General Chat

[mojo (Terry)]

It has come to my attention that there are a minority who have read the title of the IceInSpace General Chat Forum and have taken “Talk about anything and everything in here” to new heights of inane banter. The General Chat Forum is certainly not a place for posting thread after thread, just for the sake of posting something. It is for general chat and as most people browsing an astronomy forum would like to see, preferably astronomy chat.

The IceInSpace forums are moderated for the good of all browsing the site. To that end, IceInSpace does not give members the right to freedom of speech and never has. Not withstanding the last 24 hours and contrary to the belief of some, moderators very rarely remove or edit member posts. The forums are moderated to the forum guidelines.

Moderators may, from time-to-time, ‘moderate’. This is their job. To abuse our moderators while doing their job will almost certainly guarantee revocation of membership. They are not dictators and certainly not members of the Nazi party. If any member feels they cannot post without being personally abusive, incapable of following the forum guidelines or ignoring moderator requests, they might feel more comfortable elsewhere.

IceInSpace was created for astronomers by astronomers. It is, in fact, a community of astronomers with varying backgrounds, ages, and viewpoints. The forum guidelines and moderators are there so that everyone can enjoy talking about astronomy in this community of ours.

[davidpretorius]

Originally Posted by mojo

moderators very rarely remove or edit member posts.

I agree - hasn't been necessary, we generally moderate ourselves well!

Originally Posted by mojo

To abuse our moderators while doing their job will almost certainly guarantee revocation of membership. They are not dictators and certainly not members of the Nazi party.

certainly agree!

[slice of heaven]

Originally Posted by mojo

IceInSpace was created for astronomers by astronomers. It is, in fact, a community of astronomers with varying backgrounds, ages, and viewpoints. The forum guidelines and moderators are there so that everyone can enjoy talking about astronomy in this community of ours.

And isn't that the real reason everybody is here?

No complaints here Mojo

Why do spammers run rampant when Mikes away GROW UP
I've seen where unmoderated sites end up.....

[RB (Andrew)]

Thank you to ALL the moderators for doing their job and doing it well.
I have deliberately refrained from replying and expressing my disappointment to this rubbish that has gone on far too long.
Since Mike left certain people have taken it upon themselves to pollute the forum with unnecessary posts and threads.
Why?
As the moderators and Mike have stated, it is an Astro related site.
General chat is tolerated if indeed it is posted in earnest and is approptiate.
Some people could not wait until Mike left to ambush this forum.

As a financial contributor to this site, I have NEVER considered myself to be above others or have special privileges. We are all guilty at one point of posting spam, but not with the intent to destroy what is a fantastic forum where we can share our images, thoughts and ideas and advice about astronomy.
I would like all members, financial and non financial to enjoy this site.
But to see people deliberately spam many various thread is not acceptable.
Case in point, “Do fire-fighters eat spam”…….There are people risking their lives to save others, while we sit back and enjoy our “AUSTRALIA DAY” holiday.
People have fought for this country and have given their lives and will continue to do so.
In the same light people have contributed time and yes money to this site to make it what it is.

If you have something constructive to say, even general chat, then by all means contribute.
If you receive a warning from the moderators, take it up with them in private and leave the rest of us to enjoy our forum.
There is no dictatorship on here, if you feel mistreated or picked on then leave. Don't contribute to this site anymore, start your own.

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

I think the description of General Chat as "Talk about anything and everything in here!" should be changed. It does make it sound like "anything goes" and an open invitation to spam / mindless drivel. Perhaps something more along the lines CN's Off Topic Observatory: "... discuss anything not specifically related to astronomy ..." would be more appropriate. And some guidelines specific to General Chat might be a good idea. I can see how new members might feel cheated when their posts/threads are deleted/locked after having followed all the existing guidelines and having fooled around only in the "talk about anything and everything" section.

Mind you, it is not hard to give your thread some broad topical title and some vague direction, and keep the mods happy. No one has ever been shot down for wanting to just pop in and say hello.

[Robert_T]

Guys,

Whatever the decision is with General Chat by the moderators, that's fine by me and will go with it. In understanding this though (and I haven't been on the site for a couple days so may have missed stuff) please keep in mind there are a lot of forum first timers (myself included) who are learning the social structure and protocols of such sites for the first time, who may unintentionally make gaffs, and who will take their lead from the more experienced members and site founders.

Now this is NOT intended as having a go at Mike, but as an example that I remember, shortly after I joined in October Mike posted a thread on "Australian Idol". This transmitted a message to me very clearly that general chat was for anything including subjects as alien from astronomy as Australian Idol. Please be a little forgiving that some may have formed a wrong or unintended impression from such posts and that if a change in policy is required here that it is clearly communicated and consistently applied.

thanks for a truly WONDERFUL website and cheers,

[rumples riot]

Mojo, I find the duplicity of the rules application to be totally inconsistent. Why is it that several members can spam thread after thread in every forum and nothing is done about it (if you want to know who I mean PM me)? I find this most unsatisfactory.

I do agree that spam should not be tolerate in the other more serious forums and I myself do stick to this policy. In fact several times last night I made a point to other members not to pollute threads started by others or threads in other forums. It is not fair to other users. That much is agreed. However as everyone knows prohibition just never works. Spam has existed on this site from the very first thread. It is a fair indication that this should be contained within a site specific forum. It does say post everything and anything in the header to the General chat area. It does not say it should only be confined to astronomy related stuff. We are not breaching the forum guidelines, under article 9 of the guidlines its says and I quote "The "General Chat" forum should be used for all off-topic posts that don't belong in the specialised forums". Surely this encompassed a specific topic on spam.

Last nights events unfolded because one thread was closed. Yes I started the thread. I did make it plain what it was so that those who are more seriously minded could avoid the thread. It was closed and this started the revolt. To correct you, it is not a minority who think that the moderation is ****** minded. It is a significant number of people here who resent threads being closed down. This site has created a huge email undercurrent and I receive many emails from people here on the specific duplicity in the rules. We help to make this site what it is.

I note that the people who have complained the most about spam have not been here as long as the long term members. In fact I find it comical that the people who have contributed the least seem to be the most indignate about the existence of spam. The long term members have made this site what it is, there have been periods of spam and it has usually died a natural death if allowed to take its course.

I personally started contributing spam when I saw that nothing was ever done about those who did it all the time. I received a note from Mike about it and I fail to see why two sets of rules should apply.

Surely one little thread could have existed and non of this unpleasantness would have come about. Not only is it up to us to act as adults, it is also up to the administration to act in a sensible manner. All that was needed was Geoff or Phil to say, we will allow this thread, but do not spam anywhere else. I am sure that we would have felt this was fair (well at least I would have) and only contained the rubbish to one thread. Every camp seems to have this sort of thread and it is by and large contained. Common sense needs to prevail by all, not just us.

[ving (David)]

missed something didnt i.

[barees63]

Why is it that several members can spam thread after thread in every forum and nothing is done about it (if you want to know who I mean PM me)?

Maybe you should name them and also spell out what you actually mean by "spam"? I haven't been here long obviously but I have belonged to many other forums over the years so I know what bad online behavior looks like, until this whole thing blew up I didn't notice any real "spamming" or "flaming" on ISS, just what appeared to be friendly discussion..???

[rumples riot]

Yes that is my point, bad online behaviour is abusing everyone not starting a few threads in the general garbage section and not doing any harm to anyone.

I will not publically name them, because as I see it, they are not doing anything wrong. However, they seem to get away with what we cannot.

[Stu]

I agree with Janoskiss: Change the discription in the General Chat section. At the moment it is equivalent to contrapment. Please make it easier buy stating exactly how it will be moderated.

Rumples you make really good points sometimes.

[RAJAH235]

But to see people deliberately spam many various thread is not acceptable.
Case in point, “Do fire-fighters eat spam”…….There are people risking their lives to save others, while we sit back and enjoy our “AUSTRALIA DAY” holiday.

Contaminating this thread was totally uncalled for. (IMPO). L.
As for the rest of the discussion re; spam, why not have a section dedicated to it?
Just make sure it's named correctly, as has been suggested.
ps. We are supposed to be the 'superior race' aren't we? Why not act like it? Life is just too short. L.

[Howzat (Phil)]

I personally do not like spam.
I personally have missed out on a bargain in the buy and sell forum because I missed a post by the buyer that the sale had fallen though because I was skipping through the spam.
Unfortunately in forums that have post counts this type of problem always rears it's ugly head. I visit a couple of forums that do not have post counts and spam is not a problem.

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Originally Posted by stinky

Can't feel sorry for you. You are interested in Buy and Sell - read it. You're not intersted in spam - don't read it. Be glad you have freedom of choice.

The problem is not spam per se, but respect that appears to be lacking with some...

The professional "spammers" like Dragon & Ving have always had respect for other members.

[stinky]

Originally Posted by Howzat

I personally do not like spam.
.......I was skipping through the spam.
.....

Then don't spend time going through it. It IS your choice, and we should all have that - Choice!

(so whoever deleted the last post without the guts to admit it please respect members rights to have varying points of view - more intersting for all - to have choices.)

Originally Posted by RAJAH235

We are supposed to be the 'superior race' aren't we?

This comment is a bit worrying to me. To whom are we superior? This sounds like a racist remark to me.

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Yes that was a bit of an odd remark. I took it to mean race in the biological sense (like my year 8 bio teacher taught me), i.e. human race vs the other animals.

[stinky]

If it's a question of race...

who is winning?

[RAJAH235]

This comment is a bit worrying to me. To whom are we superior? This sounds like a racist remark to me

.
The 'Human Race'! How else can you interpret it? L.

[Howzat (Phil)]

Originally Posted by stinky

Then don't spend time going through it. It IS your choice, and we should all have that - Choice!

What choice do I have? I don't choose which threads have spam in them and which don't.