Mod Probs: Foot on the Ball Moment. Advice on Direction Needed

We need to form a group called the ****ers or the mass debaters

BR: Vive la différence!

 

Brix I'm not sure anything has really changed tbh. Every now and again it all goes into a meltdown / tailspin on here usually mirroring the on field chaos that is our club. This manifests itself in a Swords v the rest of the World trend and the inevitable ban, however this time we've had bad blood with the Newcastle & Swansea boards which is a but stupid.

If there are threads I don't want to read or comment on I stay away. I exercise self moderation / involvement. What I find acceptable or otherwise will be different to what you / DT / Queens etc find tolerable.

I must say however that I thought the Lindsay D-Mackenzie thread to be a step too far with content and comments posted I find unacceptable when we no-one can moderate the ages of people accessing it.

BR: Tbh don't know who she is... Since she ain't in our starting eleven or even on the bench I weren't that interested in finding out. Another vamp selling her bits from what I gather from the contents of this thread. So what's new? And as others have said, ain't as though you can't all that and more by tapping tits into Google. All we need to know is how y'all want us to mod it - if at all.

Otherwise I put my hand up to starting erroneous and food / vaguely cultural non-QPR related threads ina vain attempt at lightening the mood sometimes.

BR: Fascinated seeing how popular the Sprouts thread was. Can't remember now whether it was your's or someone else's OP. Anyways, have to admit some of your musings over what's for lunch / dinner have caused me to break and browse through the fridge... Usually ends up being a jambon sandwich avec une tas or summat!!

If it aint broke don't fix it. This place aint broke.

BR: Cheers Wubs. Noted.

 

May I second the comment of sb73 re the swearing? Would prefer not to read swear words. Has the filter got worn out through overuse?!

BR: I refer you to my informed answer at #74.

 

No point in having "house rules" if they are not implemented.

BR: More like pointless having mods without house rules. Nothing to base your decisions on. As for implementation, that's a discipline we're asking for a steer on. If we applied the rules to the enth, you know that you and others would've had to go a while back. But that's not what we're after is it?

As you rightly say the General Chat folder is home for those who wish to go down that road.

BR: People already have that option - and looking on there shows the kind of mayhem that unfettered 'free speech' descends into. Might yet be the way people decide to go with some of the recent threads though...

Nearly all the problems that have occurred have been the direct result of trolling, **** stirring and in the case of DT yesterday his own "issues". 99% of the time the same suspect(s) is/are involved and it's really ****ing things up for some of us. As for motivation who knows. There could be an agenda, they could be psychologically disturbed or they could just be a ****.

BR: Mirror Imy? You could've taken my advice and ignored the people you speak of. As it's turned out, you must've noticed, you're spoken of in the same breath.

If my swimming against the tide kinda tone comes over a bit hostile, it's not meant mate. You're clearly a very bright guy who's well worth reading a lot of the time - but your reactions to nonsense and directness in general especially on politics which others may not share, comes at a cost I'm afraid.

As you point out in your last sentence above, we have to cater for all manner of hoops, which is why we're now consulting you all on mod direction.

Then there's the photos which seem to have descended from 'soft porn/page 3' into something darker recently, kids probably read this board too so that isn't good.

BR: Noted.

Lastly there's the legal side of things, both civil and criminal as recent cases have shown. Malicious Communication, Libel, Incitement to Racial and/or Religious Hatred and more. Problem there is the buck can stop at various levels from the site owner to the poster themselves.

BR: Site owner's not bothered tbh. Site's registered foreign somewhere. As mods though, we're the ones who are concerned - and only as to how the vocal majority want us to play these things.

The mods have my total support and the problems are limited to a very small number of posters. The solution is out there.

BR: Appreciate that mate. Cheers Imy.

 

i did ask this the other day (as per houston) and got no answer.
Trust me..i am no prude what-so-ever and have done much i'm sure I will live to regret, but, for the sake of possible younger (new) members; I hope this is re-instated

BR: I refer you to my informed answer at #74.

PS...WBA..would love to talk food with you. A man (i assume?) of great cuisine knowledge. Yes- even bloody sprouts! Not sure why I assume that?

Anyway...most replies seem to echo the same sentiments Brix.

We all advocate free speech
We all like "a bit' of OT because of our teams inability to entertain us
We all have a choice
And finally, most that go the wrong way are so obvious that you do a good job in closing on time.

BR: Our rules based on respect means that 'free' speech cannot be absolute.

Summary- majority of posters support what you do so just keep it up
reality - you make the decision because youre the boss....

BR: We shouldn't be seen as bosses and only judges in the most extreme of cases. It's the will of the board as a whole that counts - and that of the site via the SuperMod. All we're doing here is finding new directions based on the recent changes in the nature of threads and posts going on.

And to all my fans, tomorows episode will start with a look at race, sexism and politics in the UK football scene....see you there...

Cheers Queens.

 

SB, you are so right about the swear filter. Okay the 'F' word has become almost compulsory but now the use of the 'C' word on here in its full form I find distasteful. From the outside it seems like there is only one lady on here, our Beth, but often there are large amount of guests watching what is said and we do not know who they are. There are not enough ladies posting and I can see why.

How do you feel about your young children seeing this because I am sure there are a lot of young 'R's reading what is going on. Would you use that word in front of your child, I hope not.

BR: Point about kids looking in is appreciated.

So what is the swear filter set at? Zero?

BR: I refer you to my informed answer at #74.

Perhaps it is an age thing. (70 on monday) but I find a lot of the PC thing on here over the top. Even Beth seemed to get her preverbials in a twist over the Welsh/ sheep thing. It is not a welsh thing. Last year at our festival a group of young blokes dressed up with sheep attached to their fronts even though there are no sheep for miles around. no one complained and just laughed. Some of you would go ballistic about our Semana Santa processions where people including children dressed in klu klux clan type of gear. It has nothing to do with racial things.

BR: Tbh Col, that's a hoot coming from Spain!

I am surprised Swords was not touted for a permanent ban for using the word 'spastic' recently but I found no offence in it because it was a word I was brought up with.

BR: A lot of words WE were brought up with were considered acceptable back THEN - mostly out of ignorance to the offence caused to and felt by people whose humanity simply didn't count. Swords' use of the word 'spastic' WAS wide open to challenge but since we received no complaints, no action was necessary on that occasion.

This site has become so PC perhaps it would be a good thing to make it football related only but that would knock the soul out of it. I could not see any reason for the 4 threads Brix highlighted to be banned but I did agree with WBA about the Lindsay whoever she is, thing being distasteful once again because there are ladies and children on here.

BR: Didn't include the Lindsey whoever thread on my list of examples cos after Norf's OP, I never actually revisited it.

Anyway back to the swear filter. any chance of getting it fixed?

BR: I refer you to my informed answer at #74.

Cheers Col

 

SB, you are so right about the swear filter. Okay the 'F' word has become almost compulsory but now the use of the 'C' word on here in its full form I find distasteful. From the outside it seems like there is only one lady on here, our Beth, but often there are large amount of guests watching what is said and we do not know who they are. There are not enough ladies posting and I can see why.

How do you feel about your young children seeing this because I am sure there are a lot of young 'R's reading what is going on. Would you use that word in front of your child, I hope not.

So what is the swear filter set at? Zero?

Perhaps it is an age thing. (70 on monday) but I find a lot of the PC thing on here over the top. Even Beth seemed to get her preverbials in a twist over the Welsh/ sheep thing. It is not a welsh thing. Last year at our festival a group of young blokes dressed up with sheep attached to their fronts even though there are no sheep for miles around. no one complained and just laughed. Some of you would go ballistic about our Semana Santa processions where people including children dressed in klu klux clan type of gear. It has nothing to do with racial things.

I am surprised Swords was not touted for a permanent ban for using the word 'spastic' recently but I found no offence in it because it was a word I was brought up with.

This site has become so PC perhaps it would be a good thing to make it football related only but that would knock the soul out of it. I could not see any reason for the 4 threads Brix highlighted to be banned but I did agree with WBA about the Lindsay whoever she is, thing being distasteful once again because there are ladies and children on here.

Anyway back to the swear filter. any chance of getting it fixed?

BR: The double post thing is an issue caused by the recent 'upgrade'. Like the swear filter probs, the site owner's looking at ways of fixing it.

 

A thorny dilemma, and one I’m glad that I don’t have to solve.

There is such a rich diversity of characters frequenting this forum that it I think that it would be completely and utterly wrong to ban off topic threads. We would all be poorer for not taking the opportunity to explore various subjects with people from different backgrounds, cultures and beliefs, or investigating non-QPR issues with people with more knowledge than ourselves.

I have no problem ignoring the interminable Word Association thread and other clearly signposted uninteresting (to me) threads, but what really annoys me is when good threads are hijacked and destroyed by the same petty arguments. Too many posters polishing their egos and infecting as many threads as they possible can with petty agendas. It is all well and good saying ignore these posts, but they crop up and annihilate interesting threads.

BR: Thread busting / hijacking is a pretty serious offence to all those genuinely creating or replying to the OP. It's as though the chattering classes on here jump on any old thread without reference to or respect for the subject matter, and simply continue with their cliquey interactions. When bans are dropped on them they tend to emerge at the other end scratching their heads and wondering why. Ignorance is bliss and judgement selective at best so it seems. Never mind!

The mods have done a commendable job in quashing the rabid bigotry that broke out during the last close season and drove me away from this forum, but the ridiculously infantile name calling which taints so many of the current threads keeps me from re-assimilating myself with this forum. I don’t see that it is really in the mods’ power or job description to continually rebuke the same offenders, I’m sure that neither have the time, energy or enthusiasm required for this.

The yellow card waving, even if in jest, is pathetic and must stop. If anyone is genuinely offended by a post the agreed method is to either stand are argue your corner or a quiet p.m. to the mods and trust in their judgement. As ever it is up to the posters to respect others people’s views and beliefs. Is that really too much to ask?

It comes back to the same old problem. I doubt that anyone would disagree that every poster should be able to moderate themselves. We all slip up from time to time, but a few seem to relish needling others. I fear that this will go the same way as other interventions. We will all agree to be respectful, this will be observed for a few weeks and then the slide back into the same old mire.

BR: There were a few that PM'd us before leaving for the same reasons you've given here Roller. I made that clear in open notices at the time but some chose not to believe me, so glad you've confirmed it.

Whilst you're right that mods can't be expected to police the volume of personal provocations and in-fighting, we are more likely to kick back on a minimum of complaints received. The offenders see that as a complainants' clique. Whatever. If they can't see their vulnerability to complaints made is fair, they no what to do to avoid the so called injustice.

How many times do we have to repeat ourselves? If you don't like the heat, get out of the kitchen. Not hard is it?



Yours sanctimoniously,

Roller

BR: Cheers Sanctimonious.

Yours,

Unnecessarily Punitive!

 

So....................this is the token girls input......so how do I feel.
I am on here to chat footy, but enjoy the random of the wall stuff too....You are all boys, so I cannot expect (and do not want all fluffy kittens and flower arranging)...swearing and banter does not bother me. ...

I usually keep away from Northolts bikini thread...they do not interest me, so I just keep away...I do not go looking for trouble.
However, did get somewhat offended by the comments about the model wife of OP , "obviously having deserved to be shot" but I came to that late...and others had said what I felt... and I really got upset about the sheepshagging. Mainly because it was no longer "funny" and lighthearted but just downright nasty.

So here is the major problem.....it crosses the line when it gets nasty...but unless Brix and NUTS sit on here constantly watching the "fun-o-meter" level of each post this cannot be controlled unless through self-moderation...and some of you are not good at that...especially when it is a personal attack favourite targets.

We all rallied to the barricades when the Swans came over the hill....and it gave us a sense of perpose...but the one on one attacks R on R...is just not good.

Brix and nuts are great....they ask for self-moderation...why can't we do that...why cannot some of you (no names... no pack duty) press the ignore button...in the way I avoid Northolts bikinis (no there is an awful thought...Northolt in a bikini...or worse still a mankini...ok getting sexist...self -mod...stopping now!!!!

BR: Thanks Beth.

As it happens, I don't think you are the only female in the village. To the best of my knowledge, there's at least one other who posts reasonably often - but has yet to 'come out', and one who has revealed herself so to speak but only posts on the odd occasion.

Agree with your take on the anti-Welsh / sheep-shagging sentiment repeatedly dolled out on here. Like all repeated jokes the original humour is tired and dead to the world. Glad I'm not Welsh for one reason only. Would hate to be in the spotlight amusing a bunch of crowing thickos... (Edit: did I say that? Egads, how disrespectful of me! My most humble apologies to thickos everywhere.)

 

Great to take the opportunity to have an in-house mod based thread that for once isn't loaded with the wish for or need for recriminations.

Thanks all for your responses so far. Very helpful in terms of assessing the current mood which, I agree, will be weighted by our disappointment with club performance atm - but equally by our increasing familiarity with each other as a growing community as Uber points out.

I'm going to keep the thread running for a few days to allow opinions to develop a bit. From the look of what we've got so far, it'll give us a good idea of where and how the majority want this addictive little live magazine of ours to get to.

I (and I hope co-mod NUTS if he's well enough) will make time over the weekend to go through each post with edited inserts highlighting / developing points made.

Very grateful though for your input. Keep it coming, please.

 

what I miss most about the swear filter is reading 'S****horpe' for Scunthorpe. For some reason that always cracks me up.

 

On the swear filter point, I will check the situation out with site management and get back to you on this.

 

On another forum I use, swear words are replaced with vegetables, so for example "you ****ing ****" would be "you artichoke cauliflower".

BR: Like it. I know I can be a bit of an okra at times!

I am suggesting ONE thread for ALL off-topic posts, but still following the house rules.

BR: Wouldn't work I'm afraid. Imagine the confusions involved in replying to one OP in the midst of multiple OPs...

Cheers Stam

 

Child...!

 

You cabbage!!

BR: Bit 'arsh!

 

It seems pretty ironic that the word 'c***' has been used more times than ever before in this thread. I do hope no children are watching

That word has got me into SO much trouble before......

BR: Children watching? WE'RE posting!!

 

TBH Brix/Nuts we are all adults (some more adult than others!!!!) and we should be able to self moderate, there are things said on here, probably in heat of the moment that one would not dare say to someone face to face because it would probably mean a visit to the dentist the following day if you get my drift!!!

Personally i enjoy some of the OT threads, it adds to the enjoyment of the board....ok some border on page 3 material, some go OTT on that score and after perhapes a cursory glance when the thread is first listed i can then decide if i want to ignore it later.......

The only thing i have some disquite about is the proliferation of the written swearing, especially the C word, I am not a prude but always considered the word to be particually offensive and to see it written in all its "glory" is not nice. I know the F word is used these days instead of punctuation and i use it regually myself as well as the more acceptable feck, but again have to ask is it really necessary to spell it out, what happened to using **** instead?

All in all this is a good entertaining board and to over moderate will spoil it so Brix/Nutso please carry on as you are and hopefully those who are inclined to be confrontational can learn to count to 10 before hitting the send button.

Thanks for all you do.

Regards

Tramore

BR: Cheers Tram.

The self-moderation point keeps being made by me and many others.

Fact is the more self-moderation that goes on the LESS MODS we need. That, coupled with the need for small as opposed to big 'government', are the main reasons why I for one am opposed to the recent 'call' for more QPR mods to be added into the equation. There are, of course, other reasons including general familiarity, greater mod training implications and complexities in communicating mod strategy...

 

Brix, I believe it is necessary for Mods to distinguish between criticisms (1) against a fellow member, and (2) those that are aimed at non-members. The former is clearly personal, the latter is usually directed at those in the public eye e.g. John Terry, Oskar Pistorius, David Beckham or other so called celebrities.

Any criticism of a member based upon, as the rules provide, gender, race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or religion should NOT be tolerated by the Mods. Personally, I'm not so concerned about age or political belief so long as criticisms are not made maliciously.

The same standards should apply to non-members but not as strictly except for race, ethnicity or religion. So if someone has a go at Theo Walcott about his colour, that is not acceptable. If someone has a go at Adel Taarabt for his religion, that is not acceptable. But if someone makes a joke about Oskar Pistorius about his disability, while may be not being in the bests of taste, I think it should be tolerated by Mods so long as it's not clearly malicious.

Finally, Uber expresses reservations about comments on court cases such as the latest in South Africa - presumably on the basis that people are deemed innocent until proven guilty and/or that matters are subjudice. I'm relaxed about this, particularly when the case is abroad. And think that discussion on, say, John Terry's race case was fair for comment. The only area I'd be worried about was if a poster made a highly defamatory comment about a third party which was manifestly untrue. Those were the sort that the old BBC Mods had worries about, though they had a lower level of tolerance than I believe you need have.

PS Note to Richard Ranger - SA police are pursuing premeditated murder, so you may well be right re your earlier note!

BR: Nice one Goldie. Whilst I think NUTS and I have formed a great relationship and provide a well balanced double act for the people dem, I do miss that calming and thoughtful quality you bring to the table. For obvious reasons, if we were ever to consider adding to our number, you'd always be first on my list.

Atm though, for me, the essential development this consultation is all about is further determination on the precise roles of self-moderation and complaints in the first instance within the body politic.

If people know what's expected of them and a visible majority accept it (after all it's largely commonsense), it can include the kind of distinctions you so wisely suggest. Sure there'll be others that either simply fail to get it or choose not to, but the complaints system and the mods reactions to it should easily take up the slack.

More time...

 

One of the things I find incredibly tedious are the "invasions" to other club's boards and by other fans to ours. The Swansea invasion here (and our lot to theirs) and our invasion to the Newcastle board are examples of this. The huge amount of drivel posted and insults traded both ways to me was totally unacceptable and very, very boring. I know that other fans like to read our forum as they find it interesting and entertaining. I know that some posters from other clubs DL, Musty, Traveller etc make a good contribution and often give us a good perspective from an outsiders point of view.

I just feel something needs to be done about large scale "invasions". Maybe speak to other mods Brix and see if you can come up with an acceptable solution?

Other than that, we are all adults and to me, the launguage or girlie stuff is not so offensive.

BR: The reason many of us, including yours truly, favour the 606 concept over club-only MBs is precisely for the purpose of interactions with other football fans Fingy.

For many (but as it happens, not me) that will include what loosely called banter and the 'invasions' you speak of.

As mods, catering for those fans is as much part of as for fans who'd rather have a good read of and discussion about articles, be they home grown or imported.

Cheers for your response though. All part of the pulse we're trying to feel out.

 

Are you sure that was me? That sounds far too intelligent a contribution to be attributed to me, Goldie.