PD & GD

Ban repeated offenders and do ip checks so they don’t make a new account (i say ban ip if thats possible). I was temporarily banned for flaming and should be permanently banned if I flame or break another rule.

Yes, it may have “seemed” that way but it also may not have been the case. So instead, I would like to blame software or our use of it. The reason being that locking could be used to stop a conversation that gets out of hand but it can also be used for non-negative purpose such as really old threads that you might want for reference but don’t want to keep going. Basically, stop a conversation and move on. In PD and GD we really need “blocking” where you can see the thread title but cannot read anything in the thread until a resolution to whatever problem has been decided. We don’t have a blocking feature. We can move the thread but that’s a pain in the neck and the thread would probably never get moved back.

Finally, it’s not easy being a mod. Sometimes it seems to non-mods like you’re advancing your cause in a conversation when you’re intentions were not as such.

@guildofblades:

And to clarify Jen, you were suspended specifically for violating a forum policy which explicitly states that if you have an issue with a moderator ruling on an issue, you take it up with the site owner, admin, or another Mod privately.  Had this not been a formal written forum policy, it would not have been an issue.<<

But what “seems” to have happened next was that you put in your last word, then closed the thread. Jen then got in “trouble” for posting on the subject again my opening new threads.

Not really fair for you to engage in an argument, sneak in a final word, then lock out the person you were arguing with from responding. It was an abuse of your position, given your intimate involvement in the argument that was going on.  It was like saying your final word, then using your position of power to shut up the opposing view.

Huh? I’m not sure I understand the point of anti- statement. Or was it mostly sarcasm. Maybe we do need a sarcastic smiley. According to this page (http://www.cg.tuwien.ac.at/~helwig/smileys.html) the normal smiley can be used for sarcasm but this one :-> is more sarcastic or something.

If the statement was serious … this website isn’t run by the U.S. Government. This site is not a democracy, nor a republic. It’s a hobby and barely a business. If I felt like it, I could delete all posts that use “can’t” because I prefer “cannot.” :wink: (I’m not going to do that by the way, I just can’t).

“Security/patriotic act” measures would be more like the government monitoring all traffic across this site because they feel like it. Censorship would be the government subsequently blocking certain types of search before the HTTP POST reached this server. The former is possible the later would be hard. Okay, I digress the point it start using the sarcastic smiley

:->

@nuno:

@Jennifer:

the level of idiocy on display in the PD has been astronomical for a long time.

Agreed.

@Jennifer:

I think the entire system should be scrapped, or a better leader be appointed, IMHO.
…
Til then, I agree, the PD should be shut down indefinitely.  Just my opinion.  After all, I believe the forum was created when we all began arguing over the 2000 elections before it was confirmed who the President elect was.  Seven years of discussion on it may be enough, no?

Understandably, with evidence on iraq Disaster becoming increasingly crystal everyday,
Americans couldn’t support their traditional “freedom of speech” propaganda any longer.

Therefore my participation last July in the forum could only trigger the increase of such “security/patriotic act” measures,
such as Bans, Censorship, etc…

@Jennifer:

perhaps the rulings will be less partisan and allow for the forum to regress from slander and name calling and progress toward intellectual debate.

:lol: Jen.

That’s still really tough. Especially since I don’t want to see ANY hate speech (neither the technical legal definition nor the casual definition) nor misogyny, nor homophobic remarks, etc. I do not want to be associated with that and it will not be allowed.

Maybe some sort of community moderation. Sure, people will take side but maybe votes (thumbs up/thumbs down) for posts would help?

@Emperor:

Yahoshua

I have to disagree with your whole approach.  It’s all these rules that brought us to this point.

Political discussion, by it’s very nature, elicits the passions of americans, it’s what makes our nation great.  The whole purpose of the 1st ammendment was to protect political speech no matter how aggregious we find it.  The Supreme Court is still wrestiling with these issues even today, expecting a moderator to decide them is folly.

The political boards should be unrestricted in content, the moderator should confine their rulings to posts that violate “actual” laws which would expose the site to legal action, such as copy right infingment, Slander, or Libel.

Peoples opinions are just that.  As the saying goes, opinons are like assholes…everyone has one.

Being able to say whatever you want tends to mean that you can’t. Don’t we need to keep in mind a little more, “My right to extend my arm ends at the other guy’s nose?”

I don’t see the sarcastic smilie…unless there is no emoticon for it and the symbolic representation is supposed to be taken as a sarcastic point.

ooo…a wiki forum.  I love wiki, but I don’t think it would work too well in a forum.  Although, I had that same reservation when I heard about wiki in the first place.  I’d give it a shot.

Being 100% honest…

I come here for the purpose of gaming.

If PD and/or GD remained gone permanently, it would give me more time for other activities, or even perhaps for more than 1 game at a time!  :-D

What? A map program in Switch’s future?

@frimmel:

What? A map program in Switch’s future?

I wouldn’t get carried away, Frimmel.  Switch has been known to play two games at once and STILL use his board to manage both – go figure.

:-P, but that was a slow mo game on one and I had to spend a LOT of tiem re-setting my board between moves :-P

Yep, we can, so long as discussion is civil among members.

You would do well to learn that lesson rather than try to fan the flames of discord.

And yes, call that a warning.

This is a gaming site true,

I think PD and GD should be removed as well. (will save a lot of poeple of time and arguing.)

For example it will save Switch a ton of time (I think as he stated he is the only Mod which checks these)
and a ton of other poeple just go in there and argue.

We must also keep in mind the younger audience who may come in for a peek or may want to play some games, so we should keep PD, GD and language etc… out of it, that is just my opinion though.

Off topic is fine as long as it goes back on topic. It’s called an aside.

@nuno:

@ncscswitch:

:-P, but that was a slow mo game on one and I had to spend a LOT of tiem re-setting my board between moves :-P

Off topic…

I guess some can do it without consequences.

@NoMercy:

This is a gaming site true,

I think PD and GD should be removed as well. (will save a lot of poeple of time and arguing.)

People check those on their own volition.  The have to purposely click on multiple links before even seeing a discussion.

If it weren’t for Toshiba, I’d be doing some gaming right now, so all I’ve really got are the PD & GD right now…

For example it will save Switch a ton of time (I think as he stated he is the only Mod which checks these)
and a ton of other poeple just go in there and argue.

We must also keep in mind the younger audience who may come in for a peek or may want to play some games, so we should keep PD, GD and language etc… out of it, that is just my opinion though.

I missed seeing what happened over last week, but honestly, the PD & GD are pretty mild compared to MANY forums I’ve seen.  It’s not like we are ruining the internet here.

I’ve always thought that the GD forum was pretty civilised and friendly.  I am hesitant to ask but I’m curious as to “the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

About 5 hit at once.

@NoMercy:

This is a gaming site true,

I think PD and GD should be removed as well. (will save a lot of poeple of time and arguing.)

The People that post on PD usualy enjoy argueing or they wouldn’t read that forum…

@NoMercy:

For example it will save Switch a ton of time (I think as he stated he is the only Mod which checks these)
and a ton of other poeple just go in there and argue.

I browse through PD and try to watch for naughtiness, the difference is I generally just look for language and name-calling.  I don’t care if dumb people type dumb stuff…  I would also like to mention the function “report post”  If you find somthing offensive report it and I will look.  I am not going to sit 24 hrs a day and watch what people type, I actualy have a day job…

LOL, I have to clarify something in light of what DF posted…

When the “Report to Moderator” button is pushed, ALL Mods get the notice by e-mail. The first one of us online once such a report is sent is the one who will usually make the initial judgment and take any immediate action needed (lock a thread, delete or edit a post).  Or, if they are unsure, they will post their thoughts for other Mods to review and we get some consensus on such things.

“Report to moderator” brings ALL of us in.

Other mods read some of the threads that interested them, or that they were active in.  Others, as DF posted, would scan looking for obvious issues.

I did however try to read each and every post (which is why it ate up so much of my time).  And the fact that i DID make that investment of time into all of that reading is why I also posted a LOT of replies… that was the “return on my investment” of time.

If and/or when GD and/or PD are reopened, I will NOT resume reading every single thread.  This week has actually been very nice.  I have been able to focus on my game, and I PLAY BETTER when I am thinking about my game instead of the other stuff on the site.

And for me, the timing could not have been better coming into the Fall 2-on-2 Tournament, and with me cracking 10 League wins with only 4 months to go in this year’s League :-D