Locked

Posted: 7/23/2012 6:23 AM
Post subject: Policy on locking threads
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Warp
Banned User
Joined: 3/10/2004
Posts: 7698
Location: Finland
(I'm painfully aware that posting topics that are potentially controversial is a sure way of getting backlash and a negative reputation, but what the heck. It's not like my reputation could sink any lower than it is...) I appreciate the forum moderators policy of not deleting posts/threads they don't like (except probably if they contain something outright illegal or highly offensive) and instead just locking them, which allows people to read them even after the fact. However, I have to question some of the policies about locking threads. Locking is appropriate and to be desired when a thread has turned into an endless flamewar with accusations and insults being hurled back and forth without end. It's more questionable when it's done on a thread which simply consists of people acting foolishly and making completely random posts, especially if this happens in the off-topic group (in other groups it's more appropriate because such random unrelated foolish posts do not belong to those, but even then moving the posts is better than locking the thread). Not much damage is done in this latter case, but it still feels arbitrary. However, shutting someone down who is making a formal complaint by immediately locking the thread crosses a border IMO. Whether he is right or wrong, and whether or not you agree with the complaint, I don't think it matters. Shutting someone (and everybody else) down like that shows a lack of respect and professionalism. People should be given a chance to voice their opinion, even if it's critical of moderator behavior. I could use some nasty adjectives to describe a person who pre-emptively shuts down a thread they don't like that's critical of the admins, but I'll just leave it at that. If locking such complaints is acceptable by the admins, then make it an official policy and write it in the forum rules. "We don't tolerate complaints against the moderators and admins we don't agree with, and will lock any threads doing so." (I hope you see the irony if you were to lock this thread as well.)
Posted: 7/23/2012 6:35 AM
Post subject: Re: Policy on locking threads
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DarkKobold
Skilled player (1652)
Joined: 11/15/2004
Posts: 2202
Location: Killjoy
Arcade TASer of 2010 PCE TASer of 2010 Arcade TAS of 2010 Lucky TAS of 2009 Lucky TAS of 2007
Warp wrote:
I appreciate the forum moderators policy of not deleting posts/threads they don't like (except probably if they contain something outright illegal or highly offensive) and instead just locking them, which allows people to read them even after the fact. However, I have to question some of the policies about locking threads.
We only delete posts/threads of banned users. Thats the policy. The goal of this policy is to prevent those users, who are generally after the attention of this board, from gaining it.
Warp wrote:
Locking is appropriate and to be desired when a thread has turned into an endless flamewar with accusations and insults being hurled back and forth without end. It's more questionable when it's done on a thread which simply consists of people acting foolishly and making completely random posts, especially if this happens in the off-topic group (in other groups it's more appropriate because such random unrelated foolish posts do not belong to those, but even then moving the posts is better than locking the thread). Not much damage is done in this latter case, but it still feels arbitrary. However, shutting someone down who is making a formal complaint by immediately locking the thread crosses a border IMO.
Two things: First off, formal complaint? We don't have a formal complaint policy. Some how calling it a formal complaint does not lend it credence. We do not have some magic hands-off policy because it was called a formal complaint. Secondly, it was redundant to the complaints he had in the first thread. So, it was totally unnecessary to create a 2nd thread. Finally, it is so ridiculously typical for someone being moderated to claim that it is moderator abuse. I did review the threads, and all I saw was a user claiming that merging his posts was defacing them. I am considering locking this thread, because I see no value in keeping it open, other than to stir the flames. Calling it ironic for doing so is somewhat of a manipulation to attempt to keep it open. This issue needs to be let go. All they did was merge posts. If people have legitimate complaints, they can privately contact me, adelikat, or Nach. Attempting to lodge a public formal complaint is just encouraging drama. Especially since the complaints were already made publicly. Can we please get back to TASing?
Sage advice from a friend of Jim: So put your tinfoil hat back in the closet, open your eyes to the truth, and realize that the government is in fact causing austismal cancer with it's 9/11 fluoride vaccinations of your water supply.
Posted: 7/23/2012 9:08 AM
Post subject: Re: Policy on locking threads
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Nach
Emulator Coder
Joined: 3/9/2004
Posts: 4588
Location: In his lab studying psychology to find new ways to torture TASers and forumers
Warp wrote:
However, shutting someone down who is making a formal complaint by immediately locking the thread crosses a border IMO. Whether he is right or wrong, and whether or not you agree with the complaint, I don't think it matters. Shutting someone (and everybody else) down like that shows a lack of respect and professionalism. People should be given a chance to voice their opinion, even if it's critical of moderator behavior. I could use some nasty adjectives to describe a person who pre-emptively shuts down a thread they don't like that's critical of the admins, but I'll just leave it at that.
You have a good point. However, there's complaining to an admin, and there's causing disruption in the guise of complaining to an admin. I get PM's both here and over IRC, and the occasional e-mail from someone complaining about things all the time. Doing such is as close to an official method for lodging a complaint as we have. Now as DarkKobold said above, specifically making a thread to complain is hardly ideal. It can be seen as just trying to start a fight. However, that can be overlooked by suggesting that perhaps the person in question didn't know better. In this case though, he PM'd every single admin AND started a thread. The only logical conclusion I can draw from that is that he was intentionally trying to be disruptive. I would also note that airing a grievance is one thing. Demanding that certain users be stripped of rights and privileges is another thing entirely. The administration will decide who has what rights, and what appropriate punishments are for misbehavior. We will not have our control taken hostage by a disgruntled user.
Warning: Opinions expressed by Nach or others in this post do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or position of Nach himself on the matter(s) being discussed therein.

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