A suggestion regarding discretion

[redrick]

Another thread in this forum which has been wisely closed tells the story. The fact is a problem was created because I didn't notice that a post was by a monitor. I assumed it was a troll. If you followed that forum regularly like I do and also the post wasn't from a monitor you would be likely to do the same. It seemed to me to be from someone who wasn't following or the least bit interested in the subject matter and was merely looking for an opportunity to be officious and give someone grief.

My suggestion is that monitors act with a bit of discretion and try to avoid acting, if they act at all, in a way that creates more of a problem than whatever small variance from the AUP may be occurring. Just a suggestion.

In this forum's thread which is closed (the few people interested enough to have read so far have probably found it already but it's called "What to do about a problem with a moderator.") a number of unkind, untrue, and ill-considered things were said about me that were of no relevance to the question I had raised and are the only reason for this second post. It is only human for people to feel the need to defend themselves and should have been expected. An arrogant "that's him told" is not the attitude of the wise.

If this post so far has for some reason put me in your bad books than look it up and enjoy! I am not permitted to reply as that thread is now closed, as I said before, probably with good reason, but I must say I am not thin-skinned and I am not afraid of bullies and I will "even go there" if I like despite the commands of people who IMHO have too little discretion for the authority they wield. And I am also generally disappointed that so many of the persons commenting may know every word of the AUP without ever considering or understanding the very well-thought-out purposes behind its elements.

The thread where what still seems to me to be the post of a troll-in-moderator's clothing (perhaps that's a bit harsh but that's what happens when peaceable people like my are unjustly provoked) is one of the smoothest, kindest, least problematic ones I have ever enjoyed on any site, mostly due to Praiano63, the generous in every way, kind, gentle creator of it. It reflects his personality. Which is probably why the moderator in question's short-tempered post seemed so out of place and troll-like. The thread is the continuation of a 400+ page thread about a game that has just gone into a new version, hence. And both threads, I am told, get a huge number of hits. I sincerely believe that any fair-minded person who spent some time in either of those threads, and who checked a representative portion of my own contributions to it, would be likely to appreciate my point of view, or at least to appreciate what a precious resource it is to me and to so many of your members. Not a thing to be treated with high-handed officiousness. I do hope this post does not attract curious persons to it who have no interest in it's subject matter. I find myself in the odd position of suggesting that a moderator- a mature moderator- keep an eye on it from time to time over the next day or two.

I'm sorry for the length of this message. As I will probably will not have the opportunity to answer any misunderstandings it may create I tried to cover everything and no doubt failed. I will be happy to PM or receive PMs from anyone who has a sincere question...

...and a little discretion.

Thanks for your consideration,

Rick

 

[Johnnypenso]

My suggestion would be that you or anyone don't make suggestions on how anyone should behave here. We are all, moderators, premium and regular members, subject to the same AUP. If you think someone has violated it, report them. If nothing is done about it, then it doesn't violate the AUP. It's ok not to like something someone says, that doesn't mean they shouldn't say it.

 

[Duke]

I've read both the now-locked thread you started on this board, and the original posts that were the initial impetus for your problem with the moderator in question. Frankly, I don't see anything in the original moderator's posts that were offensive in any way. Certainly I don't see anything in the initial moderator posts that are worthy of belaboring the point this badly.

I don't think any offense or rudeness was meant by the moderator's instruction that all posts must be in English. That is one of the fundamental rules of this site, and he was merely reminding the poster that this rule is enforced. I think any perceived officiousness or lack of discretion you are mentioning now is being generated entirely by your refusal to let the matter rest.

[edit] I should point out that I am no longer a member of the staff here, so this is in no way an official opinion on the matter.

 

[redrick]

I've read both the now-locked thread you started on this board, and the original posts that were the initial impetus for your problem with the moderator in question. Frankly, I don't see anything in the original moderator's posts that were offensive in any way. Certainly I don't see anything in the initial moderator posts that are worthy of belaboring the point this badly.

I don't think any offense or rudeness was meant by the moderator's instruction that all posts must be in English. That is one of the fundamental rules of this site, and he was merely reminding the poster that this rule is enforced. I think any perceived officiousness or lack of discretion you are mentioning now is being generated entirely by your refusal to let the matter rest.

[edit] I should point out that I am no longer a member of the staff here, so this is in no way an official opinion on the matter.

Hi! Good to be remonstrated by someone likely to be near my age for a change. Most people who see it agree with you and I understand. My reaction was caused not so much by anything you could see in the original post but if you followed that thread, which so reflects the almost surreal unassuming gentle kindness of its host, you would understand how a one line command posted by someone who obviously wasn't following or the least bit interested in the conversation, would jar me.

And I will stick to my guns in that a little discretion and consideration for context wouldn't hurt. It does take an extra moment or two but in this case would have saved a number of people including myself and mostly members of staff a huge amount of time. While I don't agree with some of it, your post's intention is clearly kind and well-meant and its tone is both civil and well considered.

Unfortunately my response, which the young man didn't seem to feel reflected enough obedient respect to his lofty position, has put a burr under his skin and he continues to bother me about in a long PM. I have been trying everything to just get him to leave me alone. I wish he would just give me a few "warning points" (I have never had one in the four years I've been here which almost makes me feel I must be a very dull person) and go away and leave me alone. So I asked here for advice about the situation and got some good ideas from a few members before a number of your former colleagues jumped all over me in an uncivil way that since has been toned down by editing and/or removal of whole posts. I felt insulted and misunderstood and unable to defend myself as the thread was closed and I couldn't reply. And then my chief tormentor saw fit to insert a further last shot at me in a message posted hours after the thread was closed. Even monitors aren't supposed to do that, are they? You you can easily confirm this by checking the time of this last post against the time of my next thread which mentions the thread closing. So I opened a new thread, which was perhaps ill-advised but I had just been subjected to a lot of ill-advising.

Anyway, thank you again for your advice and your time.

Sincere regards,

Rick

My suggestion would be that you or anyone don't make suggestions on how anyone should behave here. We are all, moderators, premium and regular members, subject to the same AUP. If you think someone has violated it, report them. If nothing is done about it, then it doesn't violate the AUP. It's ok not to like something someone says, that doesn't mean they shouldn't say it.

Quite. And it's also ok to say you don't like what someone says. And I wish some people would consider your last sentence in their response to me.

I don't generally report people. It's just not what I'm about and it doesn't appear to be a requirement.

See you 'round the garage,

Rick

 

[Famine]

Hi! Good to be remonstrated by someone likely to be near my age for a change.

Duke's 48. I'm 36. Mike is 33.

Jordan, the site owner, is... well, shall we say "youthful" by comparison. Age isn't really relevant here - so long as you're over 13, for legal reasons.

Unfortunately my response, which the young man didn't seem to feel reflected enough obedient respect to his lofty position, has put a burr under his skin and he continues to bother me about in a long PM. I have been trying everything to just get him to leave me alone. I wish he would just give me a few "warning points" (I have never had one in the four years I've been here which almost makes me feel I must be a very dull person) and go away and leave me alone.

This seems to be turning into yet another public rant about something you have been told the correct action for several times now.

So I asked here for advice about the situation and got some good ideas from a few members before a number of your former colleagues jumped all over me in an uncivil way that since has been toned down by editing and/or removal of whole posts.

When you made this claim last time I told you it was incorrect - no posts have been edited but yours (by you, 15 minutes after you posted it) and no posts have been deleted.

I don't know why you're making the claim again. I don't know why you're choosing to have your say in public (and complain when staff respond in public) again after the matter has been properly escalated. I don't know what you're seeking to gain by any of this, but you're not doing it.

The matter is now where it should be. Do not continue it in other, less suitable places.

You will, if asked by a representative of the forums, cease posting any content.