I am sorry if some feel there is inconsistency in Moderation but, contrary to popular opinion, Moderators are not online 24/7 and I would be surprised indeed if any of us read every single thread and post every day.

I myself most certainly do not and like many other members, will only follow things that are personally of interest. I personally would not usually read a thread such as this because it is not in my interest zone. We do rely heavily upon reports being brought to our attention by members as those who have read the FAQ on the subject will be aware.

If members have never read it or have not read it for some time, it can be found at http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...dispute_policy where the procedures are outlined.

There is also the FAQ entitled - How can I notify the staff immediately about something I find on the forum? THis can be found at http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f..._report_a_post so useful to for members to see what to do if they feel they have found a problem.

When a report is received we are bound to follow the procedures, even where (as can happen) it seems immediately evident that the complaint is capricious, malicious, or unjustified. When a post is not reported, and we have not seen it ourselves, then unless it is brought to our attention, it can slip through the net. It can also be that a particular topic has been discussed and been ruled on in the past and might have been ruled as not breaking a rule so we have seen no need to intervene directly ourselves.

One thing you can of course guarantee is that you cannot please all of the people all of the time and that some will take umbrage and want to leave and others will accept the outcome of our deliberations.

We keep records of all reports and outcomes in our archives so we do try to be consistent. If you think we have been inconsistent between threads you think similar then let us know by report or PM.

Rule 11 is always one that creates emotions, often due to cultural divides, and we have tried to revise the way it is expressed. Please give us the detail of where you think the inconsistency is Jock - if you are happy with both threads and you think we do a difficult job, and are yet inconsistent, then we would be grateful for the details of where you think the inconsistency lies.

Cheers,

Trefor