I would name names but I'm afraid that someone would delete this post or suspend me. It's frustrating because I feel like I'm not allowed to ever defend myself even in the most non-aggressive way without a p;articular mod deleting my post, sending me a warning or suspending me. I can't even count how many times I will post something serious and someone will come along and make a snarky comment that is uncalled for or completely unhelpful or slight personal attack and if I even say anything back (often in the same manner) I get punished. I love MacRumors but it's like we are children and are not able to stand up for ourselves.
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Anyone else feel like a particular Mod picks on them?
- Thread starter rockitdog
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It happens in every single online forum. Guess we're humans at the end of the day.
You can ignore the snark and respond to the post. Discussing the subject matter is the way to go. Nothing wrong with defending or expounding your position.
Or you can always report the thread if you think it crosses the line.
But to answer the thread title, I don’t feel picked on, but the site is still run by people.
Or you can always report the thread if you think it crosses the line.
But to answer the thread title, I don’t feel picked on, but the site is still run by people.
If you find yourself continually being admonished by a moderator, it might behoove you to take stock of your own actions, instead of seeking to blame someone else.
You are responsible for what you post on this forum. It doesn't matter what others may or may not do. It only matters what you do. If you find that your posts tend to get too personal and cross the rules line, make a point to only respond on subject. If you feel that someone you want to respond to has violated the rules, report the post and do not respond in kind. Exercise some personal responsibility and self-control.
You are responsible for what you post on this forum. It doesn't matter what others may or may not do. It only matters what you do. If you find that your posts tend to get too personal and cross the rules line, make a point to only respond on subject. If you feel that someone you want to respond to has violated the rules, report the post and do not respond in kind. Exercise some personal responsibility and self-control.
I’m a member of several tech forums and a few sports forums and have never run into people who want to constantly delete my posts.
While one moderator may be more active in taking action (deleting posts, sending warnings, or other actions), typically it is the result of collaboration with other moderators. None of the moderation on the site is done in a vacuum and it is transparent for all of the other moderators to see.
This link: https://macrumors.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/201846748-Where-do-I-post-comments-about-moderation-
will give you some additional information about how to report concerns about moderation, including a link to the Contact Us form where you can give specific feedback about your concerns about individual moderators.
This link: https://macrumors.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/201846748-Where-do-I-post-comments-about-moderation-
will give you some additional information about how to report concerns about moderation, including a link to the Contact Us form where you can give specific feedback about your concerns about individual moderators.
It doesn't matter what happens on other forums you participate in.
Stop making snarky posts because others may have done the same to you. Take control of your own posts, instead of throwing out the 'but others are doing the same kind of thing to me' excuse.
I haven't always agreed with a pm from a mod. However, once i look back at the post, I understood how it was interpreted differently. I then make adjustments and move forward.
If a particular forum is getting you in trouble because you don't have enough self-control, stay out of the forum.
You have the power to not get in trouble. Man up, accept blame, make necessary posting changes and move forward.
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This. I’ve seen frequent baits against people where even the most measured person would be responding with colourful metaphors. The comment itself isn’t ban-worthy but it’s written in a way to incite rage and an aggressive response. It happens all the time OP, no denying that.
So what do you do in that situation? Take a deep breath, count to 5, add the user to your ignore list, then refresh the page and don’t worry about reading their rubbish again. It’s not worth getting worked up over some silly words some troll throws out on an Apple-rumour forum.
Sure, I’ve been guilty about taking the bait on more than a few occasions and feel stupid later. However if you’re not seeking an argument and if you ignore people who make your blood boil, you’ll probably have a better time. One of the many reasons I blocked PRSI a number of years ago...
One has to get into the mindset of responding to the topic or post and leave the flamebait out of it. There are posts that are borderline insults/ad-homs, but I have learned to ignore that part of it (or report it) and respond to the topic, if in fact there is any legitimate response to be had. It's tough to do sometimes, but you have been around here for a while and should notice that eventually those posters that violate the rules for appropriate debate ultimately get some attention aka the wrong kind.
Every once in a while I do post in PRSI, but have learned to respond on an even keel and not get caught up in the craziness of some of the topics.
Standing up for yourself is considered childish behavior in some circles. Either it’s a small offense that can be ignored, or a major offense worthy of a call to the police or moderators (there’s a Report Post button on every post).
The police don’t want to clean up after a gunfight or road rage incident; moderators would rather delete one post than shut down an entire thread that’s spun out of control.
Since moderators have specific forum assignments, if you’re regularly encountering the same mod, there’s a good chance you’re spending a fair bit of your time on that mod’s turf. For good reason, both police and moderators tend to lose patience with people who constantly cross their path but never learn from the encounters.
The police don’t want to clean up after a gunfight or road rage incident; moderators would rather delete one post than shut down an entire thread that’s spun out of control.
Since moderators have specific forum assignments, if you’re regularly encountering the same mod, there’s a good chance you’re spending a fair bit of your time on that mod’s turf. For good reason, both police and moderators tend to lose patience with people who constantly cross their path but never learn from the encounters.
that's not true for MacRumors. I know some sites have moderators assigned to specific forums, but here, we as a team manage the entire sight. Here's what I do; after handling any open reports, I'll wander around looking at various threads that interest me as a member. If I see a violation, I will report it, for further discussion, if its minor, i.e., someone posting LOL, or "This", then I'll handle it. I find myself natually going to certain forums, as the topics are inline with my priorities, i.e., the MBP forum.
OP, please use the contact us link: https://forums.macrumors.com/misc/contact/ and discuss your concern with the administrators. They oversee our work and if you feel that something isn't right with the moderation then discuss it with them
I'd also imagine you see the same Mods who are in your time zone. So for example if you are always posting at the same time of day it's likely you have Mods that are on at the same time of day.
Personally I believe this site is well moderated. That's one of the reasons I stay.
The discussion should focus (loosely) on the topic - not on what kind of combat footgear people's mothers wear.
Some posts are MEANT to be a debate. (And some become a debate.) Try to stick to defending your POSITION rather than getting into a personal attack or defense.
I say "loosely" on-topic to make a point. I notice a trend of posters sometimes thinking they have some sort of "ownership" of a post, and they get very upset if somebody strays off-topic, or gives them a solution that is different than they are looking for. They then appoint themselves "topic police" - and will respond with "I didn't ask for...." and get very snippy about it. Surely, if they had a button to censor responses, they would use it. But... they don't have that button - the moderators do!
Responses are not just to help the original poster. They are for everyone's benefit. A somewhat off-topic response or a solution different to what you are looking for might help others. Just ignore what is "off topic" to you, and if somebody annoys you enough, put them on ignore. But you don't get to say what others can post. At least not on MR.
Some posts are MEANT to be a debate. (And some become a debate.) Try to stick to defending your POSITION rather than getting into a personal attack or defense.
I say "loosely" on-topic to make a point. I notice a trend of posters sometimes thinking they have some sort of "ownership" of a post, and they get very upset if somebody strays off-topic, or gives them a solution that is different than they are looking for. They then appoint themselves "topic police" - and will respond with "I didn't ask for...." and get very snippy about it. Surely, if they had a button to censor responses, they would use it. But... they don't have that button - the moderators do!
Responses are not just to help the original poster. They are for everyone's benefit. A somewhat off-topic response or a solution different to what you are looking for might help others. Just ignore what is "off topic" to you, and if somebody annoys you enough, put them on ignore. But you don't get to say what others can post. At least not on MR.
Anybody who has been here for any length of time and posted much at all has had some sort of confrontation or run in with a bully, fanboy of one stripe or the other, smartass or dumbass (take your pick). Sometimes it is easier to walk away than others. Most of us have had posts deleted from time to time. Some are obvious, others not as much, and sometimes they just get caught in the wash of others. Sometimes explanations are given, sometimes not, but regardless... in the grand scheme of things, how important is it? If a person's life or self-worth is bound up in their persona and posts on MR then they have bigger issues in life than a deleted post. Threads come and go and conversations move on... and so should we.
Use the Report button
Use the Contact Us form
But most of all, use some common sense and courtesy
Use the Report button
Use the Contact Us form
But most of all, use some common sense and courtesy
It would be nice if moderators let members work things out for themselves, especially when their posts aren't that egregious but that has not been my experience, reported posts are usually treated with a heavy hand of moderation and typically only the reported post is considered, rather than the entire exchange. So if two of you are in a debate and only one reports it, that's the only person reprimanded and that may be up for debate but we've seen it over and over.
It is what it is, if you want to have heated debates MR is not the place for it. I've never been on a forum so heavily moderated. That being said, if a cleaned up environment with no drama is your thing then I'm sure it's that much more pleasant for you.
It is what it is, if you want to have heated debates MR is not the place for it. I've never been on a forum so heavily moderated. That being said, if a cleaned up environment with no drama is your thing then I'm sure it's that much more pleasant for you.
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I recommend assigning moderators to specific forums. Each moderator has their own perspective on the rules and having assigned forum increases the likelihood of consistent enforcement/interpretation. As an admin on some other tech sites, I have found that approach helps to reduce the need to delete posts (members get a "feel" for the moderator's perspective) and reduce the number of disagreements over moderation.
The way I look at it is I come here as a form of entertainment. Usually I read the new posts section first about Apple related stuff, but then occasionally a PRSI title will catch my eye and I get sucked in. If I get banned I go somewhere else. Or I spend my time in a more productive manner. No big deal. There is a lot more to life than spending all my time on a forum arguing with strangers.
Sometimes I learn something new or ask a question. If I just stuck to that there would be no issues with moderation.
Sometimes I learn something new or ask a question. If I just stuck to that there would be no issues with moderation.
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We actually feel that the opposite is true. We strive for a shared perspective, and don't want how moderation is done to be up to a single moderator's perspective on the rules. Users' posting and moderation histories are always considered when moderation is done, so it's important that moderators can see how users post in more than specific forum sections.
I would argue that moderation is as consistent as it is because the moderators actively follow more than an assigned section and discuss as extensively as they do.
Moderator sends a message about a post. I read it, and think to myself, geez is my coffee empty again.
"Shared perspective" is nice in theory, but falls short in practice. There is a wide inconsistency in the application of forum rules that is based on the particular moderator that does the interpreting and enforcing of the rules. Yes, in the "macro" it all evens out, but in the "micro" individual members can experience that inconsistency.
I've used both approaches. I've found that consistency within a sub-forum helps to keep things running more smoothly within each smaller part of the community rather than an a uniformly inconsistency (oxymoron intentional
) that spans the entire forum.
On the whole I feel like this site actually tends towards 'light touch' moderation (though granted I don't see the other side; I do however have experience as a mod with the xenforo software on an unrelated site). I'm not surprised, given the relatively large number of users and sprawling nature of this forum that the mods collaborate across the whole. It works better in my experience than having mods and global mods, especially when you have a large amount of content to sift through, or a limited number of staff.
We feel it's important to strive for moderation that's as consistent as possible across forum sections - given that there are over one million users and tens of thousands of new posts made daily, so some problems will go unseen unless users help us by alerting us to problems. Consistency, as much as it's possible to consistent on such a large site, is the reason we've decided not to assign specific areas to specific mods.
Another important point: Moderators and administrators on MacRumors are volunteers. We're not all online every day or necessarily at the same time. If a volunteer moderator needs to be away for a day or two due to real life events, the section assigned to that person would be undermoderated during that period. When we move across forum section boundaries we're not only more flexible as a team, but we each gain a greater understanding of how the regulars in any given section interact.
Another important point: Moderators and administrators on MacRumors are volunteers. We're not all online every day or necessarily at the same time. If a volunteer moderator needs to be away for a day or two due to real life events, the section assigned to that person would be undermoderated during that period. When we move across forum section boundaries we're not only more flexible as a team, but we each gain a greater understanding of how the regulars in any given section interact.