I've run across a few of the afterdawn forums where the content has really gone off-topic. For example... the topic "Hollywood sues a DVD sanitizer company" http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/21083 Number one... not that I have a problem with this word, but it starts with "F*CK!", uncensored, of course. Someone mentioned how [V-chipped] DVD players that censor movies would cut too much. This led someone to talking about censoring sexual and homosexual content. (forgive my rambling...) The mere mention of homosexuality triggered everyone from gays to gay-bashers to reply to this post in explicitive. This covers about 80-90 percent of anyone out there... The other 10-20 percent, like myself could care less which side of the fence you were on, but would prefer if you were on my side, but it wouldn't hurt any relationship if you weren't (but didn't flaunt it in my face constantly... my personal opinion). (forgive my rambling...) SOLUTIONS: I propose heavier moderation and a feature to suggest a thread to a moderator to close and disapline those that can cause trouble... Perhaps bring in some outside moderators? Ones that would be more than happy to keep afterdawn clean and healthy. I'd be more than happy to volunteer my time and services to moderation of the forums, should you open the oppertunity.
You may notice that two of the participants in that thread are me, an independent moderator and dRD the owner of this website. Incorrectly posted and ignorant threads aside, there are problems like this which are almost impossible to regulate. A lot of our time is spent trying to answer questions (which have been asked before!) and editing email addresses, crack links etc! We don't want to end up like the producers of that sanitizer software, where everything here is clean, perfect and censored. But yes, this is a problem especially with so much dorkage out there. Even as a non mod, you could try and redirect the threads back on topic, I used to. Paul. PS : These opinions are not necessarily those of the owners/management and they (almost certainly) should distance themselves from my assertions blahblahblah PPS : Sometimes it can be amusing, although irrelevant and a little fun is not always a bad thing ;-) After reading my post, I re-read the first post and thought, what a good idea if responsibly minded users could post to this thread if they felt someone was really spoiling fun for others or endorsing piracy, linking to cracks etc. Mind you, it could be a problem if there are vendettas out there amongst some of you (you know who you are) but lets try it. I have made this thread 'sticky' so it should show up at the top of the forum, in which it has been (correctly) posted! I will inform the other mods, who can view it and take action if they want. A kind of 'informers' thread, if you like! If it is used improperly by users, you can be sure it will be closed and hidden Pretty Damn Quick!
We have currently almost 10 active or less-active totally independent moderators in our forums. But obviously, I -- as the biggest owner of the site (not sole) -- was one of the loudest voices in the whole thread, moderating me would be kinda shooting yourself to leg for all moderators (except loaded, he's crazy enough ;-). I admit that the news article itself was non-objective and I took the news comment flamebait bit too easily and just kinda expressed my own views too much in the commentary that should been reserved to "All other topics" or similiar forum, if in our forums at all. But as loaded said, we're all humans and actually one of the reasons why AfterDawn.com's forums are so popular is that we don't have any censorship on topics at all as long as it doesn't violate our AUP -- there are some totally hilarous threads in these forums that have just grown over the months and years to become part of the urban culture So, I wouldn't actually state this type of small explosions to be a bad problem in forums, but the big problem for our mods and admins are people who post threads in incorrect forum rooms or try to violate against our AUP (cracks, etc).
I'm interested by this thread, http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/477167 especially concerning the reply to the question, and certain replies given elsewhere about what this section of the forums is for.. This sticky seems to state quite clearly that this area is for posting anything relating to ideas and suggestions for the whole of afterdawn, when in fact there is already an area for that higher up on the listings. Most of us regulars seem to consider this area to be for items relating to the mp3lizard.com service, the bands who use it.. and other general bands/music type things.. Not a free for all "I have an idea about aD" topic Please clarify the role of this section as if not specifically for music (which seems to be the intention) it only duplicates a section in General Discussion. Puzzled.....
i aked this question already Jan, can't find the link at the moment, but it is indeed confusing... edit- this thread was in the 'suggestions, ideas & feedback forum' which is the forum that confuses people....
Where can I post questions for instructions on setting up Ruby On Rails website on Debian Linux? My thread about this subject was removed from the LINUX forum! Please mail me: edited by ddp
ttiihone, no email posting as per forum rules, post edited. just found your supposed missing post which i just deleted as it was in the linux forum english side but written in finnish. watch were you post next time & still no email posting but eat some crow about the moderation bit.
the poster has a legit beef even tho it was his doing & i'll leave the thread open for now to serve it's purpose.
the topic is still relevant today with a lot of sites but the issue is everyone says "you need more moderation,you need 24/7 moderation" but no one wants to do it or no one has time to do it. It's like a lot of things in life people criticize and say you're doing this or that wrong but they don't offer to help and they don't show you the right way to do it. The other issues i've noticed on other sites is power goes to peoples head once they are a mod they act stuck up and better than everyone and just act irresponsible and usually get removed as a mod with in a short time.Once a site starts making new mods and then ends up removing some they start leaving the older responsible ones as mods (like you ddp) and are cautious of getting new staff and they get good moderation but less active mods.
I am sure this topic is as subjective as you can get. I think the moderation-lite is preferable to the way this once was. The worst get handled. Often the side tracked threads are the most interesting. I think it humorous that a guest is complaining about house cleaning. I liken it to you invite someone to dinner and they complain about the food.
The forum isn't dead but the thread might be! There is one way to find out, start a new thread and see where it goes.
