Proposed "social experiment" for the forum

[Keef]

I have been thinking about this this afternoon, rather than thinking about the reports I should have been writing.

As there have been questions asked about moderators recently, and whether bans have been fair, and what sections threads should be in, how about an experiment, whereby for a fixed amount of time, be it a week or a month, the forum is left (more or less) too it's own devises, to see how it goes.

Mockney_Piers made the point recently, that it is pretty self moderating, in which case, this would be a good chance to put that to the test. A couple of posters seem to think that their bans are unfair, so if they are lifted for a fixed time, would they behave in a way that proved they deserved the lift?

Obviously admin would still have to react to anything with legal implications, but other than that, I wonder how it would get on if just left alone.

Would everyone just get along, would dazie and BBW suddenly feel responsible once given back their liberty, would the whole world come to an end if a thread in the ED section went way off topic???? THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT NEED ANSWERING! :-S

I would suggest, if it was to happen, a sticky thread at the top of each section, explaining what was going on, so if any new people were put off by what they saw, they'd know they could pop back the following week, when the cats had returned, and all the mice had been eaten, locked away, or were just hiding quietly and behaving themselves.

Anyone like the idea?

[SeanMacGabhann]

Mockney Piers did make that point but I sure didn't agree with him

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

I think the fatal flaw, keef, is you are assuming everyone else is as mature and reasonable as you.

[Administrator]

No chance. People have been banned and told off for a reason and their bans/confinements will not be lifted for an "experiment". The only people who have questioned bans are those that have been banned; they broke the rules, they were banned or confined to the Lounge.

East Dulwich specific posts should be in the ED Issues/gossip section.

This is meant to be a fun and useful site and myself and moderators find it easier to moderate when trouble makers are not around, obvious really. A lot of hard work has gone into the forum especially behind the scenes and so we are not going to have a "free for all" period.

Sorry Keef, probably bad timing but we had another legal threat yesterday, we get them every now and then but we do not bother telling everyone so that they carry on using the site unhindered.

I agree with Mockney's point that it is pretty self moderation but I would emphasise "pretty", without moderation it would go terribly wrong. I would rather close it down than run it unmoderated.

[Brendan]

Keef Wrote:

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... when the cats had returned...

Dude if all the cats returned this forum would immediately lose half its traffic.

[Keef]

Fair enough, I obviously don't know all the stuff that goes on behind the scenes, especially with regards to legal issues. It's your baby admin, and a good one, for which I for one an gratefull. Just thought it would be interesting, and still do, but I guess interesting isn't always wise.

[Keef]

Brendan Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Keef Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> ... when the cats had returned...

>

> Dude if all the cats returned this forum would

> immediately lose half its traffic.

LOL!

[citizenED]

Keef, have you ever read "Lord of the Flies"?

Your experiment might have thrown up some interesting exchanges, some laughs and thrills but I get Admins point.

[Siduhe]

It's an interesting one. I help moderate a fairly active board on an entirely different kind of forum (and under a different username). Much like this board, I would guess, we've had to move from a very light touch/self-moderating approach to a much more rules-based one in the last couple of years.

I'm not sure if it's as a result of the subject matter of that board becoming much more popular and less niche, uptake in using the internet as an information and sharing resource or just a general breakdown of manners and netiquette (more likely a result of all of the above), but we've found the only thing that works is to apply the rules consistently and without deviation.

The flame wars are actually fairly easy to deal with (and we have our own version of the Register's Flame of the Week award for whichever mod gets a particularly outstanding post or PM in response to moderation). Much more difficult are the businesses who threaten legal action against the board administrators whenever anything critical is posted, sometimes with total justification but often not.

There was a situation last year (not on the board I am involved with) where an admin edited a post rather than removed it entirely so the flame element was removed but a basic criticism remained, despite various legal letters from the organisation referenced. Their response was to go to the ISP directly and threaten legal action, so the entire board was taken down for over three weeks. Hardly a proportionate response, but very effective.

[Jamma]

Is there anything to stop the admins publicising legal threats?

I mean if something is said on here, the business or person about whom it is said threatens legal action then we users can refer to the original thread and decide if they are right to take offence or if they are just being twats. What I'm getting at is that it might limit the amount of legal threats if businesses thought that they'd end up looking a bit silly and precious?

Or do legal threats have to be kept quiet? I'm not a lawyer.

[Administrator]

They do not have to be kept quiet but in the interest of keeping the peace they are usually not disclosed. If the business was being a right cunt though it would be published (as long as it was beneficial for the forum to do so).

[Ladymuck]

Administrator Wrote:

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I

> would rather close it down than run it

> unmoderated.

Oh NO! It was BAD enough earlier today with the temporary shutdown - I actually shrieked on the realisation that the Forum was unaccessable (as does Homer Simpson when he finds there's no beer in the fridge, or when his TV breaks down!). Sad - but true.

Although I get more than miffed when Admin. delete my sometimes overly blunt or vulgar posts (and there have been a few of those!), I do believe that, all in all, they do a great job. The Forum is a fabulous resource, not to mention an excellent source of entertainment. I've had FAR more laughs off this Forum than from the TV! There are some real characters out there. And I can join in (provided I'm not too crude of course!)! It's wonderful. I, for one, would not like to see it closed down.

BTW, I like the new sections - great idea...but next time you decide to shut the Forum down, would you be so kind as to give us prior notice!;-)

Thanks.

LM

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

LM, there was a notice in bold red at the top of the page from yesterday morning warning of a shut down at 9pm. How much more notice do you need?

[Ladymuck]

Peckhamgatecrasher Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> LM, there was a notice in bold red at the top of

> the page from yesterday morning warning of a shut

> down at 9pm. How much more notice do you need?

Oh my goodness, was there really?:-$ The words "blind" and "bat" spring to mind as well as perhaps "thick" and "two planks".

Thanks for pointing this out PGC. Sorry Admin. I shall crawl away in embarrassment....

[louisiana]

Administrator Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> No chance. People have been banned and told off

> for a reason and their bans/confinements will not

> be lifted for an "experiment". The only people who

> have questioned bans are those that have been

> banned; they broke the rules, they were banned or

> confined to the Lounge.

>

> East Dulwich specific posts should be in the ED

> Issues/gossip section.

>

> This is meant to be a fun and useful site and

> myself and moderators find it easier to moderate

> when trouble makers are not around, obvious

> really. A lot of hard work has gone into the forum

> especially behind the scenes and so we are not

> going to have a "free for all" period.

>

> Sorry Keef, probably bad timing but we had another

> legal threat yesterday, we get them every now and

> then but we do not bother telling everyone so that

> they carry on using the site unhindered.

>

> I agree with Mockney's point that it is pretty

> self moderation but I would emphasise "pretty",

> without moderation it would go terribly wrong. I

> would rather close it down than run it

> unmoderated.

Admin, do feel free to get in touch off list if you ever feel the need to chat legal with lawyers over an issue. We have a lawyer 'list' packed full of expertise on free speech, Internet, copyright, 'ISP'/service provider legal responsibilities, and all that jazz. (Though I hope, of course, it never comes to that.)

[Administrator]

Thanks you louisiana, that really is appreciated