What We Learned About Bonsai Since John Naka

[Vance Wood]

We've see professional trolls come and go, mostly they go before they can -------OOO ----can I say that?

 

[crust]

I am very aware of how to create moderators. Sadly, I have yet to find a moderated forum that does not take on the personalities of the moderators. What content is allowed? What content is not allowed? I will edit out truly offensive content, and ban people when necessary, but I hesitate when people are venting or arguing because I am tired of the constant 'political correctness' that is overwhelming communication. My limits are pretty broad... while at the same time giving people the power to self-moderate via an easy ignore feature. I am fascinating by people who say they are offended by someone's content... and then continue to seek it out and read it... but want ME to do something about it. So I prioritize:

(1) Spam. If you are a spammer assume instaban.
(2) Porn. Likewise.
(3) Personal attacks. Depends on the content and extent. If people are just arguing and calling each other idiots, I usually let it go because BOTH PARTIES are engaging and BOTH PARTIES have the power to end it at any time via ignore. I draw the line at threats, or over-the-top character assassination like degrading images.
(4) Questionable Content. I finally had to remove the religion/politics/anything goes forum because it was generating too much ill will. The off-topic forum I lightly moderate to keep the tone more or less positive.

Note - I have plenty of tools to deal with trouble-makers if necessary. I just don't like to use them. I come from a big family. We will often argue. But we love each other and within 15 minutes will be laughing together again. I hope to create a similar environment here. When people get moderated every time they raise a controversial opinion, or disagree with a position, I find it tends to squash discussion and you end up with a forum of drones where everyone agrees with each other. If you want to post about a subject and want to control the discussion around it, create an article - and you can moderate what people say about it - or whether you want any conversation about it AT ALL.

Thank you for not over moderating. I also believe, in the end, general freedom on forums is the best, fairest, and most enriching modality.

 

[Vance Wood]

I think most of us have been down that road for years and this forum is by far and away the best maintained out there. I have been on forums where the moderators became a large part of the problem. I can also tell you sometimes when you would get into a disagreement with an individual the moderators would come in on one side or the other. This makes really hard feelings.

I was once blamed for trying to fix a contest with one other individual simply because he and I knew each other and lived close enough we on occasion would go nursery hopping together. They ( the moderators) got it in their minds that we had hatched some sort of plot against them. I have been called paranoid a time or two, but when you have had some of the things I have had happen you tend to get that way; but you move on and you don't quit. But; these guys they were paranoid. Needles to say they plotted the demise of their own bonsai web site. That happened about a month after I was banned.

 

[Smoke]

I think most of us have been down that road for years and this forum is by far and away the best maintained out there. I have been on forums where the moderators became a large part of the problem. I can also tell you sometimes when you would get into a disagreement with an individual the moderators would come in on one side or the other. This makes really hard feelings.

I was once blamed for trying to fix a contest with one other individual simply because he and I knew each other and lived close enough we on occasion would go nursery hopping together. They ( the moderators) got it in their minds that we had hatched some sort of plot against them. I have been called paranoid a time or two, but when you have had some of the things I have had happen you tend to get that way; but you move on and you don't quit. But; these guys they were paranoid. Needles to say they plotted the demise of their own bonsai web site. That happened about a month after I was banned.

Did Spike Hernandez ever ban you to Disneyland? He did me twice! For the life of me I can't understand why the truth is so hard to swallow?


(having second thoughts on using the word "swallow".....)

 

[Vance Wood]

Once I think I got a trip to DisneyLamd. It's sad to see how that site has gone by-by due to lack of attention. Goes to show youp if you don't change and don't grow you die.

 

[Andrew Robson]

Goes to show youp if you don't change and don't grow you die.

Same with bonsai. There's always ways we can improve!

Merry Christmas everyone!

 

[LanceMac10]

You can always resort to this....