Over Moderating ?

[Watch_Man]

I went on AIUK this morning to find a post from last night locked. As far as I could see there was nothing on it that was inflammatory and was simply asking why another post had been locked.

As I have had several of my own posts and polls moderated, and in my case probably deservedly so, I just could not understand why the mods had locked the 'Horesbowman' thread.

My posts were moderated because they stepped over the line but I don't think this one did. If anything by locking the thread the mods are having the opposite effect and proving Horesbowman's point.

There is no way any aggressive, racist, deflamatory or overtly sexist post should be tolerated - however this one wasn't.

Did it have the potential to become so? - Yes! but so do many threads on here. Just look at some of mine

So should the mods try and prempt how a thread will go? - NO! if it gets out of hand then deal with it by moderating appropriately as TJ did yesterday. However if you introduce censorship based on what you think may happen then this forum will end up with a lot of threads about 'How many Dave's in your club' (Which I thought was funny BTW)

[darthTer]

Originally Posted by Watch_Man

this forum will end up with a lot of threads about 'How many Dave's in your club' (Which I thought was funny BTW)

Hey .....that was a very serious concern that was raised by us "non-Dave" folk - I think they may be trying to take over the world!!!

However, I do agree with a lot of what you say - in principal. Moderating for the sake if it is possibly counter productive - and something, I sure Dave wouldn't stand for!!!

However, I think in Horsebowmans thread there was a VERY real chance that the subjuct would get obusive and personal very quickly. Locking the thread, means that the discussion can take place via PM is needs be, and away from the public forum.

This in turn, frees up peoples time to sort out the "Dave" issue!!!

[Groundhog]

I can't find the post, has it been removed?

[acehero]

Dont know any Daves in our club, got a few Steves though

[Murray]

Sometimes moderators try to be a bit more proactive than reactive, heading off trouble "at the pass" as it were. You've no idea what goes on in the background and just what nonsense flies about unseen to the masses, (and we often have more information that most thanks to "intellgence reports".

Some mods do get "twitchy" and protective sometimes - especially when there's a trend of bad feeling lurking. No-one's infallible.

We may not need "how many dave" threads, but they're far preferrable to "why did you lock this thread" threads. Some questions are best dealt with offline, and it's been proven in the past that a bit of a lock-down after a spat is not a bad idea to let things settle.

[Tony_zelah]

If a thread is closed because not because of what has been posted, but because of what might be. Strikes me very much of thought police.

[Watch_Man]

Originally Posted by Murray

Sometimes moderators try to be a bit more proactive than reactive, heading off trouble "at the pass" as it were. You've no idea what goes on in the background and just what nonsense flies about unseen to the masses, (and we often have more information that most thanks to "intellgence reports".

Some mods do get "twitchy" and protective sometimes - especially when there's a trend of bad feeling lurking. No-one's infallible.

We may not need "how many dave" threads, but they're far preferrable to "why did you lock this thread" threads. Some questions are best dealt with offline, and it's been proven in the past that a bit of a lock-down after a spat is not a bad idea to let things settle.

I am in no way demeaning the important work done in moderating this forum and I fully accept that it is a difficult job to strike the correct balance between what is or is not acceptable. However I did think that in this case the moderating was too proactive.

At least this thread hasn't been moderated yet. Hopefully the contibutors will continue to make constructive non-abusive replies so we can get a genuine feeling for what members think about moderating.

darthter - I had a feeling Dave's were trying to take over the world. They have already infiltrated the Tory party, the Army (where there are now quite a few Dave's) and of course the truckers who maintain the vital supplies up and down the Country. You just need to go into any truck stop to hear the secret greeting - 'Hi Dave - is it your usual full english today?'

[Murray]

Originally Posted by Tony_zelah

Strikes me very much of thought police.

No no, you can think what you like here... we're just here to make sure that when you WRITE what you're thinking, it doesn't start any trouble

[MrM]

if I'm not mistaken, Horsebowman locked it himself - not the Mods....

[Watch_Man]

Originally Posted by MrM

if I'm not mistaken, Horsebowman locked it himself - not the Mods....

No, thats what was said but he told me that he did not lock it and this was later confirmed by the mods.