This is something I've been wanting to ask for nearly a decade.

One type of chain of events that has often led to "flare-ups" on the boards when things get out of hand is when someone becomes the first person in a thread to provoke one or more people, either by flat-out lying or by posting a completely unprovoked personal attack/insult or by making false accusations against specific people.

So my question, what is considered a "reportable" offense so that we know whether to report it and wait for moderation, or not report it and address the offender directly on the boards.

To me the first person to go "on the offensive" in any particular thread is the one who should be dealt with the most severely, because they are the one who sets in motion the Chain of Causation. They are the one who, rather than participating in the discussion of the thread's topic, posts in the thread just to "stir the pot" or follow through on their ulterior motives.

If somebody makes an accusation against a particular person that is proven to be false, should we report it?

If somebody makes a derogatory statement about one or more people, and can't/won't explain and support their derogatory statement, should we report it?

If somebody is caught in a lie, such as saying "I haven't conversed with so-and-so for well over a year" when in fact they conversed just a few weeks prior, and evidence is provided to prove it was a lie, should we report it?

Speaking only for myself here, I always post in good faith. By that, I mean that if somebody disagrees with something I write, I will explain myself and provide evidence/support/sources to back up what I have said. If I am wrong, or if I make a mistake, I will admit it.

However all too often, the usual troublemakers will:

1) Intentionally make blatantly false statements
2) Won't back up what they've said when they are questioned or called out on it
3) Won't apologize or even acknowledge being wrong after they have been proven wrong
4) Will ignore the other person's response, even when evidence is provided by the other person
5) Will continue to repeat false claims and accusations, even after they were proven false

As much as I loathe the word "troll", there is nothing more "trollish" than going on the offensive with no intention of discussing or supporting what they've said, or lying about someone and then after it's been proven they've lied they don't apologize or even acknowledge that they've lied.

Generally if the offensive post is particularly egregious, I'll report it and wait a few hours for the automated moderation Orgnote to come through. If the offensive post is not snipped by then, I will respond to the offensive post directly on the boards.

Is there any other approach we should take? I understand reported messages can't always be reviewed within a few hours or even a few days, and by then the "damage" to the attacker's victim has already been done. Does the "Chain of Causation" get taken into account when we are forced to defend ourselves on the boards?

Thank you again for all that the mods do, it's appreciated.

[Edited 2/24/20 8:41am]

The mods don't support any side but the org rules


Move on.