PRSI is a cop-out

[japanime]

I'm sorry to have to say this, but moving the comments section on a perfectly valid tech article to PRSI simply because some numbskulls decide to turn the thread into a political bitch-fest is a cop-out.

I'm specifically talking about this article:

Apple and AT&T Team Up to Improve Cellular Service in Puerto Rico With LTE Band 8 Activation

Why couldn't the moderators simply delete those posts and insist that politics are not to be discussed in the thread, because the activation has nothing to do with politics?

MacRumors is growing more and more hostile by the day.

 

[Septembersrain]

You'd have to increase the level of moderating on one thread. We'd have the mods deleting, warning and possibly just locking it from all the political posts.

The unique part of this forum is the openness with PRSI posts and posters. It can appear very hostile, yes. However, it's because this place is not overly censored.

 

[Weaselboy]

In this case, it was not a moderator that moved the thread into PRSI, but the editors placed it there to start with anticipating (correctly) that it would result in a political discussion.

But there are times when the moderators move a thread into PRSI when a number of posts in a thread drift into PRSI discussion. We do moderate those posts and send reminders or suspensions to members, but often the tide of PRSI posts becomes a lot to manage, so we just move the thread into the PRSI section. With only a handful of volunteer moderators managing this, it is just a matter of allocation of resources.

When deciding when to move these, we do understand a move to PRSI will prevent some newer members from participating in the discussion and we consider that when deciding what should be done with the thread.

I hope this helps explain the process a little.

 

[japanime]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I do understand how it works. I just find it disappointing that otherwise non-political tech stories are so often hijacked by posters who seem to find an evil political motive in every aspect of life.

 

[Weaselboy]

I just find it disappointing that otherwise non-political tech stories are so often hijacked by posters who seem to find an evil political motive in every aspect of life.

I can't say I disagree with you there.

 

[Septembersrain]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I do understand how it works. I just find it disappointing that otherwise non-political tech stories are so often hijacked by posters who seem to find an evil political motive in every aspect of life.

Yeah. Right now politics seem to seep into almost every single post I see these days. Be it on here, Facebook, XDA, Twitter, etc.

It's kind of exhausting honestly. Some days it can drive me nuts!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I do understand how it works. I just find it disappointing that otherwise non-political tech stories are so often hijacked by posters who seem to find an evil political motive in every aspect of life.

Just as it is ludicrous to assume that every feature of every discussion has a political dimension, - or can be interpreted politically - when many, clearly, have nothing of the sort, equally, to attempt to discuss tech (or sport) in a vacuum separate from the society, culture, economy and political system that plays host to them is silly.

In advanced, mature, democracies, politics - which means matters of power, and matters of law and governance and how these are regulated and implemented - can be found everywhere because complex societies governed by the rule of law require a complex apparatus of government to administer it.

 

[ericgtr12]

Agreed, my father-in-law is extremely political and our family always tries to steer clear of ANYTHING that may set him off, unfortunately that's just about anything on TV. So when he comes over now we simply leave it off and it's really too bad that we have to do it.

Here at MR the ignore feature is a wonderful thing, wish I could use it at home frankly.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Agreed, my father-in-law is extremely political and our family always tries to steer clear of ANYTHING that may set him off, unfortunately that's just about anything on TV. So when he comes over now we simply leave it off and it's really too bad that we have to do it.

Here at MR the ignore feature is a wonderful thing, wish I could use it at home frankly.

Oh, gosh, I love political rows - er, debates.

My family is, - or were, political, - intensely interested in politics - and endlessly discussed, debated, explored and talked politics (and history, and music, and books) at the dinner table.

Actually, I couldn't imagine a world where politics were considered a matter one could not discuss, debate (or disagree with) with a family member.

 

[ericgtr12]

Oh, gosh, I love political rows - er, debates.

My family is, - or were, political, - intensely interested in politics - and endlessly discussed, debated, explored and talked politics (and history, and music, and books) at the dinner table.

Actually, I couldn't imagine a world where politics were considered a matter one could not discuss, debate (or disagree with) with a family member.

My mom, who runs all of our reunions, has a clear policy for anyone who walks through the door: No talking about politics or religion. It actually keeps everything nice and civil.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

My mom, who runs all of our reunions, has a clear policy for anyone who walks through the door: No talking about politics or religion. It actually keeps everything nice and civil.

Oh, dear.

Neither politics nor religion?

Both of my brothers - even on their Twitter profiles - mention that they are fascinated by politics.

As for me: Well, politics (and history) have been my personal and professional life for decades, now. I think about it, talk about it in the pub - what else can one discuss with such excitement? - studied it, taught it (at university), wrote about it, published stuff, and now work as a apolitical analyst.

I could not conceive a world where politics, and political discussion - was off the table. And, as for religion, this is also a family favourite. (Along with travel talk, books, music, food, wine, movies, history......)

But, agreed: Mothers do have an enormous influence on such things; my mother deplored banal conversation and encouraged intelligent conversation - she wanted a world where her children could argue intelligently - and present informed arguments - when debating and discussing things - that is, things such as religion (which she thought a retrograde cultural influence) and politics - and that is what she got. Children for whom discussing politics and books and theatre is as normal as breathing.

 

[jeremysteele]

To be honest I've been visiting this site and many others less and less because of the underlying issue (off topic political junk)

I know there's a fine balance between being too loose and too strict, and I understand the mods have a hard time keeping control of such a large site. Overall macrumors mods do a good job.

I just wish #6 on "things not to do" was followed more strictly:

Off-topic posts will be deleted/edited. If you keep doing it see "Repeated problems" below. Threads and posts on controversial political, religious, and social issues are to be limited to the Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum, and made only by those eligible for that forum. Some news threads are placed in that forum, as explained in the Rules for the Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum.

As a user it seems to me like that rule means "go off-topic (especially political), get your post edited/deleted". Yet that never seems to be the case.. the threads spiral out of control and end up in PRSI.

I've reported several of these catalyst posts and nothing ever happens to them, even if they are blatant off-topic "trolling" attempts to rile up other users. It's sad.

The really sad part is it isn't just macrumors with this issue... it is happening on many sites. A relative recently posted some random political garbage on my facebook page, even though I hadn't posted anything on there in years. I deleted it, then it happened again (someone else). After that I blocked them and decided to just lock up everything (wall, no tagging, etc). Enough with that nonsense.

TL;DR - people need to chill about politics (there's a time and place for it), follow basic rules/common sense, and be civilized.

 

[Nunyabinez]

To be honest I've been visiting this site and many others less and less because of the underlying issue (off topic political junk)

I know there's a fine balance between being too loose and too strict, and I understand the mods have a hard time keeping control of such a large site. Overall macrumors mods do a good job.

I just wish #6 on "things not to do" was followed more strictly:



As a user it seems to me like that rule means "go off-topic (especially political), get your post edited/deleted". Yet that never seems to be the case.. the threads spiral out of control and end up in PRSI.

I've reported several of these catalyst posts and nothing ever happens to them, even if they are blatant off-topic "trolling" attempts to rile up other users. It's sad.

The really sad part is it isn't just macrumors with this issue... it is happening on many sites. A relative recently posted some random political garbage on my facebook page, even though I hadn't posted anything on there in years. I deleted it, then it happened again (someone else). After that I blocked them and decided to just lock up everything (wall, no tagging, etc). Enough with that nonsense.

TL;DR - people need to chill about politics (there's a time and place for it), follow basic rules/common sense, and be civilized.

It is easy to think that someone official is monitoring all posts. I have gotten my hand slapped a couple of times over things that while technically a violation seemed very trivial while seeing egregious posts that got nothing.

Some of it happens because other posters happen to complain, bringing it to the moderator's attention. You might try flagging a few of the worst examples and helping the moderators police this more. Just don't flag mine please

 

[annk]

If a user reports a post and no moderation is done, we encourage that user to contact us to ask why. We never mind explaining, and in some cases we adjust our moderation.

So to say "nothing is done' isn't the whole truth. All reports result in at least one - and often more - moderator taking a look. Reports are often discussed among moderators as well. We try to moderate as little as possible, but as much as necessary. It's a balance between interfering as little as possible and enforcing the rules.