Site Team Member Closing A Thread

[Camp4two]

All Site Team Members,

I suggest all Site Team Members notify the original posting member by Private Message 24 hours BEFORE they close a Thread. This would certainly display some courtesy to the original posting member ESPECIALLY if they are a Senior Member.

Respectfully,
Camp4two

[KyDan]

Camp4two:
While we understand your frustration at a closed thread and a 24 hour notice might sound like a good idea- it's not possible.

The site team nearly always discusses closing a thread in depth before actually closing one.
Many times a thread "runs off the rails" and becomes hostile, nasty, unfriendly or totally off topic very quickly. Waiting 24 hours would allow many more posts to be added which often must them be removed by our all volunteer crew in order to try and keep the peace.
A team member will usually post a closing remark in the thread to give
some clue why it's being closed.
Thanks for understanding!

Happy Trails!

[Camp4two]

Please understand l'm no way frustrated. I strongly feel a Senior Member should be given the courtesy via a Private Message their original thread is about to be removed.

Happy Camping,
Camp4two

[aceinspp]

Originally Posted by KyDan

Camp4two:
While we understand your frustration at a closed thread and a 24 hour notice might sound like a good idea- it's not possible.

The site team nearly always discusses closing a thread in depth before actually closing one.
Many times a thread "runs off the rails" and becomes hostile, nasty, unfriendly or totally off topic very quickly. Waiting 24 hours would allow many more posts to be added which often must them be removed by our all volunteer crew in order to try and keep the peace.
A team member will usually post a closing remark in the thread to give
some clue why it's being closed.
Thanks for understanding!

Happy Trails!

X2 why we have site team members. Later RJD

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Camp4two

Please understand l'm no way frustrated. I strongly feel a Senior Member should be given the courtesy via a Private Message their original thread is about to be removed.

Happy Camping,
Camp4two

Forgive me for asking, but what would this accomplish? Threads are not closed indiscriminately. They normally get closed for clear violations of posting rules, either by the OP or respondents. Typically, the OP gets their question answered and then the discussion gets crazy enough to result in closure.

A closed thread does not disappear, normally; just additional replies are prohibited. If the thread/posts are egregious enough, it/they may be deleted or heavily edited and reposted. Again this is permitted (in fact required in some cases) as part of the site posting rules which everyone agreed to when joining.

Believe us when we say the Moderators take this responsibility seriously and try very hard not to abuse this "power". Actions such as thread closure or deletion are discussed at length before action is taken. If the posts are really bad, we "un-approve" them (or the thread) which removes them from the forum member's "sight" immediately while we discuss appropriate actions, edit the thread/posts to make them compliant, if possible, then repost the material in its original forum.

"Pre-notification of the OP" is not possible since, by definition, something is seriously wrong and action needs to be taken right away. Delays place the general community harmony at risk, either by encouraging further deviation from acceptable posting practices or by exposing our membership to links to hostile web sites (in the case of some spam posts/threads).

I hope this better explains why "pre-notification" or, in some cases, even "post-notification" is not possible. Please do not take this as an opportunity to open a debate on the subject. My post is just an attempt to answer your question as I do not see our (Social Knowledge FRF) position changing in this regard.

Thank you,
Herk

[Croaker]

Originally posted by Herk7769

"If the thread/posts are egregious enough, it/they may be deleted or heavily edited and reposted. Again this is permitted (in fact required in some cases) as part of the site posting rules which everyone agreed to when joining."


I strongly suggest that posts never be edited by anyone other than the OP.

It is one thing to delete a post, but editing a post ? Should be forbidden. IMHO

Is this really included in the "site posting rules"?? If so, I will not be posting here.
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[KyDan]

We occasionally edit a thread.
If you post a fairly normal reply and say it included the F word we would
likely edit your post and remove the F bomb and your post would remain.
When we edit a post there is an automatic note at the bottom that says
it was edited by so and so....

We do not edit posts to change the meaning in any way.
Occasionally we'll remove snarky sentences but leave the remainder.

Other chat groups will simply remove your post totally with no explanation.
We try to be as light handed around here as possible.

If you are uncomfortable with this procedure then possibly this FRF is not
for you?

[Croaker]

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KyDan,

Looks like you are in agreement. Deleting offensive words, snarky statements, or entire posts or threads is not what I would consider "editing".

You are right though, as long as moderators have the right to to edit (change the meaning) I don't belong here.
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[ben31]

We appreciate y'all! Thanks!

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by Herk7769

As the site grows

Just to show how much FRF has grown since I joined in November of 2010:

I used the wayback machine website (I really like that site) and was able to see the homepage of FRF on November 14, 2010,




and compared it to the homepage today.



That's an average of over 12,000 new members per year or a 1000 per month.

[Iwritecode]

Originally Posted by Croaker

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KyDan,

Looks like you are in agreement. Deleting offensive words, snarky statements, or entire posts or threads is not what I would consider "editing".

You are right though, as long as moderators have the right to to edit (change the meaning) I don't belong here.
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The very definition of edit is to change, revise or correct something. It's something we mods typically only have to do when a post is made that goes against a forum rule.

Although when we make our edits we always try very hard to keep the meaning and the spirit of the post the same. We would never intentionally try to change what someone was saying. More often than not, it's how they are saying it that's the problem.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Iwritecode

The very definition of edit is to change, revise or correct something. It's something we mods typically only have to do when a post is made that goes against a forum rule.

Although when we make our edits we always try very hard to keep the meaning and the spirit of the post the same. We would never intentionally try to change what someone was saying. More often than not, it's how they are saying it that's the problem.

Occasionally, we get the "First Amendment" Freedom of Speech argument. In nearly every case, the person in question has never actually read what that amendment says.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_...s_Constitution

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedo..._United_States

The Forest River Forums are not the government. The forums are owned by a private "for profit" company (Social Knowledge LLC) and they have established rules for membership and posting to their database. People are notorious for clicking through the user agreements, so upon joining, you get an email with links to the posting rules as part of your welcome package.

As WMtire posted, we have over 85,000 members and 99.99999% of their over a million and a quarter posts have not had a word changed.

Play nice, follow the rules, and above ALL ELSE

[Croaker]

I joined this forum to contribute. I have many years of experience in the RV industry.

I am not arguing the 1st amendment. I am only pointing out what I consider to be a mistake. (Your forum is not to big to make mistakes) As it now stands the rules indicate that moderators can change the wording of a post. Even though you say you "try very hard to keep the original meaning", the fact is, you are not just deleting offensive words or text, you are able to modify something someone has said.

Personally, I think "editing" should be restricted to deleting offensive words or deleting offensive posts altogether. "Editing" should never mean modifying what someone said and should be spelled out as such in the the rules.

This is my opinion, so please don't take offense.

[Philos3]

My thoughts, not necessarily specific to this forum, is that a private message should be sent to the member that Not Only notifies him of any deletions or changes, but most importantly the Basis or Reasoning for that change.

Doesn't mean the member has any right to argue or appeal the decision.

And, I don't know what happens specifically herein at forestriverforums.com, but I do Know that many "other" forum editors feel there is no need to explain themselves and some "treasured" members are given extra leeway that other members don't get.

[Herk7769]

If you "Play Nice and Follow the Rules" your post will never be edited without your permission. Moderators would prefer to have nothing to do but help folks and enjoy the forum.

To avoid unnecessary Moderator work; please take a moment to review those rules and conditions, sent to everyone who is a member here:

Forums 101 for our basic posting standards.

Community Rules,

Privacy Policy and

Terms of Service.

By participating in the Forums and using the Web Site you are agreeing to abide by the terms contained therein.

[DDC]

I think the site team does a very good VOLUNTEER job and I thank them.

[Oaklevel]

Originally Posted by DDC

I think the site team does a very good VOLUNTEER job and I thank them.

X2 Thanks !!!!!!!!!

[aceinspp]

This site is one of the better forums that I belong to and they do a fantastic job. I have no issues with the site team members and I have had a note or two sent to me about a post and I totally agreed to there reasoning. Enjoy this great forum as you can post a lot of things here that normally would be deleted from other forums or also you would be band. Later RJD

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by aceinspp

This site is one of the better forums that I belong to and they do a fantastic job. I have no issues with the site team members and I have had a note or two sent to me about a post and I totally agreed to there reasoning. Enjoy this great forum as you can post a lot of things here that normally would be deleted from other forums or also you would be band. Later RJD

I could have said this. Applies to me, too.

Thanks, moderators!

[gectisme]

Originally Posted by KyDan

We occasionally edit a thread.
If you post a fairly normal reply and say it included the F word we would
likely edit your post and remove the F bomb and your post would remain.
When we edit a post there is an automatic note at the bottom that says
it was edited by so and so....

I think the moderators do a great job, having said that, on a recent thread, an offensive post was edited and another completely deleted and no where in the post does it show it was edited or that the thread had any deletions so I don't think that happens in every case.
Thank you all for your work.