(Site is a graveyard - How can boards save itself?) Any update?

Feisar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549807#Comment_122549807

Surely if that's the case you'd have no problem with a right wing mod?

eightieschewbaccy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549821#Comment_122549821

The places on the internet that don't engage in moderation have pretty atrocious reputations. 4chan and ilk being most famous. Allowing users to be as racist, homophobic or sexist as they want is not an environment most people want to use.

Sudden Valley

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549821#Comment_122549821

Modding works for every area apart from CA/AH/Politics where it seems to be contentious. Boards would be even less popular if it became a free for all like Twitter or any of the right wing equivalents. It would drive away the casual posters who are more interested in hobbies/niche interests.

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549853#Comment_122549853

Maybe some of them are? I don't know their political leanings, nor do I care. So long as they do the job of modding as per the site rules, their personal opinion isn't important.

I've received warnings and threadbans from mods, all because I 'broke' some rule or other. None because of anyone's political leanings.

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549128#Comment_122549128

As stated previously.

• Moderation based on simple guidelines that limit subjective decisions by moderators
• Such guidelines need to be based on objective criteria such as posts creating provable legal peril for the site.
• A complete overhaul of the moderation team in CA/ IMHO/ Politics
• A functioning dispute resolution system whereby appeals are dealt with promptly and the rationale explained clearly.
• A ready means to close accounts through the user profile. This business of having to email someone and wait for months as previously instanced by others is not fit for purpose.
• But ultimately a site that will facilitate civil debate between all the various shades of opinion in Irish society without fear of censure, subject to legal considerations.

More bluntly: moderators ancapailldorcha and tenofswords should be taken off moderation in all of the above forums. They're doing more harm than good. Admins like Awec and Beasty are compromised and should also move to other parts of the site.

Necro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549853#Comment_122549853

Mods are not appointed based on their political leanings… no matter how much people like to think they are

Feisar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549556#Comment_122549556

I don't believe so. Someone can be right wing and still be a lot closer to the left than the extreme right.

Overheal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549872#Comment_122549872

I thought you closed your account?

Sunjava

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549867#Comment_122549867

I didn't say complete free for all, but current set-up ain't working.

ancapailldorcha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549891#Comment_122549891

Based on what?

anewme

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549872#Comment_122549872

Totally agree re the Close of Account process being cumbersome and needs improvement.

Feisar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549871#Comment_122549871

So you wouldn't have a problem with it then?

Feisar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549875#Comment_122549875

I'd agree with you there however it's fair to say that unconscious bias is a thing.

thomas 123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549871#Comment_122549871

Look at the comment closing this thread:

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365825/mass-stabbing-tonight-in-germany-read-opening-post-before-posting/p22

Firstly I don’t think there is any need for the comment aside from the fact it’s being closed

But importantly the mod clearly closed it as they think there is too much “immigrant bashing” going on on the site already. Change the bashing to “discussion around immigrants” or anything similar and it’s even fine.

I agree the conversation is not on the original topic at all, but I that should simply be the comment or moderation should have steered it back to the original topic.

OscarMIlde

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549867#Comment_122549867

Except part of the issue seems to be lack of modding in current affairs and that sanctions seem to occur if posts are reported. I generally don't report what I find to be obnoxious posts on current affairs threads as I don't want them shut down, which seems to happen when too many posts are reported. I think active modding would spot posts which break the don't be a dick rule or constant sealioning which both left and right wing posters engage in.

Also as what's regarded as right wing. I'm left wing. I believe in taxes, state supports and assistance for those who need it. I'm also in no way racist or homophonic. But because as a woman I believe my biology hugely defines my life and women only spaces are necessary in certain situations such as prisons, shelters and sports I am deemed a bigot by some posters on boards. I've seen really nasty posts insinuating that people who are gender critical are closet racists, homophonic, Russian shills or deranged (claiming JK Rowling lives in a mouldy castle, e.g. she's brain damaged from mould). That's not compassionate posting yet I've been deemed as a member of a right wing non-compasionate group for not subscribing to some identithink tick the box views on what's currently deemed progressive.

eightieschewbaccy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549872#Comment_122549872

This reads like a person wanting to get rid of the moderators and admins they don't like... Like you're free to demand it but don't be surprised when it doesn't happen. Account closure is slightly more annoying but it amounts to sending an email.

Packrat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549808#Comment_122549808

No. Unciviily, Trolling (whether low level or overt, and the 'Dont be a dick' rules are entirely and unequivocally subjective. At the discretion of the mod, Cmod or Admin.

You have clearly shown by this comment at the end of a long list of comments; that you are completely unfit to mod anything more complicated than a "are puppies cute?" discussion if even that.

Cordell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549875#Comment_122549875

No, but mods who want to have more control over what people say tend to be left leaning. Keeping the discussion civil is not the same as censorship, and a mod should only focus on the former, that is what a discussion forum is supposed to be. And if that means more opinions that some (or most) consider racist sexist or whatever at least those opinions will be challenged in a debate rather than suppressed by being deleted or have the poster banned.

As for dispute resolution, it's a disgrace that in some cases we have to wait weeks or even months for a single reply, or that we have mods that ignore PMs. Even if they are doing this job voluntarily, that's no reason to be doing it so badly, and in some cases in bad faith.

Necro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549929#Comment_122549929

Unlikely, as I have said, it's not even asked. And it's nobody's business what way a person leans in any case. And just to answer your question I have worked with right leaning mods and have had no issue with them at all.

Backstreet Moyes

I think we need a bit more clarity on uncivil and acting the dick.

The word racist, any of the phobes etc is thrown around on a daily basis in threads.

I would think referring to people in such a manner would be both uncivil and acting the dick?

Maybe I am wrong but that would be my opinion.

If they are posting racist remarks then report them, these slurs are thrown around by a handful of posters when someone doesn't align with their views.

suvigirl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549920#Comment_122549920

No, why would I? Like I said so long as a mod is doing the job right, their own personal opinions don't come into it

Overheal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549910#Comment_122549910

the only people who need to close their account are people who need to close their account once. Surely the only type of people who would have the sense to argue it’s cumbersome and needs to be streamlined, etc. are those who re-reg as trolls constantly?

suvigirl

There was

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549932#Comment_122549932

There was already a mod note earlier in the thead, which said if it turned into another thread about immigration it would be closed. It did, so it was.

Don't see the issue here Tbh

Smee_Again

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549872#Comment_122549872

Its like when my toddler tries to tell me what to do.

Sudden Valley

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549934#Comment_122549934

Unfortunately current affairs is way too busy to mod with the number of mods Boards seem to attract so reporting is the only method that can work.

That is the problem, what exactly constitutes Right wing or left win? the definition for alot of posters seems to be based on American politics that doesn't exactly align with Ireland. Posters want right wing mods here for Current Affairs but you for example may not meet their definition as you hold some left wing views.

Overheal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549932#Comment_122549932

Firstly I don’t think there is any need for the comment aside from the fact it’s being closed

bullshit when mods close it without further comments people get very dramatic and open up a bunch of threads demanding to know why

thomas 123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549966#Comment_122549966

of course you don’t as you agree with the moderator in this case - which is fair enough.

My point is simple - the opinion peice left by the moderator was not needed and only lends itself to what many think here in relation to moderation bias - I personally do not see it as a big deal but I’m not on here as frequently as many others.

ancapailldorcha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549932#Comment_122549932

What's the issue? There were multiple attempts to get it back on track which were ignored. There's also a dedicated refugee thread. Struggling to see the problem.

Necro

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122549932#Comment_122549932

Nah, bollocks. Thread is being closed because there's a group of posters spoiling for a fight with each other and they've completely and utterly ruined this thread. I engaged in the beginning because I thought it might be helpful to have a mod's insight but when it became clear it was just another pissing contest between two groups of posters who will never EVER agree with each other on anything I lost interest.

Edit: misread the post, thought it was about this thread whoops!

Sunjava

Effectively there is a HR department which is policing us now and anything that might even slightly upset any minority is completely intolerable... this simply will not function as we are introducing new minorities daily, whether that be new genders, new communities or new religions....and then the new 'rules' that change the way existing 'legacy' lol groups can behave or be seen.