Why close a thread because some people misbehave on it?

Shi Huangdi · March 5, 2003, 22:39

http://apolyton.net/forums/showthrea...threadid=79565

is the thread I am refering to. I realize it was of an extremely controversial and emotional nature, but on Apolyton we have always been able to discuss such things. Now, if the thread itself had something wrong with it I could understand, by why shutdown discussion just because a few posters are unable to keep their calm? most of the disturbance on that thread was caused by Slowwhand, and then the responses to Slowwhand. Slowwhand had already been repeatedly warned about attacking other poster. This thread he went over the top and said another poster should be shot. Why can't you simply punish the person(s) causing the disturbance rather then shutting down all discussion. It seems you have let a poster, Slowwhand, who has repeatedly defied the moderation's warnings about attacking other posers, toast another thread while getting away scot free himself.

Tuberski · March 5, 2003, 22:41

I happen to agree with that sentiment Shi, I thought that it could have been a good discussion.

ACK!

MrWhereItsAt · March 5, 2003, 22:48

It DID look interesting now that I see it, but you gotta remember, there will always be an idiot or ten here that spoil good discussions. The mods have the mandate to stop that, and I would say that Ming certainly made a good decision there. Of course this doesn't mean that the individuals should get away with it, but some threads are just doomed to fail, however interesting they may turn out to be.

Ming · March 5, 2003, 23:19

I gave it a chance... it was a flame fest waiting to happen... and that's exactly what happened. The first warning was ignorned completely. I could have restricted a bunch of people and then continued to restrict people later, or close the thread. I closed the thread.

Shi Huangdi · March 5, 2003, 23:29

Most of the flaming was a result of the actions of one person though, Slowwhand. He has repeatedly defied the moderation. MtG tells him to chill with regard to attack people, he continues to attack. You warn him no more personal attacks on that thread, he continues his personal attacks on that very thread. He obviously doesn't care to listen to your or anyone else tells him. Why let this one person who refuses to abide by your rules ruin threads like that? The only other "Flame" was Drake's "your ignorance is amazing"- but comments like that are normal in the course of a thread and hardly very intense at all. With no Slowwhand and a strong warning from you not to go personal or face restriction, the thread could have been sustained.

Ming · March 5, 2003, 23:41

I seriously doubt the the thread could have been sustained even with out a few individuals. Normally, I would just delete or close that type of thread the minute I saw it. I gave it a chance, and it went the way I figured. It would only have gotten worse.

Slow and I have had many chats, and he has been restricted many times for his actions... Restrictions are the last resort... so feel free to ask for us to get rid of people because you want us to... but don't expect us to listen. If we listened to all such requests, you and many other posters would be gone as well

Nubclear · March 5, 2003, 23:50

I agree with Ming here. The thread would just continue to spiral. Its a very hot topic, and considering how nationalistic americans are

Tuberski · March 5, 2003, 23:59

Quote:

Originally posted by Tassadar5000
I agree with Ming here. The thread would just continue to spiral. Its a very hot topic, and considering how nationalistic americans are

That really had nothing to do with it. It was stupidity, which, hey, even Russians, are guilty of at times.

ACK!

Jeremy Buloch · March 6, 2003, 01:10

I also agree, that was a hot topic, after reading it. I think Ming made the right choice. If I was in his shoes I too would have closed it.
-J.B.-

Shi Huangdi · March 6, 2003, 01:30

"I seriously doubt the the thread could have been sustained even with out a few individuals. "

But the damage was caused by that one individual. Ah well whatever......

"
Slow and I have had many chats, and he has been restricted many times for his actions... Restrictions are the last resort... so feel free to ask for us to get rid of people because you want us to... but don't expect us to listen. If we listened to all such requests, you and many other posters would be gone as well "

People are calling for me to be banned behind my back? Lovely.

Anyway Ming it's up to you how to do your job, though I would put in a guess people won't listen to you if you let them ignore you.

Ming · March 6, 2003, 01:34

Quote:

Originally posted by Shi Huangdi
Anyway Ming it's up to you how to do your job, though I would put in a guess people won't listen to you if you let them ignore you.

Yes... it is up to me

And believe me when I say that people don't ignore me for very long...

Again, you have no clue what goes on by ICQ, PM, and e-mail. All you see is what is posted

Shi Huangdi · March 6, 2003, 02:56

well then please tell whoever is PMing you with requests for me to be banned to take it up with me personally then.

Datajack Franit · March 6, 2003, 06:08

Why, can Ming read PMs and ICQ chats as well? tsk tsk

Ben Kenobi · March 6, 2003, 15:50

Quote:

Where is the "I'm a Banana, and I hope they will both loose" option?

Might have helped to cool the thread down.

Nubclear · March 6, 2003, 23:34

Quote:

Originally posted by Ming
Again, you have no clue what goes on by PM. All you see is what is posted

People PM you? WITH FLAMES?

I never would have guessed

tniem · March 7, 2003, 00:07

I agree with Ming's decision to close that thread down - it was getting out of hand.

However, I do have a question, has there been any fruitful, respectful, intellegent conversation on Apolyton about the war, yet? And yes I do know the nature of the OTF (I never post but I do go into read at least twice a month). In visits to the OTF in the past I have read a number of very insightful views into a whole variety of topics from posters all over the globe. For many Apolyton is very good outlet for discussing different activities and news events. I think that a Iraq conversation is very much needed and if a simple poll asking for who you would want to win the war got that personal, I would think all such threads have gotten pretty hot. So has anything gone on?

Jeremy Buloch · March 8, 2003, 05:45

Quote:

Originally posted by Datajack Franit
Why, can Ming read PMs and ICQ chats as well? tsk tsk

Because he can, and its perfectly legal, well if Ming does it.

-J.B.-

Bugs ****ing Bunny · March 8, 2003, 13:04

Quote:

Originally posted by tniem
I agree with Ming's decision to close that thread down - it was getting out of hand.

However, I do have a question, has there been any fruitful, respectful, intellegent conversation on Apolyton about the war, yet? And yes I do know the nature of the OTF (I never post but I do go into read at least twice a month). In visits to the OTF in the past I have read a number of very insightful views into a whole variety of topics from posters all over the globe. For many Apolyton is very good outlet for discussing different activities and news events. I think that a Iraq conversation is very much needed and if a simple poll asking for who you would want to win the war got that personal, I would think all such threads have gotten pretty hot. So has anything gone on?

When you discuss a hot topic on the OT you will attract a large number of readers, more so than on other forums. Therefore, on average, you will attract the attention of more people with strong opinions.

Following the law of averages, you are more likely to encounter a heated response in the OT than elsewhere. This implies nothing derogatory to the nature of the OT or it's posters. It's just a reflection of a busy forum where big issues get debated.

Fights are rarer on other forums, just as they are in large stretches of Lapland. And morgues.

Panag · March 8, 2003, 15:15

hi ,

any thread inwhere people start to get "personal" should be closed , ...

have a nice day

Felch · March 8, 2003, 16:27

Well in that thread, people were hoping that their own country would lose a war against a brutal dictator.

I'd have probably said the same thing that Slow did, even if Ming had given me a warning. I think it's pretty lame of people to troll like that, claiming to respect the servicemen and simultaneously hoping they lose a war.

People who lose wars generally get hurt or die. The opinion he had defied reality and was deeply offensive to the people that put their lives on the line for his right to say it.

Of course, it was in violation of forum rules, so Ming was in the right, but still, sometimes rules should be broken.

alva · March 8, 2003, 18:15

Quote:

People who lose wars generally get hurt or die.

I don't want to turn this into an OT thread, but so do the victorious ones (if such a thing exists)

Quote:

but still, sometimes rules should be broken.

Can't say I disagree with you on this one, but only sometimes!

Ben Kenobi · March 9, 2003, 00:33

Quote:

Fights are rarer on other forums, just as they are in large stretches of Lapland.

Per-capita, Laz? After all, some of these will be Finn.

Sava · March 10, 2003, 20:20

I'd agree with Shi in principle, but the thread in question had clearly degenerated into a flame war. Good job MINGY!

Odin · March 29, 2003, 00:02

That thread was funnier than sh!t.

Why does it seem that the rightists (Sloww, Fezzie, etc) start that crap.

(I didn't point out you 2 to be mean, so don't get riled up.)

Odin · March 29, 2003, 00:05

dp

notyoueither · March 29, 2003, 00:17

Not for long, me thinks...

Mr. President · March 29, 2003, 03:15

I probably could have been banned once or twice but for some reason I haven't. I think I would have been if I had seen that thread before it was closed.

No further comments on this from me.

The Mad Monk · March 29, 2003, 08:25

Quote:

Originally posted by Datajack Franit
Why, can Ming read PMs and ICQ chats as well? tsk tsk

They can, but they don't.

AFAIK, the only time a mod has ever read someone else's PM, was when Ming looked at one of Alexander's Horse's PMs at the request of AH, with a permaban in the balance.

Alex · March 29, 2003, 09:54

Good job, Ming. You might have to flex your muscles again on this one, though.