Moderation Feedback

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

For information purposes, the threads in this forum that were recently closed by Captain Ewok were all discussing various moderation concerns. Instead of scattering the concerns and discussion over a variety of threads he wished to concentrate the discussion here in one thread so as to have the issues presented in one location and make it easier to address and hopefully, resolve, thus he closed the other threads and opened this one with the request to focus the discussion here.

One additional thread discussing moderator concerns was also closed at the request of the Original Poster.

Hopefully this helps put to rest any rumours or conjectures

So, this is a concentration thread?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

So, this is a concentration thread?

LOL - I guess it is!

[Captain Ewok 1,891]

In the past poliics and religion were in OT. We aplit it off to allow OT topics to stay clear of the two most "heated" topics.

[A and T 82]

In the past poliics and religion were in OT. We aplit it off to allow OT topics to stay clear of the two most "heated" topics.

And what do they have to do with obtaining a visa?

[SMOKE 1,426]

And what do they have to do with obtaining a visa?

nothing. but, they do help pass the time while people wait for the next step in their journey.

[luckytxn 2,264]

Still the gossip will go on whether we know why it happened or not so what difference does it make if they said why they did something? It is going to be gossiped whether they tell everyone in the thread or not.

[luckytxn 2,264]

1. A thought for general consideration: Official replies to "regular" members might be delayed because the Moderators and the Admiral first need to caucus, and everyone is on a different schedule (or time zone).

2. In regard to publicizing suspensions, penalties, etc.: Rather than full advertisement of offending threads/posts, a link (perhaps discreetly entitled "Administrative") could be placed on the sidebar of the main Forums. Clicking on the link would lead to a few simple categories:

Thread Ban

Member X - P&R forum

Member Y - OT forum (2) & CR-1/IR-1 forum

Member Z - Effects forum

Suspension

Member A - use of language (through 1/2/11)

Member B - advertising (through 1/29/11)

Account Closed

Member K - administrative

Member L - member request

Member M - spamming

Suspension/Thread Ban Lifted after Review

Member N

No further detail need be publicized, because people who care about such things would be able to figure out which "lines of propriety" were crossed or would know "why" already. On the other side, the private details or "dirty laundry" surrounding the moderation or administrative action could reasonably and appropriately be kept private.

3. Additional idea: This same "Administrative" link could also contain the titles of threads that were deleted from forums or were made invisible, and the reason therefor (TOS violations, request of OP, other). It truly is frustrating to read a thread with interest in the morning only to return in the evening and be clueless as to what happened to that thread.

Thoughts?

Thoughts? Many.

[tmma 467]

And what do they have to do with obtaining a visa?

Nothing....That's why it's called OFF TOPIC.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Ewok, I think you need to take a hard look at some of your moderators. Here is a scenario, I recently made a second account to make a thread to post some anonymous details. I did not do it to circumvent a suspension nor did I do it to insult someone anonymously. I even sent Brad a PM notifying him that it was a second account, and what I was using it for. Everything I did was fine as per the TOS, yet Brad still suspended me and another user for a week. After sending you a message, you did lift the absurd suspension, but not the other person. Here is the language of the TOS:

You may only register one account with the following exception: You may register a second account to Post information on the Forums that you perceive as personal and prefer not to be publicly associated with your first account. Registering additional accounts with the purpose of violating the TOS will result in the appropriate administrative action being applied to all registered accounts (as well as all duplicate accounts being terminated).

Either clean up the language, or clean up the moderators handing down capricious suspensions because they don't like it rather than any actual TOS violation.

[daboyz 36]

Man!! It's a website. I got kicked off of thaivisa.com for no good reason. If I got banned here, who really gives a sh!t?

This site is the best in the world when it comes to immigration to the US. All the other OT and Politics and Religion stuff is really secondary at the end of the day.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Ewok, I think you need to take a hard look at some of your moderators. Here is a scenario, I recently made a second account to make a thread to post some anonymous details. I did not do it to circumvent a suspension nor did I do it to insult someone anonymously. I even sent Brad a PM notifying him that it was a second account, and what I was using it for. Everything I did was fine as per the TOS, yet Brad still suspended me and another user for a week. After sending you a message, you did lift the absurd suspension, but not the other person. Here is the language of the TOS:

Either clean up the language, or clean up the moderators handing down capricious suspensions because they don't like it rather than any actual TOS violation.

I should really let Captain Ewok handle this but I'm going to step in because frankly, I am tired of this nonsense. Yes, I am having a bad week and my patience is wearing thin. Brad did not suspend your account. Captain Ewok suspended both accounts. Your reply to him apparently raised some doubt about the degree of your complicity so that is why your suspension was lifted. As I am aware of the particulars involved in the reasons for these suspensions, my personal opinion is that both of you got off very lightly and should be facing much stronger consequences. I am rather appalled at your audacity to raise this issue in this way as if you both were some sort of victims which is far from the case. I suggest that if you wish to 'throw stones' you should first of all get your facts straight, and second - move out of your 'glass house'.

Edited January 4, 2011 by Kathryn41

[^_^ 5,021]

As I am aware of the particulars involved in the reasons for these suspensions, my personal opinion is that both of you got off very lightly and should be facing much stronger consequences.

Not to butt in on this, but given that all I know is what I've read on this thread thus far... if he created a duplicate account to post information that he perceived as personal and preferred not to associate that information with his Rob & Mel account, then how is that against TOS? TOS explicitly allows that, with no ambiguity whatsoever.

You may register a second account to Post information on the Forums that you perceive as personal and prefer not to be publicly associated with your first account.

I assume there is more to this story than what has been revealed on this thread thus far; there would have to be for his suspension to have been appropriate.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Yes - there is a lot more to the story than has been posted.

[^_^ 5,021]

So he did create a duplicate account to post information that he perceived as personal and preferred not to associate that information with his Rob & Mel account (not a TOS violation) but violated some other clause within site TOS? Could you at least tell us which clause he violated?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Sorry, AJ. I understand the enticement to speculate, but I'm not going there.