the thin edge of the wedge Fair moderation?

pigman · Post by **pigman** » 2 Jun 2008, 9:38am

Ive been PM'd and modded before and didnt like it. But, its far better to have this than have a free-for-all forum that leaves a nasty taste. I gave up contributing to one of the other cycling sites where calling each other F#£$%^& is par for the course as is making personal remarks. So, long may it continue.

my only possible gripe is possibly where a mod's contribution to a thread on here gets a bit personal and heated and Ive often wondered whether he/she's modded by another mod.

If the state of modding on here is unacceptable, then Id suggest giving the job a go yourself.

reohn2 · Post by **reohn2** » 2 Jun 2008, 9:47am

I too have been modded for small misdemeaners and accepted it as I did agree to the terms when I signed up.
So the thing is, accept that folks aren't perfect even moderators and certainly not oneself.

Post by Si » 2 Jun 2008, 11:01am

my only possible gripe is possibly where a mod's contribution to a thread on here gets a bit personal and heated and Ive often wondered whether he/she's modded by another mod.

This is a good point. In answer I would say that, at least for my part, I have often bowed out of threads for fear of robust argument bringing about retorts of "it's OK for a mod to say such things" etc. Of course this is a double edged sword....what ever a mod says might be discounted on the basis that "yeah you are a mod so I can't argue" rather than an arguement against the facts presented by a mod. Thus being a mod means that you spend a lot of time reading threads that you aren't overly interested in but find that you have second thoughts about replying to threads that you'd like to be involved in.

My ideal would have been that mods were annonymous thus I (as Si) could have gotten involved in any thread that I want with out fear of being accused of pulling rank. Likewise, it would also have meant that I wouldn't have been attacked on other fora and wouldn't have recieved phone calls on my home phone with people wanting to have a rant at me. But on the other hand, others would feel better if this more visible accountability is in place and mods use their own names.

Returning to the subject....there is a hierarchy of moderation staff on here so if you are not happy with what one of the mods has said then PM the others and they will consider the case. Luikewise, Anthony, in one of the earler post on this thread, also gave details on how to complain about your treatment on the forum via official channels.

And, of course, you can also talk to your local councillor and ask them to progress the issue if you are worried that an PM that you send might be shared amungst the forum staff.

Believe it or not the mods are very open to any constructive criticism that you might have. We want to make the forum a good place for the majority* to use and will always take on board any ideas and thoughts tht you have as long s they are presented in a calm, considered and polite manner.

* - working on the premise that we will never please all the people all of the time, and that there will always be some disruptive influences that want the forum to apply the rules to everyone else and not them (this is a general comment and not targetted at anyone still on the forum).

peanut · Post by **peanut** » 3 Jun 2008, 11:24pm

looks like I spoke too soon.!

Despite not posting on this forum since the weekend Simon has PM'd me tonight at 5pm to issue more threats and ultimatums. he is now dragging up every innocuous post I have made in his attempt to discredit me.Notice that there is no link to this thread that `someone' has complained about. Funny that it has taken over two weeks for this member to decide to complain isn't it !

here is the thread , decide for yourself if I have been abusive as accused. If you think I was abusive I'll leave the forum
http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p ... ht=#103376

You may not like me or my posts (do a search and decide for yourself) but believe me if the mods can single me out and persecute me like this then they can do it to you too.

Looks like they are going to manufacture a PM that I am supposed to have sent. The next thing is they will remove my membership without warning.

This is just the last straw for me . I have warned Simon that if he continues to send me PM's with thinly veiled threats and ultimatums I will write to the CTC and request a full investigation of their moderation. I have saved all of the threads concerned to my hard drive.

Peanut - we've had a complaint about a posting you made in which you suggested that somebody had made a one-time post and then pushed off.

For somebody so quick to take offence, you're pretty adept at causing it. Please think before you post - your first intervention in this particular thread was completely uncalled for.

I'm putting you on notice. If we get any more grief you'll have to find another forum. There are plenty in which the level of rough and tumble would give you all the scope you needed.

If it transpires that you've sent a pm which is offensive then you're out of the door without further ado.

If you think you've been misjudged, then feel free to get back to me - but my strong suggestion would be to consider what I've written before you do. I'm not easy to offend, but a previous message betrayed a lack of consideration that was disheartening.

Simon

hubgearfreak · Post by **hubgearfreak** » 3 Jun 2008, 11:58pm

peanut wrote:You may not like me or my posts (do a search and decide for yourself)

i've just done that.

all of us are human, and can be misunderstood, but you're special

if i was you, i'd drop this and try and get along with people for a bit.

peanut · Post by **peanut** » 4 Jun 2008, 12:17am

thank you for your suggestion. As you were the person who started all this off by being rude to me I find your post particulary odd. Are you gloating that you got off scott free whilst I get all the flack for your abrasive and rude comments.

hubgearfreak · Post by **hubgearfreak** » 4 Jun 2008, 12:26am

peanut wrote:thank you for your suggestion. As you were the person who started all this off by being rude to me I find your post particulary odd. Are you gloating that you got off scott free whilst I get all the flack for your abrasive and rude comments.

no, neither. what's happened, has happened. it's gone & deleted.

you got no flack as far as i can see, until after you reproduced PMs in the open and suggested that the mods were overzealous.

i'm merely suggesting that you drop it, and get along with people for a bit.

no hard feelings, let's just all get along?

Fonant · Post by **Fonant** » 4 Jun 2008, 9:57am

peanut wrote:It would appear that there are rules for Mods and different rules for the rest of the community .

Yes, of course there are! Moderators are given extra abilities and responsibilities, in order to keep abusive posts, whoever they're from, to the minimum. On this forum the moderators do a pretty good job.

If you have a complaint about a moderator's actions, the only way you'll get any result is by complaining to someone more "senior" than the mods, i.e. myself (as technical controller and host of the forum) or the board admin (mbadmin@ctc.org.uk). Ranting at the moderator in private or in public is unlikely to help your cause.

Remember that when people post rants or abusive posts in a public place like this forum (a) the whole world can see that they're being abusive, and (b) the posts often tell us more about the person posting than what they're trying to say. If you really do want to post abusive comments, there are other cycling forums with less moderation available on the internet. If not, it is perfectly possible to disagree with someone without resorting to personal abuse.

Also remember that abusive posts are against the rules of the forum that you agreed to abide by when you signed up. So abusive posts will continue to be removed by moderators however much the abuser compains.

ianr1950 · Post by **ianr1950** » 4 Jun 2008, 10:37am

Having looked at the thread I can't understand why you thought it ok to post as you did when you hadn't even contributed any suggestions to try and help the OP.
I don't think your post was abusive but I just can't see how it was in any way helpful to the OP and did not contribute to giving a decent impression of the forum to a newcomer.

Auchmill · Post by **Auchmill** » 4 Jun 2008, 12:01pm

I think IanR has summed it up well. I would say the post was inappropriate and gratuitous rather than abusive. Why shouldn't someone come on one time and ask for advice? Nice if they come back with thanks, but not all do. We just have to accept that. And nobody has to reply with help if they don't want to.

Peanut himself said "that's what we're here for." So, let's move on.

peanut · Post by **peanut** » 4 Jun 2008, 6:35pm

hubgearfreak wrote:[
i'm merely suggesting that you drop it, and get along with people for a bit.

no hard feelings, let's just all get along?

well thanks for the olive branch Huggy ,accepted with thanks. I probably over-reacted to your critisism of my post and my response was certainly abusive and uncalled for. For that I apologise unreservedly.

However what I will not put up with is heavy handed moderating and bully-boy tactics from Mods. I protest not just for myself but for all members .
I always stand up to bullies and always will. I stand for all those that are unable or unwilling to stand up for what is right and fair. In my view their approach was heavy handed and uneven, it was certainly over zealous in my view.

I believe that an appropriate response should always be in equal measure to the instigation otherwise there is a likelihood of escalation rather than conciliation and resolution.

hubgearfreak · Post by **hubgearfreak** » 4 Jun 2008, 6:57pm

peanut wrote:well thanks for the olive branch Huggy ,accepted with thanks. I probably over-reacted to your critisism of my post and my response was certainly abusive and uncalled for. For that I apologise unreservedly.

water under the bridge now then?

BTW, it's hubbers. . .hub gear freak , nothing to do with hugging

here's me

david143 · Post by **david143** » 4 Jun 2008, 6:57pm

peanut wrote:
hubgearfreak wrote:[
i'm merely suggesting that you drop it, and get along with people for a bit.

no hard feelings, let's just all get along?

well thanks for the olive branch Huggy ,accepted with thanks. I probably over-reacted to your critisism of my post and my response was certainly abusive and uncalled for. For that I apologise unreservedly.

However what I will not put up with is heavy handed moderating and bully-boy tactics from Mods. I protest not just for myself but for all members .
I always stand up to bullies and always will. I stand for all those that are unable or unwilling to stand up for what is right and fair. In my view their approach was heavy handed and uneven, it was certainly over zealous in my view.

I believe that an appropriate response should always be in equal measure to the instigation otherwise there is a likelihood of escalation rather than conciliation and resolution.

Please don't think you are standing up for me. If you feel things are wrong, take them up through the proper channels, as has been suggested.

peanut · Post by **peanut** » 4 Jun 2008, 7:19pm

david143 wrote:
peanut wrote:Please don't think you are standing up for me. If you feel things are wrong, take them up through the proper channels, as has been suggested.

thank you for your comment David :lol:

I'll remove you from my list of people to stick up for immediately lol :wink:

david143 · Post by **david143** » 4 Jun 2008, 10:23pm

peanut wrote:
david143 wrote:
peanut wrote:Please don't think you are standing up for me. If you feel things are wrong, take them up through the proper channels, as has been suggested.

thank you for your comment David I'll remove you from my list of people to stick up for immediately lol

I would stick up for you if I thought it was required and believed you were being picked on. However, from what you have shown on this thread, that doesn't appear the case. Perhaps I just miss the argument completely, but I am not the one feeling my buttons pressed.