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Thread on foreigners and the dole locked?

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  • 17-04-2009 11:10am
    #1
    marti8
    Closed Accounts Posts: 909 ✭✭✭


    Hi Folks,

    I'm Marti and I joined boards.ie about 2 weeks ago. I'd started a thread about non-nationals and the dole, yep, I know some folks will disagree and some folks will agree. It was meant to be a discussion, a debate and an open exchange of ideas in a generally civil athmosphere. The thread is at: http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055533964&page=45

    However, the thread has been locked by a moderator who decided that it was going around in circles, as debates and the open exchange of information usually do and that it was bringing heat, again as debate and the open exchange of opinion usually does. The moderator also suggested that the whole thread was a "moot point" as the current law didn't suport what I and others were saying, I'm sorry but moot point or not is irrelevant, folks have the right to discuss issues without having them closed down without any good or appropriate reason. That is what Boards.ie is all about, discussion.....it would be a very boring place if everyone agreed with eveyone else! The thread ran into 40 plus pages and had thousands of views and hundreds of contributions. It would be a pity to have it closed permanently when obviously folks wanted to express their opinions, on one side or the other.

    That same moderator very early on in the thread also made their point of view abundantly clear. And then to close it later smacks of bias I am sorry to say.

    Early on in the thread another moderator also closed down the thread but when I replied to their query re-opened it as no doubt they saw that it wasn't a rant. It was expressing an opinion held by many Irish people and an opinion that should be open to discussion, whether one agrees or disagrees. On that thread I have before thanked everyone for their contributions whether I have agreed or disagreed with them.

    I have gotten the distinct feeling that some moderators have "it in" for that thread and no offence if someone doesn't like something fine but don't try to stop the democratic right to debate and question, don't because you dislike something shut it down. I have recieved PM's from folks who were on both sides of the argument expressing surprise and anger that the moderator acted like he/she did.

    On one occassion I recieved an infraction (someones been watching too much Battlestar Gallactica!:)) when in response to being called a "nazi", "fool", "ignorant" etc I responded by saying "immature".....and I recieved an infraction for insulting another member! Seriously.

    Boards.ie is meant to promote discussion and reasoned debate, that is the raison d'etre of boards but I am sorry to say that in this instance it is failing spectacularly. In this instance it is showing bias and the blatant disreagard for the right of folks to talk to each other.

    Does anyone know whether another moderator or admin (who dont have to agree with what I or anyone else is saying) but who perhaps have a more balanced view, and are less biased, can re-open that thread?

    What's that saying: something about not supporting what you say but supporting your right to say it...........

    Thanks folks.

    Marti


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    #2
    oscarBravo
    Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 28,804 Mod ✭✭✭✭oscarBravo


    This should be in Help Desk.


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    #3
    DeVore
    Business & Finance Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 32,387 Mod ✭✭✭✭DeVore


    You created a 45 page soapbox which we facilitated but "we have it in" for you?

    That thread would still be going 10 years from now. No one was listening to anyone else, it was generating a lot of heat and no light and since you were replying every third post practically, it wasnt so much a "discussion" as your personal crusade.

    As I said, it was discussed for 45 pages. When did you see it ending??

    DeV.


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    #4
    marti8
    Closed Accounts Posts: 909 ✭✭✭marti8


    DeVore wrote: »
    You created a 45 page soapbox which we facilitated but "we have it in" for you?

    That thread would still be going 10 years from now. No one was listening to anyone else, it was generating a lot of heat and no light and since you were replying every third post practically, it wasnt so much a "discussion" as your personal crusade.

    As I said, it was discussed for 45 pages. When did you see it ending??

    DeV.

    Firstly, I was replying to folks because I felt it only correct to do so when asked a question, do you suggest I ignore people who ask me questions? I believe that everyone who asks a question is entitled to an answer, what a silly idea, eh?

    And no, I am as presumptious to suggest one or more moderators had it in for me personally, I am suggesting that it seems in my estimation that they had "it in" for the thread itself and the question it was attempting to ask and discuss.

    And when did I see it ending, well, sorry my physic powers aren't working today........It would end when folks have said what they want to say, that is usually how things end - unless cut short because the moderator doesn't agree with what you and others are saying. A "soapbox" as you called it is not what I would call it, nor is it what others would call it but then hey, it only matters what you think, right? It seems that it is a "soapbox" when you don't agree with it and a discussion when you do.......very reasoned. And no "I" didn't create 45 pages of what you refer to as a "soapbox", you are obviously forgetting about all those contributors who were in favour of and against what I and others were saying.

    I wonder if the thread would have been locked had the topic been: How to help foreigners claim dole?...............It is unreservedly biased not to allow discusssion because you or others do not like the topic.


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    #5
    nesf
    Registered Users Posts: 27,645 ✭✭✭✭nesf


    marti8 wrote: »
    And no, I am as presumptious to suggest one or more moderators had it in for me personally, I am suggesting that it seems in my estimation that they had "it in" for the thread itself and the question it was attempting to ask and discuss.

    Look, I really don't hold a strong opinion on the topic, it does not really matter to me what way social welfare is worked out with respect to EU nationals. I posted once in that thread before I locked it. One post in 664. It should be obvious that this isn't something that that I feel strongly about and bluntly if I had it "in for your thread" why would I leave it get 45 pages long before locking it?


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    #6
    marti8
    Closed Accounts Posts: 909 ✭✭✭marti8


    nesf wrote: »
    Look, I really don't hold a strong opinion on the topic, it does not really matter to me what way social welfare is worked out with respect to EU nationals. I posted once in that thread before I locked it. One post in 664. It should be obvious that this isn't something that that I feel strongly about and bluntly if I had it "in for your thread" why would I leave it get 45 pages long before locking it?

    Then no offence but I cannot understand why you locked it?! Is there some problem with people debating, if that's the case I suggest you lock the rest of boards.ie too (or a very large segment of it) Anyway.

    Also it is odd that a poster who supports what I am saying is unable to reply to this thread? They want to but are unable to recieving a message stating they cannot reply to this thread? Is it "reserved" or something? Smacks of something "off", to my mind. Good to know that the right to open debate is alive and well.....:rolleyes:


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    #7
    nesf
    Registered Users Posts: 27,645 ✭✭✭✭nesf


    Threads will sometimes be locked if a) they're going around in circles and b) they're generating a fair amount of reported posts (i.e. people are insulting each other). More heat than light can get a thread closed, especially if a thread has been left run for a couple of hundred posts and most people have had their say on it.


    If you want total control of the debate start a blog.


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    #8
    marti8
    Closed Accounts Posts: 909 ✭✭✭marti8


    nesf wrote: »
    Threads will sometimes be locked if a) they're going around in circles and b) they're generating a fair amount of reported posts (i.e. people are insulting each other). More heat than light can get a thread closed, especially if a thread has been left run for a couple of hundred posts and most people have had their say on it.


    If you want total control of the debate start a blog.

    Well, we'll just have to agree to disagree. You think the thread should have been closed and you closed it. I think the thread should have been left open. You speak of "heat" and "light"....sorry but the thread wasn't about the ESB. Of course controversial issues will create a bit of commotion, is that a reason for closing a thread? If one poster insults another poster such insults can be reported, that is, as I was told, what that magic lttle symbol on the page represents. A thread shouldn't be closed because of board members being insulted!

    You say "most people" had their say on it, wow, so you can now actually forecast how many people are interested in and going to reply to any one topic, you'd make money with a special power like that you know! :)

    As far as I am concerned closing the thread was a cynical act, closing a thread which you didn't agree with, your post showed that. It's amazing how fearful some folks are of the free expression of ideas!


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    #9
    nesf
    Registered Users Posts: 27,645 ✭✭✭✭nesf


    marti8 wrote: »
    Well, we'll just have to agree to disagree. You think the thread should have been closed and you closed it. I think the thread should have been left open.

    Indeed.

    marti8 wrote: »
    As far as I am concerned closing the thread was a cynical act, closing a thread which you didn't agree with, your post showed that. It's amazing how fearful some folks are of the free expression of ideas!

    You're seeing hidden agendas where there are none.


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