Results 1 to 21 of 21

Thread: This forum is not designed to become popular! :-)

  1. #1
    Ex-admin Korn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Europe
    Posts
    4,830

    Smile This forum is not designed to become popular! :-)

    Hi,

    Some people may be afraid of going vegan in case it will make them less popular amongst certain people or in some settings. Now, what about moderating a vegan site? What are we risking?

    I'm member of another forum where the admin recently posted an announcement about that the goal of his site was not to get as many members as possible, or as many posts as possible - the intention of the site had never been to become popular at all ... I thought that maybe I should post something similar here, but didn't. He mentioned his freedom of speech as a reference for how he had 'the right to' create a forum with rules he thought were OK, and that each and every user had the total freedom to use the forum or not.

    I had an innocent discussion with a member once, about spam/spam-like behavior (it doesn't matter who it was, and I'm not going to tell you!). She posted LOTS of links to her own project. In spite of accusations about having decided not to like her etc (no truth in that at all), we took the member off delayed posts after a couple of days. That case was closed, but there is a potential dilemma if people really believe that the mods are against them, or that we just ban people with personal likes/dislikes as a reference. The reference for our moderation is our FAQ/Guidelines, which are very specific about what we do and don't.

    Even if we hardly ban people, and even if personal likes or dislikes are not part of which accounts we moderate or deactivate, people who don't like this site or how we run it may be frustrated here no matter how hard we try to do a good job.

    Democracy on internet works the opposite way of how it works in the rest of the world; out there, you select some leaders, and they discuss and vote for and change the rules. On internet you select a community and moderation style you are OK with, and forget about the sites you are not happy with.

    We don't want anyone to leave. We don't design the rules based on what will make us the most popular forum out there - but of course we want as many vegans as possible to enjoy our forum! While the easiest solution maybe would be that everybody held hands and agreed in everything, this is not always the case - but this is still relatively simple to deal with on internet.

    We fine tune our rules all the time, basically by being them more specific/detailed, and therefore easier to understand. We try to improve our moderating too. All suggestions re. improvements are always welcome, but the fundament won't change.

    It's kind of frustrating at one level to be accused for having something personal against someone when all we want is that a member follows the same simple rules that everybody else are expected to. Maybe some sort of thickskinned-ness is needed in our roles as moderators that we are not used to from real life? The bottom line is that we do the best we can, and if most of what we do is OK with you, we have somewhat succeeded in creating a useful community. If the fundament this forum is built upon feels wrong for you, we will disappoint you sooner or later, and since we didn't design this site to please everybody or become the largest, most active or highest populated vegan forum on internet, all we can say is - sorry. We won't change the fundament, even if it would please a few members if we did.


    I bring this up because we actually have banned a member not too long ago, for the first time in many, many months (not counting the typical Nokia spammers and meat eating trolls). He got a PM explaining why we have removed ONE of his links (it was to a site which had a contents that by default was not visible (see FAQ#9). We don't allow links to sites where you can't see the contents unless you register, and have removed a few myspace-links for that reason. This is because such sites have been used to attack members of our site in the past, including revealing information about them that was personal and erratic - a bad combination. We want to protect all our members against unfair attacks by someone who want to use internet for 'solving' personal issues with other, identifiable people they have a problem with. Instead of getting the expected response, which either could be 'I don't know what you mean', or 'OK, thanks for the message' we received a lot of personal attacks, insults... no sign of a desire to discuss the actual topic. I can personally handle that some upset person call me a person 'who do more harm than good' as a result of removing a link to a hidden site, but we still won't change the rules to please everybody - that wouldn't even be possible, if we tried.
    After some attempts of communication; first a message that we wouldn't ban him, then - as a result of more attacks totally out of touch with reality - we told him that we wanted to ban him. Afterwards, the member who got banned posted a lot of posts within a few minutes - in various threads, saying that he wanted to leave because he had been told that links to his sites was not allowed, which was not true.

    In case you should be unfortunate enough to ending up in a similar situation on any forum, my humble advice would be not to attack the mods for not 'liking' you, don't attack them, because most forums are more or less 'reserved' for people who appreciate these sites. No mods/admins have a lot of energy to try pleasing people who seem to think that they are 'bad people' (sigh) when eg. discussing a simple removal of one specific link, and in this particular case, when the person in question report having had the same conflict many times before, on other sites, it doesn't exactly increase the chance that we'll agree in him that we, and not his aggressive style, is the problem.

    So much about not being popular amongst everyone. It's just not possible, and probably a useful reminder for all vegans and everybody else anyway.
    I will not eat anything that walks, swims, flies, runs, skips, hops or crawls.

  2. #2
    auntierozzi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    France
    Posts
    425

    Default Re: This forum is not designed to become popular!

    Korn,
    This is a great site. It's a positive place to be and if there are occasional scuffles on here I think it's probably because it is a safe place for vegans to vent. Personalities are always going to hit it off or clash at one point or another, the good atmosphere dominates most of the time. I think so anyway.

  3. #3
    Lilac Hamster
    Guest

    Default Re: This forum is not designed to become popular!

    I think you run it all in a very fair way, and even when you have to tell me off about taking a thread off at a tangent about one of my "hot buttons", I never feel that you are doing it in a way that is picking on me, I know it is about just one particular behaviour. I'm sorry to hear some people get aggressive as if you are personally against them, it does not make it any easier for you, and they should appreciate what you are doing here!

  4. #4
    perfect RedWellies's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Herefordshire, England
    Posts
    1,564

    Default Re: This forum is not designed to become popular!

    Ahhh, poor Korn. We still love you. to anyone who doesn't!
    "Do what you can with what you have where you are."
    - Theodore Roosevelt

  5. #5
    CATWOMAN sandra's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    The Emerald Isle
    Posts
    2,506

    Default Re: This forum is not designed to become popular!

    I love this forum and how it's run. I think you do an excellent job of running it and deal properly and fairly with everyone.

  6. #6
    yum! angelamc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    los angeles
    Posts
    230

    Default Re: This forum is not designed to become popular!

    This is a great forum!! I love it and I think the moderators do a very good job!

  7. #7
    Not Giving Up Pisces's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Moving forward in life
    Posts
    270

    Default Re: This forum is not designed to become popular!

    I agree! I believe the admins do their best, are fair, and maintain the forum very well. Not to mention---I've received kind messages/FYIs for things such as my posts being moved to another thread. Thank you, Korn and Flutterby.

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Iowa
    Posts
    150

    Default Re: This forum is not designed to become popular!

    I have a feeling that people as irrational as the ones listed will not take the time to read or understand your post.
    Too bad for them. This place is awesome so long as one behaves themself.

  9. #9
    Ex-admin Korn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Europe
    Posts
    4,830

    Default Re: This forum is not designed to become popular!

    Quote Bic View Post
    I have a feeling that people as irrational as the ones listed will not take the time to read or understand your post.
    Too bad for them. This place is awesome so long as one behaves themself.
    Hi, I think there's at least a 50/50 chance that people that people will actually try to understand we remove some links occasionally, as opposed to just get angry and not really read what we try to explain about it. WHile one of the members I mentioned now is back to normal posting, and is happy to leave that little episode behind, the other wrote me that he will 'let every vegan he knows 'know that we refuse to cooperate with other vegan organizations', which is more than absurd - after all, we've had a dedicated section for links to other sites since the day this forum was created, we have a subforum called 'Projects and companies'... we must have hundreds, if not thousands of links to other, relevant sites in here.
    I will not eat anything that walks, swims, flies, runs, skips, hops or crawls.

  10. #10
    AR Activist Roxy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    4,977

    Default Re: This forum is not designed to become popular!

    Quote Korn View Post
    the other wrote me that he will 'let every vegan he knows 'know that we refuse to cooperate with other vegan organizations', which is more than absurd - after all, we've had a dedicated section for links to other sites since the day this forum was created, we have a subforum called 'Projects and companies'... we must have hundreds, if not thousands of links to other, relevant sites in here.
    Absolutely that's more absurd! I think that's very hypocritical of that person because he will be doing much more damage to the vegan cause by wasting time spreading stupid, untrue, vicious rumours. I just don't get people's mentality sometimes.

  11. #11

    Default Re: This forum is not designed to become popular!

    Although my experience of forums is limited, for what it's worth, I think this one is well run.

    Keep up the good work Mods. Tick V.G.

  12. #12

    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Birmingham, UK
    Posts
    300

    Default Re: This forum is not designed to become popular!

    I like this forum.

    I've had a spot of bother on a non vegan rodent message board which I felt WAS baised. Some members who are Pro meat eating and pro vivisection can say exactly what they pleased, but if vegans or AR people, especially ones like myself, who are no good at mincing their words, do the same then you get into trouble. I've even got my first warning. I post there because I like rats and want to be with other people who feel the same way, but this having to watch what I say is driving me away from there and must be doing the same for other vegan/AR rat lovers too. Some Chinchilla sites are even worse. I know one that states that you can't critize Chinchilla Fur ranches so I keep away from there.

    It's so refreshing to come here, where I can express myself much more freely.

  13. #13
    Poppy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Cloud Cuckoo Land
    Posts
    61

    Default Re: This forum is not designed to become popular!

    I have 100% faith in how Korn et al moderates this site and I'm sure he does his best to diffuse situations when possible in a positive way. This 'vegan village' is certainly a friendly one!! Many thanks to all involved...where would we go without you?
    All of life is a dream walking
    All of death is a going home Chinese saying

  14. #14

    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    114

    Default Re: This forum is not designed to become popular!

    Quote Korn View Post
    the other wrote me that he will 'let every vegan he knows 'know that we refuse to cooperate with other vegan organizations'
    As far as I know, this forum is a safehaven for vegans to discuss and enhance the role veganism plays in their life. His attempt to deny someone that opportunity is sad; I only hope that his vegan acquaintances can find other ways (if not through this site) to improve [the quality of] their vegan lifestyle.

  15. #15

    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Uk, Reading, Emmer Green
    Posts
    133

    Default Re: This forum is not designed to become popular!

    Korn, you do a fab job.

    I remember when I was moderating the WorldVeganDay forum, one user kept calling me a *k*ing monkey because I mention my agreement with evolution.

    After a few failed requests for him to control himself I warned that I would have his account suspended if he persisted. The conversation went like this:

    User: Why would the moderator listen to you!
    Me: I am the moderator.
    User: Which idiot gave you that job.
    Me: Me.
    ...

    I think good moderation is what makes for a popular forum. If you have no rules then the forum becomes an unwelcoming hell hole and all the nice people leave but if you are too strict the forum becomes very boring. You balance well.

  16. #16
    vegan
    Guest

    Default Re: This forum is not designed to become popular!

    Quote StevieP View Post
    Korn, you do a fab job.

    I remember when I was moderating the WorldVeganDay forum, one user kept calling me a *k*ing monkey because I mention my agreement with evolution.

    After a few failed requests for him to control himself I warned that I would have his account suspended if he persisted. The conversation went like this:

    User: Why would the moderator listen to you!
    Me: I am the moderator.
    User: Which idiot gave you that job.
    Me: Me.
    ...

    I think good moderation is what makes for a popular forum. If you have no rules then the forum becomes an unwelcoming hell hole and all the nice people leave but if you are too strict the forum becomes very boring. You balance well.

    This actually does seem like a personal dislike. In your position I would have just kept in mind that he's only making himself look bad. I'm not siding with him; of course it's wrong for him to call you a monkey; I'm just saying that personally I would not have deactivated him.

  17. #17
    journey
    Guest

    Default Re: This forum is not designed to become popular!

    Korn,
    I think you do a great job moderating - can't be easy, but you do it well and fairly. Yes we do need rules and somebody to enforce them or this just wouldn't be a fun, supportive place for discussions.

  18. #18
    friendly fri
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    uk
    Posts
    159

    Default Re: This forum is not designed to become popular!

    i just lurrrve this vegan forum, y'all!!! thanks and good night
    :D :)

  19. #19
    hm umbilical's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    germany
    Posts
    202

    Default Re: This forum is not designed to become popular!

    i am very happy i found this place, although i know, some people here aren't so glad about having me around

  20. #20
    cobweb
    Guest

    Default Re: This forum is not designed to become popular!

    ^ why's that, alleen????

  21. #21
    hm umbilical's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    germany
    Posts
    202

    Default Re: This forum is not designed to become popular!

    ah that's an old story ... on old threads that were deleted already

Similar Threads

  1. Are we designed or 'meant' to eat meat?
    By artbeat in forum Human evolution and environmental issues
    Replies: 95
    Last Post: Oct 31st, 2011, 12:22 PM
  2. Tofu still a popular choice?
    By acdive23 in forum VEGAN FOOD
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: Nov 2nd, 2006, 01:26 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •