And who checks it’s nonsense?

Drac – Moderator

Jimjam that sounds a terrible idea. A forum is a conversation so it can and should be allowed to drift away. It’s not a official meeting where we need a chair to step in if someone moves away from the subject.

It works fine in practice and yields (generally) more informed and interesting debate, and less personal bickering and name calling on the kinds of problem threads being discussed in Cougars OP despite the same forum having no real rules regarding content or swearing. Regarding the conversation, and the drifting, there are numerous other threads for that – casual threads to discuss minor, boring or inconsequential things. But you would avoid doing that on say, the political or religious threads. It means people posting in those threads are there for serious debate, not bickering, point scoring or “winning” for their side.

njee20 – Member

Agreed. I belong to another forum which considers itself “really friendly and accommodating”. I find it sterile and over-moderated,

And yet it’s not. It’s the least moderated forum I’m a member of and some of the content comes close to 4chan levels of depravity – but obviously only in the correct thread/sub forum.

So you’d be more likely to be banned or sent to the bin for starting a new thread on an existing subject, than say, posting porn. The honus is on the thread starters to start good, original or different threads. This doesn’t detract from the quality of forum members posts. It’s like an iq test – can you use the search function to find the right thread. Can you read the thread rules. If yes, post. If not – bin.

Can we have a referendum on the EU thread?

Also I was wondering if after serving a ban forum users had to do a forfeit to get back on the site- like truth or dare?

Hence my solution being to intervene earlier. ” Fred stop posing nonsense and Bill stop calling him a liar please or you will both be banned”

Interesting choice of naymes names 😉

Scotroutes
Opinion of the mod. some of the posts I refer to are so obviously nonsense as shown by those rebutting them with facts and links. Obviously only stuff that is obviously factually incorrect not those things that are opinion.

If I state. “Scotroutes cheats at hillwalking ‘cos he has 3 feet instead of two”. You reply with a photo showing only two feet. I say “photoshop” You post a pic of yourself from a neutral sources showing only two feet. I say ” what would you expect from a propaganda rag like that” You ( well actually you probably wouldn’t) get somewhat irritated and then launch into me with a rant bout how I can’t count feet.

it really has reached that sort of level on that thread

Well that’s just silly. Surely such reports should take no time at all – you just issue a stock reply “that isn’t the job of the mods”.

Unless of course you’re actually referring to the people posting alternative facts then reporting the posts which suggested they had a difficult relationship with the truth (as I understood was happening).

You really should try the shadow ban thing (if that’s what it’s called where only the poster can see his posts?) out, if only so we can see if the usual suspects continue when they’re getting no engagement.

My money says it’d make no difference whatsoever.

Well a mod would hardly need to bother refuting nonsense that way would he? duh!

Well that’s just silly. Surely such reports should take no time at all – you just issue a stock reply “that isn’t the job of the mods”.

You’d think that would have worked wouldn’t you?

I loved to know where this well moderated but least moderated forum is.

it really has reached that sort of level on that thread

Walk away from the thread.

Just walk away.

You won’t win with clever arguments, you won’t feel better for one more rebuttal of an obvious untruth. It’s not going to end because you craft the perfect post.

Watch it pop up to the top and drop down the most recent threads list and don’t open it.

Find threads that are fun, informative, life affirming. Give up on the shitty ones.

Except we wouldn’t be able to see would we?

wwaswas – thats why I only dip in and out now and then. Sometimes however there is informative stuff on both sides in there

Personally I’ve more or less given up on the EU thread, most of my recent contributions have just been piss takes of the trolls (apologies, I’m probably part of the problem). The Donnie thread is at least more worthwhile (and the troll baiting more fun!)

aracer – Member

tjagain » If I state. “Scotroutes cheats at hillwalking ‘cos he has 3 feet instead of two”. You reply with a photo showing only two feet.

Well a mod would hardly need to bother refuting nonsense that way would he? duh! [/quote]

But the only report the mods get is from me saying “scotroutes is calling me a liar ban him” ON the face of that one reported post Scotroutes would merit a ban however once the context is seen I am actually the instigator. so intervene earlier and tell us both to play nicely so as to avoid banning anyone..

Jambalaya is often accused on that thread (rightly as far as I can see) of making sweeping assertions which are unsubstantiated and without any proof or evidence to back them up.

However, the one time that I noticed he did provide a link to an article to back up some of his statements, it was completely ignored by all other posters. The article he linked to was long and technical, but it was from the man had been at the very heart of UK/EU relations and probably understood the issues better than anyone else.

As I say, that evidence was completely ignored by all other posters. So when Jambalaya is blamed for spoiling the thread by posting untruths, I think those posters also have themselves to blame for failing to engage when presented with the opportunity to discuss substantive issues. All of which makes me think those posters are not interested in such discussion, only shouting out their own pithy soundbites into the vacuum of that thread, so their contribution is not actually any better than Jambalaya’s. In fact, in asking that he be stopped from posting untruths, they are seeking impose censorship on the thread, which is worse.

Drac – Moderator

I loved to know where this well moderated but least moderated forum is.

It’s private. But in addition to self moderating threads it also has sub forums, and quote buttons and many other features that would just blow your mind.

A stopped clock is right twice a day. Or maybe:

<reported> just the sort of unsubstantiated rubbish which causes all the problems. Everybody knows such things don’t really exist.

<Poe’s law requirement: 😉 >

Except we wouldn’t be able to see would we?

Cougar would tell us, I’m sure.

One of the tactics is to lock any thread which goes off topic, immediately. It’s absolutely infuriating as it often curtails some interesting (if only vaguely relevant) discussion.

It’s a good job that never happens then. We’ll close a thread if it descends into nothing more than squabbling / personal abuse, but not for thread drift. Look at SaxonRider’s religion thread, for example.

Surely such reports should take no time at all – you just issue a stock reply “that isn’t the job of the mods”.

It takes even less time than that. (-:

A stopped clock is right twice a day.

A pithy soundbite which adds nothing to the discussion. Rather like what I was describing above.

Look at SaxonRider’s religion thread

don’t tempt me – I’ve been following my own maxim and avoiding it!

Cougar would tell us, I’m sure.

That would kinda defeat the point of a shadow ban.

One of the tactics is to lock any thread which goes off topic, immediately. It’s absolutely infuriating as it often curtails some interesting (if only vaguely relevant) discussion.

All the good threads start off with some boring, dry subject and then drift off on a bizarre tangent with entertaining results.

That’s the best bit.

as an example, one of my all time favourites started with just a question and a picture…..

New bike!! but what the hell is this bit for????

A few bizarre twists later and an internet legend was created.

That would kinda defeat the point of a shadow ban.

I don’t want names, just to know if it works in general or not.

All the good threads start off with some boring, dry subject and then drift off on a bizarre tangent with entertaining results.

Exactly.

The way some people act in here I really wouldn’t want to meet them in person, I actively avoid threads which have certain people in them.

And vice versa. I’ve thought people on here have sounded ace, only for them to reveal themselves as total dilberts in real life. And no, I’m not naming names. People no doubt think the same about me.

Except it’s a pithy soundbite which adds to the discussion the information that it’s hard to believe anything written by somebody who makes stuff up most of the time.

There’s a lot that can be said whilst hiding my behind a keyboard though eh..
But that’s an internet phenomenon the world over.

It’s easy to take out frustrations on posters simply for the reason everyone is anonymous.

“Misquoted” and “taken out of context” narrative is a world we live in, rarely do posters get the exact point across before frustration sets in and descending arguments occur.

It would be a sad day the EU thread gets shut down, as divisive and personal it is there are many opinions and applied attitudes that should be heard. Sadly, the bickering will occur and Moderating that thread must be horrendously time consuming.

If polite Mod warnings aren’t enough, then Mods have to be Mods and use the tools given to them. However, there is a balance to be struck… Cougars points are absolutely valid and should be taken as a man of warning.. a warning a bit late IMO but an effective way of communicating a “global” warning.

Is this thread really about TJ? Nope, but some have taken the opportunity to have a pop at him whilst on here.. which is telling of both poster and accused.

And vice versa. I’ve thought people on here have sounded ace, only for them to reveal themselves as total dilberts in real life.

I’ve met a lot of people over the years who I first knew online. The only conclusion I can draw is that you never can tell. I’ve met people who are absolute roasters online but lovely in person, some for whom the exact opposite is true, and some who are exactly the same in both contexts.

And vice versa. I’ve thought people on here have sounded ace, only for them to reveal themselves as total dilberts in real life.

That’s me. I am grumpy, sullen and uncommunicative in real life. I restrict my conversations to a series of furious grunts interspersed with throwing the occasional rage filled massive benny

perchypanther – Member

And vice versa. I’ve thought people on here have sounded ace

I hate to break it to you…

throwing the occasional rage filled massive benny

Ye gods. Showing your age there PP, I’ve not heard “throwing a Benny” in years.

keepin’ the classics alive 😉

Throwing a Benny – discriminatory to people with learning difficulties is it?
Reported!

it is only a forum, none of it is really that important.

I struggle to make this register on my giveashitometer

Jambalaya is often accused on that thread (rightly as far as I can see) of making sweeping assertions which are unsubstantiated and without any proof or evidence to back them up.

However, the one time that I noticed he did provide a link to an article to back up some of his statements, it was completely ignored by all other posters. The article he linked to was long and technical, but it was from the man had been at the very heart of UK/EU relations and probably understood the issues better than anyone else.

As I say, that evidence was completely ignored by all other posters. So when Jambalaya is blamed for spoiling the thread by posting untruths, I think those posters also have themselves to blame for failing to engage when presented with the opportunity to discuss substantive issues. All of which makes me think those posters are not interested in such discussion, only shouting out their own pithy soundbites into the vacuum of that thread, so their contribution is not actually any better than Jambalaya’s. In fact, in asking that he be stopped from posting untruths, they are seeking impose censorship on the thread, which is worse.
Poor signal to noise ratio, I think, means filtering the real info from the ‘jambafacts’ is very difficult to do.

Except it’s a pithy soundbite which adds to the discussion the information that it’s hard to believe anything written by somebody who makes stuff up most of the time.

All the more reason, that when he does do as others have repeatedly requested and challenged him to do, and posts a link to a very insightful article on the subject, that people make the effort to read the article and consider its content, and take the opportunity to discuss the insight it provides.

Poor signal to noise ratio, I think, means filtering the real info from the ‘jambafacts’ is very difficult to do.

I think it’s like child behaviour: respond positively to and encourage good behaviour, and ignore/don’t react to a lot of the rest. I’m just not so sure any more who on that thread are the children.

tjagain – Member

Throwing a Benny – discriminatory to people with learning difficulties is it?
Reported!

As someone who wears a green wool beanie hat, I’m also offended.