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Go Back   U.S. Politics Online: A Political Discussion Forum > Grand Central > Suggestions/Comments/Questions/Ideas for New Forums

View Poll Results: Would you support this idea
I would support it 19 54.29%
I'm nuetural or apathetic to it 6 17.14%
I would oppose it 10 28.57%
Voters: 35. You may not vote on this poll

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  #166 (permalink)  
Old 05-19-2008
drgoodtrips's Avatar
drgoodtrips drgoodtrips is offline
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Re: Potential Rule Change

Also, I realized I hadn't voted, so I picked "neutral/apathetic".
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  #167 (permalink)  
Old 05-20-2008
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Euro-Chess Euro-Chess is offline
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Re: Potential Rule Change

Quote:
Originally Posted by drgoodtrips View Post
So, the question is, would you be amenable to such a policy?
Sounds unnecessary to me. Most forums do well to avoid 'busy body' moderators, and I haven't noticed any 'campaigning' by any posters which verges on spamming on this board so far. But maybe my view of what constitutes spam is different from others.
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  #168 (permalink)  
Old 05-20-2008
noahath noahath is offline
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Re: Potential Rule Change

Quote:
Originally Posted by Euro-Chess View Post
Sounds unnecessary to me. Most forums do well to avoid 'busy body' moderators, and I haven't noticed any 'campaigning' by any posters which verges on spamming on this board so far. But maybe my view of what constitutes spam is different from others.
You're only new. Give it time and "they" will become self-evident....
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  #169 (permalink)  
Old 05-21-2008
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Re: Potential Rule Change

Noahath;
Quote:
You're only new. Give it time and "they" will become self-evident...
I'd have thought that being 'new' was an advantage in gaining first impressions. As an 'old' member I suggest that Euro-chess has a better handle on the situation than you do. This forum is not under spam attack.

Unless dyed-in-the-wool partisans are allowed to define 'spam', of course, then angst reigns supreme.
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  #170 (permalink)  
Old 05-22-2008
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AjaxPress AjaxPress is offline
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Re: Potential Rule Change

The evidence that this rule needs to be implemented ASAP is becoming overwhelming.
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  #171 (permalink)  
Old 05-22-2008
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groupthink groupthink is offline
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Re: Potential Rule Change

Quote:
Originally Posted by AjaxPress View Post
The evidence that this rule needs to be implemented ASAP is becoming overwhelming.
i will start going along to get along...

i guess i will have to start practicing GROUPTHINK
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  #172 (permalink)  
Old 05-22-2008
Captain Trips Captain Trips is offline
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Re: Potential Rule Change

Quote:
Originally Posted by groupthink View Post
i will start going along to get along...

i guess i will have to start practicing GROUPTHINK
Yes, you will.

Not to worry.

It's very easy.

Do what you're told.

Say nothing that might cause offense.

Say nothing that goes against the mandates of our groupthink.

You will have a pleasant day now.
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  #173 (permalink)  
Old 08-09-2008
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Re: Potential Rule Change

And, did ANYONE ever consider the possibility that one who wishes to post more than three threads in one day on completely unrelated topics, yet good topics to start a discussion because the poster wishes to get input, ANYONE? (Evidently, private forum threads are included in this limit...outrageous.)

IMO, this is a riduculous rule initiated by those whose skin is too thin for the real world, yet their 'feelings' override the larger and much more important principle of communication and free speech.

Here's a question: Who actually moderates the overly-sensitive and thin-skinned moderators?

Sorry folks, I have no confidence that this 'rule' was well thought out before the emotions took over.

Disclaimer: In no way is this post meant to be "bloody antagonistic".
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Last edited by Si modo; 08-09-2008 at 06:25 PM.
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  #174 (permalink)  
Old 08-09-2008
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DammitBoy! DammitBoy! is offline
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Re: Potential Rule Change

Quote:
Originally Posted by Si modo View Post
And, did ANYONE ever consider the possibility that one who wishes to post more than three threads in one day on completely unrelated topics, yet good topics to start a discussion because the poster wishes to get input, ANYONE? (Evidently, private forum threads are included in this limit...outrageous.)

IMO, this is a riduculous rule initiated by those whose skin is too thin for the real world, yet their 'feelings' override the larger and much more important principle of communication and free speech.

Here's a question: Who actually moderates the overly-sensitive and thin-skinned moderators?

Sorry folks, I have no confidence that this 'rule' was well thought out before the emotions took over.

Disclaimer: In no way is this post meant to be "bloody antagonistic".
I agree completely. Nowhere is the adage about power corrupting absolutely more evident than on message boards with too many mods with too much power.

This forum is already rules and mod heavy, imho...
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  #175 (permalink)  
Old 08-09-2008
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Si modo Si modo is offline
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Re: Potential Rule Change

Quote:
Originally Posted by DammitBoy! View Post
I agree completely. Nowhere is the adage about power corrupting absolutely more evident than on message boards with too many mods with too much power.

This forum is already rules and mod heavy, imho...
TBH, I have no issue with the number of mods, but with the mods whose emotions have the best of them and are in no way, manner, or form - by definition - in a position to fairly moderate. It shows lack of discipline and lack of objectivity. Poor choice, IMO.

Objectivity is a good thing, per Martha Stewart.

Disclaimer again: This post is not "bloody antagonistic".
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  #176 (permalink)  
Old 08-09-2008
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Re: Potential Rule Change

Quote:
Originally Posted by Si modo View Post
TBH, I have no issue with the number of mods, but with the mods whose emotions have the best of them and are in no way, manner, or form - by definition - in a position to fairly moderate. It shows lack of discipline and lack of objectivity. Poor choice, IMO.

Objectivity is a good thing, per Martha Stewart.

Disclaimer again: This post is not "bloody antagonistic".
Imho, mods are a weak crutch. I post on several boards with no moderators whatsoever and nothing horrific happens at those forums.
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  #177 (permalink)  
Old 08-10-2008
Captain Trips Captain Trips is offline
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Re: Potential Rule Change

Quote:
Originally Posted by noahath View Post
You're only new. Give it time and "they" will become self-evident....
In case you haven't noticed, I haven't "spammed" the forum with anything for quite awhile.

No.

Now I just do "drive by posting."

Since no one wants to discuss anything and anything they DON'T want to discuss is conveniently called "spam."

Drive bys are the way to go
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  #178 (permalink)  
Old 08-10-2008
liberty1776 liberty1776 is offline
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Re: Potential Rule Change

This seems like a very odd rule.

First, we are all supporting some cause. My "cause" is liberty. All of my posts reflect this, and they all advocate liberty. So what are the criteria? If there should be another "Ron Paul" will those of us who support him be subjected to this rule? Or any other candidate, for that matter. I have never really understood the SPAMing rule to begin with, and this is just a increase in the power of an odd rule.

Second, in what way does the advocacy for a candidate or cause stifle debate? At the very least, the posts are ignored. I have never witnessed any "debate-sifling." Of course, I can only post here sporadically, so perhaps this occurs at the most oppurtune times when I am not able to post. In other words, this almost seems like a made-up problem that can be used to stifle those who do not have popular oppinions.

Even with the unanimous rule, there is a good possibility that there are several things on which all moderators might agree. For example, it seems that many people were unduly banned for anti-semitic speech. I think that it is certainly likely that moderators might let their emotions rule and ban people who have not broken rules, but are spreading unpopular messages.

As I understand it, this rule is absurd. There is no way to determine who is arguing for a cause, and who is arguing. And, there is no reason to punish anyone who is simply arguing for a cause.

If there is to be any rule change, the rules should be changed to disallow the sort of posts that add nothing to the converstaion. I think we all know the kind I am speaking of. These are the kinds that do not add anything intelecutally to the debate but are simply one or two line tantrums, sometimes with a picture that is supposed to add something to the message. These are childish and have no place here.
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  #179 (permalink)  
Old 08-11-2008
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Steve Steve is offline
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Re: Potential Rule Change

Quote:
Originally Posted by drgoodtrips View Post
So, the question is, would you be amenable to such a policy?
What does the Moderating Staff think of it?
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  #180 (permalink)  
Old 08-11-2008
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drgoodtrips drgoodtrips is offline
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Re: Potential Rule Change

Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve View Post
What does the Moderating Staff think of it?
I'd have to go back and check the discussion in the forum to try to speak for anyone else, but I was personally ambivalent on the matter. I started the thread at the request of a poster who thought it would be a good idea.

It doesn't seem to be an issue at the moment. I won't make it a discussion of any specific posters, but suffice it to say that some months ago, there was a group of people that would pepper the forum with a barrage of threads almost identical in spirit, if not in letter. For various reasons, these same posters no longer seem to be active/posting. I believe the poster who requested it (and others that were sympathetic) were annoyed by opening a subforum and seeing something like 70% of the threads started by the same poster about basically the same thing.

The issue would have been that simply merging the threads would no doubt have aroused the ire of the poster(s) and would have introduced a great deal of subjectivity on the part of the moderation staff anyway. Rather than having moderators arbitrarily deciding that they'd "had enough" of a poster and his crusade, this would at least require the input of a whole group of people and some consensus. Obviously this isn't perfect either, but it's better than notifying the forum that any given moderator might start merging threads without warning (in my opinion, anyway) The issue seems to be, and always has been, that posters continuously invent new ways to violate the spirit of the rules without violating the letter of the rules.

But, I don't presume to speak for anyone else, though the "power corrupts" quote above was worth a chuckle for me, as I can't personally, as a moderator, think of anything that I think of as less of a vehicle to power than mediating silly squabbles in a discussion forum. When I want to feel the thrill of absolute power, I go in my backyard and knock over ant hills.
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Last edited by drgoodtrips; 08-11-2008 at 02:21 PM.
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