(Site is a graveyard - How can boards save itself?) Any update?

eightieschewbaccy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549872#Comment_122549872

This reads like a person wanting to get rid of the moderators and admins they don't like... Like you're free to demand it but don't be surprised when it doesn't happen. Account closure is slightly more annoying but it amounts to sending an email.

Packrat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549808#Comment_122549808

No. Unciviily, Trolling (whether low level or overt, and the 'Dont be a dick' rules are entirely and unequivocally subjective. At the discretion of the mod, Cmod or Admin.

You have clearly shown by this comment at the end of a long list of comments; that you are completely unfit to mod anything more complicated than a "are puppies cute?" discussion if even that.

Cordell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549875#Comment_122549875

No, but mods who want to have more control over what people say tend to be left leaning. Keeping the discussion civil is not the same as censorship, and a mod should only focus on the former, that is what a discussion forum is supposed to be. And if that means more opinions that some (or most) consider racist sexist or whatever at least those opinions will be challenged in a debate rather than suppressed by being deleted or have the poster banned.

As for dispute resolution, it's a disgrace that in some cases we have to wait weeks or even months for a single reply, or that we have mods that ignore PMs. Even if they are doing this job voluntarily, that's no reason to be doing it so badly, and in some cases in bad faith.

Necro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549929#Comment_122549929

Unlikely, as I have said, it's not even asked. And it's nobody's business what way a person leans in any case. And just to answer your question I have worked with right leaning mods and have had no issue with them at all.

Backstreet Moyes

I think we need a bit more clarity on uncivil and acting the dick.

The word racist, any of the phobes etc is thrown around on a daily basis in threads.

I would think referring to people in such a manner would be both uncivil and acting the dick?

Maybe I am wrong but that would be my opinion.

If they are posting racist remarks then report them, these slurs are thrown around by a handful of posters when someone doesn't align with their views.

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549920#Comment_122549920

No, why would I? Like I said so long as a mod is doing the job right, their own personal opinions don't come into it

Overheal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549910#Comment_122549910

the only people who need to close their account are people who need to close their account once. Surely the only type of people who would have the sense to argue it’s cumbersome and needs to be streamlined, etc. are those who re-reg as trolls constantly?

suvigirl

There was

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549932#Comment_122549932

There was already a mod note earlier in the thead, which said if it turned into another thread about immigration it would be closed. It did, so it was.

Don't see the issue here Tbh

Smee_Again

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549872#Comment_122549872

Its like when my toddler tries to tell me what to do.

Sudden Valley

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549934#Comment_122549934

Unfortunately current affairs is way too busy to mod with the number of mods Boards seem to attract so reporting is the only method that can work.

That is the problem, what exactly constitutes Right wing or left win? the definition for alot of posters seems to be based on American politics that doesn't exactly align with Ireland. Posters want right wing mods here for Current Affairs but you for example may not meet their definition as you hold some left wing views.

Overheal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549932#Comment_122549932

Firstly I don’t think there is any need for the comment aside from the fact it’s being closed

bullshit when mods close it without further comments people get very dramatic and open up a bunch of threads demanding to know why

thomas 123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549966#Comment_122549966

of course you don’t as you agree with the moderator in this case - which is fair enough.

My point is simple - the opinion peice left by the moderator was not needed and only lends itself to what many think here in relation to moderation bias - I personally do not see it as a big deal but I’m not on here as frequently as many others.

ancapailldorcha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549932#Comment_122549932

What's the issue? There were multiple attempts to get it back on track which were ignored. There's also a dedicated refugee thread. Struggling to see the problem.

Necro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549932#Comment_122549932

Nah, bollocks. Thread is being closed because there's a group of posters spoiling for a fight with each other and they've completely and utterly ruined this thread. I engaged in the beginning because I thought it might be helpful to have a mod's insight but when it became clear it was just another pissing contest between two groups of posters who will never EVER agree with each other on anything I lost interest.

Edit: misread the post, thought it was about this thread whoops!

Effectively there is a HR department which is policing us now and anything that might even slightly upset any minority is completely intolerable... this simply will not function as we are introducing new minorities daily, whether that be new genders, new communities or new religions....and then the new 'rules' that change the way existing 'legacy' lol groups can behave or be seen.

Feisar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549946#Comment_122549946

Fair enough I was trying to figure out why one side of the arguments in CA seem to get away with a lot more than the other. But then I'd be centre right if I wasn't so apatetic to politics overall so maybe I just see it that way.

thomas 123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549985#Comment_122549985

The problem is the wording, it favors one side of an argument with many sides and it throws away peoples contributions as “immigrant bashing” . And it did it “predictably”.

If you can’t see the bit of Bias there then I don’t know why to say to you.

The feedback from me is simple on this - no need for the Note. “Thread closed - off topic” would do - or merge it into the other most suitable “immigrant bashing” thread.

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549984#Comment_122549984

I don't agree or disagree with the mod in this case, I don't care if the thread stays open or is closed.

And what happens when a mod closes a thread and says nothing?

ancapailldorcha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122550000#Comment_122550000

I'm not interested in snide insinuations.

The thread was closed and a legitimate reason clearly given. The refugee thread remains open.

thomas 123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549975#Comment_122549975

My last response explains my position - just keep the comment professional and to the point.

Overheal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549934#Comment_122549934

so your argument is there’s not modding, but there is modding and there are objectionable posts, but I won’t object to them. Moderators should just read your mind?

well here’s your problem: report posts you feel deserve to be reported and don’t reply to those posts on thread.

moderating is not a salaried 40 hour a week job moderators are unpaid volunteers who as humans still need to eat and breathe. They are not obliged nor can they possibly read through every post and every thread on every forum, much less for every post consider the totality of circumstances on whether it should be warned or not, keep everyone’s threadbans in their mental Rolodex etc.

If you come across something you think needs their attention that’s what the reported post function is precisely for. To accuse the mods of not lifting the finger while not lifting a finger for them is the staggering level of bollocks the we see repeatedly in the feedback forum each and every time this exact topics comes up. People who expect a volunteer moderation team to work for them when they won’t volunteer five seconds of their own time, until they can rage post about it in feedback after months of letting themselves stew about it

thomas 123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122550010#Comment_122550010

can you clarify if you think I made a snide insinuation? That’s what it reads like?

The quoted words are from what the moderator on that particular closing comment said. This is it about one moderator though - it’s a general thing which I have raised as feedback before, the closing comment should state the reason why the thread was closed as concisely as possible without favoring one side of a conversation which was demonstrated in the example I shared.

I don’t really care about the refugee thread really, it’s nothing to do with the point of feedback I’ve raised. But if a moderator such as yourself feels that they are related should they not be merged together?

thomas 123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122550001#Comment_122550001

Just state the reason- like “thread gone off topic” would have more than sufficed in that example.

Overheal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549984#Comment_122549984

what exactly was the moderator indicating they were biased against him this example exactly? Bigotry? Hate Speech? Things that are already against the rules and charters, things that are against the law most jurisdictions, including the ones the website resides in?

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549388#Comment_122549388

I think you should go back and re-read your previous post(s) in light of this new standard you've introduced to support the present argument, a standard that likely will never be heard from again.

Because I think you missed the bit where you established this:
where is the post from me claiming that you said it

There's no such post, or you would have found it, instead of having to come up with this sophistry.
Pretty discrediting when you make a false accusation of lies, then have to shift the goalposts to try to repeat it.

Yes, it is a fact I stated it could be perceived that way, at least according to the standards of perception you had set yourself when stating similar opinions as 'fact'.

But maybe that was just your "perception" and you didn't mean to "purposefully misrepresent" anyone.

As I said readers can draw their own conclusions about a poster who cries foul when their motivations are ascribed to a 'persecution complex', and 'a form of narcissism' but doles out their own claims of motivations based on 'extreme anger' and 'extreme agitation'.

I see now you are also describing those you disagree with on boards as "misanthropic oddballs".
I don't need to misrepresent anything, purposefully or otherwise - you are proving my points for me with your own words.

awec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549687#Comment_122549687

Centreist opinions are now far right. 

Conservative opinions are even more far right. 

If you're not far left, you're far right.

I'm sorry nullzero, but this is just doesn't stand up to any scrutiny.

There are plenty of posters on boards with what you would call traditional right wing opinions, and the overwhelming majority of them never end up on the mod radar. If you read any of the threads in CA, particularly any that have anything to do with immigration, the notion that boards is full of leftist content is quite frankly laughable.

These threads are frequently full of some of the greatest hits of today's popular conspiracy theories, such as:

• An extremely odd fixation on NGOs
• References to mainstream media or a belief that so-called citizen journalists represent a more reliable source of information
• The "silent majority"
• The great replacement, and other conspiracy theories
• Talk about George Soros (though this one seems to have gone out of vogue at the moment)
• The great reset / WEF

We get endless Twitter posts presented as sources of information from individuals like Paul Golding, Tommy Robinson and even from nameless, faceless accounts. For whatever reason plenty of posters on here fall for these lads hook, line and sinker.

Right wing views are no issue on here.

Even the conspiracy theorists and outright extremists with views that go far past what would be deemed "right wing" by any normal definition get more than their fair share on airtime on this platform.

Most people IRL aren't on the fringes of the political spectrum

I agree completely.

CA is not at all representative of Irish society.

I doubt anyone knows anyone in real life who believes much of the stuff you'll see presented as fact in CA.

Overheal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122550013#Comment_122550013

queue feedback threads demanding to know how the thread was off topic how can a thread about current affairs be off topic in current affairs etc.

thomas 123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122550060#Comment_122550060

In the opinion of the moderator, yourself and anyone who agrees sure. This thread is not for debating what is and what is not Hate speech etc your comments are at a bit of stretch though jn regards to laws being broken on the thread, which I’m sure would have been cited.

Again all I am Suggesting is when a thread is closed that the feedback is simple, “thread is off topic - closed.” Had that been done nobody could suggest the moderator might have a certain feeling or bias towards a particular viewpoint.

I’m sure any poster who broke the site rules will be sanctioned or fired off the site fairly quickly in any case.

thomas 123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122550086#Comment_122550086

let them queue. If it’s off topic it’s off topic. If it’s predictably another immigrant bashing thread merge it into the other one.

just for the record - I fully agree it’s miles off topic and should have been closed when it was.

eightieschewbaccy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122550065#Comment_122550065

Yep, I'd genuinely say there's far more far right or conspiratorial views on boards than I ever encounter in my day to day life. In general, people a lot more moderate in Ireland.

nullzero

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122550065#Comment_122550065

My experience is different.

I've been labelled as far right, fascist and had all sorts of ism's and phobias projected onto me for expressing moderately conservative opinions.

I'm not far right and never have been but it's acceptable to apply that label to me because I criticise left wing opinions so obviously I'm far right.

As you've taken the time to make your opinion on this topic known to me, could you clarify your opinion on the comments made by Ancapailldorcha about my mental health and his analysis that I am a narcissist, and in the spirit of discussing site feedback, does that type of opining have a place on boards.ie?

awec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122550139#Comment_122550139

Feel free to PM me links to what posts you want me to take a look at.

Overheal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122550105#Comment_122550105

No.. what your suggesting just creates more mod work and for the dumbest of reasons.

Overheal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122550112#Comment_122550112

hell most of the posts in the refugee threads read like they’re egging on or supporting hotels being burned down because they might one day be used to give a bed to someone who isnt Irish

ancapailldorcha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122550112#Comment_122550112

I've met at most a few people who'd genuinely believe in the tripe I see desperately peddled in CA.

Flaneur OBrien

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549990#Comment_122549990

You could just try being a decent human being and try not upset minorities, or people in general? Do you have to be told to eat breakfast? This is basic manners, something that is missing on many threads on the site.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549687#Comment_122549687

Your not a centrist despite what you believe.

nullzero

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122550184#Comment_122550184

What gives you the authority to determine that exactly?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122550188#Comment_122550188

Yur oft repeated positions.

thomas 123

You know all I suggested for leaving out was putting a clearly biased reason as a reason for closing a thread.

I’m not sure how that has turned into creating loads more mod work.

But whatever, maybe I’ll raise this when the Israel/Gaza thread is closed due to predictable antisemitism and/or Arab bashing - you might see my point then.

archfi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549988#Comment_122549988

And most of the same gangs are at each other in this thread for the past dozen pages or so. These are the posters who will never agree to disagree or even be courteous to each other. That's what blindly following extremes/ideologies does to people.

Quick 24hr/36/48hr/72hr/1week etc threadbans with no appeals or bloody PMs should tamper most of the bickering down, which has been previously suggested by a few. CA will need all mod hands on deck for that though, even from the hobby etc forums.

At least it should be given a try.

Though how a thread about a violent murderous terrorist attack by an immigrant won't involve some discussion of immigration (illegal and refugee applicants) and the overall mess it is everywhere, I don't know.

I think the mod's subjective editorialising was a mistake - why not announce 'too much head in the sand bleeding heartism on this thread' but no, 'immigrant bashing' is given as the thread closure reason.

Overheal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122550188#Comment_122550188

what gives you the authority to call users leninists or marxists or unhealthy and whatever?

nullzero

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122550190#Comment_122550190

How would you describe my opinions?

z80CPU

A skit could be made about this thread topic on Callan's Kicks program. If both the mods and lefties had a sense of humour.

Would be one of the more memorable pieces too.

Necro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122550193#Comment_122550193

I seem to have conflated two issues by mistake, my apologies I thought the complaint was about the mod post in this thread.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122550200#Comment_122550200

Your opinions are consistently right of centre. I have never seen your express an opinion which could be remotely described as left of centre.

That's what it would take to consider you a centrist - a tiny modicum of balance.

eightieschewbaccy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122550188#Comment_122550188

I do think there's a certain irony that you've implied the site is filled with trotskyists but you draw the line at people viewing you as right wing….

nullzero

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122550214#Comment_122550214

So you've observed every post I've ever made on this site?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122550218#Comment_122550218

I have observed enough.

thomas 123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549988#Comment_122549988

will this be revised then @Necro ?

it’s gas it was thanked a number of times - it really shows that nobody reads anything 😂