Forum "Moderation"

I wonder sometimes about going off topic.  Certain topics seem to meander and it's hard to separate one particular subject from others, especially in the behavior section. 

I agree Ed.  I know a lot of times when I'm talking with friends we start off on one thing and end up on another.  I think if the conversation has naturally moved along and everyone is moving in the same direction then it shouldn't be considered off topic. 

Logically the more interesting topic will have more activity and participants.  All participants can choose to scroll by the other topic(s) going on.  What I am saying is the participants will moderate without writing a  moderating comment.  Of course, if we see chitter chatter amongst a few that seems to go on and on, then I think the mod has to intervene.    A little sprinkle of this is ok. 

I agree with that too.  I don't like it when people are having a personal conversation or talking about something they discussed privately in the middle of a discussion.  If someone just makes a little comment here or there like nice new signature or good to see you back, something like that, I think that's fine though.

One thing I noticed with the moderator Ixas_girl is the good intentions of keeping the "thread" clean for archiving reasons.  An archive thread can easily be referenced if the topic comes up again and members do not have to repeat their comments.  Keeping a thread On-Topic would support that since the other topic going on would not be referenced in archive.   

But I don't know of how important an archive thread is and whether it would reflect the current members' opinion.  The forum views are changing all the time.  New members join every day.  I guess for myself I would like to have flexibility of comment today rather than someone reading my opinions 1 or 2 years ago.  My views for sure might have changed.

I think what I am getting at is to ask the Mods why are you doing what you are doing?

From my perspective, I do what I do because I often can SEE what direction a thread will take and if it ain't gonna be pretty, I'd rather intervene early than have to come in with red ink.  This was the case in the thread that sooner started about Abady and the dogfood project.  I came in with what I *thot* was a friendly reminder to just be kind and before ya know it, I'm the red headed devil!
 
I do not wish to stiffle natural conversational flows.  And typically the only time I'll say anything about OT is if things get ugly.  Heck, I'VE been known to go off topic to try to keep a thread from getting even UGLIER.  That I consider an ok OT derailing.  That, I won't fuss about personally as a mod.  If I can see that someone has popped in with something totally off the wall to try to stop the hatefulness, the email they get from me is likely going to be "hey, good try!"
 
Sometimes I'm wrong about the direction that a thread will take.  I'm only human.  But, based on my experience with THIS forum, I'm usually dead on right when I think somethings gonna get ugly.  It 99% of the time does.

I started this thread some time ago and it just won't die.  []  I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing.  In fact, I think it has been productive.  There should be some place we members can go and air differences we have with modearators and admin in an attempt to develop a better understanding and appreciation for each other.  Done with respect, that can't be anything but good.
 
All that said, I have a question about something that happened on the board yesterday.  I was censored.  That has happened to me before but this time, I don't understand why.  I think it was unwarranted and, since I was censored in public, I thought I would ask for an explanation in public.
 
Yesterday, someone joined the board and said,

I am an Interspecies Communicator

.  This new member then went on to say how they had "connected" with another member's dog and developed, from this "connection," some information about how the dog had been treated earlier in his life.  Yes, the dog told this person how he had been treated.
 
Now you've got to admit, by board standards, this is WAY out there.  In fact, in my opinion, the post was ludicrous.  What I did in response was quote the passage from the post:
 

I am an Interspecies Communicator

and replied,

What a coincidence.  So am I.

.
 
My post was censored thusly: 

[color=#cc0000]**Content removed. Forum rule 3 violation.**

.[/color]
 
I believe the rules here are, by design, somewhat ambiguous.  I don't have a problem with that.  It is your board and you should be able to decide who does or who does not post here, whether or not they play within the rules.  Betsy Perkins comes to mind, but I digress.
 
Now the main problem I have with my post being censored is one of consistency.  There are far, far worse threads standing on the board.  Look at the "Abady" thread, for example.  Can you understand where I might see a lack of consistency here?
 
Here is the referenced rule 3:
 

3.)     Debating and discussion is fine. We encourage it. It's how we all learn. However, respect your fellow members. Different posters are likely to express different opinions, and while they may differ from yours, everyone is entitled to express theirs freely. We will not tolerate rudeness, insults or personal attacks. Do not disrespect, taunt, bother, bug or flame anyone, either on the forum or via private messages or email.

 
Please, for the benefit of all of us, tell me how my simple response to an absurd post violates this rule.  To paraphrase the moderator in question, when I asked her about it, maybe I am a cross species communicator.  []

Oh my god probe I agree!!  I was like what????   Then, that thread got closed becasue to much personal info was being shared??  Like what was personal?
 
Very confused.  Moving out of that section for now, can't take the babysitting.  The needless closing of threads and if you don't beat the moderator to the thread you can't understand whats being said or going on because every other sentence is red inked and removed, therefore nothing makes sense.
 
We need moderation in that section by someone who is not an active member on the board.  Neutral an not a Nanny.
 

Well since you step into PC post directed at me, I think I can do the same.  I just want to let you know that there are people that strongly believe in animal communicators.  My first exposure is when I sent out on my email network a plea for help on how to deal with a severe SA dog.  I was surprised at how many responded recommending an animal communicator.  And those that responded had very convincing stories.  Your quote was sarcastic and meant to make fun but it did cause an escalation by others joining in and making fun, disrupting the thread.
 
I am surprised that you missed the ghostchaser that joined the forum last week.  I am sure you would have had just as much fun at that member's expense.

Why do you think it was sarcastic, Dave?  lease be specific.  What was sarcastic ABOUT MY POST?  Is it not possible that both of us are animal communicators?
 

I just want to let you know that there are people that strongly believe in animal communicators. 

 
Well, of course there are, Dave.  [8|]

I think that regardless of what you think of another person's personal beliefs and experiences, a certain level of civility is necessary. Derailing someone elses thread, resulting in it being closed, so that YOU can have a laugh at the expense of the OP, is childish and stupid. Grow up.

Yes, there are MANY people that believe in animal communicators. I'm one of them. If you think it's "ludicrous," or mock-worthy, stay out of the thread the post was made in.

I am amazed at the level of childishness displayed by many of the adults here.

My thread was closed, and I recieved a very snotty PM from the moderator that closed it. Thanks to a few people who ruined my thread, I can no longer discuss the issue with the people who WERE helping me. My request to have it reopened have so far been ignored. I have never been anything but polite to the members here, and I don't understand where this "lets gang up on Ratsicles" mentality has suddenly come from- but the fact that the moderator who closed my thread put as much blame on ME as the people who derailed it and ruined it is completely unfair. I can't believe the way I have been treated in this. I have never, ever been anything but nice to the members here, and if I have a problem with someone, I stay OUT of their threads- I only wish people would afford me the same courtesy.

Now, thanks to a small group of people, I can no longer discuss HELPING my dog- which is the entire point of this forum. And I was told that I was just as much at fault as they were. Freaking ridiculous.

Did it ever occur to anyone that Billy's post was meant in humor???? As in, we are ALL animal communicators if we train dogs.  Even if he didn't mean it that way, it is certainly a double entendre and probably not worthy of red ink.  I've been called far worse than an animal communicator on this board, and people have certainly questioned my qualifications as a trainer - but they didn't get red inked.  I mean, are we going to become a "politically correct" dog forum?  I've had enough of that in the real world, would hate to see it coming at me in cyberspace. []  

Wow, Rat, I didn't know your thread was closed. Sorry about that. I also don't see how you were at fault. At all. You asked for specific kind of answers, but that doesn't mean people have to respond the way you wanted. And many didn't.

I've been moderator on several boards and I can't figure out why it was closed unless there was something going on behind the scenes that we couldn't see. [sm=asking03.gif]

When I see sarcasm like that in a thread, I just ignore it. I thought it was right that the mods edited it because it was off topic. Perhaps that's a criteria in modding here or perhaps not. But as a mod on another board, that was one of the main guidelines. The thread was about Ogre, not how many animal communicators we have on the board. I thought after that editing, we could move on. I don't think sarcasm should be moderated, it should be ignored.

And civility is nice, but sometimes it's too much to expext from people with a high need for drama and drastically different opinions. The best thing you can do (or me or anyone) is to control our OWN civility and let the chips fall... A derailing can only be successful if people respond to it.

Some of us were really trying to help you with your dogs. And some were attacking you. That's just plain truth. It's obvious. I'm sorry your thread was closed, but I think you got something from it and so did I. I hope it can be reopened and if people want to be uncivil and sarcastic, they can, just ignore them and let the mods handle it. Some people crave drama. If you don't supply it, they go in search elsewhere.

Ann, no, it wasn't meant in humor. I'm sure it was funny to Billy, but it was very biting, very disparaging, and it was very clear that he was being extremely mocking.

You asked for specific kind of answers, but that doesn't mean people have to respond the way you wanted. And many didn't.

And that's okay- people seem to think that I just wanted people to sit around and tell me how wonderful I am because I had issue with some of the things people were saying, and some of the implications. That isn't the case, at all- and I absolutely agree that people have a right to respond however they wish. BUT, I don't believe that posts made JUST to attack people, that have absolutely no redeeming value, that are there JUST to antagonize, should  be allowed. And there were plenty of those.

I've been moderator on several boards and I can't figure out why it was closed unless there was something going on behind the scenes that we couldn't see. [sm=asking03.gif]

Same here- I still don't understand it, and my PMs to the mod who closed it have gone ignored.

When I see sarcasm like that in a thread, I just ignore it. I thought it was right that the mods edited it because it was off topic. Perhaps that's a criteria in modding here or perhaps not. But as a mod on another board, that was one of the main guidelines. The thread was about Ogre, not how many animal communicators we have on the board. I thought after that editing, we could move on. I don't think sarcasm should be moderated, it should be ignored.

When Billy and a few other people got into their private, unrelated discussion (compromised entirely of their banter about how stupid animal communicators were) I ignored it. I thought a mod would come along and get rid of it when they saw it. That did finally happen, and THEN my thread was closed too, which is ridiculous- get rid of the people causing the problem and allow discussion to continue. Don't end a good discussion because a few people are set to ruin it.

Some of us were really trying to help you with your dogs. And some were attacking you. That's just plain truth. It's obvious. I'm sorry your thread was closed, but I think you got something from it and so did I.

You're right, there was ALOT of good info mixed in with the attacks and childishness...which is why I asked that it be reopened. I got alot of good ideas and great advice from  those who were actually out to help me- which is why I'd like to continue the discussion and think it's riduclous that the thread was closed when I was looking for and getting help from the members who are mature enough to not act like they're in high school.

Ummm, without revealing WHO the mod is who did or didn't do the deed.......was it me?  If so, please remember that I work full time and squeeze in as much time as possible during my work day.  So, if an issue arises during the weekday, I greatly appreciate an EMAIL alerting me to the issue.