Dunce corner...

[fig]

As a moderator most of my intervention involves moving posts to the correct forum and keeping an eye out for spammers and banning them before they post. The only posts I've ever deleted have been spam or duplicate posts, and the only threads I lock are duplicates, after linking to the original thread. When I feel a post is out of line I'll either say so in reply in the thread, or PM the poster and ask them to reconsider. As others have observed, this is very effective.

There will occasionally be gross offenders who must be banned or have their posts deleted, but there's usually no debate over who those are when they come up. There are also sometimes stupid or provocative threads that add no value at all and in fact destroy value and banishing them to the invisible forum is better for everyone.

Otherwise, no matter what's written, I favour letting the forum be self regulating. If you don't like the direction a thread is taking, the escape hatch is a click away. Anyone who posts something that may embarrass themselves later can always edit their posts, and usually do when their offence is pointed out. Most thread hijacks get back on topic within a few posts, and those that gain a parasitic life of their own are usually value adding. Hijacking is rude, but it doesn't need any enforcement, except maybe a request by anyone to get back on topic.

IMO, one of this forum's strengths is that it is very lightly moderated. I'd prefer to keep it that way.

And I must quote Sarel again as this is surely the final word:

What I type belongs to me, I am responsible for that and the consequences, always. Nobody else controls my thoughts or collectively the forums, it is what it is, live with it.

[eben]

I forgot, we don't have to PM the members, we can send them a warning directly on the post, that way we can keep track....

[Sambabus]

.........why cant we just hug it out?

Or am I being a "poster" by not posting something factual or ACVW relevant? I think this whole issue boiles down to social decorum. We all have reasons to post what we post,and we tend to think that just because what we think is justyfied to us,everyone else will be in agreement. I have alot to say,and yes,some of it is contraversial,so I dont,.because if its not contributing to the greater good,then its detracting. And why become a negative force on the forum? Is it that when you go to socials people can talk shit about you are,rather than talk shit with you?

I think if we have any level of social decorum,and keep others in mind when we post something,we can keep the peace fairly easily.

[Tony Z]

To be honest, I couldnt even be bothered to read past the heading of this topic and I make no intention to do so.

Here is a little something for you dunces



Now smile, kiss and make up and lets get this forum back to how it was a few days ago before everything was blown out of proportion.

[vader]

Well I never thought there was a problem in the first place....

[Goosebeak]

Example in point...

Sex, religion, and politics:- keep them locked away in (a) separate section(s). There are plenty of forums/sites catering for whatever fetish/taste/prejudice anybody could possibly ever dream up - why allow them to taint your website with it?

You have put forward your point of view which I don't agree with and I find your statement offensive and think that you are stirring sh1t among the members who enjoy the Seatcover section so by your reasoning you should be BANNED from the forum for stirring sh1t... Hmmmm??? Its a double edged sword....

Actually, you (I think intentionally, to make your point - you DO have a habit of that!) missed my point completely - the bits and pieces that may be offensive to some (like your beloved seatcovers) are in actual fact already KEPT in their own sections... There's nothing wrong with the way things are currently happening.
Note: I don't personally find pictures of the female form offensive. But I have 'lost' several colleagues who unsuspectingly opened a web page with graphic content in "full" view of a female colleague, and who lost their jobs as a result. YOU try explaining to your wife and children that xmas just isn't happening any more because daddy happened to open a web page on a motorcycling website with the heading "Check these piston rings!" showing a close-up of some porn-star's piercings... I am NOT kidding you - feminism is alive and well and living in corporations all across this country: discount it at your own peril. But lots of the members here work in offices - which is why the seatcover section is where it is, I should think.

If the site owner is having a problem with any members, then it is completely within his rights to remove those members, no questions asked, no pack drill, no nothing. But if something like that is going to happen, then there should at least be a certain framework around which things are done - not just a "today I don't like you any more - you're banned!" kind of attitude like you get on some websites. It's just common courtesy and good manners.

If you want to fight about something, the 3 big starters are the Sex, Religion, and Politics topics. Hence, if you're not cruising for a dust-up, and unless the site is dedicated to one of those, you steer clear for the most part - have you had a look on the News24 forums lately? Peace isn't going to break out there any time soon, that I can guarantee you...

I have seen enough forums self-destruct to know that an individual who is capable of making good contributions but who uses that ability as a pretext to stir sh1t is just not worth having as a member - such individuals will destroy your website for you by creating unhappiness and dissatisfaction and laugh in your face for allowing them to do so while they do it. They're the poor, sad little people who are unable to create something of any value for or by themselves, and therefore dedicate themselves to destroying everybody else's efforts.

As Muds and several others have said, we have a very wide spectrum of people/professions/personalities here - it's inevitable that there will be SOME friction. The trick is in minimising that friction so that you don't destroy the spirit of the forum, and in allowing people to say what they really want to say while at the same time ensuring that it is done responsibly and in a manner that doesn't make everybody on this forum look like a horse's arse.

Sambabus said it best, I believe: "I think if we have any level of social decorum,and keep others in mind when we post something,we can keep the peace fairly easily."

[Tony Z]

I still have not read this topic.....

But I have to wonder about all the complaining and bitching going on. I just looked thru this topic and a quick count gives 15 people active in this topic (I might be out by 1 or two)...
12 people have voted
in the last 24hrs there have been 145 people active on the forum.

that puts 10% of the active members in this thread.

Come on guys, smile, the other 90% dont care and are conducting themselves just fine without all the bickering.

[Goosebeak]

Come on guys, smile, the other 90% dont care and are conducting themselves just fine without all the bickering.

Perfectly put, Tony!

Now, can we get back to discussing ACVW's? With or without seat covers...

[bugspray]

Err can I post some seat covers now????

[Tony Z]

Err can I post some seat covers now????

please do

[retrovan]

........
Here is a little something for you dunces



.....

Just because he is a Dunce, does not mean he must be FOOD..... . That's cruel.......
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OK lets carry on carrying ON...

[Tony Z]

that has to be the quote of the month....
Well done retro

[MINCE]

I still have not read this topic.....

But I have to wonder about all the complaining and bitching going on. I just looked thru this topic and a quick count gives 15 people active in this topic (I might be out by 1 or two)...
12 people have voted
in the last 24hrs there have been 145 people active on the forum.

that puts 10% of the active members in this thread.

Come on guys, smile, the other 90% dont care and are conducting themselves just fine without all the bickering.

I can't vote because I can't vote through Tapatalk. Don't have access to Internet because I just moved and have to get connected again. (any body know of any good I Internet deals? 3G or otherwise?)

I would like to read all what has been said but I don't think my phones battery will last.
All I know is I learnt my lesson ages ago and sometimes go back to the old ways but nowhere near as bad.

To quote the Joker "Can't we all just get along!"

[bugspray]

iburst has a lekker 3G plan. Supersized deal or something to the sort. Give them a looksie.

[Farhaad]

To be very honest, the forum has been lacking anything really really ACVW interesting of late....

agreed 100%
Why do we come here ?
'cause we want to interact, learn something new about our beloved vw's, talk aircooled and give or add something to a cause we all enjoy.....and this is lacking big time on this forum.

no one can be held responsible for any one Else's actions.
for instance....i have never met Blitskrieg..every time he posts something there are some members that GUN HIM FLAT-OUT.....now if he is persona nongrata...then why is he still here ??? should these guys not just ignore each other or make peace ?
things like this gives this forum a sour taste......just used that as an example...no offense intended to parties involved....and if you feel offended, feel free to pm me !

keep it interesting.....keep it VW, cut the crap.

we should be better than the ozzy forum...but sadly enough we are not....just an group of old bickering bored men.....
FIX THIS.....it's up to us all to make this place a great place to pass time on.
i want to spend more time here than on any other forum.....but it's difficult
for what it's worth.
there is nothing to vote about....Eben...just pm the shit stirrers with a written warning and by the 3rd one ban them. done.

X2
there wasa time were i couldnt wait to log on to this forum. not so much now with all the personal attacts. just leaves a bad taste.WTF get over yourself and after the third warning you must hav a pretty good idea that you are offside and stop it. one of the reason why i liked this forum was the off the topic section. but i must admit there has to be boundaries. i spoken to several new and old members that are not on the forum anymore coz they say there are more bitching and negativety than constructive opinions. this could be the reason why its loosing popularity and could lead to the end of this forum