When an originator of a post does not like the rhetoric, they can now ask the moderator to close the thread??

What EVER happened to if you know there is controversy one may not like....just don't go there!!!

I think the moderators will have to be extremely careful to not be wagged all over the place.....especially when people are expressing how the feel about a subject.

Let's not totally emasculate the point and counter point process.

That is how we wound up with a subscriber only to the political forum (in my opinion).

btk

I hear you, I like the idea of a gunslinging place to hang out but I just hate it when people start attacking each other instead of addressing the topics. If a person cannot make a point or at least give a link, he or she should not resort to name calling or slandering someone.
I mean there are a ton of politicians and policies we can attack both present and past to keep us busy, huh?

Really, if you were having a political conversation in a bar and started calling a guy a "moron" or "idiot" or even something worse, you would expect maybe a little fisticuffs heading your way?

I totally agree. While I commiserate with the administration in it's attempts to try to curtail conflict that may go over the line of acceptable behavior; the recent closing down of threads, at the behest of the original author because he/she didn't expect to have as much opposition to his belief and views, and was not prepared, or ill equipped, to defend his views almost smacks of a form of censorship not seen on this forum in the past.

I believe once your words go out there, as they do anywhere else in life, you have no power to bring them back. You can defend them, renounce them or apologize for them, but that should be, and can only be, the extent of your options.

The recent debate over the expanded abortion laws in Virginia are a prime example. Once the author and those that agreed with him seemed to have met arguments for which they had no answer, they shut down and then, apparently, convinced the administration of this forum to close the tread, or at least to put it under review.

I believe once your words go out there, as they do anywhere else in life, you have no power to bring them back. You can defend them, renounce them or apologize for them, but that should be, and can only be, the extent of your options.

Good point, Richie.

I was once a member of a forum that over-moderated. They a had about a dozen moderators. When they got though with a thread, you could not recognize it. But, they advertised it as a "Family forum" and they said they cleaned up the threads for the Archives. It was a "Hobby Forum" and people used the search option to find different threads for their hobby.

Here is very different because this forum is geared for retired adults. I don't think we would be offending any children.

No precedent is being set.

That topic on the "emotionally charged controversy" scale of 1 to 10 is an 11. It is closed just for now until the Administration determines policy. Just a coling off period.
Unless there are extreme circumstances, posts stay once posted. IF a post goes downhill to the point that good, respectful, intelligent debate is no longer occurring.......if it gets too heated, on rare occasions it may be closed for a cooling off period, or at least for an Administrator review.

If folks do not want that to happen, they would do well to keep the debate respectful and intelligent. When one allows their posts to degrade into discussing a person posting and not the topic it only weakens ones position and makes the one posting look foolish.

All great debates have valid points on BOTH sides that should be respected even when not agreed with. If one cannot debate respectfully and intelligently then their time here may be short lived.......this forum should be viewed more like a debate room, not a "gunfight at the OK corral".....

We on this forum are an amazing bunch of folks. We come from different backgrounds and have made enough good life decisions to be able to live in a place like this. We are better off then 99% of the people in this world. Let us celebrate our good fortune and treat one another with the respect that we all deserve.

I understand that the written word can sometimes be misunderstood, when one cannot see the smile attached to it or the inflection of the voice. I also understand that sometimes one gets bolder when alone behind a computer screen.

I doubt, (and hope) people here would not resort to name calling, etc, face to face....so they should not do it here.

Let me end by saying that everything I just wrote are MY OWN thoughts and may or may not be the views of other moderators or the Administration. I rarely venture to the political forum....but for those who like it there I hope what I said makes some sense.

Respectfully, Frank

Richie,

I do see your viewpoint but do not really agree (can you believe that?) with what you said regarding posting views on abortion and then leaving.

While I do respect your views and other like Katz, they are not the same as my views on abortion rights. Your minds are made up and my mind is made up. Nothing could make me change from being Pro-Choice and I am sure nothing could make you change from being an anti-abortion person.

We could state our arguements until the cows come home and end up angry and frustrated with the whole thing and nothing would be accomplished. Personally, I do not want that eating at me. I have stated my viewpoints, given a link or two to support my viewpoint, and now I am ready to go on to other topics.

Originally Posted by billethkid

When an originator of a post does not like the rhetoric, they can now ask the moderator to close the thread??

What EVER happened to if you know there is controversy one may not like....just don't go there!!!

I think the moderators will have to be extremely careful to not be wagged all over the place.....especially when people are expressing how the feel about a subject.

Let's not totally emasculate the point and counter point process.

That is how we wound up with a subscriber only to the political forum (in my opinion).

btk

I hope this is not the case. I think the moderation and posting standards set by the previous owners worked and should be continued by the new owner and moderator(s).

Everything comes in cycles. It seems like there is a cycle of new people posting in political at about the same time a new owner took over. I'm sure it is difficult beyond my imagination on how to handle certain conversations and complaints. But please, stick to the same procedure and standards already adapted by the previous owners.

As the song says: Don't go changing, to try and please me
You never let me down before
Don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't see you anymore
I wouldn't leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
I'll take you just the way you are..." Billy Joel

http://www.lyrics007.com/Billy%20Joe...%20Lyrics.html

Originally Posted by faithfulfrank

No precedent is being set.

That topic on the "emotionally charged controversy" scale of 1 to 10 is an 11. It is closed just for now until the Administration determines policy. Just a coling off period.
Unless there are extreme circumstances, posts stay once posted. IF a post goes downhill to the point that good, respectful, intelligent debate is no longer occurring.......if it gets too heated, on rare occasions it may be closed for a cooling off period, or at least for an Administrator review.

If folks do not want that to happen, they would do well to keep the debate respectful and intelligent. When one allows their posts to degrade into discussing a person posting and not the topic it only weakens ones position and makes the one posting look foolish.

All great debates have valid points on BOTH sides that should be respected even when not agreed with. If one cannot debate respectfully and intelligently then their time here may be short lived.......this forum should be viewed more like a debate room, not a "gunfight at the OK corral".....

We on this forum are an amazing bunch of folks. We come from different backgrounds and have made enough good life decisions to be able to live in a place like this. We are better off then 99% of the people in this world. Let us celebrate our good fortune and treat one another with the respect that we all deserve.

I understand that the written word can sometimes be misunderstood, when one cannot see the smile attached to it or the inflection of the voice. I also understand that sometimes one gets bolder when alone behind a computer screen.

I doubt, (and hope) people here would not resort to name calling, etc, face to face....so they should not do it here.

Let me end by saying that everything I just wrote are MY OWN thoughts and may or may not be the views of other moderators or the Administration. I rarely venture to the political forum....but for those who like it there I hope what I said makes some sense.

Respectfully, Frank

Wonderfully stated. I thank you for shutting down any thread that gets loud or disrespectful. That will make this forum a healthier place to spend time and get information.

I have talked to lots of people about TOTV because I found it such a great tool when we were shopping to come here. I have had several people say they don't like it because there is this little group or that little group that is so hateful or negative etc. I am yet to hear anyone upset about the 99 percent in TOTV that is kind, helpful and informative.

I came to this forum to enjoy intelligent discussion and hopefully learn from the knowledge and experience of others. I had hoped that it was a place where facts could be presented and authenticated and defended. In general, in my life off the forum thus far, I have often been accused of being more intellectually oriented as opposed to responding based on my emotions. The facts that I have put forth were just that...researched, documented, solid scientific fact. For example-as far as abortion goes, I did not mention any judgment that I may or may not hold in view of those who choose to abort. If there is one disappointment about these threads, it is the common practice of assuming attributes about the poster and then making attacks based on those assumptions. I leave by breaking the rule of not getting personal~Thanks to Billethkid, the Golfer and the Lion. You are men of great charactor in my JUDGMENT...

BTK makes an extremely valid point.

We are moving toward folks who dont agree with thoughts asking the moderator to shut it down. We then are at the mercy of the administrators judgement, and not questioning it, but simply pointing out that you WILL get complaints and inquiries basd on POLITICAL VIEWS and nothing more. I truely wonder about those people who make those complaints, and am betting that the complaints have increased since this became public.

BTK is correct......making this a subscriber was an answer which I objected to at that point also.

This forum is being used by NON VILLAGERS and those who never expect to live here so I suppose it is something we need to deal with.

I have been called some pretty amazing and vile names on here by folks simply because I did not share their political views and some of them were bounced out of here when they became so very obvious but basically over the years we policed each other.

I am just a bit uncomfortable knowing that if someone disagrees with my political views, they simply report me and MAYBE depending on the mood of a moderator, my views get taken out and I get some kind of warning. Maybe that is a bit over stated but whatever is decided is ok with me...I do not attack anyone because of political views (I DO when they get on the attack of anyone, poster or person in the news or children and do it in a personal way).

It is a shame actuallly. Used to be this was fun exchanging comments on politics...search the archives during the election time...you will find we went after each others views pretty hard but policed our selves on the personal attacks IF THEY HAPPENED.

Signing on here and wondering if you get a "warning" is not fun..especially when you follow the rules. I am going to monitor the place and if becomes something controlled by complaints then will move on !

No one wants to over-Moderate.

Moderation will occur only when posts are mean, disrespectful, rude, off topic, or against the common sense rules this forum has always had.

I wonder why anyone would have a problem with that. Every river needs banks, or else you have a devastating flood. Chaos.

As to the jibe about "Non-Villagers" , many here enjoy the forum as a place to find out info about The Villages, and any of us, including myself may someday live there. When I'm in Florida I find myself there often. I shop and eat there and do business there almost daily. I bet if I walked next to you in the Main square you might not even be able to tell I am a "Non-Villager".....!

I was asked to moderate here only because of my years of experience moderating a large, often very wild huge forum that uses this same software. Me not living in TV may actually help with objectivity, etc.

My posts here on TOTV have always been respectful and oftentimes helpful. If my posts here somehow offends some sense of "entitlement" I am sorry.

BUT- I'm now getting off topic. All I wanted to say is that it would be good if everyone just takes a nice cleansing deep breath and give the new Administration a chance to take over the reins. I'm sure they understand the differences with the political forum. Even the best Moderators do not bat 1000%, and sometimes err in judgment. If my temporarily closing the "Virginia" thread for Administration review per the original posters request was a poor move, I'm sure it will be fixed.

Again, no one including the Moderators wants to over moderate. We too have lives. Getting 6-12 reported posts daily because of name calling, rudeness, etc is not anyone's high point of their day. As long as folks play nice in the sandbox and act like respectful adults that can have healthy debate, no Moderation should be needed.

Respectfully, Frank

Originally Posted by buggyone

Richie,

I do see your viewpoint but do not really agree (can you believe that?) with what you said regarding posting views on abortion and then leaving.

While I do respect your views and other like Katz, they are not the same as my views on abortion rights. Your minds are made up and my mind is made up. Nothing could make me change from being Pro-Choice and I am sure nothing could make you change from being an anti-abortion person.

We could state our arguements until the cows come home and end up angry and frustrated with the whole thing and nothing would be accomplished. Personally, I do not want that eating at me. I have stated my viewpoints, given a link or two to support my viewpoint, and now I am ready to go on to other topics.

I would just like to see one of you admit that your logic is illogical, and that you hold to your position irregardless of the facts concerning conception through birth, and then birth until death.

Geez....I missed a lot while on vacation. Just a point though, I find that the intent of the commenter can be misread based on just the plain text. Emails are like that I remember a customer experience with dueling emails.... Picking up the phone and the following discussion resolved the problem.

Also, I admit I am guilty of this, jumping in before reading the comment completely can be an issue.

Originally Posted by faithfulfrank

No one wants to over-Moderate.

Moderation will occur only when posts are mean, disrespectful, rude, off topic, or against the common sense rules this forum has always had.

I wonder why anyone would have a problem with that. Every river needs banks, or else you have a devastating flood. Chaos.

As to the jibe about "Non-Villagers" , many here enjoy the forum as a place to find out info about The Villages, and any of us, including myself may someday live there. When I'm in Florida I find myself there often. I shop and eat there and do business there almost daily. I bet if I walked next to you in the Main square you might not even be able to tell I am a "Non-Villager".....!

I was asked to moderate here only because of my years of experience moderating a large, often very wild huge forum that uses this same software. Me not living in TV may actually help with objectivity, etc.

My posts here on TOTV have always been respectful and oftentimes helpful. If my posts here somehow offends some sense of "entitlement" I am sorry.

BUT- I'm now getting off topic. All I wanted to say is that it would be good if everyone just takes a nice cleansing deep breath and give the new Administration a chance to take over the reins. I'm sure they understand the differences with the political forum. Even the best Moderators do not bat 1000%, and sometimes err in judgment. If my temporarily closing the "Virginia" thread for Administration review per the original posters request was a poor move, I'm sure it will be fixed.

Again, no one including the Moderators wants to over moderate. We too have lives. Getting 6-12 reported posts daily because of name calling, rudeness, etc is not anyone's high point of their day. As long as folks play nice in the sandbox and act like respectful adults that can have healthy debate, no Moderation should be needed.

Respectfully, Frank

In reference to the "jibe" as you call it when you refered to MY comment about folks who dont live here nor do they intend to ever live here...it was meant that the mix of folks has changed....and I also said..." I suppose it is something we need to deal with."

If that was taken as a "jibe", I apologize...just meant that it is not what it used to be and the demographics have changed. Not meant as a criticism and sorry you took it as such !

No problem Bucco.....thank you. Just proof that sometimes it is very easy to mis-understand the typed word.

Bottom line is that no one likes an overly moderated forum, and the Moderators do not want to either. I think there is a lot of room for healthy, passionate debate without being disrespectful. As long as folks swim in those common sense respectful waters, no lifeguard should be needed. All is good.

Frank