Monday, March 01, 2010

Moderation?

"Mmmm.this original post was headed good news! It seems to have spiralled into a pit of eternal doom."

It was I who suggested this thread because I felt then as this poster does now.

I have placed over 100 posts in various threads of Swanageview since the New Year, and every one has been either positive, or contains constructive criticism, or where I have had to be strongly critical, I have explained my views and I have avoided rants or personal attacks, and have attempted to provide an alternative solution.

I have been surprised how even my light-hearted comments, aimed at providing a smile after some heated posts, are pounced upon! An example - in another thread I commented that it is a shame that we don't have Spitting Image any more - that politics has become too cynical. This provoked a lengthy response that seemed disproportionate to the quip. Oh well, that's the thing about blogs! I rarely respond to ranters; why feed their egos? And bloggers do have the right, after all. Free speech and all that.

What I (and the person I quote above) am concerned about is the negative image this blog may be producing about Swanage to the outside world; one gent asked whether Swanage is a good place to move to; what followed would certainly make me reconsider a move here; we may appear to be on the whole a grumpy and inward looking bunch of old farts. Maybe some of us are, but not all of us; perhaps this blog is a reflection of part of our community soul. I don't think so, but I may be wrong.

I ask: does posting our little petty secrets, fears, arguments and foibles online, for all of posterity to read, really help the image of Swanage?

If not, then, should this blog be moderated according to some sort of agreed standards, so that there is some control? The Echo does this, as do all newspapers. If readers feel this would inhibit some very useful free debate over town issues, I might suggest that a closed blog, for members who sign up via email address, would be the forum for this sort of vigorous debate, rather than this 'open to the world' forum, which is 'out there' for all and sundry to read - forever, by the way! The Owners Association at SBV have such a closed forum, and I can assure you it is a lively and provocative - and democratic - forum indeed - and therefore more productive!

Perhaps these questions could become a new thread.

Discuss....

19 comments:

The Postman said...

I do see the point about negative comments/perception. But I have tried to manage this blog with a light touch, censoring only very few things, providing a means to let everyone to have their say, good, bad or indifferent. I also don't have the time or inclination to review every comment that's made before allowing it to be posted. The virtualswanage blog is moderated in that way I believe. Butas far as this one goes, for the time being at least, you'll have to get busy with positive posts to get a good vibe going.

Anonymous said...

Oh, sorry, I thought that the remark to the effect that politics has become too serious was a serious remark as well as being demonstrably untrue.

I don't think the standard of discussion in the comments on articles in the national press and local is any better, in fact it is a great deal worse. Would you move to Bournemouth after reading what some Echo reads have to say? - well actually I would not have moved there before reading it but thats another matter.

Virtual Swanage said...

The virtual swanage blog only has the moderation turned on for new posts due to the level of spam/adult content which is submitted. Since the blog launched we havent rejected any posts apart from the ones offering blue pills or other related "ehancements" !

Once a post has been "approved" the persons email address is automaticaly added to a whitelist of safe emails and any more posts from that user should go straight on to the site.

I know the problems with trying to moderate any forum/blog and after the problems we had with our old Virtual Swanage forums and the slightest moderation or removal of a post would end up in pages of abuse and petty arguments about no freedom of speech etc, it gets to the stage of either having to remove the facility or needing to have someone moderating a forum 24/7 to filter out the abuse and spam.

I think the moderation on this blog works well and where people cant automatically start a new topic saves a lot of problems with abusive topics being started.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps we're a secret society who don't want people moving here?

Perhaps we're a bunch of dangerous Lefties who are trying to strangle Capitalism?

Perhaps we're all really bored and post for effect?

It's an anonymous blog fur cryin out loud!

Anyone who has access to the internet can post what the blinkin hell they want. Sifting the gems from the dross is part of the fun!

But then of course, my gems may well be your dross.

I thought the Spitting Image reply was well observed and witty with it.

But that's my view, you, whoever you are, are welcome to your view.

Left, Right, be happy, Left, Right, be positive, Left, Right, Swanage is perfect, and why the hell would I worry about what a bunch of anons think about another anon.

PS
Is my tongue in my cheek or is my foot in my, um, er, mouth!

Anonymous said...

"....should this blog be moderated according to some sort of agreed standards, so that there is some control? The Echo does this, as do all newspapers. If readers feel this would inhibit some very useful free debate over town issues, I might suggest that a closed blog, for members who sign up via email address...".

I think that you may be missing the point of blogger.com.

Somehow they've come up with a model that allows anyone to say anything. That is free speech. Newspapers remain responsible for what is posted in their blogs.

So, run away to a nice little controlled society, where you feel safe and, because of group psychology, you all feel warm and wanted, or, stay in the world of 'real' free speech - which is a right that we Brits do not have - where you just have to put up the vagaries of the human being.

Sorry, I'm not a Brit and not in Britland, phew, got away with that!

Anonymous said...

'Sorry, I'm not a Brit and not in Britland, phew, got away with that!'

No. not necessarily. Blogger allows your IP to be recorded whenever you post. This can be obtained by police or through a court order. UK libel laws extended across international borders. Hence if you commit libel on this blog, it is possible that you could find your self in hot water. Don't be so smitten and smug.

Anonymous said...

Wrong. Your IP has been recorded. UK ISP are required to retain all traffic records for six years (longest in the world). You can be traced and found.

Fact. Grow up.

Anonymous said...

Blog should not be moderated ! Good thing about this blog, is that it enables freedom of speech. Leave it as it is.

And thanks for enabling us 'miserable old gits' to be able to voice our views.

This is the real world, not dressed up to give the impression that everyone is happy here, just as everywhere else, Swanage has its problems. Why should we be silenced?

Hopefully people will realise we are the same as every other rural coastal community and need to make changes sooner rather than later.

Anonymous said...

Wrong. Your IP has been recorded. UK ISP are required to retain all traffic records for six years (longest in the world). You can be traced and found.
Another example of this rancid govt: and the 1st poster wants more controls!

Anonymous said...

I might actualy hide my IP just for the sheer hell of it !

Anonymous said...

I made this point to be helpful. I am sorry to have offended.

I will leave this blog. Good bye.

Anonymous said...

I will leave this blog. Good bye

I hope you have thicker skin than this in the real world.

Anonymous said...

The last post just about sums up Swanage. For all the world to see.

Anonymous said...

The last post just about sums up Swanage. For all the world to see.

Why? its a fair point, blogs like this can be cut and thrust, I dont like many who post on heres brand of politics or support their views, and by the same token they dont like mine, but Im adult (?) and put up with it.

As far as I am aware this site is not and never has been a advert for the tourist board, they have their own sites which rightly so adverties swanage for what it is a naturaly lovely place.

This blog is great it does not need moderation, 99% of the time, its fine. There is far to much spying, being nosey, keeping an eye on people etc in this country. Please lets not have it on here.

The thicker skin quote is fair, the person who said Im leaving this blog sounds like a child in a playground, its my bat and ball and im taking it home.

Anonymous said...

I don't know what the previous rant is about, but to use its author's analogy, he/she strikes me as having tendency of the playground bully.

And bullying these days is baaaaaaad.

Anonymous said...

I don't know what the previous rant is about, but to use its author's analogy, he/she strikes me as having tendency of the playground bully.

And bullying these days is baaaaaaad.

No Im ok I'm not a bully I dont support labour so im ok.

Anonymous said...

Ah, a member of the Town Council speaks!

Anonymous said...

'No Im ok I'm not a bully I dont support labour so im ok.'

Is this poster suffering from PDD?!*



*Punctuation
Deficit
Disorder

Anonymous said...

Is this poster suffering from PDD?!*
No TMBS disorder.*

* To many bloody socialist!