I say just leave it in the other thread, thanks.
OK. Point taken.
There were incidents. Many predated me. But I was once stalked across social media by one of the more prolific STW Problem Children of the day.
that happened to me and i'm not and have never been a mod. I just dared to have a different opinion to one of the big hitters of the day back in the early 2000s. Got personal email bizarre threats, it was very upsetting at the time. So I'm sure that if a mod sees how a thread is going they close it down early to avoid that sort of thing.
Not saying the thread in this case was of that type but some threads must get lumped into the same category when the mods can't be arsed to sit for hours seeing how things pan out.
I missed that thread but just went and read it.
At the point it was closed it was fairly innocuous but given the subject matter I suspect the tone would have changed within 2 pages, max.
I suppose the only slight niggle I have is that a short word from the relevant mod saying something like, "ok, been here a thousand times and there is already a thread covering the pros and cons of Brexit," probably removes any potential ambiguity regarding the closure.
It might not have been totally about Brexit but well, it was really wasn't it.
The thread that was closed last night showed some promise for debate, there were a couple of statements that I disagreed with that were probably difficult for the poster to back up or provide evidence of but on the whole in the short time it was up it was mostly polite. I suppose that there was the risk of evening alcohol affecting debate later?
I suppose that there was the risk of evening alcohol affecting debate later?
On the sabbath? And a school night too?
I don’t drink anymore so I can be “holier than thou” every day of the week!
1. Why are there so many duplicate threads that require one to be closed? It sucks when you choose the wrong one to reply to and everyone goes for the other one. Makes me people feel like I'm they're being shunned.
2. Can we close the brown vs. red sauce thread? Let's face it, nobody's going to change their mind, it's just going to upset people who would otherwise be friends.
3. This thread serves no purpose and should be closed. Keeping it open just gives false hope that the OP's questions will be answered long after it's obvious they won't. It's just a distraction from all the other important things happening in the forum.
It's their Bat & Ball.
If they want to close a thread, up to them 🙂
Perhaps some sort of user rating would be useful. Kudos points that fluctuate. Vote up or down.
It’s just a distraction from all the other important things happening in the forum.
Reported for trolling - wink emoji
Maybe stw are trialling live modding - would at least explain the speed of posting
Keeping it open just gives false hope that the OP’s questions will be answered long after it’s obvious they won’t
I think it effectively has been answered, we're just chatting now
What I meant was – it sounded like there had been some incident where stalking/threats/abuse had been directed at a STW mod – either by the means of the email address or (more concerning) across other platforms or even in person.
Such things would seem crazy to most of us – this is a cycling forum, after all. But if there are 1000 users and only 0.1% of that user base was a dangerous nutter, that’s still a dangerous nutter.
It happened to me, and there was clearly previous also otherwise I wouldn't have been advised not to go public.
Such things would seem crazy to most of us – this is a cycling forum, after all. But if there are 1000 users and only 0.1% of that user base was a dangerous nutter, that’s still a dangerous nutter.
Those dangerous nutters walk among us, and they always seem absolutely rational and sane right up until the point they are not.
I used to co-run a medium size gaming community with a friend and we were generally pretty relaxed about everything. We had forums and an array of game servers and the accounts were linked across services. One member who always seemed fine expressed an opinion about direction of the community and when we didn't agree just went from zero to nuclear. To the point we were left with no choice but to ban them from the platform and refund the sizable donation which they proclaimed had bought them the right to steer the community direction.
They did not take it well. The end result was this person made an anonymous call to the employer my friend and I worked for at the time to make claims we were funding the community with money and equipment appropriated from them. This individual tried to destroy the careers of two people because he did not get his way on the internet. I was fortunate, he didn't have my full name, but my employer was obliged to carry out a full investigation into my friend (even through they knew it was all crap). An insane amount of time and resource was burned as well as highlighting the fact that being a known and named admin of a forum comes with risks.
this is a cycling forum
Is it? Most of the threads seem to have very little or even nothing to do with cycling or bikes. Most are about politics one way or another
Most are about politics one way or another
I can only see 3 active political threads in the last 24 hours.
I reckon "most" is hyperbole worthy of a political thread!
Most are about politics one way or another
“Politics” is just a name for the reckoning when different priorities meet. Some people like to pretend it’s not pervasive, but it’s always there.
Most of the threads seem to have very little or even nothing to do with cycling or bikes.
You know that's because there are 2 sub forums, one for bikes and one for chat? Unsurprisingly, the bike one is almost 100% bike talk and the chat one isn't <shrug emoji>
To be fair, given the fact that riding bikes seems to keep getting dragged into the culture wars, is it really that surprising that people who ride bikes might be a bit politically aware (and bring that awareness to other subjects)?
As the saying goes, 'Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics won't take an interest in you.'
Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you
Case in point - https://road.cc/content/news/tories-need-stop-bashing-bike-lanes-adviser-says-311649
If you’re scanning the “Overview” section you may see more non-bike threads, depends what’s active.
But click the “Bike” section…..
I am well aware of that thanks. Taking an instant snapshot of the overview shows that you have to go down 13 threads be for you get to one that’s about bikes or riding. Given this is a cycling website and forum that’s supposedly for mountain bikers that’s a lot of none biking chats about not riding.
I am well aware of that thanks. Taking an instant snapshot of the overview shows that you have to go down 13 threads be for you get to one that’s about bikes or riding. Given this is a cycling website and forum that’s supposedly for mountain bikers that’s a lot of none biking chats about not riding.
If the bike industry would do its job and introduce a new standard every week then I'm sure you'd find the Bike section would be a lot busier. I guess there is just more new stuff happening in the world in general than new stuff happening in the bike industry.
Which is understandable since the subject of bikes is quite small while the subject of literally everything else in the universe is quite large.
Taking an instant snapshot of the overview shows that you have to go down 13 threads be for you get to one that’s about bikes or riding. Given this is a cycling website and forum that’s supposedly for mountain bikers that’s a lot of none biking chats about not riding.
The forum is user-driven, members create threads on subjects they want to talk about. If you want to only discuss bikes then go to the Bike sub-forum rather than the Overview. If you want to talk about something else then create your own thread. I don't see why you find this to be a difficult concept. Other websites are available also.
Threads are sorted by last post timestamp, a quick eyeball scan lists about 35 threads before I get to a freshness beyond "minutes." The first cycling thread on the Overview view is 4 minutes old, the next 6, the next 26. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Back when I had access to stats, the ratio of posts bike:chat was about 50:50. The chat forum generally has fewer but longer threads, but the absolute post count over the years tends towards parity.
Please can a word of explanation be given when threads are closed?
Probably not. It would be helpful if people could learn from mistakes thought.
I can't immediately see what was wrong with the recent 'fascists' thread, unless comments have been deleted.
Please can a word of explanation be given when threads are closed?
See page 1 of this thread.
Yeah, but I think you can see which posts have been REPORTed.
I can’t immediately see what was wrong with the recent ‘fascists’ thread, unless comments have been deleted.
Me neither, but someone didn't like one of your posts.
Me neither, but someone didn’t like one of your posts.
Film at 11. 😀
Ah, so now we know - we aren't allowed to be rude about people who vote Tory.
That seems unlikely from a forum oft accused of being full of hand-wringing lefties.
My post tweaking TJ's comment is still there. QED?
My post tweaking TJ’s comment is still there.
But it got reported
I have often suspected that the report button is weaponised, that must be a real pain for the moderators.
It's like living under the nazis...!
But it got reported
Oh, did it? I didn't notice. Or y'know, for that matter, care. Funny how the people fastest to squeal "snowflake" are the biggest ones.
I have often suspected that the report button is weaponised, that must be a real pain for the moderators.
Honestly, speaking as a former moderator, I'd argue that it's actually underused. Moderation would be a lot easier if people just hit "report" with gay abandon rather than bitching in forum posts. It's human beings at the other end, not a Zuck algorithm.
Consider, "Report" doesn't necessarily mean "I think this is bad," rather it's just drawing attention to something for review. Do some people 'weaponise' it, possibly, but it's was a minority if so. I'd wager that sort of thing was largely personal spats between pairs of users in conflict.
Personally, I'd rather argue the toss in plain sight, or just step back when it goes too far, or I can't be arsed.
The day I feel I need to 'report' someone because they said something I didn't like, will be the day I consider removing myself from the internet altogether.
It's just opinions and words, don't let it bother you that much
The day I feel I need to ‘report’ someone because they said something I didn’t like, will be the day I consider removing myself from the internet altogether
Yeah pretty much.
I see STW as a parallel universe where white middle class angst (similar to journalists obsession with the Trumper), puffed up bantams (the sort who are bullied or ignored in real life) and middle aged men with their snide agendas, selective citation, obfuscation, diversion and straight up lies go at it. In real life I've not heard anyone bring up Brexit since about 2021, yet it's referenced daily on here!
A few years back I noticed we picked up a few drama queens who were bullied off other platforms by right wing trolls. Their delusion of being some kind of internet Sheriffs (we've had loads try before), winning hearts and minds, is tedious and as boring as their part-time trolling, they admit to doing on other platforms and comment sections. Not to mention emailed death threats and the like to MPs and planning departments. There are clearly people on the internet, not just on here, who are mentally unwell. The sad part is all their efforts are ineffectual and mostly backfire.
This is how they should be dealt with
In real life I’ve not heard anyone bring up Brexit since about 2021, yet it’s referenced daily on here!
Wheras for me and the circles i am in its still a daily topic.and will remain so.until we are back in.
Differnt folks in different places have different experiences and i have a family split acoss the channel. Brexit is a real pain for us
One of the things i cherush about this place is diversity of experience and opinion
Just to point out it wasn't my comment it was sxotroutes misquoting me and it wisnae me who reported it
🙂
Personally, I’d rather argue the toss in plain sight, or just step back when it goes too far, or I can’t be arsed.
The day I feel I need to ‘report’ someone because they said something I didn’t like, will be the day I consider removing myself from the internet altogether.
It’s just opinions and words, don’t let it bother you that much
No. Just as in the real world if I see/hear racism, homophobia, mysogeny, transphobia etc I'll call it out.
If we don't, we normalise it and that just adds to their conviction that they are right.
It's easy for straight, white men to say it's just words. The chances are, they've never been on the receiving end.
