The slow death of forums *see OP for Admin warning and update 28/02/18*

KellyXX

Necrominus wrote: »

Fair enough, but then if you look at the post directly below yours.....



You see exactly what I'm on about. Mindless, pointless drivel that may or may not be true and has NOTHING to do with issues on Boards.

Hey, easy on the aggression there.
No need for it.

weldoninhio

Necrominus wrote: »

Fair enough, but then if you look at the post directly below yours.....



You see exactly what I'm on about. Mindless, pointless drivel that may or may not be true and has NOTHING to do with issues on Boards.

If nothing else, you’ve provided a sterling audition for the role of Mod. I’m sure it will stand to you.

Necro

weldoninhio wrote: »

If nothing else, you’ve provided a sterling audition for the role of Mod. I’m sure it will stand to you.

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

This is where I bow out rather than attack the poster. Keep on thanking those posts passive aggressively though;)

MadDog76

Necrominus wrote: »

No it's not. Mods and admins are volunteers here, they are in place to enforce the rules. Not make them. Constantly railroading the thread and aggressively posturing the situation as it being their fault is patently wrong and the EXACT reason why threads like this get closed.

Proper feedback as said above is fine. Deliberately dismissing a mod or admins view because of their status is lame and a terrible argument.

And I happen to agree with some points made by certain posters. It's exactly like a lot of people tending to blame the rank and file Gardai for decisions made by their higher ups, ie not seeing the bigger picture.

I'm not complaining about posters being justifiably Infracted/Banned when they have blatantly broken a valid Rule. I welcome that in fact, but if you have a look through the DRP Forum you'll see case after case of Mods abusing their discretion to Ban valid opinions that guilty of nothing more than not fitting in with said Mod's own personal point of view ..... what's worse is that DRP blindly backs these Mods in the majority of cases.

The overwhelming response to genuine Feedback from the Mods on this thread has been "if you don't like it then f*ck off" ..... some have made the effort to dress it up a bit nicer in an attempt to sound reasonable but it still boils down to a like it or lump it stance.

weldoninhio

Necrominus wrote: »

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

This is where I bow out rather than attack the poster. Keep on thanking those posts passive aggressively though;)

Passive aggressive thanking, I’ve heard it all now hahaha

MadDog76

dudara wrote: »

To be honest, can you blame some of the mods if that’s how it comes across? It’s hard to take criticism all the time without reacting. Mods are asked to volunteer their time here and they care about the forums they mod, in a similar way to how posters care about the forums they post in.

Please try to remember when criticising that you are commenting on real people. That’s all I ask.

I should clarify that when I say "Mods" I don't mean every single Mod (or indeed Admin) on Boards ...... I'm referring to a select few who are doing significant damage.
There are some great Mods (when posting as Mods or as regular Users) on Boards which I can't name because to do so would effectively mean I'd be also naming the bad Mods.

I will say a couple of good ones have posted on this thread alongside a few bad ones.

J Mysterio

KellyXX wrote: »

One of the mods here used to work in my company. He thought nobody knew but the whole of IT used to be taking the piss behind his back at every post. I don't know how he got any work done with the amount of drivel out of him.
From his posts you would think he ran the company but far from it. Even today, even though he works elswhere, his posts get plenty of laughs in the company

You sound like a bunch of assholes tbh.

Tom Mann Centuria

Tom Mann Centuria wrote: »

I support feedback being proper feedback again as has been suggested, with minimum post number and or length of time registered.

But my support means the same as yours and every other poster, nothing more. This is fact, not defensive, and it is gets frustrating when certain posters frame the argument as them versus us, which is patently bullplop, I have no more say about any of this than you do, nor can I lock this thread, reopen a thread, edit a thread or molest it in any way as it's not the forum I mod.

Its not framed them v Us, its framed as why cant they say what they like for example say it a thread about traveller or feminist or any hot button topic they are not complaining that their evidenced based points are being disallowed they are complaints that boards wont indulge their visceral obnoxious ranting. They often haven't a clue what right wing is and believe there is widespread support for their point of view.

MadDog76

weldoninhio wrote: »

If nothing else, you’ve provided a sterling audition for the role of Mod. I’m sure it will stand to you.

LOL

I love boards. It's given me a lot, different viewpoints, information, friends, connections. In fact for me that's how I use it, to connect. I love the little insight in to peoples lives and who they might be. Anonymous we are but still real people.

There are of course problems on the site. It's not perfect by any means. The world we live in is changing and so are the ways in which we communicate. Some of it is bad and some of it is good. There will always be the oddballs who hide behind a profile and spout bile and hatred and inhabit a persona they wouldn't in the "real world".


Some thoughts of mine regarding boards;

It seems to me that each forum on boards has it's own personality and that it's hard to pull them all together under the one scope. That's a good thing though. How After Hours is moderated will be different to Personal Issues. The tone is different, the posters may be different. So maybe having a feedback sticky in each forum might be a better idea than one that's site wide.

There is no great conspiracy among mods and admins to shut down opposing opinions. That just seems a bit mad. I mean do people think they all gather and say "right if anyone mentions anything remotely right wing we need to nip it in the bud". What I do think is that some mods may be biased and operate from this place when moderating. At the end of the day they are human and won't always hit the right note.

Interview the person below you was an AH thread that was moved to Cuckoo's Nest. Apparently that forum was once very lively. I posted a lot in the aforementioned thread when it was moved. I then posted in some other threads in the Nest as did others. To me it looked like moving the thread injected new life in to a dead forum. Guess what happened? The mod in the Cuckoo's Nest decided the Interview thread would be better suited some place else.
The place reverted back to being quiet and empty. That's the kind of thing in my opinion which ruins communities and growing a forum.

Private forums. The way I view them is it's ok to not be invited to every party.

Cliques. The nature of being human means people gravitate towards others who they feel an affiliation or having something in common with or just like. There is a request access forum here that I initially felt was cliquey but my view has changed. We all have to start somewhere. If I was a regular poster there no doubt others would view me as part of the clique when in actual fact all I did was join in.



*edited because I hit 'post' by accident

KellyXX

KellyXX wrote: »

One of the mods here used to work in my company. He thought nobody knew but the whole of IT used to be taking the piss behind his back at every post. I don't know how he got any work done with the amount of drivel out of him.
From his posts you would think he ran the company but far from it. Even today, even though he works elswhere, his posts get plenty of laughs in the company

That's childish and mean. Why would you bother?

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

That's childish and mean. Why would you bother?

Call me suspicious, but I doubt it's true.

KellyXX

[Deleted User] wrote: »

That's childish and mean. Why would you bother?

I didn't participate in the gang criticism, but I suppose I did laugh to myself at it, which im allowed to do I hope.

B.A._Baracus

It's time for boards... To die.




*plays last jedi music*








Luke Skywanker. Boardsie member
















I'll get my coat

MadDog76

[Deleted User] wrote: »

It seems to me that each forum on boards has it's own personality and that it's hard to pull them all together under the one scope. That's a good thing though. How After Hours is moderated will be different to Personal Issues. The tone is different, the posters may be different. So maybe having a feedback sticky in each forum might be a better idea than one that's site wide.

There is no great conspiracy among mods and admins to shut down opposing opinions. That just seems a bit mad. I mean do people think they all gather and say "right if anyone mentions anything remotely right wing we need to nip it in the bud". What I do think is that some mods may be biased and operate from this place when moderating. At the end of the day they are human and won't always hit the right note.

The individual Forum Feedback sticky is one of the better ideas to come out of this thread Perse, hopefully somebody will take note.

Whilst I don't think there's Mod conspiracy as such I do think Mods are too quick to blindly back eachother up, as seen on this thread ...... you're right though, it's individual Mods using their status on here to impose their personal points of view into moderating the site.

Arghus

Once again though how do people explain the drop-off in traffic in forums which have the lightest of light touch moderation?

It's not all about the Moderation guys.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Arghus wrote: »

Once again though how do people explain the drop-off in traffic in forums which have the lightest of light touch moderation?

It's not all about the Moderation guys.

I agree, but the thread has become obsessed with the moderation issue even though the argument doesn't hold true of other forums.

Discodog

Wibbs wrote: »

Sums up much of it for me _K_

If you think so then we are doomed - If Boards won't listen to you then the rest of us have no chance

jackofalltrades

Deleted User wrote: »

There is no great conspiracy among mods and admins to shut down opposing opinions. That just seems a bit mad. I mean do people think they all gather and say "right if anyone mentions anything remotely right wing we need to nip it in the bud". What I do think is that some mods may be biased and operate from this place when moderating. At the end of the day they are human and won't always hit the right note.

The founder and one of the most senior people on the site, at the time, described right wing opinions as becoming more extremist.
He then closed the thread so no further discussion could be made on the topic.
I could site several threads that show obvious signs of politically based moderation.
And I don't get where this oft repeated idea that there needs to be meetings for bias to exist.
You have such things as group think and organisational culture.
Mods are usually chosen by existing mods.

Discodog

MadDog76 wrote: »

The individual Forum Feedback sticky is one of the better ideas to come out of this thread Perse, hopefully somebody will take note.

Whilst I don't think there's Mod conspiracy as such I do think Mods are too quick to blindly back eachother up, as seen on this thread ...... you're right though, it's individual Mods using their status on here to impose their personal points of view into moderating the site.

If they do then I will insist on taking the credit :pac:

But I wouldn't hold your breath

In any event what's the point if no one listens ? I remember problems with a forum that, apparently always gave problems. One of the greats of Boards was appointed a mod & we all breathed a huge sigh of relief. He immediately changed the atmosphere, everyone chilled, he invited feedback & in no time was replaced. All the feedback was ignored.

Zoey Famous Aftershave

Zoey Famous Aftershave wrote: »

I agree, but the thread has become obsessed with the moderation issue even though the argument doesn't hold true of other forums.

AH is the staple of the site. If people get sick of it, they're less likely to come to the site at all and thus the other forums get less traffic.

sentient_6

Iv been debating closing my account for awhile now because I just get completely jaded. One reason is circular threads that go nowhere like this one, were the discussion gets so muddled I actually can't follow it anymore.

And another is I get fed up seeing people asking questions of a very specific nature like in technical type forums like android devices that could be answered if people bothered at all to seek out information for themselves. Its like a personal Google for stupid lazy people. They don't want an opinion they want a specific stupid question answered for the hundredth time. It's exhausting.

jackofalltrades

jackofalltrades wrote: »

The founder and one of the most senior people on the site, at the time, described right wing opinions as becoming more extremist.
He then closed the thread so no further discussion could be made on the topic.
I could site several threads that show obvious signs of politically based moderation.
And I don't get where this oft repeated idea that there needs to be meetings for bias to exist.
You have such things as group think and organisational culture.
Mods are usually chosen by existing mods.

Yes I do remember that and I take your point regarding group think and the culture that may exist.

Discodog

Discodog wrote: »

If they do then I will insist on taking the credit :pac:

But I wouldn't hold your breath

In any event what's the point if no one listens ? I remember problems with a forum that, apparently always gave problems. One of the greats of Boards was appointed a mod & we all breathed a huge sigh of relief. He immediately changed the atmosphere, everyone chilled, he invited feedback & in no time was replaced. All the feedback was ignored.

Why was he replaced?

Discodog

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Why was he replaced?

Not for us mortals to speculate but it did seem like his methods were at odds with the establishment.

Discodog

Discodog wrote: »

Not for us mortals to speculate but it did seem like his methods were at odds with the establishment.

I don't know who the mod in question is but it seems odd to me that one would be de-modded because of their views. Or am I being naive?

It wouldn't be the first time

Arghus

Zoey Famous Aftershave wrote: »

I agree, but the thread has become obsessed with the moderation issue even though the argument doesn't hold true of other forums.

I think there's an obsession with moderation from certain quarters on boards, rather than it being a real problem.

Boards has always been moderated, even back in the day when it was bustling with activity: there was plenty of moderation then and people going on about it constantly- and it didn't seem to hurt the site's traffic one bit.

Moderation is something that is carried out by regular people who have their own biases, so of course it's not going to be perfect 100% of the time. In general: If you don't act the dick you won't have any problems and I feel a lot of people who serially complain about it have acted the dick in the past and probably continue to do so. Moderation may not be infallible, but people need to take personal responsibility for what they say as well.

Every day After Hours is clogged up with threads bashing different sections of society, filled with barely articulate posts with people making wild assertions based on nothing but their own prejudices - acting the dick. Sometimes other people have to step in and take the megaphone away from the mouths of the idiots - it has to be done sometimes.

I'm not against hearing opposing views to my own - there's posters on here who I don't agree with on many issues, but I respect them, without agreeing with them, because they can make their points with a degree of coherance and without having to resort to insult or just downright ignorance.

Without a degree of oversight it would be an absolute sh!tshow in here and as bad as it sometimes is, it would be a whole lot worse.

Discodog

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I don't know who the mod in question is but it seems odd to me that one would be de-modded because of their views. Or am I being naive?

It wouldn't be the first time

I doubt they were de-modded. I think that it was described as a temporary appointment. But it really demonstrated how a good Mod can hugely improve a forum.

One of the problems is that, because of the hierarchy, a new Mod has to follow the lead of the established one.

He dared to ask for opinions on his moderation which shows class & confidence.

Mountainsandh

Arghus wrote: »

Once again though how do people explain the drop-off in traffic in forums which have the lightest of light touch moderation?

It's not all about the Moderation guys.

Like Ads for Google, I think you could have a DIY enthusiast or a plumber who doesn't just come to boards for these forums specifically, but also enjoys the bit of banter on say, AH. Or maybe they're also into politics, or gaming.
I like archeology, just as a hobby. I might not come on to check on the archeology forum on a regular basis, but when I come on to check on some other thread in AH, I could happen to see something interesting in my other earmarked fora and might end up participating there.

If I stop checking my favourite AH threads for whatever reason, which could very well be overzealous moderation, chances are I won't bother checking the other fora.

andekwarhola

Discodog wrote: »

This the classic comment repeated over & over again.

Fair enough, I wasn't belittling anybody's views and I'm not cheerleading for boards management at all.

Just meant I don't seem to take it as seriously as others. I like the site, although it's largely habit sometimes, but I'd survive if it folded and the things that annoy me about the site don't appear to be any better or worse than things that irritate me about other sites.

Also the touching belief that we all 'own' our content on a privately hosted, commercial site seems to point to a level of seriousness about the site that's frankly beyond me.

And ironically, I'd say some of the reasons for a haemorrhaging of moderate, light hearted posters is as much down to the battleground that's evolved around things like this as much as anything else such as the hardening of opposing political factions and so on.