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Female, LGBTQI+ or People of Colour Mods

0xzmro3n4y7lb5

Is there any Female, LGBTQI+ (Outside that forum) or People of Colour Mods?

The tone of the men creates a hostile environment and they all seem to back each other up.

Allowing new registered posters free reign on using the word ‘retard’ and the vilest objectification of women.

Is boards the place diversity left behind?

I bring this up as I feel it’s a very intimidating place because of the toxic masculinity on display.

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Gatling

Gruffalux wrote: »

I always think posters look exactly like their avatars. Silly but I can't help it.

Well hello Nurse

Gruffalux

Beasty wrote: »

My photo is there in my avatar. Please refer to me as "Sir" or "Warden Hodges". I'm a qualified First Aider, but other than that have not received any qualifications since my last exam on 11 July 1985. I hope to be the first Site Administrator drawing his pension in a few weeks time (not from here I might add:pac:)

I always think posters look exactly like their avatars. Silly but I can't help it.

Beasty

banie01 wrote: »

I want mods to include their photo, pro-nouns and qualifications!

My photo is there in my avatar. Please refer to me as "Sir" or "Warden Hodges". I'm a qualified First Aider, but other than that have not received any qualifications since my last exam on 11 July 1985. I hope to be the first Site Administrator drawing his pension in a few weeks time (not from here I might add:pac:)

Gatling

Gruffalux wrote: »

And what are you going to do with a female mod who doesn't agree with you?!

Demand a transmod

Beasty

Sterling Worried Mackerel wrote: »

"There's a place on this site for pretty much everyone except for those who simply want to stir things".

The implication is that I am a 'stirrer' and the people I disagree with who use the sleaziest of language, who name call me, aren't.

I'm sorry if you read it that way. It was certainly not intended. Most of the posters I am referring to are sitebanned as trolls, re-reg trolls, spammers and the like

I have no issue with you starting this thread, particularly as it gives me the opportunity to set out my own perspective after being on the site for over a decade as a "registered user" posting in a couple of relatively niche forums, then as a moderator of both forums. I expanded my responsibility across all Sports Forums as a Category moderator. In doing that I experience all the issues around the likes of the Soccer Forum and to a lesser extent Rugby. I then took on sitewide responsibilities and in that role was quite close to the creation of the Current Affairs (and after that Coronavirus) forum

If I look at my own posting record, a significant proportion of my 40k+ posts (not far off 50%) have been in private mods forums discussing issues across the site, and when I add my "visible" moderating posts, and dealings in the likes of Feedback it comes to well over 50% of "non-personal" posting

I have dedicated a lot of time to this site over that 10+ years. I've got a lot out of it as well. I've been told I'm "brain dead", apparently I'm a leftie, as well as a "rightie" (although I would challenge anyone to work out what my political leanings are based on what I have posted on this site). I've been threatened with physical violence. People have tried to doxx me (although I've never tried to hide my real identity) in the hope they can stir things for me elsewhere. I've even had to deal with posters who claim to be close to the Dublin gangland scene

The one thing I will come back to based on all those experiences on this site is it does cater for a very wide range of views. Posters sometimes fall foul of the rules. Sometimes we as mods get it wrong. Ultimately though the vast, vast majority of posters find this site a very useful resource, and a place where they can make friends (sometimes friends in the "real world" - I personally know and are friends with a very large number of posters, but equally I have acted against some of those posters when required - that does not affect my friendships, and nor des that make such posters "stirrers" or "troublemakers")

Gruffalux

And what are you going to do with a female mod who doesn't agree with you?!

jam_mac_jam

Danzy wrote: »

All mods should be diverse but the one thing they'll inevitably have is a common upper middle class modern left leaning background

That's the one thing they'll never accept diversity.

A gay person who isn't on script will be bounced out as quick as any one else who thinks ina way that isn't liked.

As if there aren't any right wing gay or black people. Almost like people don't base all their opninions on these things.

But yes never any mention of class. Ever.

[Deleted User]

Sterling Worried Mackerel wrote: »

As everyone is ganging up on me I'm going to watch Mary Berry.

I think it would be productive it people could reflect on the fact that the main page of boards is continuously filtered with obsessive threads about trans people with the sleaziest language.

That would be a good first step acknowledging this is happening.

Would you rather no discussion or only discussion that you agree with?

Can you suggest the gender, age and racial profile of the mod most likely to guarantee you your preferred outcome? Perhaps specificity would aid us in reaching an outcome here.

0xzmro3n4y7lb5

osarusan wrote: »

Seems like you've been on boards for a while, but only discovered the...ah...joys of Current Affairs. It's the sewer of boards, and has been since it was set up. Populated with its share of total dicks, and has been since it was set up. They eventually get banned only to reregister and do it all over again.

You would do yourself and your inner calm a big favour by just never going back into the forum.

Thank you for your contribution.

I did notice a lot of them are new users who only post on that or one other forum.

Danzy

Sterling Worried Mackerel wrote: »

As everyone is ganging up on me I'm going to watch Mary Berry.

I think it would be productive it people could reflect on the fact that the main page of boards is continuously filtered with obsessive threads about trans people with the sleaziest language.

That would be a good first step acknowledging this is happening.

It isn't though.

[Deleted User]

Sterling Worried Mackerel wrote: »

Thank you for your contribution.

That's, as you say the kicker, progress often comes kicking and screaming.

Thank you for your thanks for my contribution

I don't believe in the merit of declaring one's own beliefs as 'progress', it is a transparently self-congratulatory act that low-key denigrates opposing views without providing a rejoinder of any substance so I regret that I cannot myself thank you for your contribution.

osarusan

Sterling Worried Mackerel wrote: »

For a place that has so many topics about the above, there is a distinct lack of voices from such, and if a woman gets a bit uppity she's shot down.

Seems like you've been on boards for a while, but only discovered the...ah...joys of Current Affairs. It's the sewer of boards, and has been since it was set up. Populated with its share of total dicks, and has been since it was set up. They eventually get banned only to reregister and do it all over again.

You would do yourself and your inner calm a big favour by just never going back into the forum.

cdeb

Sterling Worried Mackerel wrote: »

As everyone is ganging up on me I'm going to watch Mary Berry.

Actually nobody's ganging up on you.

They're disagreeing with you, and the opportunity is there to debate the points on either side and explore the issues.

But you just keep reiterating the same point while actively ignoring what people are saying to you.

Danzy

All mods should be diverse but the one thing they'll inevitably have is a common upper middle class modern left leaning background or they'll be problematic as well.

That's the one thing they'll never accept diversity In.

A gay person who isn't on script will be bounced out as quick as any one else who thinks ina way that isn't liked.

cdeb

TheBlackPill wrote: »

And their home addesses too. So if they are not woke enough i can doorstep them to discuss their moderation further

As a mod who identifies as "zur", not "their", I find your comment offensive.

/sarcasm (Just in case!)

banie01

Gatling wrote: »

Boards on zoom.

That way it's all transparent we can literally see into to each others world as we discussed topic's live in HD

Awww see!
Now I actually kind of really want that!

I'm too ugly for HD tho!

Gruffalux

The bleat about not liking a thread appearing on the front page is so disingenuous.
Simple remedy. Select forums you want to follow. And either select my forums when you log on or have the boards/my forums url as your default log in. Someone will be able to explain how to do that better than me. Or you can select the 'my threads' tab and your eyes do not ever have to be offended.

There are plenty of threads I could not be arsed with. Trivially annoyed, where are you, views on multiculturalism, sport, some kind of werewolf weirdness I cannot figure out, ms paint, it's endless how many things I am not interested in. There was or perhaps still is an enormous thread about shyte. Somehow one manages.

You are plenty well able to dish the contempt as well, so stop with the obsequious thanking and pretending to be sheltered and easily offended. Topics have to be thrashed out. And your views are not the only ones that exist.

0xzmro3n4y7lb5

As everyone is ganging up on me I'm going to watch Mary Berry.

I think it would be productive it people could reflect on the fact that the main page of boards is continuously filtered with obsessive threads about trans people with the sleaziest language.

That would be a good first step acknowledging this is happening.

TheBlackPill

banie01 wrote: »

I want mods to include their photo, pro-nouns and qualifications!

And their home addesses too. So if they are not woke enough i can doorstep them to discuss their moderation further

Gatling

banie01 wrote: »

I want mods to include their photo, pro-nouns and qualifications!

Boards on zoom.

That way it's all transparent we can literally see into to each others world as we discussed topic's live in HD

banie01

Gatling wrote: »

I beginning to think we're looking at one of bigger wind ups on boards for a while ,
Look at the toxic masculinity but I'm a little old dear who's lived a sheltered ,
Suddenly I want mods based on their sexualities and race and ethnicity , beliefs.

It's such a shame this is allowed to continue

I want mods to include their photo, pro-nouns and qualifications!

jam_mac_jam

Sterling Worried Mackerel wrote: »

Thank you for your contribution.

I suppose it boils down to boards not being a welcoming place for some people as I've outlined. Has there been a week in the last however many years that transpeople haven't been off the main page?

It's well and good to say these things don't matter but when they are a barrier then it's problematic.

I want to say as openly and honesty as I can the way you lead your contribution with

"There's a place on this site for pretty much everyone except for those who simply want to stir things".

The implication is that I am a 'stirrer' and the people I disagree with who use the sleaziest of language, who name call me, aren't.

That is a common theme I've noticed on the forum as I explore the site, I don't always contribute to the threads I read, I just want recommendations on Aldi products.

Yet the pull to take a stand for voices that aren't here who are constantly reduced to their genitalia is strong.

I'm sorry mods don't like my style, whatever that is, but respectfully I think mods should focus on content more and clean up the obsession with trans people and genitalia.

A poster summed it up and understood my frustrations. It would be nice and reassuring that just once the mods, the active mods on these topics understood the frustration seeing such hateful, sleazy and spiteful things on the threads.

The reason that your style is not suited is that you are trolling. Quite deliberately. And then gaslighting.

Name calling and sarcasm. And when you are pulled up on it it's all sweetness and light. You blatantly name called people and then denied it. You are not arguing in good faith.

There are plenty of people who can have different views and not name call.

It's also incredibly racist and sexist to ask what race or sex people are on an anonymous website. Why are you judging people on those terms rather than their character?

0xzmro3n4y7lb5

Buford T. Justice XIX wrote: »

Now, I have only come across you as a poster here yesterday so that's a plus in your favour, but the problem as I see it here is not your ideas or point of view but the way you choose to express those ideas and point of view.

Your first sentence in the above post...

is fine in itself. But posting it and variations of it 16 times so far in the thread is trolling, in this case posting for effect.

There is a basic etiquette in posting that, thus far, I have not seen from you. Most posters is a new site or forum would spend some time reading and learning how the particular forum, its posters and mods operates before posting and adjusting their posting style to remain within the forum standards.

All I have see is you trying to impose your views on other posters.

This is a discussion site, we discuss events and ideas and posters viewpoints of those events and ideas. Sometimes viewpoints you have may not gather the acclaim you seek for them. It's up to you to convince others that your belief is the correct one and argue your point with civility. Sometimes you may win a discussion sometimes not but it's only through discussion that understanding the alternate viewpoint and reaching a common middle ground that progress can be made.

As to your diversity claim, mods are chosen for their ability to maintain and uphold the charter and their ability to choose the correct course of action to remedy any issues that may appear in forums under their charge.

Their sex, colour, creed, sexual preference or any other issue is far from our minds when asking posters if they would be interested in modding a forum. I don't even know any of the above about any poster or mod here until or unless they choose to reveal such about themselves.

Why? Because it's largely immaterial in their ability to function as a mod or a poster.

I certainly am not going to ask a poster what their sex, creed, colour, sexual orientation, hair colour or choice of holiday destination is as it has no place in an anonymous forum.

It's tough on ginger sun-magnets like myself but there you go.

I'm not going to read past the assertion that thanking and validating posters contributions is trolling.

0xzmro3n4y7lb5

Deleted User wrote: »

I do think that a diverse team of mods isn't in itself an inherently bad concept

But going about aiming for it, and how you ensure it, is- as always with these things- the kicker

I also think that the suggestion is stronger made when not such an obvious swipe at the existing mods while in a sitewide tantrum tbh

Thank you for your contribution.

That's, as you say the kicker, progress often comes kicking and screaming.

Danzy

Sterling Worried Mackerel wrote: »

Most are open about their gender and sexuality.

This is very far from the truth.

0xzmro3n4y7lb5

Dravokivich wrote: »

Don't you dare thank me for my contribution as its anything but!

What do you think would change from a moderation perspective based on gender, orientation or race?

What makes either of these any more likely to be sympathetic qualities? As this seems to be the basis of your OP.

Thank you for your contribution.

There's an unhealthy obsession with trans people on the boards.

A poster posted picture of blackface and used the term retard.

If the mods were more diverse then yes I believe the content wouldn't be as sleazy and hateful.

cdeb

Sterling Worried Mackerel wrote: »

I can't thank an All Lives Matter contribution. Asking for equality doesn't make me a racist.

Judging people by their skin colour makes you racist.

You don't help yourself by misrepresenting the very point I made. In fact, you ignored most of it.

Buford T. Justice XIX

Sterling Worried Mackerel wrote: »

Thank you for your contribution.

I just feel if a man told me how to speak or how to respond to him in the real world before I retired I’d have a case with HR.

Would these men speak to their colleagues like this in work?

It’s intimidating.

For a place that has so many topics about the above, there is a distinct lack of voices from such, and if a woman gets a bit uppity she's shot down.

Now, I have only come across you as a poster here yesterday so that's a plus in your favour, but the problem as I see it here is not your ideas or point of view but the way you choose to express those ideas and point of view.

Your first sentence in the above post...

Thank you for your contribution.

is fine in itself. But posting it and variations of it 16 times so far in the thread is trolling, in this case posting for effect.

There is a basic etiquette in posting that, thus far, I have not seen from you. Most posters is a new site or forum would spend some time reading and learning how the particular forum, its posters and mods operates before posting and adjusting their posting style to remain within the forum standards.

All I have see is you trying to impose your views on other posters.

This is a discussion site, we discuss events and ideas and posters viewpoints of those events and ideas. Sometimes viewpoints you have may not gather the acclaim you seek for them. It's up to you to convince others that your belief is the correct one and argue your point with civility. Sometimes you may win a discussion sometimes not but it's only through discussion that understanding the alternate viewpoint and reaching a common middle ground that progress can be made.

As to your diversity claim, mods are chosen for their ability to maintain and uphold the charter and their ability to choose the correct course of action to remedy any issues that may appear in forums under their charge.

Their sex, colour, creed, sexual preference or any other issue is far from our minds when asking posters if they would be interested in modding a forum. I don't even know any of the above about any poster or mod here until or unless they choose to reveal such about themselves.

Why? Because it's largely immaterial in their ability to function as a mod or a poster.

I certainly am not going to ask a poster what their sex, creed, colour, sexual orientation, hair colour or choice of holiday destination is as it has no place in an anonymous forum.

It's tough on ginger sun-magnets like myself but there you go.

0xzmro3n4y7lb5

cdeb wrote: »

I think you come across a bit racist by suggesting that, say, black people would make better moderators than white people. (And similarly with your other labels)

This kind of categorising of people is deeply unhelpful. Would it not be better to see everyone as people rather than focusing on the colour of their skin? Because to focus purely on skin colour isn't diversity, it's literally the definition of racism.

I don't think the skin colour/gender/sexual orientation of moderators is any of your business to be quite honest.

I can't thank an All Lives Matter contribution. Asking for equality doesn't make me a racist.

0xzmro3n4y7lb5

Beasty wrote: »

There's a place on this site for pretty much everyone except for those who simply want to stir things

The site caters for probably close to a complete range of topics, and posters often find personal "gems" among particularly some of the less active forums

When it comes to the larger forums there is much more of a tendency to consider posts in light of forum specific rules. Two particular forums that immediately come to mind are Politics and Soccer - two very different forums but for very good reason having quite strict rules and typically very experienced mods

Others like AH and Current Affairs cater for discussion in a more "laid back" form. Yes civility is expected and there is more of a tendency for some posters to troll in such forums

When it comes to choosing mods, there are several hundred already in place. Some very experienced, some less so, and with some of those "smaller" forums they may hardly ever have to deal with issues within the relevant forums. That highlights there is no "one size fits all" in terms of the characteristics of moderation and indeed moderators

One thing we will never ask a prospective mod is anything about their sex/sexuality, religion, race, age etc. All posters on this site are entitled to their anonymity and that applies equally to moderators. If posters and or mods choose to reveal such personal information that is entirely up to them. However we are not in a position (nor would ever want to) "verify" such statements

As is stated repeatedly, particularly in Feedback, we are all unpaid volunteers. There are 2 "verified" staff, Niamh and Mark, who you will see on occasion along with some of the site developers. They are the only people who "work" on the site and get paid for doing so

So OP, in suggesting more diversity, and given the parameters I've set out, firstly you (and we) can never "know" what backgrounds moderators come from (although we may be able to make educated guesses) and given we all do this for no personal reward, it's also a case of "beggars cannot be choosers" to some extent. We will look for certain characteristics in posts and posting styles, but have no other meaningful "data" to go on

Thank you for your contribution.

I suppose it boils down to boards not being a welcoming place for some people as I've outlined. Has there been a week in the last however many years that transpeople haven't been off the main page?

It's well and good to say these things don't matter but when they are a barrier then it's problematic.

I want to say as openly and honesty as I can the way you lead your contribution with

"There's a place on this site for pretty much everyone except for those who simply want to stir things".

The implication is that I am a 'stirrer' and the people I disagree with who use the sleaziest of language, who name call me, aren't.

That is a common theme I've noticed on the forum as I explore the site, I don't always contribute to the threads I read, I just want recommendations on Aldi products.

Yet the pull to take a stand for voices that aren't here who are constantly reduced to their genitalia is strong.

I'm sorry mods don't like my style, whatever that is, but respectfully I think mods should focus on content more and clean up the obsession with trans people and genitalia.

A poster summed it up and understood my frustrations. It would be nice and reassuring that just once the mods, the active mods on these topics understood the frustration seeing such hateful, sleazy and spiteful things on the threads.