New rules to ensure post quality. See this thread for details.
Doesn't seem that problematic to me. I've been subject to worse, but I learned over time to just take things in stride (I was no good at that when I first joined). You always have the choice of whether to turn something into a Big Deal™, and 99% of the time, it's better not to, unless something is blatantly against forum rules.
Quote from: webny99 on July 20, 2020, 12:18:01 PMDoesn't seem that problematic to me. I've been subject to worse, but I learned over time to just take things in stride (I was no good at that when I first joined). You always have the choice of whether to turn something into a Big Deal™, and 99% of the time, it's better not to, unless something is blatantly against forum rules.It's always seemed to me that there are different rules for different users, and those views are directly proportional to the differences in social or political ideology.It's probably also one of the reasons that my overtures to be a moderator have been met with silence. I know that my political and moral views are in opposition to at least three of the moderators' views -- plus the fact that I tend to take a more hands-off approach to regulating speech because of my journalism background and my days on MTR when the only moderation was your own informed use of killfiles and subject filters (and I know those options aren't available in the forum software). Heavy-handed moderation has already chased one longtime veteran of this interest -- a retired DOT employee who still maintains a website and has extensive knowledge of his area -- off the forum.
Quote from: hbelkins on July 20, 2020, 01:03:41 PMQuote from: webny99 on July 20, 2020, 12:18:01 PMDoesn't seem that problematic to me. I've been subject to worse, but I learned over time to just take things in stride (I was no good at that when I first joined). You always have the choice of whether to turn something into a Big Deal™, and 99% of the time, it's better not to, unless something is blatantly against forum rules.It's always seemed to me that there are different rules for different users, and those views are directly proportional to the differences in social or political ideology.It's probably also one of the reasons that my overtures to be a moderator have been met with silence. I know that my political and moral views are in opposition to at least three of the moderators' views -- plus the fact that I tend to take a more hands-off approach to regulating speech because of my journalism background and my days on MTR when the only moderation was your own informed use of killfiles and subject filters (and I know those options aren't available in the forum software). Heavy-handed moderation has already chased one longtime veteran of this interest -- a retired DOT employee who still maintains a website and has extensive knowledge of his area -- off the forum.Moderation is pretty light on this forum (if you exclude minor things like fixing quote tags).
Quote from: webny99 on July 20, 2020, 12:18:01 PMDoesn't seem that problematic to me. I've been subject to worse, but I learned over time to just take things in stride (I was no good at that when I first joined). You always have the choice of whether to turn something into a Big Deal™, and 99% of the time, it's better not to, unless something is blatantly against forum rules.It's always seemed to me that there are different rules for different users, and those views are directly proportional to the differences in social or political ideology.
Moderation is pretty light on this forum (if you exclude minor things like fixing quote tags).
Quote from: 1 on July 20, 2020, 01:08:36 PMModeration is pretty light on this forum (if you exclude minor things like fixing quote tags).That's the goal. That's why reporting a moderator for being snarky is being meaningless. We're not "held to a higher standard." We're not magical wizards. We're people who do the dirty work of vetting applicants, fixing posting errors, and snuffing out flame wars. If you don't like something we say, too bad, deal with it. Reporting a moderator's post does nothing because, AFAIK, none of us are actively starting trouble. We may be snarky within our rights, as may you.
Quote from: Alps on July 20, 2020, 01:27:45 PMQuote from: 1 on July 20, 2020, 01:08:36 PMModeration is pretty light on this forum (if you exclude minor things like fixing quote tags).That's the goal. That's why reporting a moderator for being snarky is being meaningless. We're not "held to a higher standard." We're not magical wizards. We're people who do the dirty work of vetting applicants, fixing posting errors, and snuffing out flame wars. If you don't like something we say, too bad, deal with it. Reporting a moderator's post does nothing because, AFAIK, none of us are actively starting trouble. We may be snarky within our rights, as may you."Way to report a moderator's post to the moderators. You've ensured that no action will be taken."That is a little heavy handed. It calls into question your objectivity as a moderator. You also called someone out for complaining who (unless I missed it prior) had not publicly stated that they did. A report to a moderator should not be public knowledge unless the complainant brings it up. I don't think your first comment deserved to be moderated, but your reaction calls into question how fairly you play the role as moderator. That statement indicates that a moderator is immune from being moderated, and that is a problem because it suggest (in your own words) that you are above the law.
Quote from: SectorZ on July 20, 2020, 01:44:59 PMQuote from: Alps on July 20, 2020, 01:27:45 PMQuote from: 1 on July 20, 2020, 01:08:36 PMModeration is pretty light on this forum (if you exclude minor things like fixing quote tags).That's the goal. That's why reporting a moderator for being snarky is being meaningless. We're not "held to a higher standard." We're not magical wizards. We're people who do the dirty work of vetting applicants, fixing posting errors, and snuffing out flame wars. If you don't like something we say, too bad, deal with it. Reporting a moderator's post does nothing because, AFAIK, none of us are actively starting trouble. We may be snarky within our rights, as may you."Way to report a moderator's post to the moderators. You've ensured that no action will be taken."That is a little heavy handed. It calls into question your objectivity as a moderator. You also called someone out for complaining who (unless I missed it prior) had not publicly stated that they did. A report to a moderator should not be public knowledge unless the complainant brings it up. I don't think your first comment deserved to be moderated, but your reaction calls into question how fairly you play the role as moderator. That statement indicates that a moderator is immune from being moderated, and that is a problem because it suggest (in your own words) that you are above the law.I agree with this. However, it seems that removing moderator status ultimately comes down to moderator/admin consensus; if moderator status couldn't be removed except by request or inactivity, US 71 would still be one.
If you don't like something we say, too bad, deal with it.
^ You attributed both the first and second quotes to Alps, but the first one is from Alex.
If you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use them.
Quote from: Alps on July 20, 2020, 01:27:45 PMIf you don't like something we say, too bad, deal with it. I don't think this is a particularly helpful tack to take, nor an accurate one—we have removed moderators precisely because they said something nobody liked.
Quote from: Scott5114 on July 20, 2020, 02:37:34 PMQuote from: Alps on July 20, 2020, 01:27:45 PMIf you don't like something we say, too bad, deal with it. I don't think this is a particularly helpful tack to take, nor an accurate one—we have removed moderators precisely because they said something nobody liked.I think with Steve's acknowledgement that his comments may be in poor taste, and at least the acknowledgment that his snarkiness was perhaps unwarranted, I think that this overall issue can be marked as resolved. I do would like at least confirmation that by reporting a moderator's comment that at the least it doesn't get dismissed by the person the report is about. (This is more of a generalized comment and nothing against Steve.)
Keep in mind that seicer used to be a Wikipedia admin. He knows what he's talking about.
If it's something substantive, it would be considered. We don't want moderators to go unchecked. I feel like you reported my comment just because I was snarky at you. Snark is not grounds for removal. But yes, I acknowledge I went too far.
