Site is a graveyard - How can boards save itself? [Threadbanned users in 1st post]

Big Bag of Chips

@Ezeoul I'm the one replying so obviously I'm going to speak from how I personally mod. I PM posters a lot more than I warn.

I delete a posters off-topic/arguing mod action posts rather than warn them. Often the post isn't worth a warning but if left it will disrupt the thread.

As I said I don't tend to contribute much to the more contentious areas of Boards so can't speak for the moderators there. But I tend to favour encouraging posters rather than the sledgehammer approach. The poster who brought his dispute onto this thread is one perfect example! He was treated with absolute respect by both me and the mod dealing with him. Neither of us were abusive or "power hungry" in our communication with him. He claimed to have gotten 22 warnings! He didn't. He had 22 PMs from a moderator who went above and beyond. So.. if I'm dealing with a problem moderator, I'm going to approach it similarly. I will give them a chance until it becomes clear that they're out of chances.

That mightn't happen as quickly as some posters might like. But I prefer to give the benefit of the doubt rather than go straight to banning.

Now at this stage ezeuol I'm going to bow out. I've explained as much as I can how things happen behind the scenes and I know I'm not going to convince those who don't want to be convinced.

The thread is throwing up some good ideas. These will all be considered.

Ezeoul

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121959468#Comment_121959468

The problem with that is "engage with the mod" is synonymous with admit you were in the wrong (even if you weren't) and grovel for their forgiveness.

Anything less than complete submission is "refusing to engage".

Posters can sometimes feel like a warning is a personal affront and that the mod has it out for them and honestly, that is not the case. It's just an advisory to modify their posting style so it doesn't break any rules.

Except when it is the case?

As has been said already, and even admitted by some former mods on thread, mods can be dicks too, and have actioned or banned posters just because they didn't like them.

Until these issues are recognised as an abuse of privilege, and somehow addressed, the complaints about moderation will continue, and I can't see how things will ever change.

ShamoBuc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121959584#Comment_121959584

That might be your own experience.

I've often engaged with posters and come to a mutual understanding. Depends on the situation of course.

JP Liz V1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121959468#Comment_121959468

If only but worth to keep trying but will mods see it as annoying pestering

I like the idea of threadbans expiring after a month

Necro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121959584#Comment_121959584

That's not true at all or at least not from my perspective. I'm not here to change the world or your own personal views. I don't need someone to apologise. I certainly don't need grovelling!

Civil discussion simply means, hi XYZ can you explain why I was warned for this?

That's a decent enough starting point.

sydthebeat

....

Green Peter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121958769#Comment_121958769

They just circle the wagons in a nice formation

ShamoBuc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121959636#Comment_121959636

If you say so.

I've seen them do the opposite, but there you go.

Green Peter

The moving of this to feedback.is an attempt to sideline the debate and eventually to shuting it down

yagan

If things are a lot quieter than back in the peak perhaps the modding shareload could be shared across all new posts rather than mods attached to particular topics.

I do think the reductive nature of reddit will eventually kill that site, but there's still a need for discussion forums like boards, and as another poster to this mentioned there may be a renewal for younger generations to simply have a place to discuss information relevant to Ireland and the EU without the profit driven click monsters like FB, twatter and now the publically traded Reddit. They thrive on argument and confrontation, whereas I find many useful bits of information here often by simply looking back through old threads.

Quite honestly, with the current site software I don’t really see how this can ever be fixed.

The UX was a just a huge downgrade. There’s no other way of putting it. I can’t see a single positive about about this system from an enduser’s point of view.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121959219#Comment_121959219

I think you are misunderstanding me.

you apologise for having a different opinion, I am telling you there is no need to. It’s fine to have a different perspective to me. That doesn’t upset me.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121959244#Comment_121959244

right, as I explained to Oscar, I don’t care that his opinion is different insofar as it’s not necessary to apologise.

perhaps you should put your pitchfork down and stop getting so animated over what I said.

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it a thousand times if the admins feel I’m doing a poor job they can and will let me know.

Ezeoul

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121959597#Comment_121959597

It may surprise you that I haven't had that many run-ins with mods.

But in my limited experience, some moderators you can come to - if not an agreement - than at least a middle ground.

Others are just dicks. 🤷

Of course, others have shared their experiences with me. My experience is not unique.

Sephiroth_dude

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121959644#Comment_121959644

No its not, I moved it here myself because it belongs here and not in AH.

ShamoBuc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121959644#Comment_121959644

What a strange comment - considering there are 350 posts already in a couple of days.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121959666#Comment_121959666

would’ve been long dead left in AH!

Green Peter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121959666#Comment_121959666

Thats the reason why

ShamoBuc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121959673#Comment_121959673

I certainly wouldn't have seen it as I don't venture there.

dxhound2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121959473#Comment_121959473

There is no such thing as "The Average Poster". But I would venture a guess that a big majority never have any interaction with the Mods. I very much doubt that you or any other non Mod poster knows all the stuff you claim to know about site wide moderation.

bucketybuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121959660#Comment_121959660

Pitchfork? Animated?

Yet again you demonstrate just how tone deaf your posting is, you are incapable of making a point without adding in a dig.

It's a horrible trait in a moderator.

bucketybuck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121959516#Comment_121959516

If anything is to be considered I hope it is the role of formal dispute resolution. Because that procedure is simply a farce, I wonder if mods realise just how much contempt there is for it.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121959636#Comment_121959636

In fairness, I've had two rulings from one particular mod overruled when I disputed them, so there is some value in the dispute process.

The biggest issue I've seen is when mods can't draw a line between their own personal opinions and their moderation decisions. It's not great when they're obviously modding posts largely because they disagree with the views, opinions and even facts stated within.

AndrewJRenko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121959294#Comment_121959294

No one branded YOU as far right. I did refer to the far right trope that you brought up.

Boards is pretty good for dealing with extreme hate speech at present. Posts reported are dealt with generally within minutes or hours, maybe a day or two in rare cases. It's hard to see that hate speech legislation will present any serious challenge to Boards, so I've no idea why you think it's worth while bringing up here.

There is one kind hate speech that Boards seems happy to permit - the use of retard or retarded as a derogatory insult. Boards doesn't allow equivalent casual derogatory terms for gay people or black people or Jewish people, but does allow the term that relates to people with intellectual disabilities, who don't deserve the same level of protection, apparently.

Ezeoul

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121959750#Comment_121959750

You only have to read the forum on a regular basis to get a good handle on what is going on.

I never claimed to know everything about the moderation process but I do have my own experience, and the experience of others that has been shared with me. That, on top of what some former admins have shared on this thread, plus what I've read on the help desk and DRP forum, is enough.

AbusesToilets

One issue that I've run into a few times, relates to the climate created by the fear of libel. You see so many active discussions shut down because of it, often ones that are currently highly prominent in daily life. The Donaldson thread being the most recent example. I appreciate the difficult situation the law has created for the site, but if folks can't talk about relevant and "hot" topics here, then they're just going to leave. Rightly or wrongly, people want to be free to engage in conversation. It's particularly frustrating when there is public reporting from various news sources, yet one can't reference it on boards.

Sunjava

There is so little traffic that the dominance of a few is a bit tiring. Conversation killers effectively. The volume of good dialogue is not enough to compensate for the .....

Sleeper12

I don't believe mods are the issue. Basic forums like plumbing, electrical and diy would have very little input from mods yet the plumbers and electricians that offer free advice have at least halved in numbers in recent years. Same with the amount of people asking questions in these forums.

Personally I think there was a massive reduction in traffic since Vanilla.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121959493#Comment_121959493

no,

Odhran (owns the site)

Mike is the community manager/sole paid employee of boards (afaik)

Then yes it would be Admin, Cmod, Moderator

Big Bag of Chips

As has been said already, and even admitted by some former mods on thread, mods can be dicks too, and have actioned or banned posters just because they didn't like them.

The poster who said this wasn't a former mod. He claimed to be an acquaintance of former mods and Admins

They’d all admit to having banned posters they simply didn’t like. It’s a volunteer position and some people are just pricks. Easier to just get rid of some people than debate endlessly with them via PM and feedback threads

Now, I'd question the legitimacy of his claim that "all" admitted to banning posters they simply don't like. But I would wholeheartedly agree with banning posters rather than debate endlessly with them. I had to take that exact action on this thread yesterday.

But yes, everyone can be dicks. We're all people. None of us are above taking this personally and maybe reacting. Posters can be dicks. As can moderators. Both tend to be dealt with eventually.