[harry chickpea]

As have most of you, I've noticed a few recurring themes in the Alabama forum. A new poster will ask about racial relations and the KKK. Others will ask about the Birmingham or Huntsville area without bothering to even glance at thread titles, much less read past posts. Then there are the schoolkids wanting us to do their homework, people who think the forum is an instant messaging hangout, and those who never respond after an intial post. Some of those may even be trolls.

Moderation can keep the worst of the abuse in check, and there is better moderation in this forum than many others, but the way that we respond also has an effect on how this forum will grow or fail. For instance, over my years on usenet, I learned to not bother responding directly to people who start out with unframed questions or those who focus on a "hot button" topic.

I recently posted about how one new poster, by their uncaring attitude towards performing an even cursory check of their question, was acting disrespectfully to the very people that he or she was asking for help. I note that person has not returned, and my guess is that it had nothing to do with my deleted response, but that the person had no serious intent, other than to "try" the forum.

My request here is that we respond, as a group, to questions about the KKK or race relations with only links to existing threads. I also would request that regulars think twice before responding to messages where the person posting may be a "hit n run" troll, a person under the influence, or someone who is re-asking questions that have been covered many times before.

What would be even more helpful would be a list of links to the most pertinent links covering the various repeated subjects, and a sticky with those links for the people first visiting the forum. A constant re-hashing of previously discussed subjects eventually becomes boring and can cause regualrs to leave a group.

[Southlander]

I had decided to ignore them...and/or report them to the moderator...

[Threestep]

Originally Posted by Southlander

I had decided to ignore them...and/or report them to the moderator...

How do you do that?

[Bravo35223]

GREAT post Harry....I admin/moderate a golf board and agree with your comments wholeheartedly. We get 3m hits a year and have heavy traffic. We get a huge amount of Spam and I ban 2-3 people a week just bc of this. We also have a no tolerance policy RE: bad behavior. This site resulted from a group of us breaking off from another board that was known for flaming/insults and we wanted something more mature. That was 3.5 years ago and we have a very high volume board now. The owner has five of us who have full moderator and administrator powers.

The thing that makes CD tougher to participate in (and Moderate) is that almost everyone who posts for the first time is (ostensibly) seeking help...and our regulars are kind-hearted people who want to help....so we must show internal discipline in drawing the line on certain subjects....

john

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by Threestep

How do you do that?

See the little red triangle at the top right of this (and every) post? Click on it. That will take you to a "form" where you can report the post. You don't have to make a comment, but I'm sure it's helpful to the moderator (Keeper, I think, is the main one for Alabama).

[baby_firefly]

the only thing i could think of is some ppl have different things they need to know about when thinking of moving

[Keeper]

Thank you all..
I do my best to keep our forum a good place for people wanting to visit or move to AL to get information. I volunteer to moderate this forum and other state forums but I am not on here 24x7.
It helps if you report the post and don't respond if you can see someone (troll) is just trying to start trouble.
This is by far the best state site as far as posts/responses I moderate and I Thank YOU..the posters

[Threestep]

Originally Posted by Southlander

See the little red triangle at the top right of this (and every) post? Click on it. That will take you to a "form" where you can report the post. You don't have to make a comment, but I'm sure it's helpful to the moderator (Keeper, I think, is the main one for Alabama).

Thank you.
Not a hick from but nevertheless technically challenged:>)

[Keeper]

You asked about posting a link to questions already asked, essentially that is already done. If you look at the bottom of any post the system automatically pulls up similiar post. You can post the links or suggest the person check out the info at the bottom of the page.

If someone ask about KKK or brings in racist comments and you believe they are trying to start trouble.. aka 'troll' then let me know or report the post. I am on here a lot but if you feel it needs immediate attention.. report it..

Now, with that being said, I personally (not as a mod) don't want new people to think we just can't be bothered to answer their questions or concerns as long as they are legitimate questions and not someone's homework.

[Southlander]

Makes you wonder if any other states have problems with the kkk/racists remarks make just to stir up trouble.