NOTICE: DT and Swords - Reasons, Answers etc., etc..

I really didn't want to stop my work and expend time explaining myself yet again. However, out of respect for the likes of Stan, Oslo and others, I reluctantly think I ought to - so apologies to all those who get frustrated with such things as detailed replies on board management issues.


As is often repeated by many users on here, as this is a (moderated) football forum ffs. It is not the Swords, DT and mod show.

Whilst most users have clearly shown they want a moderated system, it's actually not an option. Not only does site management insist on it for the larger supported boards, it also has a system of management via a separate board for moderators to interact on the latest issues and actions.

I was reprimanded by the SuperMod recently for taking it upon myself to zoom around trying to get an apology for the Dilligaff / Peruvian thing, for which I had to apologise for bucking the system before the SuperMod would / could take the appropriate action against the Swansea mod.

The thing is, it would be both unfair and impossible to moderate our board without a set of rules and guidelines to show where the lines are drawn. To that end we have done the work to put those things in place and make sure they are accessible to everyone without resorting to having an imposing sticky at the top of the contents page every time we come on here..

Without these rules etc. there would be no grounds for mod decisions or complaints. Everything would be based on mood - and absolute mayhem would inevitably follow.

So what does the presence of rules and mods make this forum? As I think Stan once suggested, a single issue members club where we either accept the system and participate, or don't and either find a more suitable site or get excluded anyway.

That's what's happening here. Against the expressed wishes of other users, DT has made it abundantly clear that he wants freedom of speech and thinks that (our) system stinks. Not only does he think it, he takes every opportunity to repeat it in open forum.

In the context of the notion of a members club, that in itself would be enough justification to bar entry to him or anyone else who doesn't accept club rules.

In truth, it's been going on for a very long time, but because he's popular with a fair few of you, we've done our level best to turn a blind eye.

But over recent months his vitriol has extended to openly suggesting that we're unfair, corrupt, collude, rig polls, witch hunt and on and on and on. Many of his comments on the New Site Guidelines thread (8.10.12) were of particular concern and a case in point if you care to dig that one out for examples.

When you spend time working as transparently as you can to satisfy a load of people (doesn't matter whether it's a website or anywhere else), the last thing you need is someone standing idly by casting all sorts of unsubstantiated aspersions to suit their own agenda. Either back your accusations up with evidence (not hard in a fully written and recorded website), take steps to remove us or shut the **** up and comply.

Problem is, DT doesn't do any of these things, he just keeps on bashing out the same tripe over and over again. Why he doesn't just switch over to General Chat to exorcise his demons I don't know.

The fact is modding on here is easy, pleasurable even, when you don't have offside prima donnas to content with. During the last few weeks, whilst Swords was banned and DT was on self-imposed exile, we didn't receive a single complaint - and this at a time when Rangers were doing rubbish and everyone was understandably extremely pissed off.

Then, the minute DT chooses to return, the complaints start coming in again.

I'm not moaning about people complaining because that's half the legitimate system of control, but I do take umbrage at the propaganda being put out by the likes of DT and Swords, that there's some kind of complainants sub culture going on.

You'll have to take my word for it, but we don't have any serial complainants. The nearest we've come to any kind of sub group was when I recently consulted five good men and true (we mods and those guys know who they are) on whether it would be best for me/ us to stand down or not over the issue of Swords ban.

If we had a lobby of onside complainants, would I really have had to select a group who I rarely if ever swap PMs with? Five of you know the score.

But DT's ban comes not from the complaints we received on this occasion (3 from regular posters who NEVER EVER complain and one from someone who complained once about a year ago). The major complainant in this case is ME.

Modding Swords and DT has become a real chore and something I wouldn't wish on the proverbial.

When I saw how DT responded to my co-mod NUTS the other night, calling him a fool in the midst of other bollocks, it showed his contempt for everything the simple structures of this board is all about.

For me atm, DT is a bar-room joker keeping the regulars happy with his amusing banter on the one hand whilst on the other, attending that agenda of his by constantly attempting to subvert the system and ridicule those responsible for maintaining the required order.

No respect, simply unacceptable and therefore no ticket to continue riding.

In answer to Stan's question about not following the guidelines procedure, we have. It says, 'dependent upon the severity / number of offences involved, the mods will, at their discretion, decide at which point of the procedure to commence an action against an offender.'

Why 4 weeks? Because again it should be permanent on the grounds of severity (undermining mods with unsubstantiated allegations IS severe) and that DT clearly has no intention whatsoever of accepting and complying with the order of things on here. Frankly, I fully expect more of same on his return.

The easiest thing in the world would be for DT to simply appreciate and respect the structures in place - and those who have volunteered to oversee them - and get on with delivering his football abstractions without issue. Won't happen though, will it?

LAST WORDS

WHY MODS DON’T APPLY THE RULES ON EVERY OCCASION

We never have. Live and let live has been our mantra to date.

We have private words with some from time to time but the idea is to keep modding to an absolute minimum for everyone's sake.

Swords and DT have both had their excesses overlooked for long periods of time. However, as limelight huggers, they've become serial offenders for all the reasons given. The longer that goes on the greater the need for a micro-managed response in their case.

WORDS OF ADVICE TO FLYER, IMAZ AND OTHER SWORDS / DT DETRACTORS

I have been asked to underline the advice in the notice with regard to detractors doing nothing to inflame the current situation. It's clear to us mods that your grievances started after you had been targeted by Swords - but not every user will be aware of that - and will inevitably succumb to propaganda that suggests favouritism.

Please leave well alone from here on in, otherwise we'll be expected to intervene which is the last thing any of us needs.



I hope this explains things from a mod's standpoint and answers all the questions put. If it doesn't, read it again, I'm sure you'll catch on sooner or later.

Thank you.

 

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get back to work Brix

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Sorry, it's only a notice... meant to close before it becomes another one of THOSE threads!