Wondering about standards.

[Greenman]

In this thread
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2104909
shorty posts a very old, and tasteless joke. That resulted in the thread being locked and it looks like shorty will be getting some time off.
My question, why is it that a tasteless joke gets a vacation in OT, but a 500 word hate rant in P&N is acceptable? I understand that P&N is a sewer, and turds are expected, but it seems like there is no consistency across the forums.
I guess what I'm asking is who sets the standard for taste or offensiveness and why isn't that standard applied universally?
Or perhaps it is and I'm simply not seeing the distinction?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

The sub forums are modded individually and the omnipotent overlord allows each to do so while attempting to keep everyone in the same ballpark. We all have seen a wide discrepancy in modding but, I think over all it's a good thing.

Rigid rules would serve us even more poorly than the occasional twitch of the ban stick. After all, these are just public forums. No one is messing with how someone lives or what they believe in.

 

[rudeguy]

The sub forums are modded individually and the omnipotent overlord allows each to do so while attempting to keep everyone in the same ballpark. We all have seen a wide discrepancy in modding but, I think over all it's a good thing.

Rigid rules would serve us even more poorly than the occasional twitch of the ban stick. After all, these are just public forums. No one is messing with how someone lives or what they believe in.

yeah...rigid rules in a place like this just aren't possible.

Us OT folks pretty much ruined tasteless jokes a while back. We allowed to post anything that wasn't...well...I don't think there were any rules. Then some people took it too far and they had to crack down. Its the old thing where the mods give an inch and we stretch it into a mile.

P&N was made for rants. Personal attacks are not tolerated but they are overlooked. Mods will remind a person to attack the idea and not the poster.

The way it was explained to me is that P&N is for grown ups and OT is for...well....the rest of us

 

[Greenman]

yeah...rigid rules in a place like this just aren't possible.

Us OT folks pretty much ruined tasteless jokes a while back. We allowed to post anything that wasn't...well...I don't think there were any rules. Then some people took it too far and they had to crack down. Its the old thing where the mods give an inch and we stretch it into a mile.

P&N was made for rants. Personal attacks are not tolerated but they are overlooked. Mods will remind a person to attack the idea and not the poster.

The way it was explained to me is that P&N is for grown ups and OT is for...well....the rest of us

It begins to make sense, they gave an inch, we took a mile.

I would certainly argue the "made for grown ups" statement. P&N has become the personal playground for a few extremists to spew stupidity at each other.
I get that a bit of latitude is granted, but it's unfortunately granted in the wrong forum.

Edit: In that same thread I found AMDhunters posts to be far more offensive. Seems like the rules are pretty subjective.

 

[Malak]

P&N is specifically designed to be the waste bucket of the forum. For all intents and purposes, it is not actually a part of the forum but exists in a separate dimension. It is advisable to avoid entering it, as the normal forum rules no longer apply. It's better this way, they tend to gravitate to it. Every once in a while a bit of hate sneaks out but that is why shorty was banned. If they can't keep it in P&N, they can't stay.

And if you don't like a post, report it. It isn't often that one of my reports doesn't result in action.

 

[rudeguy]

It begins to make sense, they gave an inch, we took a mile.

I would certainly argue the "made for grown ups" statement. P&N has become the personal playground for a few extremists to spew stupidity at each other.
I get that a bit of latitude is granted, but it's unfortunately granted in the wrong forum.

Edit: In that same thread I found AMDhunters posts to be far more offensive. Seems like the rules are pretty subjective.

Very subjective...but that's what makes it fun. Keep in mind this is an internet forum, not a court of law. There are double standards, mods get pissed, mods miss stuff...it happens. I can promise you that the mods really do try to look at the big picture before they do anything harsh.

As far as all this debate over a locked thread, don't take it to personal. I've had more threads locked here than most people have posted. Its really not that big of a deal. If you get a PM right after its locked with a nice infraction warning...then its something to pay attention to.

In short: Its just the internet. Quit taking it so damn serious.

 

[guyver01]

I guess what I'm asking is who sets the standard for taste or offensiveness and why isn't that standard applied universally?

i don't think anyone at anantech can answer that question...

since there is no universal standard for tastless or offensive...

what you think is tasteless or offensive... others might not.

 

[Greenman]

Very subjective...but that's what makes it fun. Keep in mind this is an internet forum, not a court of law. There are double standards, mods get pissed, mods miss stuff...it happens. I can promise you that the mods really do try to look at the big picture before they do anything harsh.

As far as all this debate over a locked thread, don't take it to personal. I've had more threads locked here than most people have posted. Its really not that big of a deal. If you get a PM right after its locked with a nice infraction warning...then its something to pay attention to.

In short: Its just the internet. Quit taking it so damn serious.

I wasn't upset by any means, nor did I feel the need to report anything. It's simple curiosity as to how the standards are set. If I was upset about something I'd take it up with toker, perk, the doc or winston directly, all four are very reasonable, and I think genuinely concerned about how this place is run.

 

[JEDIYoda]

all the mods are very concerned about how this place is run....

 

[Soundmanred]

All the mods are very concerned about how this place is run.

 

[rudeguy]

I wasn't upset by any means, nor did I feel the need to report anything. It's simple curiosity as to how the standards are set. If I was upset about something I'd take it up with toker, perk, the doc or winston directly, all four are very reasonable, and I think genuinely concerned about how this place is run.

Standards? On AT?

NEVER!!!!

 

[DrPizza]

Not only can the post in question be called "tasteless," but it's also offensive to a large group of people. While I'll agree that no one has the right to be immune from being offended, somethings are offensive enough to such a broad segment of the population that it's really something we don't want here. Any casual visitor to this site is going to think less of the site when they see we allow offensive jokes like that to be posted. Furthermore, if we don't draw the line there, where DO we draw the line when people post more and more offensive jokes?

However, to specifically address the specific circumstance discussed in the OP, I suggest you look at THIS thread: http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2079851
The person receiving the vacation was strongly warned merely three months ago not to post jokes such as the one resulting in his vacation. We moderators aren't quick to vacation people from this forum. And, we often try to give people the benefit of a doubt. But in this instance, the poster had posted offensive jokes in the past and was specifically warned about it. Had he not been specifically warned & had he a relatively clean record, he probably would have received no more than a warning.

edit: sorry about the thread continuing to be locked. I had posted it for moderator comment concerning where we draw the line for others posting in the thread & if I should just remove the other posts in the thread, then unlock it. Hopefully, I have a moment later this evening when NSFW threads aren't an issue for me.

 

[Greenman]

Thanks Doc.
Sounds like PG13 is about the limit, and that answers my question.

Doc, you closed the "how to get rid of an infraction" thread before I got to say "In soviet AT, infraction gets rid of you".
Would have been my best line of the month.

 

[DrPizza]

You're welcome. And, I unlocked the thread when I got home from work.

 

[Infohawk]

P&N was made for rants. Personal attacks are not tolerated but they are overlooked. Mods will remind a person to attack the idea and not the poster.

Overlooked? Warnings? P&N mods are themselves involved in attacks. Most decisions in P&N are pretty arbitrary and there are no real standards.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Overlooked? Warnings? P&N mods are themselves involved in attacks. Most decisions in P&N are pretty arbitrary and there are no real standards.

Standards are fairly transparent to people that are biased.

Tolerance level for attacks is greater in P&N than the tech side of the house.
This is partially caused by opinions become more heated and not able to be backed up by hard facts - rather subjective information that can be twisted to ones view point or another.
Also, deflection of information when it does not match ones prefered views.

 

[Corn]

Standards are fairly transparent to people that are biased.

Tolerance level for attacks is greater in P&N than the tech side of the house.
This is partially caused by opinions become more heated and not able to be backed up by hard facts - rather subjective information that can be twisted to ones view point or another.
Also, deflection of information when it does not match ones prefered views.

Perhaps you would like to explain why FNE and Infohawk were banned in the following thread:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2104531

I can understand the ban Modestgamer got in that thread, but there is nothing ban worthy regarding FNE or Infohawk's posts. Nevermind the fact that Esquared had already moderated the thread on 9/10 and apparently only finding fault with Modestgamer while mentioning nothing regarding FNE or Infohawk's posts, but 2 weeks later, BAN.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

Perhaps you would like to explain why FNE and Infohawk were banned in the following thread:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2104531

I can understand the ban Modestgamer got in that thread, but there is nothing ban worthy regarding FNE or Infohawk's posts. Nevermind the fact that Esquared had already moderated the thread on 9/10 and apparently only finding fault with Modestgamer while mentioning nothing regarding FNE or Infohawk's posts, but 2 weeks later, BAN.

AND skipping over the other "political" comments.

 

[Corn]

AND skipping over the other "political" comments.

Oh, but those just aren't as bad......because.

I want to know why FNE, Infohawk, and Butmantom's posts are worse than:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2098799

The sooner all the asshole Republicans die the better. Only the brain dead sleep to the fact that the only reason there is any attention to a mosque at ground zero is because it can be used to gin up the dregs of society, the haters looking for something to hate so they can be turned out in their psychotic rage to vote for Rescumlicans. By this means do the shit of our society keep grasping for power. Only worthless scum who are anti-American oppose the religious freedoms of others granted by the Constitution. Scum loving Anti-Americans are what they are. Their bloom like a red tide is exactly why we were attacked. It is their hate and their fear that the terrorists sought to fester and boil like puss sacks in the flesh of this once great nation. You rotten worthless bastards are as worthless as the terrorists that attacked us, stupid, fearful, demented little cowards.

So, let's hear it.

 

[Greenman]

Oh, but those just aren't as bad......because.

I want to know why FNE, Infohawk, and Butmantom's posts are worse than:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2098799



So, let's hear it.

I can answer this one!
It's because moonie is an idiot and has serious mental health issues. Most people don't even bother reading his posts, I doubt any of the mods do. I always read them because they're a fascinating look into a badly damaged mind. In the post you quoted, he's actually talking about himself, almost everything he writes is about self hate and frustration, always attributed to others, but always so well described that it's obvious he's living it. Personally, I hope the guy gets the help he needs.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I can answer this one!
It's because moonie is an idiot and has serious mental health issues. Most people don't even bother reading his posts, I doubt any of the mods do. I always read them because they're a fascinating look into a badly damaged mind. In the post you quoted, he's actually talking about himself, almost everything he writes is about self hate and frustration, always attributed to others, but always so well described that it's obvious he's living it. Personally, I hope the guy gets the help he needs.

I prefer to think of him as a well adjusted accountant with 2.1 kids and a Volvo in the garage who happens to have a bizarre fetish, you know, kinda like fbb.

 

[Greenman]

I prefer to think of him as a well adjusted accountant with 2.1 kids and a Volvo in the garage who happens to have a bizarre fetish, you know, kinda like fbb.

Odd, I've never seen those two in the same thread, you don't think...

 

[erikistired]

i learned something a long time ago about this place. it's not a publicly owned place, it's privately owned and run by a group that mostly has a certain type of political views. if you oppose those views, you are taking your posting privileges in your own hands. it's how it is, and complaining about it won't change things. if you can live with that, you can have a happy existence. if not, maybe not so happy. i come here for the tech chat (and to nef in off topic, of course) anyway, so it doesn't affect me as much as it used to.

cliffs: it's not what you say, it's who you say it to.

also. moonbeam is like the michael savage of anandtech. he says a lot of offensive things, but he's just so out there and unhinged you need to have him around just for comic relief. you can't take what he says seriously.

 

[Malak]

You can moderate discussions too. Add moonbeam to your ignore list.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

i learned something a long time ago about this place. it's not a publicly owned place, it's privately owned and run by a group that mostly has a certain type of political views. if you oppose those views, you are taking your posting privileges in your own hands. it's how it is, and complaining about it won't change things. if you can live with that, you can have a happy existence. if not, maybe not so happy. i come here for the tech chat (and to nef in off topic, of course) anyway, so it doesn't affect me as much as it used to.

cliffs: it's not what you say, it's who you say it to.

also. moonbeam is like the michael savage of anandtech. he says a lot of offensive things, but he's just so out there and unhinged you need to have him around just for comic relief. you can't take what he says seriously.

Actually you can do something about it, I'm proof of that. I don't take credit for anything or any changes but I pushed for years for some "standard" and have the battle scars to prove it. It's much better now than it used to be, because we wouldn't even be allowed to have this discussion right now if things weren't changed. So while one person can't change it, speaking up adds one more voice to the pile.