Moderators Impartiality
 

Should moderators be impartial and objective. Should they allow threads to continue even if they disagree with them but are fair and not against the rules.

Let me give a hypothetical example.

Mod...lets give codename deepthroat is part of an organisation lets call it S. Maybe even an owner of such an entity. Any thread about organisation S that is anyway negative is deleted......thou shalt only speak in glowing terms about this organsation or thus the mighty mod shalt smite thee with the padlock.

I do believe this topic should have fair and reasonable and robust discussion. For it does bring the value of this, at times, valuable forum into question.

Deletion of this thread however confirm information I have recieved and wil almost certainly result in me leaving PPRuNe for good.

The world is a horrible place Guptar, everyone is out to get you..... http://www.mediablvd.com/forums/styl...tdeadhorse.gif

One of my old employers had a saying.... Everyone brings us happiness, some as they arrive, others as they leave....

'Gup" you will simply not win with the Mods, they are of a higher power than the mainstream Pruners. I'd hate to be a Mod & be disliked by so many. So let them play in their power house with the big stick & look at it like it's a game where the playing field slopes in their fav. 'Ops' haven't heard that in years:ok:


Wmk2

Hi Guptar,

I'm not quite sure exactly what you're asking, but hopefully what I'm about to write will answer your question.

The moderating team in D&G is a small, but highly experienced on both sides of the fence in this industry (that being piloting and managing). Most of us have been here since PPRuNe's inception over a decade ago.

Some of the decisions we make as mods often won't please everybody (take the previous post as an example ;)). However, we try to be as objective as possible in dealing with threads and members.

From my perspective, all of the companies I've worked for have featured fairly prominently in D&G over the years, and continue to do so. Members have written comments about my work colleagues (and I, unbeknownst to them) at different times. Some of these members are known to me personally, others not. Some posts are flattering, others quite the opposite. You get my drift? I have a pretty thick skin when it comes to people taking a shot at me, so it doesn't worry me too much.

Nonetheless, (as my alter-ego) if I disagree with what's written about me, my colleagues or my company, I'll take the person to task directly and rationally, as would any of you, I'm sure. That's what any reasonable person would do.

However, D&G can get pretty fiery at times, and thankfully most threads tend to self-moderate :ok:

When I do put my mod's hat on, the game changes completely. For example, I only take action if the post or poster demonstrates one or more of the following "qualities". The list is not exhaustive:

1. Has breached http://www.pprune.org/dg-p-reporting...-reminder.html;
2. Becomes personal (as many threads are wont to do);
3. Becomes libellous towards an individual or organisation;
4. Is a duplicate thread or question;
The list goes on, but I'm sure you can see where I'm coming from.

The action can be anything from reformatting text to merging threads, or in extreme cases, editing or deleting threads and passing on warnings or bans to offenders (rare).

Something you won't see in the front-end of the forums is the communication which occurs between mods as part of our job. There will often be discussions about threads or members' behaviour before action is taken in the actual forum.

As far as a conflict of interest is concerned, Guptar, I don't think it exists with any of we mods. I enjoy my real job, but see stuff posted here about my employer every day. Some of it is down right false. As a mod, I start at para. 7 and work down.;) I won't interfere unless there is a rule breach.

I'm sure the other mods hold a similar philosophy to mine. We all want you to enjoy the place as much as possible, but the onus is on you to act as decent people toward each other. We try not to get involved too often, but sometimes it's unavoidable.

Regards from TID.

PPrune is extremely well moderated IMHO. On other Australian aviation sites moderators take out restraining orders against members to stop them logging in, they actively defame individuals and aviation businesses, denigrade members, actively promote the breaking of Civil Aviation Orders and are just generally a nuisance causing many individuals loss of sleep and financial hardship.

It's great over here, believe me!!!

Quote:

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On other Australian aviation sites moderators take out restraining orders against members to stop them logging in,

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Yup! :E

Quote:

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Please be advised that I have sought legal counsel regarding your attempts to enter a private website. Their advice is for me to formally advise you that you cannot use the private forums located at http://www.XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.com.au and if you do so from this point on ozemail.com.au will be contacted to ascertain your account details and address to serve you with harassment papers. This matter will result in both your State Law Enforcement being advised, a court appearance for a restraining order and subsequent potential impacts on your future including the possibility of bringing course to action on any ASIC card application/renewal. As the forums are “privately owned” this matter comes under various State Laws hence why your State Law Enforcement will be advised on any future breaches or attempts to enter a privately owned computer server.

---

Seems like a pretty severe response to a simple case of multiple personality disorder, IMHO! :}

Dr :8

Tidbinbilla,

Thank you for your considered reply. While I do agree with you 100% I must disagree with you on one point.

Like you, I have been an active participant on PPRuNe for something like 14 or 15 years, I joined as a mere SPL. I have had the privalige opf being amongst some of the most insightful, informative and thought provoking threads. A real educator to the naive new CPL as to whats out there in the real world. I also have had the chance to meet many ppruners who are vastly more educated, experianced and wise that my owm self.

However, recently in my daily travels, I talk with many GA and airline drivers and the general vibe is they are becoming more and more disenchanted with PPRuNe. Many no longer participate. A dreadful loss in my humble opinion.

Yes, it does seem some topics are out of bounds. Many do believe there is a conflict of interest when it comes to some topics of discussion.

I believe that PPRuNe is the aviation equivalent of Media Watch. But to do its rightful job, nothing should be out of bounds as long as the ten thingys rules are obeyed.

I do thank you for your reply.

Guptar - QUOTE. While i do agree with you 100%. I must disagree with you on one point. ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Are we changing the decimal system. ? :E

As Sir Humphrey Appleby once said (Yes Minister, Yes Prime Minister) railway trains are impartial.

However if you lay down tracks (guidelines) they follow them. ;)

I think the Mods here (DG&P) work within the laid down guidelines. :ok:

Tid
Wrong Gupta mate - Guptar is the one you should be addressing

I'm still here & staying

Cheers

The original (and only)

Gupta

Hi Guptar,

You wrote: You're not Robinson Crusoe there! I've held the same feelings for the last few years, lamenting that many of our earliest members either no longer participate, or have curtailed their activities severely. Most of these people, whom I know personally, share the same feeling that there's too much aggro and selfishness, at the expense of the camaraderie that once existed. These people have so much to offer the majority, with many coming from check and training backgrounds. Even a few HR people used to frequent these forums.

They simply couldn't be bothered copping abuse from the peanut gallery, packed their bags and moved on. We all lose out!

When was the last time we had a bash in Oz? The last one I attended (years ago) was fantastic:ok: I don't know whether I'd bother turning up at one now, for fear of getting a smack in the chops from some disgruntled member :( such is the atmosphere of negativity and aggression that pervades D&G, and many of its members.

But then one has to ask the question: Do the mods intensify their moderating activity in order to gently try to steer D&G back to what it once was (and get accused of over-moderating), or do they leave it as it is?

To find the balance is one of the tough choices we make every day........

Perhaps it's a good topic for a poll :8

Gupta, I agree and disagree. However, we joined them...they didn't join us so sandbox rules and toysets....I enjoy reading and posting....the truely golden threads more than keep me interested...regardless of certain perplexing issues with certain individual mods and certain protected posters.

When an issue is taken seriously and argued with passion and experience....and results in changes in the real world....those are the times when this place transcends!

I'll keep logging on:ok:

Hey, this is PPRune's game,their sandpit, cost us nix to join, same to leave.

We are able to discuss, argue, advise, give good and duff gen to almost our hearts content. Much better than most marriages, employment and social clubs in the world.

In spite of my registered date I have been on this board since it was a broardsheet late 90's, have regrettably seen it lose a lot of its better points to be absolute crapp at times, but still enough good stuff to keep me signing in on most days.

Mods, give them hell if they, in your considered opinion, need it to the benifit of all

:D:ok:

Holy cow, that's just too funny! I can't recall seeing 'making a pr!ck of yourself on an internet forum' on the adverse criminal record list.
Who are these people? I've been an active member of a number of bulletin boards over the years (including the notoriously fiery Bullshido) and never seen a BB owner get so uptight. What did you post, a 1989 retrospective?

On topic, I think PPRuNe is well moderated, particularly for a forum that deals with so many employment issues and defamation minefields.

What Tids said! :ok: :ok:

Interestingly, the level of Mod intervention in D&G forums is significantly less than many other PPRuNe forums, a credit to the capacity of the majority of our Dunnunda forum users to hold robust and professional debate.

I don't believe that is the case. PPRuNe is a media source in it's own right: How many times has PPRuNe been used as a source of information by the main stream media?

The Mods deal with claims of defamation etc a number of times each year, including solicitor letters and threats - I don't have statistics but my guess, at least twenty to thirty instances over the past decade raging from email demands for user name, contact details and IP address, to full blown solicitor's letters. Our PPRuNe users are usually totally unaware of the drama going on "behind the scenes".

I recall a demand some time ago for your contact details, following one of your posts. The thread or post was removed, your identity was protected and you were none the wiser. And you squeal Mod Bias? :sad:

You (and some of your colleagues) have an annoyingly frustrating habit of personally attacking and slaging other users or ridiculing their statements. You often appear unable to accept that others do not share your opinion or that others may be more knowledgeable.

PPRuNe is not the same as the "other" forum you frequent, never was, never will be. Learn to play the ball, not the man! Learn the art of rational, professional and constructive, impersonal debate. Learn to learn from others. Accept that not everyone shares your personal opinion - indeed, often very few share your opinion.

Tail Wheel

How many split personalities of you are there, Doc?

The "other" forum name does not deserve to be mentioned on here. The less people that frequent there the better.

I suspect from memory that the good Doctor posted something factual and not fairy-tale, thus he was permanently banned. That what goes on over there!

Unfortunately the reality is that if you do re-register and attempt to log into a forum that you are not welcome into, in theory you are in breach of Australian hacking regulations so as such it could in theory affect your chances of an ASIC renewal if you are convicted.

That being said, I know of a convicted fire-bug who had no problems getting an ASIC !

Fair enough, just morbid curiosity. I wasn't chafing at the bit to sign up, that's for sure :}.
Thanks, I hadn't thought of the hacking stuff. Thing is, though, there are only certain offences that preclude you from an ASIC and my understanding (and after a quick squizz at the fact sheet) is that it's pretty much limited to drugs, guns and violence. Even violence is a grey area, as there are people with stalking and DV convictions who had no trouble getting ASICs, although the firebug's a new one to me:eek:!

As one who was a member of the Woomera/Uluru/Kelly Gang of moderators I can reinforce what Tid & Tail Wheel have said (and I don't knowingly know who either is). In the years that I was part of the moderating team, we were from several organisations, and not one of us ever censored a post that was critical of our employer or colleagues, for its criticism.

The most common reason was when posts got personal, which was frequent, particularly when that year was mentioned. As best I recall we didn't have much in the way of legal threats to deal with but it is possible that this was because that sort of problem went to the UK & was dealt with there.

PPRuNe was a great source of information but has become less so, not in my opinion because of the moderators but because as contributors, many of us have lost, or never had, the ability to argue a point rather than the man. The Aussie ethos of "giving a bloke(ette) a go" of yesteryear, is sadly missing in this millennium.

More & more it seems to me that pilots, the world over, are more interested in point scoring of fellow pilot by calling them names, rather than being respectful colleagues, who might disagree on a point but can remain civil in disagreement.

One of the 4wd forums I frequent requires all members to have a registered signature accompanying all posts. On that forum the incidence of rude and disrespectful posting is a nano-fraction of what it is here on PPRuNe.

We are all the worse off for the anonymity that is needed to protect posters from employers who might not like what they read, because so many hide behind the same anonymity because it allows them to be uncouth. :{