Get Yer Ya-Yas Out [FR Moderating Gripe Thread]

[I Am Not A Mod]

LM here.

It's been a while since we had a thread along these lines.

I can tell from comments I am seeing in threads, on abuse reports, and in Freepmail that some people are unhappy with various policies and their implementations by the staff here.

I've seen allegations that certain factions are picked on. I've seen allegations that the moderators have killed activism. I've heard rumors that we killed Kenny, and even that we killed the radio star. I see certain personality conflicts acting up, and know that one (or both) sides in it feel that we aren't doing what we should.

So let's open this can of worms.

This thread is for making your grievances heard. If you think something stinks or is wrong, make your case here. Back it up with facts. Let the audience at large weigh in on your evidence.

I'll read the thread. Jim will too in all likelihood. So will the other moderators. Depending upon how well you make your point, and depending on if you can convince Jim, me, the other moderators, and/or the world, maybe you can change things. And if you don't, then it might make you feel better to have vented, so it won't make this thread a total loss.

I'm not going to reply to this thread for quite a while. Rather, I am going to sit back and watch to try and get a feel for the general tenor. I encourage those who are both happy and unhappy with things to particpate in this thread.

Let's rock.

[Boot Hill]

How big is your pile of email/FReepmail that you wade through every day?

How many pings?

--Boot Hill

[Admin Moderator]

Unfortunately, since both the news forum and the chat forum have humor topics, either place could arguably be used for a humor post. Since humans are doing the posting and humans are doing the moderating, you may get a different answer for any given post.

In attempting to keep the news forum more about news it would be better if humor posts went to chat. There will always be exceptions or differences of opinion. If you feel your post is moved unjustly, contact us for a reevaluation

Thanks

[NRA2BFree]

Yeah, I have a complaint. The Admin Mod hasn't pinged me for any Zots lately. LOL! What gives? ;-)

[EdReform]

Bump

[brityank]

Expecting there to be no mistakes is unreasonable.

So conversely, expecting mistakes is reasonable? ;^)

Jim and the Mods do a good job overall of 'herding cats' in the Forum, and on the whole it is appreciated. No one will complain about deleting the newbie trolls and DU dumbies who jump in to create hate and discontent, but when a valid post is made and some Mod deletes it based on either some abuse report or their own perception -- that is not a mistake, that is suppression of ideas that this forum is built on.

Others have suggested a brief waiting period for new arrivals; maybe that would help, but I know that there seem to be months- and year- old nom-de-plumes that pop up after lying dormant spewing vitriol until they get nuked -- maybe a three-month cleanout would take care of those.

I tend to stay away from the Bush threads, for while I respect the President, I do take exception to both his lack of action and his action on those things I know are not constitutional. Would I want his -- or your -- job? Hell, no -- I know I don't have the temperament for it. Dean? You ain't seen nuthin'!!

[optimistically_conservative]

All one need do is simply mention Rachel Corrie, and you can hear the champagne corks pop.

[Neets]

Time to get yer Ya-Ya's Out toots.

[LowOiL]

Not to long back, Mods did a thread on not cursing.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1070896/posts

Part of that included not using abbreviations or symbols in place of crude words (EX. H#LL). That thread was wonderful news to me, because I honestly believe profanity is not needed by FR members to make a point. Especially the F word, which I detest being used. This is the premier web site of conservative debate and most frequenters of this site have an acute grasp of syn text, thus are able to hold their own in debate, without having to resort to plain gutter talk (as D.U. does).

But I often see oversights of this rule (or is it just an suggestion)? I personally would like to see it enforced better, if not just on the F words. Just my two cents.

I also liked the suggestion by some of the other FReepers about a full text search. That would be very useful indeed (I think I can hear John saying a few of those words in the background as I type this). LOL. It probable would a nightmare of programing mess to tackle (or a huge bandwidth draw).

Finally, I am thankful for the wonderful job you mods do.

[k2blader]

No gripes here. Glad you got the Bush-bo--errr, whatchamacallits--under control. At least it seems that way.

[hellinahandcart]

For instance, I was posting last week on an old thread about abortion protesters on campus, and the girl who wrote the posted article in the U of Kansas paper showed up to blather on her pro-abortion mantra.

She just "happened to show up" on an old thread, took issue with things that had been said months ago, told all of you not to judge her, and cited lots of over-the-top stories from her personal life in order to demonstrate why everyone on the thread was just a woman-hating Christian? While being very combative?

Yeah, we've seen the M.O. before. That's the Insider Troll. When someone shows up out of the blue claiming to be the person who wrote the article, the person in the article, or a friend or relative thereof, don't feel you have to take their word for it. Most of them are posers.

I keep a ping list for Insider Troll sightings. They're very entertaining. :D

[perfect stranger]

FWIW I use the browser to search for specific words on the page often at FR.

[Admin Moderator]

We physically can not read every post or thread that is posted here daily. We hope posters will alert us to such abuses. Thanks.

[JoJo Gunn]

Was there nothing inhumane in a terrorist sympathizer who left her home soil to align herself with those who blow up children?

[Texas2step]

It would be beneficial to see a weekly moderator thread advising of any members that have been banned or suspended. It might be instructive to include a brief summary about the nature of the infraction.

I'll 2nd this one, tentatively. It could serve as a useful tool to let us know what constitutes crossing the line... You know, in hockey, when someone gets sent to the box, if becomes part of the record of the game. So and so, 2 minutes for hooking. Then, other folks know that we better not get caught hooking or we're going to have to sit for 2 minutes.

I can also see some of the problems as it's going to be subjective infractions that receive subjective penalties and someone else is going to complain that you're being "too hard" on people who are "barely" hooking.

But, it's better than the "rumors" that float all over the place. You know, old so-and-so got banned for life because he made a derogatory comment about the admin moderator. When in reality, old so-and-so is off for a couple of weeks vacation, or decided to spend less time at FR for whatever reason.

[alnick]

I'll vote for Mr. Silverback's Caption-A-Rama staying on the front page. They're always relevant, fresh, and fun.

[hellinahandcart]

All one need do is simply mention Rachel Corrie, and you can hear the champagne corks pop.

That's odd, I hear spatulas scraping the griddle...

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I agree...

[djf]

I did not say at all whether I agreed or disagreed with her. But celebrating and reveling over someone being crushed by a bulldozer speaks volumes about us, does it not?

[cyborg]

LOL... ow I think I just hurt my rib laughing!

[Amelia]

How about requiring a new member to make 100 posts before they can post an article?

I think that's a good idea. Might cut down on some of the trolls. At least they'd have to put a little more effort into it.

Personally I find all the "Zot", "Viking kitties" etc stuff to be silly & annoying, but maybe that's just me because others seem to enjoy it.