A debate forum?

[hinkjc]

The reason threads are locked (and not deleted) is so people can still find and use the valuable information that was within. The information doesn't go anywhere, so I'm not sure why locking a thread is found so offensive. Locking a thread is done so members who are getting argumentative or on the offensive/defensive can go take a break, cool off and not type something they didn't really mean to say in open forum. We are not locking to offend anyone, but to offer a cooling off period and to offer a chance to get back to usual business.

I am a little offended that it is insinuated that mods are patting themselves on the back. I never try to stand out as a mod on either forum and offer educational support in my areas of expertise. I feel all mods do this and do their best to maintain a cohesive environment that benefits the most members of our wonderful communities. If someone wants to thank me (or the others) for that, that's great and we appreciate it. If you don't think we deserve gratitude, then that is your right. I do what I do because I love chickens too and enjoy sharing that with others in a family friendly environment.

Jody

 

[Barb Schuetz]

Maybe 'deleted' is the wrong word, I know that there have been posts that have disappeared. And I agree with Alleyoops that removing certain rule breaking posts instead of entire threads being locked or removed would be more constructive.
I don't think it was insinuated that the mods pat themselves on the back. If anything I said came across that way- that wasn't the intention.

 

[DuckLady]

I am going to jump in once more and explain something, too.

Not only is Jody absolutely correct in what she says in her post above, but more reasons things are locked more often then merely cleaned up (and we do a lot of that too...you just don't see it!) is that 1) it takes a lot of time and energy that sometimes, as human beings, we just don't have at that moment. And 2) if we started just editing out all the offensive stuff a tantrum would get started about being edited. I feel we can't win in all situations, so instead of trying to please everyone, we work to benefit the board as a whole.

Sometimes the questionable threads are moved to a private forum where they can be reviewed. Sometimes they are moved back, sometimes not.

As far as a debate forum, some of you have your own message boards. Create one and we can send the debaters to you!

 

[BeckyLa]

 

[PurpleChicken]

Wow is this getting way too overcomplicated. I've been away from my comp for
24 hours so I'd like to comment on a few things.

Barb, This site is not a business, or at least a profitable one. I would say it's
more a labor of love on the part of Nifty. I can guess at the revenues produced
but highly doubt they even come close to covering hosting & software licenses.
The real investment here is time. Time spent by Nifty and maybe others making
this site work and adding all the goodies to it. Compared to most other forums
its really good.

As for the moderators I have never seen such moderator ass kissing in my life.
There is no doubt you all spend a lot of time reviewing threads, dealing with
whining, and trying to keep the peace but why is this? I would think because
you like doing it. I also want to make it clear that I don't think any of the mods
have solicited this mod worship. It's mostly the members trying to be nice.

The debate forum idea has obviously already been killed and I suspect this
thread will be killed soon too. It may have been more trouble than it's worth
but it would have been nice to have somewhere we could rant and debate issues
with folks we already know and like.

 

[cookinmom]

DIE, THREAD, DIE!!!!!

 

[silkiechicken]

Yes, it has been spoken that one won't be made. I just wondered if it would be possible.

 

[pharr389]

i'm with cookinmom!

 

[chickbea]

sorry, cookinmom - one last thing - I just saw the thread!
On another forum I'm on (goldfish!), members are ranked on different levels according to how many posts they have made. Some forum sections are only available to members at higher levels, and can't be viewed by non-members at all. This seems to work pretty well, because the folks involved in the debates tend to know each other's personalities pretty well because they have been corresponding for a while, and are lees likely to take unintended offense. Of course, byc has a LOT more members than the fishy forum...