Ken Salisbury
06-19-2005, 2:57 PM
This thread is in partly in response to Mark Singer's thread http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=21453 and partly just to clarify some of the issues.
This thread contains 2 separate and distinct sections. My comments as a moderator and comments as a member.
Speaking as a moderator:
In some cases there is a fine line between in what constitutes a violation of the TOS and what does not. In other cases violations are quite evident. The Terms of Service clearly states the determination of violations rest with the staff.
The forums at SawMill Creek are moderated. All posts are subject to moderation by our Members and Administrative Staff. Messages deemed offensive by any member may be reported to our staff by using the 'Report Post to Moderator' option. Any message that is reported to a moderator may be subject to removal, in whole or in part, at our staff's discretion.
In the case of personal attacks, blatant derogatory remarks, incivility, and general poor manners, the determination of a violation is quite simple. To quote Ken Fitzgerald: "We all have a right to be treated respectfully regardless of our differing opinions."
Many people have commented on the "commercialism" of some posts in the E vs F and other topic threads which question the enforcement of the Terms of Service in regard to that and other issues.
Generally speaking, I believe any member has a right to respond to a post which asks a question about a product in which he has a direct business affiliation or to clarify misleading or erroneous statements made about that product. Just because a member has such an affiliation does not make his right to respond any lesser than a member who does not have such an affiliation. If responses are germane to the thread topic they do not violate the TOS.
On the other hand, if the person with an affiliation starts a thread or responds for the sole purpose of promoting that product it is a violation of the TOS. Many, many threads/posts have been removed by the moderators and administrators in the past and we will continue to do that. Somer times it comes down to separating the chaff from the grain. Like Frank Pellow said: "Ken had to spend time getting rid of some posts, but some of the posts that remain in the thread are valuable."
Most members never get to see these threads/posts and are not aware of the dedication all of the staff members have in assuring our TOS and general guidelines are adhered to. The determination of what and what does not constitute "commercialism" is somewhat of a fine line. Members have to rely on the staff in making those determinations.
If any a member feels a post violates the TOS or is not appropriate under our guidelines they can report that post by simply clicking the <img border="0" src="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Ken/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/FrontPageTempDir/wpa1e13i.gif"> icon in the upper right corner of the post which will send a report to the moderators. Moderators evaluate these reports and take whatever action, if any, they feel is appropriate.
http://www.oldrebelworkshop.com/misc/moderator.gif
Speaking for myself (not the rest of the staff):
I do not have the time nor the inclination to engage in frivolous PM's and e-mails which mirror some of the posts in question. Do not take this as a complaint. Just an assurance that I will continue to act as a moderator using the best judgment I can and will not get into long, multiple PM's/e-mail's debating these issues.
That does not preclude any member from PM'ng or e-mailing me on any issue. Actually I encourage all members to do exactly that. However, it is difficult, if not impossible to sway me by flooding me with mail in an attempt to get me into a long continuing debate - it just won't happen :) .
This may sound a little harsh, but it should be noted that Sawmill Creek is not a democracy per se. It is 100% free to members at the good graces of Keith Outten and Hampton Roads On Line. We have in the past always taken into consideration suggestions from our members for improvements and will continue to do so.
I for one am proud to be associated with this forum. Not only as a member, but also as one of the staff. I do not wish to appear as some sort of a dictator when it comes to enforcing the general guidelines and the Terms of Service. However, I will continue to moderate as I have in the past until my services/actions are deemed to be other than appropriate.
Now - since it is both Sunday and Father's Day I think I will go sit under the shade tree and have a couple of http://www.oldrebelworkshop.com/lilbud.gif's
This thread contains 2 separate and distinct sections. My comments as a moderator and comments as a member.
Speaking as a moderator:
In some cases there is a fine line between in what constitutes a violation of the TOS and what does not. In other cases violations are quite evident. The Terms of Service clearly states the determination of violations rest with the staff.
The forums at SawMill Creek are moderated. All posts are subject to moderation by our Members and Administrative Staff. Messages deemed offensive by any member may be reported to our staff by using the 'Report Post to Moderator' option. Any message that is reported to a moderator may be subject to removal, in whole or in part, at our staff's discretion.
In the case of personal attacks, blatant derogatory remarks, incivility, and general poor manners, the determination of a violation is quite simple. To quote Ken Fitzgerald: "We all have a right to be treated respectfully regardless of our differing opinions."
Many people have commented on the "commercialism" of some posts in the E vs F and other topic threads which question the enforcement of the Terms of Service in regard to that and other issues.
Generally speaking, I believe any member has a right to respond to a post which asks a question about a product in which he has a direct business affiliation or to clarify misleading or erroneous statements made about that product. Just because a member has such an affiliation does not make his right to respond any lesser than a member who does not have such an affiliation. If responses are germane to the thread topic they do not violate the TOS.
On the other hand, if the person with an affiliation starts a thread or responds for the sole purpose of promoting that product it is a violation of the TOS. Many, many threads/posts have been removed by the moderators and administrators in the past and we will continue to do that. Somer times it comes down to separating the chaff from the grain. Like Frank Pellow said: "Ken had to spend time getting rid of some posts, but some of the posts that remain in the thread are valuable."
Most members never get to see these threads/posts and are not aware of the dedication all of the staff members have in assuring our TOS and general guidelines are adhered to. The determination of what and what does not constitute "commercialism" is somewhat of a fine line. Members have to rely on the staff in making those determinations.
If any a member feels a post violates the TOS or is not appropriate under our guidelines they can report that post by simply clicking the <img border="0" src="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Ken/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/FrontPageTempDir/wpa1e13i.gif"> icon in the upper right corner of the post which will send a report to the moderators. Moderators evaluate these reports and take whatever action, if any, they feel is appropriate.
http://www.oldrebelworkshop.com/misc/moderator.gif
Speaking for myself (not the rest of the staff):
I do not have the time nor the inclination to engage in frivolous PM's and e-mails which mirror some of the posts in question. Do not take this as a complaint. Just an assurance that I will continue to act as a moderator using the best judgment I can and will not get into long, multiple PM's/e-mail's debating these issues.
That does not preclude any member from PM'ng or e-mailing me on any issue. Actually I encourage all members to do exactly that. However, it is difficult, if not impossible to sway me by flooding me with mail in an attempt to get me into a long continuing debate - it just won't happen :) .
This may sound a little harsh, but it should be noted that Sawmill Creek is not a democracy per se. It is 100% free to members at the good graces of Keith Outten and Hampton Roads On Line. We have in the past always taken into consideration suggestions from our members for improvements and will continue to do so.
I for one am proud to be associated with this forum. Not only as a member, but also as one of the staff. I do not wish to appear as some sort of a dictator when it comes to enforcing the general guidelines and the Terms of Service. However, I will continue to moderate as I have in the past until my services/actions are deemed to be other than appropriate.
Now - since it is both Sunday and Father's Day I think I will go sit under the shade tree and have a couple of http://www.oldrebelworkshop.com/lilbud.gif's