Yes, you did, and I know you said it in jest, but you weren't the first. I honestly thought you were just repeating what she's said on several other occasions without the tongue-in-cheek slant. Since you often mimic her style, I really thought you were just repeating her.Originally Posted by peggy
"Things should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler." ~ Albert Einstein
I mimic her style? Really? And here I though i was unique.I do think we support a lot of the same causes, but so do millions of other folks.
Maybe us lefties just all look alike to you
I really don't remember anyone in particular (except me) calling you a rabble rouser. Actually you don't hear that phrase too much anymore. Another one I really like is 'ner-do-well, but you almost never hear that one, and I don't think anyone here is one so I guess I won't be able to use it. but I digress...
This whole IP bot thing is really confusing to me. I don't see the point. What could anyone possibly have to gain by that?
And Michelle Bachmann eating a corn dog??? What's THAT all about? I really need to pay more attention.
Spartana......as Alan said...forums like these are a magnet for internet bots, spammers of all sorts, people with time shares to sell, Viagra to market, fake watches they'll sell you for a song, etc. We actually use a combination of pretty much all the systems Alan mentioned......
We automatically block a large number of IP addresses that various anti-spam groups maintain, to help weed out the automated systems and high volume spammers. This needs to be updated pretty regularly, as the spammers continually use new IP addresses and identities to circumvent controls.
We also go through the new registrations that come in each day that make it past the automated anti-spam controls, and put each IP through several steps checking for any spam record, looking up the location of the IP.....(it's reasonable to suspect that we're not likely to be attracting many legitimate new members from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Romania, Nigeria, etc., so weed out those because they are almost always spam....and if by chance, they aren't, when they don't get in, they will email us to ask why not).
When I am doing registrations, the ones that pass that, I usually Google on the email address just to make sure, because I've picked up new spammers there even when everything else has checked out.
The reason we go to such lengths is that if a spammer DOES get through, they may post spam messages on a dozen forums, or large numbers of posts, which takes up a lot of moderator time trying to clean up the mess.
We also keep a list and ban the IPs from troll posters who have made it onto the boards only to spew out vulgarities, pornographic or racist rantings, etc., and clearly mentally ill posters who post long manifestos of rambling posts which make no sense, which has happened way more than once.
No one is looking at your IP once you are a registered member, you're registered from wherever you post. All the IP examination is done at the time a person first attempts to register, and is pretty much done completely for the purpose of eliminating spammers and/or trolls.
In the case of banning.....we've gone over this many times before. It has only happened in a handful of cases, and in almost all of them involved suspension of posting privileges for a few days or a week to reinforce the necessity not to violate forum guidelines. And no one has been suspended, let alone banned without clear and serious violations of forum guidelines. We are not in the business of policing, and are quite happy not to have to do any moderating of members at all.
And no moderator has the power to decide on a suspension, and decisions like that are made after discussion and after a consensus is reached. Sometimes I'd LOVE that power, hahahahaha.....but I don't have it, and neither does any other moderator. Again, regardless of gossip. That is a fact.
Despite gossip to the contrary, I do not know of a single person who was ever banned or even suspended for a few days for their viewpoints, but for personal attacks on other posters, serious breaches of forum guidelines, etc., and usually on more than a few occasions, and with warnings, finally culminating in that "one step too far", which brought on consequences.
As Alan has said, there was a period when he was banned from posting on the boards in the past. Rather than accept that ban, he registered over and over under dozens of names, proxy IPs, etc., and then began the same behaviors. When it was realized it was him, that account would be closed. Finally, he registered under a new name, but followed forum guidelines and conducted himself as we expect members to do. Moderators realized it was him, but consensus was that he had learned his lesson and was behaving in line with guidelines, so he was allowed to return. Since then, he has been a valued and useful member of the forums, and there have been no more problems.
Most participants in these forums have never even been admonished or moderated by moderators, let alone suspended or banned. It is just not something that folks need worry about, although there are a few here who act as though it is something that happens with dismal regularity. Just not true.
Most moderator work on these boards has to do with the constant fight against spammers, not policing of content from members or behaviors. Some like to stir the pot, every group has its kvetchers, but any person who has been suspended or banned from these boards knows exactly why, and had ample warning before it happened, as well as opportunities to correct the behaviors. Despite protestations to the contrary.
In Alan's case, he is correct in that during the period he was banned, if moderators detected one of his many incarnations, that account would be closed without comment. It is also correct that even he was allowed, after a period of time, to have another chance, took it, and has been fine ever since.
Hope this answers your questions.......I can assure you that you need not worry about moderators policing you.
Last edited by loosechickens; 9-11-11 at 12:13am.
I'm so glad that Alan has "learned his lesson" and is "behaving in line" and is now "fine ever since..."
I wonder if you can see how condescending that all is? Probably not.
actually I think there are probably many people like me, who are really good, educated, financially responsible, tax paying, law abiding citizens who have been disgusted by his posts and badgering who will be saying goodbye to these forums. Good luck to all of you.
"By the way, good job on branding me as a liar, it goes well with your previous descriptions of me as "rabble rouser", "trouble maker", "thin skinned malcontent", etc. Some things never change." (alan)
----------------------------------------
Alan, to my knowledge, I have NEVER used even one of those phrases (i.e., "rabble rouser", "trouble maker" or "thin skinned malcontent") to describe you. And with your ability to dredge up every word that anyone has ever said, I'm sure if I had, you'd be able to post links to the thread and post where I did so.
Do I just drive you nuts or something? Ya got something against poor ole almost 70 year old ladies who just don't happen to agree with you politically? Do I remind you of your mother or something, and you still have issues with her? Honestly....just don't waste so much brain room on me. It's not good for you. ;-) Give it a break!
Let's argue whether or not Governor Perry has been running Texas into the ground or not......this polishing of old grievances like they are precious jewels gets boring after a while.
You're a smart man. I don't happen to agree with your political viewpoint or view of the world and how you think it should be, but I'm NOT your enemy, you know. I'm just a person who happens to disagree with you. And I'm sure there are millions of others. Just as there are millions who disagree with my views. That's life, after all.
as Ziggy says....."peace"...... LC
edited to add: and to you, too, Iris Lily....."peace".....my gosh.
Last edited by loosechickens; 9-11-11 at 12:38am.
Loosechickens, thanks again for pointing out what an odd duck I am, as if that explains everything. Good job!
I'm a little disappointed that you infer that I've changed, cause that's not the case. If anything, it's the environment that's changed. Now, it's not very likely that one of you will demand that one poster modify comments that you and favored others felt free to make with impunity. It was my pointing out one of those examples that got me banned in that under 5 minute period mentioned earlier.
Also, in my case, I never violated any of the forum guidelines other than refusing a request to delete a post about the nature of trolls, whether they were real or were created by the double standards that were constantly enforced here some years ago. I didn't delete it on principle and am still glad that I didn't since some of the institutional behaviors here stopped at that point. I think this is a much more welcoming community now as a result.
I believe that it sometimes takes a little friction to rub away the rust and am actually proud to have spent some productive time rubbing. You may see it differently, but I'd expect that. If you think I'm hard on you from time to time, it's because you still feel free to characterize everyone you disagree with in a negative light, oftentimes unfairly, such as your earlier reference to Bae and your constant negative characterizations of your political foes. As an administrator/moderator that's the sort of thing you should be discouraging rather than initiating and I think you know that.
Just a little food for thought.
"Things should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler." ~ Albert Einstein
Alan, I'm not going to argue with you. It's your life's blood, arguing, and you are excellent at doing it. Knock yourself out....I'm tired, and my evening swim is awaiting me. G'nite.
Thanks for 'splainin' Loosey :-)! Clarifies alot.
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