Feeling Reflective

[EcclesCake]

There have been a few posts of late that have been quite eye opening. Yesterday there was a particularly cruel post directed at an ABer who has decided to step away for a while.

I have been accused of being nasty whereas I think I am blunt and honest and the comments I make are only based on the information the OP has previously revealed.

Perhaps it would be a good idea for us all to take a step back from the keyboard and consider how our posts are construed.

There are many sugar coated cyanide posts and some down right cruel ones, both have been evident this weekend sadly.

Many grumble that AB isn't what it once was, well this weekend has proved that. Is it that difficult to be civil when challenging another?

[hereIam]

^ I TOTALLY agree with that ...

[Mamyalynne]

It must be very difficult for Mods, remove posts that appear contentious then they get mentioned again later on another thread anyway.

Many complain about moderation but it wouldn't need doing so much if there was more reflection as this thread says.

I have no gripe against any particular posters and try to be even handed with everyone or walk away.

[Sqad]

Mamy...it IS difficult for Mods, but equally as difficult to sit back and take abuse without retaliation.
Some can, some can't, we all have differing personalities and this should be taken into consideration by Mods when threads are removed.

[Mamyalynne]

Say a thread has 90 replies , 20 are nasty, another 7 criticise the nastiness and another 5 refer to it - do you expect an unpaid member who has the dubious title of Moderator to pick through and delete each one they think needs going and delete, only to return and find 5 more have appeared in the same vein?

Most people I suspect would bin the lot.

Then get lambasted for it.

[Sqad]

Mamy...there are degrees of nastiness and the personalities and propensities of most ABers ar known. One can almost be certain which ABers are going to support which ABer......friends or "closeness" for a multitude of reasons. This happens every day on AB and quite rightly, in my opinion, is given plenty of rope. However " AB Tsunamis although rare are easily picked up.......and this one should have been picked up earlier.

[Mamyalynne]

Moderators with the best will in the world cannot watch the screen every second they are bound to miss things, that's where the report function comes in.

[Sqad]

Mamy...I just have the feeling.....just a feeling.....no evidence that at least one Mod was surveying the scene.

[Mamyalynne]

Oh well if you suspect poor show, go to the Lady at the top.

[Sqad]

LOL......not my scene Mamy and the evidence is slender.

[jno]

mods are just browsers like everyone else, as far as I know they don't actually patrol the site looking for signs of criminality, they just come across posts the same way anyone else does, by looking at interesting threads.

They have the power to remove posts, but everyone has the power to report them. The last couple I've reported are still there, but I'm not bothered about it; the Ed feels differently from me, that's all.

[tamborine]

Fur coat no knickers is lowest of low & an insidious remark. If the accuser has gone, good riddance!

[EcclesCake]

Not for the first time you have surprised me with your interpretation of posts Tambo.

[jno]

huh, just tried to report another post and by the time I filled out the form the poster had been banned. Some mod is on the alert anyway.

[tamborine]

We can all be frank when called for

[AB Editor]

Thanks for the post Eccles - a little reflection before we all type does go a long way!

Mamya is right about the difficulty of moderating threads - it's tough when there are so many replies that reference removed or nasty posts in one way or another, and it's unfortunate when it's necessary to get rid of a whole thread because of it. Mods and eds try to be fair - everyone's doing their best, and if there isn't a mod around, there's always the report button.

As for this thread, I'm going to go ahead and close it now.