Announcement: In-Thread Warnings

Not if members strive to comply with the rules. If so, no member will have anything to worry about. If members intend to derail a thread, flame bait others or just want to insult, they may have to rethink their ways and best stay away, so that members who seek a respectful discussion may enjoy just that.

 

I can only speak from personal experience and comments made to me by other longtime members and yes, the Thread Alerts are discouraging participation. I know that I'm personally avoiding them for the most part and other quality members have also mentioned that they are as well.

As I also noted previously I don't oppose using them but only once the violations by members in the thread are addressed because of the new Points System for banning. Additionally the Tread Alerts should be the last possible measure taken and they should not result in "stiffer" enforcement of the m Rules when compared to other violations on other threads.

The "points system" for banning requires that every violation of the Forum Rules by members be documented with infractions equally or else the "points system" becomes inherently unfair.

 

I agree with the basic reasoning here. If there are violations, they should be dealt with. It seems like a Mod Alert should only be required if there have been multiple violations. Using it as a shortcut so that the individual violations don't have to be dealt with doesn't really help remind the forum members what is or isn't acceptable. I'm saying "remind" here for the very reason that straightforwardness of the rules doesn't guarantee that people remember and follow them when a debate gets particularly heated.

That's one perspective. Here's another: It tells me that the thread has deteriorated into the usual tit-for-tat nonsense between the usual suspects, so it's probably not worth my time. While a "Mod Alert" shouldn't equal "dead thread", it probably will communicate that to anyone who isn't deeply passionate about the issue under discussion.

I'm not saying kill the practice, though. I think it's more a matter of tweaking its application and observing the actual effects. It's fine that we can tell the "powers that be" how we perceive the situation, but they should rely on objective observation to determine whether those perceptions reflect what is actually happening, or remain a personal perception.

 

I agree with virtually all of this. Prior violations need to be addressed and not ignored. The "tit for tat" BS in the thread would be addressed because of the thread review before the Mod Alert is posted. The Mod Alert should be used for the purpose of continuing a thread were numerous prior Rules violations could justify simply closing it.

I'd would add that a member that might happen to violate a Forum Rule after a Mod Alert has been posted shouldn't be treated more harshly than someone that violated the Forum Rules prior to the Mod Alert or that committed the identical violation on another thread. The actions of the moderators should be fair an unbiased in the enforcement of the Forum Rules.

 

Agreed. As I understand it, the Mod Alert means the thread is being more closely watched - and future violations taking place in the thread are therefore more likely to be identified. I wasn't aware of any extra penalty being tacked on, but maybe someone who knows can clarify this?

 

Would you, in case of a rule violations, rather be removed from a thread or receive a warning or infraction?
It seems we have too many rumors flying about, but objective observers will be able to see for themselves.

 

I suppose that would depend on the severity and type of violation, but I don't think that's up to me to decide, so I don't understand the purpose of your asking.

Or when someone raises questions and concerns, those could be politely addressed.

- - - Updated - - -

Thank you - this helps a lot!

 

THIS SITE HAS BECOME SO pc THAT A PERSON CANNOT EVEN MAKE ANY KIND OF SEMI-CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENT ANYMORE. tHIS SITE IS NO LONGER ANY FUN WHATSOEVER.

 

It is not the purpose of this site to be a home for flame wars started by people making "semi-controversial" statements in hopes of provoking others. The purpose of the site is to discuss (and we can hope, discuss with some degree of reason) political issues. Period.

 

I can only go by what was stated in the original post.

Formerly the moderators had a "progressive level of enforcement" when it came to violations of the Forum Rules. For a "First time offender" (excluding a blatant violation) generally a formal warning was issued or in cases of "gray area" violations a formal warning would be issued. Based upon the above statement it appears that this discretionary criteria will not exist and formal infractions will be the "rule of thumb" regardless of the member's prior history, time as a member, and/or the severity of the rule violation. Basically it appears that there will be a different level of enforcement based upon whether the member violates a forum rule in a thread with a Mod Warning or in another thread.

Of course that's just the way I read the statement as it seems to indicate that to me. When combined with auto-bannings based upon a point system it would be advisable to not participate in a thread with a Mod Warning because any violation, no matter how slight, is probably going to result in a formal infraction when normally it could be a formal warning or ignored completely in another thread.