Should moderators have to justify their position - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

MapleOne · #1 02-02-2003, 06:05 PM

Should the moderators really have to justify their position.

I say no, we are visiting their forum and using their web-resources for free. They have a few guidelines which we must adhere to.

In every great society we have to have laws and rules. The people that break the laws go to jail, or in this case get banned.

I believe this forum is the greatest one there is and many people, including I, learn from your example.

I am a member of numerous other forums, and I have found one which has a unique policy. They have added flaming the moderator as against the rules. If your post criticizes the moderator, then it is immediately deleted and a warning sent to the offender. Now I don't think that this is necessarily the best way of doing it, but their forum is thriving and people accept the fact that the rules are there to be obeyed.

What is so hard about a few rules, and do we really need the people that cannot obey them? I say lets concentrate more on the good people who respect this forum and less on a few troublemakers.

Good posting everybody.

jsmith · #2 02-02-2003, 07:42 PM

Are you saying that outright totalitarian control on the board is better than having rules of conduct? That seems contrary to the position you have been taking.

BTW, what's that reference to a coup d'etat all about?

Cap'n Carageous · #3 02-02-2003, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PaulC
I'm simply saying that it is better to come out front and admit that the control is totalitarian in nature (which is not a terrible circumstance in this context) than to conduct totalitarian rule and feign compliance with rules of conduct. THAT is what is grinding some of the members.

I agree with you on this, but I've already had three threads zapped today, so I may be the kiss of death for this one too, but nonetheless, I do agree.

jsmith · #4 02-02-2003, 10:58 PM

that actually made sense to me too. i don't necessarily agree but you have made your point. given your example, i would still choose the latter because if there were a mistake in a moderator's actions you will still have recourse. in a totalitarian regime you would have none. i've seen totalitarianism up close and personal and it's something i would never opt for...

leathermang · #5 02-02-2003, 10:59 PM

CAP"N... is that true? What in the world could you have been saying to have three threads closed on you ?

hill · #6 02-02-2003, 11:14 PM

No. This forum is a voluntary activity supported by a private enterprise. Even in publicly sponsored referendums they have moderators.

MapleOne · #7 02-02-2003, 11:21 PM

I have only been moderating my forum for a little while and I try to be fair to everybody, but you just can't please everybody.

When a decision has been made, just "say so be it" and move on.
There is always a better post around the corner.

You should take pride when a post gets a high rating and is imitated by others. Now that is an achievement.

Don't worry about the bad ones, just make a better one you can be proud of.

I, for instance am proud that this post has even been debated to this point. Where else do you have the opportunity to post your opinion live on the net.

Lets not forget that posting is a privilege, not a right.

Ashman · #8 02-02-2003, 11:25 PM

I don't think I have to justify myself for any decision made, as a moderator or a member, I am responsible for my actions and my actions alone. What I feel is that I am a member of this site first and foremost. I am only a moderator by my own choice, because it helps me give somethign back to mercedesshop for being the greatest mercedes site on the net, and for providing me with technical help. That is this sites main purpose. technical help for owners and parts sales.

The open discussion forum was created to have a place for off topic items that did not belong in any other sections. I generally only remove a post if it is being reported to me by other members as somethign they find offensive. On a rare occassion I will remove a thread of questionable content, or if it appears flaming wars are going on. With the dead threads section, we can now revive posts that may be deemed ok after all.

Everyone here should feel lucky that this isn't llike other forums where things get way out of control, and moderators are quick to delete anything and everything.

I just don't understand why people can't just get along. We are all here as a community. We are here because we all share a common interest, Mercedes-Benz. I don't expect everyone to agree with each other, but I do expect people to try their best to keep things civil between each other on public messages. If you want to get into a heated debate with someone, thats what PM and e-mail is for. Heated debates on controversial subjects, that will have things in them offensive to others should be taken privately between people, and not out for the world to see.

As for comments people are making to moderators, if you don't like how we are doing something, have the guts to e-mail privately. I feel that some people feel the need to post it publically so that they can feel better when others take their side.

Regardless of all that has been going on, I will not tolerate anyone slandering me as a moderator. If you feel it was unjustified, then take it up in private or contact the webmaster to voice your complaint. Don't force everyone to have to witness it. because the post wont be up for long.

Alon

Piotr · #9 02-03-2003, 12:35 AM

Ashman, it sounds good, but frankly "it ain't so." It seems that on a heated discussion forum, the way to win is to e-mail a moderator with a complaint, as long as the e-mailer's post is the last one. If you guys post "rules of conduct", stick to them. If I'll e-mail to you, that I'm offended by a liberal view poiny on a thread will you close it? The hearsey has it, that some members did just that (from the other side of an issue). If that's the case, just close the open discussion forum and be done with it.

I'm astounded, that moderators are actually allowed in the discussion on the forums (other than this one or discussion regarding the site itself). How can a moderator be impartial, if he is a part of the ruckus??

Anyway, i believe that lately the deletions of threads are out of control. If you have the rules of conduct, stick by them. I could be offended by a lot of material on this entire site (apparently, the MB USA was), but I just get over it. Unless it contains a personal (name- calling, references to one's nationality, race, or ethnic origin, etc) attack or other verboten content, LEAVE THE THREDS ALONE. they do not hurt anyone and provide a lot of fun!!!!!!

The Godfather · #10 02-03-2003, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PaulC
Where did the Iraq thread go? Did Saddam PM a complaint to someone? H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S.

Go ask Bill and Cap'n'.

jsmith · #11 02-03-2003, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by PaulC
The most ironic element of this disagreement is that both parties want the same thing, a better forum. I have to imagine
that someday a common ground will be found.

jsmith stands up and claps his hands

MapleOne · #12 02-03-2003, 01:05 PM

That is the big debate I have on my forum.

The members wanted a delete button, but this also gives them access to delete the whole string. Mind you only the person that starts the string can do this.

Here is my question, if the members have access to edit their posts, do they still need access to delete them?

If someone deletes the whole string then other members assume the moderator deleted it.

What is your opinion, should I leave the delete button or remove it?

The Godfather · #13 02-03-2003, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PaulC
Last evening I whined when the Iraq thread bit the dust, assuming that DR///AMG was responsible for that action. I have now been informed by the originator of that thread that he had deleted it. I made an assumption and was wrong.

I'm sorry about that Doc, I hope you will accept this post as my apology.

Hey, no problem.

Remember people, never assume, because you could make an "ass"out of "u" and "me."

MapleOne · #14 02-04-2003, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Remember people, never assume, because you could make an "ass"out of "u" and "me."

That is an excellent quote, is it an original?
One of the best I have read in quite a while.

#15 02-04-2003, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MapleOne
That is an excellent quote, is it an original?
One of the best I have read in quite a while.

No it's an old american proverb.

This reminds me of a very famous episode of The Odd Couple when Tony Randall as the perfectionist Felix Unger character is giving a lecture in a court case about assumptions and how assumptions determine the way we see the world. The Felix character is a witness in the case and everybody thinks he is a being a pain in the butt as usual because he is such a persnickety perfectionist, contradicting what everyone else in the courtroom believes to be the obvious truth.

Taking a piece of chalk, Felix goes to a board that is set up next to the jury and writes the word "ASSUME" in large capital letters and then says in his snippy didactic way something like, you know we should never assume - let's just look at the origin of this word shall we, and then he starts to break the word up into its component parts, circling "ASS" and "U" and "ME".

Then he holds up his piece of chalk with a flourish and talks about how you should never assume, because when you assume, it makes an ASS out of U and ME, and it is one of the funniest moments that ever came out of that TV show.