Getting more members here...what you can do.

[Marc]

I think the problem lies in that you seem selective in what YOU consider "meaningless crap". How would you know what 99% of the members don't want to sift through? Did you take a poll or something? Most people here take threads off-topic now and then, many insult other members, etc. I couldn't disagree more with the fact that you think it's courteous to delete posts without a short explanation. Are you a mind reader or something? How would you know if it was just a misunderstanding? In the end, you are the admin, and I will try to abide.

This year has seen a tremendous growth in this site. I have received a lot of feedback from people on what needed to be done to help improve the experience of members here. The fact is that people don't like to read threads with off-topic conversations going on. An off-topic post here and there is not a big deal, but when it turns into an off-topic conversation that is very distracting and rude. Those posts will get deleted. There is no need for an explanation as it doesn't take much subjectivity to determine that a post is off-topic; it is rather cut and dry.

With respect to personal insults/attacks, I rely Heavily on the posts that people report and look at every reported post. If it is off-topic, a personal insult/attack, or a reply to one of the aforementioned type of posts then it is deleted. I have to delete anywhere from 30-80 posts per day and don't have time or the means to explain why action was taken on each and every one. Often times if I have to delete a bunch of off-topic posts I will post in the thread for the posters to stay on-topic or they will continue to get deleted.

The best way to ensure that your post is not deleted is to stay on-topic, and don't respond to off-topic posts or posts that you feel may be a personal insult/attack. Simply report those posts.

I get complaints from people all over the political spectrum quite equally. It may seem like rules have been applied to you unfairly or to the political persuasion you may associate with, but I assure you that those you disagree with the most politically probably feel the same way. If I had the liberals telling me that I was doing a good job with the posts I deleted or the conservatives telling me that then there would be an obvious problem. I do all I can to remain as neutral as possible. This does not mean that I pretend to not have my own political beliefs, because I do. The end result is inevitably everyone thinking I apply the rules unfairly.

It takes a lot of time to moderate these forums, especially with over 500 new posts per day. I also have to communicate with my host to make sure the server is up and running smoothly, that the bandwidth limits have not been exceeded, so on and so forth. All of this takes a lot of time and I have never made any money off of it; rather, I have given a whole lot of my own money to keep this site up and running. While I do have plans to start accepting PayPal donations in the future, that is still a couple months away as I am too busy at the moment to set it up.

And again, report a post if you see it violating a rule. I admit 100% that I do not read nearly every post...but I will read every single reported post. The post above has not been reported, which I honestly feel is part of the member's responsibility for being a part of this community...a way to help make sure others abide by the rules and this place continues to be inviting. It is not crying to mommy, or telling on another...it is what has made this place better.

And about the host:
"- Servers located in the prestigious 56 Marietta in downtown Atlanta, GA;
- GigE connectivity to multiple Tier 1 and Tier 2 provides, such as: Pnap, AT&T, C&W, Exodus, AboveNet, UUNet, Aleron, Cogent, Verio, Level3 and many more!;
- Cisco powered network"

[Marc]

And the company that Prince Charming found leases rack space to hosts. These hosts in turn can do the same with reseller accounts, dedicated servers, co-location, etc. My host houses their equipment in this data center and I pay them money each month for bandwidth and space on one of their servers. I just upgraded my package with them and may eventually move to a fully dedicated server in the future if warranted.

[Prince Charming]

This year has seen a tremendous growth in this site. I have received a lot of feedback from people on what needed to be done to help improve the experience of members here. The fact is that people don't like to read threads with off-topic conversations going on. An off-topic post here and there is not a big deal, but when it turns into an off-topic conversation that is very distracting and rude. Those posts will get deleted. There is no need for an explanation as it doesn't take much subjectivity to determine that a post is off-topic; it is rather cut and dry.

With respect to personal insults/attacks, I rely Heavily on the posts that people report and look at every reported post. If it is off-topic, a personal insult/attack, or a reply to one of the aforementioned type of posts then it is deleted. I have to delete anywhere from 30-80 posts per day and don't have time or the means to explain why action was taken on each and every one. Often times if I have to delete a bunch of off-topic posts I will post in the thread for the posters to stay on-topic or they will continue to get deleted.

The best way to ensure that your post is not deleted is to stay on-topic, and don't respond to off-topic posts or posts that you feel may be a personal insult/attack. Simply report those posts.

I get complaints from people all over the political spectrum quite equally. It may seem like rules have been applied to you unfairly or to the political persuasion you may associate with, but I assure you that those you disagree with the most politically probably feel the same way. If I had the liberals telling me that I was doing a good job with the posts I deleted or the conservatives telling me that then there would be an obvious problem. I do all I can to remain as neutral as possible. This does not mean that I pretend to not have my own political beliefs, because I do. The end result is inevitably everyone thinking I apply the rules unfairly.

It takes a lot of time to moderate these forums, especially with over 500 new posts per day. I also have to communicate with my host to make sure the server is up and running smoothly, that the bandwidth limits have not been exceeded, so on and so forth. All of this takes a lot of time and I have never made any money off of it; rather, I have given a whole lot of my own money to keep this site up and running. While I do have plans to start accepting PayPal donations in the future, that is still a couple months away as I am too busy at the moment to set it up.

And again, report a post if you see it violating a rule. I admit 100% that I do not read nearly every post...but I will read every single reported post. The post above has not been reported, which I honestly feel is part of the member's responsibility for being a part of this community...a way to help make sure others abide by the rules and this place continues to be inviting. It is not crying to mommy, or telling on another...it is what has made this place better.

And about the host:
"- Servers located in the prestigious 56 Marietta in downtown Atlanta, GA;
- GigE connectivity to multiple Tier 1 and Tier 2 provides, such as: Pnap, AT&T, C&W, Exodus, AboveNet, UUNet, Aleron, Cogent, Verio, Level3 and many more!;
- Cisco powered network"

I appreciate your thoughtful response. Coming off a two-day ban, I am writing you to inform you of my final bit of input that will hopefully make this a better forum. I was banned for calling someone a liar. I caught this person telling not one, but two lies, in a single post. I personally have a problem with lies and propaganda. Sorry, I guess it was just the way I was raised. My point being is: I got a two-day ban for repeatedly calling this person a liar. Fine, your rules, I broke. My problem is that there seems to be no rules against posting utter and complete bullshit. One can post all the lies and propaganda they wish, yet when someone proves they are shoveling shit and tells them so, they are the one who is punished. Does any of this make sense? BTW, I know that I rubbed this persons face in the dirt and repeatedly labeled them a liar. Sorry, but I have no patience with a foreigner telling me about MY country's Constitution. Thank you, and I will find new ways of labeling liars. I will be more discreet.

[Marc]

I think the main point is to pick apart their arguments with your own and with your thoughtfulness in your posts you will be showing why your argument is better. What is a lie or propaganda is way too subjective to try and moderate and that is why we stick for the most part to personal insults/attacks and off-topic posts as ones that are moderated. I can appreciate your concerns because it is a concern of mine too, it is just too difficult in this medium to determine what is a lie and what isn't...what is propaganda and what isn't...etc.

[Bert Juneau]

I come from another discussion forum, its mainly for Muslims, contains more then 6000 members from all around the globe, yet we do have lots of members with different religious backgrounds as well.
I was searching for something the other day on google.com, and i stumbled on this site. So far, I find it very nice and informative...
I will for sure recommend this site to members in that forum, and I'll make sure this site will be crawling with Muslim Shiats everywhere

It would be nice to have more muslim voices here. Perhaps you could help a few of us to understand muslim culture and ideas?

[Helene]

I think by now the question should be: getting less members here LOL..
Moderating can be a lot of work. The more members, the harder it is!

Helene - has a life next to the forum

[Liberal Lil]

I want to personally thank all the moderators for the
great work you do to make this site the best on on the web.
I have been to other political sites and they are filled with
junk posts that make the topics difficult if not impossible
to read through.
I don't think you all get enough credit from everyone here.
It seems you get bitched at more than you get appreciated.

So here is a big

Thank You


to all of you from all of us.

[jotathought]

I think by now the question should be: getting less members here LOL..
Moderating can be a lot of work. The more members, the harder it is!

Helene - has a life next to the forum

Helene:

I believe Marc is working on obtaining some additional moderators to help alievate this issue.

[Helene]

Helene:

I believe Marc is working on obtaining some additional moderators to help alievate this issue.

Really?!?

Yeah, we're discussing it on the moderating forum.

Helene

[jotathought]

Really?!?

Yeah, we're discussing it on the moderating forum.

Helene

awwww .. c'mon .. I was being nice.