Today's Bannings - MESO-Rx

greyowl · #1 (**permalink**) 10-12-2004, 08:58 PM

Effective immediately, the following individuals have been suspended for repeatedly flaming other users and / or dissing the mods:

Frosty
Windigo
KTCKsports

The terms of their suspensions are as follows.

1. The suspensions are on an interim basis pending a review of their activities by the administrator.

2. Suspendees who want to appeal the decision are invited to e-mail the administrator directly.

3. During the administrator’s review, the suspendees are not allowed to communicate by posting messages under a different name, or by having other users publish their messages.

4. Any user who helps the suspendees contravene these restrictions by publishing their posts will also be suspended.

Please note that we mods recognize that suspending a user’s privileges is a drastic step. Mods use this tool only a last resort when other avenues of correction have been exhausted.

During the discussion leading up these suspensions, it became clear that many users are confused about the nature of Meso-Rx. Please consider the following.

Meso-Rx is, among other things, an on-line store. The purpose of its commercial side is to generate advertising revenue.

The message boards on Meso are a marketing program aimed at attracting as many people as possible to the store. Increasing the number of people who enter the store allows the proprietors to increase their advertising rates, thus maximizing their revenue.

The rules of conduct for users are exactly like those that apply to shoppers in any other store. Flaming is not allowed because it is virtually the same as harassing other shoppers. Harassing other shoppers drives customers away, thus reducing the ability of the owner to generate revenue. Along the same lines, dissing the mods is equivalent to acting abusively toward sales clerks.

The owners of the board operate under the same laws as other businesses. They can throw out anyone they choose to throw out, subject to certain federal laws about discrimination. They can also empower their designates (the mods) to make these decision. The owners and mods are not required to justify or defend these decisions. This also applies to deleting posts.

Once you grasp these points, I am certain that you will understand the rationale for the rules of conduct in the message boards (which after all are very minimal) , and that you will find your participation here to be entertaining, useful and informative.

Thank you for having the patience for reading this message to its end.

P.S.: A note about political threads

Contrary to some recent posts, there is no ban on political threads in the General Discussion section. However, the mods did notice that the recent rash of flaming was much worse in these threads than elsewhere. We then made a special appeal to frequenters of political threads to exercise more restraint and civility or stop posting in them. This how the rumour got started that political threads have been banned.

Turbo1 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-12-2004, 09:07 PM

Thats why i stay out of the Political threads!!

jbiggs · #3 (**permalink**) 10-12-2004, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greyowl

P.S.: A note about political threads

Contrary to some recent posts, there is no ban on political threads in the General Discussion section. However, the mods did notice that the recent rash of flaming was much worse in these threads than elsewhere. We then made a special appeal to frequenters of political threads to exercise more restraint and civility or stop posting in them. This how the rumour got started that political threads have been banned.

I'm sure we can abide by these rules. I know being a mod can't be an easy job. My only concern is that entire threads political in nature were being deleted. I can understand if there was flaming, but that wasn't the case in some instances.

greyowl · #4 (**permalink**) 10-12-2004, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbiggs

I'm sure we can abide by these rules. I know being a mod can't be an easy job. My only concern is that entire threads political in nature were being deleted. I can understand if there was flaming, but that wasn't the case in some instances.

Jbiggs, many is the time that a thread started off innocently and then turned into a flame war. Once this happens it's a hell of a job to cherry pick the offending flames because of the way the "Post Delete" function is set up, so the whole thread often ends up getting nuked.

Patuba · #5 (**permalink**) 10-12-2004, 09:20 PM

I think someone should clearly define flaming on the Meso site in the board rules so everyone will know what it is? I know what flaming is but on some boards it's considered flaming while the same statements aren't on other boards.

greyowl · #6 (**permalink**) 10-12-2004, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patuba

I think someone should clearly define flaming on the Meso site in the board rules so everyone will know what it is? I know what flaming is but on some boards it's considered flaming while the same statements aren't on other boards.

The mods here aren't going to waste time twisting themselves into pretzel trying to define flaming. Use the common sense God gave you. Look in a dictionary under harassment and you will get a general idea.

Mods aren't cops or lawyers. We're only here to keep the discussions going. When someone consistently acts in a way that inhibits other people from joining in, and ignore cautions or warnings, it's our role to toss them, not write up a legal code for asseholes.

chris gordon · #7 (**permalink**) 10-12-2004, 10:01 PM

and really guys we are all guests on this site....if you feel the need to vent hostile type shit, open your own board

madman · #8 (**permalink**) 10-12-2004, 10:16 PM

man I'm gone for a week and all kinds of crazy sh*t happens. maybe they'll learn there lessons.

**Phreezer** · #9 (**permalink**) 10-12-2004, 10:17 PM

Bumping this up.

As Greyowl stated. We did not ban Political Threads. We banned Flaming (again). When Threads turn bad is entirely too difficult to pick and prune the thread and then explain to the offenders (yet again) why their threads were deleted.

Generally, it is the same 4-5 individuals arguing the same points repeatedly in each subsequent political thread.

My patience is long gone with these type of threads. Once I see the same guys start flaming each other and others. I just delete the entire thread.

If you guys want to discuss policitics that is fine. But if you are going to do so, you will do it like Adults and not play groung bullies.

Thank you Greyowl for taking the time to lay this all out for everyone.

**Phreezer** · #10 (**permalink**) 10-12-2004, 10:24 PM

Also.... TheScotsman has now been banned permanantly (Per his own request)

Kayz · #11 (**permalink**) 10-12-2004, 10:26 PM

I have been pretty active in the political threads myself, but I think I've been pretty respectful of everyone's opinions....

But, am I on the "watch" list so to speak???