What the heck is going on here

[gbk]

It is really good that g.w. dared to bring this up.
I am on the forum for many eyars,and see the same happening-old and valuable members leaving en masse.When spoke about it a while ago,some even commented : out of the old,in with the new...very much counterproductive approach in my mind.

I think - this post may earn me also a "mark"beside my name !!!
The Forum took a turn of heavy handing many minor issues,and to make the matter worse-all of the sudden.All this to a degree- with a slight feeling of bias.

Some things are addressed are all right-but some of the message sent out is outright discouraging.
Some times there is a feeling ,that some things get non addressed -yet others are handed with heavy hand.This raises a concern about aligning with certain ideas -versus enforcing rules.
Then -heavy handed "expalination "of rules,up to and including "do not dare to touch moderators -or else".
All within the concept of-forum rule reminders.

More then once ,the moderators take active part in barter ,or arguments.
I was always wondering-if one is a moderator,why the moderator needs to take part in contraversial topics / close topics with remarks offending one side/or make personal comments.
I do not believe,this is the way it should be.
Just as a reminder-the posting for seeking new moderators explicitly states-one needs to be diplomatic.

I understand being a moderator is not easy,and likely a not really thankful job, their work is much appreciated.



There was explanations presented here earlier-the Forum is a private enterprise, following rules has no alternative.
I fully agree with following the rules-but if following rules leads to major erosion of members-eventually it is counterproductive.

We need the Forum as much the Forum needs us(if there is a desire to have the forum up/running).If slow death is an option-there is nothing us-members can do.

Some would say-do not just bring up problems,offer solutions too.
Adjusting rules -doing more subtle approach-and openly presenting the case(some way can be found)when and why rules were enforced with heavy punitive results -not just when threads are closed..........would perhaps help us understand better what is happening/take away the doubt : they heavy handed only"me".

This post is with the intent to help,pelase take it as constructive criticism.

The Forum is great,and it would be a shame to let it die.We are on a good path to see that happen,soon.

[greatwhite]

I did think of commingle a Mod on here but decided against it because of the struggles I saw some Mods dealing with.

I agree it is a tough Job.


I think most of the problems the Mods have dealt with have been in the Off topic section.

But as Mosquito said there can be a broadview as to what is offensive. I think maybe it should be limited to real name calling and slanderous comments and less on content.

[Sharon]

And its quips like this makes one wonder why make the effort. Guess numerous pm's about hunting options isn't enough to gardner any respect. Ya one writes "that was a joke" but as always behind every joke is some thread of intent.
Always was one for some good debate however the rules of debating should be followed. Start mud slinging and it goes down hill fast. I believe more people have stopped posting because of constant bombarment than anything mods/admin have done.

Exactly. Well said.

[Sharon]

Good Morning,
I think it's important to note that the Rules have been on here, untouched, since Nov. 9, 2014: https://www.oodmag.com/community/sho...-Rules-Conduct
I'm continually surprised by members who are surprised by them; we diligently cite and relink them at every available opportunity the better to inform our guidelines as a community.

Over the past two+ years we've had Admins and Mods come and go and of course each and every one is going to be different, and orient themselves differently. Tenured members are not exempt from the Rules of Conduct that CalTek established back then, and when we see Reported Posts again and again querying the same member, we must take it into account. We are not grooming the Forum looking for folks to pick on.

It's not just the pandemic through, right? There's been a lot of different content, hunting/fishing/outdoors-oriented, political, environmental, global -- all of which have been worth bringing up as topics of discussion to the Forum. I've always balked at the continued suggestions of getting rid of the Off Topic, because I feel people need that outlet. We have since compromised, and made it so that new members must first contribute a minimum of 25 posts to the Hunting/Fishing/Outdoors threads before being granted access to Off Topic. We ask that you treat each other with the respect and dignity you expect to be treated with, in kind. If you've received an infraction, it is likely because another member flagged your post and found it inappropriate. I should also point out, you can always bring an infraction up for discussion to Admin in a PM:

From Rules & Regs:
Moderators are active members of the community and have been empowered with the ability to not only police the forums but to give guidance and help facilitate discussion. They understand our conduct policy and are able to enforce it, and what they deem inappropriate. However, if you feel that your post has inappropriately been removed please contact an administrator with the appropriate information about your post and your account.

I think an airing of grievances is always a healthy and helpful way to make our Forum better, provided again, it's done in a respectful manner.
From Rules & Regs.
3(a). Personal insults, inappropriate or offensive content, the incitement of violence, or disrupting behaviours, which are detrimental to discussions in the forum will not be tolerated.

The point of this Forum is not to censor the voices of our members; it's to provide a platform. A platform without a foundation of rules, however, is likely to collapse.
Here are those rules, once more, for those in the back: https://www.oodmag.com/community/sho...-Rules-Conduct

Well said!

Mods are not all the same either. Some are tougher about the rules being followed than others. That's why mods discuss posts that seem to break the rules to one mod, but not another.

[JoePa]

Well let me say this - people should have the right to express themselves no matter what the subject - after all we are assuming that we are grown up enough to be able to discuss things - if someone gets offended because a certain subject is being brought up then I say - too bad - grow up and don't be so thin skinned - where does it say that you can expect to go through life without being offended - religion, politics, race, guns .etc are all thought provoking subjects and people should have a choice to talk about them - these are interesting subjects - over the years I have got a lot of warnings - wish I had a nickel for every one I got - and a lot of my posts were locked down - didn't know why - being from across the border we have an inclination to say what is on our minds - stand up and be counted - the worse thing that can happen - and it is happening now all over - if your view doesn't side with the popular view then people try to shut you up - and when that happens society is going down the drain - yes I think too many posts are locked down on this site -

[Tigboy 304]

Well let me say this - people should have the right to express themselves no matter what the subject - after all we are assuming that we are grown up enough to be able to discuss things - if someone gets offended because a certain subject is being brought up then I say - too bad - grow up and don't be so thin skinned - where does it say that you can expect to go through life without being offended - religion, politics, race, guns .etc are all thought provoking subjects and people should have a choice to talk about them - these are interesting subjects - over the years I have got a lot of warnings - wish I had a nickel for every one I got - and a lot of my posts were locked down - didn't know why - being from across the border we have an inclination to say what is on our minds - stand up and be counted - the worse thing that can happen - and it is happening now all over - if your view doesn't side with the popular view then people try to shut you up - and when that happens society is going down the drain - yes I think too many posts are locked down on this site -

Hear, hear.

[Sharon]

Well let me say this - people should have the right to express themselves no matter what the subject - after all we are assuming that we are grown up enough to be able to discuss things - if someone gets offended because a certain subject is being brought up then I say - too bad - grow up and don't be so thin skinned - where does it say that you can expect to go through life without being offended - religion, politics, race, guns .etc are all thought provoking subjects and people should have a choice to talk about them - these are interesting subjects - over the years I have got a lot of warnings - wish I had a nickel for every one I got - and a lot of my posts were locked down - didn't know why - being from across the border we have an inclination to say what is on our minds - stand up and be counted - the worse thing that can happen - and it is happening now all over - if your view doesn't side with the popular view then people try to shut you up - and when that happens society is going down the drain - yes I think too many posts are locked down on this site -

I agree Joe, except this is a forum with rules. It is not a free speech site. If someone doesn't like the rules they should go elsewhere. I would bet that 1 out of 10 people who join , actually read the rules.

[MeghanOOD]

Define offensive. There are those that are offended by lies and people's dogmatic adherence to them and those that are offended by the truth being spoken about those lies. There are people that find fishing and hunting offensive, there are peole that find owning firearms offensive and shouldn't be allowed and fishing cruelty and offensive. We have a Prime Minister that has been caught in countless lies, divisive statements,insults and attacks the law abiding and wants to seize their property and outlaw even more now and some find it offensive to stand up for the truth and question his totalitarian actions.

I mean one admin found my post good and another deleted it without comment or complaint just secretly censored the conversations thread and closed it. I find that offensive actions, maybe that admin should be removed.

So, define offensive.

Offensive:
From: https://www.oodmag.com/community/sho...-Rules-Conduct

GUIDELINES:

Offensive language, including all racial, ethnic or sexual slurs, as well as personal attacks, including name-calling and insults directed at other forum members is prohibited.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding any specific organizations including hunting and outdoor companies, please contact them directly. This forum is not a place to air personal grievances, speculation or defamation. Any posts that DO NOT meet the above guidelines will be deleted without warning and repeat offenses will lead to permanent expulsion.

I mean, it's all right there in the Rules and Regs...: https://www.oodmag.com/community/sho...-Rules-Conduct

[Badenoch]

It seems to have escaped a few people that members here are guests at the permission of the operators of this site. Offensive and unacceptable are what they say they are. The rules are clearly spelled out and we either live within the rules or accept the consequences.

I have no quarrel with the moderation of this site. The moderators are volunteers who are trying to make this a better site. If "very knowledgeable" people are leaving this site in a huff because their posting habits ran afoul of the rules it's not the moderators who are the problem.

[mosquito]

Offensive:
From: https://www.oodmag.com/community/sho...-Rules-Conduct

GUIDELINES:

Offensive language, including all racial, ethnic or sexual slurs, as well as personal attacks, including name-calling and insults directed at other forum members is prohibited.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding any specific organizations including hunting and outdoor companies, please contact them directly. This forum is not a place to air personal grievances, speculation or defamation. Any posts that DO NOT meet the above guidelines will be deleted without warning and repeat offenses will lead to permanent expulsion.

I mean, it's all right there in the Rules and Regs...: https://www.oodmag.com/community/sho...-Rules-Conduct

So as the one admin said ... it didn't violate any of the rules... yet was deleted by an admin.... maybe truth is just too controversial to that admin.