Thinking of Leaving

**madmacs** · 26th May 11, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

Rule 7

I was always told if one withdraws from a club(Xmarks is in a way) one walks quietly away(metaphorically speaking), holding one's tongue, keeping one's council and don't look back.

You forgot the most important part... and if you get to the door with the silverware run as fast as you can...

**Steve Ashton** · 26th May 11, 05:42 PM

To clarify,

There were two reports filed against the same post. We often see this. Some threads or posts will generate many reports, all of exactly the same thing.

It is a pretty good bet that if the Moderators receive more than one report of the same post that something is going on.

In this case one of the reports was called back. It had nothing to due with the post or the rule but more because the report was delivered via PM and not according to proper procedure.

If a single post within a thread is reported we can sometimes pull and move just that one post. Often however, others have quoted the post or continued the discussion beyond the reported post. In these cases we have no option but to move the entire thread.

Even though I do not vote on rules violations I am ultimately responsible for everything. I keep track of all reports and also of the votes cast by the Moderators and the resulting decisions made.

If you put things in proper perspective very few threads are actually closed. You would also be surprised by how many times the Moderators decision on reports is that no violation has occurred and the thread is returned to the forum.

I know that the ones that are closed get the attention. That is only human nature. But the facts speak for themselves. There are far fewer threads closed today than at any other time in the history of this forum.

The difference now is that the system is more transparent. You know when things are done by the Moderators. It is policy that no post is ever moved or closed without leaving behind a notice of some sort. No thread is closed without a full reason being stated.
No thread or post just disappears. There is always an explanation left for the action of the Moderators.

This is also true of our disciplinary policy. Only spammers trying to post about their porn site or Viagra sales are ever banned without notice. (we average 150 a day)
If someone has had their membership revoked they have had 4 separate offenses. The policy on how the moderators must handle all this is plainly spelled out in our FAQ's.

Since I have owned the forum only one membership has been revoked, and only one person is on a temporary suspension.

Not too bad a record for over 250,000 posts and over 5500 members in the same time frame.

**mookien** · 26th May 11, 06:01 PM

Woodsheal: Hear, hear!

Madmacs: Now we know how you got your moniker. Funny.

**O'Callaghan** · 26th May 11, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by piperdbh

I'd hate to lose you, too. I agree about the moderation here lately. Things I'd like to read get locked; others that are in clear violation (especially profanity) go on and on. I've wondered if there's some disgruntled person with an ax to grind who reports members with whom he/she has disagreements. Must be a lonley person.

I suspect you may be right about there being a disgruntled person around who is reporting lots of people. I have been reported a couple of times lately, but didn't get penalised. I get the impression that the mods are bound to look into every such incident, and tell you that you have been reported, but it doesn't mean they have anything against you themselves, or that they think the report is necessarily justified atall.

**piperdbh** · 26th May 11, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by O'Callaghan

I get the impression that the mods are bound to look into every such incident, and tell you that you have been reported, but it doesn't mean they have anything against you themselves, or that they think the report is necessarily justified atall.

Bingo, cousin. You've summarized what I was just about to write. Good thinking runs in the family, don't you think?

By the way, I'm glad we have Mods who do investigate things. My complaint is with whomever reports unimportant things, which takes away from the Moderators' time to post their own thoughts, pictures and opinions. I enjoy every Mod's posts, and wish they were free of the unnecessary burden of chasing down petty reports of rule-breaking. If they were, I'd imagine that they could then go after important, gross violations and enjoy their "job" here much more.

**artificer** · 26th May 11, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by piperdbh

By the way, I'm glad we have Mods who do investigate things. My complaint is with whomever reports unimportant things, which takes away from the Moderators' time to post their own thoughts, pictures and opinions. I enjoy every Mod's posts, and wish they were free of the unnecessary burden of chasing down petty reports of rule-breaking. If they were, I'd imagine that they could then go after important, gross violations and enjoy their "job" here much more.

***

(we really need a standing ovation emoticon here, but this one will have to suffice).