Deleted thread discussion.

by Thomas Wilkinson

Posted: 12 years ago 18 replies

OFF TOPIC

If, in the view of a moderator, a thread violates some rule and they delete it soon after its posted, that's one thing. On the other hand, a thread which has been live for several days and has dozens or evens hundreds of views and many replies suddenly disappears or gets locked, that in my view is very different. Why does a thread which appears to have violated no rule on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday suddenly violate a rule on Thursday. A good discussion is a good discussion. I'm not speaking of any particular thread. Just a general observation (or a question).
(disclaimer, several months ago I had a thread deleted or locked (can't remember) after several days many, many views and several replies. My original post appeared on "another forum" verbatim the same day. (Yes, I know who it was.) That thread garnered over 420 views and 39 replies before it died. Hmmmmm, may have been a good discussion. I just got a Facebook message from a friend asking me if she should post this. I told her I would.) Any thoughts, anyone?

Thomas

ThomM 12 years ago

I'll take a stab at this.
Sometimes threads start out within the rules, but start straying into bad place. For example here's my thoughts on the last thread I seen locked here.
For the first few days it stayed out of politics and religion and contained some good discussions. Then it started flirting with both politics and religion.
It was obvious to me it would go over the line real soon. In fact I was debating reporting it last night, and I was active in it through most of it.
I think it was locked before it went over the line, but left because it did have some good discussions in it.
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Alexa Smith Banned 12 years ago

Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson

Why does a thread which appears to have violated no rule on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday suddenly violate a rule on Thursday.

No reason I can think of.

But sometimes it may be realised only on Thursday that it had been violating a rule all that time without anyone having noticed?

And there's an element of "trial by Warrior" about it, too: sometimes a thread will disappear not because of "the thread" but just because its original post is "reported" by enough Warriors to soft-delete it, thereby bringing it up for the Moderators' attention, and the Moderators may decide - perhaps having had no particular reason to have given the thread any previous attention - that the "reporting" members are actually right?

Removing a thread's OP is going to take the whole thread away, I think?

I'm not suggesting that either of the above is going to be a common reason for "longer" threads disappearing, but we're talking about comparatively rare situations anyway, and it strikes me that they're both possibilities?
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- Kay King 12 years ago
  
  Paul Myers has posted that sometimes threads are left up just so people can see where they tend to go or some can learn a lesson.
  
  Off with their head!
  
  Some threads can go on for days - and you know sooner or later someone will just HAVE to throw in some political remarks. It's only a matter of time for some discussions.
  
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Patrician 12 years ago

Sometimes doesn't matter what the topic is, if there is a conflict and it creates a hostile environment then that is what either somebody will object to and (report post) -

... or also then either as a result, or just on its own 'merit', a moderator will take objection to it. in that case it doesn't matter who/why/where/when or WHAT - it is done! unless you want to keep the conflict going. which isn't really fun for anyone. especially if somebody has to get banned even temporarily.

i don't know about everybody but sometimes i can't help but think when one disappears that it was me that got it deleted by something i said.

moi?
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Thomas Wilkinson 12 years ago

Both of those are good observations. I can think of one that did get a little out of hand. Do they not have the ability to delete offending posts and continue a good discussion? We've all seen trolls and pot stirrers in here.

Thomas
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- TimPhelan 12 years ago
  
  The pot stirrers really get to me also. I try to stay away from these threads that can lead to political or religious issues. Occasionally I get drawn in when I see outrageous statements made.
  
  I do agree that a few deleted posts can save an interesting discussion. One example would be to have deleted a certain persons quotes about how certain religions as a whole act.
  
  Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson
  
  We've all seen trolls and pot stirrers in here.
  
  Thomas
  
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Dennis Gaskill

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson

Both of those are good observations. I can think of one that did get a little out of hand. Do they not have the ability to delete offending posts and continue a good discussion? We've all seen trolls and pot stirrers in here.

Thomas

Yes, they can delete individual posts.

In addition to what others have said, sometimes it's days before a moderator sees a thread.. They can't be everywhere at once. It can also be days before someone reports a thread. Takes the right person viewing it to report it.

As the moderator of my brain, I know sometimes things go on in there that I, as the moderator, know nothing about.

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Patrician 12 years ago

yes it is hard to ignore misinformation it is also nearly impossible to be absolutely totally and positively 100% politically correct. its hard to second-guess what is going to be offensive to every tittle.

in my ongoing quest to be as totally politically incorrect as will be tolerated, i am also quite sure people who are hyper-vigilant and antagonistic will come in to "stir the pot" (pee in the pool = spoil the party)...

even when no offense was intended
and puns always were.

fergeddaboutitalready.

... and i always love 'THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK'.

:p

ENMITY
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HeySal 12 years ago

Gee, and all this time I had this picture in my mind of all the admins sitting around a computer drinking Crown and smoking fatties and doing the "Hey - lets get this one, that'll fry em" party tricks when they lock a thread just after a post that about 100 of the OTers will be dying to answer.
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Thomas Wilkinson

12 years ago

@Sal, There are occasions when that would be the most logical explanation.

@Tim, This is exactly what I'm talking about. One person spoils a thread when it would be about as easy to eliminate three of four of their posts. I have seen references to phantom posters on occasion so I know that has happened.

Thomas

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Paul Myers

12 years ago

Thomas,

One person spoils a thread when it would be about as easy to eliminate three of four of their posts. I have seen references to phantom posters on occasion so I know that has happened.

Depends on the context, and who else is posting in the thread. Some people are prone to obsession, and once they see something they want to comment on, the only thing that will stop them from derailing an entire section of the forum in their zeal is to delete the whole thread.

Yes. Really. And there are more posters like that in OT than any other section aside from the WSO forum.

Most of the reasons for closing or deleting a thread that's been going on for a while have already been listed above. It's a balancing act, always.

Paul

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Dennis Gaskill 12 years ago

Thomas, it's a tough call sometimes, I'm sure. On a slow day there may be more time to deliberate, but on some days I'm sure it's difficult to keep up with the spammers, the regulars who go astray, and whatnot.

Let's not forget the mods are all volunteers. I have every confidence they do the best they can. There are a lot of things that happen that we don't know about.
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lgibbon

Banned 12 years ago

Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson

Why does a thread which appears to have violated no rule on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday suddenly violate a rule on Thursday. A good discussion is a good discussion.

Most threads die naturally after a couple of days.
Those that do last from Sunday to Thursday are usually kept going artificially by the OP.
Some of the longest running threads on the forum
are about absolutely nothing.

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TimPhelan 12 years ago

Actually, I think I would rather see a thread deleted than locked sometimes. Especially when you can't respond to a snide remark. I get it though. It's a fine line that I can appreciate that the moderators walk.

Frankly, I hope the moderators are actually compensated in some way since Alan is not quite running a charitable website here. Although I know he likes to contribute to charity, he is making beaucoup bucks here.
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carlpond 12 years ago

This is very harsh if this is happening.
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- jacktackett 12 years ago
  
  speaking of reporting posts......
  
  I'm going to give you a pass here assuming you really are here to learn and contribute to the form. And not here to inflate your post count (which won't happen in the off topic forum anyway) and display the links in your signature.
  
  One line posts that provide little content do not contribute to the community.
  
  best,
  --Jack
  
  Originally Posted by carlpond
  
  This is very harsh if this is happening.
  
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- waterotter 12 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by carlpond
  
  This is very harsh if this is happening.
  
  Who are you? Are you Matt Mittson, or Robert S. Gilland ??? These double identities are killing me. :p
  
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- Paul Myers 12 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by carlpond
  
  This is very harsh if this is happening.
  
  You mean, like having your signature turned off?
  
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Deleted thread discussion.

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