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Click to scroll to commentary.
Posted on 02/26/2002 3:37 PM PST by Admin Moderator
Hi.
A few of us moderators were discussing things and thought that there might be some value in doing some FAB "moderation by proxy".
Here is what several of us moderators are going to do for a while (how long will depend on many things, including Jim's patience, how much work it ends up being, and other factors).
When an abuse report comes in, we will copy it and post it here on this thread with a link to the thread in question. We will let the FAB decide. Obviously, there will be cases where there are differences of opinions, so we will play it by ear on how to handle it.
I am not sure all moderators will be participating though, so this may be an on-and-off type of thing for a while.
1 posted on 02/26/2002 3:37 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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The rationale behind this is twofold. First, it will give you all an idea of what we are doing lately, and second it will give us some feedback as to the collective thoughts of the FAB on how to handle certain things.
2 posted on 02/26/2002 3:39 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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I admire the motive behind your effort but feel you may pay a heavy price for opening up the process. It seems that just about everyone has a different view of what constitutes a removable post.
I don't want you to think that I don't support what you're trying to do, but it may create more problems for you than eliminate them.
I wish you well for the project.
3 posted on 02/26/2002 3:41 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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"Regarding #2 Please remove #2 because of its inflammatory content. Saying that anyone who argues on behalf of secession solely out of racism, and is no better than those who deny the Holocaust, has no place on a forum dedicated to the open and honest discussion of political ideas. Thank you."
4 posted on 02/26/2002 3:44 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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I would be really interested in this idea and I think it shows good will on your part. Since I hear quite a bit from the "victims" of moderation, I would love to get a better sense of what is going on.
I understand you all have a tremendous job and every request I have made of you has been handled promptly. So my thanks to you for that!
I like your idea and it would really help people get a feel for what you go through.
5 posted on 02/26/2002 3:45 PM PST by diotima
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D1- if it opens some eyes, then it will be worth it. And if we mods learn something, then it will be worth it.
Only if no one learns anything will it be a failure.
6 posted on 02/26/2002 3:45 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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Same thread as above:
"I demand this post be removed for comparing me to those who deny the holocaust. I do not condone being called a racist...this is slander."
7 posted on 02/26/2002 3:46 PM PST by Jim Robinson
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Seriously, I'd ask for a big fat salary for putting up with some of this stuff.
Are you allowed to repond with "Grow up!"? or is that a no-no?
8 posted on 02/26/2002 3:46 PM PST by diotima
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Same thread as above, two more complaints:
"Regarding #2 "To me the NeoRebs are no better morally than Holocaust deniers, racists hiding their racism behind psuedo scholarship."andComments like this have no place on a forum dedicated to the open and honest discussion of political ideas. I find it insulting to be called a racist.
Regarding #2The person does not wish to engage in debate, only debasement of honorable Southern folks.
9 posted on 02/26/2002 3:47 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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Same thread:
"Anyone who defends Lee, Davis and anyone who took up arms against the best government yet devised to defend slavery, of all things IS a cretin, traitor or dishonest. This is personal attacks. This poster needs to be banned from this board for his slanderous attacks."
10 posted on 02/26/2002 3:47 PM PST by Jim Robinson
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Can't these people just argue with the person who made the statement? The only one that looks foolish when a statement is made is the person who made the statement.
Oy Vey!
11 posted on 02/26/2002 3:48 PM PST by diotima
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Thanks. On your first example, I get so tired of Hiter, Nazi, Holocast and "he's a racist" labels. Isn't there another card people could turn to for a few months? Sheesh. As far as I am concerned, unless the tie-in is rock solid I'd remove each reply with these words or phrases in them.
12 posted on 02/26/2002 3:48 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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Another one from the same thread. Doesn't say what comment it is about
Accusing someone of slander..post needs to be removed and the poster banned from the board.(This will come fast at the start because things are backed up a bit. When I get caught up you will get a better feel for how fast they normally come in)
13 posted on 02/26/2002 3:49 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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Actually, that's a pretty tame response IMO.
14 posted on 02/26/2002 3:51 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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What? And set off yet another round of "Why does Free Republic censor everything?"
15 posted on 02/26/2002 3:51 PM PST by Jim Robinson
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Two more from this thread (then I will move on to the next one, and come back to see what opinions have been levied after I post that thread's). Again, the user did not say what number the complaint is about:
Anyone who defends Lee, Davis and anyone who took up arms against the best government yet devised to defend slavery, of all things IS a cretin, traitor or dishonest.AndThis is personal attacks. This poster needs to be banned from this board for his slanderous attacks.
Regarding #108A privileged pea-brain like you would never come close to understanding a man like Lincoln, nor come close to being in his class.
Sounds like a personal attack to me. Need to ban this poster forever.
16 posted on 02/26/2002 3:52 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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Are you allowed to repond with "Grow up!"? or is that a no-no?
For the most part, we have no idea who makes the abuse report. The screen name does not come to us in the abuse report, so unless someone identifies themselves, they are anonymous to us.
We frequently respond silently with a 'Grow up!"
17 posted on 02/26/2002 3:52 PM PST by Sidebar Moderator
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"Comments like this have no place on a forum dedicated to the open and honest discussion of political ideas. "
Hmm... having an open and honest discussion while at the same time asking this stuff get pulled? I mean the original statement was idiotic, but not against forum rules.
18 posted on 02/26/2002 3:53 PM PST by diotima
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You mean this?
Why does FR censor everything? It used to be great reading..
19 posted on 02/26/2002 3:53 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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LOL - I had no idea these complaints were so hilarious. I don't envy you folks at all.
(In the spirit of full disclosure, I have hit the abuse button [shouldn't it be called the "abuse link"?] on occasion, but only on overtly racist posts or where violence against another freeper is suggested.)
20 posted on 02/26/2002 3:54 PM PST by Senator Pardek
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Regarding #119 This 6 week old FReeper just used the phrase "QUEER ACCEPTING RINO."I think that is against the rules, or ought to be since such posts will embarrass FR in most other forums.
21 posted on 02/26/2002 3:54 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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Glad to hear it! I will buy you a drink.
I would snap.
22 posted on 02/26/2002 3:55 PM PST by diotima
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Just call me son of JR. The Jihad is on... heh heh heh.
23 posted on 02/26/2002 3:55 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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Geeee....back to the "cater to me vanity threads"...
24 posted on 02/26/2002 3:56 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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Geeee....back to the "cater to me vanity threads"...Looks like the same request, but it is on a different thread.
25 posted on 02/26/2002 3:57 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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In all fairness, the reasonable people such as yourself and most FAB usually post their screen names. I would have to guess that 90% of the complaints come from 10% of the posters. (modifying the 80-20 rule) And 90% of the complainers do not post their screen names.
26 posted on 02/26/2002 3:57 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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Please. This is a little, innocent four-year-old child. Some of the comments on this thread are just stomach-turning.Won't you please consider pulling it?
27 posted on 02/26/2002 3:58 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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STUPID thread.
28 posted on 02/26/2002 4:00 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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I mean the original statement was idiotic, but not against forum rules.
It was directed at the original article if I remember correctly. But the statement sets the foundation for anyone supporting the article to be deemed a holacost denier. That's not exactly a good start on a thread. It's sure to go downhill due to being sabotaged from the get go.
29 posted on 02/26/2002 4:00 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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Regarding #23 Breaking news vanity/opinion
30 posted on 02/26/2002 4:01 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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I vote we ignore them and hope they go away. Seriously, can you knock the thread off Latest Posts so no one can see it exists? I'll write the code if necessary.
31 posted on 02/26/2002 4:01 PM PST by AppyPappy
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I think it would be a great idea for you guys to post a "Day in the Life" sort of thread -- using real examples and a clocked-in tally of the calls you answer -- so as to illustrate for everyone what a thankless, time-consuming and frustrating job yours is.
But ... I don't think there's any point to discussing what FAB or anyone else thinks of individual posts, packs of posters (like my deleted ZION_IST inquiries) or certain subjects (like the War Between the States) ... UNLESS AND UNTIL you all are contemplating a change to the Rules on which you'll premise the editing and yanking of threads.
You're never going to please anyone. The only person you need please is Jim Robinson.
And please don't flatter the FAB by intimating we've got more weight or power than we do. We're just a microcosm of the forum here to give our opinions in a -- hopefully -- less rancourous and rambunctious slice of the Forum.
I think the last thing you want to do is open up the potential for a Solid Consensus on the FAB that's going to be overridden anyway for purposes we may or may not understand.
32 posted on 02/26/2002 4:03 PM PST by Askel5
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Regarding #4Openly encourages violence.
33 posted on 02/26/2002 4:03 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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Agreed. There is a real dilemma here. Because of the sheer stupidity of the first comment, instead of discussion about the article, there is going to be a flame war. So do you pull the comment to avoid the flame war?
Th comment made was no doubt a stupid one, but do you have a policy to cut out all stupid comments on FR?
I don't envy the mod squad one bit.
34 posted on 02/26/2002 4:03 PM PST by diotima
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If we ignore we are damned. If we pull we are damned. We are seeking advice and guidance. What would you do if you were a moderator? How would you handle these complaints?
35 posted on 02/26/2002 4:04 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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Like an IQ test?
36 posted on 02/26/2002 4:05 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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Regarding #35 I meant for this to be a private reply - could you please delete it - I don't want a bunch of people rushing to this website and starting a fight with the wacko lefties over there. Sorry to trouble you.Poster signed his name, which I did not copy. I also took care of this one. Also, I pulled a Washington Post article and am not going to bother posting the AR over here.
37 posted on 02/26/2002 4:06 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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Did they reference the post that encourages violence? I didn't see it. Maybe I missed something....
38 posted on 02/26/2002 4:06 PM PST by diotima
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I think that photo of the kid tells a story. It's a powerful story. Most of the comments were rather tame I thought. Perhaps I missed the worst ones.
What is this kid, 4 or 5 years old?
This is a disgusting display of a nation commiting suicide on the backs of their children.
Can't argue with that.
39 posted on 02/26/2002 4:06 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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Sir, could you please bump this thread to the Front Page?
40 posted on 02/26/2002 4:06 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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If you do not see a post number, they did not leave it. Also, there is a tendency to post the wrong post number. Often we will get an AR on #214 and there are only 33 posts on the thread in question.
41 posted on 02/26/2002 4:07 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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My decision would be to leave it. It is a factual photo.
42 posted on 02/26/2002 4:08 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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Regarding #119 Do not believe that the 'Q' word belongs in FR, except maybe in quotation marks. Please tell me that I am correct.By the way, during this, you can call me Tim. Tim the Moderator.
43 posted on 02/26/2002 4:11 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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OK, I am caught up, so now they will come in as they come in. Tim.
44 posted on 02/26/2002 4:12 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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I worry about some of the authors of these complaints driving vehicles.....
Maybe it might be possible to put togther some guildlines for posting that are cumulative as possible. It might be a good project for FAB to work on and submit to Jim and you all for approval, modification etc.
I know Jim has posted the guidlines before, but now I think with the introduction of the moderators, people think they have a nanny to run to about anything that doesn't sit well.
Also, do you inform people why something they wrote was pulled? Or a thread they started was yanked? I realize that this would lead to a "tastes great/less filing" situation, but sometimes people have no idea they did anything wrong and won't do it again if they are told.
45 posted on 02/26/2002 4:14 PM PST by diotima
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LOL! Oh, how I pity you!
46 posted on 02/26/2002 4:16 PM PST by WillaJohns
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Nor do I. You've nailed the dilema. Hey moderator, fix it...
There! We can wash our hands... grin.
It's a tough call. We want the forum to be user friendly, then some guy comes along an introduces a charged statement like that, and it goes downhill.
In my opinion, there's simply going to have to be some level of discourse allowed on the forum. We try to encorage civility and proper behavior, but have to accept that the problem people will show up.
It's very frustrating to discuss issues on the forum. I try to keep to facts or my gut intuition on things, only to have someone trash me for "relying on feelings" or some other "leftist" throw out phrase. On certain topics attempts to draw out the issues are considered anti-military or offensive to what some posters consider the main-stream thought on whatever the issue is. Then heaven help you.
I've learned to weather the attacks. But I am very uncomfortable at the treatment newbies get. For a while there anybody here less than six months was attacked without mercy. That's pretty tough to watch when you want new people to show up.
47 posted on 02/26/2002 4:16 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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Seriously Willa, these people need a GROUP HUG.
48 posted on 02/26/2002 4:16 PM PST by diotima
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On your first example, I get so tired of Hiter, Nazi, Holocast and "he's a racist" labels. Isn't there another card people could turn to for a few months? Sheesh. As far as I am concerned, unless the tie-in is rock solid I'd remove each reply with these words or phrases in them.Is that a pull? Final answer? Tim
49 posted on 02/26/2002 4:18 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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Thanks Tim. I don't think the Q term belongs here. All it does is make us look like a bunch of red-necks. Whether we approve of that lifestyle or not, there are better ways to address the issue.
50 posted on 02/26/2002 4:18 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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This is not Tim. If you want, I'll take whatever name you give me. We do have a 'reliability' rating we can adjust for posters. If someone is a habitual abuse abuse reporter, we can lower their reliability rating. If that score is lower than -10, we can ignore those AR's. There are only a couple posters who fall into that catagory.
51 posted on 02/26/2002 4:19 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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I have a request then. I would pull the word queer, I do not like that word at all HOWEVER, you should make an announcement to the forum saying "Use of the word Queer will result in your post getting pulled" that way, no surprised.
52 posted on 02/26/2002 4:21 PM PST by diotima
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While I like the idea of not knowing who's making the complaint, it sure could help the moderators at times. Let's face it, we have our share of trouble makers. Knowing the name could save the moderator a lot of time.
Still, I think not knowing the name is best. It facilitates impartiality. (That's why I always give my name. LOL)
53 posted on 02/26/2002 4:21 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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Dell Computer Anti-Gun?
Article Pulled
Two copies of this running already... pulled will notify poster...
54 posted on 02/26/2002 4:21 PM PST by Sidebar Moderator
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Also, do you inform people why something they wrote was pulled?
Sometimes. It depends on who, what, why, how busy we are in real life, and any number of factors. In general, we do not inform someone why a comment was pulled. Threads, if we don't think it is obvious as to why, we will generally write.
Please note something. Normally we are logged in to our normal accounts. Whenever we want to "speak" as moderator, we have to log in to the moderator account, and then send it, and then log back into our regular accounts to do whatever we were doing before. It is a royal pain. Tim.
55 posted on 02/26/2002 4:22 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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Hi NotTim, do you only respond to abuse requests, or do you wander around looking at stuff too?
56 posted on 02/26/2002 4:24 PM PST by diotima
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I try to list my complaint using the phrase, "Please take a look, and if you agree delete the post." I know that the moderators are not always going to see things the way I do. Nearly always they delete, but once in a while one stays up. As long as we're reviewing and making a decision on the potential problems, I think we're doing about all we can.
57 posted on 02/26/2002 4:24 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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I imagine it is a pain. I just ask because sometimes it helps to tell people however, I realize that this is difficult because of time constraints.
58 posted on 02/26/2002 4:25 PM PST by diotima
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What is tough, is that sometimes I don't find the third post of an article until there are twenty to thirty responses. At that point you hate to ask to have the article deleted. I know we can freeze a thread though.
I can't for the life of me figure out why people continue to make double or triple posts. I've never scanned for a key word in the title and missed a prior post.
59 posted on 02/26/2002 4:26 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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Wander around? No. We just physically do not have the time. If something catches our eye, we will post on the moderator reports a "watch this thread" or "watch this newbie". We do not make a practice of watching something unless we are notified of it or it is something we happen to see. That is why you may wonder, "Why didn't the moderator see this?" It's not because we are ignoring, we just don't know.
60 posted on 02/26/2002 4:28 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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I'm curious. What's the difference between an Admin Moderator and a Sidebar Moderator? Two stripes?
61 posted on 02/26/2002 4:28 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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"I have a request then. I would pull the word queer, I do not like that word at all HOWEVER, you should make an announcement to the forum saying "Use of the word Queer will result in your post getting pulled" that way, no surprised."
OK, that is what I will do. I will pull post 119 from that thread, and post a comment to that thread that says: "Use of the word Queer will result in your post getting pulled".
Done. Here it is.
62 posted on 02/26/2002 4:29 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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We try to get the duplicate posts deleted quickly. Sometimes, if time permits, we'll lock the newest one and point posters back to the original.
With so many newbies here, we've given up trying to eliminate duplicates, but rather limit how many get posted in a short period. We'll usually leave a duplicate up if the prior one is 8 hours or so older.
We had a lot of feedback that not everyone follows FR all day and that they don't have time to go back and look at every article. So.... we sort of compromised
63 posted on 02/26/2002 4:30 PM PST by Sidebar Moderator
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Actually I tell people this when they complain about some stuff not getting attention. I tell them to hit abuse or the moderators don't know. I didn't think you "go on the hunt" or anything but went mostly by abuse reports.
64 posted on 02/26/2002 4:30 PM PST by diotima
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I want to add something here. I am not acting on any of these unless someone here makes a call on it.
That way, you can get an idea of the fact that there is some pressure involved in making decisions. If I am here and I don't make a decision, I have no idea how long it will remain before someone does.
Just trying to give you all a feel for it.
Tim
65 posted on 02/26/2002 4:33 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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I've been on FR since 2/98 and have hit the abuse button one time.
Part is my belief in freedom of speech and second, I don't have time to play in flame wars.
My two cents re: your examples above.
Most are petty and not within the three JimRob rules. This means that some people just like to "abuse the abuse button"
Perhaps, some consideration should be given to the mandatory use of one's screen name in an abuse report. This should eliminate most of the frivalous abuse reports.
There are freepers who crave constant attention (yes, we know who they are and I'm not volunteering that info!) These folks think they are "mini JimRobs" and care so much for FR that they hit the abuse button very often. So of these folks have proudly mentioned this in their postings.
As to your idea, I say give it a try. It can't hurt. It may help.
I too am of the opinion that there is too much moderatin goin on!
Lately, I have had the thought process of just lurking and not replying as the tread may be pulled. In that case, I have wasted the precious, little time that I have to freep these days - so why should I spend it typing. I'll just skim read and go.
I don't like that thought process creeping into my mind.
I wonder how many other Freepers are having similar thoughts.
IMHO, more than we would like to!
66 posted on 02/26/2002 4:33 PM PST by Seeking the truth
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Dio, here's the post that "incites violence:"
--even though I am usually on the side of law anda order, due process and so forth, it wouldn't hurt my feelings if the fathers and brothers of the girls would give this young "man" an 1860's style tarring and feathering, riding out of town on a rail, and let him know that he should be out of the county by sundown--
Stop me before I tar and feather Henry Waxman! It's not my fault, I was "incited." (Dio, You can ride him out of town on a rail.)
67 posted on 02/26/2002 4:34 PM PST by WillaJohns
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Yes I've seen that be a problem for some people. There's also the occasional thread that went south, that you'd like to seen started over in the hopes that a higher level of discussion could take place.
68 posted on 02/26/2002 4:35 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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I have a question about this one. Is there a policy you guys follow about what is/is not breaking news? For instance, while this is interesting I don't think this is "breaking" news which I consider to be "Airplanes headed toward WhiteHouse NOW" or something immediately happening....
69 posted on 02/26/2002 4:37 PM PST by diotima
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This is not Tim. Since we have a male name, I'll take a female name. Call me Sandy. I'm the same one that's been here since the start. Diotima asked me a question as NotTim.
Using John's new search feature, search for an article using the title. Use keywords from the article, NOT THE SUBJECT. So if you are searching for a NY times thread titled "Hillary received donations from Enron for her campaign", I'd use Hillary, enron and campaign. That's a sure hit. I made up that title, you won't find it. It's useful when searching for something you don't quite know. Let's say you want to find an Anthrax article related to Dashcle. Use Anthrax and Dashcle. Remember, search only searches titles. That is why we are nutz about correct titles. It really is lousy if someone in good faith posts an article only to find out so and so posted the same thread 5 minutes earlier with a 'My Title' title.
Please pass these tips to others.
Sandy
70 posted on 02/26/2002 4:37 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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Tar and feather Henry? Stop inciting violence. LOL.
I think inciting violence is more along the lines of "Lets take our guns and find this guy and kill him!"
But not tar and feathering...
71 posted on 02/26/2002 4:39 PM PST by diotima
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Our policy is our own judgement. Some of us pay more attention to that than others. I am horrible at it. The Sidebar Moderator who passed by before is exceptional at that, when around.
D1: The difference is that AMs have the power to ban (and nuke newer people). The names are antiquated. Tim
72 posted on 02/26/2002 4:40 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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I disagree, Diotime. It should not matter whether you like the word or not. The point is that queers do refer to themselves as "queers".
Queer Nation??????
Queer Theory????? This may be taught in the same university that you teach/taught.
Every public parade has many signs with "Queer" in prominence.
Once you go down that road as to certain words, we become like the main stream media. They have lists also.
Who makes these word lists? Do we vote on it? Does one person's personal discomfit or distaste stop a thread? stop a reply?
Who is going to publish and maintain the every changing lexicon of approved or unapproved or pending in or out ?
How about gay? How about homophobic? I don't like that word. Can I get that word banned on FR?
73 posted on 02/26/2002 4:42 PM PST by Seeking the truth
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Now that would be a queer rule.
74 posted on 02/26/2002 4:42 PM PST by Jim Robinson
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LOL! We just don't have time to do that, and really we don't want to hunt. We want to freep. There are occasions where a poster will give us reason to investigate, but it's not a 'we're out to get you thing'. All we are trying to do is get the blantant crap off and present FR as an acceptable mainstream conservative media alternative.
Sandy (good generac male/female name, ya think?)
75 posted on 02/26/2002 4:44 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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Can't something be placed on the "post page" that suggests that one should do a title search before hitting the post button (yes, the "post button" is an actual button, unlike the abuse button, which is merely a link)?
76 posted on 02/26/2002 4:44 PM PST by Senator Pardek
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That is, of course, not inciting violence.
It seems to me that we never really had this problem until the arrival of the abuse button!
77 posted on 02/26/2002 4:45 PM PST by Seeking the truth
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The sidebar calls are not to difficult, but there are some 'iffy' calls.
Breaking news is just that. Brand new important news. Jim also prefers we leave activism reports there and we'll usually leave the 'Heads up, Ann Coulter's on Hannity' threads for the duration of whatever show is on.
Planes headed to the White House will usually stay until they're either discounted or proven.
Front Page is just that. Would the story be on the front page of a major paper?
Editorial is for published editorials or darn good Freeper generated editorials.
Extended News is follow up type stuff.
John modified the sidebar editting tools a while ago and they're not quite as easy to use as they used to be, hence we don't move things around quite as much lately
78 posted on 02/26/2002 4:45 PM PST by Sidebar Moderator
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There are times when I feel that way, but it's mostly due to the feeling that what I'm reading has veered into territory that I consider to be borderline. If it's getting close to over the line with racism, language or insults, I'll sometimes review rather than post.
My guidelines for abuse are direct insults involving racism, vulgarity or violence. I will also report certain words that are unacceptable in public. The F word, the Q word or words that are so over the top that just about anyone would realize the need to remove it.
I may hit the abuse button three or four times in a night, then not hit it again for six weeks. It just depends what I stumble across.
Flame wars don't bother me as long as the perps are staying within limits. Even if they go a bit over the line, I move on if it hasn't gone beyond what I mentioned above.
I've tried to mellow out my own sharp barbs. When people attack I try to respond to the meat of the issue and let the other part slide. I've had to accept the fact that I've had to leave a discussion with the other guy calling me Hitler without a response, but then anyone that does that has basicly trashed himself anyway. Those that don't see that aren't worthy me trying to convince otherwise.
79 posted on 02/26/2002 4:46 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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NEW AR
Regarding #9 Here we start to go down the slippery slope towards Mormon bashing. The name of the church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I object when other Christians refuse to accept us as Christians. I allow them to claim Christianty although I could call them follwers of Luther, John the Baptist, etc. I am not proud of this particular historical event--whether or not Brigham Young was actively involved. I still don't think it justifies Mormon bashing.
80 posted on 02/26/2002 4:46 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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Why not go by the name Pat? Remember the androgenous (sp?) character on SNL?
81 posted on 02/26/2002 4:46 PM PST by Seeking the truth
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I didn't think that should be pulled because I don't like the word. Since FR is not QueerNation nor does it share a common membership, the use of the word Queer is not used in a positive sense. (When I took gay sensitivity training, I learned that only gay people can use the word Queer. Straight people using it = hate speech) Of course this is garbage but nevertheless....
Here is the converse: How about the word "Nigger"? They call themselves this adjective, but if a white person does it is racism.
Do you see the situation?
82 posted on 02/26/2002 4:48 PM PST by diotima
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Not to mention that Sandy's gonna have a fit.
83 posted on 02/26/2002 4:48 PM PST by Senator Pardek
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Changes like that, you have to ask JohnRob about.
Tim
84 posted on 02/26/2002 4:48 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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STT, we can relate. The simple fact is this is not a 2000 person forum with 600 active participants. There are almost 80,000 registered users and growing! Do you think every single user is a polite conservative poster with debate skills and decorum? We have reached a point where if we don't moderate, the VRWC will be the norm. Everyone here knows someone who is more conservative than they are. In their minds, you are really liberal... Take my brother. Please...
Sandy
85 posted on 02/26/2002 4:49 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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Believe me, I try to pass those tips on. 99% of the time the person responds with, "I tried that." You know they didn't, but what can you say.
86 posted on 02/26/2002 4:49 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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Thank you.
87 posted on 02/26/2002 4:50 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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By the way, if you ask me my opinion, I will probably give it (if I am around at the moment). Tim
88 posted on 02/26/2002 4:53 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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Since every one else has a name, I'll go by 'Red'
89 posted on 02/26/2002 4:54 PM PST by Sidebar Moderator
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I would change the code to make them disappear from Latest Posts.
I would probably only delete in cases of violence, anti-semiticism or racism. If people want to have a flame war, let them.
90 posted on 02/26/2002 4:54 PM PST by AppyPappy
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NEW AR
Regarding #155, constant hurling if insults.
91 posted on 02/26/2002 4:54 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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I have to go provide witty banter to Bob's "Johnny Carson" on RadioFR. I will be reading and watching here and posting if I can.
I will "Shout out some "props" to the Mods for their hard work and unbelievable patience." (just kidding)
92 posted on 02/26/2002 4:55 PM PST by diotima
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Tar and feather Henry? Stop inciting violence. LOL
I thought to qualify for tarring and feathering you had to advocate not tarring and feathering Mr. Waxman.
I guess I'm confused.
Moderators- I do not envy the job you guys have. And you are all doing a fine job. There maybe are too many posts pulled, but I guess I look at the increase in pulled posts as an unavoidable measure of FR's success. When something gets pulled, I may not understand why, but I do understand that you are all doing what you think is best for the forum.
93 posted on 02/26/2002 4:55 PM PST by abner
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This may have been answered, and I considered notposting because I have not read the entire thread, but I believe is beneficial for you to see the various sides of the moderators.
Breaking News (BN) is reserved for activism and issues that affect our country, USA. A killing in Africa or Kansas (unless sensitionalized by the media) is not breaking news. I believe BN is for US issues that affect the US directly. Everything else is Front Page (FP) or Extended (EN).
94 posted on 02/26/2002 4:57 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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STT, you raise an interesting point. On the forum we wouldn't allow the word "n-gg-r" (sp?), however blacks use the term all the time. Perhaps the use of the word Qu--r can best be understood under those terms.
Each time we protest I do my darndest to turn people on to FreeRepublic. I would hate to have one of them enter their first thread only to read a post like this, "Did you hear about the three queers beaten up in Milwakee? One queer wound up dying and the other two queers are in serious condition."
Perhaps this is my failing, but I don't want this place so offensive that newbees will exit without knowing what we're all about due to some thoughtless post.
95 posted on 02/26/2002 4:59 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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What many of you may not realize is that John has provided us with a log file that lists all of the Abuse Reports (AR's) and it is also a place we can communicate with each other.
We constantly use this log to question our own and each other's actions and Jim frequently jumps in with his opinion and guidance.
We all take this seriously and depend on each other to help us with questionable calls.
Red
96 posted on 02/26/2002 4:59 PM PST by Sidebar Moderator
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That's a rather queer way of handling that. My brother is gay and he uses the word "queer". I'd rather see "queer" than sodomite or the other derivatives.
97 posted on 02/26/2002 4:59 PM PST by AppyPappy
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lol
I just did what they suggested.
Unless asked, I am not injecting my opinion into this. Tim
98 posted on 02/26/2002 5:03 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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I read the entire Mormon thread and there is nothing to be removed IMO, including #9. Stupid things should be left unless the poster just takes over the thread. In fact, the stupid comments are sometimes the best part of a thread.
Would you even consider deleting #9?
99 posted on 02/26/2002 5:05 PM PST by WillaJohns
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Another thing which should be noted. Jim has not abandoned monitoring the forum. He will delete threads, replies and ban users just as he always has. The difference is that we're the only ones aware of it when he does.
100 posted on 02/26/2002 5:05 PM PST by Sidebar Moderator
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NEW AR
Regarding #71this post implies that the US and Israel conspired to kill Pearl in order to "draw the US into a wider war." Abuse? You decide.
101 posted on 02/26/2002 5:06 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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I was shocked in my "gay sensitivity" training to learn that the official position for the use of the word "Queer" is that one must be gay to use it. I think this is idiocy, however, if we will be painted as "hate-mongers" for using it, we should just avoid it. (This is just my opinion) Either way, whatever the decision is to use or not use the Q word or N word it should be consistent, either everyone can use it or no one.
Your gay brother in law gets a pass because he is gay. Same with the N word. Again, JMHO.
102 posted on 02/26/2002 5:06 PM PST by diotima
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Tim the Moderator says no.
103 posted on 02/26/2002 5:08 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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While I think "incredible moron" does cross the line, being called a racist is also a crossing of the line. The illegal immigration threads get pretty heated. Those who demand an end to it are deemed racists in some quarters. And there are times when it's hard to argue against illegal immigration with addressing some pretty tough issues which do push some buttons. It's hard not to react when you're being compared to Hitler, called a racist and told that you hate Mexicans Cubans and anyone who is brown. As I said, it's a tough issue. But it is an important one.
104 posted on 02/26/2002 5:08 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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AR
Regarding #1taken from a whacko anti-Semitic website
105 posted on 02/26/2002 5:10 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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this post implies that the US and Israel conspired to kill Pearl in order to "draw the US into a wider war." Abuse? You decide.
Well this seems to be more a "stupid" comment than an abusive one.
106 posted on 02/26/2002 5:10 PM PST by diotima
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taken from a whacko anti-Semitic website
Yes but we post all kinds of liberal trash here to rip up. IMHO, better to let this stuff get ripped to shreds than pull it. Voz De Aztlan, eh? Glad I don't subscribe.
107 posted on 02/26/2002 5:12 PM PST by diotima
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LOL! Let's not confuse it (but SNL was funny!). I'll be Sandy. A good non gender name.
Sandy
108 posted on 02/26/2002 5:13 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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The picture is bad enough, but some of the comments are below the mentality of most Freepers, IMO.
109 posted on 02/26/2002 5:13 PM PST by dixie sass
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Hey! Let's not start a flame war over names. :-) Sandy
110 posted on 02/26/2002 5:14 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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I am not offering any opinion on this, but I do have a question about that site.
It is a site that appears to be for Mexican supremecists.
Why isn't it in Spanish? Why doesn't it even have a Spanish translation?
Just a question to ponder. Tim
111 posted on 02/26/2002 5:15 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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So far, judging from the abuse reports posted on this thread, most of the reports can safely be ignored, don't you think?
Red, Tim, Sandy/Pat, you are doing yoeman's work here. I had no idea what you go through. And even though IMO most abuse reports can be ignored, they've still got to be opened, read, then you've got to check out the thread. What a job! I think I'm going to give you all a raise. Would doubling your salary be in order?
Let's see, 2 X $0 = $0
: - )
Thank you, Tim, Pat/Sandy, and Red, for what you are doing to make FR the BEST DARN WEBSITE ON THE WHOLE WIDE WEB!
112 posted on 02/26/2002 5:16 PM PST by WillaJohns
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In my opinion that post makes a pretty large leap of faith. It doesn't bother me because it's some guy's opinion. I would hope the next poster calls him on it, but that's about all I'd do. Let the loose wingnut make his statement. Generally they get shot down. I don't attack these types of guys, but I do ask them for their source. That generally reveals their motives. I try not to allow a statement like that to be made without some challenge.
113 posted on 02/26/2002 5:16 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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NEW AR
Regarding #1 pull thread
114 posted on 02/26/2002 5:18 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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I am not acting on any of these unless someone here makes a call on it.
Yeah, I came to this thread late, but if it were my call (up to #68) I'd leave everything. Stupidity isn't the same as abuse.
Everyone's right, though, this stuff is mostly just childish.
More power to you. What a headache! I had no idea...
115 posted on 02/26/2002 5:18 PM PST by M. Thatcher
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I'll second that.
116 posted on 02/26/2002 5:18 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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Brilliant decision--it exactly coincides with my own.
Damn I'm funny.
117 posted on 02/26/2002 5:19 PM PST by WillaJohns
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LOL. I can relate.
"I just posted, what more do you expect of me?" My thoughts: Hey, it's the 21st century, you found this site, you are computer savvy enough to get here, you should be computer savvy enough to do a simple search. Alas, it's a dream.......
118 posted on 02/26/2002 5:20 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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Its best not to pull if you can help it. I think its better to let people rip it to shreads, freepers do that well.
119 posted on 02/26/2002 5:22 PM PST by diotima
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NEW AR
Regarding #1 Voice of Aztlan nutcase story. Please save bandwidth and delete it.
120 posted on 02/26/2002 5:22 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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This site is quite anti-Israel. It's quite anti-US as well. That's okay if it doesn't cross the line. Some of their articles clearly cross the line IMO. If I were you, I'd read it and make a judgement. I'm not going to dump an article just because it comes from a terrible site, but it would influence my decision.
I'll read it and come back.
121 posted on 02/26/2002 5:23 PM PST by DoughtyOne
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The ones that get me are the duplicates of stories that are already in the Breaking or FrontPage sidebars.... and they tell you they searched too.
122 posted on 02/26/2002 5:23 PM PST by Sidebar Moderator
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Ron, I disagree with you here. I don't think "incredible moron" crosses the line. "Ugly retarded moron" IS unacceptable in my book, however.
123 posted on 02/26/2002 5:23 PM PST by WillaJohns
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NEW AR
Regarding #24 So, you can give Luis a time out for a flame war, and allow this guy to take cheap shots at him while he's gone?Luis has a lot of friends in the forum, should I round them up?
124 posted on 02/26/2002 5:24 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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The underlying factor when we pull any post is how would this post be viewed by the general public. You have to remember, FR is a huge force in the conservative movement. Do we want FR to be wacko or fringe? Or do you want FR to be THE mainstream alternative? Remember, we are fighting liberals.
125 posted on 02/26/2002 5:26 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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