Why is this forum so heavily policed?

Everything I write seems to get deleted at the moment. But as far as I know, the only people that have a real problem with what I write are the mods. Why don't you wait until somebody complains before you start deleting posts and locking threads? What if somebody likes what I've said and wants to have a public discussion about it... shouldn't you at least give them a chance to do so, rather than just assume that the post or the thread will be badly received?

Can't the forums be a bit more democratic?

i know. IN the ZUBC forum, my feedback was deleted and the reson was because I was being a butthead!

Originally Posted by TheLegendofGanondorf

i know. IN the ZUBC forum, my feedback was deleted and the reson was because I was being a butthead!

Butthead?
I sincerely doubt that.

Originally Posted by thoke

Everything I write seems to get deleted at the moment. But as far as I know, the only people that have a real problem with what I write are the mods. Why don't you wait until somebody complains before you start deleting posts and locking threads? What if somebody likes what I've said and wants to have a public discussion about it... shouldn't you at least give them a chance to do so, rather than just assume that the post or the thread will be badly received?

Can't the forums be a bit more democratic?

You mean, why are threads like this locked?

Offense Intended

That's because the content isn't either suitable, or upto the standard required.
The mods try and maintain a general standard of posting and reply content in threads.

Seeing that several mods, myself included, have told you that some of your posts are off-topic, and are suitable to take over VM, one would assume you would just, when replying to a thread, reply only to the discussion.

Originally Posted by Avalanchemike

Ah, sorry. It stands for visitor message - when you visit another person's profile you can leave a message for them, called a visitor message. Your post seemed more personal rather than contributing to the thread!

The part in bold, is why your posts are being deleted.

For example, I believe you were talking back-and-forth with another member about why not to post links to other sites or articles to read.
The mod there said that this, again, is because firstly, you should have by right taken the time to post your own opinion rather than link to another site, but also because talking about what is fine to post, what is ot, and how you should be posting is not contributing to the thread at all, and is taking it off-topic with a completely unrelated conversation, which I think I told you myself in the last instance.
They're just pointers for future posts.

I wouldn't take it personally. :]

Originally Posted by thoke

Everything I write seems to get deleted at the moment. But as far as I know, the only people that have a real problem with what I write are the mods. Why don't you wait until somebody complains before you start deleting posts and locking threads? What if somebody likes what I've said and wants to have a public discussion about it... shouldn't you at least give them a chance to do so, rather than just assume that the post or the thread will be badly received?

As far as I know, you only post in the Serious Discussion section. We have a very special set of rules that I recently redid just for the fun of it. Also to clarify some points and to trim it down a fair bit.

One of those rules is that your post must be up to SD quality. What is this quality, you ask? Well, it's whatever I decide it to be. Or any other mod that happens to decide to moderate in my section. Generally though, this means that you've written a one-line post. I usually delete them without even thinking *unless* it's a question asking for clarification of a point or in some other way provokes more discussion.

If, for example, you were to continuously type "no, I did not say that," I would be inclined to delete your posts. Why? Because it doesn't add anything to the conversation.

Can't the forums be a bit more democratic?

HAH. Things are bureaucratic enough without adding more people to the mix.

Originally Posted by SuperDecimal

You mean, why are threads like this locked?

No, I don't mean that. I mean what I wrote.

Originally Posted by SuperDecimal

That's because the content isn't either suitable, or upto the standard required.
The mods try and maintain a general standard of posting and reply content in threads.

Seeing that several mods, myself included, have told you that some of your posts are off-topic, and are suitable to take over VM, one would assume you would just, when replying to a thread, reply only to the discussion.

The part in bold, is why your posts are being deleted.

For example, I believe you were talking back-and-forth with another member about why not to post links to other sites or articles to read.
The mod there said that this, again, is because firstly, you should have by right taken the time to post your own opinion rather than link to another site, but also because talking about what is fine to post, what is ot, and how you should be posting is not contributing to the thread at all, and is taking it off-topic with a completely unrelated conversation, which I think I told you myself in the last instance.
They're just pointers for future posts.

I wouldn't take it personally. :]

Originally Posted by Avalanchemike

One of those rules is that your post must be up to SD quality. What is this quality, you ask? Well, it's whatever I decide it to be. Or any other mod that happens to decide to moderate in my section. Generally though, this means that you've written a one-line post. I usually delete them without even thinking *unless* it's a question asking for clarification of a point or in some other way provokes more discussion.

Can't you see how bizarre that policy is? Some things only take one line to say, and yet they are worth saying and worth reading.

If, for example, you were to continuously type "no, I did not say that," I would be inclined to delete your posts. Why? Because it doesn't add anything to the conversation.

Saying it more than once in response to the same message doesn't add anything, sure. But saying it once adds soemthing, and saying it in response to different messages adds something each time.

Why not err on the side of letting people speak freely? If a message doesn't add anything, then so be it... what harm is done? Just let it be ignored.

Originally Posted by thoke

If a message doesn't add anything, then so be it... what harm is done? Just let it be ignored.

That would be called spam, which is an eyesore and would like to be avoided if at all if necessary, but I've not much room to talk. It seems my posts get deleted even though I see other people doing the same thing, but whatever, I can't complain. It's not like I'm getting infracted.

Can't you see how bizarre that policy is? Some things only take one line to say, and yet they are worth saying and worth reading.

You don't seem to realise Serious Discussion is pretty much where you need to elaborate and put more effort into your posts. You can't go into a big lengthy thread and type your opinion in one sentence.

If a message doesn't add anything, then so be it... what harm is done? Just let it be ignored.

There is no point posting it if you aren't going to take the time to further discussion and just have your statement sitting there like a beached whale.

I actually think ZU has one of the best modding systems on any forum I have been on. You may think it unfair to have your posts, which I can't comment on for not having seen, deleted, but if they add nothing to the discussion then what is the point in keeping them? Keeps things nice and tidy.

Let me give you an example. On a forum I used to be a member of, the admins stopped appearing completely and left the modding team to do all the work, only showing up for updates and all that. There was a vast intake of new mods on the basis they where friends with other mods, which allowed them to do as they pleased in the section they where supposed to be modding. The other mods did nothing about it.

Some people where banned due to them just having a different opinion to the mods, others where allowed to throw personal attacks at each other. Having friends in high places allowed you to ignore the rules.

ZU, on the other hand, has an efficient mod team that keeps the forums very clean and tidy. Thank your lucky stars for that.

Originally Posted by thoke

Why not err on the side of letting people speak freely? If a message doesn't add anything, then so be it... what harm is done? Just let it be ignored.

The moderators try to enforce a decent level of quality in posts. This is especially true in the Serious Discussion area. While it often is possible to express an opinion in one sentence, Serious Discussion revolves around thoughtful debate. You're expected to elaborate on, support and defend your opinions - not just bluntly state them. This is how discussion is generated.

The harm done by leaving posts that are pointless and add nothing to discussions is that it suggests that those kinds of posts are acceptable. They are not, and we do not want to encourage them. If the majority of the posts in a Serious Discussion thread were simple, one-sentence statements, the discussion likely wouldn't go very far.

If you think that this forum is "heavily policed", then you must be new to the Internet.

It's a conspiracy. Not even your internet is safe from some kind of constabulary controlling it.

Oh wait, I'm just describing forums in general.

Originally Posted by thoke

Can't you see how bizarre that policy is? Some things only take one line to say, and yet they are worth saying and worth reading.

Again, I said it is GENERALLY like that - I have seen good points made in a single post and left them alone. But the vast majority of them are not worth the time it took to post them.

Why not err on the side of letting people speak freely? If a message doesn't add anything, then so be it... what harm is done? Just let it be ignored.

You don't seem to understand the rules of the forum. I suggest reading them, particularly the spam bit. Then read the Serious Discussion Rules. Particularly the spam bit.

But saying it once adds soemthing, and saying it in response to different messages adds something each time.

I'm sorry that you have a different view on the matter. If that's how you feel, maybe you shouldn't post in the SD.

I think thoke is a cryberry. The rules seem to work for me. I think his are broken or something.

Originally Posted by SuperDecimal

Butthead?
I sincerely doubt that.



You mean, why are threads like this locked?

Offense Intended

That's because the content isn't either suitable, or up to the standard required.
The mods try and maintain a general standard of posting and reply content in threads.

Yeah and

Seeing that several mods, myself included, have told you that some of your posts are off-topic, and are suitable to take over VM, one would assume you would just, when replying to a thread, reply only to the discussion.


The part in bold, is why your posts are being deleted.

For example, I believe you were talking back-and-forth with another member about why not to post links to other sites or articles to read.
The mod there said that this, again, is because firstly, you should have by right taken the time to post your own opinion rather than link to another site, but also because talking about what is fine to post, what is to, and how you should be posting is not contributing to the thread at all, and is taking it off-topic with a completely unrelated conversation, which I think I told you myself in the last instance.
They're just pointers for future posts.

I wouldn't take it personally. :]

Sorry, but Super Decimal is right. Your offense thread shows your opening thread is short and doesn't have enough detail. Try and make threads like this where it's interesting.

Edit: Yep I'm no serious person either, so that's why I don't reply in the SD Forum for a reason and plus I don't even know what the heck they're even talking about.

Well, I disagree with you on this one Thoke. The reason I don't post in the Serious discussion forum is well that's because I am not a serious person, but seriously (see what I did there) too little information. Give examples, what beliefs are like that? What's your point of view on this topic, and the works. That is what is expected when you join ZU, not only to enjoy your time, but to state your personal opinions and defend them.

Originally Posted by thoke

Can't the forums be a bit more democratic?

If this forum were to run like a true democracy (Rather than a democratic republic like most countries are), then everybody would be a mod. As it is, this place is more like an oligarchy.

It's policed as to make the populace happy. There is NOTHING wrong with your Internet nor the world.

Move along.

Originally Posted by ɹɐǝqıɹǝ

If you think that this forum is "heavily policed", then you must be new to the Internet.

I've contributed to lots of forums. This is one of the worst in terms of censorship.