Posts: 30129
Threads: 304
Joined: April 18, 2014
Reputation:
92
RE: The "Report" button, and how not to treat your staff.
March 29, 2015 at 11:08 am
I recall a site some years ago (and now defunct) where an obviously mentally ill (and not in a fun way) poster was allowed to continue posting, apparently for the amusement of the board and TPTB. I pointed it out several times, and never got a response, or in trouble, either.
He eventually was banned for posting links to porn, but it was a very long time coming.
The granting of a pardon is an imputation of guilt, and the acceptance a confession of it.
Posts: 6990
Threads: 89
Joined: January 6, 2012
Reputation:
104
RE: The "Report" button, and how not to treat your staff.
March 29, 2015 at 2:11 pm
(This post was last modified: March 29, 2015 at 2:11 pm by Fidel_Castronaut.)
(March 28, 2015 at 9:41 pm)Tonus Wrote: I did the admin/mod duties for a fairly busy website many years ago, and I guess that's why I don't fret over mod actions here. I know what it's like behind the scenes, especially with what I call forum lawyers (who seem to think that they're defending themselves in a US court instead of an internet forum). It's not a thankless job, but it can feel that way sometimes. Keep your collective chin up, people!
(March 28, 2015 at 10:10 pm)Pyrrho Wrote: (March 28, 2015 at 9:41 pm)Tonus Wrote: I did the admin/mod duties for a fairly busy website many years ago, and I guess that's why I don't fret over mod actions here. I know what it's like behind the scenes, especially with what I call forum lawyers (who seem to think that they're defending themselves in a US court instead of an internet forum). ...
Yes, that is pretty funny. One can be kicked off of a privately owned site, for any reason, or for no reason, if the owners wish to do so. Typically, though, there is something in a list somewhere called "rules" that people ignore that gets them kicked off of privately owned sites.
It is a bit like someone being shocked if they were asked to leave someone's private home, when they become obnoxious and piss on the carpet (literally or metaphorically). What, I can't do whatever I want in your place?
Some people are really, really, really stupid.
^^ QFT.
We as a forum are bound by certain relevant international and (national) legislation, of course, as is every site. But it makes me lol when I see someone trot out some legislation that relates to, for example, civil action in a US state or whatever because they've had their account restricted. Maybe file that letter of legal intent to 'recycle bin' where it belongs.
Posts: 30974
Threads: 204
Joined: July 19, 2011
Reputation:
141
RE: The "Report" button, and how not to treat your staff.
March 29, 2015 at 2:36 pm
(March 29, 2015 at 2:11 pm)Pandæmonium Wrote: We as a forum are bound by certain relevant international and (national) legislation, of course, as is every site. But it makes me lol when I see someone trot out some legislation that relates to, for example, civil action in a US state or whatever because they've had their account restricted. Maybe file that letter of legal intent to 'recycle bin' where it belongs.
That's actually happened here, someone was threatening to sue AF for "censoring" him or some bullshit. My reply was something along the lines of "The owner lives in and is a citizen of the UK, the server resides in France, and the volunteer staff is spread across at least three continents. Good luck with that."
Posts: 3395
Threads: 43
Joined: February 8, 2015
Reputation:
33
RE: The "Report" button, and how not to treat your staff.
March 29, 2015 at 2:57 pm
(March 29, 2015 at 2:36 pm)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote: (March 29, 2015 at 2:11 pm)Pandæmonium Wrote: We as a forum are bound by certain relevant international and (national) legislation, of course, as is every site. But it makes me lol when I see someone trot out some legislation that relates to, for example, civil action in a US state or whatever because they've had their account restricted. Maybe file that letter of legal intent to 'recycle bin' where it belongs.
That's actually happened here, someone was threatening to sue AF for "censoring" him or some bullshit. My reply was something along the lines of "The owner lives in and is a citizen of the UK, the server resides in France, and the volunteer staff is spread across at least three continents. Good luck with that."
It is even more ridiculous than that. Even if the owner, server, and all moderators were in the same country as the person threatening a lawsuit, it is very likely that the country does not require a private site to host the ramblings of random people who wish to post there. I have a hunch (and feel free to correct me or not, as it pleases you) that the idiot in question is one of my countrymen, as it sounds like the kind of thing that one of the morons in my country would say. (I am in the U.S.)
Normally, laws require that one not allow certain sorts of things, like advocating illegal activity, or being involved in illegal activity (such as hosting pirated copies of copyrighted material, child porn, etc.). Rarely do laws require that one put the words of some private individual on a private site, though I expect there could be some exceptions in some countries.
The upshot is, it sounds like it is just a stupid, ridiculous idea, that the idiot would discover if he (or she) spoke with a lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.
"A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence."
— David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section X, Part I.
Posts: 30974
Threads: 204
Joined: July 19, 2011
Reputation:
141
RE: The "Report" button, and how not to treat your staff.
March 29, 2015 at 3:01 pm
Yep, I'm well aware of that - I just thought it would be funny visualizing the poor bastard's head exploding while figuring out which jurisdiction to file in. 
Posts: 3395
Threads: 43
Joined: February 8, 2015
Reputation:
33
RE: The "Report" button, and how not to treat your staff.
March 29, 2015 at 3:13 pm
I did not mean to suggest that you were unaware of it. The idea of suing the owner of a private site for censoring some private individual on the private site is just so stupid from every angle. It is to be hoped that someone who needs this information will read it and realize the absurdity of their position, so that they will not bother you with their nonsense. Of course, it would be a vain hope that everyone who is unaware of such things will read it in this thread. But maybe one or two who need to be told this will read it, and maybe it will mean one or two less idiots wasting your time with their ridiculous complaints.
I know I am a guest here (being a member does not mean I own the site), and as such, I may be asked to leave at any time, for any reason, or no reason. It is not up to me to decide if I am allowed here or not. It is entirely up to the owner(s) of the site.
Just like, I may exclude a private individual from my home, if it pleases me to do so, regardless of whether they have been allowed in my home previously or not. So, too, a private site may exclude a private individual, at any time, regardless of what had been tolerated in the past.
"A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence."
— David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section X, Part I.
Posts: 30974
Threads: 204
Joined: July 19, 2011
Reputation:
141
RE: The "Report" button, and how not to treat your staff.
March 29, 2015 at 3:24 pm
(This post was last modified: March 29, 2015 at 3:25 pm by Jackalope.)
Indeed - and even so, to those that want to claim that what they did isn't against the rules, there's this:
http://atheistforums.org/rules.php
Quote:Atheist Forums reserves the right to enforce the following rules as the staff sees fit.
It doesn't matter if one thinks it's fair, whether one thinks we're biased, or any other such nonsense. If the staff decides via our quorum protocol that someone has to go, they're gone - and someone making themselves a pain in the staff's ass certainly won't help (which is, of course, the entire purpose of this thread).
Posts: 29107
Threads: 218
Joined: August 9, 2014
Reputation:
155
RE: The "Report" button, and how not to treat your staff.
March 29, 2015 at 3:31 pm
It winds me up to see some people take the forum for granted and to expect it to bend to their will, rather than be thankful for the opportunity to be part of the community thanks to the hard work of the staff.
Posts: 3395
Threads: 43
Joined: February 8, 2015
Reputation:
33
RE: The "Report" button, and how not to treat your staff.
March 29, 2015 at 3:49 pm
(March 29, 2015 at 3:24 pm)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote: ...
It doesn't matter if one thinks it's fair, whether one thinks we're biased, or any other such nonsense. ...
Yes, exactly. It does not even matter if there are posted rules or not. If, in my private home, I wish to exclude someone, I may do so. I don't need a set of rules to do this, and I do not need to explain myself to anyone who is excluded. Private individuals do not have a right to enter my home, or remain there against my will. If I allow them to enter my home, they are guests, and may remain only so long as I am okay with their presence. Likewise with a privately owned site. It is the owner's site, and the owner may exclude anyone, at any time, for any reason, without advance warning.
If someone wants to make up the rules themselves, and enforce them themselves, they should start their own site.
Maybe the problem people are having with this is the concept of a privately owned site, that they do not understand that it is a privately owned site. Pretty much everyone understands these concepts in relation to their own home, and they ought to be able to understand the same idea for someone's private site.
"A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence."
— David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section X, Part I.
Posts: 30974
Threads: 204
Joined: July 19, 2011
Reputation:
141
RE: The "Report" button, and how not to treat your staff.
March 29, 2015 at 4:03 pm
(March 29, 2015 at 3:49 pm)Pyrrho Wrote: [...] If someone wants to make up the rules themselves, and enforce them themselves, they should start their own site. [...]
^^^ This ^^^
The ultimate in freedom of speech. You can get a pretty decent VPS for hosting a small site for $10 or less per month, and you can get the software free.
(Of course, that's the easy part. Setting up a successful site is nothing but hard work.)
|
![[Image: 146748944129044_zpsomrzyn3d.gif]](https://images.weserv.nl/?url=i629.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fuu13%2FRXM843%2F146748944129044_zpsomrzyn3d.gif)
