Hello, this question is for the moderators. Recently my account was deleted due to ‘flaming’. I wanted to know why my account was deleted when profanity and offensive language was used towards a very 'harmless' post I wrote. I found this unfair because I find posting on prince.org or any board similar to having a discussion with people in a room. And if someone insults me, I am going to say something back. This occurred when I made a comment on liking the music of a particular artist that this person does not like, so when offensive and sexual remarks were made to me, a response more derogatory was made in my defense. My question is, why was my account deleted when the other person’s offensive remark towards me was not taken into consideration at first and their account not suspended. I find this unfair and upsetting and it makes me think prince.org is a place to disrespect a person just because they like a pop artist that is not popular on this site, which would make anyone think twice before posting and that isn't right. I’ve sent an e-mail through the user agreement and have received no response whatsoever. I understand an account can be deleted at anytime and a post without question or answer, but at least be fair in doing so, or at least review what was said before suspending one's account and suspend the others' or delete the whole thread ALSO.
[Edited 3/5/05 19:50pm]

1. I suggest you see the Rules you agreed to and review such as what I list here. (Excerpt from Rules).....

"Note that these rules are in addition to the terms of service you agreed to upon registering. Final say and interpretation of these rules for specific instances rests with the Moderators.

Be civilized
Don't create offensive, vulgar, obscene, threatening, abusive or excessively profane posts. Do not instigate, engage in, or encourage 'flame wars'. If you insult someone "jokingly", be prepared to have it not interpreted that way by the Moderators. A good general rule: "criticize ideas, not people." Any language which encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offense is grounds for immediate account deletion."

2. You should take up your concern with the Moderator through private orgnote.

3. If someone flames you, do not flame back. If you feel you have a concern of anykind then press that handy dandy "Report Post To Moderator" button.
[Edited 3/6/05 0:17am]
[Edited 3/6/05 9:23am]

It's very hard to resist striking back against someone. I've been deactivated in the past for responding to flames, while the one who attacked me remained active. It's really frustrating and I do think those who respond should get some slack since they're not the ones who actually start the trouble.

EvilWhiteMale said:

Restrain yourself from flaming, yeah I know that's hard to do as our natural instinct is to fight back. That's why this site has Moderators to deal with issues or else this place could turn into the "mother of all flame fests".

luv4u said:

Fuck it, it seems you mods randomly snip posts as you see fit...

Neversin.

Neversin said:

Then if we don't snip the flames, the thread may have to get It seems others wanna join in and thus things can get heated in there.

luv4u said:

I'm talking about posts I'm not talking about flames, most of you mods don't even see the difference, seems everybody can be a mod these days...

Neversin.

luv4u said:

Yes, and as I stated, I did read the user agreement and found additional information when I went to my profile on the link 'forum rules'. I also sent e-mails twice while my account was suspended. I can have a private discussion with a moderator but it isn't fair I have to wait a whole entire week for my account to be reactivated and air it out because I e-mailed prince.org three times through the user agreement while my account was suspended and received no response. So that is why I posted this here once my account was reactivated. It still doesn't make sense why this person used obscenity and profanity against me first and the post was sitting there for about two days and no once caught it only until I said something back. But I see what this is about. In reference to the answer above, it's like when you go to a store and a bank and a person says they can't do something just because 'it's policy'. Well EXPLAIN 'policy' rather than just saying so because I read it already. What I'm saying is, it isn't working. And if it just so happens to be that my account had to be suspended for going against forum rules, that's fine, I can live with that, but suspend the other person's account also, since they went against forum rules as well.
[Edited 3/6/05 11:07am]

Starmist7 said:

It's very simple - your comment was reported, the other person's wasn't. I remember this thread - you were making homophobic and racist remarks, which probably got you reported as quickly as possible. You got really vicious in your final post, whereas the other orger wasn't taking it seriously, and didn't resort to racial slurs to make his point. The mods can't be everywhere 24/7. If you were paying to use the org, you might have a point about service and response time. But this is a fansite, not a financial institution. The mods do a damn good job.
[Edited 3/6/05 11:35am]

VoicesCarry said:

So why was my post reported and not theirs. This person made a sexual remark that most people would've taken seriously. Just because they used a lol emoticon doesn't change their remark or what is written. They already crossed the line for me to get vicious at that point, which I practically ignored the first time around. I wonder why no one took offense what was said to me and reported it, or is it because it's okay to be spit on just because the artist or music I like is not very popular on this site, so nobody cared. The moderators should look into a report before just suspending an account, if it's like what you say, because I didn't write for nothing. I wasn't responding to myself, but to a very offensive obscene remark made towards me. If my post on this message is read more carefully, you'll see what I mean because I feel like I keep repeating myself.
[Edited 3/6/05 13:09pm]

Starmist7 said:

Well their comment was not reported becuase no one chose to report it. Obviously people found your post the more offensive of the two, and the "" clued most people in to the fact that he was kidding.

VoicesCarry said:

Again, my reasoning of why wasn't it reported then, is up there. But 'lol' can be used in different ways and it was out of line, and I don't think it was meant to be funny at all, but ridiculing and derogatory, and that’s why I said something. But if there really isn’t an answer for this, then there’s nothing to be done anyway. I feel better at least posting my issue on this site to let it be known, although I don’t think it went anywhere, and doesn't change my opinion about what happened. The time I've spent on this site is about up. I much better prefer to be a lurker and use it's advantages than be an org member.
[Edited 3/6/05 13:21pm]

Starmist7 said:

Users do the reporting, not mods. No policy changes will affect that.

What I find strange -- and this may address the "policy" issue directly -- is that one reason given for temporary account deactivations is that it allows a "cooling off" period for the deactivted member.

I actually like the sentiment behind this rationalization because it suggests that helping individual users as well as the community as a whole is the main motivating force behind mod decisions.

But I have to ask, is that ever the result? Does anyone (mods) think that people who are deactivated actually "cool off"? (This thread would seem to suggest otherwise). Aren't mod decisions and actions part of the same social dynamic they claim to be regulating?

And if deactivation demonstrably does not result in cooler heads, would this warrant a review of policy (or mod behavior)?

Maybe it's too much to say that this is "policy," though it is certainly part of the "oral tradition" of the Org.






P.S. I know this is just the internet and I am fully aware of the lack of democracy regarding the Org website; so need to go there.

2the9s said:

it works..but only if the mod explains themselves and lets the orger understand their perspective...

there are plenty enough mods around....i think an explanation for action as severe as suspention/banning is owed to that person.....

except of course for you 9's.....

sosgemini said:

But mods are under absolutely no obligation to do so. I think that is stated somewhere in the rules or TOS or something. (And contrary to popular belief and repeated urgings of the site owners and mods, I do NOT have the rules and TOS etched in my memory or constantly before me. No one possibly could have. )

I can actually see where it would be necessary to give mods "absolute" powers in certain situations and not have to constantly explain every situation, and I can see where mods would want to present a unified front and "support" one another publically; but again only if the purpose was to help resolve a situation or for the betterment of the community.

I wish this site was more about the community and less about the mods. That's why you'll never see my on a "Support-a-Mod" thread.



I agree. That's one benefit of having so many mods. I'm sure it makes it harder in a lot of ways too. I assume though that this is your opinion and not policy, right?

2the9s said:

exactamundo....

[/]
[Edited 3/7/05 11:57am]

2the9s said:

We get alot of complaints when one of us doesn't include an explaination. I'm assuming most of us almost always type out a brief message to the orger, or use one of our template letters. Honestly, it just creates more work having to respond to several complaints/comments after the fact, than to simply orgnote them from the get go.

The only time I don't orgnote the user is when I respond or comment on the thread instead, and thats only because I feel like I'm being redundant.

VoicesCarry said:

Well said. Starmist should have reported it first. Then there'd be 2 cases to look at. I can say this...racist and homophobic remarks will get an account suspended or a thread deleted or an account deactivated real quick. And it won't take the person who the remarks were directed at to speak up. That stuff doesn't fly here.

Starmist7 said:

1)Theirs wasn't reported...Did you report them? If not, mods will only (or usually) look at what's being reported. You repeat this several times. It has nothing to do with a popular artist...but you should have reported the bad remarks to the mods.

2)Yes an LOL icon DOES mean don't take what I just wrote too seriously. It does. It doesn't change what they say...but it means don't take it too seriously (for those that such remarks "go over the line" that they may not know exists.

3) Why the need to get vicious?

2the9s said:

just off the top of my head...you and EWM are behaving better. You have no idea how many threads and petitions and everything the good folks here did to get you guys back.

superspaceboy said:

I don't want this to be about my situation, especially since I've been forbidden from talking about it....

But I haven't noticed either EWM or myself acting any differently to be honest.

And I am FULLY aware of the number of people who supported me and I have tried to thank directly as many of them as possible. Many people contacted me by email as well. I was quite overwhelmed by the response. (You think I didn't save those threads? )

2the9s said:

OK, to be honest, I didn't know about your situation until the threads started..but I was aware of EWM. And seeing his post from beofre and his now...I'd say he has toned it down a bit. He doesn't flame back like he used to.

superspaceboy said:

I don't know all the details of his situation and I'm not trying to make this a commentary about any mod decision (seriously), but I rarely if ever saw him flame.

He's pretty imperturbable. And I mean that in a bad way.

2the9s said:

I suppose I was pesponding to the "cooling off" statement you mentioned. It's seems as though he has a bit. Or maybe he was gone for so long...it just seems that way. He also doesn't post as much as before...so it just looks as though he's toned it down.

2the9s said:

theres a difference...