Confrontational Posts, a Request

[mythusmage]

A suggestion for moderators and administrators.

Whenever you run across a confrontational post (your call), please delete it. In addition, send an email to the miscreant telling them what you have done and why. If a member is a chronic confrontational poster I recommend suspending his membership for a period of time, or banning said poster for especially outrageous violations.

You can guess why I'm making this request. If I don't see any posts from people accusing me of attacking them personally, and in a rude manner, I can't reply to them. This should also work for others who are prone to reply to a confrontational post as I am.

And while I'm writing this, is there any way to make it easier to add names to one's 'ignore list'?

(Love the alternate thread view options, BTW.)

 

[Olive]

The main problem would be people denying that they have made the posts...

I'd recomend clearing them out instead, so all it has left is a message from a mod, rather than no post at all.

At the same time, perhaps it's best to hit the report this post button (which I actually can't see on the new boards) rather than the reply button when you get confronted in an unacceptable way?

 

[Mark Chance]

At the same time, perhaps it's best to hit the report this post button (which I actually can't see on the new boards) rather than the reply button when you get confronted in an unacceptable way?

Hmm? Exercise self-control? A daring proposal.

BTW, the Report Post feature is no longer a button, but it is there at the bottom left of the message.

 

[Crothian]

I say we take them outback and ......

Or ignore the not so bad ones and report the bad ones.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Hey, if I made a confrontational post let me know! I was out of line and I will apologize. Sometimes I don't think about what I am typing and don't realize that it was confrontational.

I know some never forgive or forget and post just to be confrontational (where are you today WT Tony).

Yes, I know you are not referring to any of my post, right...

 

[Darkness]

... is there any way to make it easier to add names to one's 'ignore list'?

The easiest way right now is to click on the user in question's Profile; there's a 'Put (user name) On Your Ignore List' button in there.

 

[Umbran]

Deletion is a bit much. While free speech is not and should not be guaranteed here, unless the posting is particularly egregious, I think the mods normal methods are best.

In general, moderation on all sides is usually best. You don't react to a percieved slight with a big swat until you confirm that the slight was really intended.

 

[hellbender]

I almost take exception to this thread with the way I sometimes post a fairly innocuous (to me) post and see a thread closed because of it. Many people seem either thin-skinned or in your face when it comes to posts here, taking offense at the slightest affront. For example, it is not ok to make a religious post here, but it is fine to call people with a belief system ignorant. While I am not necessarily offended by being called ignorant (wouldn't be the first time), some people just might be.

On a side note regarding Ignore lists; there is a thread about this in Meta. I disagree with many people here, but I would never put anyone on ignore. I don't agree with a lot of people here on some things, but get along with them well on other subjects. The Ignore button just makes your world a little smaller. Get over the small stuff.

hellbender

 

[Piratecat]

Nope, sorry, Alan. The onus is on the members, not the moderators. We have enough to do around here!

In general, lighter moderation is better moderation. We expect our members to be responsible adults when posting, and to self-edit before they do. Expect people to behave responsibly and they almost always do; it's kind of cool.

 

[William Ronald]

In the end, I think it is up to us to monitor ourselves. What I try to do is to remember that the person who may have irritated me is just as human as I am. So, if I disagree with someone, I try to respond politely. It is possible to challenge an insulting remark without being insulting. (Pointing out where someone may be wrong with facts and a polite tone is a mature form of argument. Anyone can be rude and insulting. However, it is a pleasure for me to see a good reasoned argument.)

I think the board succeeds in large part because of its members. Moderating should be a labor of love. Indeed, the whole point of EN World is to have fun. So, I think we have to take a lot of the responsibility -- especially when members outnumber moderators by about a 1,000 to 1.