Neil
Voyager 
Posts: 7,171
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Post by Neil on Nov 8, 2007 11:22:09 GMT -8
Has it ever happened before on this forum that an entire thread was deleted because of what someone felt was an excessive detour?
Recently, we've also had another thread locked because of a disagreement that developed. On two other occasions, a moderator gave a very sharp rebuke to a member who's attitude he disliked.
People on this forum have different interests, and different ways of expressing themselves. Some people are interested in the most basic aspects of being ferry fans, others want to discuss more in the way of issues, and occasionally have debates. Threads get altered when those different interests collide. Are topics being sidetracked, or ruined, or are they being made more interesting? Depends on your perspective.
On the Christmas issue, Retro made a short, fairly straight forward remark which didn't seem inappropriate to the topic. Others came in with lengthier replies which perhaps really got things more diverted than was necessary.
But what about Fenklebaum's remark, some time ago... something to do with conversation being 'organic', and tending to go where it will? Should all disagreement and debate be shuffled off to a corner, so that talk about the most basic minutiae of the ferry world not be interrupted? Maybe so, depending on what you're interested in.
Some people have remarked that they think there's too much political stuff, too many issues, too much arguing, crowding the ferry talk. On the other hand, surely no one wants to go back to the often juvenile chatter of three years ago. Where's the balance?
Do we actually need to eliminate threads where people have expressed some ideas, and turned things, temporarily, in a different direction? Maybe, if the point about staying on topic is regarded as being important enough.
None of this is meant to criticize the moderators who, almost always, are very moderate in their efforts, and who do a much appreciated job in keeping things flowing. It's just that, there does seem to be a bit of friction between people who have different interests on here, and I'm not sure about the end result of how those differences get expressed.
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Post by Retrovision on Nov 8, 2007 11:54:06 GMT -8
Thank you, Neil, for publically acknowledging this question. I posed somewhat the same to staff specifically and am similarly interested in what will become of it but obviously, as you, I also realize that even for moderators this forum is a learning process and a fluid discussion with an ever forming foundation.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Nov 8, 2007 14:18:09 GMT -8
I am not sure if I have publically acknowledged the great work that the Moderators and Administrators do on this site. When I have had a question I have taken it off line and it has always turned into a very positive experience. It allowed me to get to know the person better and increased my respect for them.
I belong to an aviation forum. Between all the nugets of great information and interesting tidbits you have to wade through a whole lot of ... ummm...ahem... well...if you have a dog the stoop and scoup stuff. It is a worldwide forum so you have all sorts of political nonsense. You have Boeing fans who search for anything they can use against Airbus and vice versa. People go out of the way to "stir the pot" (they even have an smile for it)!
I think the founders and moderators can be very proud of the forum they have established here and the general decorum. However, as new people continue to join I think it may be a symptom of the growth that things will get challenging sometimes. The amount of work that the moderators do will only increase. And human nature being as it is the odd spat is going to crop up. They have a balancing act to keep this forum about ferries and still foster the members desire that this is the first place they go to talk about issues as long as it is remotely connected or generated by ferrytalk.
One of the decisions that must come to the forefront as the forum grows is how democratic will it be or will it be driven by what the moderators decide. Both have their positives. It results in a different feel to the forum and may put more or less work onto the moderators. And practically we can't vote on absolutely everything. Some level of rules is always necessary. But at what level do the become overly authoritarian?
If someone is rude to another member, says something that is clearly outside the area of normal decorum, is making statements that cross the line from being free speach to slander, etc. etc. all need to be handled.
I definitely have my own opinon on the removal of the thread after spending time expounding my views on something that was directly connected to this forum but perhaps not specifically a ferry issue. I am not going to air my opinion at the specific issue but rather brew on it a bit more so that my response is thoughtful and not reactionary and doesn't compound the issue.
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Post by Barnacle on Nov 8, 2007 14:46:08 GMT -8
I felt that deleting the thread was perhaps a bit heavy-handed, but the thread was quickly getting past the referees. I was doing my best to stay out of it, mostly because it had wandered far enough away from its origins to be well past 'organic.' (But thank you Fenklebaum for that great description of conversation!) In fact, it was quickly devolving into a playground-eqsue political correctness debate, and that isn't what I'm here for.
But I digress. I'm also past caring about the issue at hand, and would much rather get around to finding some interesting pictures representative of the holiday season for the banner, regardless of which flavor(s) of it we may celebrate as individuals.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Nov 8, 2007 16:02:10 GMT -8
The December Flagship thread is at it says, is about that. If you want to discuss Christmas or anything else create a seperate topic in the Forward Lounge. Dont mess up the Flagship threads by going off topic with a lot of posts that dont even relate to that. I am just getting tired of threads going of topic. I know everyone has different opinions and that is fine.
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886 
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Post by Mill Bay on Nov 9, 2007 9:35:14 GMT -8
The December Flagship thread is at it says, is about that. If you want to discuss Christmas or anything else create a seperate topic in the Forward Lounge. Dont mess up the Flagship threads by going off topic with a lot of posts that dont even relate to that. I am just getting tired of threads going of topic. I know everyone has different opinions and that is fine. As long we're just asking... i know that everyone has different opinions, of couse they do. I'm just wondering, why did this have to happen in the first place? Was this a necessary opinion to post in the first place. It's pretty hard to deny that this whole thing was pretty much intentional by virture of the fact that a statement or question was made that was absolutely guaranteed to be inflamatory, no too mention off-topic in that thread. It just seems far too contrived that the minute karl's post went up for the flagship idea, there was instantly an attempt to spark a controversy. Basically it was done on purpose because they like to see fireworks fly. I know there are people that think it's their duty to open up everyone's eyes to the hidden social injustices all around them, but do we really need the Intergalactic Virtue Fighter in this case? |
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Post by Retrovision on Nov 9, 2007 9:49:20 GMT -8
The December Flagship thread is at it says, is about that. If you want to discuss Christmas or anything else create a seperate topic in the Forward Lounge. Dont mess up the Flagship threads by going off topic with a lot of posts that dont even relate to that. I am just getting tired of threads going of topic. I know everyone has different opinions and that is fine. As long we're just asking... i know that everyone has different opinions, of couse they do. I'm just wondering, was this a necessary opinion to post in the first place. It's pretty hard to deny that this whole thing was pretty much intentional by virture of the fact that a statement was made that was absolutely guaranteed to be inflamatory, no too mention off-topic in that thread. It just seems far too contrived that the minute karl's post went up for the flagship idea, there was instantly an attempt to spark a controversy. Basically it was done on purpose because they like to see fireworks fly. I know there are people that think it's their duty to open up everyone's eyes to the hidden social injustices all around them, but do we really need the Intergalactic Virtue Fighter in this case? I do have a name you know  Admittedly I've stired up a lot of something or other lately, but evolution doesn't come from status quo. I have been too heavy handed and for that I apologize and am, as ever-adapting as we all deserve credit for being, changing my ways. On the Christmas issue, Retro made a short, fairly straight forward remark which didn't seem inappropriate to the topic. Others came in with lengthier replies which perhaps really got things more diverted than was necessary. Fairly straight forward, and which - now deleted - was backed up in a post by Kam that gave some validity to the argument that I was making that, atleast according to one prominent and credible member, didn't seem inappropriate to the topic, atleast to begin with. With reasoning such as the qualifications that I attached to my argument for this particular issue - I even twice made it very clear that I myself enjoy a traditional Christmas and wouldn't have it any other way - I cannot apologize for, among other things, fear of further undermining my word. ...there was instantly an attempt to spark a controversy. Unfortunate timing, not meant on purpose; I'm simply an avid member who keeps on top of this forum during numerous breaks for the sake of sanity while working away at my computer to further my life in other respects. Basically it was done on purpose because they like to see fireworks fly. I don't tell you what motivates you, and I'd appreciate it if when you're expressing your opinion of what motivates people that you (and everyone, for/to any member) make it clear that it is opinion alone; I'll try to watch my words similarly if I haven't already in this respect. |
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Nov 9, 2007 10:05:33 GMT -8
As long we're just asking... i know that everyone has different opinions, of couse they do. I'm just wondering, was this a necessary opinion to post in the first place. It's pretty hard to deny that this whole thing was pretty much intentional by virture of the fact that a statement was made that was absolutely guaranteed to be inflamatory, no too mention off-topic in that thread. It just seems far too contrived that the minute karl's post went up for the flagship idea, there was instantly an attempt to spark a controversy. Basically it was done on purpose because they like to see fireworks fly. I know there are people that think it's their duty to open up everyone's eyes to the hidden social injustices all around them, but do we really need the Intergalactic Virtue Fighter in this case? I do have a name you know Admitedly I've stired up a lot of something or other lately, but evolution doesn't come from status quo. I have been to heavy handed and for that I apologize and am, as ever-adapting as we all deserve credit for being, changing my ways. On the Christmas issue, Retro made a short, fairly straight forward remark which didn't seem inappropriate to the topic. Others came in with lengthier replies which perhaps really got things more diverted than was necessary. Fairly straight forward, and which - now deleted - was backed up in a post by Kam that gave some validity to the argument that I was making that, atleast according to one prominent and credible member, didn't seem inappropriate to the topic, atleast to begin with. With reasoning such as the qualifications that I attached to my argument for this particular issue - I even twice made it very clear that I myself enjoy a traditional Christmas and wouldn't have it any other way - I cannot apologize for, among other things, fear of further undermining my word. Thanks Graham, With regard to this, I also deleted one of my other posts which I now feel was also going way too far off base in every way. I can get pretty stupid sometimes myself... not to cast aspersions on anyone else. |
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,171
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Post by Neil on Nov 9, 2007 10:16:32 GMT -8
I am seriously considering adopting 'Intergalactic Virtue Fighter' as my new forum moniker. Unless Retro grabs it first, of course. |
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Post by Retrovision on Nov 9, 2007 11:25:43 GMT -8
I am seriously considering adopting 'Intergalactic Virtue Fighter' as my new forum moniker. Unless Retro grabs it first, of course. You called it first, by all means it's yours.  Anyways, I'd much prefer someone else take the burden of the role of IVF (wouldn't we all though, prefer the path of least resistance); I'd be quite content taking the Bruce Wayne role of the team. |
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Nov 9, 2007 12:07:05 GMT -8
I am seriously considering adopting 'Intergalactic Virtue Fighter' as my new forum moniker. Unless Retro grabs it first, of course. You called it first, by all means it's yours. Anyways, I'd much prefer someone else take the burden of the role of IVF (wouldn't we all though, prefer the path of least resistance); I'd be quite content taking the Bruce Wayne role of the team. Yeah go with Batman. He doesn’t need superpowers, he’s just a man, but that is enough. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 9, 2007 22:14:28 GMT -8
I'm just back-home now, after 2 days away on a work trip. I've enjoyed reading this thread, and am pleased with the organic evolution of this discussion.
The Intergalactic-virtue-fighter comment was very hilarious, and I'm happy that it was taken in good-humour by Mr. Retro too.
I also like how Mr. Retro responded to a comment that he took issue with, and how that was worked out.
Well done, all.
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Nov 30, 2007 23:37:07 GMT -8
Just asking, can we increase the size of the header image for the month to 840 by 210 to give more pixels and perhaps go to 980 by 245 to keep the 4:1 ratio yet more pixels?
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Post by WettCoast on Dec 1, 2007 7:30:09 GMT -8
Just asking, can we increase the size of the header image for the month to 840 by 210 to give more pixels and perhaps go to 980 by 245 to keep the 4:1 ratio yet more pixels? Yes, I agree, the header would look better if it was larger. I would recommend a size for the final posted header at 960 x 240. Also, while we are at it, we should consider some flexibility on the aspect ratio. My feeling is that we should permit either the old 7x33 ratio, or the new 1x4 ratio, or perhaps anything between those two. |
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Post by Mike C on Dec 1, 2007 9:10:11 GMT -8
Hear, hear. Having it the same size as Signature-pic size isn't really reasonable... 960x240 is good. Then again, I have a wide-screen monitor, and my perspective of the forum is completely blown out of proportion, but I just think it would look good for us who have gone wide-screen, AND for those who haven't. |
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