An OPEN letter to KATIE6

Beth

I don't post all to often, but I wanted to post here.  I remember you from the chat in 05.  I've read your posts on and off over the 3 years since I have been dx. I know how much you have helped me over the last few years and I am glad you have decided to stay, because I know you will be able to help others in the future (if they want the help). You are an asset to these boards.  I admire your strength.

sherry

Even IF people who abuse the report button are "banned", there is nothing preventing them from coming back again and again. They don't even require a VALID email address to register for the site, let alone an email validation process.  Adding that one simple thing--email challenge/validation--could cure lots of problems. The mods have argued that people would have trouble signing up because the challenge/verification emails can be tagged as spam by email filters. I am sorry, but maybe if you can't figure out how to work your spam/email filters, you are going to have too much trouble posting on a message board anyway. I hate to think that people who need help would be unable to get it because of an email issue, but I think the vast majority of people could figure it out--especially if instructions and warnings about a verification email were clearly and prominently posted during the registration process.

As it is now, I could go sign up and say my email was moderator@breastcancer.org....and I would have an account no questions asked. Heck, I don't even know if the email address they request at registration even has to be in email format (username@domainname.com). How many other message boards and sites that require sign-ins have YOU visited that don't require a valid email address? 

Marshakb,

I was thinking along the same lines morning.  I have posted an another online community (a political one) that allows comment ratings -- positive and negative.  Any member can give a positive rating. Positive ratings allow a member to accumulate "mojo" and "trusted user" status.  Once you become a "trusted user" you can give a "negative" rating ("troll rating" -- which are not allowed simply for disagreements or strong responses).  Everyone can see who gives what ratings.  If a comment gets to a certain negative number (I think it is -10, which means 10 "troll ratings" from trusted users UNOPPOSED by positive ratings from other trusted users) it is "removed" -- although it can still be viewed by trusted users if they wish.  It's a complicated system, but it truly reflects and respects the community.

Beth,

Your comments have been reinstated!!!!  I guess some one is reading these threads or you got to them.  Either way, good going!!!!

ADK,

That's great news! 

I had also sent a couple of PMs to the Admins about it -- so thanks to the Admins/Mods for reinstating!

Congratulations, Beth! (I was getting ready to suggest a laptop slumber party where we all reinstated those comments one by one!  Now if we have a slumber party we can just goof off!)

Ann

Glad to have you back Beth. 

I like the suggestion that you made Anne, I also have only used the report this comment button for spammers and would gladly leave my name when reporting.

Sheila

Marsha, I was told the exact same thing as you and when I saw this conversation and another along the same lines on another thread going on I decided I should be able to open my mouth too.  It Does seem that somebody has a lot of power on this board and the mods are too busy dealing with petty stuff instead of the real problems.  I love your idea of having to put your name when reporting a post.  That would solve A lot of problems!

Well, "the community" has removed Beth's post again.  Geez.

I agree that having a way to note who has reported a comment is a great idea.  I've used the "Report this Comment" button a lot, but it's only been on posts from good old Sophia (aka Steven Chang, the "treat-cancer" jerk).  I have no problem with anyone knowing that I've helped delete those spam posts.

All I can say is maybe with Beths post being deleted again maybe the mods will understand what kind of problem is going on here and something will be done. 

amy

Welcome comrads!  <just teasing!>

Okay, a very quick count shows 42 separate individuals saying they're glad Beth is back:

41 say they don't think her post (or copies re-posted by my3girls and ADK) should have been deleted

1 says post should have been deleted

I think in this case both the electoral college and the popular vote support reinstatement of the post!!!!

I count 7 people so far saying that they would have no problem being identified if they reported a post - should we do a survey and see what the will of the community really is?

I am not a lawyer, but i think it must be (or should be) illegal and criminal to report someone's posts from a website to the person's employer.  It certainly is a totally despicable, sicko thing to do.

Also, i think the "removed by the community" thing is really a poor excuse for a lack of really thorough, full-time moderating on these boards. IMHO. 

While it apparently is a lovely idea to have the members here participate and do the deed of getting rid of spam, it should not be up to us what posts or spam are removed or not.  I really think that should be the job of the moderators.  Our role is to recover from breast cancer, help each other, and help newbies go through this journey.  I understand that this board is run on a budget, but we are not the ones who need to run it.  Since it is on the world wide web and all can read the stuff here, we, of course, need to be careful of what we post, however there are sick people in this world who don't mind causing harm to others and who work hard at it too.

We need the kind of moderating and safety measures in place that help ensure a safer place to come to.  We're not there yet.......Again IMHO.

Beth, after reading your OP on this thread I posted a question to the mods about blocking ISPs. IMO this is the only way to shut down people who use secret screenames to harm the good women on this board. Mods haven't replied but hopefully they will.

Erica