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Post by JP on Apr 22, 2006 19:57:55 GMT 1
I agree with Big Dave Steelers comments 110%
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Post by Claret & Blue Army on Apr 22, 2006 21:03:36 GMT 1
This is an issue I feel quite strongly about. Although this isn't an official Blaze forum so the moderators technically don't have any responsiblity to the Blaze Organisation and its fans, it is still a forum used by a large number of fans and it also occasionally has people involved with the club (ie Sally, Doug Schuller, Andy Buxton, John Dalziel) coming online. For them reasons I believe that being a moderator is not just about deleting and editing the target number of posts per day, but they should also be about to help forum members with inquires. Even though the moderators on here are officially nothing to do with Blaze other than being supporters, morally they are ambasitors for the club. Therefore members who have any issues should be able to take them up with the moderators. For example if a member had a post deleted or edited, that member should have the opportunity to ask the mod who deleted it for a reason why, maybe they shouldn't expect an answer but they should still have the right to ask. If the identities of the moderators were anonymous then members wouldn't have the opportunity to do this and moderators would have the opportunity to do what they want, whether it be right or wrong for the forum without getting caught. As for the origional question about whether mods should be elected, well that depends on whether it would be in the best interest of the forum or not. Good points raised Rich. The role and function of a mod is not necessarily to act in an unofficial capacity for the Blaze or even hockey on the whole but to see that forum rules are adhered to and nothing is put on to cause offence. However this comes in the form of moderating to conform to set out standards (i.e. bad language or personal abuse) and not censoring just because one persons viewpoint is not shared by a mod. As individuals we all have different opinions and more importantly different senses of humour. HOWEVER as long as forum rules are not broken then posts cannot be deleted or threads locked without it has been properly discussed by the mods in the staffroom. We too have rules to adhere to and are not above all others in deciding who can say what in the forum. Whilst democracy might take a while we are certainly not overseeing a dictatorship type forum here  |
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Post by Claret & Blue Army on Apr 22, 2006 21:04:47 GMT 1
I agree with Big Dave Steelers comments 110% You also agreed with Ali's original post |
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Post by SuperMouse on Apr 23, 2006 10:03:03 GMT 1
HOWEVER as long as forum rules are not broken then posts cannot be deleted or threads locked without it has been properly discussed by the mods in the staffroom. We too have rules to adhere to and are not above all others in deciding who can say what in the forum. Then why has this exact thing happened? If you ask me, the rules aren't working with some mods... |
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Post by JP on Apr 23, 2006 14:20:36 GMT 1
Sometimes you don't have time to discuss things in the staff room, as the post is clearly not acceptable for the forum. What do you do in that situation, especially when only one mod is online? Do you leave it on display on the forum, or do you act on the matter..? It doesn't help when you have fellow members PM'ing you saying that the post in unacceptable, but hey these things go un-noticed, clearly.
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Post by Claret & Blue Army on Apr 23, 2006 15:08:10 GMT 1
I think the problem is when somebody posts something that a mod doesn't agree with it gets deleted even though no forum rules are broken. Just because it is not the same opinion doesn't make the posts of members any less valid
I'm guessing the issue is of mods breaking the rules and censoring members opinions rather than moderating where members have posted something offensive and have therefore broken rules but stand to be corrected
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Jo
I'm A Regular Now
X Me and me boy! X
Posts: 378
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Post by Jo on Apr 23, 2006 15:59:58 GMT 1
But if we stayed one big happy family then we wouldnt have to delete anything thats not acceptable on the forum and so far being the latest Mod. i havnt had this opportunity, i have worked on many Message Boards over several years and this place seems to have great members - so lets keep it this way. |
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Post by JP on Apr 23, 2006 18:21:16 GMT 1
But if we stayed one big happy family then we wouldnt have to delete anything thats not acceptable on the forum and so far being the latest Mod. i havnt had this opportunity, i have worked on many Message Boards over several years and this place seems to have great members - so lets keep it this way. Have an EP Jo  |
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Post by Rich on Apr 23, 2006 20:16:35 GMT 1
My second post in two days.
I was a moderator on here for about a month possibly more. During that time I didn't delete or edit a single post of anyone elses. Does this mean that I was a bad moderator and I didn't do my job properly or does it mean that I was a good moderator because my presence alone stopped people form posting things that were unacceptable? Just for the record in my time as a mod I didn't receive PM's from any members asking me to delete or edit posts so as far as I know people were happy.
Changing the subject a little bit but I'm just wondering what people would think if any of the moderators on here went round acting like it was one rule for them and one for everyone else. For example what would people say if somebody started a new thread about an individual players performance in a game between Blaze and Giants, a mod deleted the thread and moved the post to the Blaze V Giants game thread but then themselves went and started a thread about another individual players performance in the same game. Should being a moderator give them the right to do things a little different to everyone else or should everyone be equal whether they are a moderator or not? I have my own opinions on this but I'm just wondering what others think.
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Post by Claret & Blue Army on Apr 23, 2006 20:29:26 GMT 1
Speaking as a mod I don't believe we have the right to not conform to the same regulations as general members as each and every member is entitled to their point of view no matter whether we agree with it.
As long as the post isn't offensive or breaks any of the rules then in theory it should be there for all and sundry to judge as they wish.
Hope that answers your question Rich (EP for good content)
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Jo
I'm A Regular Now
X Me and me boy! X
Posts: 378
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Post by Jo on Apr 24, 2006 14:38:07 GMT 1
Same goes for me Steve - nice one - couldnt have said it better myself! |
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Post by PW on Apr 24, 2006 16:01:26 GMT 1
Sometimes you don't have time to discuss things in the staff room, as the post is clearly not acceptable for the forum. What do you do in that situation, especially when only one mod is online? Do you leave it on display on the forum, or do you act on the matter..? It doesn't help when you have fellow members PM'ing you saying that the post in unacceptable, but hey these things go un-noticed, clearly. I think, having read all posts from all sides, that the issue isn't so much the deletion of "unacceptable" posts...everyone is agreed that full-on abuse of other members is not a problem on this forum, and the forum is by far the better for it (and indeed than the "official" Elite forum) precisely for the reasons above. The issue is more that it appears that (on rare occasions) posts are being deleted either because they're openly critical of the Blaze as a whole (which smacks of not wanting to offend the hierarchy DESPITE forums supposedly being a place for free speech-the opinions being presented in a reasonable way rather than just saying "this is rubbish") or they probe and raise issues which perhaps some would rather not have raised. I believe BDS will back me up in saying that there was a similar sort of problem on the Steeltalk board during the Norton Lea era...there were mentions that posts criticising the administration of the club were being deleted without cause... I personally have a view that a forum should reflect the opinions of EVERYBODY, both good and bad...I ask myself what would happen if someone posted a topic criticising, say, the big rise in ticket prices over the past five years (the highest in the Elite League) or indeed the events over Theo/the fans debate...there were definitely posts and part of posts removed during that time without any real justification. Having said that, though-the vast majority of the time, the forum is almost self-policing...and the mods are doing a fine job in keeping this from dropping into the sort of slanging matches seen on some forums...the level of debate is not to be complained about...(even if it does get a little heated at times). Another thing that must be said is that the forum rules are very clear...and thus difficult to twist in the way that some forums have. HOWEVER...they are clearly being applied in different ways by different mods-which seems to be the main force in leading to conflict. As for the election question (in order to follow the rules and stay near the topic) perhaps the mods are in the best position to judge this by majority rule...they, after all, are the ones who are most on the forum and thus those who have an idea on who is best to do the job...there has always been a high standard of moderation on this forum (for the most part) and the only way to keep it that way is to keep the dialogue between the mods going. As for JP's question about what to do when only one mod is online...the questions they should ask themselves are... Is it obviously libellous? Is it obviously offensive to a large number of people? Is it a personal attack on another member? If the answer to any one of those three is yes, then chop it immediately (and leave a reason in its place). If not, then discuss it with another mod first...irrespective of whether another member has PMed asking for it to be deleted...whatever position they have. |
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Post by SuperMouse on Apr 24, 2006 17:27:26 GMT 1
Exactly Paul, you hit the nail on the head with what I'm trying to say. There are times when post are being deleted, without discussion in the staff room(this has been confimed) when a Mod hasn't agreed with their opinions. I feel that sometimes members of this forum are not being able to voice their opinions because of ONE mod not all. When a problem can be pinpointed like this shouldn't something be done? Well obviously not as this mod has done good things for this forum etc... Find something wrong with this? I do...
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Post by Claret & Blue Army on Apr 24, 2006 18:10:46 GMT 1
On behalf of my fellow mods past present and future I have to say we're not perfect...even me  But we do try. The implementation of mod rules was as a result of perception being that sometimes mods appeared to censor opinions rather than cut out the offensive. I think I speak on behalf of us all when I request that any suggestions as to how we can be better would be greatly received |
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Post by SuperMouse on Apr 24, 2006 18:15:18 GMT 1
Nothing against you steve, but it seems some mods are skirting the issue a bit too much.
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But we do try.