Are Moderators Even Needed?

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  • HardyboyHardyboy Posts: 5,906Chief of Staff
    Actually, I'm a card-carrying English prof myself. I can't comment on the "debate" here because I still haven't found it! That said, I'm apparently slipping in my fascist duties because I haven't arbitrarily and cruelly closed this thread. Sorry, minions.
    Vox clamantis in deserto
  • PendragonPendragon ColoradoPosts: 2,640MI6 Agent
    Hardyboy wrote:
    Actually, I'm a card-carrying English prof myself. I can't comment on the "debate" here because I still haven't found it! That said, I'm apparently slipping in my fascist duties because I haven't arbitrarily and cruelly closed this thread. Sorry, minions.

    well now. I have my answer. Thanks, professor!!

    and we forgive you. even fascists are allowed a laugh, right?
    Hey! Observer! You trying to get yourself Killed?

    mountainburdphotography.wordpress.com
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    All right...as an American of German descent, I've got a rather obvious example, for debate's sake (though granted I don't kid myself that I'm in the World Class of the thread's author, needless to say!):

    Say TheScashMan---brilliant free thinker that he clearly and unarguably is---begins his very own fan site to shout out the merits of...say...The Wizard Of Oz. And, let's say our fearless leader is boldly cut from the cloth of one who proudly practices what he preaches, with no hint of hypocrisy whatsoever, and decides (as the sole administrator of the site) that merely sticking his head in every day or so, to make sure that no one's posting unauthorized screenshots of Dorothy's ruby slippers---emitting electrical charges at Margaret Hamilton's green witchy hands---is sufficent...

    What if TheScashMan's innocent site worshipping Victor Fleming's The Wizard Of Oz was suddenly put upon by a solitary voice declaring that admiration of The Wizard Of Oz film is a widely-recognized litmus test for homosexuals and Jews...and this solitary voice was quickly joined by a half-dozen earnest supporters of this theory, posting in a viral fashion, calling for the immediate extermination of fans of The Wizard Of Oz?

    If Fearless Leader---after staying away from the site for several hours---finds that his Wizard Of Oz fan site has suddenly been populated with purveyors of institutionalized hatred and bigotry, how does he react? Does he enforce standards he must have wisely put in place when he started his website...or does he simply kick back and revel in the free exchange of opinions?

    Of course, the world presently being such a sane and mutually respectful place, we can rest assured that such a thing could never happen. But if it did, I'm going to sleep tonight in the confident surety that Fearless Leader has the correct answer.
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • darenhatdarenhat The Old PuebloPosts: 2,029Quartermasters
    ...and to take it the next step, Loeff, the abundance of 'negative' posts regarding the Wizard of Oz could (and dare I say, would) drive away the site members who loved the Wizard of Oz. The site would no longer hold the appeal for which it was intended. While the opinions of the Oz haters would be honest and valid, they would not be well-suited, and detrimental to, for an Oz-loving website. Members would go elsewhere to discuss the things they love about the Wizard of Oz. In this case, the role of the moderators is to protect the purpose of the site. Of course, this is referring to an 'Oz-lover's site'...now if it was a 'free-thinking' site, well that would be a different story.
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    I'm intrigued by the notion of a fan site with no editorial controls whatsoever---with no regard for the ramifications of aforementioned unlimited free expression; I don't think I'd be inclined to share, with complete strangers, my appreciation for the third act of the film B-)
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • JamesbondjrJamesbondjr Posts: 462MI6 Agent


    No humiliation on this end! I cannot be humiliated because I do not respect anyone else's opinion on this forum, including yours! :)) :)) :))


    I don't know who you are, what you do or how old you are etc. what I do know is that you may not agree with other people's views but if you do not at least respect the views of those who are offering a counter argument then you are not having a debate. You are just forcing your views on to everybody else, which reeks of fascism :s

    Let's be honest here and cut through the BS. You are not here for a debate, you are here to try and wind people up and get them angry because you obviously have nothing better to do. From what I've seen you have failed miserably, no one here is angry, AJB is for the most part full of level headed people capable of forming a real argument. We do get the odd idiot passing through but it just adds to the fun.
    I successfully counteracted all arguments, so your comment is meaningless

    Actually you have offered no counter arguments at all, so your comment is meaningless.
    1- On Her Majesty's Secret Service 2- Casino Royale 3- Licence To Kill 4- Goldeneye 5- From Russia With Love
  • TheScashManTheScashMan Posts: 111MI6 Agent
    All right...as an American of German descent, I've got a rather obvious example, for debate's sake (though granted I don't kid myself that I'm in the World Class of the thread's author, needless to say!):

    Say TheScashMan---brilliant free thinker that he clearly and unarguably is---begins his very own fan site to shout out the merits of...say...The Wizard Of Oz. And, let's say our fearless leader is boldly cut from the cloth of one who proudly practices what he preaches, with no hint of hypocrisy whatsoever, and decides (as the sole administrator of the site) that merely sticking his head in every day or so, to make sure that no one's posting unauthorized screenshots of Dorothy's ruby slippers---emitting electrical charges at Margaret Hamilton's green witchy hands---is sufficent...

    What if TheScashMan's innocent site worshipping Victor Fleming's The Wizard Of Oz was suddenly put upon by a solitary voice declaring that admiration of The Wizard Of Oz film is a widely-recognized litmus test for homosexuals and Jews...and this solitary voice was quickly joined by a half-dozen earnest supporters of this theory, posting in a viral fashion, calling for the immediate extermination of fans of The Wizard Of Oz?

    If Fearless Leader---after staying away from the site for several hours---finds that his Wizard Of Oz fan site has suddenly been populated with purveyors of institutionalized hatred and bigotry, how does he react? Does he enforce standards he must have wisely put in place when he started his website...or does he simply kick back and revel in the free exchange of opinions?

    Of course, the world presently being such a sane and mutually respectful place, we can rest assured that such a thing could never happen. But if it did, I'm going to sleep tonight in the confident surety that Fearless Leader has the correct answer.

    Actually, I believe everyone has the right to hold whatever opinion they want to. That's the basis of a free society: the freedom to hold any opinion whatsoever.

    Your post was very revealing Loef, and shows you up as yet another PC brainwashed sheep who believes in yet more Orwellian thought policing.

    And let's say you, in your new book ( :)) ) decide to use words or phrases deemed to be ''hateful'' (more Orwellian newspeak), do you honestly think it has the right to be censored? Or do you encourage the freedom of new and (Potentially) unpopular ideas?

    I assume you would simply roll over like the lap dog you are, as you have ZERO backbone (Like the rest of the cretins here) and are, unfortunately, just another sheep who will never stand for what's right, but for what's popular. And that, Leof, if rather pathetic. Even for you.
  • TheScashManTheScashMan Posts: 111MI6 Agent

    I don't know who you are, what you do or how old you are etc. what I do know is that you may not agree with other people's views but if you do not at least respect the views of those who are offering a counter argument then you are not having a debate. You are just forcing your views on to everybody else, which reeks of fascism :s

    No, if I were a fascist I would be demanding more totalitarian mod control! I'm not demanding for threads to be locked or members banned. So your claims are a nonsense I'm afraid. Do pay attention.
    Let's be honest here and cut through the BS. You are not here for a debate, you are here to try and wind people up and get them angry because you obviously have nothing better to do. From what I've seen you have failed miserably, no one here is angry, AJB is for the most part full of level headed people capable of forming a real argument.

    7 pages of ruffled feathers would suggest otherwise :))
  • TheScashManTheScashMan Posts: 111MI6 Agent
    edited May 2010
    Pendragon wrote:
    nah. you sound like an idiot child in your "arguments". I've read it back about five times and that's still my opinion. Again, slinging insults and muck about does not equate to "coming out on top." frankly, I feel like taking this "debate" to an English prof. who lives in my building to see what she thinks of all this. I'll have to go downstairs later tonight and see if she's home.

    Yes, that will be a most objective, unbiased analysis, I cannot wait 8-)
  • PendragonPendragon ColoradoPosts: 2,640MI6 Agent
    ah. the professor came to me. read HB's post. he basically gave you an "F" in the debate department. if it were an actual paper turned in to one of my classes (where scientific papers are the name of the game, and must therefore contain solid, credible FACT when one states a new hypothesis), you'd have failed out in the first week.

    furthermore, the professor I went in search of last night was not home. She WOULD have been completely unbiased because we've never spoken before, nor does she know my views on anything.

    also, no one here is ruffled. it's called debate when people bring up a contradictory view in a supported statement. something you should learn to do if you want to continue "winning" anything in this life. hopefully, when having conversations in the real world, you don't try to "win" a discussion...or one up people. continuously trying to "win" a friendly discussion or one up people out there might earn you a sock in the jaw. Especially if you converse like you do here.
    Hey! Observer! You trying to get yourself Killed?

    mountainburdphotography.wordpress.com
  • HardyboyHardyboy Posts: 5,906Chief of Staff
    And to polish up my own debating skills, here's something to chew on. AJB is not in any way, shape, or form a democratic society in which those who were born here get to decide the rules and laws they live by. This site was founded by an individual, SiCo, who established it as a place to discuss something a lot of people are interested in--James Bond--and who pays for it. In other words, this is a big party at SiCo's house, at his expense, at which he is playing host. As such, he gets to set the rules we abide by while we're here; it is his right to determine who gets to hold open the doors for people and check IDs; and when a guest gets out of control, he can have that guest thrown out. If you don't like the house rules and you think the people who clean up after messy partiers are jerks, there are other parties you can attend.
    Vox clamantis in deserto
  • TheScashManTheScashMan Posts: 111MI6 Agent
    Pendragon wrote:
    ah. the professor came to me. read HB's post. he basically gave you an "F" in the debate department.

    Did you hear that HB, you got an F! :))
  • TheScashManTheScashMan Posts: 111MI6 Agent
    Hardyboy wrote:
    And to polish up my own debating skills, here's something to chew on. AJB is not in any way, shape, or form a democratic society in which those who were born here get to decide the rules and laws they live by. This site was founded by an individual, SiCo, who established it as a place to discuss something a lot of people are interested in--James Bond--and who pays for it. In other words, this is a big party at SiCo's house, at his expense, at which he is playing host. As such, he gets to set the rules we abide by while we're here; it is his right to determine who gets to hold open the doors for people and check IDs; and when a guest gets out of control, he can have that guest thrown out. If you don't like the house rules and you think the people who clean up after messy partiers are jerks, there are other parties you can attend.

    SiCo owns this place right? Well, then he should be the part-time admin I'm talking about! You and the other mods should become regular members, for the reasons outlined in my OP, as in all seriousness, mods just aren't needed in a chit chat discussion. People do not need ''policing'' in fan forums, and the only literal ''policing'' that needs doing in a given society is when mob riots/serious crime occur. Anything more is heavy handed!

    And why should I leave simply because I disagree with how things are run? Is free debate not encouraged? Or do you have to conform to the status quo?
  • PendragonPendragon ColoradoPosts: 2,640MI6 Agent
    Pendragon wrote:
    ah. the professor came to me. read HB's post. he basically gave you an "F" in the debate department.

    Did you hear that HB, you got an F! :))

    see, that's the twisting you accused me of.
    Hey! Observer! You trying to get yourself Killed?

    mountainburdphotography.wordpress.com
  • TheScashManTheScashMan Posts: 111MI6 Agent
    Pendragon wrote:
    Pendragon wrote:
    ah. the professor came to me. read HB's post. he basically gave you an "F" in the debate department.

    Did you hear that HB, you got an F! :))

    see, that's the twisting you accused me of.

    That's what you said though: you said the prof read HB's post, and then proceeded to state the grade, which was an F. If you had addressed me before such a statement was made, i.e. "Read YOUR post Scashman, he basically gave you an F", then that would have made more sense, would it not?
  • PendragonPendragon ColoradoPosts: 2,640MI6 Agent
    Pendragon wrote:

    Did you hear that HB, you got an F! :))

    see, that's the twisting you accused me of.

    That's what you said though: you said the prof read HB's post, and then proceeded to state the grade, which was an F. If you had addressed me before such a statement was made, i.e. "Read YOUR post Scashman, he basically gave you an F", then that would have made more sense, would it not?

    READ. in the present tense. YOU READ the post. I already read it. as did HB. and he gave you an F.
    Hey! Observer! You trying to get yourself Killed?

    mountainburdphotography.wordpress.com
  • Napoleon PluralNapoleon Plural LondonPosts: 10,467MI6 Agent
    Hardyboy wrote:
    And to polish up my own debating skills, here's something to chew on. AJB is not in any way, shape, or form a democratic society in which those who were born here get to decide the rules and laws they live by. This site was founded by an individual, SiCo, who established it as a place to discuss something a lot of people are interested in--James Bond--and who pays for it. In other words, this is a big party at SiCo's house, at his expense, at which he is playing host. As such, he gets to set the rules we abide by while we're here; it is his right to determine who gets to hold open the doors for people and check IDs; and when a guest gets out of control, he can have that guest thrown out. If you don't like the house rules and you think the people who clean up after messy partiers are jerks, there are other parties you can attend.

    Like God, SiCo has been something of an absentee landlord of late. As George Michael sang, "As if someone along the way, went and let us all out to play, turned his back and all SiCo's children crept out the back door..." (Praying for Time)
    "This is where we leave you Mr Bond."

    Roger Moore 1927-2017
  • LoeffelholzLoeffelholz The United States, With LovePosts: 8,998Quartermasters
    And let's say you, in your new book ( :)) ) decide to use words or phrases deemed to be ''hateful'' (more Orwellian newspeak), do you honestly think it has the right to be censored? Or do you encourage the freedom of new and (Potentially) unpopular ideas?

    I assume you would simply roll over like the lap dog you are, as you have ZERO backbone (Like the rest of the cretins here) and are, unfortunately, just another sheep who will never stand for what's right, but for what's popular. And that, Leof, if rather pathetic. Even for you.

    Of course you can hold any opinions you like---and thankfully, since the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution hasn't yet been revoked (although I'm frankly concerned on this front lately), you can express any opinion you like. However, you're responsible for it as well.

    In my brain-washed sheep's post above, I cited an example of your Wizard Of Oz fansite, and I'm still waiting for an answer as to what you would do if you popped back in after twelve hours or so and saw that it had been taken over by people calling for the death of homosexuals and Jews. I suppose I'm left to assume that you WOULD NOT roll over like a lap dog and clean up the mess...right? You'd simply let these freely-expressed ideas flourish on your website, right?

    I'm trying do debate you on the merits of moderators on privately-owned websites, Dr. Einstein. Sadly, once again you're simply responding with insults, and not addressing my question. Really substandard and cringeworthy---but free-thinking people who read this thread will no doubt decide that for themselves, and need no coaching from me.

    As for my book, I'm glad you find it amusing, even if you haven't read it yet! :) I did try to put some humour in it where appropriate :p And since you asked, actually my characters do include some very non-politically correct speech---the sort of thing that was prevalent in December 1941: Japanese are called Japs, for instance. In addition, since elements of the Mafia occur in the storyline, there are some not at all nice things said to describe Sicilian/Italian people. As a matter of fact, my next book, Storm Maker, will probably feature characters saying some not very nice things about Nazis and Germans. So yes, I do embrace the protections of the First Amendment...indeed, as a creative person whose chosen medium is the written word, I worship at the alter of the First Amendment. I have served in the military of my country, stationed abroad, to protect it---and I would die in its defence. In fact, I defended your God-given right to be a glittering jewel of ignorance.

    And don't forget: Blood & Ashes will be available in June 2010 at major online book retailers and select book stores. Very soon, you will be able to pre-order signed/personalized copies from the link provided below in my signature, and I look forward to receiving your order! :D
    Check out my Amazon author page! Mark Loeffelholz
    "I am not an entrant in the Shakespeare Stakes." - Ian Fleming
    "Screw 'em." - Daniel Craig, The Best James Bond EverTM
  • HardyboyHardyboy Posts: 5,906Chief of Staff
    SiCo owns this place right? Well, then he should be the part-time admin I'm talking about! You and the other mods should become regular members, for the reasons outlined in my OP, as in all seriousness, mods just aren't needed in a chit chat discussion. People do not need ''policing'' in fan forums, and the only literal ''policing'' that needs doing in a given society is when mob riots/serious crime occur. Anything more is heavy handed!

    And why should I leave simply because I disagree with how things are run? Is free debate not encouraged? Or do you have to conform to the status quo?

    I told myself I would not be dragged in by your deliberate provocations; but, dude, your rhetorical strategy is to twist words, redefine them, and attribute sinister meanings to them--and I just can't let that stand. Yes, SiCo isn't here all the time, but we are the ones he deputized to look after his house while he's away. Again, that's his right--if you don't like it, too bad. As for there being no need to "police" a discussion forum, we don't butt in when people are expressing their honest opinions and we DO participate as regular members. When someone gets abusive, though, we step in; and when a post is nothing more than spam to get peoples' money, we start throwing people out. My, what a fascist bunch we are!

    And, I hate to tell you, your idea that "policing" is needed only when there are riots and such is absurd. We police ourselves all the time. Good manners, courtesy, civility, and respect for others is what society is built upon. I assume that you mind your manners when you are in the company of others. If not, you're the person who goes to a party, tries to have sex with the host's wife, insults his free food and alcohol, offends all the guests, vandalizes the decor and burns the lawn, then drops your pants and takes a big, steaming dump in the middle of the living room carpet and screams, "Hey, this is my right of free expression!"

    OK, I will not be provoked again.
    Vox clamantis in deserto
  • Mr MartiniMr Martini That nice house in the sky.Posts: 2,707MI6 Agent
    Sir Miles wrote:
    You did call me ''certified''. But no matter, the issue at hand is the PRINCIPLE of moderators, which you still refuse to answer.

    Not 'refuse'...but choose not too...

    I'll offer you a packet of Spangles and a conker ? :D


    I missed this post somehow, but have to ask you Sir Miles, what are Spangles and what's a conker?
    Some people would complain even if you hang them with a new rope
  • AlexAlex The Eastern SeaboardPosts: 2,694MI6 Agent
    Every-time my dog does his business in the yard, he's practicing free expression.
  • Sir MilesSir Miles The Wrong Side Of The WardrobePosts: 27,754Chief of Staff
    Mr Martini wrote:
    Sir Miles wrote:
    You did call me ''certified''. But no matter, the issue at hand is the PRINCIPLE of moderators, which you still refuse to answer.

    Not 'refuse'...but choose not too...

    I'll offer you a packet of Spangles and a conker ? :D


    I missed this post somehow, but have to ask you Sir Miles, what are Spangles and what's a conker?

    Spangles ? They were fruit flavoured sweets, alas no longer available. You can read about them here

    Conkers ? The seed of the horse chestnut tree. You take them and thread a string through them...then try to smash a similar one held by an opponent. Great fun.

    Still waiting for a response from TheScashMan - frankly I'm appalled and disgusted by his lack of manners in furnishing me with a response ! It's very cringeworthy !
    YNWA 97
  • darenhatdarenhat The Old PuebloPosts: 2,029Quartermasters
    Sir Miles wrote:
    Mr Martini wrote:
    Sir Miles wrote:

    Not 'refuse'...but choose not too...

    I'll offer you a packet of Spangles and a conker ? :D


    I missed this post somehow, but have to ask you Sir Miles, what are Spangles and what's a conker?

    Spangles ? They were fruit flavoured sweets, alas no longer available. You can read about them here

    Conkers ? The seed of the horse chestnut tree. You take them and thread a string through them...then try to smash a similar one held by an opponent. Great fun.

    Thanks to Sir Miles and Mr Martini, we can now actually learn something from this thread! :))
  • JamesbondjrJamesbondjr Posts: 462MI6 Agent
    7 pages of ruffled feathers would suggest otherwise :))

    If we've ruffled your feathers then we must be doing something right. :)
    1- On Her Majesty's Secret Service 2- Casino Royale 3- Licence To Kill 4- Goldeneye 5- From Russia With Love
  • TheScashManTheScashMan Posts: 111MI6 Agent
    edited May 2010
    Leoff, if I did own a forum, I wouldn't care what opinions were expressed. Opinion is opinion. Big deal. Plus, I would certainly never keep an army of mods on hand. Why would anyone? They are, after all, only confident because of their unfair dictatorial powers, not by any intellectual capability to debate, that is for sure!
    As for my book, I'm glad you find it amusing

    Glad to hear it! :))
    And since you asked, actually my characters do include some very non-politically correct speech---the sort of thing that was prevalent in December 1941: Japanese are called Japs, for instance. In addition, since elements of the Mafia occur in the storyline, there are some not at all nice things said to describe Sicilian/Italian people. As a matter of fact, my next book, Storm Maker, will probably feature characters saying some not very nice things about Nazis and Germans.

    So whilst you disagree with so-called ''hate'' speech on forums, you yourself are more than happy to use racial slurs in your own works?

    8-)
    So yes, I do embrace the protections of the First Amendment

    But you don't embrace them for others.
    ...indeed, as a creative person whose chosen medium is the written word, I worship at the alter of the First Amendment.

    You're not convincing anyone but your fellow stooges I'm afraid.
    I have served in the military of my country, stationed abroad, to protect it---and I would die in its defence.

    Yet you won't call for simple non-modertion on a James Bond fan forum.

    :)) :)) :)) Yes, Mr Loeff, I am ''sure'' you ''served'' in the military and ''believe'' in the 1st Amendment. Sure you do :))

    And don't forget: Blood & Ashes will be available in June 2010 at major online book retailers and select book stores. Very soon, you will be able to pre-order signed/personalized copies from the link provided below in my signature, and I look forward to receiving your order! :D

    I can hardly wait 8-)
  • TheScashManTheScashMan Posts: 111MI6 Agent

    Like God, SiCo has been something of an absentee landlord of late.

    The comparison here is laughable at best and downright insulting at worst!
  • TheScashManTheScashMan Posts: 111MI6 Agent
    Alex wrote:
    Every-time my dog does his business in the yard, he's practicing free expression.

    Your dog expresses himself with much more flair than his owner! :))
  • TheScashManTheScashMan Posts: 111MI6 Agent
    Hardyboy wrote:
    And, I hate to tell you, your idea that "policing" is needed only when there are riots and such is absurd. We police ourselves all the time. Good manners, courtesy, civility, and respect for others is what society is built upon. I assume that you mind your manners when you are in the company of others. If not, you're the person who goes to a party, tries to have sex with the host's wife, insults his free food and alcohol, offends all the guests, vandalizes the decor and burns the lawn, then drops your pants and takes a big, steaming dump in the middle of the living room carpet and screams, "Hey, this is my right of free expression!"

    No, I simply believe that forums should exist as a free platform for debate, without the fear or intimidation by mods who tend to censor/lock threads rather than either stay neutral or to drop their powers and engage in debate with regular members.

    If you read the OP properly, you would have seen that. It's not just you though, the rest of the sheep that infest this place have also failed to grasp these basic points. Pathetic!
  • TheScashManTheScashMan Posts: 111MI6 Agent
    Sir Miles wrote:
    Still waiting for a response from TheScashMan - frankly I'm appalled and disgusted by his lack of manners in furnishing me with a response ! It's very cringeworthy !

    When you have something worthwhile to respond to, perhaps I'll consider it 8-)
  • TheScashManTheScashMan Posts: 111MI6 Agent
    darenhat wrote:
    Thanks to Sir Miles and Mr Martini, we can now actually learn something from this thread! :))

    Learn what? How to lose an argument :))
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