Suggested Policy Change

[shamelessposer]

http://67.19.230.90/~arles/forum/showthread.php?t=37436

http://67.19.230.90/~arles/forum/showthread.php?t=37438

 

One of these threads is not like the other. In one, a moderator provides an explanation for the thread closing. In the other, no explanation is provided. Is there any chance that we could get moderator commentary on every closed thread? Without so much as a mention of why the thread has been closed, there's no way for a poster to correct any bad behavior on his part. In my opinion it very much creates the vibe that threads are closed for arbitrary reasons rather than any sort of rule infraction.

[darthsiddus2]

yea could somebody please explain why the Israel thread was closed? did somebody PM a mod that was offended?

[The Two]

<p>As the originator of the latter thread, I was a bit miffed at its closure.</p><p> </p><p>

I realise it may be something as simple as "No politics", but after the closure I consulted the rules and to my mind it basically said "Anything goes, but be polite and don't flame", and that rule had not been broken.</p><p> </p><p>

I don't want to cause trouble, I expect it is something like objection at the political, or too serious discussion, but I'm one of those weirdos who enjoy in-depth, putting the world to rights debates, and I was really beginning to enjoy the debate I had going with darthsiddius.</p><p> </p><p>

I would be curious to know precisely what we did wrong.</p>

[shamelessposer]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="darthsiddus2" data-cite="darthsiddus2" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="20906" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>yea could somebody please explain why the Israel thread was closed? did somebody PM a mod that was offended?</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> This isn't even about the Israel thread in particular. I had a thread about <em>Betty & Veronica comics</em> pulled from The Dog Pound one time and had to PM two moderators just to figure out that the thread had been pulled. All I'm asking for is a little bit more transparency in the moderation so that it's easier to see where the lines are.</p>

[The Masked Orange]

<p>I think it's a case of</p><p> </p><p>

"Hey, we want only useful/interesting threads on our forums to save time and space. And of course nothing can be offensive.</p><p> </p><p>

Why waste our limited space for forums with people writing jokes about Sam Strong, which is pointless, and the controversial views pointed out by people in the Isreal thread."</p><p> </p><p>

The moderators have to run a website that thousands of people will read, and only have limited space to do so.</p><p> </p><p>

But an automated response would be nice.</p><p> </p><p>

I've had about four threads where they shut them down without even PMing me, although in one I said some stuff about OJ Simpson so it makes sense.</p><p> </p><p>

But then, it takes even more time and space to then send messages to it's creator.</p><p> </p><p>

I don't know, but what I said makes some sense right?</p>

[Self]

<p>It always disappoints me when threads are closed. I find GDS board members the most intelligent wrestling/mma fans around. I enjoy discussing all sorts of issues with them. So for certain topics to be censored, or deemed 'pointless', always bums me out.</p><p> </p><p>

Certain topics deserve closure though (not that I've read the Israeli one to pass judgement) but yes, a little explanation as to why would be nice.</p>

[darthsiddus2]

it was a very deserving topic for discussion. I sincerly would like one of the mods who are online to please explain why that thread was closed.

[mistaken]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="darthsiddus2" data-cite="darthsiddus2" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="20906" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>it was a very deserving topic for discussion. I sincerly would like one of the mods who are online to please explain why that thread was closed.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I could see it being closed if it had degenerated into a pointless argument, but it was a still a friendly discussion.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> But i agree some kind of reason should be given.</p>

[sebsy]

<p>Haven't read the one about Israel, but was reading the Aries thread and as thisis a discussion forum, even though a reason was given I fail to see why the discussion couldn't have continued.</p><p> </p><p>

Pointless having an off topic section if we can't discuss stuff. Just because people were speculating, that's all you can do when all the facts aren't known, it's called a discussion for a reason.</p><p> </p><p>

Just pointless thread closing imo.</p>

[shamelessposer]

For the record, I only make this suggestion because I've seen proof that it works on other forums. <a href="http://www.rpg.net" rel="external nofollow">RPG.net</a>, a much larger board than this one, adopted this policy a few years ago and it's gone a long way toward improving the relationship between moderators and posters.

[shamelessposer]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="sebsy" data-cite="sebsy" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="20906" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Haven't read the one about Israel, but was reading the Aries thread and as thisis a discussion forum, even though a reason was given I fail to see why the discussion couldn't have continued.<p> </p><p> Pointless having an off topic section if we can't discuss stuff. Just because people were speculating, that's all you can do when all the facts aren't known, it's called a discussion for a reason.</p><p> </p><p> Just pointless thread closing imo.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I can actually see the reason for that topic being closed. The wrestling industry is kind of small and insular, and there are posters who have met Austin Aries in a professional capacity. Looking at things in that light it is in pretty bad taste to be speculating on the guy's personal misfortune when he hasn't been in a position to comment on it himself.</p><p> </p><p> An example: I've made no secret in the past that I'm not a fan of George W. Bush. Since he's a public figure it's entirely within my rights to poke fun at him, mock his professional decisions, whatever. But if an actual, personal acquaintance of Bush were in the room when I was exercising those rights, engaging in that exact same behavior would make me kind of a dick.</p><p> </p><p> If this wasn't such a wrestling-centric board, the decision to close the thread would have seemed heavy handed. As things stand, it seems more like a desire to keep from turning the community into a bunch of seventh graders gossiping in the hall.</p>

[Guest Ransik]

I've had half a dozen of my threads closed in the last couple weeks simply because the person who closed them doesn't like me. Like my Planet of the Apes thread... closed for no reason while we were discussing the movies. So I asked why... was told an answer was given and there was no point in keeping the thread open. WTF? We're not allowed to discuss what we think because a plausible answer was given?

 

I'm sorry but I'm losing more and more faith in these forums and this company as the days go by. Valid and fun threads where we get into debates because we're enjoying ourselves get closed... but the ridiculous Mafia games get their own sub-forum? We're allowed to play pointless games with each other with their own designated home... but talking about opinions and debating is against the rules?

 

Doesn't add up... it's very ridiculous, and I'm sure this thread will be closed and dismissed as "worthless" within a couple hours.

 

GDS is teetering on losing me as a customer... not that they would care, but the pointless thread closing because of personal preference is childish. If any of us were breaking forum rules... then fine. But none of us have... so to me as a customer who has spent close to $200 on GDS products, it's basically saying "we only want your money, keep your opinions to yourself".

 

It clearly has NOTHING to do with bandwith... otherwise there wouldn't be a Mafia forum. It's a person who has a personal preference to not having discussions they don't want to read and instead of modding the thread and not taking part in the discussion... simply closes it and tries to act like a know-it-all.

 

But oh well... I may love the GDS products and the games and the community, but I'm tired of the childish thread locking and would just as soon go to Gamefaqs and make fun of noobs instead of trying to take part in intelligent discussions here only to get the threads closed.

[darthsiddus2]

and it gets me thinking...... none of the mods are online to give their reasoning makes me also loose respect for this company and whoever closed that thread doesn't have the balls to explain him/herself is just wrong. I've PM'd this subforum's moderator and NOTHING....... it was a VALID and a respectfull discussion and only to have it closed with NO REASONING WHATSOEVER IS JUST WRONG.

 

 

this thread is gonna get deleted anyway....... or closed

[Guest Ransik]

I won't say who wrote this to me... but here's the explanation I was given a few weeks ago on numerous threads being closed for no reason;

 

"Depends on the subject matter, who is involved, that sort of thing. Generally threads with people moaning about stuff get closed quicker than others because they bore me. Really depends what sort of mood I'm in. Right now, I'm bored and waiting for some stuff to download, so I'll probably close a few more. Or not. Depends entirely on what I feel like as I'm reading them."

 

Basically... they're closed when the person feels like messing with us, and like someone wrote to me; Completely unprofessional for a person who helps run a business.

[Antithesis]

All I can gather from those two threads is, if Austin Aries had attacked someone in Israel, the topic would have been closed twice as fast.

[darthsiddus2]

IBasically... they're closed when the person feels like messing with us.

 

that's just upsered

[Blasphemywebleed]

I've PM'd this subforum's moderator and NOTHING

 

Your lack of patience is absolutely astounding. You sent that PM at 12:17am my time. The only reason I came on just now is because my daughter cant sleep.

 

To answer your original query I can't comment on why the original thread was closed as I didn't close it.

 

I won't say who wrote this to me... but here's the explanation I was given a few weeks ago on numerous threads being closed for no reason;

 

 

 

Basically... they're closed when the person feels like messing with us, and like someone wrote to me; Completely unprofessional for a person who helps run a business.

 

I find it hard to believe that anyone connected to the company would say that to you.

 

 

Although I cant comment on why the other threads were closed there really doesnt need to be any explanation as to why this one is. I'm extremely fair when it comes to moderating but conspiracy theorys and lynch mobs have no place on a family board.

[Adam Ryland]

There is a code of conduct pinned to the top of the forum. This is to make it clear that we have zero time for threads that are going to get overly heated - this board has proved several times that when it comes to big discussions on controversial subjects like politics or religion it simply isn't worth it, as a lot of people here simply aren't mature enough; the threads descend into flame wars where people get very upset.

 

Indeed, most of you were here a year ago when we almost had to shut down the Dog Pound entirely because of the bad blood that was generated by a couple of topics, several posters who left because of those incidents never returned. I am not willing to go through that again. This is, first and foremost, a small family-friendly board. If you want in-depth conversations about complex socio-economic-religious topics this really isn't the place to be holding them.

 

The Israel-related thread was closed because it was heading in the wrong direction. It's not a "mature friendly debate", when replies are starting with "WRONG" in big capital letters. That's almost guaranteed to wind up the other person. People were clearly starting to get upset. I personally thought that the reason it was closed - a thread about religion that was turning nasty - was so obvious that it didn't need further explanation.

 

In closing, yes, I occasionally do err on the side of caution when it comes to closing threads too early, but it is in direct response to the history of this board. We have a good, respectful board going here with posters who get along, and I think one of the reasons that is so is because we don't let flame wars get started.

 

---

 

To be absolutely fair, I should point out that I actually did send that private message that Ransik quoted earlier, but it was meant as a jokey and flippant response given the ultra-serious tone of what he had originally written to me. Taking it out of context like that makes it look bad. I don't literally close threads at random depending on my mood.