Posted on 10/27/2003 10:41:53 AM PST by Admin Moderator
Hi all,
It's time again for another posting refresher course. Thanks for your cooperation.
Only one these topics will show up in the sidebars, posting to multiple topics will still only show one topic.
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The best method to search is to pick a key word or two from the title. If the article you are posting is, “Agency to probe alleged spousal abuse of Terri Schiavo", start with 'Schiavo' for the key word. If it is a hot topic, you might want to use two or more keywords, in this case, try ‘Schiavo’ and ‘Terri’. For an effective search, select 'match all words' and select 'order by post time'.
I invite your Attention to this post:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/965659/posts?page=682#682
Although this could be seen as a mere quibble, on my part, I believe that it illustrates one of the frustrations felt in attempting to discern what is allowed, and what is not allowed. What makes it impossible, is that the communication of permissible (or not permissible) is both unidirectional, and curt. This makes the removal of a post seem, or appear, to be arbitrary and capricious.
That being the case, there two basic tendencies, on the part of posters:
1. Be afraid, and back off from any post you think is controversial, no matter how TRUE. This can lead to not posting at all, either to one other poster, or a whole group: consider the whole "FR Fifth Amendment" fiasco. It demonstrates that a small group, acting together, [and, to the more suspicious, acting in concert with a Mod who is in that group] can completely halt, nay remove, any discussion about either the founder of that group, or the actual tenets of that group.
2. Keep posting more abusive or outrageous posts, in a juvenile attempt to discern the "boundaries."
I think that this situation is not good. I think that it would be good, if we were able to enter into a direct communication (dialog, if you will) regarding just what the standards are. That would be much better than attempting to guess the reason, after a post is removed.
There are other reasons that it would be good to be able to communicate with a Mod, before the fact, instead of after. For instance, I have been contemplating a certain post, for a week, or more. I am trying to figure out where to put it, whether to post it in three parts, or one BIG part; or to do an executive summary, and link to the original.
Another case is a fairly new poster, who posts multiple articles, and never includes the source, or author, or date, so people cannot "consider the source..." I do not know if this is against some rule, and I don't want to push "ABUSE." It would be good to have direct communication with a mod, while not making an accusation of abuse.
DG
Well, Cosmo, I have had the opportunity to sample some really, really good Margaritas (including the ones I make), so before I can agree with you and your friends, I think I need hard evidence not just testimonials. ;-)
Where'd you come up with that definition? In the field of journalism, "breaking" is "happening as we speak."
What was that you said, I didn't hear you!!!
Did you say Use orginal titles from the source.
Thank you!!!
Well, something *really* strange happened to one of my posts a couple of days ago... I tried to post an announcement of Michael "Jabba the Butt" Moore's appearance in Portland and it ended up in "general interest", did not appear in the "announcements" column, had all of its keywords deleted.
Moreover, it seemed like it happened insatantaneously... I never saw it even appear where I'd posted it, and I checked for it immediately after posting it.
It would help if the original poster initially "owned" the posting so changes to the posting areas, etc. could be made in cases such as this (and where someone has made a mistake at the outset). Then the posting ownership could change automatically after some timeout period, or be appropriated by the moderator to prevent further changes... etc...
Agreed, but if this is the fundamental rule of acceptable posting, why is Bush-bashing and economy-bashing OK?
Don't these posts do more to increase the democrats power? Are we not inadvertently feeding the dems the info they need to trash republicans?
Sure! Ping me to the pig roast!!!
Is my hubby invited too? ;-)
I second those suggestions. Iraq gets enough for its own category. A few more cats would be good. A generic Africa, a generic Middle East (with specific countries listed- because most are also in Asia), a generic Asia, a generic Europe to cover the ones we don't do specifically and one for France.
Also, is it possible to have a link to the search function on the "My Comments" page? I always wind up having to open a thread from my My Comments page just to get to a page that has a link to the search feature.
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