Moderator Alert / Report Discussion

[TexasLori]

I have a question about being flagged.

I recently participated in a discussion that was closed due to alerts. While I agree that the discussion was heated in a few places, I felt that for the most part everyone was respectful. Personally, I have always followed the TOS and I have never been issued a warning or TO. I am very careful that I don't because I care about the feelings of others and I respect this website.

My question is, are there any repercussions (warnings or TOs) for people who alert on posts that are not breaking any rules? For example, if I alert on a post and the poster has done nothing wrong, I just disagree with their position, is that ok to do? Because I feel like it is unfair that people react emotionally and get a discussion shut down even though for the most part everyone is playing nicely.

 

[Kimster]

I have a question about being flagged.

I recently participated in a discussion that was closed due to alerts. While I agree that the discussion was heated in a few places, I felt that for the most part everyone was respectful. Personally, I have always followed the TOS and I have never been issued a warning or TO. I am very careful that I don't because I care about the feelings of others and I respect this website.

My question is, are there any repercussions (warnings or TOs) for people who alert on posts that are not breaking any rules? For example, if I alert on a post and the poster has done nothing wrong, I just disagree with their position, is that ok to do? Because I feel like it is unfair that people react emotionally and get a discussion shut down even though for the most part everyone is playing nicely.

Disagreeing with another member's opinion on the thread is not a violation of TOS (unless the disagreement is being disrespectful or simply bickering). Do not report posts simply because you disagree with another member.

It is a very rare occasion when someone gets a TO for abusing the alert feature. The member would have to be alerting many times a day and being rude in the alerts. I've only known it to happen a couple of times in the four years I've been a mod and they were well-warned ahead of time.

If someone alerts on a post and there is nothing wrong, the mods just scroll on by. If a thread is closed and the mods say it's because of excessive alerts - they mean that the alerts were justified. It would probably be better if we as a mod team would be more specific and say it's because of forum infractions. We would never close a thread because of unwarranted alerts.

The reason you aren't seeing the posts that are in violation of the rules is that generally the mods are there immediately and remove the posts from viewing. We handle problem posts behind the scenes because we do not believe in publicly shaming our members. :nono:

The only time you might see some problematic posts is if the mods are hanging out in a donut shop and not paying attention. :yes:

 

[TexasLori]

Disagreeing with another member's opinion on the thread is not a violation of TOS (unless the disagreement is being disrespectful or simply bickering). Do not report posts simply because you disagree with another member.

It is a very rare occasion when someone gets a TO for abusing the alert feature. The member would have to be alerting many times a day and being rude in the alerts. I've only known it to happen a couple of times in the four years I've been a mod and they were well-warned ahead of time.

If someone alerts on a post and there is nothing wrong, the mods just scroll on by. If a thread is closed and the mods say it's because of excessive alerts - they mean that the alerts were justified. It would probably be better if we as a mod team would be more specific and say it's because of forum infractions. We would never close a thread because of unwarranted alerts.

The reason you aren't seeing the posts that are in violation of the rules is that generally the mods are there immediately and remove the posts from viewing. We handle problem posts behind the scenes because we do not believe in publicly shaming our members. :nono:

The only time you might see some problematic posts is if the mods are hanging out in a donut shop and not paying attention. :yes:

Thank you, Kimster, for taking the time to give this explanation. I really do appreciate it and all the mods here do to keep this place running smoothly. Thanks again!

 

[Razz]

I have tapatalk and have no idea how to alert or contact a mod. Please advise.

Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk

 

[tlcya]

To alert on a post via tapatalk click the post you want to call a moderator's attention to. It will become highlighted. click the three dots at the top right of your screen. Select report from the pulldown menu. A box appears with default text reading "its spam" replace that text with a brief explanation of why you are alerting. Hit send.

 

[Razz]

To alert on a post via tapatalk click the post you want to call a moderator's attention to. It will become highlighted. click the three dots at the top right of your screen. Select report from the pulldown menu. A box appears with default text reading "its spam" replace that text with a brief explanation of why you are alerting. Hit send.

But what if I just want to contact a mod?

Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk

 

[Drb]

I have been told I need to verify myself how do I go abput doing this?

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[relay]

I have been told I need to verify myself how do I go abput doing this?

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

You can click the alert button which is the explanation point in the lower left area of your post. This opens up a message box in which you can send a message to a mod asking how to become verified. The alert button is generally used to alert on a post that a person thinks is inappropriate or against TOS (terms of service for websleuths). You may want to include details about the case and in what capacity you wish to become verified. Welcome .

 

[margarita25]

But what if I just want to contact a mod?

Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk

Send a pm.

 

[Razz]

Send a pm.

Doesn't work if you're on a TO.

Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk

 

[tlcya]

If you wish to reach out to administration while on a time out you may email [email protected]

 

[Razz]

If you wish to reach out to administration while on a time out you may email [email protected]

Done that too only to have the message returned as no such address. It's easy enough to leave a letter out however. At the moment, it's not an issue. But it may be again in the future.

Sent from my SM-J700T using Tapatalk

 

[Drb]

You can click the alert button which is the explanation point in the lower left area of your post. This opens up a message box in which you can send a message to a mod asking how to become verified. The alert button is generally used to alert on a post that a person thinks is inappropriate or against TOS (terms of service for websleuths). You may want to include details about the case and in what capacity you wish to become verified. Welcome .

Thank you i did email my details last night

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[LaneGirl]

I think they are overworked and possible need more mods!

I've pm'd a couple and no response. It must be really hard to keep a rowdy bunch in line

 

[Xyzzia]

Hello mods I have a question. I enjoy this website hugely and spend a lot of time reading and posting. On occasion like today I had a post deleted. I have no problem with that at all however I'm not sure which post it was that was deleted. So this is what it says in my alert:
Your post in the thread Canada - Lucas Fowler, Chynna Deese, and Leonard Dyck, all murdered, Alaska Hwy, BC, Jul 2019 #9 was deleted. Reason: Politicizing is not allowed and may result in Warning points that remain permanently on your WS membership account.
Today at 5:50 PM

Again I say I have no problem with deleting things that are inappropriate. But I do Post quite a bit and I can't remember maybe what I had said because it's been deleted... I do not know what I had said wrong. Is there any way for me to go back and find which post was deleted so that I can have a better understanding of what I said wrong?

Thank you so much

 

[Sillybilly]

Sorry this reply is so late Xyzzia.

There is no way for members to go back to view deleted posts. It's actually difficult even for WS staff to find them because they do not come up when we do a search of the member's posting history. (They used to under the old software system but with the upgrading to the new software system we've had to forego some of the older software features.)

On the chance that I might find it quickly, I went back to July 30 but that particular thread was so busy, I would have to go through hundreds of deleted posts that were removed on July 30 alone, and I just ran out of time.

 

[Sillybilly]

Just a miscellaneous comment to let members know that, under this newer Xenforo software that was installed in 2018 the term "Report" is used instead of the term "Alert".

The Report feature is at the bottom of each post where you see "Edit", "History", etc.

 

[Smelly Squirrel]

Couple of questions for mods.

Is it okay to ask here about specific deleted posts?

Is there a list somewhere of WS approved sources?

TIA