Very quiet in here

Big Bag of Chips · 24-04-2025 06:18PM

Decisions were overturned. Of course every decision wasn't overturned. Why would they be? If every decision should be overturned why bother with moderation at all?

The vast vast majority of warnings given are valid. Occasionally a moderator will get it wrong, or misunderstand a post. Everyone is human. How the warned poster approaches the mod following a warning very much influences the outcome. No volunteer, mod or admin has to tolerate abuse.

Decisions are more likely to get overturned if a poster engages with the process in good faith. That has always been the case.

I think you misunderstood, I'm not asking for suggestions and thoughts on how to improve things. I'm asking posters to think about what they specifically can do to make the forum a better place.

It's funny that everyone is here complaining about "others" but nobody is willing to look at their own behaviour and commit to change.

Trigger · 24-04-2025 06:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123386121#Comment_123386121

Unless it can be done on the admin side of things I very much doubt it. I would agree that spam posting is a big issue, not just in CA but across the boards as a whole, I've seen posts that reply to a number of posts within minutes of each other, the only way that I could somewhat explain it is the posters have multiple tabs open and type their replies before hitting post one after the other.

While I personally think that it is a good idea, I think the con of it would be that you would stiffle the ability of a poster to respond to posts that they are tagged in at the time, and they will inevitably reply the following day when the conversation within the thread has moved on and it just brings it right back, then round and round the thread goes. You would also have posters intentionally tagging/quoting knowing that the poster cannot reply and basically baiting and trolling that said poster.

PS. I hope it can be done so I can stop you spamming in the werewolf games 😂😂😜

eightieschewbaccy · 24-04-2025 06:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123386121#Comment_123386121

I'd say that one's definitely not functionality that's available.

Headshot · 24-04-2025 07:23PM

Even if they just use multiple quotes it would help at least with the spamming. The immigration thread is notorious for it.

I would like to see more balance in the modding, it always seems one side gets the blunt of warnings compared to the other.

nachouser · 24-04-2025 07:31PM

There's lots of talk on here about posters spamming in CA threads. Are they new accounts you're talking about, or just fairly long established posters who don't agree with you? If the latter, the idea of having a limit on the number of posts said people can make on a thread a day or whatever is ridiculous. If you think they're not making reasonable points or trying to derail a thread through multiple posts, that's what the report button is for. We all know this.

nullzero · 24-04-2025 08:34PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123386416#Comment_123386416

It's going on there right now.

There's something to be said for encouraging people to take a breath before posting three times in a few minutes.

We're also getting a demonstration of "your evidence isn't up to my standards" currently as well.

I'd encourage people to use the ignore function with these people and resist the urge to engage with them as its the only solution it would seem.

McBain11 · 24-04-2025 09:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123386240#Comment_123386240

I'm actually p*ssing myself laughing here. This is where we are on boards I guess. This wise poster giving their tuppence worth.

The best part about all of this is the manic spamming is full on in the Immigration thread in the past hour or so, the level of discourse is absolutely appalling. Posters are being being replied to demanding proof, then told that proof doesn't meet their standards. Don't ever forget either that you lot did not win 1 single seat out of 174 in the election and your hateful views do not represent the majority in Ireland. Imagine if I went on there and told suvigirl her hateful views don't represent me or the majority in Ireland - I'd be packing my bags from that thread in 30 seconds. Banned.

I'm paraphrasing the above, but the last few hours of posting in that thread are a small sample of the hundreds before. An astonishing level of nonsense and contempt in the level of posting. Inflammatory language in post galore. Completely unmoderated.

This poster will eventually be permanently be banned from that thread. I've absolutely no doubt about it. They are a completely toxic presence in that Immigration thread. I'm not sure why, but the mods seem to have dug their heels in on this one for some reason. It will be interesting to see what excuse they use when they permanently ban this poster.

Btw Aris, in response to your post earlier - I get it. I'm exceptionally self aware. I can accept my bans. Can you accept giving out bans for some of the most ludicrous reasons you can think of? Can you clarify what not being civil means in my case? Imagine if the mods had any level of self awareness whatsoever?

----------------------------------

Warned: Attacking the poster - repeatedly.

Hodors Appletart · 25-04-2025 09:12AM

Occasionally a moderator will get it wrong, or misunderstand a post.

But not the first 6 times, is it?

Big Bag of Chips · 25-04-2025 11:27AM

You can't start a DRP. A polite, civil email for a misunderstanding might get your warning reversed. It happens occasionally.

A smart arse dig at the moderator won't.

Hodors Appletart · 25-04-2025 12:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123387862#Comment_123387862

lol "might"

yeah sure

Big Bag of Chips · 25-04-2025 12:05PM

Yes it "might". It's not guaranteed.

Hodors Appletart · 25-04-2025 12:13PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123388008#Comment_123388008

that's an understatement

hometruths · 25-04-2025 12:20PM

Is it possible to get a bit more mod clarity around the anecdotes rule?

Presumably the thinking behind the no anecdotes rule is to stop the more ridiculous claims to bolster a ridiculous point - i.e extreme examples which should be obviously bad faith to all.

But currently you have people receiving warnings for discussing things like the practices in their place of work. And there seems to be no logic behind what constitutes an anecdote worthy of warning. One person's experience in their workplace maybe absolutely fine, but another's receives an unappealable warning.

It seems madness to think you can have a functioning discussion forum with an exchange of views where people are banned from the forum because they discuss their personal experiences.

RoyalCelt · 25-04-2025 12:32PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123388054#Comment_123388054

And ban people asking for anecdotes because it's a tactic people use to bait posters into bans.

If you can't give it you shouldn't be able to request it.

Would be a lot easier if anecdotes were just allowed.

hometruths · 25-04-2025 12:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123388095#Comment_123388095

A lot easier indeed, particularly given the new rules were designed "to reduce moderation to a more hands off level - threads will be allowed to meander, debate can be more robust and warnings will not be given for very minor infractions"

And now people are getting banned for expressing views based on personal experiences.

Yvonne007 · 25-04-2025 12:45PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123388135#Comment_123388135

I am currently on a three month ban for "backseat modding" when I mentioned that a mod was using language that would get non-mods banned.

my exact quote was "Are mods excempt from "uncivil posting"?

Warning and a ban for that?!

hometruths · 25-04-2025 12:53PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123388140#Comment_123388140

Was that from a post within the last few days?

Necro · 25-04-2025 12:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123388054#Comment_123388054

The anecdotes rule is specific to the immigration thread because everyone seems to want to tell unverifiable stories about what goes on in their daily life. It's been in place for a number of years at this stage.

Just discuss the topic, nobody needs to know that you live beside some DP centres and it's sound. And nobody cares that the vast majority of taxi drivers that you personally have experienced are foreign nationals.

This went on as well during Covid where everybody's uncle's friend's brother was someone in the know or directly affected by these things that just happen to be relevant to the topic. If you want that sort of posting then there's plenty of it on Facebook.

Yvonne007 · 25-04-2025 12:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123388181#Comment_123388181

No I am now a couple of months into my ban. It was in response to a mod saying to another poster

"Well done. I don't read something this incredibly stupid very often. Maybe like once a year or so. I'd ask you to elaborate but we both know there's no point"

which I would argue would be an immediate warning and ban for a non-mod, hence my question.

Hippodrome Song Owl · 25-04-2025 01:04PM

I think the words civil and uncivil are at the heart of a lot of the problems on the site these days. Direct, robust comments that are widely considered perfectly civil in discussions in normal society among decent people, even in a professional setting, are sometimes being ruled uncivil in certain forums here. Meanwhile, passive-aggressive posts that drip with condescension and disdain, comments that belittle and would warrant a visit to HR if put in an email, are acceptable, and indeed appear to be the exemplar in certain forums. Yet the same tone may very well be deemed uncivil from a different poster. It makes for deeply unpleasant reading at the moment, and tbh the effect of stifling participation in discussion is far worse than dealing with outright abuse, though that is not something I've ever supported on the site.

As a very long time user and daily reader of the site I feel for the first time that it has become an unwelcoming place over the last few months.

pjohnson · 25-04-2025 01:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123387862#Comment_123387862

So its just a lottery? "MIGHT" shouldn't be anywhere near a moderators job.

pjohnson · 25-04-2025 01:08PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123388185#Comment_123388185

It was in much more than just immigration. It was cited a few times in the Enoch Burke thread.

hometruths · 25-04-2025 01:12PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123388185#Comment_123388185

Therein lies the problem.

Mods want posters to just discuss the topic. But if the topic in question is eg the proliferation of IPAS centres and their potential impact on local communities, mods deem somebody's experience of living in a community beside an IPAS centre irrelevant.

It is little wonder that many discussions have descended into a farce of "prove it, what's your source for that, oh I don't like that source, that's just left/right wing propaganda."

And this is supposed to be robust debate in the IMHO forum.

Irish Aris · 25-04-2025 01:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123388054#Comment_123388054

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123388095#Comment_123388095

Just an opinion, as the no anecdotes rule for immigration goes way way back before I became a mod. My understanding is that the rule came in because things got really messy in the previous rendition of the immigration thread, but not 100% sure.

hometruths,

I would consider your workplace example as anecdote. No one can ever know if what a poster says is real or not. I appreciate that many posters are genuine, but impossible to know either way. On your point of who gets banned: first offence is never a ban, it's at worst a 0 point warning. Occasionally we take such opportunities to post an in thread mod note and remind people about the note in the OP, as posters either do not read the OP or forget about it. Bans are generally reserved for repeat offenders.

RoyalCelt,

I agree that trying to bait someone in sharing an anecdote is poor behaviour and posters should report such instances so we can evaluate if further action is needed. Equally, I would consider people trying to make a point when all they have is an anecdote as poor behaviour, and posters could also report such instances so we can evaluate if further action is needed.

Arghus · 25-04-2025 01:16PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123388220#Comment_123388220

I don't disagree with everything you've said there, but as regards to your final point about the site becoming an unwelcoming place, I'd wonder how much of that is down to boards/moderation policies etc and how much of it is a reflection of how increasingly polarised and, well, angry, a lot of debate online has become? Particularly about current affairs.

I think outside of CA the general temperature of the site and heat of debate is largely similar to how it was? That's just IMO.

Necro · 25-04-2025 01:17PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123388247#Comment_123388247

How do I know you are telling the truth though, you could be entirely fabricating your experiences. I am not accusing posters of this but because of the actions of a few in doing this, the many must suffer. As was ever thus on an anonymous discussion board.

Arghus · 25-04-2025 01:18PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123388221#Comment_123388221

I don't think that's a particularly outrageous thing to have suggested that the tone in which you engage with someone might have a bearing on the outcome? Isn't that just generally true in life?

Necro · 25-04-2025 01:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123388235#Comment_123388235

Can you PM me links to where it was cited in that thread please (preferably within the last three months or so)? There is one very specific mod warning in the OP of the Enoch Burke thread, one we absolutely do enforce with no exceptions but it's nothing to do with anecdotes.

hometruths · 25-04-2025 01:19PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123388255#Comment_123388255

I think then it would be very helpful to leave the anecdote in place when mod applies the warning, so posters can get a sense of what's acceptable and what's not.

I see of ton of anecdotes posted without warning, and ton of mod edits "Warned for posting anecdote" with the anecdote deleted.

It's impossible to get even a vague sense of what mods deem actionable or not.

Irish Aris · 25-04-2025 01:21PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123388260#Comment_123388260

I agree with this Arghus.

Forums that tempers are running high, in my opinion are: CA, radio and occasionally Politics, After Hours and Conspiracy Theories.

Otherwise there are some great Forums around the site. Fantastic discussions and info in places like Gaming, Music/Gigs, Films, Forum Games and Weather.

Very quiet in here

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