Modded stuff
Moderation can be a pain in the QCC. Some people seem to enjoy the power of stopping others from sharing a good moment or a good story. All they have to do is to press a button and report the post and it all disappears without trace.
Luckily they don't have that power here, so I thought it would be good to have a page for "modded" posts.
Luckily they don't have that power here, so I thought it would be good to have a page for "modded" posts.
Gathering in Bangalore
On 14th January 2015 FriedFish and Karankooks meet for lunch in Bangalore. Another wonderful example how the QCC works. All that FriedFish said was: "If you believe in the QCC click here" . But that was too much for our troll. Here is the offending, wonderful picture.
Trolls Galore 15 January 2015
Trolls are back. They probably think we were having too much fun and are back, determined to keep pushing the report button to remove anything they don't like or don't want other people to enjoy. It has happened before and no doubt will happen again. FriedFish's post yesterday was re-instated but he is in pre-moderation mode. This means that your posts do not appear until a moderator has read and approved them. According to their community standards this is usually only applied to very disruptive or abusive people, but they tend to apply it you challenge in any way a moderation decision. So you can't win, because you are not allowed to discuss or even question why you were moderated in the first place. My post today mentioned the crossword and then asked people to send me pet pictures in response to WolfHome's request, whose post is still there. It was certainly not abusive and not more "off topic" than the majority of posts today. So, please send your pet pictures if you want, and if you want to comment about this, do it in the FORUM page here, not on the QCC, because it will get wiped too.
Message from FriedFish 15 January 2015
Here is an email I received from FriedFish about his moderated post. Remember that you can access his blog from the website too.
"I am as baffled as you are over what is going on, why It went, why it came back, why I'm being pre-modded.
I have just read through all the community standards, and yes, the situation is a complete absurdity.
This morning 5-30 GMT I posted THREE comments, two of them appeared in Caff within about ten mins, the other didn't make it. So this evening (indian time) I wrote to the mod via the comments box, and my third comment appeared soon afterwards. In other words, they aren't doing their job properly, and need monitoring and reminding and prodding and chivvying (but in the nicest possible way...)
I know it's a matter of high principle, but at the mo I am not going to do too much about it, reason being travelling solo through a country like this is bloody hard work and I really don't have the time or the energy to take up the issue with the G. (If I was sat at home in Glos it would be a v indifferent matter)
So from now on I shall continue to post innocuous comments that can offend no one... in order to build up sufficient track record to come off the N Step. I shall, however be keeping an eye to make sure they pass the screening process and get into the Caff, and that none gets overlooked by mods asleep on the job.
I shall of course write the blog, but won't be putting any more direct links into the G until I get the all clear. If people are that keen to follow it, they will have to find it by other routes, like through the website that you have set up.
(Interestingly, I don't always put a link in the newspaper, and those ones only get a handful of hits, those that I link to the QCC get nearly 200!)
Anyway, although at first I spat a few feathers, i really am not going to get too worked up about it.
If I'm still out in the cold come March, they will certainly be hearing about it then!"
"I am as baffled as you are over what is going on, why It went, why it came back, why I'm being pre-modded.
I have just read through all the community standards, and yes, the situation is a complete absurdity.
This morning 5-30 GMT I posted THREE comments, two of them appeared in Caff within about ten mins, the other didn't make it. So this evening (indian time) I wrote to the mod via the comments box, and my third comment appeared soon afterwards. In other words, they aren't doing their job properly, and need monitoring and reminding and prodding and chivvying (but in the nicest possible way...)
I know it's a matter of high principle, but at the mo I am not going to do too much about it, reason being travelling solo through a country like this is bloody hard work and I really don't have the time or the energy to take up the issue with the G. (If I was sat at home in Glos it would be a v indifferent matter)
So from now on I shall continue to post innocuous comments that can offend no one... in order to build up sufficient track record to come off the N Step. I shall, however be keeping an eye to make sure they pass the screening process and get into the Caff, and that none gets overlooked by mods asleep on the job.
I shall of course write the blog, but won't be putting any more direct links into the G until I get the all clear. If people are that keen to follow it, they will have to find it by other routes, like through the website that you have set up.
(Interestingly, I don't always put a link in the newspaper, and those ones only get a handful of hits, those that I link to the QCC get nearly 200!)
Anyway, although at first I spat a few feathers, i really am not going to get too worked up about it.
If I'm still out in the cold come March, they will certainly be hearing about it then!"
A letter from the Mods January 19th 2015
Below is the email that I received today from a Senior Moderator in reply to my email the other day when I wrote to complain about posts disappearing and reappearing and inconsistent ways of applying their Community Standards. I think it is reassuring to read that they consider us "special" and don't usually bother with off topic comments. What I suspected is true: Trolls target certain members of the QC community and report them and this triggers a response from the mods. The result is explained in the letter. At the moment FriedFish and I seem to be their chosen targets, they have picked on other people in the past. The best thing to do is not to react, trolls just want to get attention and cause trouble. If nobody reacts their actions have no effect. It is important however to write to the Moderation Team whenever there is a spate of trolling, the letter I got today shows they care and will take action. The more emails they get the sooner the problem will be solved. This is the address to write to: [email protected]
And here is the email:
Dear M,
Thanks for this, and I apologise for any confusion. Matthew is quite right, we do try and take a softer approach to Moderation when it comes to the QC community, where many of the posts would certainly be considered "Off Topic" in most other areas of the site. It's a lovely, established community and for the most part we try and leave you alone. However, sadly that doesn't account for human error- we're a small team of moderators, often having to work quickly in a high pressure environment, with recent news events meaning we're constantly up against it. This can mean if a disgruntled reader reports a comment as off topic from the QC threads the mod on duty will very occasionally see that it's off topic and block the comment as they would elsewhere, as they're working through a large backlog and don't have time to be more nuanced- often this will be put back later when they realise their mistake. This is especially true when we have newer moderators, or members of the team who work less frequently and aren't as familiar with the nuanced approach we take to some areas of the site. We deal with over 40,000 comments daily across nearly a thousand articles and hundreds of different subjects which means, inevitably, mistakes can slip through.
We do aim to be as consistent and efficient as possible, and for the most part i'm sure you'll agree we succeed, however as with anything that has real people making the decisions, errors will occasionally creep in. Do let us know if you spot any more such.
Many thanks
Marc Burrows
Senior Community Moderator
And here is the email:
Dear M,
Thanks for this, and I apologise for any confusion. Matthew is quite right, we do try and take a softer approach to Moderation when it comes to the QC community, where many of the posts would certainly be considered "Off Topic" in most other areas of the site. It's a lovely, established community and for the most part we try and leave you alone. However, sadly that doesn't account for human error- we're a small team of moderators, often having to work quickly in a high pressure environment, with recent news events meaning we're constantly up against it. This can mean if a disgruntled reader reports a comment as off topic from the QC threads the mod on duty will very occasionally see that it's off topic and block the comment as they would elsewhere, as they're working through a large backlog and don't have time to be more nuanced- often this will be put back later when they realise their mistake. This is especially true when we have newer moderators, or members of the team who work less frequently and aren't as familiar with the nuanced approach we take to some areas of the site. We deal with over 40,000 comments daily across nearly a thousand articles and hundreds of different subjects which means, inevitably, mistakes can slip through.
We do aim to be as consistent and efficient as possible, and for the most part i'm sure you'll agree we succeed, however as with anything that has real people making the decisions, errors will occasionally creep in. Do let us know if you spot any more such.
Many thanks
Marc Burrows
Senior Community Moderator
My original email to the moderators
This is the email I sent to the moderation, quoting a reply that sparclear had got when this happened last summer. It is probably a good idea to write to them along the same lines when we feel that random reporting is taking place or particular individuals are being targeted.
Dear moderation team,
In the last couple of days there has been an unusual number of posts removed or moderated in the above forum. Some of these posts have reappeared after some time and then after a couple of hours they have been removed again. It happened to me and other posters today on several occasions and it happened yesterday to another one.
I have read the community standards very carefully but I cannot find the reason why some of these posts are removed. It is true that some of them may be considered off-topic, although I think this is difficult to define, but even if that was the case it doesn't explain why some off topic messages were removed and many other also off topic remain.
This is having a detrimental effect on what is normally an extremely interesting and friendly forum, where contributors are usually respectful of each other and where a real camaraderie among participants has developed. People feel frustrated because they don't know what it is they have done wrong, but when questions are asked about moderation, they are also removed, which causes even more frustration. It is true that many of the posts can be deemed to be off topic, but it is difficult to understand why some comments are removed when others on the same topic seem to survive.
On another occasion, when one of the contributors wrote to you about this same problem she got this reply from the Moderation Team:
"While we are guided by our website's community standards, we do try to take a 'softer' approach to moderating the Quick Crossword comments. Along with other specialized areas of the site we value the community that burgeons there and wish for it to continue to enjoy the freedom to comment, as long as users continue to respect one another.
I have sent a quick note around our team about this and we hope that you can continue to use and get enjoyment from the comment section."
It is therefore puzzling when suddenly, what was considered acceptable the day before, gets moderated. It is really a shame that such a great atmosphere of support and respect can be disrupted by some vindictive person who decides to spoil it for everyone by reporting posts and provoking this kind of response. I would therefore be grateful if you could check what has been going on and let us return to our routine of friendly banter without fear of doing the wrong thing or incurring the displeasure of the moderation team.
Yours faithfully
MC (Spanishscot)
Dear moderation team,
In the last couple of days there has been an unusual number of posts removed or moderated in the above forum. Some of these posts have reappeared after some time and then after a couple of hours they have been removed again. It happened to me and other posters today on several occasions and it happened yesterday to another one.
I have read the community standards very carefully but I cannot find the reason why some of these posts are removed. It is true that some of them may be considered off-topic, although I think this is difficult to define, but even if that was the case it doesn't explain why some off topic messages were removed and many other also off topic remain.
This is having a detrimental effect on what is normally an extremely interesting and friendly forum, where contributors are usually respectful of each other and where a real camaraderie among participants has developed. People feel frustrated because they don't know what it is they have done wrong, but when questions are asked about moderation, they are also removed, which causes even more frustration. It is true that many of the posts can be deemed to be off topic, but it is difficult to understand why some comments are removed when others on the same topic seem to survive.
On another occasion, when one of the contributors wrote to you about this same problem she got this reply from the Moderation Team:
"While we are guided by our website's community standards, we do try to take a 'softer' approach to moderating the Quick Crossword comments. Along with other specialized areas of the site we value the community that burgeons there and wish for it to continue to enjoy the freedom to comment, as long as users continue to respect one another.
I have sent a quick note around our team about this and we hope that you can continue to use and get enjoyment from the comment section."
It is therefore puzzling when suddenly, what was considered acceptable the day before, gets moderated. It is really a shame that such a great atmosphere of support and respect can be disrupted by some vindictive person who decides to spoil it for everyone by reporting posts and provoking this kind of response. I would therefore be grateful if you could check what has been going on and let us return to our routine of friendly banter without fear of doing the wrong thing or incurring the displeasure of the moderation team.
Yours faithfully
MC (Spanishscot)
Modded again! January 20th 2015
OK, once more modded, and I was even defending the Mods! As I was talking about free speech, I will repeat it here:
lidell lidell
20 January 2015 9:34am
How mean you are modders to remove poor Andrew's one and only comment, you blight the inherent niceness of this site.
20 January 2015 9:34am
How mean you are modders to remove poor Andrew's one and only comment, you blight the inherent niceness of this site.
spanishscot lidell
20 January 2015 10:03am
It's not always the Mods' fault Lidell, see here the email I got from them. It really all starts with unreasonable people who report posts just because they can and for whom freedom of speech really means "I have a right to deprive others of anything I don't like"
Modded again. February 7 2015
The trolls are at it again. FriedFish was modded yesterday, I didn't get to see the post, but today Onorae was modded for directing new posters to the website and I was also modded and then "disappeared" for welcoming back SillyAunt and directing him to the Sky Pictures pages. I'll be writing to the Mods again. The post in itself was not important, I just don't want to let the trolls win.
The trolls are busy today.... February 7 2015
See below a witty post by johnnysolstice. I knew it would disappear soon so I copied it and managed to save it just in time:
Johnny Solstice
07 February 2015 1:28pm
This comment will be removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by some troll's standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see my FuQs
07 February 2015 1:28pm
This comment will be removed by a moderator because it didn't abide by some troll's standards. Replies may also be deleted. For more detail see my FuQs
"Spoilers, I’ll give you spoilers…" 16 January 2016
Wolfhome
16 January 2016
So I’ve been modded off at last! Here is the offending post, it is a true story and relates to the coincidental appearance of three words in the crossword, and the three rebukes Joanna Sherman received when posting her first comment.
Take no notice Joanna, of those above. As it’s your first time here, I say welcome, and I’ll tell you a story. Many years ago a car drew up outside my house. I had been waiting for that car, it was my partner’s car, and inside the car there was a puppy. As the car had travelled quite a long way I expected the puppy to be tired by his journey, so I gently opened the car door to retrieve the queasy animal I expected to find inside. Instead, a bright eyed bundle of black and white fur leapt off the backseat, landed lightly on the ground, sat at my feet and looked up at me,. His eyes were amber, almost gold. “You’ll do!” he seemed to say, “You’ll do”, I knew his name, for it was the name I given him, his name was Tiber. Tiber grew strong and tall, and never left my side. If you’ve never had a dog, there is no way you can understand how much Tiber came to mean to me. If you have, and you were fortunate enough you may understand. The years came and went, and he was always at my side, or at the foot the bed, always watchful, always attentive. He grew old, his muzzle turned grey. Then one day, a few years ago; it was a Saturday, the day before my birthday, Tiber made his last journey, a journey from which he would not return. Cry Wolf, Tiber. Three words in a crossword, three words that evoke years of joy, that ended in tears. Years I’ll never forget, years that made the tears inevitable. Precious years, and an end that still brings tears to my eyes.
Spoilers? Who cares Joanna, we’ve all done it.”
FerenjiNan's modded poem. 28 September 2016
FerenjiNan
28 September 2016
28 September 2016
This is what I posted, in honour of Picasso (2d), and damned if it didn't get modded off! Do folks think it was really so offensive? I cannot see the problem, help me. (Too strong?)
They bombed Aleppo
on market day,
and every day.
They bombed the Sarajevo bread line.
And on market day in Guernica
they bombed.
We gawp and snicker
at foolish buffoons
with ludicrous moustaches
and tacky hair,
and think they won't bomb.
Cannot bomb.
At the 11th hour,
we find
they will.
They do.
But under the shattered branches
of the Oak of Freedom ( Gernikako Arbola)
let us stop
and reflect.
Which nations are the ones who manufacture these bombs?
Yours?
Mine?
jobsjobsjobsjobsjobsjobsjobsjobsjobsjobsjobsjobsjobsjobs
the workers cry, egged on by said buffoons and wannabe dictators.
Well, should we let our children go hungry?
Should we let our bombs kill your children?
Should we not instead replant the Oak of Freedom, and protect it with our lives?
They bombed Aleppo
on market day,
and every day.
They bombed the Sarajevo bread line.
And on market day in Guernica
they bombed.
We gawp and snicker
at foolish buffoons
with ludicrous moustaches
and tacky hair,
and think they won't bomb.
Cannot bomb.
At the 11th hour,
we find
they will.
They do.
But under the shattered branches
of the Oak of Freedom ( Gernikako Arbola)
let us stop
and reflect.
Which nations are the ones who manufacture these bombs?
Yours?
Mine?
jobsjobsjobsjobsjobsjobsjobsjobsjobsjobsjobsjobsjobsjobs
the workers cry, egged on by said buffoons and wannabe dictators.
Well, should we let our children go hungry?
Should we let our bombs kill your children?
Should we not instead replant the Oak of Freedom, and protect it with our lives?
Cuttleson and the Pirates. Episode 22 Sunday 2 October 2016
Message from Cuttle
For the QCC members: The Moderators refused to give an explanation for the deletion of this post which, as far as I can see, infringes none of the community standard requirements. The story itself, instalments of which have appeared on 21 occasions already, still has some way to run. I hope you enjoy it.
For the QCC members: The Moderators refused to give an explanation for the deletion of this post which, as far as I can see, infringes none of the community standard requirements. The story itself, instalments of which have appeared on 21 occasions already, still has some way to run. I hope you enjoy it.
Get the story on PDF
WolfHome's post. 20 September 2018
On 20 September 2018 WolfHome started a discussion with a post that got 53 recommends and generated a very lively debate.
For some reason it was modded, it disappeared with all the replies but here it is again, saved from cyberspace!
For some reason it was modded, it disappeared with all the replies but here it is again, saved from cyberspace!
wolfhome_20_sept.pdf | |
File Size: | 216 kb |
File Type: |
WolfHome's moderated post (23 February 2019) and his explanation about why he wrote it.
Last time I got “modded off” I wrote to the moderators asking what I had done that was so heinous that they had to remove my comment. Their answer was succinct: “Nothing”. Perhaps my e-mail to them was worded slightly differently that time, as the reply I usually get Is “Human error” (theirs, that is, not mine). Ah, the joys of life below the line of the Quick crossword! And yes, it is usually a joy, I’ve lost count of the number of people I’ve met, I write to or with whom I simply exchange a few friendly words beneath the crossword. I’ve been told by the staff that run the comments that they value the community that gather below the Quick crossword. So do I. I’ve made many friends here. And that is why I wrote the comment you have, or are about to read. Recently, I’ve noticed a change in the CAFF, there’s a lot less CAKE and much more vitriol and I much prefer cake, to acid!
No matter what your views on spoilers, leaving comments which may at the time seem clever, but which lead to someone closing the account after just one comment, as happened a few days ago, is totally unacceptable. If a comment is incomprehensible to the recipient it can be interpreted in a way you did not intend or expect, so please no more talk of Stasi, no more comments like “Incoming”. I may understand what you mean, but a first time commenter may not.
…and what’s wrong with the odd Americanism? We’ve had Greek gods, Scandinavian, Egyptian and Persian deities, Latin, French, and German words. The Guardian is an International publication, it won the Pulitzer prize for heaven’s sake.
Sorry about the chaise Scotty! The new sofas aren’t very comfy are they? …and they squeak when you sit on them. If I can find the time machine I’ll restore things to the way they were. In fact, if I do it the day before yesterday none of this may actually have happened.
The CAFF used to be surreal and silly, good humoured and above all a friendly place. Let’s claim it back, go on, I dare you when you’ve finished reading this, post a comment below the crossword with the word CAKE in it. If the clues are bizarre, let’s make the comments be as bizarre as the clues instead of ripping the setter to shreds.
The revolution starts here! Long live the revolution!
with love and best wishes,
Wolfie
No matter what your views on spoilers, leaving comments which may at the time seem clever, but which lead to someone closing the account after just one comment, as happened a few days ago, is totally unacceptable. If a comment is incomprehensible to the recipient it can be interpreted in a way you did not intend or expect, so please no more talk of Stasi, no more comments like “Incoming”. I may understand what you mean, but a first time commenter may not.
…and what’s wrong with the odd Americanism? We’ve had Greek gods, Scandinavian, Egyptian and Persian deities, Latin, French, and German words. The Guardian is an International publication, it won the Pulitzer prize for heaven’s sake.
Sorry about the chaise Scotty! The new sofas aren’t very comfy are they? …and they squeak when you sit on them. If I can find the time machine I’ll restore things to the way they were. In fact, if I do it the day before yesterday none of this may actually have happened.
The CAFF used to be surreal and silly, good humoured and above all a friendly place. Let’s claim it back, go on, I dare you when you’ve finished reading this, post a comment below the crossword with the word CAKE in it. If the clues are bizarre, let’s make the comments be as bizarre as the clues instead of ripping the setter to shreds.
The revolution starts here! Long live the revolution!
with love and best wishes,
Wolfie
And this is the modded post:
Is the setter flagging, or are the setters flags slipping. “Incoming!” bellow the Spoiler Wardens.
Oh well, some things never change! Theresa May, obstinate as ever, continues to flog a long dead horse - her Brexit agreement that is, not Wellington’s Copenhagen. Fake news dominates the media, disappearing down the rabbit hole of recursive definition, much like an over used Twitter account.
But, good grief, the CAFF has changed since I was last here. The naughty step, once the haunt of the immoderately behaved and those sneaking out for a illicit cigarette, is now populated by individuals in uniform. Spoiler wardens, they call themselves: personally, they say they have no objection to spoilers, but, all the same, they run around shouting things like “Incoming”, and “Now you’re for it!”, scaring the shit out of little old ladies, and daft old codgers who have no idea what they’re on about. (Some may not have recovered from the experience. Error 404 - is a meagre epitaph for a deleted account).
Over the door to snug there’s a new sign which reads: “Abandon hope all ye who entrée here”. It’s not encouraging. Inside, the snooker table has gone. The unicorn cowers under a pinball machine, her hooves are chipped, and her mane knotted and uncombed. The juke box has been replaced by a couple of second hand fixed-odds betting terminals (one armed bandits are considered rather passé I am told), the chaises longues have been scrapped and in their stead are two of plastic sofas each cast in the shape of a pair scarlet lips. A notice over the bar a notice reads “£15 - Play tug of war with the Lion!”.
Of Welsh Granny and Nottingham Nan there is no sign.
Oh well, some things never change! Theresa May, obstinate as ever, continues to flog a long dead horse - her Brexit agreement that is, not Wellington’s Copenhagen. Fake news dominates the media, disappearing down the rabbit hole of recursive definition, much like an over used Twitter account.
But, good grief, the CAFF has changed since I was last here. The naughty step, once the haunt of the immoderately behaved and those sneaking out for a illicit cigarette, is now populated by individuals in uniform. Spoiler wardens, they call themselves: personally, they say they have no objection to spoilers, but, all the same, they run around shouting things like “Incoming”, and “Now you’re for it!”, scaring the shit out of little old ladies, and daft old codgers who have no idea what they’re on about. (Some may not have recovered from the experience. Error 404 - is a meagre epitaph for a deleted account).
Over the door to snug there’s a new sign which reads: “Abandon hope all ye who entrée here”. It’s not encouraging. Inside, the snooker table has gone. The unicorn cowers under a pinball machine, her hooves are chipped, and her mane knotted and uncombed. The juke box has been replaced by a couple of second hand fixed-odds betting terminals (one armed bandits are considered rather passé I am told), the chaises longues have been scrapped and in their stead are two of plastic sofas each cast in the shape of a pair scarlet lips. A notice over the bar a notice reads “£15 - Play tug of war with the Lion!”.
Of Welsh Granny and Nottingham Nan there is no sign.