Open message to Tikay/Ironside.

[Bongo]

Instead replace their post with the words POST_DELETED by mod, and leave it as a message, pm'ing the user if its just a mistake

I move the offending post out of the thread (using a feature of the forum software i run) and into a seperate (hidden) forum, sending the user a PM if there is a special reason for moving it or if it is new. (Most people know when they are posting something that is liable to be deleted and so aren't confused). This helps the smooth running of my board because it allows other moderators to see the offending posts and see why they were moved and who is causing trouble. It's certainly easier than waking up in the morning to lots of complaints about things being deleted and not being able to answer why.

Also being a moderator is not something i particulary enjoy as it's a pretty thankless task and everything you do will be thought of as wrong by someone. On that note i'd like to thank Ironside for stepping up to the plate.

[TightEnd]

Go out for a night, and all hell breaks loose.

My two penneth...try not to change someone's words and instead Delete the offending material leaving a blank space, but it's a thankless task and what is right in some eyes is a mistake to others

On the point of cliques, I am a bit surprised. 1000 or so members including many with 50 posts or more and one of the most welcoming places on the net

Some people have said to me they would post more if some of the topics did not ramble and there was more poker. But to a lot of people the "chat room" type aspects are the fun in addition to the poker

Lets not forget that the "Kids" thread started with one of the funniest posts I will ever read that had everyone in my office staring at me like I was a complete nutter, such was my mirth.

 What we are really facing here is the growing pains of a rapidly expanding community with a lot of strident voices. 

And I'd like to thank Ironside, who I've never met or even spoken too (so I'm not in that clique), for what I can tell is a lot of hard work he puts in to help the Blonde team

 

[mikkyT]

Coming from someone who works in online communities for a living, one of the things I stamp firmly into the minds of the moderators I manage, is that posters should attack the posting and NEVER the poster.

Whilst healthy debate is good, once it degrades into insults, then posts should be deleted and education about what is and what isn't acceptable should be imparted to all.

It's easy to forget that all those little names on the sides of postings aren't people, with emotions, but they are, and just because you are only looking at letters on a screen, it doesn't mean that those letters can't hurt.

You shouldn't say anything to someone on a forum you wouldn't be prepared to say to their face in a pub, that's how I live my online life

Ironside, it's never easy being a moderator, you are always going to upset someone if you have to remove something - but if what you do makes 20 odd people happy and one person upset then to quote Star Trek (Heid = uber geek) "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one".

I for one don't feel this forum is cliquey at all - it's very vibrant, lots of fun, and informative, and I felt very welcomed  into it's bosom.

Probs haven't helped, but if I can be of use, PM me, even if it is just someone to talk to about stuff

Heid
xx

Agree wholeheartedly, having run online communities myself. However, never delete the post. Lock it, or if it gets too bad then move it to a private moderator only forum with no public access. Deleting the post deletes any evidence for the future should further action be needed.

[jbsc7769]

Yesterday I quite intentionally did not post anything on this subject. Not entirely sure of the reason but probably because it was a delicate subject and, one of the very few people that I respect in this world (Mr Kendall), is part owner and a very good friend of mine. Upon reflection, I dont think that should affect my thoughts on the matter (and I do not think Tony would want it to).

My comments now are NOT in relation to that  particular post(I have actually not read it) but posts in general.

I do not agree with changing a post. It is a forum and as such people state their views on a whole selection of subjects. Of course all of this has to be within reason. As we are grown ups, there will be times when we get close to the line, and we know when that is. I do not however think that line should be crossed. If it is, then I believe Ironside (or A.N. Other) should take the appropriate action and delete the post. None of us want the forum turning into a mass of abuse and spam. This forum IS different to most, I am sure we all want it to stay that way. As with anything, the bigger it gets, the harder it will be to moderate, our thoughts (as a group) become more diverse and the chance of people becoming offended also increases.

I think it is good that we are having this discussion and maybe it will make people give a little thought to any posts they make (or edit) before doing so. It has changed and will continue to do so. I remember milestones such as the 10th person to register, how happy I was when the 100th person registered, now a thousand. Where will it stop!

One final thing, lets remeber also that when Ironside did amend that post, it was with the best intentions to help protect a place that has almost become home to many of us.

[yt]

That word where i am from is not really that bad. To see **** would make me think it was the C word or the F word before any other word so would be much worse.
Not sure if Brats works but if it was highlighted as a mod then fine otherwise delete the whole thing.

[jammer]

That word where i am from is not really that bad. To see **** would make me think it was the C word or the F word before any other word so would be much worse.
Not sure if Brats works but if it was highlighted as a mod then fine otherwise delete the whole thing.

whoever runs the forum no doubt has control over the language filter and can use that to make replacements -

 i like to see something like "[naughty word. bad poster.]" put in its place....

[BlueWolf]

i wouldnt say the forum was clique (although noone really has) as a member of casino staff soem forums can be very funny with this as theya re seen as for the players, also i have noticed the massive number of female members we have here that post frequently which is very different from most other poker forums. the forum is full of characters and its hard to spot new members really (apart from the welcome topics now and again) as theys eem to just jump inot the conversations as they flow.

[Heid]

Forum filters can be somewhat troublesome - one holiday forum where I post for some reason doesn't like the word con<??>, so aircon is always made into gobbledygook.

Plus the associated problems for people that live in Scunthorpe, or Peniston.

I think we are all adults, and should be able to behave, if we can't we should have out posts deleted, or at least have the posts moved to a holding pen.

I used to operate a forum where I could move posters into a playpen, and they could only post there, and that worked quite well, but it wasn't anywhere near as good natured a place as here

Heid
xx

[tikay]

Ayya, I have been DREADING reading this one. OK, here we go, but firstly, bear in mind I have not seen the "KIDS" thread yet, and I have not seen the post which caused the problems. But I had a few phone calls on the matter, & so have a sort of idea what it's all about.

Random observations on the matter......

Particularly helpful posts by Heidi & Jammer.

Poor Ironside - he offers to help out free of charge, & gets it in the neck. I HAVE to support him, be he right or wrong.

5 more moderators will be appointed before the 1st of Spetember. Then they can carry the load in a more equitable manner.

The word that was used is, to my mind, quite acceptable in some parts of the UK, particularly in London, but is deeply offensive elsewhere. in blonde terms, it's not acceptable.

With hindsight - I repeat - WITH HINDSIGHT - I incline to the view that amending words is a bit iffy. But Ironside felt AT THE TIME that was the best way to deal with the prob. When he called me, he was clearly very upset that he may have done something very wrong. That alone saddened me.

Redsimon. A long time friend, and a guy who has had THE most horrendous health probs the last 6 months. I cant be cross with him - he's NOT a malicious man, he not a vindictive man, he's a gent, but he made a serious error of judgement on this occasion. He was wrong, but let's not hang him for a first offence. He IS a good man, trust me. There but for the Grace of God.....We have all done things we regret fom time to time.

Trace T. OMG, I am SO sorry Trace. You have been a blondeites-ess for a few months, & have bought a new dimension to blonde, with your cranky style & willingness to give it out, & take it on the chin. On behalf of blonde, please accept our apologies - it should not have happened. Trace has become "family" in near-record time. Lets keep it that way.

The forum has become "cliquey"? Members & posts are increasing at a jaw dropping rate. It is what folks want it to be, it is what it is. We shall fight night and day to keep it that way, & if that brings accusations of being cliquey, so be it.

It has a higher ratio of Lady members than other Forums. Good. They feel safer here, & we must ensure they continue to feel that way. And if the adolescent children happen upon blonde, they will not see anything their parents would not wish them to see.

Our "ideal" for blonde is to be a fun place to visit. Poker - & other stuff - with a smile. With decent standards & morality. No flaming, no personal sledging.  Not everyone's cup of tea, but the folks that like that sorta thing, will enjoy being here. And those that don't, well, they will move on. Dissenssion & argument is fine, but let's keep it civil.

OK, there you have it. Not the best of weeks on blonde, but out of adversity comes stength.

And one last thing. "dont let the sun go down on your anger" was a fave saying of my Dad. He was right. And that's the way it seems to have worked out, theres been a bit of heat, but everyone sorted it out amongst themselves.

Thanks for the oportunity to debate it Kev.

OK, I'm off to find the thread that started it all....,!

[Robert HM]

OK, there you have it. Not the best of weeks on blonde, but out of adversity comes stength.

Strangely enough I would suggest that the day of that particular post was one of the best days on blonde. It erupted in so many ways.

The kids thread was hilarious with a bit of a problem in the middle, but the stories were magnificent. Even my quick contribution caused a complimentary word from the comic master that is RED-DOG, so I felt good, sad eh!??

The "Lost" thread came in from nowhere, totally non-poker related but seemed to have related to so many people, and that alone caused lengthy debate about copyright etc. All good fun and educational.

The lost twins of RED-DOG and the poll was just incredible. I had tears in my eyes it was so funny.

During the RED-DOG picture gallery building we find he and ironside are on line and doing rather well so the next intant the RED-DOG fan club appears in the text box at Ladbrokes willing him on to the end, ironside hit his final table and we had that match updated in tandam, the communal spirit was fantastic and warming to see.

In light of all that we have to accept that a thorn or two will appear in our rose garden and just cope with it but just remember what we have here, on the whole is pretty good.

[Trace]

Thank you Tony.