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GD Guidelines and Questions for the Moderators

Posted: 01:05PM Aug 27, 2011
Avatar for froggygg froggyggAusmod
Magical Sorceress Frog
Posts: 9892

While I understand the different points being made here, and do see both sides, I'm not the bad guy in this mess. I only locked/deleted the topics that had received numerous complaints from members and after a discussion was held in the Mod's forum where some Mods also wanted those topics locked/deleted. I do not agree with some of these decisions, but I was torn between my opinions (which I seriously try not to involve in these issues) and the complaints from the members and Mods.

Please give me a bit more time as I intend to pursue this matter further in the Mods forum and see what I can come up with that will make all involved feel less uncomfortable.

Thanks.


SMILE and people will wonder what you are up to!
Posted: 04:03PM Aug 27, 2011
Avatar for LogicalRoger LogicalRogerAus
Posts: 3306

Thank you, Froggy for responding (and Snowy for trying to help earlier). I understand that you are simply doing your job and I thank you for trying to do it the best of you ability.

I only ask that whatever the decision, its reasons be posted here afterwards so that users might better understand and possibly ask questions regarding how this decision affects future topics.

Thank you for your effort, Froggy. I will eagerly await the results of the discussion.


Why didn't the Libertarian cross the road?
Posted: 10:55PM Sep 4, 2011
Avatar for rolugomi rolugomi*us
Posts: 392

Just wondering if any sort of conclusion had been reached on the matter.

As of sept 6, irishthistle and sgtammo haven't logged on for 15 and 13 days respectively......maybe we should get a few new mods


---This message was edited on 08:35PM Sep 6, 2011---

Just love each other
Posted: 11:08PM Sep 11, 2011
Avatar for rolugomi rolugomi*us
Posts: 392

I'm sure you guys must really be giving this A LOT of thought. its nice to know you take your job seriously enough to spend so much time on coming up with an appropriate response instead of just coming up with a quick one to appease people and make them leave the matter alone.

Just love each other
Posted: 10:20AM Sep 12, 2011
Avatar for caberet caberetAus
Posts: 356

Why do you lock anything to do with subjects that make conservatives uncomfortable, yet leave Mudbogger's temper tantrum open?

"I discovered I scream the same whether I'm about to be devoured by a Great White or if a piece of seaweed touches my foot." Axl Rose
Post from _Flips_ deleted on 04:05PM Sep 12, 2011.
Posted: 05:08PM Sep 12, 2011
Avatar for Mad-Ade Mad-AdeAhu
Kebab Warrior
Posts: 850

Censorship is merely the first step toward repression of freedom of expression and speech. let us think for ourselves and allow others the privilege to do so too.
Books won't stay banned. Words and thoughts won't burn. Ideas won't go to jail. In the long run of history, the censor and the inquisitor have always lost. Obscenity is not a quality inherent in a word, a sentence or a statement, but is solely and exclusively a contribution of the reading mind.
History shows us that those that are the first to censor and quash freedoms of speech and expression are the ones with the most oppressive and malevolent intent.

I would go as far as to say that I am offended my censorship, as a intelligent free thinking individual, the concept that some one feels that they have the right to "choose" what I can or can not read, post or discuss is in itself offensive and thus should no longer be allowed to continue.


Creationism, So much easier than thinking!
Posted: 05:18PM Sep 12, 2011
Avatar for rolugomi rolugomi*us
Posts: 392

Censorship is wrong yes, but that doesn't mean I should post a pornographic picture in the forums where everybody could see it. If only common sense and morality were enough for people to know what they should or shouldn't post, but unfortunately it's not. What I mean is, we shouldn't censor obsessively, but neither should we allow certain things to be said or done.
Note, I'm talking about Braingle only. I believe in complete free speech, though I may not agree with what you say. Still, I wouldn't support allowing racist comments to go unpunished here on Braingle.

I would say it like this, any topic or comment, no matter how controversial it is, should be allowed, so long as it isn't offensive.


Just love each other
Posted: 06:45PM Sep 12, 2011
Avatar for Mad-Ade Mad-AdeAhu
Kebab Warrior
Posts: 850

rolugomi wrote:
Censorship is wrong yes, but that doesn't mean I should post a pornographic picture in the forums where everybody could see it.
I was speaking, quite clearly I thought, about thoughts, ideas, opinions, beliefs etc.. not imagery.

If only common sense and morality were enough for people to know what they should or shouldn't post, but unfortunately it's not. What I mean is, we shouldn't censor obsessively, but neither should we allow certain things to be said or done.
Common sense would say, if the topic is about a subject you object to, or strongly find upsetting, then don't look or get involved. If you had a book entitled "Puppies being hit with a hammer" (yes I know, I am being extreme) and that sort of thing upset you, would you open it and read it? Common sense says no, but hey some do and then complain.
If a topic is titled "views on abortion" and you are upset by such things, whose fault is it if you entered there and become upset?

Note, I'm talking about Braingle only. I believe in complete free speech, though I may not agree with what you say.
what if every site on the web shared that "only on this site" view? where would that leave free speech? Braingle is in effect the thin edge of the wedge. All censorship of thought and expression begins with the odd word or phrase, then it snowballs as more and more people search for things to be offended over.

Still, I wouldn't support allowing racist comments to go unpunished here on Braingle.
again this depends on what you deem racist. There was a article i read a year or two ago that was deemed racist, which stated that in the US the majority of crime was committed by young black males. Now this was deemed racist, even though the race percentage of the country's prisons reflected this fact resoundingly and the national crime figures showed that Black males between the age of 15 and 25 outnumber by more than 3 to 1 any other racial demographic in reported crime.
So would saying that young black males are more detrimental to the status quo of the country than say young white males of the same age group be racist or just fact?
depend on if you want to be offended or not.


I would say it like this, any topic or comment, no matter how controversial it is, should be allowed, so long as it isn't offensive.
I agree, but sadly topics are getting locked and deleted, not because they are offensive, but because they simply disagree with others views.
If some started a topic called "I love God, he is great" would me disagreeing with that be offensive, or just my opinion? Sadly for Braingle, it has become both. To simply disagree or have an alternative opinion is enough to cause "offence" and evoke censorship.
Unfortunately not all the censorship is unbiased.


---This message was edited on 06:46PM Sep 12, 2011---

Creationism, So much easier than thinking!
Posted: 07:22PM Sep 12, 2011
Avatar for rolugomi rolugomi*us
Posts: 392

Facts are facts, not racism. However, a topic about hating jews should not be allowed, free speech or not. If you want to say something mean about a group of people, say it. But not here where we're supposed to live in harmony, or at least, we would like to. What would be the point in posting hateful comments like that anyway? Hopefully people would know not to.
Then we must also consider the difference between censoring for beliefs, or censoring according to age. Say I don't post a picture, but I still post an idea related to sex, and i state it explicitly. Should that be censored? Just something to think about.
I think we pretty much concur on our censorship views, not that it matters if the mods don't take this into account when making decisions. That's all for now.


Just love each other
Posted: 09:59AM Sep 13, 2011
Avatar for Mad-Ade Mad-AdeAhu
Kebab Warrior
Posts: 850

rolugomi wrote:
Facts are facts, not racism.
I agree, but the point is, some don't. They see offence. I read somewhere a while back that a member of the Senate used the word "Niggardly" to describe a fellow senator who was with holding funds from some public service or other and several black members of the senate raised a complaint over the use of the word as it was racist and offensive!
The truth is fact or not, some people are just looking for any excuse to be "offended".

However, a topic about hating jews should not be allowed, free speech or not.
why not? If some one hates Jews, they have the right to say so, you have the right to either ignore them or engage them. Simple. You can not possibly advocate free speech and then add restrictions.

If you want to say something mean about a group of people, say it. But not here where we're supposed to live in harmony, or at least, we would like to.
you mean like, say for example..er the rest of civilisation where freedom of speech and expression are allowed.
You start censoring one man's words, thoughts, beliefs and ideals then you are no better than any other oppressive regime that has done the same.

What would be the point in posting hateful comments like that anyway?
I don't know, maybe simply because they can and have the right to do so. Many people have fought and gave their lives to give us the freedom to speak freely and frankly, yet the "we're offended" camp spit on the graves of such people every time they strive to repress an individuals right to speak.

Hopefully people would know not to.
yes hopefully they would, but what if they wanted too? should they not have the freedom to do so. If some one sets up a topic that is called "We Hate Jews" should we ban it or just avoid it? If there was a street corner where everyday people gathered to speak freely about a subject which you do not like, would you pop along daily to see what they were saying, knowing full well that it might offend you, or do you avoid it and cross the street so what is being said can not offend you?
Joining a topic thread about a subject you get easily offended by is stupidity itself, and constantly returning to such a thread to top up your "offended" levels is no ones fault but your own.

Then we must also consider the difference between censoring for beliefs, or censoring according to age. Say I don't post a picture, but I still post an idea related to sex, and i state it explicitly. Should that be censored? Just something to think about.
Disclaimers. If you were to pick up a book that stated its contents contained explicit sexual material and it is not your thing, do you continue looking through the pages until you are offended, or stop and move to another book?
If a topic is about "abortion" and you are offended by the subject matter, do you read on, or avoid. Of course there is a place for everything and a random explicit section of text in a topic about Ponies is just pure malevolence and not freedom of speech or expression, but designed purely to shock and offend. That is the difference, deliberate attempts to purely offend, versus the right to speak freely on a subject regardless of what it is, in the right context.


I think we pretty much concur on our censorship views, not that it matters if the mods don't take this into account when making decisions. That's all for now.
I am not here to impress upon the mods, Jake or anyone else for that matter, but to use the freedom of speech and expression the countries we live in allows us, and to not make a mockery of those that willingly gave their lives, and still do today to keep us free to exercise that right.


Creationism, So much easier than thinking!
Posted: 10:40AM Sep 13, 2011
Avatar for The_Spider The_SpiderAus
Posts: 197

Freedom of speech is in regards to limitations on what government can do to censor people, not what people in the private sector can or cannot do with their own property. I will support the right of the owner of a website to moderate his site as he chooses over your 'freedom of speech' every time, no matter how many times you bring up dead soldiers to try to glorify your cause.

If I dont like how he chooses to moderate (be it too restirctive, too unfair) then I have the right to leave.


---This message was edited on 04:14PM Sep 13, 2011---

Can you imagine what I would do if I could do all I can - Sun Tzu
Posted: 11:02AM Sep 13, 2011
Avatar for bradon182001 bradon182001gus
Posts: 15705

Yes!! I'm so glad you brought this up, Spider, lest everyone forgets that in regards to Braingle, I don't think whether the Mods block or not block a particular topic can be considered censorship but rather abiding by the rules and guidelines set down by the owner of the website. Braingle is more like a private club wherein application for membership is required before you are allowed to make comments. The general public is allowed to observe, but not speak until such time as they become members, then they have to abide by the rules as well.

Formula for success: rise early, work hard, strike oil. J. Paul Getty
Posted: 05:29PM Sep 14, 2011
Avatar for Mad-Ade Mad-AdeAhu
Kebab Warrior
Posts: 850

The_Spider wrote:
Freedom of speech is in regards to limitations on what government can do to censor people, not what people in the private sector can or cannot do with their own property.
Although this is a "private" forum, as such, it is open to the public and in the public domain and is accessible to anyone, the membership criteria is virtually none existant other than the ability to type your own name.

I will support the right of the owner of a website to moderate his site as he chooses over your 'freedom of speech' every time, no matter how many times you bring up dead soldiers to try to glorify your cause.
yes, it is this acceptance of censorship that lead to the rise of most dictatorships and oppressive regimes, thin edge of the web. I am not glorifying the deaths of any soldier, although i am appalled at how easy people will "forget" or "ignore" the sacrifices made that actually allows them the rights and freedoms to trample over their memories so unashamedly.


Creationism, So much easier than thinking!
Posted: 05:38PM Sep 14, 2011
Avatar for The_Spider The_SpiderAus
Posts: 197

Your view of freedom of speech is comical, freedom of speech has never ever meant the ability to say anything anywhere at anytime. No one has that right and no one ever will. The fact of the matter is this website belongs to Jake, having no criteria to join is irrelevant so I'm not sure what point you are trying to make. Just to be sure, you are content to fight for the right of people to not do as they wish with what is their own? Now that's a cause I bet soliders were lining up to fight for!!!

No matter how much you try to paint yourself as some kind of crusader, the simple fact of the matter is you somehow cant distinguish the difference between government and private interaction, so until you do there's not really much to say.


---This message was edited on 08:03PM Sep 14, 2011---

Can you imagine what I would do if I could do all I can - Sun Tzu
Posted: 08:15PM Sep 14, 2011
Avatar for caberet caberetAus
Posts: 356

iforgotbraingle wrote:
Heck, we can't even see inside your little club's forum, so we have no idea how everything is ran. Transparency fail!
It is indeed a transparency fail. A way around this problem is to lock the topics. That way non-mods could read what's going on, but only moderators could unlock and post. (Then relock.)


"I discovered I scream the same whether I'm about to be devoured by a Great White or if a piece of seaweed touches my foot." Axl Rose
Posted: 08:47PM Sep 14, 2011
Avatar for iforgotbraingle iforgotbraingleAus
Posts: 4883

^Or just make it like the bug forum where only mods can post.

Well then.
Posted: 01:06AM Sep 17, 2011
Avatar for HarryPutter HarryPutterbca
Posts: 3069

Congrats to bradon, Smithy, and Shadows on becoming new GD mods

Index for WW/WTB databases - https://ksteven.github.io/playground/ (Data refreshed: 2021-12-07)
Posted: 02:19AM Sep 17, 2011
Avatar for LogicalRoger LogicalRogerAus
Posts: 3306

Wow. When did this happen? That's cool though. Hopefully you guys can help further the discussion of the Gay and Lesbian topic which has been in deliberation for a bit now.

How do you even become a mod on this site? Do you get visited at night and sworn an oath?


Why didn't the Libertarian cross the road?
Posted: 06:56AM Sep 17, 2011
Avatar for bluegrasss bluegrasssAusmod
Perseverance
Posts: 8065

Go to Public forums and go to the bottom of the page, there it says "Become a Moderator". Click on that and click the areas you feel that you would like to become a Moderator and fill out the reasons why you would be a good Moderator in those areas. Click save. That simple. Then when the Moderators need new Moderator(s) they hold an election and with Jake's approval that person(s) are appointed new Moderator(s).

To all the survivors out there, perseverance does pays off, little by little. JHS
!
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