BTO Feedback Requested: Amount of Moderation and Policing on Agriville.com

[joedales]

Hi Freewheat and everyone,

Over the past few years, I have only had to get involved with member moderation a few times when people pushed the boundaries and were directly breaking the user guidelines.

https://www.agriville.com/community/guidelines.shtml

The link is located in the bottom footer of each page.

I agree with the large majority of members and visitors that we want and value free speech and we don't want moderation in the case that we don't like or agree with the other person's point of view.

BTO has been kicked off the site at least twice and after a few months decides to rejoin under a slightly different user name.

I have been reviewing his most recent posts and do agree that he is swearing but assuming the poor spelling is permissible. He has also been personally attacking other members and groups as well as bullying others.

The Agriville community seems divided on how we should moderate a member like this.

Can I get some advice/feedback on whether a 30 day vacation/penalty for BTO is an appropriate response? With an agreement on no spelling mistake swearing, a refrain from future personal attacks or rants on groups.

I do think BTO has some good points and opinions but does push past the point of good taste at times.

If anyone wants to share your thoughts directly and privately with me please email or call,

Thanks,

Joe Dales
Agriville.com/Farms.com
877 438-5729 x5013
joe.dales@farms.com

[farmaholic]

Some good natured ribbing and teasing is fun.

Personal attacks and slanderous comments...no way

A little colorful language... obviously I do it so must think its ok....and do....and make no apologies.

Truth sometimes hurts.....deal with it. Denial isn't healthy.

Warn the offenders. ..three strikes...you're out...again.

If everyone thought the same there would be nothing to learn from your peers. Debate stimulates thought. Keep an open mind. Try some critical thinking against your long held ideological beleifs.

"Taking your ball and going home" isn't the answer. Everywhere you go and get involved in will have "people with the personality of sandpaper"....rub up against it long enough and it gets real irritating. This is just another one of those places.....

I encourage everyone to stay and participate for each other's sake.....we all contribute something of value in our own unique way....

Thanks Agriville family....take care!

[dalek]

He doesn't seem to be capable of learning anything, whether it's 30 days or months.

[ianben]

Hi Joe
The farming forum in the UK allows me to ignore other members posts, removes them from the thread I see.

Just click on members name then ignore and his posts are gone.

I do this is an old site but could it be done here?

[Hopalong]

Some of the poor spelling seems intentional.
Swearing, ranting and raving is over the line.
Ban him again.

[nicolaas]

rants no problem. keep personal problems on facebook. Keep this forum for commodity issues and /or advise. let him stay.

[bucket]

I can easily ignore his posts. Sometimes I just think ..."Wtf has he said now...." before I read them.

I don't mind the swearing. I am more offended by the ..." god bless everyone/thing..." crowd.

[crusher]

I think his posts are senseless. It would be beneficial if we had an optional user blocker. If not, users can easily skip over his comments.

[Braveheart]

You're giving him what he wants with the attention to him and his behaviour. Best to ignore.

[stonepicker]

I think your a little too kind in your evaluation of bto Joe. With words like niggar, extreme bad-mouthing of lots of other groups and individuals.. I'm not interested. He makes the site very amateur.

[Jay-mo]

This is the only message board or forum I have ever seen that allows the kind of derogatory, vulgar, and racist language that is used by a few here.
Alot of the modern forums have features that will automatically censor foul language and racial slurs. Makes it a non-issue and keeps a lot of the dialogue from getting out of hand, like this one.
Here the moderators are non-existent, which leads to some of these pointless and "waste of time" topics.
I think people can use whatever language they want on their own time, but in a public forum it does lower the intelligence of some of the discussions.
There should be zero-tolerance on this site for any profanity, threats or racial slurs specifically directed at someone.

[bucket]

Good...

Can we get rid of the religious shit too.

Thanks.

[grassfarmer]

I don't really think it should be up for debate by participants Joe. The racism, bigotry and bullying is unacceptable by your own rules but more so it is damaging your "brand" and putting it at risk.
I know of forums in Europe where police were involved and charges were laid for these type of racist, bigoted behaviour. Don't think that hiding behind made up names protects posters identity - it can all be traced. I think you need to protect Agriville's reputation from going down that route.
Don't bother with a 30 day ban, just flush him and be done with it.

[foragefarmer]

Everybody has the option to ignore a poster.

Other than Tom, who we all know who he is in real life, how can anybody call it a personal attack. We could pass each other on the street and not know we are Agriville posters.

I do recall the request to have other posters banned here on Agriville.
You ban one poster, and you really open a can of worms Joe. Do you really want to judge every other complaint that comes your way about banning the next poster?

Light up guys, thicken your skins!

[dfarms11]

I don't understand why you are asking whether or not to ban him. I said it before. Any well moderated forum he'd be long gone because of his abusive behavior.