Censor happy moderators.

[windmill]

It's official, the recent surge in moderators has led to the smothering of this forum.
Those who actually get to read this before it gets deleted will know. Most probably already do. The mods are deleting anything and everything that even smells slightly inappropriate.
My recent thread about jell-o shots got deleted. I'll be the first to admit it wasn't informative, not many people responded, and fewer actually cared. But it was in no way offensive or vulgar or even inappropriate in my mind. I'd like to hear the reason behind that decision. "Yeah, the whole alcohol thing kinda clashes with my staunch upper-class straight-arrow bible-thumping fire and brimstone morality"
It is now nearly 8 a.m. where I am. I'd bet money this will be gone before noon.

 

[beth]

I didn't delete it, but going back to read it, it really isn't the type of topic we want posted here, in a basically G-rated forum, where under-age members frequent. I'm sure there are plenty of BBs out there were the topic may be appreciated.
SWF is a rather large forum, and the addition of new moderators to help out is much appreciated. While mistakes may be made occasionally on what we edit or delete, overall, our decisions have the consensus of the whole group.
I hope you can understand our position.

 

[hot883]

Windmill I deleted your thread. We as mods. get notified everytime when threads are spam, inappropriate etc. If it offends more than 1 person to me it deserves a consideration.
I was happy to delete your thread. It was not something as Beth said that we need on these forums where young people frequent.
If you need a forum that allows ----, violence, or anyother non children freiendly items go elsewhere.
I do not want to see you leave by all means but appropriate posts and threads is all we are asking for.
If it was up to me we would take the "aquarium" forum out. This is not a chatroom. Barry

 

[cannonman]

If it was up to me we would take the "aquarium" forum out
I second that.

 

[windmill]

Fair enough. I see your point and can even appreciate it.
I'm of the impression that not many kids frequent this forum. Kids meaning under 13, or not a teenager. The youngest I remember seeing was sharkboy right at 13. And if I remember correctly he had a budweiser emblem for an avatar - not that i'm complaining. I guess I assumed since that didn't get censored, there wasn't much intolerance for alcohol or alcohol related material. Realistically speaking, this is an expensive hobby that requires years of experience for any kind of noticable success, for that reason very few immature or very young people are here.
I mean seriously, what do you think the average age of swf.com's visitors is? I'd bet money it's no less than 25, probably more like 30.
Even I can understand the need to shield kids from inappropriate stuff or things they shouldn't know about yet. I just get defensive when I don't see any noticable reason for me to get targeted.

 

[hot883]

I am sorry that you feel targeted. It was not the case. The thread was targeted, not you.
It is Dan- aka Ryanhayes that has the Bud avatar not sharkboy.

 

[hot883]

And to further answer your statement the average age on here is alot lower then you think. Bet ya didn't know one of the "sharks" is 17 or 18 did ya?

 

[beth]

We hope that whatever the age members are, that they are serious hobbyists that want to, foremost and utmost, talk about fish tanks, share information about fish tanks, and gain or share knowledge about fish tanks. The forums are open to all ages, so children can and do participate.
I'm not saying that all the topics have to be on a Sesame Street level, but just keep in mind that kids, and their parents, are here, and that the goal of the forum is FISH talk open to everyone of all ages, and all levels of skill in the hobby.

 

[schneidts]

Originally Posted by hot883
If it was up to me we would take the "aquarium" forum out. This is not a chatroom. Barry
That's very surprising to me since you have been such a frequent poster in the Aquarium...

 

[hot883]

Originally Posted by schneidts
That's very surprising to me since you have been such a frequent poster in the Aquarium...
You are correct. I do play along sometimes but I could live a normal happy life not having that forum. There are so many people on here that is basically the only place they post.

 

[alyssia]

I'm glad it got deleted. My 11 year old daughter and 9 year old son like to help me with my tanks and frequently read these threads. They don't need to read something on a saltwater page about how to get drunk or how long you stay drunk when you do jello shots. And their are LOTS of kids on here.

 

[ophiura]

I, for one, don't care how old most members on this board are. There are some topics that don't belong here, and frankly, anyone who passionately disagrees can go to a board where it is appropriate if you don't like the fact they are removed. What else can we say?
I am not a upper class bible thumping person, and find it interesting you can insult others freely and get so insulted yourself because your jello shot thread was removed. This has nothing to do, IMO, with the average age of people on the board. There are posts that cross a line, and yes, it is our job to remove them.
To be blunt, cry me a river.

Yes, really really blunt.

Is that the worst thing that happened to you this week? Man, lucky!

I had a terrible one.
I can't honestly understand why people take it so seriously that they come to a board and scream "overmoderated!" It is just such a minor thing in the scope of life. There are loads of boards out there on every topic imaginable (wouldn't surprise me if there is a jello shot forum), and if you feel you can't freely speak your mind here and should be entitled to, go there.
People are not entitled to post whatever they want on this board. It is a saltwaterfish board owned by SWF. If people come to this board for fish info and see marginal posts and think "eh, I don't really like this environment" then that is a loss. Whereas few people are likely to come here looking for _________(drug, alcohol, ----) posts, and be put off that they are not here and leave (don't let the door hit you in the......).
The deletion of a post is not personal in nearly any case. I often don't even look at who posted a questionable thread before getting rid of it.
Personally, I would also, immediately, do away with this forum. Thankfully

few others agree with me on this

It was kindly provided by SWF to provide an area where some other topics can be discussed, and actually we allow A LOT more than most other hobby sites allow if you've looked around. There have been several long topics on religion, politics and science that would get the boot ASAP elsewhere. But thanks, yes, to the maturity level of many people here, those discussions have been quite interesting.

But overall it requires a lot of time to monitor, a disproportionate amount of time, and a few too many people live here.

I guess the rent is low. :thinking:

 

[the gift]

Amen!

 

[ruaround]

Originally Posted by hot883
You are correct. I do play along sometimes but I could live a normal happy life not having that forum. There are so many people on here that is basically the only place they post.
yup... i would be one of those... i would rather let the almost newbie answer the newbie questions that get asked 1 million times throught out the forums... and often times by the time i see a thread that would be fun to participate in the question has been answered... i am not into throwing "i agree" or "good point" or "

" or repeat the exact same thing that was previously posted just changing the words into threads... to me it just a way for people to blast their post count (in the 5 years i have participated on this board i could have 10k to 20k)... i do read the other forums and i do jump in occasionally...

 

[dogstar]

This conversation is begening to sound familuar.....
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=205558

 

[schneidts]

Like many times before, you took the words right out of my mouth, ru.
Mods, keep up the good work...you keep this place clean, and we appreciate it. Barry, I don't think I need to say it, but, if I came off like I was taking a shot at you...I wasn't...Cheers.

 

[1journeyman]

Not much else to say here but I'd like to add a couple of points:
1. We discuss locked threads/deleted threads. When a thread gets deleted the mods still see it, along with a note from the mod who "deleted" it from public viewing. If anyone disagrees we can discuss it. Frankly, though, the vast majority of the time we are in complete agreement. If you are noticing more moderation I'd like to think that is a good thing. Us "new mods" hopefully are making a difference so the more experienced mods can post more. It's a shame to have folks like Beth, Bang, Viper, Ophiura, Thomas, NM Reef, Michael, Hot, Squid, Murph and of course Lion having to take time out to wade through the forums cleaning them up. These guys/gals are incredibly experienced and have a tremendous amount to offer the hobby. The more we can stay focused in this forum on the hobby, the more the will progress. Everytime one of these mods I mentioned stops to delete a thread or edit something they are taking away from their time they could be responding to a real question or issue.
2. Calling the boards "overmoderated" is kind of firing from the hip. Things get deleted or modded out that you dont' see. Any thread that seems to be a magnet for offensive posts will get deleted. Especially if it is in the aquarium.
Windmill, no offense to you, but I dont' want to spend my time on a SWF webpage having to "monitor" a thread about jello shots. I hope you can understand that.
3. We get email notifications whenever anyone uses the "report post" feature. Often times with questionable threads we get emails from folks complaining about the thread. So just because the thread looks like no one is offended because they haven't posted their displeasure, we still hear it. We have to make a judgment call at that point.
Finally, there are a lot of kids who read this site. Your thread talked about how as a teen you were involved in activity that many parents don't want their kids involved in. We hear from those parents. :jumping: And they are right; this a primarily a SWF website. Their shouldn't have to worry about what those kids are reading here.
I hope that explains a little better about the modding process. I was surprised and honored when asked to join on as a mod. I had no idea what I was getting myself into :notsure: There is a lot that goes on "behind the scenes" to make sure this forum stays the warm, comfortable, informative site that it is known to be.

 

[beth]

I don't really mind the Aquarium, because I remember what it was like "before" the Aquarium with members posting off-topic stuff in the hobby forums.
As long as this forum stays fun for most without becoming nonsensical or "adults only", then it will work for us, the mods, and all those who come to the forums.
There is nothing in the Aquarium, however, that is so important that it can't be deleted.
And at this point, the poster probably wishes he'd left well enough alone. LOL

 

[hot883]

Originally Posted by Beth
And at this point, the poster probably wishes he'd left well enough alone. LOL

:happyfish

 

[scotts]

Note to self - find out where Ophiura lives and send her a dozen roses. And some pie.
I for one like the mods and what they do. I also am puzzled by the people that come here, do something and then say "why was my thread deleted" "Why can't I.........?" The answer is simple, because SWF owns this site they say so, that is why. If you don't like it, leave! Plain and simple. There are many other sites that yu can go to and discuss whatever you want. I also have no problem with banning people that repeatidly do something and then ask, what did I do? Knowing that they are just pushing the envelope. We are in swf's house, we live by their rules.
Sorry, it is just that I see type of thing once a month and it gets a little tiring.
BTW I know that I appreciate the aquarium, it has helped me find information to questions that would be hard to find elsewhere.