Locking OT threads

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

My question.......

How many times are you going to lock threads because of apparent reports of racism/intolerance BEFORE you ban the offenders?

I realize the forum is Off-Topic and the rules are "looser" but come on - a bigot is a bigot and shouldn't be tolerated in a international community.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I will reply that what happens to individuals who violate TOS is not made public. Suspensions are handed out as appropriate and the matter is between the Moderation Tean and the individual involved only. Unless that individual choses to share with you any information related to administrative action you will not be informed about suspensions, bans or any other type of action.

[K and L 27]

It's easier to split out OT posts or make invisible posts that are in violation of the TOS. IMO, most of the time, thread locking isn't really that necessary.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

It's easier to split out OT posts or make invisible posts that are in violation of the TOS. IMO, most of the time, thread locking isn't really that necessary.

Its partially because of how OT works. Its not uncommon for 100 posts to show up in a matter of hours before a moderator is even aware of what is going on. In these types of threads, you have people occasionally trolling just to get a lot of negativity and insults, so that by the end of it you might find 40% of all posts to be in violation of the TOS. All because the thread has basically degenerated into nothing but insults. Its not worth a moderators time really.

Edited May 5, 2010 by Sousuke

[The_Dude 1,142]

Frequently, a thread is closed and only the personal attacks part is addressed, and not the racism. That gives the appearance of a complicit moderating team.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

I will reply that what happens to individuals who violate TOS is not made public. Suspensions are handed out as appropriate and the matter is between the Moderation Tean and the individual involved only. Unless that individual choses to share with you any information related to administrative action you will not be informed about suspensions, bans or any other type of action.

I didn't think you'd be sending up a balloon to the members who reported the offenders.

I just expect to see them gone.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Frequently, a thread is closed and only the personal attacks part is addressed, and not the racism. That gives the appearance of a complicit moderating team.

I don't think that happens in OT. I think the Mods hands are tied.

Could be happening elsewhere, but not in OT.

[mox 298]

As long as off-topic remains in the gray "TOS is enforced more loosely" area, this will continue to be a problem. You might as well just be screaming into a well, because nothing is going to change until Ewok decides the TOS means something. The current policy is ridiculous.

[The_Dude 1,142]

I don't think that happens in OT. I think the Mods hands are tied.

Could be happening elsewhere, but not in OT.

It does happen in OT, more frequently with the current Immigration law threads. A thread will get closed, and the reason left by a moderator is for personal attacks and some general message about a breach of TOS. They completely negate any obvious, or even latent racist posts.

Edited May 6, 2010 by Rob and Mel

[Fandango 1,439]

I've seen threads that are called 'racist' which I don't agree are racist. If it's not blatant, what is racist to one is not to the other...

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

It does happen in OT, more frequently with the current Immigration law threads. A thread will get closed, and the reason left by a moderator is for personal attacks and some general message about a breach of TOS. They completely negate any obvious, or even latent racist posts.

Well, if you mean complicit as in a willingness to allow the behaviors to continue, IMO (from my understanding of the word) you mean the Mods are personally willing to allow these dialogues to continue due to their own personal idealogies. I sort of doubt that.

If you mean Admin doesn't want too much of a crack-down because the post count raises the site in Google rankings, then you have a point.