Thread Removal

[Aprilis]

Can I suggest that AB raises the amount of reports that it takes to remove a thread? I know that there are people on here who have multiple IDs and we seem to have narrow-minded members who patrol the corridors of AB as self-appointed moral guardians. I think that reporting of a thread by three people (or one with multiple IDs) is hardly a true reflection of general opinion. If a thread is truly offensive then you would get many more than three reports on it. Three reports seems hardly fair to me unless it's for an imposter. So come on Mrs ABEd can't the number be raised a bit more to stop do-gooders spoiling things for everyone?

Anyone else agree?

[Aprilis]

This suggestion came about after a popular and seemingly harmless thread was removed this evening. It wasn't offensive, abusive, explicit etc.and it left some of us baffled as to why anyone would want to report it. I think it may have been the handywork of one person. I could be wrong but I don't think so.

[netibiza]

Oooops just skipped in here by mistake - look everyone at my pink lisle stockings - I'm just sooo proud.

[aka estie]

Hi Aprilis. What was the thread about? Why do you think it was reported?

[wonderwoman1]

i agree Aprilis...there are too many people who take it all upon themselves to report posts which cause no offence whatsoever while the rest of us are having harmless banter. its very sad

[helliebobs]

estie the question was about which is more attractive, male or female genitalia - not graphic or abusive.

[Aprilis]

It was on B&S about men's and women's genitals. It might sound a bit sus at first glance but it was quite innocuous and no-one posted anything offensive. But someone came along having saying what's the bl**dy point of this Q FFS... and then bang! It was gone!

[Aprilis]

Sorry that should have said...someone came along and said....

Flippin' typos!

[dot.hawkes]

I thought they asked which do you prefer to look at, male or female genitals, i don't think asked which you found more attractive, male or female genitals did they?

[helliebobs]

words to that effect dot! ;)

[Aprilis]

I'm sure it asked which is more attractive Dot. But either way it wasn't offensive nor were any of the posts. It was mostly either obvious or funny answers.

[Aprilis]

But what about my suggestion of raising the number of reports before removal? Is it reasonable or have I not thought this through properly?

[dot.hawkes]

well i think there is a difference, as looking at the male or female genitals implies that the poster was talking about looking at magazines that contain explicit pictures of the said male or female genitals, which is not the same as asking which abers preferred, male or female genitals.

[Aprilis]

I take your point Dottie but I didn't pick up on anything sleazy about it at all. If I had thought it meant looking at p*rn I would have given it a wide berth. Maybe I was being naive then but I still think that less than a handful of narrow-minded people shouldn't be able to censor stuff on our behalf.

[purpose]

I feel this is a damn good idea. I tried posting it here the other day but the site wouldn't let me!

Well done Aprilis!

[jno]

oh, I just posted an answer to a very similar Q somewhere else... anyway, reporting was introduced at AB users' suggestion to enable objectionable posts to be removed, especially at times when the moderators are out. Three seems a reasonable number to me (remember that posts reported don't vanish for good unless the Ed thinks they should). As for thinking anyone who disagrees with you is narrow-minded, a do-gooder or a self-appointed moral guardian... well, sometimes you just have to deal with the fact that not everybody thinks alike.

[Aprilis]

jno I didn't mean to sound like I was being that judgmental! I certainly don't think that everyone who reports is one or all of those things I mentioned. What you said about needing to accept that everyone thinks differently is actually the main point I was trying to make.

I just thought that seeing as lots of people are likely to report anything that is truly unacceptable that the number of reports could be raised. In view of the daft post that SR made with the phone number, maybe it is good that threads can be removed that quickly.

Personally I am always ready to listen to and take on board the views of others, even if they don't agree with me :-)

Thank you for your response.....and thanks to everyone else who responded too.

[jno]

didn't mean to sound rude Aprilis...and I didn't actually see any of the posts being commented on. But some people feel (and I'm one of them) that as this site is open to kids, and some do come on here with their homework, it's fair to be conservative about what topics are discussed. The final decision is the Ed's... and my main point is that the reporting business is just an emergency measure, and though a post will be suspended when it's reported, the Ed will put it back if she's happy with it (and remove the report option so it won't happen again).

I do think three is plenty though, as you say, it's annoying if it's only one person using three different identities. I don't know if there's some technical way of stopping that by making sure all reports come from different computers?

[Aprilis]

No probs jno!

[Aprilis]

It's always interesting to hear other people's views.

[Octavius]

I don't think it really matters how many people report a thread. The site is owned (theoretically) and monitored by ...duh duh duuun ...The AB Editor. The reporting system just draws their attention to a post or a thread, as I understand, the decision to remove a post or edit it, is made by them (or her).

I report posts for various reasons but as much as you judge me (do-gooder/AB police), I can be allowed to judge the lonely posters who inundate the site with drivel and constant updates on their sad lonely lives. Or is that me being too judgemental?

This isn't just about children, it's about grown up's too. If I think a Q is in the wrong place or is not remotely a Q I report it - not always, as I don't mind a bit of banter myself. But on the face of it, B&S (for e.g) appears to be a myriad of lonely hearts columnists, which is fine if they are adding something of worth, but not so fine when genuine Qs are neglected.