About the recent deletions of Daschle's anthrax posts

FreeRepublic ^ | 10/15/2001 | sidebar moderator

[Sidebar Moderator]

In the 10 minutes since the President announced that Tom Daschle had received a possible anthrax letter, no less than 10 threads appeared to that effect.

The moderators moved quickly to pull the duplicates and that spawned 4 threads asking what happened to the threads.

Multiple threads on a topic not only waste bandwidth, but spread the discussion over too many threads to follow.

Please, before posting about an event like this (or for any story) do a search. Check the sidebars, or if you have sidebars turned off, refresh the latest articles or latest posts page to see if your topic is already posted.

[Taliesan]

It worked wonderfully here for several years.

No, if it worked, we wouldn't still have 6 and 8 versions of the same article routinely posted.

It never worked.

[Sidebar Moderator]

"I have great faith that the moderators selected for the site are tough enough to withstand any sense of hurt feelings that other folks have ideas about how to prevent problems."

We do get great suggestions from people which we try to impliment when possible. A lot depends on the software capability.

[ken5050]

Just tossing out an idea, FWIW..is there any way that when you hit the PREVIEW button when posting a new thread....the title automatically goes to the Search function, and in addition to the preview of your new thread, it displays any threads that meet the Search parameters within, says, a two hour time limit...

[PhiKapMom]

You guys are doing a great Job! Keep it up!

[Sidebar Moderator]

At the top of the latest posts page there is a destinations scroll bar. Select preferences there and it will take you to a page which allows you to turn off one or more sidebars (among other things)

[Reborn]

Thank you for explaining why the threads were pulled. Once again, FReeper mods are doing a great job!!!

[Sidebar Moderator]

There is talk about searches before posting. With the title search, it is hard because some change the original title.

[Nora]

I understand - and appreciate that you posted the comment thread on the problem right up front where we could all get a handle on the software capability and the issues.

[Sidebar Moderator]

An excellent idea I have heard discussed numerous times over the years. John Robinson would have to speak to the feasibility.

Of course this would only work where the poster used the article title exactly. We have far too many that insist on using their own titles, which makes future searches useless.

[WIMom]

Thanks gals! I know you mods are working hard. There's nothing worse that 8 zillion threads of the same thing.

[Ratatoskr]

If we don't like the rules, we can leave or we can support you, and I do.

Or we can stay and bitch. People always forget that third option.

[Scuttlebutt]

"This is Jim's site, and these are his guidelines, and you guys and gals are just doing what he asks you to do"

Where have I heard that one before?

[YaYa123]

I really appreciate your upfront explanation...I've never been so perplexed. Like always, I did check to see if the story was up before posting it. It was, but deleted, so I figured someone must have put up either a non-sourced account, or used questionable taste. That's why I persisted in putting it up again.

On top of my perplexity, I was steaming mad to have heard CNN's Eileen O'Connor say that authorities were investigating "right wing organizations" to see if perhaps they, not terrorists, had sent the letter to Daschle. GRRRRRR

[1rudeboy]

The one-moderator system works, at times, when news is slow. It fails during major news events, as it did, during Impeachment, during Election 2000 (when you joined), and now. And I note that you have no regard for the synergies that are created when members post their thoughts about one article, ideally, to one thread. Not only does the ideal I mention make conversations more interesting by compiling a wider range of opinions, but it makes research easier and more valuable.

[Nora]

What about an automatic search not of the Title field, which even with good intentions can "go bad," but an automatic search of the URL for the source.

That won't solve the "heard it on the radio" problem, but will fix the typo/alteration problem ...and heard it on the radio doesn't have a searchable title anyway, LOL.

[Sidebar Moderator]

I really appreciate your upfront explanation...

Thanks!

We try to be invisble around here. When we make a mistake or create so much discussion about our actions, we try to explain them so every one understands. All may not agree withour actions, but we are not hiding them.

[Terrorista Nada]

Darn, darn, double darn...

[Ratatoskr]

And I note that you have no regard for the synergies that are created when members post their thoughts about one article, ideally, to one thread.

You note something not in evidence. What "synergies" are created when multiple moderators delete all the threads on a topic, after which the conversation becomes endless repetitions of "where did my thread go?"

That's better than duplicate posts?

[LoneGOPinCT]

I heard that there was quite a mob scene from folks scrambling for tin foil due to the recent deletions.

[TheRealLobo]

Nah, you guys are just trying to be the thought police...(JOKING!! and ducking).

Seriously, the job has got to keep you jumping. I can't imagine what it's like to have to review every thing that is posted.

For those that can't appreciate what the moderators do, keep in mind, it's NOT a public forum, it's private property and Jim and his crew can pretty much do as they please. He has invited us to use HIS forum and has given us a significant amount of freedom while we're at it. His rules apply. If the guys (or gals) delete a post, or an article, it's NOT censorship, it's just keeping the neighborhood dogs from crapping on THEIR lawn.