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.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Would like numerous exmaples of vile and putrid posts?

A good example would be people who compare American Indians with Palestinians...

[Rebelbase]

Thanks for your kind words.

[Kay Soze]

Pls do post so I can post my susequent as well!

I still have 'em!

[Kay Soze]

Pls do post so I can post my subsequent as well!

I still have 'em!

[Chad Fairbanks]

Was that you? ;0)

(I just wanted an excuse to join the fun. No one ever pings me to the fun ones anymore... I feel like chopped liver...)

[Quix]

I don't find the coven thing called for by a hugh margin!!!

Has nopardons really irritated you THAT much?

[Quix]

So, is your

RELIGION

a fierce hostility to anything remotely spiritual or supernaturally associated or construed?

[Kay Soze]

Was in fact me that compared the two situations between Palies and Indians.
:)

[Quix]

PLEASE EXCUSE my

GROSS IGNORANCE

but what [?site?] is

LP?

[Vernon]

I have maintained my dignity in the face of your inflammatory denigrations and what I consider to be blatantly racist epithets, including being called a liar. Nothing if further from the truth, and once again, I request you not post your denigrating and inflammatory either to or about me.

[Quix]

Perhaps everyone could have the option to hit the abuse button once a week.

Unused ones could build up to no more than say a dozen in one's abuse button bank.

Those who had contributed money might have double that.

Perhaps those given to whining would have their abuse button bank limited to no more than 4 hits.

Those who had contributed money the most months/years would have the most abuse button chits in their 'bank.'

Those who'd never had a post pulled and never been banned and who had less than say 3-6 whines against them would have the most high ranking and highest quality abuse buttons which would signal a serious problem needing prompt attention.

[Lead Moderator]

I think this is a good time for me to ask for y'all to back off each other and just give each other some space for a while, stop calling each other liars or racists or similar. I think a calming down period will let things become more clear for everyone. Thanks, LM

[Chad Fairbanks]

But I just got here! Man, what a gyp...

[Quix]

Maybe the concept of abuse button needs expanded.

Perhaps the abuse button would have various options:

--cursing
--sexually explicit or sexual language assaults
--personal attacks on individuals personhood
--racism
--trolls
--etc.

and each of those would be rated 1-10 with 10 most severe.

By the same token, perhaps some positive feedback would be reinforcing enough to help raise the quality of the posts and forum interactions.

Perhaps we could have a

HUG BUTTON with options like:

--A BIG HUG for your great prose and good ideas
--A BIG HUG for your contribution to the discussion
--A BIG HUG for your activism described in this thread
--A BIG HUG for your patience with other posters
--A BIG HUG for spreading peace and calm on troubled waters in this discussion
--A BIG HUG for your helpful research
--A BIG HUG for introducing new FREEPERS

AND, say someone with a standard deviation or 1.5 or 2.0 sd's above the average number of hugs would get a FREEPER T-shirt or mug or some such.

It would be nice to have a way to formally register acolades to those well deserving on FR. And such feedbac, motivating incentive would probably contribute to an improved forum.

[Quix]

AS LONG AS LATEST POSTS covered latest posts across all subforums, it would be much more agreeable to me.

[Willie Green]

If you'll bother to go back and read my posts again, I didn't make the claim that "there is no relevant connection between "activism" and the issue activist seek to address".

If anybody wants to bother to read your posts again, they'll quickly realize that's a disingenuous claim.

I ask you again. What was your motivation for posting that particular comment?

A simple reminder to nonpartisan activists who are sincerely interested in the jobs issue that a substantive economic policy is necessary for credibility. Neither major party candidate has such credibility on this issue.

[MEG33]

We all have an ignore button>I seldom have to use mine but I found it to be wonderful to walk away and stay away from one particular freeper who raises my BP.....

[NittanyLion]

What you suggest sounds nice in theory, but doesn't work in practice. It encourages cliques to form and give each other accolades while continually downrating the posts of those whom they dislike.

I've seen a similar system on another forum, and it hasn't yielded the potential benefits.

[Chad Fairbanks]

I have a few suggestions on where, exactly, the "Hug Button" could be put, too...

[Quix]

I do also let a lot more rabid dogs foam at the mouth on their own than I used to!!!

Tooooo many other priorities and life is too short!