No explanation from a mod

Good luck with that.

No problem with dehumanising posts in certain other threads. In fact they appear to be approved of there.

Not my battle and no opinion on OPs request, but could not resist. Going to be my only comment on this, too.

You couldn't have expressed it better.

Unfortunately those threads are currently all trolled by the same group of posters who are pro government policy - roughly a half dozen of them, same all the time. The large majority of other posters on those threads are ordinary frustrated citizens who are concerned about how Irish society is changing beneath our feet. So this pro state policy group continually push out the same bland justifications, whilst also trying to engage others into provoking more acerbic responses, thus getting them banned or infracted by over zealous moderation. It's unfortunate but you'd have to conclude that boards.ie is not a suitable vehicle for such sharing of views.

Why did you use the word “Rhetoric” there?

This obsession with trying to control what's posted by mods has always been an issue on this site, but it's gotten to ridiculous levels in recent times.

Posts now are deleted without comment because they're "off topic" or "anecdotal" or some other spurious reason for interfering in the flow of the thread.

Boards is a DISCUSSION site. As with any discussion, it will pull in other related subjects or issues as it flows. So long as the posts aren't abusive, advocating illegal activities, or otherwise problematic for the site as a whole then Mods should frankly stay out of it.

It's not for some anonymous poster with more buttons than the rest of the community to moderate the narrative. When pulled up on it the default explanation of "volunteers" will be trotted out as the wagons circle with more posters with lots of forums under their names arrive. It's nonsense, it's childish, and it's unnecessary.

If individuals can't do the "job" properly, with enough time to do it rather than just deleting posts unnecessarily then they should step down and let someone else do it - preferably someone other than the aforementioned users with too many forums as it is.

This site is already having enough trouble providing a stable platform and retaining users as it is without unnecessary "control freak" tendencies from some charged with keeping an eye on things.

Of course, none of this will be listened to or taken on board and this thread will no doubt be closed soon enough with the "OP issue addressed " type of response that is often hidden behind when these uncomfortable threads arise.

God forbid a bit of self reflection and actually listening to the users generating the content (what's left of them) be considered!

Disaster in whose eyes? I think that most threads generally self moderate.. Tangents come up, are briefly discussed and the topic moves on.

It's only when some individuals do this to deliberately derail the discussion or provoke others that it becomes an issue - and let's face it it's usually the same handful of posters across the various threads. If I can spot it then I'm sure Mods can too. That's what needs to be dealt with.

It's very simple.. Take the time to actually read the thread and the content/intent before taking action based on reports. Reports that are probably submitted by the same individuals that are a big part of the problem.

In over 20 years here I've only ever reported a handful of posts, but in any of the "controversial" threads (immigration, Government, gender etc) there will be the same few posters whose only contribution seems to be to deliberately bait, misrepresent posters or information, or attempt to derail the topic to the point of closure. It's very obvious when it happens, it's almost always the same users, and it continues across multiple threads. The OPs in these threads are then littered with banned users (very off-putting to a new reader by the way) but very obviously those who "took the bait" in most cases.

Now don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying that threads should become echo chambers or that opposing views shouldn't be welcome, but it's at the point where you can tell that the same posters are just being disruptive for the sake of it.

If I can spot it then so can the Mods. If they don't have time to read threads fully then add more Mods or leave it pass. Ill-informed moderation is just as bad as no moderation.

To me I think their just needs to be a bit more clarity on what is actually allowed.

If you go into for example the trump thread all sorts of abuse is grand because he is not liked.

If you go into immigration threads, I see people called nazis, racists, far right etc which is hugely insulting to posters.

Why is all that allowed but the post here deleted and the user banned for what is a comment of what exactly is taking place.

It's interesting that in the same thread and related threads I have seen pro establishment posters refer to the "Far Right" as scum, as vermin and as rats several times without censure.

Given that, according to certain, prevailing narratives, the "Far Right" encompasses many that oppose governmental practice and policy in these realms, that's quite a lot of "vermin".

For me, it represents a more blatant dehumanisation than the blunt but accurate description of a group's living conditions.

So, it seems the policy here is that all are human, but some are more human than others. Hence, the clear dehumisation of some groups is acceptable but the perceived dehumisation of others is punished.

Morally shaky ground to stand on, to say the least.

There dosent seem to be any attempt at moderation or governance of the Mods, once they are in place they seem to be left regardless of complaints and obvious issues and the solution is for other mods to circle the wagons in their defence. It will be what will end boards eventually. Power corrupts, whoever is at the helm on boards needs to start listening and act.

There are two current threads on the Sophie Du Plantier murder and basically if you take the view that chief suspect is the killer you can eventually expect to be banned. All that`s left there now are a collection of people happily chatting about all sorts of scenarios that require there to have been a huge conspiracy of multiple gardaí and multiple witnesses to fit up Ian Bailey. It`s quite incredible. A conspiracy theorists heaven.