed who’s in the witness protection program...

What kind of stuff gets reported?

What kind of stuff gets reported?

The only things I've ever reported were one that was something about my Mum (who's been passed away for 18yrs) & one where someone who said I had drugs up me arse 'apparently'.
But that's the sort of stuff that should be.

Edukator you dont have to recieve a ban you know, you can just walk away...

Junkyard - lazarus
Whats worse is there is barely even a hint of a debate and some are clearly just there to wind each other up
Every now and again i try to debate the topic but little happens

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Cougar in a previous life. 😛

@Cougar - you could just close the problem thread and state "this thread has been closed due to AAA and BBB not following the forum rules".
If you can't work out who the naughtiest person is then don't worry 'cos it's 3 strikes and you get a 6 month ban.

Lol at Junkyard's post acting like he isn't one of them that will be banned.

*Unlike you I am not that polite when having my digs therefore I tend to get noticed more than you. However I do tend to notice when i have piqued someones interest but that is always my fault too so forgive me 😉

Clearly I am not the best/politest on here but folk often mistake my sarcasm/playful digs for me actually GAS or being angry

Cougar - Moderator
<mod>
The long running threads, primarily the Trump, Referendum and religion threads but also others, are generating a *lot* of reported posts. Time and again it's the same names cropping up either doing the reporting or being reported.

Oooh, you tease.
At least tell us who it is.
🙂

Yeah, I'm a huge bellend - I've ammassed quite a ban tally. I'll try to be more polite.

Whats that sound I hear? thin ice cracking under my feet.?

Cougar - you have always been my favourite mod. Would you like an apple?

Seriously I do understand this is not a democracy and what STW says go but the idea of banning folk not in breach of the rules seems a tad harsh to me. My view would be short bans for the worst offenders and a very low threshold for bannings. On the whole moderation here is good but I think sometimes not strict enough.

squirrelking - I've sent yo a pm

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People take forum chatter seriously???

yawnnnnnnn have I missed something?

For whatever it's worth, sticking this chat over here in a thread called "so here's the deal" is probably not that helpful. I mean, I read everything but not everyone is such a div

The long running threads, primarily the Trump, Referendum and religion threads but also others, are generating a *lot* of reported posts. Time and again it's the same names cropping up either doing the reporting or being reported.

what STW says go but the idea of banning folk not in breach of the rules seems a tad harsh to me.

That wasn't an official STW response. It was me being tetchy after a couple of beers.

The point was that threads like the EU thread are impossible to moderate fairly without reading 1200 pages of preamble (and I've only read about 1100 pages of it). Someone reports a post, I go look at it and it's one in the middle of a squabble between multiple people. Say we moderate that one post in isolation and issue a warning, nine times out of ten we get a response back "how come I'm being told off when they started it?"

Really the thrust of my post was "please play nicely."

When you were the go-to computer geek on here you seemed happier, Cougar. You helped us out and joined in on the controversial threads without being accused of favouritism or breaking the rules you are here to uphold. Has becoming a mod added anything to the experience or is it just a bed of nails?

You have a good memory, I was only a 'regular' user for about six months.

Probably the latter. I agreed to do it as I wanted to give something back to the forum community, and because I thought I could bring something useful to the table in terms of transparency and communication. Maybe you're right and I just need to step down for a bit. A small minority of people are making this Not Fun at times.

Personally I'd like the 6 or so people who make the EU thread a waste of server space to get banned, even if only from that thread (although having seen how they behave on other threads it may be better for everyone if they got lifetime bans).

It would be nice if the rest of us could have a sensible discussion for once without being patronised, condescended to, accused of lying, ranted at, etc.

I did wonder if a like/dislike/bellend/hero option on posts would help indicate to them that they were being bellends, but to be honest they seem so arrogant, devoid of empathy and lacking in self awareness I doubt it would change things.

Unless...... How about the number of bellend votes leads to auto bans?

Can we have a hunger games style event for those involved instead?

Cougar - I really would prefer it if you didn't step down. Perhaps step back a bit but not quite entirely.

Its a shame its making the forum a pain for you. Ban those that are. Its pretty obvious to all who the problem characters are and like Junkyard I'd guess I am on the list although I have not been reporting posts often.

some folk seem to use "report post" as a weapon I only do it when on the receiving end of nasty personal attacks

You are all a bunch of Fanny's why don't you get a real life.

Trufax

Also, reported.

I think any thread that hits page 5 should automatically close. It seems most of them just become a bellend'athon. Mods could then focus on keeping nice ones for photos etc open. The fact that someone has to play tell tale teacher to a load of whining middle age cock bag's that strive to offend whilst simultaneously being desperately offended is depressing.

I saw a copy of The Maily Dail on Friday in a hospital waiting area but I didn't even DARE pick it up. Just in case.

Strange old forum is this.

How about we all get to ban someone for one day a year, say on your birthday?

How do you know when my birthday is ? 😉

Cougar, how much moderating are you doing compared with the other moderators? Are you doing a lot more than your 'fair share'?

If so, whether it's because you are good at it, because you enjoy it/like spending time on the forum, or because the other moderators are either happy to take a back seat while you are so active or don't feel able to take up more of the workload (i.e. they don't want to tread on your toes or appear to push you out), then maybe you do need to step back and encourage the others to be more active (in the same way a manager has to learn to stop doing too much and delegate more). Maybe pass the responsibility for some specific threads, like the Referendum, to other moderators.

TJ's suggestion of a lower threshold for (shorter) bans also sounds like a good idea, i.e. akin to zero tolerance policies which aim to tackle anti-social activity at an early stage/low level, with increasing penalties for non-compliance (first ban of one week, second ban within 3 or 6 months of two weeks, third ban of four weeks etc.). You need forum users to self-censor, and it may only be the imminent prospect of a ban which makes users think a bit more carefully about their posts.

Cougar, please don't go.

I think keeping the long threads open is a good thing as it concentrates the ire but I can imagine the moderation isn't fun and I only dip in and out of them.

Thats my point slowster. there is also a bit of an issue with it being "reactive moderation" ie waiting for reports 'cos some folk report a lot motre than others. For example I got real pelters on the Farron thread but didn't bother reporting it even when it descended to personal abuse because 1) I actually have a fairly thick skin, 2) I have tried to be less of a pain to the mods since my return and 3) 'cos I felt any fair minded person seeing it would see the truth and see the bad behaviour from some for what it is.

However active moderation on a forum as big as this would be almost impossible. Perhaps those threads that create the work it might be worth a mod having a look thru every day and just hand out bans to those they thought out of order without waiting for reports?

Personally if I was Cougar I'd stop pandering to the subject of the thread.

As soon as multiple reports fly in, just close it. People will soon come to realise the equal and opposite reaction to thier argumentative nature and will self moderate to keep a thread open.

Cougar, please don't go.

I've no real intention of doing so. It's just frustrating sometimes. Moderating both effectively and fairly is a tricksy balancing act.

However active moderation on a forum as big as this would be almost impossible. Perhaps those threads that create the work it might be worth a mod having a look thru every day and just hand out bans to those they thought out of order without waiting for reports?

We already do that, we just can't read everything. Reported posts are maybe half of what actually gets addressed.

Other forums have a sub forum for people banned from the main forum awaiting pardon/trying to change their ways. They can view the main forum but not post. But these forums have fancy buttons and features and don't have adverts or pop ups and they allow adult language in the main forum and and and and....

The bastards broke Cougar 🙁

Pondering this some more more robust moderation might help on these mega argument threads. The EU one for example has become ever more extreme as one side posts more and more ridiculous stuff and the other side resort to ridicule as the postings simply fly in the face of the facts so both sides end up more entrenched and combative.

A firm slap of moderation - "you stop posting tripe" and " you stop ripping the micheal" a while back might have stopped in descending ito such a farce.

@Jamie no they didn't. He's just busy crying in his beer as just like most of us at some point, he's realised trying to manage other people to a happy outcome is a self defeating process, within which no one gives a shit about you or your efforts and will forget you as soon as your gone.

Focus on the things that make you happy. If your getting stressed by the role here, move on.

I think TJ should be a moderator.

There, I said it. 😀

Put down the ban hammer, pick up the banter hammer. Smash some skulls.