Are the mods racist?

[sachinky 464]

I'm perfectly aware of the purpose of the upper forums. And while this topic was posted under the Philippines sub-forum, since it is not related to immigration--I'd classify this as OT.

My comment was not directed towards this particular OP or thread. It's a general comment towards those who haven't figured out how to use the interwebz yet. This is a free immigration advice thread, the mods are not paid to do their job, neither are the members for their comments.

To reduce blood pressure and stress in the future, it is, perhaps, best, to glean whatever useful information one can find and then ignore the less useful instead of complaining about 'unfair, mean, rude, racist' members or mods, every so often. I often wonder how these people survive in the real world if they are this likely to pop a vein over something an annonymous poster said on an internet forum.

Frankly, as far as I am concerned, I think VJ is one of the more strictly moderated, "friendlier" forums I've been on.

Regarding the 'take it or leave it' comment--didn't you notice? The OP made a brave declaration that he was going to 'leave' VJ once his journey was over. That is, once he has 'taken' all he can. If one is paying for the service, then I can understand feeling entitled to polite customer service. But when one is not, the internet, in its entirety, is pretty much 'take it or leave it.' IMO, of course.

Have a nice day!

Edited December 20, 2010 by sachinky

[A and T 82]

Members are never publicly informed of what administrative-type action may or may not have taken place against another member. In other words, you are jumping to conclusions.

You can have all the problem that you want with it. But if you violate the TOS, we are required to step in.

All members have up to 5 minutes to go back and edit their posts.... usually for a forgotten item, a regret, or for a grammar/spelling edit.

It is lamentable that there is racism in this world. As this is a multi-national and multi-ethnic site, it is especially abhorrent. All members are encouraged to help minimize racist posts by using the "Report" button.

Mod attention is report-driven. When you see a post violating the TOS, please report it.

Please do tell me which is worse

1. Me calling a user an idiot for posting pictures of someone burning alive, in a thread about real people that died in a fire

or

2. The person that thinks it is funny that people died and were burned alive in a fire, and posts images of people burning in a fire, then 3 or 4 people comment on how horrible that person is for doing so

Commonsense would tell us #2 is far more offensive than my comments back to him , and if you don't condemn his actions then you are just condoning it, and as representative of this website thats not what members need to see here.

If people are just going to comment on threads to make fun of the deaths of others, they should be banned. And why you decided to come after me instead of him, well, I can only figure its some bias or race issue

Those 3 or 4 other posts saying how sick the guy was for doing it, I mean how much more proof do you possibly need? Then on top of that he started with personal messages to me after I took offense.

I believe the mods need to keep in mind that others visit this website, and you are representative of this website. And if you think its ok for a guy to make fun of people being burned alive then maybe someone needs to take a look at your mod credentials

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I can appreciate the concerns people have when they are exposed to horrific images or content that they didn't expect and attitudes that differ from their own. The TOS are in place to guide our members in the choices they make when they choose to post on Visa Journey. This i supposed to be a supportive and useful sort of site and for the majority of the members it is. The problem with trying to be a 'one size fits all', however, is that at best it will be a great fit for some and a lousy fit for most, with compromises necessary to ensure any sort of acceptability.

Now, with regards to the accusation that the mods have shown by their actions - or inactions - that we condone the burning alive of people is ridiculous. If we had left the picture in question in place after being notified of its presence, then yes, there would be some validity to that accusation that we don't care. That is not what happened. The moment a moderator realized what was posted, the image was removed. We do not live on VJ - although it sure seems like it at times - so sometimes there will be a delay between a report and an action. We wish we could be on top of every TOS violation but we are all volunteers and we all have full lives in the real world so this is not a realistic expectation. We do the best we can.

As Krikit mentioned, no one other than the person involved knows what mod action was taken in any circumstance, unless the person involved chooses to share it - and as an interesting side note, I have noticed that even then, people may only 'think' they know because when someone 'shares' the action they received, they don't always tell the truth. Sometimes they lessen the action and other times they increase it. That is just an observation - not that it necessarily applies to anyone in this situation, but it does serve as a reminder that even posted information about such action can't always be trusted and needs to be taken with a grain of salt.

Now back to the accusations . . . second, moderators do not have the ability to edit anyone else's posts - only our own. VJ members have only a limited window of time in whcih to edit their posts once they are made - 5 minutes - and then the posts are 'set' - so accusations that we have had someone edit their comments to change them are also misplaced. It is not possible with the software of this site to do so, so what is posted is what was posted. We do, however, have the ability to remove posts that need to be removed - such as that picture - and such as the repeated personal attacks made after the picture was removed. No matter how incensed and upset you are, you do not have the right to violate TOS either. It isn't a matter of which is worse. Both are wrong and two wrongs don't make a right.

Finally, if someone does have a problem with moderators' actions, they are encouraged to make a report to Administration. There is even a category that you can check off on the contact form for a review of moderator activity. Include a link to the thread in question and administration will review the action. You may still not be satisfied with the results, because unfortunately, we come back to that 'one size fits all 'problem.

Edited December 21, 2010 by Kathryn41

[scandal 951]

Of course we should observe the TOS even in P&R and not attack personally but the ideas we express are open game.

Why then do you persist in calling those of us who support liberal or Democrat posistions "Socialists" over and over and over again? You'd make your point a lot better without that sort of cheap shot. Try it.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Posts that derailed the topic of discussion by introducing totally different elements have been removed and turned into their own thread here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/287708-christianity-vs-islam-moderation/

[Captain Ewok 1,857]

If there is a major issue needing review (I am open to reviewing issues) anyone may PM and / or contact me via the contact form. The review may take a day or so -- no promises on the result being what you want, but I will look and be fair. If a report is made for me to "look into" something and I do not find an issue I may not always reply directly. This is especially true in cases of member privacy or TOS enforcement. Please do not expect a reply with me explaining action that may or may not take place regarding other members.

In any case, if a moderator were to truly be as bad as the accusations I saw say, they would no longer be a mod here. If you feel I am missing something please send me a well thought out argument with facts backing up your statement for me to investigate.

[^_^ 5,021]

If there is a major issue needing review (I am open to reviewing issues) anyone may PM and / or contact me via the contact form. The review may take a day or so -- no promises on the result being what you want, but I will look and be fair. If a report is made for me to "look into" something and I do not find an issue I may not always reply directly. This is especially true in cases of member privacy or TOS enforcement. Please do not expect a reply with me explaining action that may or may not take place regarding other members.

In any case, if a moderator were to truly be as bad as the accusations I saw say, they would no longer be a mod here. If you feel I am missing something please send me a well thought out argument with facts backing up your statement for me to investigate.

You don't even read PMs. I have been waiting for days for you to read, let alone respond, to one of mine.

[Captain Ewok 1,857]

I do read the PM's; I certainly read emails faster. I do not always directly reply to PMs especially if a moderator is already engaged. I also try not to engage in endless philosophical battles. Sometimes a decision or perspective I have will be right and other times wrong. I strive to be right as much as possible to everyone.

[^_^ 5,021]

I do read the PM's; I certainly read emails faster. I do not always directly reply to PMs especially if a moderator is already engaged. I also try not to engage in endless philosophical battles. Sometimes a decision or perspective I have will be right and other times wrong. I strive to be right as much as possible to everyone.

You don't have to engage me if you don't want to. One of your moderators has also addressed you in that PM thread and you haven't even read it.

You don't have to engage me if you don't want to. One of your moderators has also addressed you in that PM thread and you haven't even read it.

OK, I see now you have. Now you know where I stand and I presume you've read what one of your moderators has to say on it as well.

I expect nothing more from you. Thanks.

[luckytxn 2,263]

If there is a major issue needing review (I am open to reviewing issues) anyone may PM and / or contact me via the contact form. The review may take a day or so -- no promises on the result being what you want, but I will look and be fair. If a report is made for me to "look into" something and I do not find an issue I may not always reply directly. This is especially true in cases of member privacy or TOS enforcement. Please do not expect a reply with me explaining action that may or may not take place regarding other members.

In any case, if a moderator were to truly be as bad as the accusations I saw say, they would no longer be a mod here. If you feel I am missing something please send me a well thought out argument with facts backing up your statement for me to investigate.

Wow.

[luckytxn 2,263]

Why then do you persist in calling those of us who support liberal or Democrat posistions "Socialists" over and over and over again? You'd make your point a lot better without that sort of cheap shot. Try it.

Makes no difference what I choose to call or perceive. For many years on this very forum the Socialists were allowed to call and say the meanest things about the GOP. There was never any debate at all but just the worst vitriol possible and many here loved it. There were complaints but it was said that this was debate and nothing done. Now the shoe is on the other foot and it is now wrong to do the same. Remember in the future when your party is out that the same things can happen to your side. Don't like it then tough. It was all fun and games before huh? I see them as Socialists and call them accordingly as that is politics we are talking about after all. Want to keep making the attempt at controlling what I think and say? Go ahead and show me where I am wrong with examples and prove me wrong and maybe I will change my thinking. It is called debate. If we all have to conform to what you perceive in order to be fair then that is not debate.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Makes no difference what I choose to call or perceive. For many years on this very forum the Socialists were allowed to call and say the meanest things about the GOP. There was never any debate at all but just the worst vitriol possible and many here loved it. There were complaints but it was said that this was debate and nothing done. Now the shoe is on the other foot and it is now wrong to do the same. Remember in the future when your party is out that the same things can happen to your side. Don't like it then tough. It was all fun and games before huh? I see them as Socialists and call them accordingly as that is politics we are talking about after all. Want to keep making the attempt at controlling what I think and say? Go ahead and show me where I am wrong with examples and prove me wrong and maybe I will change my thinking. It is called debate. If we all have to conform to what you perceive in order to be fair then that is not debate.

I suppose I can call you a Fascist then.

[The_Dude 1,142]

To the OP, I was in the same position for quite some time. One of the 'usuals' would post some racist #######, I would report it and wait. After no action in what I thought was a satisfactory amount of time, I would just say "screw it", and call them a racist d-bag. Apparently, a personal insult is the same as some sort of racist post, at least according to the TOS. Don't worry too much about Hopp aka Boing, when he posts things like that, just do what just about everyone else does when he posts in OT or politics/religion forum, have a good laugh at him.

[scandal 951]

Makes no difference what I choose to call or perceive. For many years on this very forum the Socialists were allowed to call and say the meanest things about the GOP. There was never any debate at all but just the worst vitriol possible and many here loved it. There were complaints but it was said that this was debate and nothing done. Now the shoe is on the other foot and it is now wrong to do the same. Remember in the future when your party is out that the same things can happen to your side. Don't like it then tough. It was all fun and games before huh? I see them as Socialists and call them accordingly as that is politics we are talking about after all. Want to keep making the attempt at controlling what I think and say? Go ahead and show me where I am wrong with examples and prove me wrong and maybe I will change my thinking. It is called debate. If we all have to conform to what you perceive in order to be fair then that is not debate.

I'm not telling you what you should or shouldn't post. You want to call everyone a Socialist? Go ahead.

What you wrote was:

Of course we should observe the TOS even in P&R and not attack personally but the ideas we express are open game.

If you really mean that, and believe in the value of civil debate, then in my opinion (and I'm entitled to mine as much as you are to yours), you demean yourself and decrease the value of your own contribution to the debate by using such language. Suit yourself.

As to your "two wrongs make a right argument", I am not one of the posters who has said "the meanest things about the GOP". I do however know what you are referring to - I've seen the term "**" used here and frankly I find it as distasteful in a debate as your "Socialist" or the oft used "**", "Ovomit", etc.

I'm just not into that kind of language if we're going to talk about policy. Do you want to talk about taxes? health care? the Constitution? Guns? the role of government in society? Iraq and Afghanistan? Fine. I'm game. But calling our President nasty names, or referring to the opposite party with a nasty name does not serve your argument one bit. Hint: it weakens and blunts the force of your argument since the other side is simply going to dismiss it out of hand when they see the crude insults. I've seen you argue some interesting positions on the issues - my suggestion would be stick to that, and leave the name calling behind. But, of course, do as you wish.

[luckytxn 2,263]

I suppose I can call you a Fascist then.

Do it and we will see what the Mos think. It is their job to wade through and make snap judgments.

My guess it is OK as for many years on the OT thread that word was used and often and nothing was done then.