Thread moderation

[zbratkat]

As has been seen in the city ordinances and smoking ordinances threads, moderation is at full-tilt. I understand that going off topic can sometimes under stressful conditions cause tempers to flare and personal attacks can happen between members.

However, on this board, I have not found this to be the case thus far. Everyone has posted in a polite manner and has debated some fairly touchy topics. There are some great minds here and some great people, from what I gather.

So why would posts be moved, deleted, etc. for straying off the general topic to discuss the very underlying issues surrounding said topic. It's how debates are had, won and lost. Ideas are shared, beliefs changed, people educated on issues, etc. from people debating issues, especially within their own communities.

So here I just receive this private message from daisy after addressing her in the thread about off topic posts.


Daisy
Global Moderator Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Roswell, NM
Posts: 2,764

Deleted post

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi zebratkat,

Just wanted to let you know that I deleted your post in the Smoking Ordinance thread for being off topic.

Thanks.............Daisy



Is this site and forum for only like minds on issues? Is it a place of biased whining about policies and others without the entire issue being brought out to discuss rationally?

Have I offended someone by attacking them in a personal fashion?

Maybe TalkRoswell is not for everyone in Roswell afterall.

BTW...I'm saving a copy of all posts from here on out.

[zbratkat]

I see how things work around Talk Roswell. Moderators, as well their friends here, can post off topic and get nasty as well...and everything is kosher...but someone like myself who disagrees with the consensus around here and is debating over the topic and using side issues to bring out points, I get my posts moved, then more deleted because someone can't handle the truth.

I agree with many agenda here. I agree with many folk over many things. Just not one particular issue. And take a look at the behavior.

If you wish to remain blinded to proof and wish to use silly comparisons which do not relate, that is your perogative.

But when you begin using some sort of 'web power authority' over a website to censor information because it is directly in opposition to your beliefs, you are stepping into something other than American. It is the typical ploy of all dictators. Suppress away.

[Daisy]

mfish stated "This is NOT a public domain - it is solely owned and operated by one person."

That's exactly right - the owner of this forum can make any rules he wishes. We, as members, can either abide by those rules or go find a forum whose rules we like better.

It's quite simple, really.

[Robert]

Compared to other forums that I am a member and moderator for the moderation on this one is actually very lax. On others if it is not specifically about the original posters topic it is moved or deleted. The owner of this forum has set forth a guideline for moderators to follow that is again much much less strict than other forums.

If you want to add something that is off topic it is very easy to start another thread. As this forum grows it is going to be harder and harder to moderate. It would actually be easier to moderate with stricter rules.

[Billy Wood]

I can make this forum very simple and easy for all.

(1) I can setup all the topics that are open for discussion and not allow any new threads and delete any post that is not about the topic I setup.

OR .............................

(2) We can keep the forum the way it is and we all try and work together as the forum grows to have a good place to talk about things and have the forum be is organized as possible. This will help us all to fine things easier.

As has been stated before There are no "First Amendment Rights" here on TalkRoswell, this is a privately owned web site. "This is NOT a public domain or web site - it is solely owned and operated by one person (ME)."

I am putting a new rule in place as of now May, 06, 2009

Any one arguing with the Moderators for moving or deleting a post will be banned from the forum. The Moderators are only doing what I have ask them to do, so when a post is moved or deleted they are doing it for me. If you have a question about your post please contact me (Roswell) using the forum PM system.
a- first time will be for 30 days.
b- second time will be for ever.

Yes, TalkRoswell Forum is a (Dictatorship) but you will not see me used my position as the owner very often, but I will when I think I need to.

As always and has been stated before:

If you would like I could setup a forums web site for you and you can run it the way you want to??

Maybe you can and will have a better go at running a discussion forum than I can. Just think Free Enterprise then the community will have a choice.

You will buy the software program for the forum $229.00 + $49.95 each year for updates and you pay for the domain name.com $18.95 each year "your choice for the name" and the web hosting $24.95 per month. I will install the program at no charge.

This is what it cost me to run Talk Roswell and does not include my time for programming.

[Daisy]

Compared to other forums that I am a member and moderator for the moderation on this one is actually very lax.
Agreed. I gave a lot of leeway before I moderated some posts. And it wasn't just one member's posts, either. I tried to be as nice as possible about the whole thing and turn it into a reminder for everyone. Heck, even I get off topic now and then - we just can't let it get out of control or the forum will become disorganized and junked up. When that happens, people new to the forum can't find what they're looking for.

Being nice didn't work in this case..............:cool:

[Billy Wood]

Being nice didn't work in this ase..............:cool:

I am still mad at you for moving and deleting several of my post. I guess there is just no respect here, not even for me.

[Daisy]

I am putting a new rule in place as of now May, 06, 2009

Any one arguing with the Moderators for moving or deleting a post will be banned from the forum. The Moderators are only doing what I have ask them to do, so when a post is moved or deleted they are doing it for me. If you have a question about your post please contact me (Roswell) using the forum PM system.
a- first time will be for 30 days.
b- second time will be for ever.

Thanks, Roswell - I think that's a good idea. I've been told not to take this stuff too seriously, but when my intentions are questioned for no good reason, when I do my best to be fair, it bothers me. Guess I need to toughen up, huh?? :smk2:

[Daisy]

I am still mad at you for moving and deleting several of my post. I guess there is just no respect here, not even for me.

I respect you, but I'm gonna move your posts, too, when you meander off topic. Heck, I've moved my own posts - I was mad at myself for a week. :pinch:

C'mon.................don't be mad at me................:crying:

[Daisy]

As this forum grows it is going to be harder and harder to moderate. It would actually be easier to moderate with stricter rules.

As this forum grows, we will become more strict about the rules of posting. We'll have to, if we want to have an organized, easily navigated forum. And that is what we want - a forum where people can come, read other's opinions, state their own and find topics easily. If it's all off topic and junked up, people can't figure out what's what......

[fremont]

Maybe TalkRoswell is not for everyone in Roswell afterall.
I think you may be correct in your thinking (is not for everyone). There are some people that don't want rules/[ordinances] imposed on them about what they can and can't do/post, just like some of the business owners don't want to be told what they can't do in their own private place of business when it is legal to do in other places.

[pdc]

I joined this community almost a year ago, and participated for a few months.

I encountered (what I considered to be arbitrary) moving of posts, and protested. Basically, I got the "love it or leave it" response as above in this thread.

I chose to quit posting.

Only recently, I returned in response to a couple of newsletters. My reading thus far reveals that the community continues to be small and, as before, dominated by a few personalities. Maybe that's how this community prefers it....

When I take part in conversations, in "real life", and on other boards in which I participate, I find that discussions often wander in sometimes unexpected directions. I often am pleasantly surprised by these new and unexpected deviations. I consider that to be the "normal" course of communications....

Of course, sometimes a discussant can become overbearing and attempt to take discussions far afield from the preferred direction of those participating - if that persists, then some type of "moderation" is certainly appropriate and helpful.

I suppose I'll occasionally visit here to see if the atmosphere opens up more, but will not likely add more than this comment at present....

[Billy Wood]

Without going into of details just do a search on:

(1) officer corn
(2) alien theme park

See how many threads they show up in. Spot read some of the threads and you will see why some post get moved or deleted.

I am not a professional forum manager like some of you are, but I do the best I can. I do say all of the Moderators have done a good job and have done what I have asked them to do.

** search results for alien theme park please read:.....
High school consolidation, Millennium Bus(t), East Roswell Relief Route, Cecilio's, this is just a few.

Then maybe some of you will see what I am trying to do about keeping the forum organized. I have always ask for the members help in getting and keeping this forum organized.

[Billy Wood]

I see how things work around Talk Roswell. Moderators, as well their friends here, can post off topic and get nasty as well...and everything is kosher...but someone like myself who disagrees with the consensus around here and is debating over the topic and using side issues to bring out points, I get my posts moved, then more deleted because someone can't handle the truth.

I agree with many agenda here. I agree with many folk over many things. Just not one particular issue. And take a look at the behavior.

If you wish to remain blinded to proof and wish to use silly comparisons which do not relate, that is your perogative.

But when you begin using some sort of 'web power authority' over a website to censor information because it is directly in opposition to your beliefs, you are stepping into something other than American. It is the typical ploy of all dictators. Suppress away.
zbratkat said ("Maybe TalkRoswell is not for everyone in Roswell after all".)You are right no one place or web site is the right place for everyone.

Someone told me you or one of your friends have setup your own web site (WannaTalk?Roswell) and it looks like the only rule is "There is to be no profanity". but then what is "profanity" who makes that call?? f....... is ok with some but not with others. Hope we are not back to dictatorship or do we put that word up for a vote??

Another web site in Roswell is good, because it is not about what web site the Citizens of Roswell are on is long as they get involved with what is happing in Roswell.

After talking to you on the phone, I know what you think about me but it is not about me it is about the Citizens of Roswell. I am putting a link to your web site here for those who don't like TalkRoswell (I know there are some) or for those that just want to be a member of both sites. http://wannatalkroswell.findtalk.net/

zbratkat if I can be of any help with your web site just ask.

Thanks again for your input on TalkRoswell and for putting up another web site for the Citizens of Roswell.

Billy Wood

[Daisy]

Well, Robert posted that this forum is pretty lax as far as moderation goes compared to others he is involved with. I really don't think it's the moderation some people have a problem with, but rather that we won't allow them come on here and make demands as to how this forum is run. Some people just get grouchy when they don't get their own way. Out of 467 members, only a handful have ever complained. That's not too shabby a record, actually.

Good luck with your new forum zbratkat - live long and prosper..........:D

[Robert]

As was said some thread drifts do lead to interesting discussion on another matter or subject. The simple solution to keep from having posts moved or deleted would be to start another thread. You can even start it with "a drift from (whatever thread)" That way when someone reads it they know that it originated from another thread and allows everyone to use the search function. Everyone is going to drift off topic every now and then but don't get upset if your post is moved to another thread or if it way off, deleted.

[zbratkat]

Someone told me you or one of your friends have setup your own web site (WannaTalk?Roswell) and it looks like the only rule is "There is to be no profanity".

Hi, Billy. Thank you for putting out the info on his site. The owner isn't really a friend, per se, though he is a colleague and associate. He has been building WannaTalk? sites and I asked him last year if he would start one in this area. He hasn't even marketed it here yet, so I'm interested to see how it goes and if it is even needed in Roswell.

There are two rules there. No profanity and no personal attacks. Very simple and very easy to operate, according to the sites already in use.

Your site is about a community watch group. WannaTalk?Roswell isn't designed for that purpose. It is simply a place to share information, network, and meet others in the Roswell community. It'll draw people from around the world due to the WannaTalk? frame for the site. According to the owner, hits from a WannaTalk? site in the UK, the film industry and Washington are hitting WannaTalk?Roswell because of the link.

So the site isn't strictly for Roswell residents (not citizens). It is about coming together and discussing topics concerning Roswell, with Arts, World issues, US politics and misc. thrown into the mix. Heck, there's even a 'Hate Tank' forum for those who just want to spout about something bugging them. lol

So this site will continue to prosper because of its appeal of the community watch group and that is a good thing. WannaTalk?Roswell will just be a fluff site for a myriad of discussion.

Again, thanks for putting it out here. I'm sure a few from this site will enjoy both, as I do.