If I see something that ridiculous, I'll report it to the mods if I think the post warrants it, and add the member to my ignore list. Some people's opinions just aren't worth even acknowledging with a response.

Are you running for moderator?


Ok, if that's the case I see his point.

Hell no, I'd never want to be mod. Way too much hassle.

I just hate seeing threads devolved in to flame wars, or even implied personal attacks, because people just can't ignore people posting aburd stuff that doesn't warrant a response.

Let those who do volunteer for the hassle of modding deal with it.

And I think X handled this situation perfectly fine and wanted to stick up for him some since he was getting jumped all over.

Just wondering, because you sure do love to come into all of these threads and explain/support the mods' decisions. Should we call you mini-mod?

I've just been here for ages, so I know the rules, and they way they're enforced as well as anyone (learned most of them the hardway) and try to be helpful from time time.

Plus providing input on what one feels the mods are doing right, or wrong, is a way to help shape the forum by giving Geoof and the mods some feedback on their performance. And this is the feedback forum after all.

I just got back from the dentist. Had to replace my crown because the original crown came off while I was eating hard caramel. This time, he used a resin compound which basically bonds the gold to the tooth permanently. Supposedly, the gold or the tooth would crack before the two would break apart. Anyhoo ...

Houstondon summed it up really nicely (see post above, dated 11-21-05, 08:52 AM PST). I just wanted to chime in and write that.

namja
Moderator, DVD Talk Forums

Just like you come in here and want to know why such and such was done when you had no personal connection to the post(s) in question, right?

What, so you're not supposed to post in a thread when you don't agree with the subject matter? Or reply to someone who's expressing an opinion you don't agree with? Then why is there a Political Forum? That's pretty much all that goes on there.

I wanted to email Geoff, even typed out a very long and detailed email explaining a lot of things. But now I'm afraid to, because apparently every moderator also hears about what is said in those "private" emails. If you dare say a negative thing about a particular mod's actions, that mod hears about it, knows exactly who said it, and will probably hold it against you and take *that* into consideration when taking administrative action against you in the future. It sends the message that we can't privately go to Geoff if we have a problem. I really wish I could, as there's some things I'd really like to explain to him that I just can not post here.

I will post this part of the email though, since anyone could find all of this out through a simple search of his profile and hitting "all posts by user." MisterQ's posting habits:
===================
The day that he registered, he posted a thread "www.horrordvds.com...they just WILL NOT activate my account, please help" complaining about how horrordvds.com would not activate his account (here: http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=418459 ).

After that thread was closed, he immediately (fifteen minutes later) started a thread in another forum called "www.horrordvds.com has no respect" (here: http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=418541) to continue complaining about how Dave Anderson wouldn't activate his account.

The third thread he started, which was the next time he posted, was a thread called "Oral while daugther sleeping 2 feet away" (here: http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=418463) which some found to be in poor taste. Including two people posting the follwing comments: "you are a sick pervert." and the other referring to him as plainly "One disturbed individual." (Neither of which were reprimanded for their comments even though what they said was no different than what I said. And no, I'm not saying they should have been penalized, I'm just pointing that out.) It's not his worst, but it shows a pattern.

Then less than a month later he started a thread called "Models...or Child Porn?!?!" (here: http://forum.dvdtalk.com/showthread.php?t=421334 ) where he linked a site that showed young girls between seven and seventeen modeling lingerie (if I recall correctly) in a risque fashion. He asked "So which ass...I mean "model" do you like better?" and two posts later, again asked "So...which ass do you like better?"

He started two more threads (without replying to any of them other than the initial post) before jumping into the "McDonald's strip search" thread and posting the disturbing comments that he did.

He's done all of this and he's still just a "Cool New Member." The guy barely even posts, but when he does it's either very questionable, or downright offensive. That's what almost everything he's posted here has been: http://forum.dvdtalk.com/search.php?searchid=782114 (all posts by user.) And his apparent reason for registering here to begin with: To ask a question and complain about a site that DVDTalk is not even affiliated with.
=================
Just thought I'd bring that to your attention. I personally can't understand why he's still allowed here when people have been banned for doing one of those things only once (specifically, making his first post ever the horrordvds thread and starting the second one after it was closed, and the child porn thread where he sexualized children, repeating the phrase "so which ass do you like?" But I guess you guys have decided still want him around even after all that.


Also, why wasn't MisterQ publically warned as I was? X said only that his comments were removed, they were deemed unacceptable, and pointed out that he has no "rights" here as this is a private board. That's hardly a warning, and X only said this when MisterQ thanked him for what he saw as X "defending" him.

Many people have said much worse things than I did that are no doubt personal attacks and have not even so much as been warned. Some were not in response to someone who posted such revolting and offensive comments on a sensetive subject like rape.

Where is the line drawn? Why is it that some people are allowed to push the envelope further than others? Why is one comment considered a personal attack when another comment to the same person that says the same exact thing is not?

If you email Geoff, at [email protected], he and only he can read it. Unless he notifys us of something, anything you send him is private. If you email [email protected] it will go to all the administrators (X, Randy, Geoff, Myself), and if you report a post, it will go to whichever mods mod that particular forum....

WhoGirl,
my comments were only meant to serve as a general guideline about those so sensitive about "getting in trouble" that they sought to avoid it at all costs. In general, avoiding trolls or those who are so completely on another wavelength then you are makes more sense than playing "net-cop" with all their postings and pointing out differences (perceived or real) in how some are treated. Keeping in mind that there's a big difference between a discussion, a debate, and starting a flame war doesn't hurt either.

My experience with G! is that if you email him directly he will respect your privacy to a reasonable degree. He has a great many irons in the fire so a "timely" response for him may not suit the needs of those wanting an immediate response but he generally responds when needed. The system of moderators and administrators is set up to facilitate a more rational model of discussion than the free for all that has sunk many great websites in the past. Also, if he reads your email and thinks a moderator needs to do something differently, do you think keeping it a secret will fix the problem? He'll diplomatically discuss things but as far as retaliation goes, try another moderator (through PM or direct email) if need be.

As far as the guy you took issue with, I quickly scanned the threads you provided. Links were deleted, pictures were deleted, and it's my understanding that the matter is/was being handled by those empowered to do so. Without sounding like an apologist, I can't say why the apparent discrepancies between how individual cases were handled differently but it could be anything from an oversight to special circumstances (and no, none of the moderators are into kiddy porn, rape, or other offensive behavior that I can tell).

"Many people have said much worse things than I did that are no doubt personal attacks and have not even so much as been warned. Some were not in response to someone who posted such revolting and offensive comments on a sensetive subject like rape.

Where is the line drawn? Why is it that some people are allowed to push the envelope further than others? Why is one comment considered a personal attack when another comment to the same person that says the same exact thing is not?"

That everyone wasn't caught is similar to when one of us speeds past a cop on the side of the road writing someone else a ticket; they don't catch everyone, everytime and if enough time passes by between a posting, they may choose to let it slide rather than reopen an issue. You admit though that what he posted was revolting and offensive and took it upon yourself to sanction him with a personal attack. That's against the rules and if a few people have slightly more latitude in that regard, your best bet is to privately ask the moderators of a particular forum as to their reasoning (hopefully without a soapbox speech that some drama queens use when venting).

In any case, I think you have some valid questions and if I were the DVD Talk omsbudman, I'd try to find the answers for you. As it stands, that's not my place but my original comments stand as realistic (for the record, there seems to be more latitude when discussing political matters than there is when threadcrapping in someone else's thread, no matter how offensive they may be). I hope you get your answers and that they're to your satisfaction. If you'd like to discuss this further with me, instead of those who can assist you more readily, by all means feel free to email me. Good luck!

I found this thread while trying to figure out why WildCat was suspended. But that's neither here nor there.

This forum has always taken a dim view on horrible things like rape. And if I were a mod I probably would have come down pretty hard on that guy. And, as a non-mod I completely support WhoGirl's reaction.

However, what did X do that is criticism-worthy? He warned her. That's not like actually taking action. That is a verbal (or in this case written) slap on the wrist that has no consequence. What she said was a 'personal attack' and he called it out. Again, tons of personal attacks on that level exist that never are warned and this seems a little bit arbitrary and also a bit galling due to the odiousness of the original poster's post, but I don't think it is due to X targetting WhoGirl personally, or because he really likes the rape guy. I think it happened because mods don't see all posts, plus mods are human and don't react to similar posts the same way, always.

This was a warning, it is not like X suspended her for doing something that plenty of other people do. That we all agree would be going too far, and would be unacceptable. It was just a little warning.

In sum, I can see both sides of the issue, but make sure to keep perspective as to what the action taken was. Warnings are lightyears away from removal of posting priveleges.

Thanks, Pilot. Sorry for my craziness this week....I really need to learn when to shut up and leave a thread alone. I promise no more streaking through the threads or dancing naked with Bella.

*hugs*

i think having a post rated less than a 3/5 should be considered a personal attack. it implies that one is a below average (to avoid the term 'sucky', which is really what the rater is saying) writer/storyteller/joker. it is condescending and the practice banned. only 3/5 or higher ratings from now on.

thank you. it's 2:11 in the morning and there's traffic on SoCal freeways :\

FWIW, it is completely unrelated to this discussion.

Which is what "that's neither here nor there" means.

BTW, I'm curious about the process here. How does it take a few days to decide that a guy who is condoning rape and sodomy on your message board stays or goes?

I've been a member of this board long enough to have a general idea that discussions take place behind the scenes but it seems in many instances the moderators turn a simple task into too much work.

On a similar note, is this a personal attack? And if so can someone explain what the fuck?

http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showpos...&postcount=193

Personal attack.

Beats me. Unless you're black and he knows you're black, then I suppose it could have been a lame black stereotype (big lips) personal attack.

Because calling someone a mod is one hell of a slur.

Uh-oh, I've just shown my hand.

Repeated posts about soccer, apparently.

Harsh, but fair.

And what's wrong with soccer?

I believe we have another one.