Does he seem a bit lock-happy to anybody else?

[tburdett]

Moderation is a necessary evil.

It is necessary because many people take advantage of the fact that there is relative anonymity when posting here. They post things that they would not otherwise say because there is no fear of reprisal.

It is evil because we place such a high value on the right to speak freely. That right doesn't apply here, but it does not lessen the evil of censorship.

 

[blackshirt5]

THIS WAS POSTED BY ANGCURU! MY BAD! Blackshirt forgot to log out.

oops.

 

[jdavis]

Thread on a local High School's policy on Terrorist attacks, gee that doesn't sound like it would blow up in to a heated political arguement...... Personally I'd of closed it too, now if it was a local High School's policy on roleplaying games you might have something to be upset about. Sounds like you are upset because it was one of your friends threads and not because it was or was not appropriate. Besides I rather have some OT threads closed early than have the board degenerate into namecalling and silliness, that's what every other messageboard on the internet is for.

 

[Angcuru]

*Dons Eyeglasses*

AHEM. While I am perhaps somewhat reluctant to come to the defense of someone so malicious as Blackshirt , this is a topic well worth discussing. While EricNoah closes down many threads that need to be closed, he closes many more than any of the other mods. Perhaps he is a bit more vigilant, but perhaps he is; as Blackshirt stated: a bit lockhappy.

It's the latter.

With all due respect, starting off your argument with what is in effect an insult in reply to a question posted to people other than yourself is not a good way to begin your or argument or defense, if you wish to put it that way.

If you read the little announcement at the top of each forum, you can see that there are many reasons why a thread might get closed. Piratecat and I and basically all the mods have had an especially active week or so due to the various BoEF threads, and the somewhat less-than-ideal arguments/fights going on in those.

Did it ever occur to you that perhaps he did look, decided that perhaps those reasons did not agree to him, and proceeded to inquire as to why the rules are the way they are? A word to the wise: Sarcasm does nothing but make the speaker's opinion that much less appealing.

Yes, you mods have had your hands full with all the banter about the BoEF currently in development, but I fail to see what this has to do with the topic at hand, Eric.

As far as the specificl thread mentioned -- it was clearly (to me, and I'm the one who makes the call, right?) a highly political thread that had nowhere to go but downhill from there. Sometimes I'm just guessing where a thread will be heading; most of the time, though, I pretty much *know* because of dealing with similar things in the past here on the boards.

Clarity is relative to the perciever. And while you make SOME of the calls, you do not make them all, remember that. The thread was nowhere near political, from my viewpoint, and I should know, I spend a great deal of my time discussing politics. Mentioning once in a broad conversation how an offical on the School Board had seemed to overstep his boundaries is SLIGHTLY political, yet not enough to justify the locking of a thread. If the speaker had outright mentioned (without provocation) that said official was abusing his power and should perhaps be removed is a bit more political, and may give cause to be wary of the thread, but still not enough to justify the locking.

So you admit that you were just guessing, otherwise you would not have mentioned this tendency of yours. So you are able to *KNOW* how a conversation will turn simply because past conversations had done so a few times in the past? A hunch is not a good enough reason to close a thread: factual evidence such as text authored by a participant in the conversation for this particular debate showing that the speaker is actively seeking to create trouble or turn the converstaion towards OBVIOUS politics; is.

And there is one small thing that I'd like to add. Eric, your Avatar IS a picture of a guy with a cocky smirk on his face, after all. It tends to lend your writing on the boards a bit of a "high and mighty" attitude that really puts people off. Something silly and humorous such as a cat with an eye patch and a hook-hand gives writing a light-hearted feel, making the reader a bit more accepting to what they read. But then again, this is just my perception.

 

[HellHound]

I think the priority has to be set here...

There SHOULDN'T be a "committee", nor should anyone feel they have the right to post anything on the forums.

The reality is that these forums are paid for out of someone's pocket. As long as that person pays for us to be able to talk on them, that person, and NO ONE ELSE, has the right to tell us what to do on the forums.

 

[hong]

*twitch*

 

[Angcuru]

But is Eric dishing out this cash? Cause if he isn't I see no reason to put up with someone whom I view to be obnoxious and drunk with the illusion of power, considering your statement.

BTW - No intent of insult or mockery, this is simple the way I view EricNoah.

 

[jgbrowning]

*twitch*

*double twitch*

guys, we all understand you're questioning eric's decision.
we all understand you think he may have been unfair.

But do you understand that, metaphorically speaking, you've just walked into his house and told him how to behave? regardless of your point-of-view (or relative arguementative theories), that's bad taste.

Publicly "calling-out" a moderator is always a bad idea. That's why there's private messages or e-mail.


joe b.

 

[Eridanis]

Re: *Dons Eyeglasses*

AHEM.While EricNoah closes down many threads that need to be closed, he closes many more than any of the other mods.

Hmm. Links to closed threads, please? From my perspective, I rarely see more than one locked thread a week. Perhaps I'm just looking in the wrong places?

So you are able to *KNOW* how a conversation will turn simply because past conversations had done so a few times in the past?

Intuition, experience, and wisdom are wonderful tools, especially in tandem.

And there is one small thing that I'd like to add. Eric, your Avatar IS a picture of a guy with a cocky smirk on his face, after all. It tends to lend your writing on the boards a bit of a "high and mighty" attitude that really puts people off.

Are we reading the same boards? Of all the people I read here, Eric is the least cocky of them all, it seems to me.

I've been visiting here since the beginning, and not only has Eric always been fair and open in his running of the site, but has earned my respect and trust. Even if he were to go "cocky" on us, I would be willing to give him some leeway. Until we drive up to Madison and slap the happy coat on him.

 

[jgbrowning]

But is Eric dishing out this cash? Cause if he isn't I see no reason to put up with someone whom I view to be obnoxious and drunk with the illusion of power, considering your statement.

BTW - No intent of insult or mockery, this is simple the way I view EricNoah.

*triple twitch*

joe b.