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.

[lonevoice]

Thanks for asking! First, I confess to being an internet message board addict for many years. From that perspective, FreeRepublic is administered and moderated better than any message board I've seen. There isn't even a close second. Kudos to JimRob and all the mods, and I really have no complaint of consequence.

But, since you asked, here in order of importance to me:

I'd like to see closer moderating of breaking news threads. When there's a serious event taking place, and I log on and try to catch up with the most current info about it, it's an annoying distraction to have to scroll past dozens of attempts at one-liner humor interspersed among the updates. Breaking news is not the place for it. There can also be considerable thread drift in breaking news. When a couple of posters are engaging in an extended dialogue about their favorite restaurants (for example) woven into a thread where breaking news is developing I'd like to tell them to get a room instead of camping out on a breaking news thread.

I'd also like to see a 30-day probation period before new members can start a thread. It would eliminate a lot of DUH trolls.

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.

[Triple]

You expected that I actually read the thread?

[Dec31,1999]

I think you guys do a good job but you delete too much stuff. Some things should be left for the record. If someone is banned or whatever, I don't think their comments should also be removed. Let them stand for the record.

That's a really good point. We, as FReepers have to stand by ALL of our comments ever made forever, by lot's of the complete idiots get to have their comments tossed into the memory hole. The incentive mechanism is not quite right.

[Quix]

Hmmmmm

Have ran across that sediment before.

Perhaps it is sadly true.

[Willie Green]

I'll read the thread. Jim will too in all likelihood. So will the other moderators.

OK, as a courtesy to JimRob, I'll offer an example for his consideration.
I figure he's entitled to judge for himself whether the moderators have occasionally stepped beyond the boundaries of his guidelines. (What the heck, they're only human.)

Anyway, here goes: Comment #25 Removed by Moderator
I have a copy of what this reply said,
but I see no reason to repost it.
Jim should already have the capability of reading the original.
My position is (obviously) that the Mod who deleted it was excessively quick on the trigger.

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.

Well no offense intended, but Jim's the only one who matters.
And I have no interest in badgering him for some kind of explanation/justification for this deletion. Compared to all the flaming arrows sticking out of my thick hide, deletion of what I had posted seems puzzlingly hypersensitive.

[Luis Gonzalez]

You see, I have a problem with that.

There's a Mod openly advocating a banishment, and revealing the fact that the abuse button is pushed on another poster.

I want to be a Mod, I have a list of people I would ban as well.

[Admin Moderator]

You expected that I actually read the thread?

While not a requirement, it's sometimes helpful :-}

[Preech1]

Obligatory Cow Zot...

[Choose Ye This Day]

Contrary to the opinion of some here on FR, I'm not stupid. I KNOW where Chat is. But I also rarely go there, because it's 98% drivel.

The Useful Idiot Caption-A-Rama is better content than half of the Front Page "news" items. People that don't often delve into the backwaters of Chat should get a chance to see the thread before it's whisked off to outer darkness.

Maybe a high-bandwidth warning in the title would help the baud-challenged?

[Pan_Yans Wife]

How about a new "rotating moderator" position? Each freeper gets a day to ban those they wish... after all of the thousands of posters and lurkers have their way, all that will remain of FR is troll threads. (Now, that could be fun!) :)

[Luis Gonzalez]

I have a request.

Can you program a limit on the width and height of graphics posted on threads, so that they don't mess up the "My Comments" page?

[Luis Gonzalez]

I got it!

How about a "Survivor" Mod!

At the end, only one will remain!

[Lead Moderator]

Restored.

If, in the future, you think something was done that shouldn't have been, the best bet is to yourself hit abuse, and make your case in a polite way. We can (and do) reconsider things.

Thanks, LM

[Dec31,1999]

by = but. See what I mean? Now can see that I'm half-blind! Lol!

[OLD REGGIE]

By the way, I can read everyone's Freepmail.

You scared me so much I was ready to post it to my ping list. (I finally got smart enough to check the URL).

Don't do things like this. I'm an old man with a delicate heart. ;-)

[netmilsmom]

I second that!

[cyborg]

I don't think the useful idiots thread should be in chat. Useful idiots need to be made a complete and utter spectacle.

[Lead Moderator]

Rebelbase is not one of the moderators. Thanks, LM

[Dec31,1999]

You mean you're not one?

[Pan_Yans Wife]

You? (Are you taking applications for disciples?)