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I think boards.ie, needs an union.

  • 05-05-2009 10:39pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,133 ✭✭✭


    Let's dicuss. It seems that the "helpdesk" role is to "champion" the mods "all the time"

    I thought a lovely feedback thread for all the people who contribute to boards should have their freedom of speech, "elaborated"

    I can't even post on helpdesk, where a 6 month ban was given to me.

    I know mods hate the idea of a union. But we need balance, incase some of you mods have never heard of that word. I thought I would like to point that out.

    An organisation to deal with unfairness and issues on a balanced medium. It does seem that alot of mods seem to want to only champion others mods inappropriate behaviour, while obsessisively point out the victims actions more often than not.

    Oh and please dont even think about moving this to helpdesk. I'm asking the planet this, as in everyone.;);):)


    All the best
    Mysterious.

    It's going to be an interesting thread.
    Post edited by Shield on


«1

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 14,277 ✭✭✭✭Rb


    Do you really want to dicuss?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,524 ✭✭✭✭Gordon


    You aren't banned from Helpdesk. Also, DeV has been thinking about a specific change that actually includes something that I think is very similar to what you are talking about, believe it or not.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,249 ✭✭✭✭Kinetic^


    There is a union. It's called the union of mods and admins. We represent the views of all the users out there who do not want to read spam, trollish gibberish or typed diarrhoea.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,869 ✭✭✭Mahatma coat


    Its a fair point tho, Posters are not allowed to give support on Helpdesk threads, so from the outside it does seem like a Mod Circlejerk.

    I find the inconsistencies in the Bannings a bit rich tho in the CT Forum.

    some posters get a 6 month ban for takin the bait in a heated debate, other posters just roll in make sarcastic insults and personal attacks and get Infracted and asked please dont do it again, even tho we all know they will.

    I suppose it depends on which side you are percieved to be on, one rule for the CT'ers and one far more lenient rule for the sceptics. thats just how it apears to mer at the moment anyway.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,972 ✭✭✭orestes


    Interesting idea, but I'm not sure how it could be implemented. Who would choose the "representatives" of the boards users? The mods/smods/admins couldn't as we would be seen to have a biased approach.

    Could the users be relied on to nominate suitable candidates? Given how big this site is now, and how many communities there are that have little or no interaction with each other (poker is one of the largest and busiest forums on here, but I would imagine there are literally hundreds of users in tere who never use any other part of this site. Their nominations would be for representatives who they feel would best suit their interests, but would those same people represent the best interests of the users of AH, BGRH, comics, fishing, computers, command and conquer, etc.? (I just picked poker as an example btw)

    There are thousands of regular users on this site, people who log in and use it every day. For those figures there are a miniscule amount of complaints with how the site is run or giving out about mods, and it tends to be the same people giving out over and over. If a user keeps on getting banned/infracted/warned by mods, maybe the problem is with them, not the modding?
    I find the inconsistencies in the Bannings a bit rich tho in the CT Forum.

    Yeah, there was for a while alright, but they solved that problem recently with a change-over in the mods there


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 43,045 ✭✭✭✭Nevyn


    There is no freedom of speach this is a private website, you have only what freedoms the owners give to you.

    Help desk access is for the person starting the thread, the mod they are complainng about
    and the smods who are entrusted by the owners of the site to up hold the rules.

    If you think that mods are not rules against and do not make mistakes then you either have not been around here long enough or not paying notice.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 43,045 ✭✭✭✭Nevyn


    Mahatma coat did you contact the cmod about it and the smods?


  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 8,260 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jonathan


    Thaedydal wrote: »
    Mahatma coat did you contact the cmod about it and the smods?

    CT is a hosted forum.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,869 ✭✭✭Mahatma coat


    I'm makin an observation in a Feedback thread, nothin more at this point, I just stated my view on the situation mainly to show that Mysterious is not alone in his thoughts.

    but I think this highlights why I wouldnt be arsed reporting anything
    Orestes wrote:
    Yeah, there was for a while alright, but they solved that problem recently with a change-over in the mods there

    anything I say wll just be viewed by the Mods as sour grapes etc... and result in more of the above from 'hilarious' posters, so why would I bother


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,972 ✭✭✭orestes


    Jonathan wrote: »
    CT is a hosted forum.

    No it's not, it's in the rec category


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 6,869 ✭✭✭Mahatma coat


    No its in SOC.


  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators Posts: 8,260 Mod ✭✭✭✭Jonathan


    orestes wrote: »
    No it's not, it's in the rec category

    Oh. My bad.
    Was it not hosted at one stage? :confused:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,972 ✭✭✭orestes


    No its in SOC.

    So it is, my mistake
    Jonathan wrote: »
    Oh. My bad.
    Was it not hosted at one stage? :confused:

    It was until recently, a few changes were made with the aim of improving the forum a while ago


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,133 ✭✭✭mysterious


    Gordon wrote: »
    You aren't banned from Helpdesk. Also, DeV has been thinking about a specific change that actually includes something that I think is very similar to what you are talking about, believe it or not.

    I'm delighted sincerely. I think it's something that should be looked at. if anything it will actually do good to the website as a whole.

    I'm only concerned that there is a lack of balance on this website towards bullying and mods throwing their wands about, its getting wreckless imo. It seems that members are lower in ranks in every right in the above sense towards the people. You all have to remember, without the people.

    Mods and all the super mods, would be nothing. Lets just remember that people.

    I'm not here to name names, or pick at anyone or sing songs who is good vs the evil. i'm so sick of that poo. It has gone way beyond my reality in thinking and it's not worth it.

    When a situation arises, where some member feels mistreated.
    He/she should have a balanced team, of members, longtime users/short times users, mods, Smods, Cmods, Lmods, WMods. You catch my draught on the current topic.

    I don't want one colour judging my skin. I want all colours judging the actual situation at hand. This allows greater perceptual and balanced views in order to deal with conflicts. not mod vs peasant.

    It's called proper unity, dicernment and order of judgment. It seems that mods like to gang up on a user with their opinions, leaving the user ganged up on. I'm not at all impressed with this behaviour at all. It quite inappropriate in my view. It is not balanced and it's obviously making alot of people unhappy, that including myself.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,133 ✭✭✭mysterious


    Thaedydal wrote: »
    There is no freedom of speach this is a private website, you have only what freedoms the owners give to you.

    Help desk access is for the person starting the thread, the mod they are complainng about
    and the smods who are entrusted by the owners of the site to up hold the rules.

    If you think that mods are not rules against and do not make mistakes then you either have not been around here long enough or not paying notice.

    its a private site for the public, without the respect of both sides, there would be nothing.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,133 ✭✭✭mysterious


    orestes wrote: »
    Interesting idea, but I'm not sure how it could be implemented. Who would choose the "representatives" of the boards users? The mods/smods/admins couldn't as we would be seen to have a biased approach.

    Could the users be relied on to nominate suitable candidates? Given how big this site is now, and how many communities there are that have little or no interaction with each other (poker is one of the largest and busiest forums on here, but I would imagine there are literally hundreds of users in tere who never use any other part of this site. Their nominations would be for representatives who they feel would best suit their interests, but would those same people represent the best interests of the users of AH, BGRH, comics, fishing, computers, command and conquer, etc.? (I just picked poker as an example btw)

    There are thousands of regular users on this site, people who log in and use it every day. For those figures there are a miniscule amount of complaints with how the site is run or giving out about mods, and it tends to be the same people giving out over and over. If a user keeps on getting banned/infracted/warned by mods, maybe the problem is with them, not the modding?



    Yeah, there was for a while alright, but they solved that problem recently with a change-over in the mods there


    I think the format of bowing to the messiahs of all messiahs over us silly mindless people that we seem to be should be scrapped.

    For example,in my last feedback thread on an issue, that was pretty pretty public, was moved to helpdesk. So the mods could gang up on me, and me slipping around my bath.

    Not good at all, not good at all.

    Its shocking really.
    I think its fair to say and make the point.

    Of having,
    Members, mods, Smods and all the team of boards.ie contributing to the helpdesk forum. I would suggest have a nomination for this union. Having a vote of how many people would volunteer in putting their names forward for the unions

    Then we the public decide out of a list of 100members towards the union. The number would depend on the numbers of complaints, this info I would not know. But the approach is more coherent and universal in the approach of dealing with conflict. This helpdesk idea is absurd, the even wording of it makes my blood boil, cus its the exact opposite of what it's meant to be.

    But this Mod ganging up on the victim in every case on that forum, is just nuts, a three letter word and thats is that. No other way to describe it.

    The current "lets bully the user" cough help desk system in place means, that the user cannot defend his place. Literally I find this astonishing, since we are now in 2009. like.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,972 ✭✭✭orestes


    mysterious wrote: »
    I think the format of bowing to the messiahs of all messiahs over us silly mindless people that we seem to be should be scrapped.

    For example,in my last feedback thread on an issue, that was pretty pretty public, was moved to helpdesk. So the mods could gang up on me, and me slipping around my bath.

    Not good at all, not good at all.

    Its shocking really.
    I think its fair to say and make the point.

    Of having,
    Members, mods, Smods and all the team of boards.ie contributing to the helpdesk forum. I would suggest have a nomination for this union. Having a vote of how many people would volunteer in putting their names forward for the unions

    Then we the public decide out of a list of 100members towards the union. The number would depend on the numbers of complaints, this info I would not know.

    But this Mod ganging up on the victim, is just nuts, a three letter word and thats is that.

    The current "lets bully the user" cough help desk system in place means, that the user cannot defend his place. Literally I find this astonishing, since we are now in 2009. like.

    So, you had an interaction with some mods, started a feedback thread, which was moved to Help Desk (the correct procedure for instances such as those), lost your case, and are calling the system into question? Maybe you were just wrong?

    Of course, I do realise that this will fall upon deaf ears, because I am a mod, and therefore will defend my co-mods (despite having been banned several times while I have been a mod, including an smod banning me from a forum I was moderator of the time for stepping out of line).

    It's not a matter of mods/smods/admins ganging up on users in Help Desk, some peoples appeals just do not hold weight. 100 people arguing from an invalid standpoint are just as invalid as 1 person arguing from an invalid standpoint.


  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 28,633 Mod ✭✭✭✭Shiminay


    There is no "ganging up" on Helpdesk - it would be incorrect for the masses to be able to post in there in relation to issues a person is having. The moderators or the forum involved (and *ONLY* those mods) are allowed to post on an issue relating to their forum - if a forum has 5 mods, they may all post, if it only has 1 then you'll only have 1 person posting etc. The SMods *are* this council you're proposing.

    If you have an issue, you are free to ask the Admins to allow someone who is directly involved with the issue to join in - it's not that it's an unreasonable system, it's that people refuse to show it respect and/or take 5 minutes to learn how it works (hence the moving of things like ban questions to Helpdesk which is moderated in a different way).

    Your idea is not without merit though, but the vast bulk of problems people seem to have on boards would disappear if they simply learned what processes are in place and used them correctly. It shows level headedness and maturity and speaks volumes of the character of the person with an issue. 9 times out of 10 people don't do this and usually end up being overly emotive and denying themselves any possible route of appeal as they break more rules in making their request for a review of something.

    We (mods/smods/admins) should not have to take abuse from anyone and simply will not respond to such poor behaviour in any way other than negatively.

    I'm not here to shoot your idea down btw - as Gordon said, there's been talk about this sort of thing in the upper echelons. I'm merely adding my €0.02...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,133 ✭✭✭mysterious


    orestes wrote: »
    So, you had an interaction with some mods, started a feedback thread, which was moved to Help Desk (the correct procedure for instances such as those), lost your case, and are calling the system into question? Maybe you were just wrong?

    Of course, I do realise that this will fall upon deaf ears, because I am a mod, and therefore will defend my co-mods (despite having been banned several times while I have been a mod, including an smod banning me from a forum I was moderator of the time for stepping out of line).

    It's not a matter of mods/smods/admins ganging up on users in Help Desk, some peoples appeals just do not hold weight. 100 people arguing from an invalid standpoint are just as invalid as 1 person arguing from an invalid standpoint.


    You've made the point yourself.... you vs me, can we get off it. member vs mods. all mods vs the member. This is not balance, and in your case holds the same water.

    I'm saying a help desk should be a union, where it represents a balanced view, the mods can still defend their case, and the victim can defend his her place. but having a overall opinion from all around the table or helpdesk. Not one group defending each vs one person. this is absaloutely ludricous.

    Let a body be in the middle, so we can come to dicernment,

    Not nelly noo, vs pelly boo. It really it old school.
    BTW, you can say and purposely believe I was wrong in my personal case, but I dare you read my emails. There is alot of people out there already asking for this idealogy of a union community to represent the balance on boards. Not just we bow to the mods and always bow even when right.

    I think there should be balance, if I can stress this word anymore.
    Many people are not seeing it, since every issue is now moved to heldesk, and other adults and witnesses cannot share their views. It seems that the mods defend the other mods, and the victims slipps around the bath. Not balance. sing and dance about it, but it will not change the facts.

    Neither will it change the morality of the point. It is not acceptable in handling conflicts. Why do you think companies have unions?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,133 ✭✭✭mysterious


    Kharn wrote: »
    There is no "ganging up" on Helpdesk - it would be incorrect for the masses to be able to post in there in relation to issues a person is having.

    But in a court systems they have witnesses, in helpdesk its seems its like zues defending the ruling clan.
    The moderators or the forum involved (and *ONLY* those mods) are allowed to post on an issue relating to their forum - if a forum has 5 mods, they may all post, if it only has 1 then you'll only have 1 person posting etc.

    But thats the problem, at any given conflict, it seems that all the mods on that forum stick together to defend each other against the one person. I've had a bagillion emails saying my treatment was harsh and uncalled for, but I cant do nothing about it, the witnesses cant do nothing about it, the masses cant do nothing about it, the people cant give their views.

    But aka mod aka mod pushing people in the bath. This is the pattern that is just not acceptable.
    If you have an issue, you are free to ask the Admins to allow someone who is directly involved with the issue to join in - it's not that it's an unreasonable system, it's that people refuse to show it respect and/or take 5 minutes to learn how it works (hence the moving of things like ban questions to Helpdesk which is moderated in a different way).

    I did, I got let the existing mods deal with it, i also got my feedback thread moved to helpdesk so witnesses and people on C.T forum couldnt contribute.

    Gee what a surprise.

    So its' modville vs me. Not appropriate in judgment, dicernment and balance. This is not how you deal with conflict. This is not a parent child system. This a union of adults.
    Your idea is not without merit though, but the vast bulk of problems people seem to have on boards would disappear if they simply learned what processes are in place and used them correctly.

    Of course, and that includes mods, but its seems there is still this iffy unbalance your quite not grasping yet, but I will leave it to you to figure it out, but of course an union would do just that.
    It shows level headedness and maturity and speaks volumes of the character of the person with an issue. 9 times out of 10 people don't do this and usually end up being overly emotive and denying themselves any possible route of appeal as they break more rules in making their request for a review of something.

    Yes and there is selective busniess here too. Shall we go into this, cus I can go into great detail.
    We (mods/smods/admins) should not have to take abuse from anyone and simply will not respond to such poor behaviour in any way other than negatively.

    Of course, all I asked was a union. Not a gladiator stlye arena lets get the mods. You should know this is not what I'm asking for.
    I'm not here to shoot your idea down btw - as Gordon said, there's been talk about this sort of thing in the upper echelons. I'm merely adding my €0.02...

    Thanks.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,443 ✭✭✭✭bonkey


    Posters are not allowed to give support on Helpdesk threads, so from the outside it does seem like a Mod Circlejerk.
    The only people allowed to "give support" on Helpdesk threads are those in charge of Helpdesk.

    If someone makes a complaint about me - as a mod - I would be given explicit access to that one thread to offer input. If it was another mod of the same forum as me, I could request access, but there is no onus on anyone to give it to me.

    The purpose of the forum is to allow transparency for the handling of complaints, whilst at the same time avoiding it being the "court of public opinion (with lolcatz)" that Feedback was previously.
    some posters get a 6 month ban for takin the bait in a heated debate,

    I realise that this reply is more suited to helpdesk, but I'd just like to clarify why you're wrong.

    One poster got warned, then a one week ban, then warned, then a two week ban, then warned, then a one month ban, then warned, then a six month ban....because they consistently showed no intention of listening to the warnings they received, and almost-as-consistently felt the need to argue against the moderation in-thread (which is itself against the charter).

    Other posters have been warned, and a few of those have gotten to the one-week ban. Some may even have gotten to the two-week ban stage. Those posters, however, generally seem to show a willingness to listen to the warnings and take them on board...even if its just temporarily. They also do not show a proclivity to argue the moderation in-thread.

    As I've said in the forum, if you or anyone else has a problem with how the mods made our decision in that - or in any other - case, then you should take that to Helpdesk, which is the appropriate channel.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,443 ✭✭✭✭bonkey


    mysterious wrote: »
    all mods vs the member. This is not balance,

    Helpdesk isn't all mods vs. the member.

    There are the panel of "judges" who run Helpdesk, the person making the complaint, and the person or people complained about.

    The notion of "witnesses" generally doesn't come into it. The actions are what are being adjudicated. Whether or not someone else thinks you were hard done by doesn't change the actions in question. It is not a "court of public opinion", nor, in my opinion, should it be.

    I can think of some cases where an issue may involve more than one user, and all involved members would like to be able to put their case, and I would imagine that in such a case, the Helpdesk admins would allow those users their say.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    mysterious, your entire argument is flawed because you seem to be under the impression that boards is "ruled" by some form of hierarchy. That's an understandable conclusion to come to, but it's wrong.

    As has been said, we are looking at reforming the whole process of complaints. Though Helpdesk generally works very well and as Kharn says, most of the time it's simple a misunderstanding (or a refusal to understand) which has resulted in the ban/infraction/warning being applied.
    I did, I got let the existing mods deal with it, i also got my feedback thread moved to helpdesk so witnesses and people on C.T forum couldnt contribute.
    Your thread got moved to feedback because it wasn't feedback. The "masses" on whom you so depend would probably have annihilated you and drowned out any possible chance you had to make a reasonable appeal. This is the primary reason why e don't allow appeals in feedback - because the people who aren't involed,t he "witnesses", tend to just create a whole pile of noise and make the whole thing unmanageable and the appealant doesn't get a fair crack of the whip.

    Helpdesk is effectively a 3-party system - you, the mod and an impartial judge. As opposed to you, 35 mods and 50 people running up, throwing a kick in and running away.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,630 ✭✭✭The Recliner


    I can never understand why people don't get Helpdesk

    If you present your case in a calm and rational manner and don't start abusing or arguing with people then in a lot of cases bans are lessened or overturned (people seem to focus on the cases that are upheld and ignore the number of cases where both sides walk out happy)

    Hell people get released from Prison for taking the time to realise that the site is not out to get them that if they show a bit of respect to other poster that they will get along just fine

    The current Helpdesk system works, the current Feedback system works (I do really really miss the old Feedback though, every now and again I think it would be no harm to let Boards loose in a Fight Da Powah thread)

    That is not to say that they could be improved and become more balanced but that will happen in time, processes will be refined, tweaked etc


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40,038 ✭✭✭✭Sparks


    I'd love to see how you'd organise a meeting for this union, how you'd do voting, and so forth (you could do the meetings and voting online I suppose, I hear they've a lot of e-voting machines going cheap at the moment...)


  • Administrators, Entertainment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,774 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭hullaballoo


    OP:

    Courts system: rules, evidence and judiciary.

    Boards.ie: rules, evidence and judiciary. And we're more open about it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,207 ✭✭✭meditraitor


    mysterious wrote: »
    Let's dicuss. It seems that the "helpdesk" role is to "champion" the mods "all the time"

    I thought a lovely feedback thread for all the people who contribute to boards should have their freedom of speech, "elaborated"

    I can't even post on helpdesk, where a 6 month ban was given to me.

    I know mods hate the idea of a union. But we need balance, incase some of you mods have never heard of that word. I thought I would like to point that out.

    An organisation to deal with unfairness and issues on a balanced medium. It does seem that alot of mods seem to want to only champion others mods inappropriate behaviour, while obsessisively point out the victims actions more often than not.

    Oh and please dont even think about moving this to helpdesk. I'm asking the planet this, as in everyone.;);):)


    All the best
    Mysterious.

    It's going to be an interesting thread.

    Feedback serves this function.

    Even though I used to really enjoy the whole mod ganging up on unfortunate user situation it is obvious to anyone who lurks that this has changed and no longer is the case.

    PS i f ing hate unions


  • Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 25,872 Mod ✭✭✭✭Doctor DooM


    mysterious wrote: »
    e.

    I know mods hate the idea of a union.

    As a small aside, I must have missed when you pmed every single mod and asked them how they'd feel about some form of union for users because I know you don't have a clue how I'd feel about it.

    Assumption makes an ass and all that.

    It's happy medium tbh. When these threads used to go to feedback so everyone could pile in it was waaay worse than helpdesk was. A happy medium somehow perhaps.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,247 ✭✭✭✭6th


    mysterious wrote: »
    the mods can still defend their case, and the victim can defend his her place.

    See there is the problem there, you see anyone who isnt a mod as a victim.

    Forgetting anyone else on the forum in question, have you broken the rules of the forum on more than one occassion?


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  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 16,663 CMod ✭✭✭✭faceman


    A union? The last time I checked, boards.ie was a (really good) website?

    If you have an issue with a post you report it or notify a mod.
    If you have an issue with what a mod does you PM him/her.
    If you still arent happy you can contact an S-Mod or start a helpdesk thread.
    If an admin needs to make a decision, an admin will.

    At what point does the union come in?? What happens if the union arent happy, does the posting community go on strike? given that mods are posters too, do mods go on strike?

    What if people arent happy with the union?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,443 ✭✭✭✭bonkey


    faceman wrote: »
    What if people arent happy with the union?
    Then you'd need an ombudsman...and maybe a choice of unions.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 37,214 ✭✭✭✭Dudess


    mysterious wrote: »
    Let's dicuss. It seems that the "helpdesk" role is to "champion" the mods "all the time"
    Well it's not.
    I thought a lovely feedback thread for all the people who contribute to boards should have their freedom of speech, "elaborated"
    What freedom of speech? Is this a government website? No, it's private, so there is no freedom of speech.
    I know mods hate the idea of a union.
    Really? News to me, as a mod. There are hundreds of mods, all very different people - maybe it would be a good idea not to tar them all with one brush?
    But we need balance, incase some of you mods have never heard of that word.
    Yeah, mods are out to prevent balance because they've got a big, evil agenda going on...
    Posters are not allowed to give support on Helpdesk threads
    Neither are any mods who aren't involved in the case at hand...
    I find the inconsistencies in the Bannings a bit rich tho in the CT Forum.

    some posters get a 6 month ban for takin the bait in a heated debate, other posters just roll in make sarcastic insults and personal attacks and get Infracted and asked please dont do it again, even tho we all know they will.
    Surely the person who got the six-month ban was already on thin ice?
    And don't you consider it ironic for you to be remarking on heavyhanded banning when you are still here, despite all the abuse/offensive comments you've thrown around in the past?
    mysterious wrote: »
    I'm only concerned that there is a lack of balance on this website towards bullying and mods throwing their wands about, its getting wreckless imo.
    Look, the VAST majority of cases where the complainant was being whingey, unreasonable, snide, making insinuations etc were ones where the complainant was definitely in the wrong. I may be a moderator (of a low-traffic forum) but that doesn't suddenly make me "blind" to any questionable behaviour by other mods, and really I've seen an absolutely negligable amount. And that margin of error is bound to exist because moderators are humans, not robots... and they are volunteers, not professionals.
    Plus, frankly, you don't get a full idea of the point of view of a moderator... until you're a moderator. That may come across as condescending, but I think it's reasonable, seeing as I was a user for years before I became a moderator.
    It seems that members are lower in ranks in every right in the above sense towards the people.
    No it doesn't. If I insult someone in any of the forums I don't moderate, I will have my ass banned.
    You all have to remember, without the people, mods and all the super mods, would be nothing. Lets just remember that people.
    Oh Jesus wept... you're going all Che Guevara on mods' asses now. For ****'s sake... You want to be taken seriously - first recommendation: I'd say refrain from melodramatic nonsense like the above. "The people" whom you're referring to are Boards.ie members. You know what you have to be before you become a mod? A member. So bear in mind mods were members too. You'd swear they just sail onto Boards.ie as moderators.
    This allows greater perceptual and balanced views in order to deal with conflicts. not mod vs peasant.
    LOL at your persecution complex...
    mysterious wrote: »
    For example,in my last feedback thread on an issue, that was pretty pretty public, was moved to helpdesk. So the mods could gang up on me, and me slipping around my bath.
    Yeah sure... that's the reason it was moved to Help Desk...
    The current "lets bully the user" cough help desk system in place means, that the user cannot defend his place. Literally I find this astonishing, since we are now in 2009. like.
    Yes, admins sat down and decided "let's have a system that bullies the user" - and what on earth does the current year have to do with anything?
    In actual fact, many people (myself included) were concerned about people with legitimate grievances and voicing them reasonably being ganged up on in Feedback, just because... it was Feedback, hence Help Desk being the new port of call. But now this is a problem because it doesn't allow all members to dive in. Damned if do, damned if don't...
    mysterious wrote: »
    You've made the point yourself.... you vs me, can we get off it. member vs mods. all mods vs the member. This is not balance, and in your case holds the same water.
    Well you're the one who keeps making the "mods are superior, we're just minions" comments.
    the victim can defend his her place
    LOL
    mysterious wrote: »
    at any given conflict, it seems that all the mods on that forum stick together to defend each other against the one person.
    I've had a bagillion emails saying my treatment was harsh and uncalled for, but I cant do nothing about it
    Ever consider that's because the mods in question agree with each other, not simply because they're a "clique" and "out to get you"? I love the way there is a genuine view that mods have a love-in with each other and devise various campaigns to bully, just because... they're mods.
    As I said, you've a different perspective when you're moderating and stuff that might seem harsh when you're a member looks far more reasonable when you're a moderator. There are mods who know each other, there are friend groups (as in any walk of life)... however I'm not a member of any clique and I've never met a mod in real life, so I'm telling you: mods don't simply stick together because they're mods. Also, there are mods whom I cannot stand, as well as mods who cannot stand me.
    the witnesses cant do nothing about it, the masses cant do nothing about it, the people cant give their views.
    Don't you think you're putting a discussion website on a bit too much of a pedestal by likening it to a tyrannical regime? And I could be wrong, but I thought "witnesses" could take part if they sent a private message to a site
    Even though I used to really enjoy the whole mod ganging up on unfortunate user situation
    Wow... when it was undeserved and the unfortunate user was being reasonable and their concern was a reasonable one (even if I didn't always agree with it) the sight of them being ganged up on... well I found it a rather grim one actually.

    I'm being quite hostile to mysterious here because of his/her constant snide remarks, generalisations, insinuations etc - that's not being reasonable.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,133 ✭✭✭mysterious


    6th wrote: »
    See there is the problem there, you see anyone who isnt a mod as a victim.

    Forgetting anyone else on the forum in question, have you broken the rules of the forum on more than one occassion?

    Your well able to play the victim yourself. it's probably why your attracted to this forum;) "oh I better get in a word to defend my case"

    Cough cough... you make me laugh.


    6th you are very choosy on who you think is out of line and who isn't as someone else said, there were abuse gunning at me from at least 5 posters, and I holded my chune long enough

    King mob was rediculing others as been silly on the previous thread, I called that as been close minded.

    As a mod, your not fit for the job as others have said. As ive said on my previous thread, you literally gun at me to say a fraction of syllabal wrong to ban me. That's the blunt truth.

    There has been countless emails, complaints already about you, with my banning.

    Your behaviour is replicate of the last time I was banned. Everyone was off topic, And others were asking me off topic questions, yet you come on like goderatator that you call yourself. ban me.

    6th your behaviour is bullying.

    As already said on the C.T forum, people are not happy about your behaviour on the issue. There are many people not happy with you as a mod, as you constantly do nothing to the forum but march around like goderator....

    it's actually a joke.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,523 ✭✭✭✭Nerin


    if ever there was a time for old feedback habits...


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,133 ✭✭✭mysterious


    bonkey wrote: »
    Helpdesk isn't all mods vs. the member.

    There are the panel of "judges" who run Helpdesk, the person making the complaint, and the person or people complained about.

    The notion of "witnesses" generally doesn't come into it. The actions are what are being adjudicated. Whether or not someone else thinks you were hard done by doesn't change the actions in question. It is not a "court of public opinion", nor, in my opinion, should it be.

    I can think of some cases where an issue may involve more than one user, and all involved members would like to be able to put their case, and I would imagine that in such a case, the Helpdesk admins would allow those users their say.


    Oh i think witnesses should be allowed just look at the people on your forum complaining, they can't, they have to be ganged up by

    AKA HELP DESK BEEF ME UP MODERATORS FORUM.

    thats what helpdesk is.

    It's perfect for people in your position. It represents the moderators, as all moderators seem to stick together, as they would on their forum, against the user with the issue complaint.

    You and 6th are an example, you both side against me.

    I don't like that it smells kind of unbalanced and unrealistic.


    2vs1 Not happy with this current layout, then its like any moderator can come to helpdesk and gang up on the user, no witnesses, know dicernment and no balance.

    I think alot of people here are wish washing around my actual point.


    Why?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,443 ✭✭✭✭bonkey


    Getting back to the original idea of a union for a second...

    Here's the problem that I see...

    A "union" would perhaps have merit in the sense of having some sort of "user spokesperson" who could also weigh in on issues. This, however, leads to problems of its own. If their job is to always side with the users, regardless of who is in teh wrong or the right of it, then it just means there's a second poster saying "yeah...the mod was wrong".

    If, on the other hand, their job is to see that the user gets a fair hearing...well...thats the job that the Helpdesk already serves. Naturally, when people don't get the result they want, they may feel the system is at fault, but there's not much can be done there.

    I can't see what other purpose some sort of "union" would have. Feedback as a "court of public opinion" may have made some people feel good (when they all got to shout about a problem - real or perceived - together) on occasion, but it also generated an awful lot of apathy with people complaining that there was no point complaining because no-one took anything seriously, and just used it as a forum to point-and-laugh.

    The system isn't perfect. There are improvements which can be made. Improvements are almost-constantly being discussed, but it takes time to find ideas that really look to be practical and workable. It involves, amongst a lot of other things, bashing an idea to hell and back to see if it stands up to it. If it doesn't, then it hasn't got a hope against the fullly operational deathstar that is boards.ie


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,976 ✭✭✭✭humanji


    mysterious wrote: »
    Your behaviour is replicate of the last time I was banned. Everyone was off topic, And others were asking me off topic questions, yet you come on like goderatator that you call yourself. ban me.

    Everyone was off topic. Everyone was told to stay on topic. Everyone else did so. You refused to go back on topic. You argued with a mod in thread.

    If it wasn't your first time, you'd probably get a slap on the hand. But since you've been banned several times before, and continually break the rules, why should you get off lightly when everyone else would get punished? Why should rules not apply to you? Why are you so special?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,523 ✭✭✭✭Nerin


    you know mysterious, you should really go away, think about the union idea, then come back and try explain it again when it isnt yet another (badly) veiled attack on the CT mods...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,247 ✭✭✭✭6th


    Thanks Mysterious ;) Seriously, we should hang out.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,133 ✭✭✭mysterious


    humanji wrote: »
    Everyone was off topic. Everyone was told to stay on topic. Everyone else did so. You refused to go back on topic. You argued with a mod in thread.

    If it wasn't your first time, you'd probably get a slap on the hand. But since you've been banned several times before, and continually break the rules, why should you get off lightly when everyone else would get punished? Why should rules not apply to you? Why are you so special?

    oh noooo i didn't,

    He didn't, he just came on and said basically like this.

    Oy you, get back on topic or your banned. im goderator.

    No way am i going to feel threatened and allowed to be treated like that by anyone. He did not tell others, he threatened at first hand and singled everyone out.

    K-9 asked me about flouride, we talked about it, everyone was talking about it, Goderator has a personal issue with me as we all know:rolleyes:

    Got his childish ways out.

    I didn't intervene, I replied in a shock and amazement of my treatment by him.

    Well What do we know, didnt i say it on helpdesk, it will happen again here we are. YET again. the same old song plays, the mods said your bad and your bad, smack smack. I cannot respect this, it just is not acceptable treatment. The amount of people saying that I'm a great contributer to the forum tells a lot. I post my beleifs, thoughts, facts and stances to the forum. A hell of a lot more than 6th I can tell you.

    I'm sick and tired of his abuse.

    Something is not right. but hey.


    Did you know that someone actually insulted my relationship with my family on the forum basically a sheer personal disgusting insult to hurt my desceased relative in public view, and i reported it and 6th ignored it. "he does the oh get back on topic bull****" its amazing isn't it. but it took a week of abuse to actually say a teeny word wrong and your banned, King mobs actions were close minded, as he was directing his ignorance towards me, where is the mods balance and intervention here, oh wait i see, 6th like his childish ways of bullying people he hates and championing the ones he love..... he just tells other's to cool it, but when im doing my best im expected to be perfect despite having maybe 5/6 people throwin abuse at me at first hand. they just get the old ol lads cool it now. Doesnt reallly how offensive it is, mysterious just dont ever say a word wrong, you should be perfect.

    Its not acceptable, and helpdesk is not going to sort it, ive said it before, as 6th and Bonkey dance around each other to defend each otehr. Its beyond childish.

    But on helpdesk, you might aswell swim around the bath and drown.

    Still not good enough.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,677 ✭✭✭staker


    I give Boards.ie an union

    http://ladyfi.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/yellow_onion1.jpg

    Sorry, couldn't resist:D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 27,252 ✭✭✭✭stovelid


    I'm with you OP and support your right to industrial action. Why don't you place a picket on your computer for the rest of the year and report back in 2010 about how you get on.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,133 ✭✭✭mysterious


    While all the mods stand in a circle now and hold hands,


    Can I just ask, is there any outlet on boards.ie, that actually repsresents the rights of the user?


    Seriously, like actual a balance team where issues with the user can be dealt with properly. Rather than this Mod vs user balony and all other mods coming to the aid of mods.

    Is there not an outlet on this website, that has a union where there can be a medium to go to,where you feel your treatment was infair in a helpdesk thread.

    Alot of people are embarressing themselves already on this thread.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,133 ✭✭✭mysterious


    6th wrote: »
    Thanks Mysterious ;) Seriously, we should hang out.


    but i would get a perma ban wouldn't I?

    I'm not as perfect as Goderatoors,


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,094 ✭✭✭✭javaboy


    mysterious wrote: »
    Mod vs user balony

    You said it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,247 ✭✭✭✭6th


    mysterious wrote: »
    Can I just ask, is there any outlet on boards.ie, that actually repsresents the rights of the user?


    Seriously, like actual a balance team where issues with the user can be dealt with properly. Rather than this Mod vs user balony and all other mods coming to the aid of mods.

    Yeah, Help Desk.
    mysterious wrote: »
    Alot of people are embarressing themselves already on this thread.

    Dont worry about it, sure you've just gone on a rampage of personal insults about me but you can subscribe and requests a name change. People will forget, I promise.

    Btw (off topic) I'm holding a paranormal investigation this weekend, I can hold a place for you and give you a lift?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,133 ✭✭✭mysterious


    Nerin wrote: »
    you know mysterious, you should really go away, think about the union idea, then come back and try explain it again when it isnt yet another (badly) veiled attack on the CT mods...


    Well in that case, can we deal with it without the C.T mods in it, as it abvious 6th is going to continue his arrogance.

    I want to this idea to be worked, for fairness and balance.


  • Subscribers Posts: 19,425 ✭✭✭✭Oryx


    mysterious wrote: »
    While all the mods stand in a circle now and hold hands,


    Can I just ask, is there any outlet on boards.ie, that actually repsresents the rights of the user?


    Seriously, like actual a balance team where issues with the user can be dealt with properly. Rather than this Mod vs user balony and all other mods coming to the aid of mods.

    Is there not an outlet on this website, that has a union where there can be a medium to go to,where you feel your treatment was infair in a helpdesk thread.

    Alot of people are embarressing themselves already on this thread.
    Muhuh. You started it.

    Im not a mod, but you know what? Im on their side here. You see conspiracy and the need for a union here. I see a poster with a grudge who will not let it go.

    This place is great, if you know the rules and stay within them. No, its not a democracy, its a privately owned website. So they are allowed to have whatever rules they like and if you dont like em, sorry, but thats tough. The helpdesk is the place where the people who run the site and make the rules will listen to you if you feel you have been wronged. They have been *shock horror* known to agree with ordinary posters. Their interest is not defending the mods, its to see if you do have a case.

    A 'union' of sorts would be a nice idea in an ideal world, but if youre around long enough to have witnessed the earlier incarnation of feedback, youll see that a 'union' of ordinary posters can easily become a mob, which in spite of what you seem to feel, might just work against, instead of for you.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,247 ✭✭✭✭6th


    But i'm not a mod in this forum, I'm a user just like you. We're like brothers here. I call top bunk!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,976 ✭✭✭✭humanji


    mysterious wrote: »
    oh noooo i didn't,

    He didn't, he just came on and said basically like this.

    Oy you, get back on topic or your banned. im goderator.

    No way am i going to feel threatened and allowed to be treated like that by anyone. He did not tell others, he threatened at first hand and singled everyone out.

    K-9 asked me about flouride, we talked about it, everyone was talking about it, Goderator has a personal issue with me as we all know:rolleyes:

    Got his childish ways out.

    I didn't intervene, I replied in a shock and amazement of my treatment by him.

    Well What do we know, didnt i say it on helpdesk, it will happen again here we are. YET again. the same old song plays, the mods said your bad and your bad, smack smack. I cannot respect this, it just is not acceptable treatment. The amount of people saying that I'm a great contributer to the forum tells a lot. I post my beleifs, thoughts, facts and stances to the forum. A hell of a lot more than 6th I can tell you.

    I'm sick and tired of his abuse.

    Something is not right. but hey.


    Did you know that someone actually insulted my relationship with my family on the forum basically a sheer personal disgusting insult to hurt my desceased relative in public view, and i reported it and 6th ignored it. "he does the oh get back on topic bull****" its amazing isn't it. but it took a week of abuse to actually say a teeny word wrong and your banned, King mobs actions were close minded, as he was directing his ignorance towards me, where is the mods balance and intervention here, oh wait i see, 6th like his childish ways of bullying people he hates and championing the ones he love..... he just tells other's to cool it, but when im doing my best im expected to be perfect despite having maybe 5/6 people throwin abuse at me at first hand. they just get the old ol lads cool it now. Doesnt reallly how offensive it is, mysterious just dont ever say a word wrong, you should be perfect.

    Its not acceptable, and helpdesk is not going to sort it, ive said it before, as 6th and Bonkey dance around each other to defend each otehr. Its beyond childish.

    But on helpdesk, you might aswell swim around the bath and drown.

    Still not good enough.
    Go back through every post you've ever made on the CT forum. Count how many times you've been told to get back on topic. Count how many times you've been told to stop insulting people. Count how many times you've been told to stop arguing with a mod on thread. Count how many times you've been told that if you don't stop breaking the rules, you'll be banned.

    If someone breaks the charter on that forum, they're dealt with. If they're like you, and refuse to obey the charter, they get infracted and then banned. You are not the victim. Every other user of the forum is a victim of your continued disruption.

    On the Helpdesk, you make your grievance known. If it's against a mod, they're given access to state their version. Those in charge of that forum can look at any relevant posts. There is no need for witnesses, and there's no need for a rent a row group to fill the threads with noise.

    The admins want this site to be popular. A mod causing trouble will drive people away and the admins will come down on them like a ton of bricks. They are not on the mods side and they are not on your side. They are on the side of the site.

    If you have a case, it'll stand up.


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