Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Kevin · 08-21-2002, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RufusAtticus:
Since another thread is being sidetracked, I've started this thread to discuss how the people who participate in Evolution/Creation think we moderators should act. How we should make descision, etc.

Okay, the floor is open for your comments.

[ August 20, 2002: Message edited by: RufusAtticus ]

Admit it. You were just fishing for complements on how good a job you're all doing.

In all seriousness, I think the moderation here is excellent as is and I wouldn't change a thing.

(I'm also pleased that PZ is new moderator. I've appreciated his erudition as a lurker at talk.origins for years.)

Tabula_rasa · 08-21-2002, 12:06 PM

Jumping on the bandwagon (not that I post that often)...

The moderators are doing a wonderful job of managing the boards. Keep up the good work.

Tabula_rasa

pz · 08-21-2002, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kevin:

(I'm also pleased that PZ is new moderator. I've appreciated his erudition as a lurker at talk.origins for years.)

OK, how does one lurk eruditely? Was that a sneaky suggestion that I'm at my best when I shut up?

(I'm just ragging on you. I know what you meant -- thanks!)

scigirl · 08-21-2002, 06:03 PM

Hey, thanks all for your support!

Richiyaado stated,

Quote:

I think most people become impatient with the Vituperation, Intemperance, Caterwauling, Emotionalism and Sensationalism which too often pass for reasoned arguments.

Oh sure, make more work for me why don't ya? Now I have to find where I packed my dictionary! (As a sidenote, I got a medical dictionary, 60 dollar value, for joining the AMA. My cult conversion is coming along quite nicely . . . )

Good points though. Here's an article from the secular web library about logical arguments, and fallacies:

<a href="http://www.infidels.org/news/atheism/logic.html" target="_blank">http://www.infidels.org/news/atheism/logic.html</a>

Bubba stated,

Quote:

I especially enjoy Scigirl and PS418 when they post stuff here that has more of an actual hard science bent.

Heh, thanks. I wish I had time to do more of that type of posting/writing.

nogods4me said,

Quote:

now if only all my posts were automatically moved to the top of the page, bathed in a golden glow, presented in a larger, more elegant font, in a nice shade of royal blue, well then it would be heaven, er, make that perfect.

AHEM, our moderators have taken this suggestion under serious consideration, and we will be getting back to you with our responses.

(sound of crickets chirping in the mailbox of nogods4me. . . )

But really, if anyone has any suggestions or complaints about the moderationg, please feel free to post them!

scigirl

One of the last sane · 08-21-2002, 06:23 PM

It's pretty good, but I don't think moderators should enter into debates in forums they also moderate. Maybe moderators should only moderate forums in which they have no interest in participating in. I've decided on a policy that if I find a moderator disagreeing with me, I'll leave before he boots my ass out of malice.

scigirl · 08-21-2002, 06:36 PM

One of last of the sane,

I guess first of all, I would point out that all of the moderators here are atheists/agnostics, and promote metaphysical naturalism, so you just aren't going to get an "even handed" debate based solely on the moderator's beliefs, whether or not they are actively posting. Hopefully though, our views do not interfere with our fairness!

I do see your point, but I personally would not want to moderate forums I found difficult to read or understand (or forums I don't like to read).

I think I can personally do a better job as a mod because I am a science geek, and will actually read the posts on fossils and genetics quite thoroughly.

However I do see how it could be intimidating. Perhpas the fact that we have four moderators might help ease your mind about debating us? Plus we always have the formal debate section.

Other thoughts on this topic?

Kevin Dorner · 08-21-2002, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by One of last of the sane:
I've decided on a policy that if I find a moderator disagreeing with me, I'll leave before he boots my ass out of malice.

Eek... I hope we don't ever practice that sort of mind-control around here. Some of the best posts I have seen in here come from the moderators, and I do not count myself in that by a very long shot, so I am glad that the moderators participate in the discussions.

If everyone here knows and agrees on the same things, what is there to discuss?

By all means, disagree with me! If you abide by the <a href="http://www.infidels.org/infidels/forumrules.html" target="_blank">IIDB rules and policies</a> you will always be welcome. I doubt my fellow mods would do any different as well.

[ August 21, 2002: Message edited by: Kevin Dorner ]

One of the last sane · 08-21-2002, 07:02 PM

Well, I can think of one thread I quit recently because I was disagreeing with one mod, and another was editing my posts heavily while allowing another participant (not a mod IIRC) to post long diatribes against me without editing them with even-handed severity. It was pretty obvious mod #2 was allowing the other poster free rein to ad-hom me, with considerably stronger criticism than I had used, because I had dared to disagree with mod#1. So I just quit the thread, and in future I'll always just walk away if a mod disagrees with me. It wasn't in this forum though.

Kevin Dorner · 08-21-2002, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by One of last of the sane:
It wasn't in this forum though.

Whew!

I was getting more and more worried as I read through there. Who was that, I wondered... thanks for that last sentence!

As always, if anyone thinks that unfair moderation has been applied, there is the <a href="http://iidb.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum&f=7&SUBMIT=Go" target="_blank">Bugs, Problems & Complaints</a> forum. All posts there are reviewed by the administrators.

DireStraits · 08-21-2002, 07:10 PM

As a board, this is one of the best on the web, since it seems to operate on the principle that anyone ought to be allowed to say whatever they want unless it is illegal. I would not support libel or propagation of child porn or anything else of that sort.

Neither would I support the censorship that I have seen on the likes of the Baptist Board, for example.

Let me paraphrase one of the greatest Americans of them all:

"A board is best run by a moderator who intervenes least."

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

08-21-2002, 12:06 PM	#22
Tabula_rasa Regular Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: East of Dumbville, MA Posts: 144	Jumping on the bandwagon (not that I post that often)... The moderators are doing a wonderful job of managing the boards. Keep up the good work. Tabula_rasa

08-21-2002, 06:23 PM	#25
One of the last sane Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: hereabouts Posts: 734	It's pretty good, but I don't think moderators should enter into debates in forums they also moderate. Maybe moderators should only moderate forums in which they have no interest in participating in. I've decided on a policy that if I find a moderator disagreeing with me, I'll leave before he boots my ass out of malice.

08-21-2002, 06:36 PM	#26
scigirl Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Seattle Posts: 4,261	One of last of the sane, I guess first of all, I would point out that all of the moderators here are atheists/agnostics, and promote metaphysical naturalism, so you just aren't going to get an "even handed" debate based solely on the moderator's beliefs, whether or not they are actively posting. Hopefully though, our views do not interfere with our fairness! I do see your point, but I personally would not want to moderate forums I found difficult to read or understand (or forums I don't like to read). I think I can personally do a better job as a mod because I am a science geek, and will actually read the posts on fossils and genetics quite thoroughly. However I do see how it could be intimidating. Perhpas the fact that we have four moderators might help ease your mind about debating us? Plus we always have the formal debate section. Other thoughts on this topic?

08-21-2002, 07:02 PM	#28
One of the last sane Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: hereabouts Posts: 734	Well, I can think of one thread I quit recently because I was disagreeing with one mod, and another was editing my posts heavily while allowing another participant (not a mod IIRC) to post long diatribes against me without editing them with even-handed severity. It was pretty obvious mod #2 was allowing the other poster free rein to ad-hom me, with considerably stronger criticism than I had used, because I had dared to disagree with mod#1. So I just quit the thread, and in future I'll always just walk away if a mod disagrees with me. It wasn't in this forum though.

08-21-2002, 07:10 PM	#30
DireStraits Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 81	As a board, this is one of the best on the web, since it seems to operate on the principle that anyone ought to be allowed to say whatever they want unless it is illegal. I would not support libel or propagation of child porn or anything else of that sort. Neither would I support the censorship that I have seen on the likes of the Baptist Board, for example. Let me paraphrase one of the greatest Americans of them all: "A board is best run by a moderator who intervenes least."

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.