Sorry to upset you folk. - Page 2

Shawn · #21 06-02-2007, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephenmcnelley

Yep, there is nothing intrinsicly wrong with the mature exchange of ideas and communication within communities about the critical issues we must consider or face in our lives on this planet.
Not only that but this is an intellectual community, shame it is not allowed to grow up and be allowed to express itself without the fear of pre-emptive censure. Not a lot of breathing going on in here.

What your saying Steve , is ease up on moderation right, ?. Yup I think IIS has eased up on Moderation over the last few weeks. Now thats commendable, but across the board continuity is a difficult thing to achieve, each to their own. As a forum gets larger as this one certianly has, It becomes difficult to agree where the ground rules are. Just a hunch....

Thats why a thread that doesnt really fit , is allowed to continue over one that does fit, but is contraversial...

....

dugnsuz (Doug) · #22 06-02-2007, 09:08 PM

You don't offend me mate!
Re Hicks, I really don't feel it's offensive to discuss a situation which is offensive...does that make sense!? Not discussing or being allowed to is also offensive.
I'm sure there are many IIS members who enjoy debating the dinner party taboos - Politics and Religion. I'm sure there are many who don't.
But it seems like heavy handed censorship to pull a thread before it even had the chance to become offensive.
Perhaps more defined posting policies need to be introduced so every member is on the same page from the get go

Alex please dont walk.
Cheers
Doug

sheeny (Al) · #23 06-02-2007, 09:11 PM

I thought I missed something too. Thanks for explaining the root cause of this Mike!

Alex, I hope you decide to stick around and keep contributing. We are all individuals (just like everyone else!

) it's just what makes us unique is more visible in some people than others. I enjoy your posts, so I hope you will reconsider and hang about a bit more!

I have seen some other forums completely disrupted (I am tempted to say destroyed but I baled out before I witnessed that!) by a few radical individuals due to a lack of moderation. It is not an easy task to moderate a forum like this, and of course none of us like being moderated, but I appreciate the fact that we generally have a "civilised" forum here. Yes we need to watch what we say, but at least we are not likely to be offended or to offend. If Mike says it was deleted because it was off topic and breached a few of the rules in the TOS, then fair enough. My impression is Mike is pretty straight down the line.

Some of the more "controversial" threads I admit I tread very warily with. Sometimes a simple comment can get taken way out of context or proportion on a forum like this because in written text we lose the nuances, and intonation of voice that can sometimes mean the difference between a little chuckle and people being at one another's throats. I've been bitten with that before both as a contributor and as a moderator (on another forum).

So I'm hoping you understand, Alex, and are a pretty tolerant sort of guy once you've settled down a bit. It would be a shame to lose you from the forum.

Al.

iceman (Mike) · #24 06-02-2007, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dugnsuz

But it seems like heavy handed censorship to pull a thread before it even had the chance to become offensive.

It was offensive very quickly. I'm sorry if you never got to see it, but it was deleted for a reason. It wasn't pre-emptive censorship or pre-emptive closure. It had already breached several TOS rules.

Quote:

Perhaps more defined posting policies need to be introduced so every member is on the same page from the get go

There is - it's called the TOS.

matt · #25 06-02-2007, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sheeny

I thought I missed something too. Thanks for explaining the root cause of this Mike!

Alex, I hope you decide to stick around and keep contributing. We are all individuals (just like everyone else!

) it's just what makes us unique is more visible in some people than others. I enjoy your posts, so I hope you will reconsider and hang about a bit more!

I have seen some other forums completely disrupted (I am tempted to say destroyed but I baled out before I witnessed that!) by a few radical individuals due to a lack of moderation. It is not an easy task to moderate a forum like this, and of course none of us like being moderated, but I appreciate the fact that we generally have a "civilised" forum here. Yes we need to watch what we say, but at least we are not likely to be offended or to offend. If Mike says it was deleted because it was off topic and breached a few of the rules in the TOS, then fair enough. My impression is Mike is pretty straight down the line.

Some of the more "controversial" threads I admit I tread very warily with. Sometimes a simple comment can get taken way out of context or proportion on a forum like this because in written text we lose the nuances, and intonation of voice that can sometimes mean the difference between a little chuckle and people being at one another's throats. I've been bitten with that before both as a contributor and as a moderator (on another forum).

So I'm hoping you understand, Alex, and are a pretty tolerant sort of guy once you've settled down a bit. It would be a shame to lose you from the forum.

Al.

That says it all very nicely, Al.

Especially the bit about other forums being destroyed by allowing a few to go too far, and dominate.

As a moderator I think you need to sometimes make the tough decision to opt for the lesser of all evils.

Striker (Tony) · #26 06-02-2007, 09:19 PM

Well said Al.

I have had plenty of posts/thread deleted over the years....most of which deserved to be deleted....thanks Geoff....lol

Its a hard job for Mike and the mods to keep everyone happy but generaly they do a great job.

Religion and Politics we really dont want to go there.

Mike has had complaints about sport being posted in threads so I could only imagine the complaints against Politics and Religion.

h0ughy (David) · #27 06-02-2007, 09:29 PM

OK all take a deep breath, wish the moon gone and go out and spend your time imaging, nothing to see here.............................I agree with striker, his threads did desrve to be deleted

, as most of mine.

Thats life as we know it - so lets get out of here and enjoy it.

sheeny (Al) · #28 06-02-2007, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0ughy

OK all take a deep breath, wish the moon gone and go out and spend your time imaging, nothing to see here.............................I agree with striker, his threads did desrve to be deleted

, as most of mine.

Thats life as we know it - so lets get out of here and enjoy it.

Al.

mick pinner · #29 06-02-2007, 09:34 PM

during the two years l have been a member here we have had a few " not many " people leave the forum due mainly in their eyes to over moderation via threads being deleted.
l have disagreed strongly to some off these deletions and in other instances agreed wholeheartely because of the depths to which some of them had sunk.
a thread in general chat regarding a social issue be it religion, politics, should be given every chance to run it's course, l think to much is made of someone being offended, just because someone has something to say that you don't like does not make it offensive just an alternate point of view.
in my opinion if you don't like a topic don't participate and move on.
moderation by all means, but let's leave the political correctness to the politicians.

Argonavis (William) · #30 06-02-2007, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xelasnave

I have decided to give up posting here but before I leave I would like to apologies to the people I may have alex

if they are offended ... stiff

get back here alex and stop being so damn precious

wavelandscott (Scott) · #31 06-02-2007, 09:39 PM

While I am glad that adults can and do have occassional and resonable exchanges of ideas on a variety of topics...However, this spot is at heart a place for the Australian amateur astronomy community and the hobby of astronomy...and made possible through the unpaid "work" of a few individuals and the posting contributions of the rest of us.

I am not a widely traveled "netizen" but I find the moderation here to "meet my expectations" and generally keep things moving back towards astronomy or things related to those involved in astronomy...it is a tough job and in the main it is done pretty well. It is one of the reasons I come back again and again.

Some may think the TOS are "bland" but I kind of have a soft spot for "vanilla" ice cream...when I crave something "spicier" I know there are other places I can go visit...

Clear Skies and Peace to all...

Lee · #32 06-02-2007, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mick pinner

<snipped> .... in my opinion if you don't like a topic don't participate and move on.
moderation by all means, but let's leave the political correctness to the politicians.

I agree.

Question - does our post count drop back if a thread we have participated in is killed???

EzyStyles (Eric) · #33 06-02-2007, 09:48 PM

Alex, i don't find your post re Hicks offensive in anyway. You were just voicing out your own opinion and that is what forums are for!. Don't go mate.

GeoffW1 (Geoff) · #34 06-02-2007, 09:52 PM

Hi Alex,

I did not see your ghastly misdemeanors, but don't go just because someone else had an opinion too and it all got messy. That's the fun.

I have been active in the past with a home DIY forum where all the interesting people were chased off, and now it is nearly moribund from dullness.

I doubt that will happen here, don't you think?

GeoffW1

EzyStyles (Eric) · #35 06-02-2007, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mill

Offensive? What is offensive?
Some people are offended very easy and others not.
The same is for forums, if you dont like the thread then dont look further.
It is the same as tv channels , if you dont like it dont watch it , but dont start complaining and keep watching.
I know forum rules are forum rules and i respect them.
Btw Alex, challenging someone's beliefs is nothing to apologize for, it makes people think

Hope this text is not against forum rules , delete if it is.

Totally agree with you Mill.

dugnsuz (Doug) · #36 06-02-2007, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iceman

It was offensive very quickly. I'm sorry if you never got to see it, but it was deleted for a reason. It wasn't pre-emptive censorship or pre-emptive closure. It had already breached several TOS rules.

There is - it's called the TOS.

Point taken - impossible to comment on the original post without seeing it!

My point re TOS was to state the forum policy with regard to overtly political comment as opposed to offensive material.
But that would be censorship wouldn't it

My head hurts - I'm sticking to bad astrophotography!!

Doug

avandonk · #37 06-02-2007, 10:05 PM

I would never take anything personally that anyone else did to limit my expression on a limited forum which this is. It is mainly about astronomy folks.

General topics should be just that, general. We can't have this forum used as a platform for any cause no matter how important unless it directly involves people here.

If you feel strongly about any issue there are other places and remedies.

There are grey areas such as cosmology and belief systems but at least it has relevance to what we are attempting to understand.

This does not mean I will not err in the future far from it. It is up to all of us to try and make this work.

OH NO! I have become a conservative!

Xelasnave it is down to you. Only you can decide what ...

Bert

Miaplacidus (Brian) · #38 06-02-2007, 10:09 PM

Hi Alex,

I've often disagreed with the stuff that you've posted, but never once was I offended by it. And I've always appreciated the humour that informs it. Why get worried if some people just don't get it?

And moderating is a hard juggle. On the whole they do an excellent job here, but you can't expect to agree with every decision they make. (Small price to pay for not having to isolate yourself or set up your own forum.)

Anyway, maybe it was the responses made by others that was offensive??? I don't know, because I tuned out half way through. Nothing I read sounded too heated.

Anyway, cheers,

Brian.

venus (Lydia) · #39 06-02-2007, 10:13 PM

'free speech' just finished watching a documentary on that.....oh well
mods need something to stop them snoring anyways

all the best Alex. Later...

74tuc · #40 06-02-2007, 10:16 PM

From readind these posts:

Alex your apology is complete. There seems no point in removing yourself from this community - take a breather and come back "firing on all cylinders"

Jerry.