General Forum Posting Guidelines

[MossRoad]

Everyone is a deputized moderator at TBN. When you see a thread that has adult content, dirty words, clean words that can be twisted into dirty words, spam, bad behavior, etc... or, just a post that may be in an incorrect forum, has gigantic pictures, bad links, etc... just push that red yield sign button and all the "official" moderators as well as the forum owners will get notified and take any actions that are needed.

As for closed threads, maybe the same discussion is going on in several threads. It is better for the members if we keep it all in one discussion, so we close it and leave a pointer. Some threads do get closed permanently. Why? Because a few individuals get a bee in their bonnet and won't let a point go. For some reason they think if they keep making their point over and over again they are somehow going to convince the other guy they wrong. At that point, the "official" moderators start getting bombarded by the TBN membership at large requesting that the thread be closed due to the actions of a few folks that can't agree to disagree without taking pot shots at each other. If we leave those threads open it is akin to leaving a box of matches and a can of gas on the doorstep of the pyromaniac half-way house.

It seems to work well to close the thread and let someone start a new one that gets things going again on the topic. I can honestly say that I have received requests to re-open less than half a dozen threads in the four years I have been doing this. If any member thinks the discussion topic of a thread is not finished after a thread has been closed, they are free to start another thread on the same subject and pick up where it left off, minus the bologna that got it locked in the first place.

[MossRoad]

Originally Posted by coasterez

Jerry,

Most were some time ago, so I can't remember the threads. But, one in particular I do remember was in the rural living section (before countrybynet) and was posted by JimR (I think). It related to story he was telling about a neighbor flooding JimR's land and violating wetland regulations on his own property. I was reading the posts, finding the story very interesting and informative, and then there is the message, something like "we decided to close this thread as it has no further value". I was like who the heck is "we", and why does it not have any further value?

Basically you are calling me a liar, or that I'm simply stating things that aren't true. Well, Threads are closed all the time and little if any reasons are given. They are simply closed. Do you really think I would waste my time writing this if I didn't believe what I have said and have had "negative" experiences because of them? Anyway, I posted my thoughts on this. TBN can decide to do with it what they wish.

See, this is where a thread goes bad... normally, I do not quote someone in public and critize them, but this is exactly the subject that you brought up, so I feel I have to respond. No one called you a liar. You interpretted it that way. The fact of the matter is, once the name calling starts, the thread goes downhill fast. At this point, I would normally remove your post and send you a PM as to why it was removed. But since this is exactly the topic of your questions, I think it should stand for a while.

[JerryG]

Originally Posted by coasterez

Jerry,
Basically you are calling me a liar, or that I'm simply stating things that aren't true. Well, Threads are closed all the time and little if any reasons are given. They are simply closed. Do you really think I would waste my time writing this if I didn't believe what I have said and have had "negative" experiences because of them? Anyway, I posted my thoughts on this. TBN can decide to do with it what they wish.

Not at all. I have seen threads closed. I just have never seen a thread closed without cause. That is why I ask you for a thread like you were speaking about. If you do run across one of the threads like you are referring to please post a link to it.
Quite frankly I don't know what you do with your time. All I wanted was to see one of those threads. Maybe I don't read those threads, I know that there are a lot of off topic threads that I don't read.

[coasterez]

There is nothing in my posting that is inflammatory. I called no one a name or any such nonsense. You have no basis for closing this thread. The implication is clear: Jerry doesn't believe me, and apparently you don't either. I must be imagining what happened.

MossRoad, It's as if you know how I feel. Well, you don't. I am genuinely offended by Jerry's implication. You want to take action because I was offended and I let the poster know so, have had it. You want to ignore or dismiss the fact that closed threads have left me "wanting", that is also at the descretion of this website and it's moderators.

[MossRoad]

Originally Posted by coasterez

There is nothing in my posting that is inflammatory.

Sure there is. You said he is calling you a liar when he didn't.

Originally Posted by coasterez

You have no basis for closing this thread.

I didn't say I was going to close the thread. I said that normally, I would remove such a post

Originally Posted by coasterez

The implication is clear: Jerry doesn't believe me, and apparently you don't either. I must be imagining what happened.

I know of a few posts on the subject of neighbors that were closed, although I do not know which one you are specifically refering to. There were many reasons some of them were closed. Some of them offered suggestions of harming the neighbors. Some of them got downright nasty. And one was closed at the request of the person that started it. Many things went on in those threads that you never saw because they were removed. Many PMs were exchanged with the people that participated in those threads that you were not privey to. You have no idea what went on behind the scenes that led up to those posts being closed.

Originally Posted by coasterez

MossRoad, It's as if you know how I feel.

That's one of the bad things about typed communications. The participants cannot see each other face to face. I have no idea how you feel. I only have what you have written to go by. You may be quite a pleasant person, but I can't tell that from your written messages. I cannot get the physical facial expressions or body language that would go with our conversation. Could be my shortcomming as to how to interpret peoples' writings. That's why I usually ask the other moderators and owners of TBN if a thread has gotten out of control before closing it. We rarely get complaints about a thread being closed. Most folks realize the particular reason it was closed. You can go to any forum on the internet and find closed posts. You can read them a few years after the fact and they make no sense at all. Then you can go to the administrators of the board and tell them they are wrong for closing them and tell them they should change their policy of closing threads. See what kind of reception you get.

[coasterez]

I said:

Basically you are calling me a liar, or that I'm simply stating things that aren't true.

Obviously, we have different opinions about what is inflammatory. This is way too soft-speak for me. Now if I'd responded by calling him names, swearing, or making remarks about his dog or something, that would have been inflammatory. May as well never let anyone know how one feels. I try to be respectful, and I expect the same. I certainly don't want to be dismissed and told to go away simply because someone doesn't like my opinion.

I will now be hesitant to voice my real opinion for fear that your values of what is acceptable will restrict my post....Either way, the effect is the same; you get your censorship.

Your descriptions of the neighbors thread (one of which may be the one that was closed on me) is exactly what I'm talking about. When posts are completely deleted, the thread starts to make no sense. Then it's closed "for no apparent reason" because readers are not informed. And to delete posts is blatant censorship. Strip out profanity, name-calling - OK. But outright deletion - NO. The moderators are deciding what I should or should not read. I would much prefer to make my own choices. Even if someone suggests I go shoot my neighbor, or calls me a liar outright, or any other name.

Also, just because one starts a thread one somehow thinks they have a right to have it closed. I don't agree. As soon as another individual responds, the thread belongs to the forum, not the original poster.

You can go to any forum on the internet and find closed posts. You can read them a few years after the fact and they make no sense at all. Then you can go to the administrators of the board and tell them they are wrong for closing them and tell them they should change their policy of closing threads. See what kind of reception you get.

I have no idea what you are talking about here. I'm not talking about something that happened years ago. I haven't even been a member that long. Nonetheless, there are plenty of forums that never intervene. Sure they can and do get out of hand sometimes. But, at least the operators aren't imposing their values on the users (like what you consider inflammatory vs. what I do). On such sites, most posts are never closed. Eventually, when there's no activity for a long time, they get archived or deleted due to memory and server performance issues.

It's clear we just don't agree here. The site is perfect. No changes are needed. All users are satisfied. Information is purely qualified. And the moderators are gods. So, I think enough has been said.

[MossRoad]

Originally Posted by coasterez

I have no idea what you are talking about here. I'm not talking about something that happened years ago. I haven't even been a member that long.

Well, this is what you said...

Originally Posted by coasterez

...Most were some time ago, so I can't remember the threads. But, one in particular I do remember was in the rural living section (before countrybynet) ...

Country By Net has been around for a couple years now... your post said it was before Country By Net. That implies that it was over two years ago. Can you now see how I would think you are talking about something that happened over two two years ago?

[coasterez]

OK, I see that. I couldn't see that since I don't know how long CBN as been around nor how long rural living has been on CBN as opposed to some othe place. I thought it was in rural living. It definitely was in the last year, and wasn't on countrybynet, I don't think. As I said, it was one of the neighbors threads you mentioned. It doens't really matter which threads. That's Nit-picky and distracts from the point (Oops, maybe this opinion is too harsh).

What matters is whether you recognize that the current approach to closing and filtering threads needs improvement. It's clear you want to hear it.

[coasterez]

Oops, my mistake... It's clear you DON't want to hear it.

[MossRoad]

You have made my points for me. Thanks.