Rules for reporting posts - please advise

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  • -angel-
    -angel- Member Posts: 222
    edited June 2011

    How long does it take for moderators to review reported posts?  1Athena1 has been banned by the "community" until July 7th.  I didn't see her post but others have said she didn't violate any rules.  Are those abusing the report function now being penalized for doing so?  The rules say they will be but I have yet to see it happen.

  • rosemary-b
    rosemary-b Member Posts: 2,006
    edited June 2011

    Excellent questions Angel and I hope the mods reply soon.

  • -angel-
    -angel- Member Posts: 222
    edited June 2011

    Thanks Rosemary, me too.

    Oh, and Moderators .. I found it interesting that you did not address the questions posed to you in the 'My Fellow Deletees and the Cyberbullied Sisters' thread under the 'I've Donated to BreastCancer.org in honor of...' forum last night, although you did feel the need to post in the 'I Say Yes, You Say No....' thread.  In the former, you posted in May to let you know if something is being missed and that you'd jump on it.  You may want to go to that thread and address it.  Thanks!  

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2011

    I guess there could be a reason for slow reaction by the Moderators.  After all, they may still be going through all the deletes some of you made to the "Update" thread the other night.  Oh right, I know, that was justified but your friend was not.

  • rosemary-b
    rosemary-b Member Posts: 2,006
    edited June 2011
  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited June 2011

    I sure hope no one is going around reporting posts in retaliation for his/her friend's posts having been reported.  Not sayin' that's what's happening, of course.  After all, who knows who's reporting posts anymore, unless the reporter admits to it him/herself?

    It was interesting that, earlier this afternoon, someone had a post reported in which she identified herself as having reported someone else's post.  What was that all about?

    otter

    [Edited to add:  OTOH, maybe identifying the people who report posts isn't a good idea if people are going to retaliate against them by reporting their posts. I'll bet the Mods get tired of all this.]

  • crazy4carrots
    crazy4carrots Member Posts: 5,324
    edited June 2011

    Now that we have a "team" of moderators, doesn't it seem reasonable to suggest eliminating the "Report this Post" function by members?

    As it stands now, some posters who have not broken any of the stated BCO rules are being reported, and, I expect, fearing that more of their posts will also be reported so that they lose posting privileges altogether.

    That surely isn't the way a BC support site should operate, is it? 

  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited June 2011

    How about this, as a compromise?:

    Eliminate the "Report this Post" function as it now works.  Specifically, disable the computer program that removes posts automatically (albeit "temporarily") based on 5 reports from the "Community".

    Instead, continue to allow members to "Report" or "Flag" posts they interpret as being in violation of the Rules, but leave the decision about removing those posts up to the Moderators.  In other words, a post will stand unless and until a Moderator reviews it and takes action to delete it.  Once the Mods had determined the nature of the violation -- if, in fact, there really was a violation -- the person whose post had been reported would be given an opportunity to modify or delete the post herself.  If the offending post was not revised or removed by its author, the content would be deleted by the Mods and the post would be marked "This post was removed by the Moderators."  A follow-up message would be sent to the author, informing him/her of the deletion.

    The Mods could use a threshold of "Reports", if they wish, to decide whether or not a post needs to be reviewed.  That will help them sort the posts that are hurtful or defamatory from those that merely irritate a few people.  IMHO, that threshold of "Reports" can be set pretty high, because a post that truly violates the Rules is likely to be reported by dozens of members.  That would also make it more difficult for a cabal of members (or one member operating under multiple names) to remove posts just because they didn't like the content or the person posting them.

    It is impossible for the Mods to ride herd on all of us and monitor everything we post. That might work on a much smaller, less active forum, but I can't imagine how it could be done efficiently here.  But the present system is not working, either.  The present system allows a small group of users (or one member using multiple identities) to harass other members by "Reporting" their posts unjustifiably.  Despite the designation of a removal as "temporary", the post is still gone until the Mods have a chance to look at it.  For members with a history of posts having been removed (justifiably or not), removal of a single additional post results in automatic banning.  We have permanently lost valuable, long-time members because of that policy.  After continued harassment and intimidation, they gave up and went elsewhere.

    A policy that permits that to happen is not supportive.

    otter

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2011

    If I were a Moderator, I would design/write a piece of software that would notify me when a thread was getting a high level of "hits".  These high activity levels nearly always signify the latest "urinating contest". I would also design something else into the software and that would be the capability to watch known troublemakers especially those who venture out of their lairs - another sure sign of a "urinating contest" in the making.

  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited June 2011

    I once had a post removed and it violated none of those things,  if the rules I linked to below are the right  ones.  It would be nice if we were given the rule we violated when that happened, because to this day I have no idea why my post was deleted.  I can't learn what's acceptable if I don't know what rule I violated.

    I do understand the mods are very busy and I know that they help keep this place a great place to be.  They have a hard job.  So, I'm not complaining. 

     Are these the rules?  http://community.breastcancer.org/help/rules

  • kira1234
    kira1234 Member Posts: 3,091
    edited June 2011

    CoolBreeze, Yes those are the same rules I recieved yesterday when my post was reported.

  • AnnNYC
    AnnNYC Member Posts: 4,484
    edited June 2011

    Am I someone who is supposed to remain confined to a "lair"?  Just wondering. Surprised

    I do think there are plenty of threads that get high numbers of hits for the simple reason that they are of interest and relevance to many.  Although I'm sure the Moderators are capable of seeing that. The idea of monitoring highly active threads seems reasonable -- but since the Board software already indicates active threads, it seems new software might not be needed. 

    In my experience "unknown troublemakers" are a bigger problem than "known" (which I think is a subjective call), but maybe that's just me...

  • bluedahlia
    bluedahlia Member Posts: 6,944
    edited June 2011

    Well Ann, all I can say is you stay in your corner and I'll stay in mine.  Maybe they can shackle us while they are at it!

  • BarbaraA
    BarbaraA Member Posts: 7,378
    edited June 2011

    Hanging in my lair.

  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited June 2011

    I have two questions that I've written and erased 3 times now.  Since you guys were bold enough to wonder about the same thing, I think I'll ask:

    1) Who gets to decide who the "known troublemakers" are?  Will there be interviews for that job, or have some people already volunteered?

    2) When was it determined that BCO members weren't allowed to "venture out of their lairs"?  I don't think I was ever assigned a lair, even after having been here 3-1/2 years; and that's not fair.  How are we supposed to know the boundaries of our lair, once we get one?  Will we be assigned electronic collars that will beep or shock us when we've crossed over the property line?

    Oh.  I guess that was more than two questions.

    otter

    [I keep forgetting that the Mods didn't want anyone to post in this "Moderator Messages" forum except themselves.]

  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2011

    Looks like the gangs all here!

  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited June 2011

    I think I'm not up on board politics. I thought this was a real question about the rules.  Because one of my posts disappeared once for no apparent reason, I thought I'd step in.

    I'll step out.  :)

    The only thing I don't like about this board is the number of different sections.  But, I know how hard it is to be a moderator so I am not here to criticize. 

  • AnnNYC
    AnnNYC Member Posts: 4,484
    edited June 2011

    nurse-ann, seriously -- it's not nice to call people who get along with each and stick up for each other a "gang."  And despite what you may think, we aren't in lockstep, don't take marching orders from a leader, don't all think the same.  I'm hurt, because I haven't met you before, and yet you're passing judgment on me. 

    People have friendships on this Board that could be illustrated with Venn diagrams -- you know, overlapping circles.

    I've had only one comment reported/deleted in my 4 years on BCO -- when I told a homophobe who posted something nasty in the lesbian forum that her comment didn't belong there.  My comment was restored by the Mods.  Of comments I have reported (almost always for spam), I have only once been notified that it was inappropriate -- and that was because the Mods hadn't noticed a link to a commercial website within that comment, so then they realized I had correctly reported it as spam.

    You are overstating this "known troublemakers" and "gang" thing, in my opinion, and I really wish you'd stop.  Please PM your thoughts to the Moderators instead.  Thank you.

  • Alpal
    Alpal Member Posts: 1,785
    edited June 2011

    Yep, names do change around here! Welcome back - didn't realize you'd rejoined us.

  • bluedahlia
    bluedahlia Member Posts: 6,944
    edited June 2011

    We finally have a voice of reason!

  • rosemary-b
    rosemary-b Member Posts: 2,006
    edited June 2011

    Nice catch Blue.

  • RetiredLibby
    RetiredLibby Member Posts: 1,992
    edited June 2011

    I wondered where all the flowers had gone ...

  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited June 2011

    Oooooh, my goodness!

    That post of mine upstream from here, right between BarbaraA's post about hanging in her lair and nurse-ann's post accusing us of being a "gang"?  My post has been REPORTED

    Somebody please tell me what part of which Rule was violated by something in that post.  I have a copy of the Rules right here in front of me, and I don't see it.  Are we operating under Double-Secret Rules now, like the Double-Secret Probation on Animal House?

    Maybe the problem was that I said I was only going to ask two questions, and I ended up asking (hang on a minute, while I count) ... five questions.  Or was it because I asked questions about things someone else had posted earlier on this thread?  Is that not allowed anymore?

    It will be interesting when the Mods review my post to see what the violation was.  Weren't we told earlier this year that the Mods would take action (of some sort) against members who "Reported" posts frivolously when those posts were not violating the Rules?

    Just askin'. Yours truly,

    otter

  • rosemary-b
    rosemary-b Member Posts: 2,006
    edited June 2011

    Oh otter

    I guess there are double secret rules and gangs and bullies.

    Beam me up Scottie...

  • bluedahlia
    bluedahlia Member Posts: 6,944
    edited June 2011

    It's OK Otter.  I have you all beat.  I've had at least 10 posts reported.  The mods should be having a grand old time.

  • Alpal
    Alpal Member Posts: 1,785
    edited June 2011

    Maybe we don't just have a flower, but a whole garden! Again!

  • Alpal
    Alpal Member Posts: 1,785
    edited June 2011

    Deleted the above post. I will not stir the pot, I will not stir the pot, I will not stir the pot!

  • rosemary-b
    rosemary-b Member Posts: 2,006
    edited June 2011

    The reports make no sense. there are reports for saying why we are reporting. There are reports for disagrreeing (specifically against the rules) and there are apparently reports for even posting. Somebody is having fun and I pity the poor mods.

  • crazy4carrots
    crazy4carrots Member Posts: 5,324
    edited June 2011
    Well, I stand by my earlier suggestion:  Remove the Report this Post button.  Let the moderator team delete posts they find objectionable.  Obviously there are posters here who cannot handle that button responsibly.  They're making extra work for the moderators, and it seems they are button-pushing with vindictiveness.  Not acceptable on a breast cancer support site.
  • BarbaraA
    BarbaraA Member Posts: 7,378
    edited June 2011

    I still feel that the names of deleters should be public. That will stop the itchy clicking fingers.

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