Moderation thread

[DVaut1]

[ QUOTE ]
Some people, especially politically-correct types,

[/ QUOTE ]

Last point here...but the 'politically-correct types' which you rightly deride are the types of people who try to silence debate once it becomes insulting/hurtful for a party involved.

If you're serious about being critical of political-correctness, then you too should be critical of a moderation policy that threatens to warn/delete/ban when discussion becomes 'insulting.'

[daveymck]

Once moderation went to the masses I expected all sorts of crap to go on, I am pleased that I havent been dissapointed I am more surprised that the main moderation issues have all come up in OOT and politics probably the last places it was needed.

[MMMMMM]

I'll just add that I have many times been misquoted in a disparaging manner (usually via inaccurate paraphrasing rather than direct quoting). No doubt many others here can say the same.

Im my opinion, misquoting can actually be a worse offense than a direct insult: it can be less conducive to further rational discourse, and can be a more damaging form of mudslinging due to its indidious nature.

One unavoidable problem is that sometimes ideas are not expressed or understood with complete clarity, so that when another goes to reference those ideas, shortcuts or mistakes may occur. This could result in an unintentionally incorrect paraphrasing rather than a malicious paraphrasing. However both have occurred fairly often on this forum, and at a much higher rate than should be considered acceptable (to anyone).

In summation I would ask that all try their very best to be precise both when writing and when reading. This is just a good habit to acquire, anyway.

[SheetWise]

This would be a fair rule; you can call someone stupid, as long as they are saying stupid things -- but, you must stop calling them stupid after they stop saying stupid things. Here's how it would work, 1) I say something stupid. 2) You call me a pea-brained moron who's about a bubble-and-a-half out of plumb. 3) I reply, "Yes, that was stupid." 4) All insults must stop immediately.

[Cyrus]

Here are the rules, as posted by Matt Sklansky, in (get this) the Other Other Topics forum. I submit that the Politics forum is a tad more civilised already than OOT.

I also submit that until BruceZ decided to butt in and started excreting posts by the dozen about his "rules", not too many people had a problem whatsoever with QUOTE name-calling UNQUOTE, in the Politics forum.

[ QUOTE ]
1) Don't circumvent the profanity filter.
2) Do not post any pictures which can get a person at work in trouble. You may post links to such pictures, but be sure you provide a nsfw warning.
3) The other terms and conditions basically apply; no slander for example.
4) Posts which are considered to be over the top in the offensiveness category, whether they be due to sexuality, bigotry, etc.. will probably be deleted. The decisions will be left up to the moderators and myself and as a result there may be some inconsistency. I and other moderators will strive for leniency, however.
5) In this forum, where judgement calls are being made, I suggest you save any post you believe is questionable.
6) It is our policy here to encourage vigorous debate and even fun. However, it is also our policy to demand that people be respectful to one another. In other words, just try to show a little common sense and decency.

[/ QUOTE ]

Clear enough? Now get off it already.

[Cyrus]

[ QUOTE ]
You also cannot refer to one as a “stubborn mule who cannot see past the end of his wet little nose”.

[/ QUOTE ]

Still out of hankies, I see.

[ACPlayer]

Having been on airplanes for the last 30 plus hours and now arrived back on the other side of the world, I missed this scintillating exchange. You can assume I banned myself for a couple of days if you like, but tomorrow I go diving in the warm waters of the Andaman Sea so almost nothing can get my mood down on my way to spending yet another season working in the Dive industry. I do have to spend my poker winning somewhere!

Anyway, the exchange was indeed scintillating. I specially recommend re-reading most of DVaut1's posts in this thread. He clearly gets it and could possibly even by anointed (at least by a vote on 1 -- mine) as a World Class Authority on this subject.

For my part, I absolutely announce, that nothing anyone says on this forum would ever offend me, because, I am certain that my opinion of myself is the only one that matters to me.

In seriousness, I am sorry you were offended by my post and the post who ever it was that claimed you could not see past the end of your nose (I am aware I am misquoting the exact words, so forgive me and accept the excuse of being jet lagged please). I will edit and re-edit all posts I make in reply to yours (if any) pass them through multiple tests to ensure that there even the most sensitive person (and I am not implying that you are one, just being safe is all) would not take offense. If there are others who would like to see this filter attached to their names, please let me know (PM is fine). All those on this filter list would be expected to be just as kind to me. I will point out instances where I am aggrieved, but can only hope that the moderator shares my political views so he too can see how I am aggrieved.

Now, it seems in the various examples of what could be considered offensive or not. There seems to be a tendency for most people to claim that what THEY say is not offensive because it is the truth. The implication being that when others say it, it is not the truth. The exchange about Islam is particularly revealing, as it is clear that regardless of the veracity of the claim that the books is the word of GOD, a muslim may actually find that doubting his faith is offensive. Just as devout christians get worked up about interpretations of their religion that do not meet their personal interpretations. But, I for one, will leave the rest of that for another time.

So, in a nutshell, I will be extra careful in what I say to the moderators (as of course they have the power to decide if I am over the line or not), I will watch my fingers and do my very best to be politically correct at all times - which appears to be the goal of this policy formulated by the "right" wing posters on this forum.

[MMMMMM]

[ QUOTE ]

So, in a nutshell, I will be extra careful in what I say to the moderators (as of course they have the power to decide if I am over the line or not), I will watch my fingers and do my very best to be politically correct at all times - which appears to be the goal of this policy formulated by the "right" wing posters on this forum.


[/ QUOTE ]

I could care less if what a poster writes is politically correct or not. What matters is whether the poster is adhering to the Operating Policies of the Terms and Conditions of 2+2 Publishing.

The Operating Policies will be stickied for this forum in the near future.

[elwoodblues]

It sounds to me like 2+2 was trying to create a cure where there was no real problem.