The Purpose, Joy and Conflict of Message Boards

[Darakash]

Oh boy, bear with me folks, this is gonna be a long one and I am very nervous even posting, but have to say this. First, I absolutely love MW. I have only been here since mid-November and I hardly ever visit or check my other boards, cause this feels like home. Very little superior attitude, a great variance of folks, very very cool people who are incredibly helpful. All kinds of topics; simply a joy to be a part of...Now, the tough part. I have seen since I have been here, at least two post/threads closed in a manner that has baffled me. I understand that nastiness, disrespect etc. are cardinal sins; however, these posts were, in my opinion simply part of the joy and purpose of message boards! We were having healthy debates, and as a result, the topic went a little astray, but by no means were we going off the topic or going crazy or calling each other horrible names etc.

I love the community of this forum; but part of my enjoyment is having someone read my post and absolutely freak and disagree with me, OR, absolutely freak and agree with me! This to me, is the purpose of these forums! To get to the meat of things and get down and dirty and debate, and really feel like I/we are exploring different ideas. Now, I know I havent been here long, and I dont know if there have been some ugly things in the past to which mods are reacting and trying to keep under control, but I for one enjoy most, the threads where there is a bit of controversy and irritation, it stimulates the brain and skills of communication. Now, if someone requested these threads be closed, I guess I understand, but mostly it just seem arbitrary and a little severe. If this is considered inappropriate response, I apologize, but I wanted to know if I am the only one who feels this way.

With respect, and a little disapointment.
DK :ggrief:

[Faeawyn]

When people begin posting hurtful things, or when the arguing escalates, and there is no reason to keep beating a dead horse, then the mods will close the thread.....and I agree with their decision. Sometimes, the threads just go on and on and on with the same nonsense.

[Darakash]

When people begin posting hurtful things, or when the arguing escalates, and there is no reason to keep beating a dead horse, then the mods will close the thread.....and I agree with their decision. Sometimes, the threads just go on and on and on with the same nonsense.

I guess my question to this, is as long as no one is being personally attacked, who does it hurt if the abuse of a dead equine continues? If people are interested enough to keep posting and debating a subject and are not actually breaking forum rules, then....??????
dK

[Valkie]

I guess my question to this, is as long as no one is being personally attacked, who does it hurt if the abuse of a dead equine continues? If people are interested enough to keep posting and debating a subject and are not actually breaking forum rules, then....??????
dK
I think it depends on what kind of horse it is. I've seen debates on these boards that have covered every angle possible. When it gets to that point, there is no reason to keep it open. Besides that, this forum only has one rule. Respect. It doesn't matter if you are disrespecting someone who is part of the board or not.

[Shanti]

I guess my question to this, is as long as no one is being personally attacked, who does it hurt if the abuse of a dead equine continues? If people are interested enough to keep posting and debating a subject and are not actually breaking forum rules, then....??????
dK
Well it largely depends on the individual thread. SOme times people just dont know when to quit. You can look at it this way...the mods have to monitor these threads. they have to keep reading these potential firey types and the 'it wont end' types...they must get sick and tired of having to watch people beat a dead horse.

Sometimes it has positive purpose to allow it to keep going.

Maybe a close doesnt seem right, but hey....its a crappy job to listen to people go on and on. They do the best they can. Not everyone is going to always agree.

I personally think they do a dam good job given the size and diversity of this forum. I have gotten my feathers ruffled because of closings a time or 2, but it wasnt the mods fault...it was mine for letting it bother me!

[Faeawyn]

I guess my question to this, is as long as no one is being personally attacked, who does it hurt if the abuse of a dead equine continues? If people are interested enough to keep posting and debating a subject and are not actually breaking forum rules, then....??????
dK I guess it boils down to our only rule here...Respect. Sometimes, respect is lost when tempers start flairing and the debate becomes heated. Once someone expresses that they feel one way and will not be swayed, and another expresses that they feel another way....what is the purpose to keep debating the topic when you're not going to change anyone's mind? And inevitably, someone crosses the line and loses respect and becomes insulting and thats when the mods close the thread.
They dont usually close a thread as long as everyone remains respectful.

[flar7]

heres the secret.

we dont monitor the threads. you do.

we respond to your reports on hurt feelings and bad posts. so, if a thread was closed, it broke the rule, and likely was fingered by someone in the thread as being such. Thats how we find out.

There is no way we could search every thread and post looking for rule breakers, we cant, and we wouldnt want to.

[Nacken]

Well if they put up with me, they must be quite patient. _whistle_ Sometimes I post something and then look at it afterwards and say to myself,'did I just say that?' I can be somewhat impatient with people at times. Too much caffeine maybe. :caffeine:

[Shanti]

heres the secret.

we dont monitor the threads. you do.

we respond to your reports on hurt feelings and bad posts. so, if a thread was closed, it broke the rule, and likely was fingered by someone in the thread as being such. Thats how we find out.

There is no way we could search every thread and post looking for rule breakers, we cant, and we wouldnt want to.
Thanks for clearing that up!!!!! :)

[Darakash]

heres the secret.

we dont monitor the threads. you do.

we respond to your reports on hurt feelings and bad posts. so, if a thread was closed, it broke the rule, and likely was fingered by someone in the thread as being such. Thats how we find out.

There is no way we could search every thread and post looking for rule breakers, we cant, and we wouldnt want to.

Well sure, that makes sense, I mean, there are over 70,000 threads with 1.4 million posts; so I wouldn't expect that you spent your time wading through all that! Goodness you all would never have a life! And again, I hope it was clear that I was not bashing you mod folk! I just felt that in my personal experience with the threads that were closed, that they were still producing interesting/interactive conversations (so not yet to the dead-horse-beating stage) and that any rule breaking had already been addressed, but, obviously that is a matter of the mod's discretion and the person/people who complained perceptions. I guess I was just a little bummed that in one or two cases, the conversations just got interesting, and *poof* they was gone, but I am sure there are plenty of other things to talk about around here!

thanks for responding and reacting to my post in the spirit it was intended!
Senebty, DK

[BrigidMoon]

heres the secret.

we dont monitor the threads. you do.

we respond to your reports on hurt feelings and bad posts. so, if a thread was closed, it broke the rule, and likely was fingered by someone in the thread as being such. Thats how we find out.

There is no way we could search every thread and post looking for rule breakers, we cant, and we wouldnt want to.

That's what I was thinking. There are SO many posts, how can you read them all?

I guess if a member is too uncomfortable to continue the debate or feels it's breaking rules then, a request is made to make it closed.

I respect that.

[misschief]

i can't remember ever disagreeing with a thread being closed. i've even asked for some of my own threads to be closed just because everything that could be said had been already. *shrug*

[flar7]

sadly, many a terrific thread is closed due to heading off a disaster or public outcry, or one trollish member ruining it for all....

also, anytime a thread is closed or modded and you have a problem with it, DONT HESITATE TO PM AN ADMIN AND ASK ABOUT IT! but never post in that thread or another thread about it. As in, being particular to point to a specific thread or moderation, you can post if you are very basic, and I feel this thread was done in just the right manner. A valid question, and I hope I gave an answer that helps, if not clarifies things a bit.

We wont bite, and like to hear from you guys. We dont expect to bat 1000, heck, we would settle for a .300 average.