"Why wasn't xyz banned?"

[santa claus]

Way I see it, if me, TheAnimus and SantaClaus can escape being banned, the bar has already been set pretty high

I am mortified. Fancy naming me in the same sentence as that git The Animus .

[jim]

I think that thread is a perfect example of why it's not a good idea to ban people.

If someone is a pure troll, at it for months and months at a time until everybody's just utterly tired, then perhaps. But generally speaking, I'd far rather people were given the opportunity to post whatever nonsense they like. Within reason, in normal life people are permitted to discuss whatever topics they like, and we should all be able to do so without resorting to personal attacks and petty digs.

All in all, these sorts of things make for a far more colourful board. Everyone remembers neckclicker and Rollo, and they were pretty bad posters. No complaints here

[directhex]

We should have a mirror! mirror! admin contest with pictures.

You rang?

[badass]

All in all, these sorts of things make for a far more colourful board. Everyone remembers neckclicker and Rollo, and they were pretty bad posters. No complaints here

I remember PrivatePyle as well.
Can't say the same about that

[Pilgrim_uk]

in normal life people are permitted to discuss whatever topics they like

In normal life people are open to personal attacks because of such topics and they wouldn't have the balls to bring up half the subjects they do on forums. Forums are a benevolent dictatorship and this one has a laissez-faire attitude and if the admins/owners want it that way, Fair enough. Why they had to explain themselves is surprising.

[Saracen]

T.... That's OK and as long as the shift isn't sudden and inexplicable, I think it should be .... tolerated

Up to a point, and I think it's quite a high point, we do tolerate it.

There is, however, a difference between, for instance, a generic discussion thread where a discussion evolves, and a specific request for help or opinion on a specific subject where that gets dragged off-topic. Personally, I'm much more likely to drag the latter back on topic .... firmly and pointedly, if necessary.

[Saracen]

.... Why they had to explain themselves is surprising.

I'm guessing, because I haven't asked Peter, but my guess would be .... because the question was asked.

We have, almost without exception, a great membership here who, by and large, respect rules and guidance from the mod team. In large part, we rarely have to take unpleasant action because of the nature of the membership.

Part of that is that we try to explain ourselves, where we can. It's easier for members to respect what we do if they know why we do it, and especially, that's it's not just arbitrary. And that also sometimes ends up with people respecting why we do things, even when they don't actually agree with why we do them. It helps, when they don't agree with our reasons, to understand that we do have reasons and what they are.

Of course, there are times when we have reasons and can't explain them. An obvious example would be if we were subject to a super-injunction. If that's ever happened, I'm not aware of it. but less overt legal issues can also be a reason, be it issues over defamation, or the Data Protection Act, but there's all sorts of other possible issues too.

So, another factor is that because we're happy to explain rationale for things when we can, we're far more likely to be cut a bit of slack when we can't explain.

All in all, then, you could describe it as respect for our members. We are aware that a forum is a two-way street. We (the mods) have the ability to enforce rules and prevent access, but every member (including the mods, by the way) has the ability to vote with their feet and go to another forum. It takes both sides for a forum to work.

So, we respect our members, explain where we can, especially when the question's been asked, and get a more understanding and less antagonistic response as a result.

[roachcoach]

You should be aware that I'm fighting the urge to create user 'xyz' and getting it banned, just so I can post here "but 'xyz' IS banned...wtf?!"

[Pilgrim_uk]

It wasn't a question Saracen it was just unusual to see on forums. (as in a good thing)

[Saracen]

It wasn't a question Saracen it was just unusual to see on forums. (as in a good thing)

The question I referred to, though, is the one asked that Peter replied to with this thread, as per his first line ....

This was a question raised in a recent thread, ...

Your point even though not a question, justified and deserved a comment on why we do it.

[peterb]

<---snipWhy they had to explain themselves is surprising.

A reasonable question had been asked, it seemed a matter of curtesy to reply, and it was also an opportrunity to explain some of the factors that we consider in moderating threads, a new thread seemed to be the best place, rather than by PM to the members that had raised the questions. So not a justification, more an explanation.

But I think Saracen answered this pretty well http://forums.hexus.net/general-disc...ml#post2274701 and captured my thoughts pretty accurately!

[tiggerai]

You can't let a good argument get in the way of a good friendship. Ask any woman (oooo, controversial ).

< runs off to find bashing stick with nail in /> * I've tidied it away somewhere meaning I can't now find it.

We should have a mirror! mirror! admin contest with pictures.

No need, I'd win... I've GOT tits, real ones. AND can say it.

True enough.

Me = absolutely not going there. The wife might see it.

In fact .... <looks nervously around> .....
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..... Tigg might see it.

I see everything. Ol' eyes in the back of the head. Grape Juice for you santa matey. (p.s thanks for the new baking tins, really useful!)

I am mortified. Fancy naming me in the same sentence as that git The Animus .

Personal attacks not allowed. but as I know TheAnimus personally I shall agree with this one


Love you guys lots... Thanks for not baiting the troll. They're a sticky one to deal with... and I do immediately take exception to those posts which are obviously baited with TrollPoison. Urgh, nasty little things coming in here and disturbing the peace(ish).

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

It seems Rollo was invited to the recent Kepler event and was having lunch with Nvidia people too:

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/...=1#post5066966

I like how he was passing himself off as a mere hardware enthusiast, which Nvidia had chosen to give hardware to, for testing purposes. Right!!

[Zhaoman]

Ah Rollo, I had almost completely forgotten about him. I do miss him sometimes... Do you remember that thread with a ridiculous amount of pages of him arguing for the merits of nVidia cards when the HD4 series from AMD was just released? He was really dedicated to his cause!

[KeyboardDemon]

As a fairly new member to the community I am not familiar with the thread or the person to which the OP may have been referring, nor am I interested in knowing which thread or member sparked this debate.

I have seen a moderator post to say that a comment posted by someone had overstepped a mark and that should that person continue in the same vein then that person may find that they are no longer welcome on these boards. I felt that the tone by the moderator was fair and seemed somewhat surprising as it was the first time on these forums that I had seen any form of moderator intervention.

I feel these forums are not a place where that much moderation is required simply because the members on here tend to post in a courteous and considerate manner. I have been a member of several forums, I do tend to drift from place to place and one of the biggest reasons for my leaving a forum is the lack of control or moderation against trolls or the number of threads that turn in to flame wars.

In my opinion the moderation on here is just right, there is a good balance, the atmosphere is light and friendly and I don't often see things that I wouldn't be worried about having on my screen if my children were to come in. That's the reason I like it here and hope to enjoy being an active member of this community for as long as it continues to exist in this way.

[sammyc]

tits, mirrors, muppets, trolls, santa claus, fruit juice, grapes and baking tins? It's all some elaborate code isn't it. Pity the poor newcomer.