fyi- Thread level banning tool is now implemented

Sean · Oct 13, 2006

Hi All,

We now have a new tool for forum moderation which allows us to ban specific members from specific threads. I'm sure we've all seen when such a tool could be useful.. for example someone is baiting or trolling people in a thread and trying to derail the thread. Two or Three individuals get into a power struggle in the middle of a thread discussion which then derails the thread. We can now put a stop to this and keep threads on track. This is quite a powerful tool and I've discussed with the moderation team that it should be used as a last resort. It is for those situations when good threads go horribly wrong due to one or two individuals. We can now remove them from the situation and allow other thread participants to continue enjoying the thread.

Thanks,
Sean

P.S. if you feel someone should be removed from a thread use the 'report post' button located in the thread postings. Then tell us why we should consider it.

Sanjay Sen · Oct 13, 2006

Hi Sean,

I think this would be useful exactly for the reasons you mentioned! Thanks for all the work!

Regards,

jd callow · Oct 13, 2006

Sean said:
P.S. if you feel someone should be removed from a thread use the 'report post' button located in the thread postings. Then tell us why we should consider it.

and be quick about it! I can't wait to flex my new super powers

Dinesh · Oct 14, 2006

jd callow said:
and be quick about it! I can't wait to flex my new super powers

Hey, how about using those new powers to buy a comb!

jd callow · Oct 14, 2006

I don't think we'll be hearing from Dinesh any more...

Sanjay Sen · Oct 14, 2006

Dinesh said:
Hey, how about using those new powers to buy a comb!

I like those hairs flying all over! It's kinda cool. And the eyes! Oh, those eyes!!!

Jerevan · Oct 14, 2006

Yeah, a striking resemblance to Salvador Dali's unknown brother...

@Sean:

sounds good. Let's hope people behave. That's the best option, of course.

David Brown · Oct 14, 2006

jd callow said:
and be quick about it! I can't wait to flex my new super powers

I have this fantasy that the British Colonel from Monty Python will step into some threads* and stop them because they're just "silly".

* not this one, of course ...:rolleyes:

Black Dog · Oct 14, 2006

Silly threads? never heard of'em LMSO...

Gay Larson · Oct 14, 2006

I think there is a strong resemblance to Charles Manson!

Dave Parker · Oct 14, 2006

Gay Larson said:
I think there is a strong resemblance to Charles Manson!

Gay,

I would have to agree with you on this one!!!

LOL

Dave

Petzi · Oct 14, 2006

When I read a thread, do I know if someone has been banned from it?

Sean · Oct 14, 2006

Petzi said:
When I read a thread, do I know if someone has been banned from it?

No, there is no indicator..

Black Dog · Oct 14, 2006

If someone is banned from a thread when nobody is around, does it make a sound LOL? Seriously, though, isn't there a little 'deleted posts' icon next to the thread title?

MattCarey · Oct 14, 2006

Jerevan said:
Yeah, a striking resemblance to Salvador Dali's unknown brother...

Hmmm, I was thinking more of V.I. Lenin's grandson...

(Just adding to the existance proof that this tool is needed)

Matt

Andy K · Oct 14, 2006

Jerevan said:
Yeah, a striking resemblance to Salvador Dali's unknown brother...

That is the expression of a man whose finger just poked through the paper...

Good idea Sean. Too many good threads have been derailed.

Petzi · Oct 14, 2006

Sean said:
No, there is no indicator..

I think that's pretty bad, because that way it could be used for censorship. I know that former member Jorge has been banned from this site, and I know that Marko is on restricted access. I may or may not agree with these decisions, but at least I know what's going on. Nobody would know, however, if administrators abused the new facility to prevent certain members from voicing their opinion on certain topics.

Sean · Oct 14, 2006

Petzi said:
I think that's pretty bad, because that way it could be used for censorship. I know that former member Jorge has been banned from this site, and I know that Marko is on restricted access. Nobody would know, however, if administrators abused this facility to prevent certain members from voicing their opinion on certain topics.

All opinions are welcome. It's when those opinions are not opinions but are baiting, trolling and hostile comments specifically designed to derail a thread and upset people. The community has entrusted myself and the moderators to know when that happens and put a stop to it. I think we've earned a lot of trust in our judgments over the years. If our past actions cause you concern then feel free to contact me via PM and I can discuss the specifics on any of those situations -most of which are kept out of the public domain..

I am well aware how censorship can affect forum communities, it can literally kill a community. We try pretty hard not to touch the content but there is a specific atmosphere we try to maintain within apug and that is where the mod team and mod tools come into play..

Petzi · Oct 14, 2006

Sean said:
I think we've earned a lot of trust in our judgments over the years. If our past actions cause you concern then feel free to contact me via PM and I can discuss the specifics on any of those situations -most of which are kept out of the public domain..

There were indeed cases where I disagreed with the way you and other moderators handled certain threads. Beginning from now, I will have fewer opportunity to disagree, because I won't know when moderation bans certain members.

Andy K · Oct 14, 2006

Petzi said:
... because I won't know when moderation bans certain members.

We don't know when this happens now, I had no idea Jorge had been banned.

David A. Goldfarb · Oct 14, 2006

In general we don't discuss individual moderation decisions in the public forums, because it's not really fair to the person who has been banned and can't respond. This new capability is less severe than a total ban or restricted access, and I don't suspect that it will be needed that often. Aside from drive-by spammers, relatively few people have been banned from the site--maybe 10-20 individuals total out of 16,530 registered users over the last four years.

Petzi · Oct 14, 2006

David A. Goldfarb said:
In general we don't discuss individual moderation decisions in the public forums, because it's not really fair to the person who has been banned and can't respond.

A convenient side effect of this policy is that your judgement is never scrutinized by ordinary users of the site.

John McCallum · Oct 14, 2006

Your use of the term 'convenient' here implies the moderators naturally have some bias or malicious intent. Personally I've never seen evidence of this in the time I've been here. It is only 'convenient' in the sense that protracted discussion and resulting embarrassment for the banned user can be avoided when a decision has been made in accordance with the process. The reasons for implimenting the feature and motivation for its' use were outlined clearly.

copake_ham · Oct 14, 2006

Can I post to this thread?

I thought I did...

David A. Goldfarb · Oct 14, 2006

copake_ham said:
Can I post to this thread?

I thought I did...

I saw that post, and I think you posted to a similar, related thread. Check your own recent posts, and you should find it.

fyi- Thread level banning tool is now implemented

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fyi- Thread level banning tool is now implemented

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