Moderating The Forums: a suggestion

[Mason Malmuth]

I think we need to add one more. It would be this:

Posters who put up posts that are designed to foment hatred by twisting the truth and/or deliberately linking to other Internet sites which have the same purpose will be immediately permanently barred.

MM

edit = spelling correction only

mat

[sirio11]

[ QUOTE ]
Posters who put up posts that are designed to foment hatred by twisting the truth

[/ QUOTE ]

And how exactly do you (or any mod) know when the truth has been twisted? I find this extremely difficult, specially in a forum like politics. Seems to me like a blank check to ban people opposed to the moderator points of view. Maybe you should post then, which points of view are acceptable and which ones will be persecuted.

[Mat Sklansky]

We've always had "the blank check". I can't speak for Mason entirely, but I belive that he wants more discussion based on fact and less propoganda encouraging "hate".

Is that really so difficult?

And just because Mason stepped in when the topics were anti-semitic doesn't mean that he encourages hateful posts directed at Arabs or Muslims.He doesn't.

I see Mason everyday. He and I have quite different perspectives on the world, these forums, etc. He not only accepts that I disagree with him sometimes, he encourages it.

That's my take. If I have it wrong, he'll let us know.

[sirio11]

[ QUOTE ]
but I belive that he wants more discussion based on fact and less propoganda encouraging "hate".

Is that really so difficult?


[/ QUOTE ]

I think it is. In a forum like politics it's very hard to determine what's propaganda encouraging hate. For example, I remember many posts encouraging the nuking of Iran with links to what I think to be "propaganda". I don't remember anybody terrible upset about those.

[Mat Sklansky]

[ QUOTE ]
And just because Mason stepped in when the topics were anti-semitic doesn't mean that he encourages hateful posts directed at Arabs or Muslims.He doesn't.



[/ QUOTE ]

[Mat Sklansky]

Guys. Keep in mind the bigger picture: we are a website that was originally created to promote a publishing company specializing in books on poker/ gambling.


If we can't get a handle on the best way to moderate a low-traffic politics forum, who the ef cares? We'll shut it down.

I sincerely appreciate those of you who put effort into making suggestions about the forums. And I'll continue to do my best to implement them to everyone's benefit as best I can.

[Cyrus]

[ QUOTE ]
We are a website that was originally created to promote a publishing company specializing in books on poker/ gambling.

[/ QUOTE ]Honda originally wanted to sell small bikes; Gates' ambition was originally to sell an operating program to IBM; Mick Jagger originally wanted to sing only Muddy Waters blues. And so on.

There has been a paradigm shift in poker, Mat. Seize the day.

[ QUOTE ]
If we can't get a handle on the best way to moderate a low-traffic politics forum, who the ef cares? We'll shut it down.

[/ QUOTE ]Hmm. I wonder why supermarkets are wasting space to sell gasoline at cost. Maybe you should re-check the notion of Loss Leader.

[Cyrus]

[ QUOTE ]
That's my take. If I have it wrong, he'll let us know.

[/ QUOTE ]Well, only because you asked, I'll comment.

[ QUOTE ]
Just because Mason stepped in when the topics were anti-semitic...

[/ QUOTE ]Can you please point out a recent post that was anti-semitic? Or, something easier, a topic that was anti-semitic? Take the last couple of months.

I am not saying that there are no anti-semites here. (In fact, I'm sure I can spot anti-semites better than most of the easily offended pro-Israel posters!) But I have not seen anything that was anti-semitic. Accusations of anti-semitism are often hurled against those who object to Israeli policies.

[ QUOTE ]
...doesn't mean that he encourages hateful posts directed at Arabs or Muslims. He doesn't.

[/ QUOTE ]Hateful posts might not be "encouraged" but it seems obvious that anti-Arab posts are given much more leeway than anti-Israeli.

For instance, imagine if I were to write anything like the following:

[ QUOTE ]
Make it so that Olbert fears to see sunlight. Send emissaries to let him know that until he leaves Lebanon alone he will be a target.
<font color="white"> . </font>
The Arabs should expel 98% of the Jews in the West Bank and dump them back into Israel. Give each Jew $1000 (yes this is inadequate) and tell them "good-bye forever and don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you!" This tactic is similar to what Hezbollah calls for!
<font color="white"> . </font>
The Palestinians fill the newly vacated terroritory and keep that land forever-and-ever.

[/ QUOTE ]Yet, this is exactly what was written about the Arabs by a 2+2 poster and did not draw the slightest comment from the mods. (I only changed names.) Link And it wasn't the most bigoted post I've seen here about Arabs. So, let's just say that all sides are equally free to present on 2+2 their opinion abt the Middle East situation -- but one side is more equal. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Cyrus]

[ QUOTE ]
I think we need to add one more. It would be this:

Posters who put up posts that are designed to foment hatred by twisting the truth and/or deliberately linking to other Internet sites which have the same purpose will be immediately permanently barred.


[/ QUOTE ]A few observations on the above:

- Reads like a guideline outside the purpose of the rest, since it allows for a lot of arbitrariness in banning posters.

- Linking to other sites can only be done deliberately and never by accident. I presume you meant "deliberately inciting hatred". Well, I confess I'm not always able to pinpoint intent! But I take comfort in knowing that, very often, humans assign intent and maliciousness to any point of view that negatively affects our emotional state. We get angry at doorknobs.

- Do we need a list of "safe" websites? I suggest starting with the following:

www.amazon.com
www.nytimes.com
www.wikipedia.org
www.un.org
www.amnesty.org
www.hrw.org
www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook

--Cyrus