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Global Forums > General > Way out of line topics: lock, delete, or ....?
 
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Way out of line topics: lock, delete, or ....?
Aug 23, 2008 @ 22:39
Some discussions are polite and a treasure mine of learning opportunities. Some are rude and a land mine of hurtful statements. If pen (keyboard?)is mightier than sword, letters and monologues can hurt, be emotionally violent and leave us scarred.

Yet, real life is what it is. We meet and discover all sorts of people. We experience them, have conversations with them and learn something. Then either they or we move on. Most of those we meet become memories... sooner or later.

Just like real life, in virtual life we discover all sorts of people. Conversations take the form of topics and threads. In these conversations, difficult and flammable topics appear. They have appeared lately in glocals (and in past). Replies get posted. Attacks spark. Flames grow. Along the way, misunderstandings get baked in these fires.

For example, consider that Iran thread posted by a fellow member. Within the first few responses, that thread witnessed inappropriate name calling and attack on another member. I lost all interest in reading that thread further. That Iran thread, I can not find now. Seems like it was either deleted or my browser/glocals has some bug. I see another thread today of a similar type, which is now locked. Nir has posted his reasons as to why the thread has been locked. I confess I do not wish to contribute to that locked thread.

With these "way out of line" threads (as Nir calls it), I do have this question though: what should siteadmin and Nir do when discussion threads become way out of line and inconsistent with glocals charter? Lock it or delete it? or do something else?

I feel "way out of line" discussion threads, if possible, should be locked and moved out of current forums into forum archives.

Archiving the thread has some advantages. If the same topic, or a similar topic re-appears, it may help to provide a link to the archived thread. It also takes it out of the current active forums.

Locking it in the current forum leaves the inappropriate discussion in the current forum. If the discussion is inappropraite and disturbing, why leave it in current forum? It is unpleasant to read. What benefit can it provide?

Deleting threads or posts is too extreme. It is like burning books to erase history. The good vanishes with the bad. History then repeats. Deleting is okay if it threatens someone's privacy or cause identity theft or violate some other rights of a member under relevant laws.

Way out of line threads... what is the appropriate policy?

The text you are quoting:
Some discussions are polite and a treasure mine of learning opportunities. Some are rude and a land mine of hurtful statements. If pen (keyboard?)is mightier than sword, letters and monologues can hurt, be emotionally violent and leave us scarred.

Yet, real life is what it is. We meet and discover all sorts of people. We experience them, have conversations with them and learn something. Then either they or we move on. Most of those we meet become memories... sooner or later.

Just like real life, in virtual life we discover all sorts of people. Conversations take the form of topics and threads. In these conversations, difficult and flammable topics appear. They have appeared lately in glocals (and in past). Replies get posted. Attacks spark. Flames grow. Along the way, misunderstandings get baked in these fires.

For example, consider that Iran thread posted by a fellow member. Within the first few responses, that thread witnessed inappropriate name calling and attack on another member. I lost all interest in reading that thread further. That Iran thread, I can not find now. Seems like it was either deleted or my browser/glocals has some bug. I see another thread today of a similar type, which is now locked. Nir has posted his reasons as to why the thread has been locked. I confess I do not wish to contribute to that locked thread.

With these "way out of line" threads (as Nir calls it), I do have this question though: what should siteadmin and Nir do when discussion threads become way out of line and inconsistent with glocals charter? Lock it or delete it? or do something else?

I feel "way out of line" discussion threads, if possible, should be locked and moved out of current forums into forum archives.

Archiving the thread has some advantages. If the same topic, or a similar topic re-appears, it may help to provide a link to the archived thread. It also takes it out of the current active forums.

Locking it in the current forum leaves the inappropriate discussion in the current forum. If the discussion is inappropraite and disturbing, why leave it in current forum? It is unpleasant to read. What benefit can it provide?

Deleting threads or posts is too extreme. It is like burning books to erase history. The good vanishes with the bad. History then repeats. Deleting is okay if it threatens someone's privacy or cause identity theft or violate some other rights of a member under relevant laws.

Way out of line threads... what is the appropriate policy?
coloradoAug 23, 2008 @ 22:39

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Re: Way out of line topics: lock, delete, or ....?
Post 1
Aug 23, 2008 @ 22:56
Colorado,

Thanks.

1. To be 100% clear: the threads in question were deleted / blocked because of their tone (ie - personal attacks, swear words, etc), not because of the subject they dealt with.

2. Good question on what to do with out-of-line threads, and I see 3 key options (as you say):

  • Delete;
  • Block; 
  • Block & move to a 'blocked threads' forum. 

I'm not too hot on creating a 'blocked threads' forum, cos it might end up giving more attention to discussions gone wrong.

Out of the other 2 options - delete or block - I don't have a real opinion. Both are not very different actually, cos even if we 'just' block a thread, it very quickly goes to the bottom of the threads shown, which means very few people ever see it again. 

So for now, unless there's some good points that someone brings up here for blocking or for deleting, we'll just play it by ear...

What think?

Nir

The text you are quoting:
Colorado,

Thanks.

1. To be 100% clear: the threads in question were deleted / blocked because of their tone (ie - personal attacks, swear words, etc), not because of the subject they dealt with.

2. Good question on what to do with out-of-line threads, and I see 3 key options (as you say):

  • Delete;
  • Block; 
  • Block & move to a 'blocked threads' forum. 

I'm not too hot on creating a 'blocked threads' forum, cos it might end up giving more attention to discussions gone wrong.

Out of the other 2 options - delete or block - I don't have a real opinion. Both are not very different actually, cos even if we 'just' block a thread, it very quickly goes to the bottom of the threads shown, which means very few people ever see it again. 

So for now, unless there's some good points that someone brings up here for blocking or for deleting, we'll just play it by ear...

What think?

Nir
Nir Ofek, Aug 23, 2008 @ 22:56

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Re: Way out of line topics: lock, delete, or ....?
Post 2
Aug 24, 2008 @ 00:10
The tone indeed were inappropriate and unpleasant.

One reads the title - need help, or whatever. Wishing to be helpful, if possible, one opens the thread. Instead of reading an interesting Q&A, I find myself reading a thread with abusive language and tone, wondering why am I reading this? 

Limits my enthusiasm for reading other threads here, or participating in glocals forums. As a reader, I wish there was an easy way to identify and avoid threads filled with abusive tone.

I understand and appreciate your opinion.

The text you are quoting:
The tone indeed were inappropriate and unpleasant.

One reads the title - need help, or whatever. Wishing to be helpful, if possible, one opens the thread. Instead of reading an interesting Q&A, I find myself reading a thread with abusive language and tone, wondering why am I reading this? 

Limits my enthusiasm for reading other threads here, or participating in glocals forums. As a reader, I wish there was an easy way to identify and avoid threads filled with abusive tone.

I understand and appreciate your opinion.
colorado, Aug 24, 2008 @ 00:10

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