Posted on: 19-10-04 15:50:35
Need your suggestions here. I am noticing more and more of our discussions here getting stalled by personal attacks of varying degrees. I don’t feel it is SUCH a big issue yet, however it has the potential to be and could destroy all the good work we’re all doing here.
Whenever I notice such stuff and feel that it is crossing a certain line, I point it out to the poster. Now since moderating the forums here is only a small part of my life, I have no problems admitting that I may not be able to catch this stuff all the time and even if I do, I may not have time to stop it effectively all the time. And sometimes, it may give people the impression that I’m being partial one way or the other.
I’m not trying to be partial. As a moderator, you have to make certain decisions and judge things to the best of your ability, since there are no hard-core rules that define these things. Your decisions will certainly not please everyone but there’s no fix for this. And since you’re human, there is certainly room for error.
But I think its about time we devise an effective policy to deal with this issue that is so detrimental to our site’s image. A lot of good people may be staying away from the website just to avoid being chided by someone they don’t know.
I would like suggestions from you guys on how we should deal to eradicate this problem. There are two issues at hand
1) How do you identify a personal attack? If someone says something and I question their thinking, that’s not necessarily a personal attack. Instead that’s an integral part of discussion. But if someone says something and I respond by saying stuff like “You’re saying this cause you’re a moron”, that’s a personal attack as far as I’m concerned.
So how do we draw a clear demarcation line?
2) What do we do about this? Once we do identify a personal attack, how should we enforce the policy of not allowing them? How strcit or liberal should we be here?
I need your views. Would appreciate it if your responses are brief and as to-the-point as possible. Maybe some examples to highlight your suggestions would help too.
Thanks.
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Are you there?
Quote:
Orginally posted by BlueLobster
Need your suggestions here. I am noticing more and more of our discussions here getting stalled by personal attacks of varying degrees. I don’t feel it is SUCH a big issue yet, however it has the potential to be and could destroy all the good work we’re all doing here.
Whenever I notice such stuff and feel that it is crossing a certain line, I point it out to the poster. Now since moderating the forums here is only a small part of my life, I have no problems admitting that I may not be able to catch this stuff all the time and even if I do, I may not have time to stop it effectively all the time. And sometimes, it may give people the impression that I’m being partial one way or the other.
You are quite right.....nobody should expect you alone to keep track of all these posts and point out rude or unwanted posts. As regards this point, I guess you and GG should appt one more very Sr CD member to assist you. You can divide the monitoring of posts by subject heading...This is only if you and GG feel OK
Quote:
Orginally posted by BlueLobster
I’m not trying to be partial. As a moderator, you have to make certain decisions and judge things to the best of your ability, since there are no hard-core rules that define these things. Your decisions will certainly not please everyone but there’s no fix for this. And since you’re human, there is certainly room for error.
But I think its about time we devise an effective policy to deal with this issue that is so detrimental to our site’s image. A lot of good people may be staying away from the website just to avoid being chided by someone they don’t know.
I would like suggestions from you guys on how we should deal to eradicate this problem. There are two issues at hand
1) How do you identify a personal attack? If someone says something and I question their thinking, that’s not necessarily a personal attack. Instead that’s an integral part of discussion. But if someone says something and I respond by saying stuff like “You’re saying this cause you’re a moron”, that’s a personal attack as far as I’m concerned.
So how do we draw a clear demarcation line?
2) What do we do about this? Once we do identify a personal attack, how should we enforce the policy of not allowing them? How strcit or liberal should we be here?
I need your views. Would appreciate it if your responses are brief and as to-the-point as possible. Maybe some examples to highlight your suggestions would help too.
Thanks.
I guess you could give -ve rating to a member who is responsible for personal attacks / rude or vulgar language etc. And the same should show up against the AVTAAR of that person on all his/her posts. For eg. one occurrence = 1 Red dot and so on.....once a person reaches 5 dots, he/she should be restricted to participate in posting threads or replying to any threads for like 2-3 months.
hope this helps inmaintaining the sanity on this site.
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Let's help each other to grow & prosper in Canada
BL , You and GG have done a great job in bringing this forum so far . As they say it takes courage to do serious intospection and it is time that we had this discussion.
I feel 2 of the challenges we have are
1. Most meaningful threads which start of with healthy debates endup in getting mixedup in personal attacks and then it just becomes a squabble between 2-3 members slugging it out at each other.
- As a result , most serious contributors just walk away never to return.
- Successful Desis who could be a very valuable resource to the members here , who could share networking, experiences and advise in different careers, just watch what is happenning and stay away.
2. The second challenge is the trolls who come with the agenda of disrupting a good debate.
what can we do check this trend ?
1. We set a "Rules of conduct " for the debates and discussions. Presidential debates have rules of conduct , why not we have some guidelines here too. and request everyone to live by these guidelines.
Though it is hard to draw a line where personal attack gets too far ....i feel, if there are simple and objective guidelines , it will help to keep discussions on track. I am writing a few here , and look forward to what others have to say
-First , to start with , participate with the purpose to enjoy the debate, share experiences, opinions and help others ... not to show any grudge.
- Focus on the topic alone, not the person.
- Respect the difference of opinions, if the opposing argument is strong and convincing; be a big guy/gal and acknowledge it. It is a sign of strength, not weakness...if we concede that others are right.
-Represent facts/figures responsibly and be prepared to be challenged to back it up.
- In the end, remember it is only a discussion...there are no winners and no losers....everyone gets a chance to express themselves and everyone gains from the other's perspective.
2 - Watch out for trolls/imposters who tend to derail any discusion by changing names and use offensive language. If a member cannot stand strong with his id, and has to change names just to attack others, such posts should be taken out.
I like the rating idea of Reachash. I will try to check my conduct as well and I am sure we can make it this great experience even better.
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What can be imagined, can be achieved.
Quote:
Orginally posted by BlueLobster
I would like suggestions from you guys on how we should deal to eradicate this problem. There are two issues at hand
1) How do you identify a personal attack? If someone says something and I question their thinking, that’s not necessarily a personal attack. Instead that’s an integral part of discussion. But if someone says something and I respond by saying stuff like “You’re saying this cause you’re a moron”, that’s a personal attack as far as I’m concerned.
So how do we draw a clear demarcation line?
Thats exactly as you say it.
Quote:
2) What do we do about this? Once we do identify a personal attack, how should we enforce the policy of not allowing them? How strcit or liberal should we be here?
This is a difficult one. Moron and such other things like Fool, idiot as of now I dont consider a personal attack. We say that all the time during heated discussions. But then if we leave it there is going to be lot of such comments, which are not a profanity per se but yet offends one of the two parties.
The problem is too much control will offend one of the parties too....
But as of now things seem to be under control. I think the bets way still is to Keep reminding them and take action like you do if they continue doing so.
Since also you cannot monitor the forum and all its posts individually 24 hours....Is there an option of reporting a post ( a report to mod button) which one can click and when you check you can make a decision.
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I once made a mistake, but I was wrong about it.
Mercury's suggestion is quite common for moderated message boards. Every post should have a "Report to moderator" button that can be used by any poster to draw the moderator's attention. That way, the moderator himself will not necessarily have to remain vigilant all the time to screen posts.
Also, IMO, I think this board has way too many forums and subjects. That number should be be brought down to maybe 6 or 7 in all and have multiple moderators keep a watch on each.
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wisernow
Today, we now know that Wisernow set up a separate alias as Diogenes the Cynic and continued posting – whatever the reason for doing that may be. Both aliases were active at the same time and Wisernow made no attempt to inform readers of the website that he was using a different alias.
I have reason to believe that certain regular contributors have also set up temporary aliases to indulge in personal attacks, the Moderator has had to delete such posts and block the aliases making these posts in the past.
If we want to hit at the root of the problem, could we have a new thread that identifies the regular contributors that indulge in this behaviour of setting up new id’s to indulge in personal attacks.
To kick this of, can we publicly know the real alias of the contributor who entered the discussion as Wonder Balloon last weekend?
Can we have a discussion on this issue please.
Quote:
Orginally posted by wisernow
Mercury's suggestion is quite common for moderated message boards. Every post should have a "Report to moderator" button that can be used by any poster to draw the moderator's attention. That way, the moderator himself will not necessarily have to remain vigilant all the time to screen posts.
Also, IMO, I think this board has way too many forums and subjects. That number should be be brought down to maybe 6 or 7 in all and have multiple moderators keep a watch on each.
Incidentally, Diogenes the Cynic was created on October 13. The post above was on October 20, so it is apparent that Wisernow continued to post under 2 aliases.........at the same time.
Wisernow, whatever the reasons may be, you were less than honest in your interactions on this board..........
