General Chat

I have to agree with Bendy on this one. I think it's sad that this forum has reached the stage where moderators are seen as the only answer. I would much much prefer 'self moderation'. Also how can one ensure that moderators are unbiased and fair?

Added by Sheila in West Wiltshire on 17/05/2007 23:07:46 I have to agree with Bendy on this one. I think it's sad that this forum has reached the stage where moderators are seen as the only answer. I would much much prefer 'self moderation'. Also how can one ensure that moderators are unbiased and fair? If they are seen to be biased and unfair then a new one can be found in no time and the unfair or biased one can be removed. I bet a few members would do the job fairly.

Although I've been a member since 2004 I didn't really look at the boards until a couple of months ago. Even within that short space of time I have noticed this general board deteriorate with each passing day and I have noticed the number of posters gradually reduce. In fact, the general board, to all intents and purposes, is now almost like a separate website and bears no resemblance to the rest of GR. It's rare to find people from any of the other boards posting on here these days, unless they're using different IDs. There is a simple way of avoiding threads getting out of hand and people getting victimised and bullied. It doesn't require any moderation, any checking into people's credit card details or any checking into computer Ips. It's this simple: If anyone posts anything on a thread that even hints at nastiness, whether direct or indirect, at anyone else, DON'T ADD A SINGLE REPLY TO IT. Even if the temptation is there to add something nice in someone's defence, or to express a positive thought or even to discourage the poster from carrying on in that manner - DON'T! It is just supplying fuel for the flames. Make the thread stop there and then by just letting it slip quietly down the board. Within two hours it will be on page two and by the next day it will be so far back that nobody will know it exists. It will only stay up on page one if someone intends it to be there and they will reveal their purpose by nudging or adding to it. I don't know any of the main contributors to this board, but from my occasional scanning, even I can see who's out to cause trouble. Some people even disguise it by starting a thread with an innocuous or even nice sounding comment that is really there to draw people in so that the real trouble can begin. When the argument threads have slipped away, you can guarantee that someone itching for a revival will start a new thread referring back to a previous argument. It might even be disguised as an apology, but its purpose is clear. DON'T reply and it will quietly go away! Psychologists say that people who need attention would rather have negative attention than none at all. A child knows that even if she is wicked and is sent to her room, mum and dad will later come up and there will be 'sorry' and hugs all round: attention she wouldn't have had if she hadn't been bad! A bit like some of the people on this board really. Don't reward them. They will stop if nobody pays any attention. Make the board a nice place to visit again.

Ron, I'll rephrase what I said: I'm not sure how many people are registered to this site, but the fact remains that only a minority of them use the General Topics board. I don't doubt for a moment that some people find this board a great support and comfort but I do doubt that GR would think it worthwhile employing moderators - which is not to say that this board doesn't need them. Incidentally I'd be very happy to be contradicted by GR on this matter. But the fact remains that if everyone who regularly uses this board didn't renew their membership next year I don't think GR or ITV would go bankrupt.

as much as i,d like moderators,we dont need them.if genes were to stick to there rules.and make EVERYONE stick to those rules. if it says no swearing and someone swears 4 weeks suspension.not allowing one and suspendeing another.teat everyone the same. genes have a list of basic replies.they press the button,and answer that way.they cant even answer properly.

Joy you make a good point and i agree treat everybody the same.

Amanda while i agree with what you say, not all people can carryout the advise you give. If they could then the problem would not be here and this thread would not be needed, as i would not be able to say whats in the header. I would just as much as you would like to see this site be a happy and safe site to use again.

Amanda, yes very true what you have wrote but,,,,,we have tried that in the past and nudged nice threads up to get a bad one of the front page and you will just think yes and relax then someone stupid will add to it;;;hence the need for mods to delete any troublesome thread straight away;; Babs

Ron, Not only CAN'T carry it out, but wouldn't want to. I now think that some people only log on to provoke trouble and for no other reason. Others, despite expressing disapproval, are loving every minute of it. In fact, they are often the ones who resurrect arguments that have calmed down. I really do think that ignoring people will make them stop. The only people who respond to them will be people of a similar inclination and that's fine as they can go to a corner and argue amongst themselves.

Babs i agree with that and well put too

Babs, You're right! Sadly, it's not only stupid people, but it often appears to be nice people, who are naively replying to what seems like a genuine apology for previous bad behaviour, in order to provide what they think is comfort or support for the 'remorseful' poster. You'll notice that by about reply number 12, the whole of the previous (by now forgotten) trouble is being discussed once again and people who knew nothing about the original problem are asking to be filled in - surprise, surprise! Exactly what the poster wanted! I'm not saying that all apologies are insincere, but if the poster wants to say sorry for some offence they have given, it's best if they make a simple, concise statement, say it is to be read only and ask that no replies be posted. That way, it won't all be raked over again and more distress caused. As someone said on another thread, it's so sad that people are in such need of so much attention.

Nite nite all i'm off to bed soon