In light of these posts Dev made on the politics forum...

Wolfe Tone

I feel this thread is warranted in light of this exchange. Original thread: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056148643
Basically there where a few OT vaguely insulting posts which I responded t in a calm, dignified way, they where then deleted.......

DEV

None of the last few posts have anything to do with the topic. mussolini, you have been in the thick of it on this topic quite a bit, you might want to take a break and strumm you tried to fish for his first name and said he was indoctrinated, which I fail to see has anything to do with the topic.

both of you cool it.

MUSSOLINI

In fairness Dev I have been nothing but calm and dignified, so I don't think asking me to "take a break" or telling me to "cool it" is entirely fair. In fact such a post gives an impression(seen as the other posts are deleted) that I acted in a manner other than I did.

DEV

Musso, You're like a guest at a dinner party who wont shut up about everything. Its not *wrong* for someone to talk at dinner, and none of the topics are offensive but everyone ends up sitting around thinking "would that guy every give it a break". Sorry, but you dont seem to be getting the idea of letting anyone else have a say or just walking away.

DeV.

MUSSOLINI

I certainly don't think that is a fair thing to say at all.

DEV

I'm sorry , I dont mean to offend but your defense that each of your posts is in itself civil may be true, but on every thread about the north you and several others (from both sides) simply monopolise the thread until everyone else leaves and there is no discussion left to be had.

I was trying to explain that to you, and to be fair KeithAFC and others could learn the same lesson.

Sorry, now I'm way off topic. If you want to discuss this further we can on Feedback.

DeV.

Well, here I am. I feel those comments where totally unjustified, I was answering to posts directed at me in that thread, and was trying to contribute to it. I don't think what seems to be a personalized attack against me is warranted or should appear like that in a thread on politics, it is simply not fair, and is surely against the charter which everyone should at least try to follow, if only to set an example.

And as for Devs final post, monopolizing threads? Surely it is only natural that people like myself and keith would post a lot in threads which interest us?

What do you want me to do exactly?

Generally when a thread becomes an argument/debate between a handful of posters (say 2 or 3), then it would become more of a conversation than a discussion. Threads created on a public forum are generally for the public and when the aforementioned handful of posters "monopolize it", as deV put it, then it might put off other posters from commenting also, which could be seen as somewhat unfair to them. Generally it is advised to take such topics to private messaging, to allow for the discussion to go on.

Obviously I cannot speak for deV or anybody else, but that is the way I would see it.

sceptre

Did you report posts with which you have an issue to the Politics forum mods in the usual way? The little "report this post" icon in the bottom left of every post? After all, that's why it's there. As I haven't received any in relation to any of this, I'm guessing that's a no. Doing that would have been the appropriate thing to do first.

Wolfe Tone

sceptre wrote: »

Did you report posts with which you have an issue to the Politics forum mods in the usual way? The little "report this post" icon in the bottom left of every post? After all, that's why it's there. As I haven't received any in relation to any of this, I'm guessing that's a no. Doing that would have been the appropriate thing to do first.

Yes I certainly did. I reported the posts in question, some of which are deleted. 99.999% sure I reported Devs one too.

RoundyMooney

If this is in FB, it's hard for us plebeians to form any opinion on it, due to the deletions if indeed there are any.

Musso sez posts were reported, others say no, another confusion. Musso also sez posts were deleted.

That said, with all due respect to DeV, if you're contributing to the the thread, and it the responses aren't instantly objectionable (ya know, the whole black and white thing), do you feel you should direct the discussion as well?

Like the dinner party thing, and the landlord walks in, and tells an adamant guest that they're boring the others, and should take their fail and gtfo. Maybe so. But isn't that up to the tenant?

As I say, I and others possibly can't see it all, unfortunately. But I also know that DeV values his impartiality, and so should the rest of us. Admins (in the true sense of the word) operating in an even handed way online is rarer than one might think, and we are lucky to have one that does so. I'd hate to think that they couldn't have the freedom to participate as anyone else would without editorialising too, though.

GuanYin

I responded to your reported post for DeVore, My action was to close the thread, mainly because the original post question was answered (and to be honest, I'm not actually sure the thread should have been in Politics) and the thread had degenerated into a pointless loop.

Regarding DeVore's comment and whether it should have been actioned? It's hard to say, but I went with no - my reasoning is that although his comment was personal, it was, in my view, not intended to offend but rather an action of moderation on your posting style - he was basically trying to get you to understand how your posting style leads to the fallout we see in those types of thread.
It was implicit from his very first post that he was acting as a moderator of the forum, which he is of course, more than entitled to do.

In any case, my general view on insulting posts is that the wording of a post isn't as important as implied intention of the words. I am happy to stake my mod-ship on the belief that DeVore did not intend to offend.

To stave off suggestions that he is "above the law". We have already infracted an admin for a contribution in Politics, so that does not hold true and I know that if DeVore *did* feel he stepped over the line, he would enforce a ban on himself.

On the topic of the OP's posting style, it's my opinion as a moderator, with no vested interest in Irish politics, that his posting style can inflame, he certainly can also cross the line with the rules, but that isn't the general issue with these types of threads.

The issue is, posters on opposing sides don't want to discuss or debate, they want to show they are right. It's soapboxing and as a neutral observer, I'm often dismayed at how seemingly intelligent, well structured and reasonable points are treated because the opposing poster does not want to concede an inch of ground.

This then enters the realms of soapboxing and propaganda and it is something I feel we, as moderators, should be looking into. It's isn't the OP's fault that he engages in a culture that is tolerated, he knows no better and we can't sanction him for it.

We should move much more strongly against this style of debate in general and hopefully posters will either move with a more reasonable discussion style or go elsewhere for their soapboxing.

2c etc.

Wolfe Tone

GuanYin wrote: »

Regarding DeVore's comment and whether it should have been actioned? It's hard to say, but I went with no - my reasoning is that although his comment was personal, it was, in my view, not intended to offend but rather an action of moderation on your posting style - he was basically trying to get you to understand how your posting style leads to the fallout we see in those types of thread.

It is not hard to say at all tbh. Its quite clear. Would you have infracted me if I had done the same? You would have because I have been infracted for less.

It was implicit from his very first post that he was acting as a moderator of the forum, which he is of course, more than entitled to do.

Eh no, I didnt think so, and regardless, would you or any other politics mod post such an attack o the thread?

In any case, my general view on insulting posts is that the wording of a post isn't as important as implied intention of the words. I am happy to stake my mod-ship on the belief that DeVore did not intend to offend.

Thats bollcks, I have said things which were not intended to offend,(you banned me for a week for something like that) I was bloody offended, first he gave the clear impression that I had done something wrong(cool down, leave the thread) when I had done no such thing, then posted this personal attack(thats what it is) There was a clear impression given that I reacted to the troll in a way other than which I did.

Musso, You're like a guest at a dinner party who wont shut up about everything. Its not *wrong* for someone to talk at dinner, and none of the topics are offensive but everyone ends up sitting around thinking "would that guy every give it a break". Sorry, but you dont seem to be getting the idea of letting anyone else have a say or just walking away.

Is that acceptable to be posted on thread?

To stave off suggestions that he is "above the law". We have already infracted an admin for a contribution in Politics, so that does not hold true and I know that if DeVore *did* feel he stepped over the line, he would enforce a ban on himself.

Obviously he is "above the law" its his site but it is simply not fair to attack me in such a way.

On the topic of the OP's posting style, it's my opinion as a moderator, with no vested interest in Irish politics, that his posting style can inflame, he certainly can also cross the line with the rules, but that isn't the general issue with these types of threads.

I see nothing wrong with my posting style, it seems people object to the contents of my posts rather than the way in which I put them across.

The issue is, posters on opposing sides don't want to discuss or debate, they want to show they are right. It's soapboxing and as a neutral observer, I'm often dismayed at how seemingly intelligent, well structured and reasonable points are treated because the opposing poster does not want to concede an inch of ground.

Thats quite laughable, just ask scofflaw about the amount of pms I have sent him complaining about not being able to do just that. Em, no we do want is to debate. Look a any northern thread, half of them are trying to explain how people simply have their FACTS wrong, such as saying Omagh was a sectarian attack.

This then enters the realms of soapboxing and propaganda and it is something I feel we, as moderators, should be looking into. It's isn't the OP's fault that he engages in a culture that is tolerated, he knows no better and we can't sanction him for it.

Jesus Christ are you accusing me of soapboxing and of spewing propaganda? What sort of bollocks is that. Someone starts a "get the digs into republicans" thread, or someone starts a thread related to SF which inevitably becomes the same thing. Should that just be ignored? Most of the time when I post it is defending my viewpoint.

GuanYin

MUSSOLINI wrote: »

I see nothing wrong with my posting style

And there in lies the crux of the problem

Wolfe Tone

Well done on ignoring the other points I made.


Dev was wrong to post like that on thread, he was wrong to make such a personal, insulting attack, he was wrong to tell me to "cool it" and give the impression that I had made heated/inappropriate comments, he was wrong, simple as, I want acknowledgement of such and an apology. And if he is half the man he appears to be I think he will do such.

GuanYin

MUSSOLINI wrote: »

Well done on ignoring the other points I made.

You didn't make any points, you put your fingers in your ears and screamed NONONONONONO in response to an explanation of actions before telling everyone they're wrong and you're right.

Dev was wrong to post like that on thread, he was wrong to make such a personal, insulting attack, he was wrong to tell me to "cool it" and give the impression that I had made heated/inappropriate comments, he was wrong, simple as, I want acknowledgement of such and an apology.

DeVore is the benevolent dictator of boards.ie. He is an implicit mod of the entire site, whether he officially wants to be or not.

If he says "cool it" you take it as an instruction and cool it.

Wolfe Tone

GuanYin wrote: »

You didn't make any points, you put your fingers in your ears and screamed NONONONONONO in response to an explanation of actions before telling everyone they're wrong and you're right.



DeVore is the benevolent dictator of boards.ie. He is an implicit mod of the entire site, whether he officially wants to be or not.

If he says "cool it" you take it as an instruction and cool it.

Thats the point, there was nothing to cool. I dealt with it in a calm dignified way, Im sure there is some way in which you can view the deleted posts to see for yourself.

He even basically said "eh ye did nowt wrong but stfu and go away anyway"


How is it fair to make such comments? Do you think it is fair for someone to make a personal attack like that? Would you do it? Would scofflaw do it? Do you think it was right? I doubt it.
The place for comments like that is not on the thread.

GuanYin

MUSSOLINI wrote: »

He even basically said "eh ye did nowt wrong but stfu and go away anyway"

There is a difference between not breaking any rules and not doing anything wrong.

I would argue that for the most part, you don't break rules, I wouldn't say you don't do anything wrong.

In my view, you are among a handful of posters who reply doggedly to a thread until everyone else gets bored and leaves. That isn't breaking the rules but it is, in my view, wrong.

This is what DeVore was trying to highlight. He was, I believe, trying to be helpful in doing so. Unfortunately, your reaction to that has pretty much proved his point.

Wolfe Tone

GuanYin wrote: »

There is a difference between not breaking any rules and not doing anything wrong.

I would argue that for the most part, you don't break rules, I wouldn't say you don't do anything wrong.

In my view, you are among a handful of posters who reply doggedly to a thread until everyone else gets bored and leaves. That isn't breaking the rules but it is, in my view, wrong.

This is what DeVore was trying to highlight. He was, I believe, trying to be helpful in doing so. Unfortunately, your reaction to that has pretty much proved his point.

So its crime to comment a lot on threads I find interesting? Please shoot me for contributing, maybe we should all be limited to one post per thread?
Third time lucky....

How is it fair to make such comments? Do you think it is fair for someone to make a personal attack like that? Would you do it? Would scofflaw do it? Do you think it was right? I doubt it.
The place for comments like that is not on the thread.

In this case dev clearly was both wrong and broke the rules.

tbh This is rather pointless, maybe its best simply to get Dev on here so he can speak for himself.

Nevyn

Thread hogging, when it is disruptive to a forum or thread is imho being a dick and there for breaking the site rules.

danbohan

GuanYin wrote: »

And there in lies the crux of the problem

no , the crux of the problem is that you and other mods have an anti republican attitude/agenda which is barely hidden at best and blatant on occasion .

danbohan

danbohan wrote: »

no , the crux of the problem is that you and other mods have an anti republican attitude/agenda which is barely hidden at best and blatant on occasion .

Not all mods

danbohan

Papa Smut wrote: »

Not all mods

of course not

GuanYin

MUSSOLINI wrote: »

So its crime to comment a lot on threads I find interesting? Please shoot me for contributing, maybe we should all be limited to one post per thread?
Third time lucky....

In that thread you asked a question (which was only vaguely related to the topic, so thats thread hijacking to start with).
people answered,
Your response, was "oh yeah, but what about this scenario"
People responded
Your response, was "oh yeah, but what about this scenario"
People responded
you gave an opinion
people responded,
your reply was to restate your opinion,
people responded again,
your response was to give the same stance a third time (though to your credit, you did phrase it slightly differently this time)

All of which is very tiresome, it doesn't clearly break a rule (bar thread hijacking) but it isn't what we want in the politics forum.

In this case dev clearly was both wrong and broke the rules.

tbh This is rather pointless, maybe its best simply to get Dev on here so he can speak for himself.

Actually, in this case, until someone higher steps in, I'm the first line judge of who is wrong and who broke the rules and I disagree.

Wolfe Tone

danbohan wrote: »

no , the crux of the problem is that you and other mods have an anti republican attitude/agenda which is barely hidden at best and blatant on occasion .

I think that may be a debate for another day, Im not saying that DeV did this because of my republican views, despite his clear and expressed disdain for republicans.

GuanYin

danbohan wrote: »

no , the crux of the problem is that you and other mods have an anti republican attitude/agenda which is barely hidden at best and blatant on occasion .

So you think I, an asian american, who lives in the US, have some sort of anti-republican agenda? Based on what?

Wolfe Tone

GuanYin wrote: »

In that thread you asked a question (which was only vaguely related to the topic, so thats thread hijacking to start with).
people answered,
Your response, was "oh yeah, but what about this scenario"
People responded
Your response, was "oh yeah, but what about this scenario"
People responded
you gave an opinion
people responded,
your reply was to restate your opinion,
people responded again,
your response was to give the same stance a third time (though to your credit, you did phrase it slightly differently this time)

All of which is very tiresome, it doesn't clearly break a rule (bar thread hijacking) but it isn't what we want in the politics forum.




Actually, in this case, until someone higher steps in, I'm the first line judge of who is wrong and who broke the rules and I disagree.

The point I was making was that I was attempting to find out the consensus on where the line should be drawn in relation to political avatars, which still remains unclear. The point I was making was that I believe it should be either all or none, as it would be hypocritical to allow some which "celebrate/promote/commemorate" violence and not others.
Not at all thread hijacking.

Have you read the deleted posts? Am I right they stay in a log or something?

Wolfe Tone

GuanYin wrote: »

So you think I, an asian american, who lives in the US, have some sort of anti-republican agenda? Based on what?

Its clear that some mods have an anti republican opinion at least, if not agenda.

GuanYin

MUSSOLINI wrote: »

The point I was making was that I was attempting to find out the consensus on where the line should be drawn in relation to political avatars, which still remains unclear. The point I was making was that I believe it should be either all or none, as it would be hypocritical to allow some which "celebrate/promote/commemorate" violence and not others.
Not at all thread hijacking.

Have you read the deleted posts? Am I right they stay in a log or something?

The deleted posts aren't really the issue (yes I have read them) your dogged, repetitious posting style is. It gets up posters noses and it spoils threads.

Thats the issue, it was pointed out to you, you're unhappy about it. We get that.

In an ideal world, DeVore could have PM'd you and spared you the spotlight,maybe you deserved that much, but to be honest, I don't think you would have taken any more heed of his warning and your reaction disinclines my sympathy.

So from a politics point of view, I'll echo DeVore's sentiments regarding your posting in Politics.

Take the constructive criticism and see how things come out.

Its clear that some mods have an anti republican opinion at least, if not agenda.

I have an opinion that killing people is wrong, for any reason, celebrating it is similarly wrong.

I apply that to my opinions of both Republicans and Unionists.

Wolfe Tone

The deleted posts are the issue. It was clearly implied that I had acted in a way other than I did. You read them, did they warrant a warning to"cool down"? Of course they didn't.

My "repetitive posting style" being pointed out to me is not the thing I have issue with at all, its the fact that it was done so on the thread, in breach of the rules and done in such a personal way which was wrong. Tell me, is the politics forum the place for such things to be talked about? Obviously it is not.

That spotlight was unfair. You can see that.


Yes, he should have PM'd me rather than personally attacking me on the forum.

I would have PMd DeV about this but he said to start a feedback thread.



I find it amusing that you accuse me of "spoiling" threads, I really do.

GuanYin

MUSSOLINI wrote: »

I find it amusing that you accuse me of "spoiling" threads, I really do.

Again, the crux of the problem.

Perhaps if you took the criticism on board, you won't have these issues.

Overheal

Thaedydal wrote: »

Thread hogging, when it is disruptive to a forum or thread is imho being a dick and there for breaking the site rules.

I wouldn't say it's breaking the rules, but it is breaking the ethos.

phantom_lord

MUSSOLINI wrote: »

So its crime to comment a lot on threads I find interesting? Please shoot me for contributing, maybe we should all be limited to one post per thread?
Third time lucky....

Strawman imo

Overheal

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man

I had to look it up...

AckwelFoley

GuanYin wrote: »

So you think I, an asian american, who lives in the US, have some sort of anti-republican agenda? Based on what?

Based on the "if you dont believe in a United Ireland you are not Irish" mentality.

Apparently im a west brit because i recognise the 6 counties of the North as part of the United Kingdom.

I dont have any problem with Musso, i think his passion and "doggedness" is mistaken too often for being a problem, but many forget that this is a very emotive issue for some people. Ive learned, as i got older to look at what i feel is the bigger picture in the interests of a more sustainable future, regardless of the simple fact that my opinion has no affect on northern politics

When emotion is at such a high level subjectiveness tends to suffer,

Wolfe Tone

Im a west brit because Im a Utd fan apparently.

GuanYin

snyper wrote: »

Based on the "if you dont believe in a United Ireland you are not Irish" mentality.

err but I am not Irish??!!!

Wolfe Tone

GuanYin wrote: »

err but I am not Irish??!!!

Cmon your american, im sure we can claim you somehow.

orangehat

I think the OP needs to realise that the site is owned by the person, it's not a public forum where what is right is right, whatever the person wants is right. it's their own little fiefdom the sole purpose of which is to earn them money.

There are plenty of more open and reasonable sites out there less driven by ego, if you look for them you will find them, but you may as well talk to a wall as expect the person in question to admit any wrong.

AckwelFoley

GuanYin wrote: »

err but I am not Irish??!!!

Yes, i know that, i wasnt referring to you - it was making a reflection of those that accuse you of having an anti republican agenda

RDM_83 again

GuanYin wrote: »

There is a difference between not breaking any rules and not doing anything wrong.

I would argue that for the most part, you don't break rules, I wouldn't say you don't do anything wrong.

In my view, you are among a handful of posters who reply doggedly to a thread until everyone else gets bored and leaves. That isn't breaking the rules but it is, in my view, wrong.

This is what DeVore was trying to highlight. He was, I believe, trying to be helpful in doing so. Unfortunately, your reaction to that has pretty much proved his point.

I'm very curious about this if you read any northern politics thread or one related to SF its the usual shouting match between a few posters but i Have to say at least Mussolini has some understanding of the issues and from an opposite point of view so does KiethAFC, what content would there be on threads that are left if they didn't post, I haven't followed northern politics in a number of years but the level of factual ignorance from most posters is astounding, and never involves any issues on the ground.

ps roll on a northern forum where a different sort of moderation style could apply.

And ps what is the status of political avatars, the point Mussolini was trying to ascertain?its not a good sign when your less informed after a thread than before?

DeVore

I was taken to task for the comment by a politics mod, a caution I believe I accepted gracefully. I told them to deal with it as they would any user, though I had intended it as "direction" rather than anything insult. Musso, you can tend to monopolise the thread, much like KeithAFC can. Its killing threads when the hard core republicans and hardcore unionists simply dominante a thread till no one else can be bothered and there are a huge number of northern ireland threads just "popping up" recently to and the are all degenerating into the same argument on multiple threads.

DeV.

Wolfe Tone

Well I was insulted Dev, and I think it would have been fairer to send that via a PM, if you had to say it at all. I saw it as a personal attack.

DeV I think the issue with that is that no one sticks to the OP, lucky if we get ten posts in without "IRA scumbags, Gerry McCabe, etc etc" People see SF, or republican, and pop in to post stuff like that, and away we go down the yellow brick road. Also add in that any reasonable discussion of dissident republicans is all but impossible. Best thing to do DeV is to read the thread requesting a Northern Politics forum, its all in there. And as a previous poster said people are frightfully ignorant about even simple facts, should I just ignore that?


What do you want me to do DeV? I like to discuss these things, I didn't think it was a crime to post extensively about those things which I find interesting. I feel I make good contributions, sure you might object to the content, or disagree, but politics would be a very boring forum if all everyone ever did was agree with one another.

P. Breathnach

MUSSOLINI wrote: »

... I didn't think it was a crime to post extensively about those things which I find interesting...

I think you (and many other posters in the politics forums) miss DeV's core point: while it is not a crime to post extensively, it is a disservice to discussion to post substantially the same argument repeatedly.

I know your stance on NI politics because you go on at such length. I suspect that you do not know mine: that is mainly because I become so pissed off by what passes for discussion that I go elsewhere.

Wolfe Tone

P. Breathnach wrote: »

I think you (and many other posters in the politics forums) miss DeV's core point: while it is not a crime to post extensively, it is a disservice to discussion to post substantially the same argument repeatedly.

I know your stance on NI politics because you go on at such length. I suspect that you do not know mine: that is mainly because I become so pissed off by what passes for discussion that I go elsewhere.

When things become derailed from the original topic, which near always happens, to a discussion on the same things again, it is only natural you will see the same arguments again.

P. Breathnach

MUSSOLINI wrote: »

When things become derailed from the original topic, which near always happens, to a discussion on the same things again, it is only natural you will see the same arguments again.

From the same people, in much the same way. All convinced that they are repositories of truth. And believing that if they do not respond to everything that is said, the argument is lost. Dog-with-bone stuff.

The argument is lost when all but the same handful of people are in the same places in the same trenches firing the same ineffective missiles at one another, and the rest of us have moved off to find something more interesting.

Bottle_of_Smoke

To be honest I think the dinner table comment warranted a yellow card. However I've never been a mod so I don't know if mods can do that to a superior.

All the points put forward by Mussolini were valid in that thread. It wasn't even a northern thread, just happened to mention the 32csm who are mostly associated with the north(though in reality they're all over the island)

So yeah Mussolini takes part in a lot of northern threads, but I completely reject the notion he puts other's off posting, and I can think of other republican posters who are worthy of that comment

DeVore

I didnt mean to imply that Mussolini was the only one guilty of monopolising the conversation. It takes two to tango and I've said effectively the same to KeithAFC on a different thread.

The mods did take action and I accept their "chastisement". It may be that I need an "admin" account and a "personal" account, but thats another days thinking.

DeV.

FlutterinBantam

GuanYin wrote: »

And there in lies the crux of the problem

Spot on there .

This poster has been flogging a one issue agenda ad nauseum( nothing wrong with that I hasten to add)however his posting style is one dimensional and acerbic and doesn't really bring anything new to the table.

Same old same old, then he rears up when a Mod rightly nails him.

Usual dancing on the head of a pin

My 2c

Wolfe Tone

FlutterinBantam wrote: »

Spot on there .

This poster has been flogging a one issue agenda ad nauseum( nothing wrong with that I hasten to add)however his posting style is one dimensional and acerbic and doesn't really bring anything new to the table.

Same old same old, then he rears up when a Mod rightly nails him.

Usual dancing on the head of a pin

My 2c

If I am not mistaken you are banned from the politics forum. Bit rich of you to criticize another users posting style.

FlutterinBantam

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

If I am not mistaken you are banned from the politics forum. Bit rich of you to criticize another users posting style.

What's with this Wolf Tone moniker, thought you might have gone for 'Brendan Hughes' or 'The Dark' or something.

You are slipping up pal.

Anyway don't want to derail this ... byeeeee

Amhran Nua

Wolfe Tone wrote: »

And if he is half the man he appears to be I think he will do such.

"Men" have no difficulty attaching their name to their convictions. This isn't the first time you've gotten in trouble for monopolising a thread and acting in an untoward fashion towards other posters. I fully support the actions of the mods in this instance.

K-9

I can see a problem here, in that many Republican posters moan that debates about NI end up with the same circular debate and always see it as the other side to blame. Same happens on other political discussion sites, not just the political forum of Boards, so I don't think it is a specific Boards.ie issue.

Personally, I wonder can debates about NI end up in any other way? I'd say if I posted on fora that attract mostly Loyalist centred contributors with a few Republican posters, we'd end up with the same gripes.

It's the zero sum game that is NI politics. It isn't even specific to the 2 communities, SDLP fight with SF, DUP with UUP etc., all mostly concerned with how patriotic and nationalistic they are.

It's largely an emotional topic. There are other subjects that I don't post on or other posters that I don't interact with (about 2) because it's the same old, same old thread, deja vue stuff. Some post the same stuff but can add an interesting slant to it now and again, worth reading for that.

NI stuff to me is same old, same old. Not because the subject is old, I dip in now and again awaiting an enlightened, different from the norm view. Often I see that view but it is drowned out in the usual d*ck waving contest, ignored or quickly forgotten.

Still, there are other subjects on the politics boards that get monopolised in the same way, not adding much, the 10 threads a day rants against the public service being another topic that takes over too, same old faces monopolising the debate which goes on and on like Ariston.

K-9

So, subjects with repetitive posters..... NI, Public Service pay, the Palestine question, left v. right wing US politics, Euro sceptics etc. etc.

I can see why posters would feel aggrieved that one area was picked on. Either have a consistent rule on posters monopolising topics or none at all.

FlutterinBantam

What boils my piss tbh ,is the endless propaganda churned out by the pro Palestinian lobby.

While it is politics, I would have to opine that the situation in that area is hardly a matter of great concern to the ordinary Irish citizen.

Hence the prolific instigation of these threads which usually have an anti Israel/US corollary attached, would lead this poster to believe that a certain coterie have an agenda to promote, and Boards.ie is their vehicle for this.

Perhaps if these threads were watched a little more closely and seen for what they are, or shunted off to a ME forum, for example we would have less of psuedo concern for events in that area, looked at with a myopic view and regular posters would be free to discuss events more pertinent and important to the Irish people.

big b

Bottle_of_Smoke wrote: »

So yeah Mussolini takes part in a lot of northern threads, but I completely reject the notion he puts other's off posting, and I can think of other republican posters who are worthy of that comment

You mean you don't think it's correct?
You're wrong.

Wolfe Tone

Amhran Nua wrote: »

"Men" have no difficulty attaching their name to their convictions. This isn't the first time you've gotten in trouble for monopolising a thread and acting in an untoward fashion towards other posters. I fully support the actions of the mods in this instance.

Theres a core difference here, I didn't feel comfortable in revealing my name, the difference was that you are claiming to represent a political party, big difference. Its not that I don't appreciate the sly dig, its just that there is an important difference there.


Actually it is, and in this case I didn't act untoward toward other posters, in fact thats why I had issue, it gave the impression that I did act in an untoward way, I didn't, the mods aren't even claiming I did. And this isnt exactly "getting in trouble".

Maybe some more people will crawl out of the woodwork and have a pop beyond what can be deemed constructive criticism.


Anyways, I'm satisfied now that DeV didn't mean anything personal by it, but I still think a PM would have been the better and fairer course of action.