Question For the Moderators

Good morning, Luan. And, why is that your impression? And, exactly why did you choose to post it here? I thought you were a stickler for staying on topic. Your comment has nothing to do with the topic of this thread.

I don't like that automated program that suspends/bans based on 'Community' reports ... it has caused nothing but trouble since it was instituted.

I would much rather that any suspension or banning required a decision ... and action ... by the Moderators to do so. 

And it should be reserved for only very severe cases of misbehavior IMO.   

These "sock puppets" or multiple personalities are a huge problem here, IMHO.  The madness around here lately is really damaging the very fabric of BCO and it needs to stopped.  These sock puppets are here, evidently, to stir up controversy (for their entertainment or power games or...?), since they never show any honest efforts to discuss the ideas put forth. 

Dear Mods, again - is there a reason why multiple IDs are allowed here?  There really isn't a single legitimate reason I can think of; only cowardly sniping and controversy-stirring.

Supporting what Deanna said.  The nadir, I thought, until further posts, was when one of the Sock Puppets, now posting under a different name, actually POSTED and "thanked" her other sock puppets by NAME in the post for their "support" of her ideas.

I just find it all so, well, creepy comes to mind,  and I too think it poisons the atmosphere for people who have been helped by other posters over the years on BC.org, and want to share their experiences to help others with breast cancer.  So many of these newer posts seem to be just cartoons, attacking cartoons, mock tee shirts, just makes me sad.  And likely to stop trying to keep BC.org as the place it was when it helpd me so much.  If the Moderators aren't doing anything about it, there really isn't much we as a community can do.  It does pollute so many threads.

Attacking other threads as "juvenile" "homerooms" referring to people as "breast cancer groupies" is not acceptable.

1Athena1 we don't announce when action is taken, or what that action might be. When you see a post (or many posts) removed by moderators, there may be other actions being taken behind the scenes, ranging from PMs to temporary or permanent bans. If the person affected doesn't announce to her friends and allies that something has happened, those actions are invisible, as we believe they should be.

Your mods

Thank you again, Athena, for taking the time and energy to post in such detail.  I admire and respect your trying to keep these boards as helpful as they were for many of us.

Especially when you wrote:

"A person who has five or six posts deleted by the moderators in one day, and dozens over weeks,  AND causes at least three threads to be shut down in a matter of weeks should not belong here.   "

 Thanks again.  I admit I was dismayed reading some of those threads deleted, and trying to refute commentson them.

Thanks Mods - that makes sense!  thanks again for trying to keep it a safe space for women in such a difficult time.

Why the intense concern about who should and should not belong here, and exactly how far someone can go without being banned?

There may be a very few, very emotionally ill people who come here to "pretend" to have breast cancer.  My reaction to them is pity, not anger.

Cancer, especially early in the process of diagnosis, and starting treatment is overwhelming, and people may react in ways that are inappropriate at times.  You wouldn't want someone you cared about permanently "banned" from the site because they had a difficult day, or week, or even month would you? 

The moderators have to balance making the information and support available on the site accessible to those who need it with keeping a civil tone throughout the site.  It is a nearly impossible task.  In an effort to do that, they seem to be frequently tweaking the rules and consequences to make them and the site function better.  That is a good thing.  They have been very responsive to the requests of the community.  They don't have to keep us informed of every little update, and they have wide latitude in how they enforce or lift any consequences.  They don't deserve to have every decision they make questioned, and scrutinized for absolute equality and fairness.

It doesn't work any better in this situation than in a situation of trying to treat siblings who are different ages and have different needs exactly the same no matter what.

Hi PatMom, I think most of us are grateful to the mods for their difficult job, and I don't think most of us are demanding or expecting them to justify their decisions or actions or to publicize everything.  I think what most of us are hoping, is that the mods might consider our input with the goal of making BCO the helpful, supportive, and informational resource we come here for.  And I think their recent changes have been great in moving in that direction. 

It's not useful to allow the inmates to rule the asylum, regardless of our pity for their mental state.   If they are not here to discuss breast cancer and its impact on our lives, then I believe those who come here with a clear agenda contrary to BCO's mission (breast cancer support) should promptly be shown the door. 

Thank you, thenewme.  This really isn't a place that needs all those almost "spam" postings from other websites.  Especially, when those posters refuse to answer the postings from the same website that refute what was taken out of context.  I certainly don't mind someone expressing their point of view, from their own experience, but to generalize and make that an "Absolute Statement" applying across the board, is not helpful or supportive to getting the best information possible to women who most need it.

Thanks, again, thenewme

Revkat, the copyright issues are also concerning to me.  I have heard of original content providers going after boards and blogs for misuse/overuse of content.

WOW - speaking of showing exaclty what we were trying to explain to the Moderators.  Conspiracy theories and reference to something which happened so long ago.