Re: Delphi Vogons

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net> wrote:

>Supertimer writes ...
>> 
>> Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net> wrote:
>> 
>> >     Having, by now, become accustomed to A2-Delphi tactics, SiFan
>> >preserved a few copies. Here is the Delphi A2 forum manager's response:
>> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>What I fear is that the same sort of jerks that frequent other online
>> >>areas with lies...
>
>snip...
>
>> >>If you think that is rude of ME, well, you're right. Too bad.
>> 
>> Not having seen the entire thread, I cannot comment.
>
>     Nevertheless ...

I should point out that it was not my intention to defend Delphi
moderators NOR was it to attack them.  I simply related that
I once got a similar message from PRODIGY moderators when
a discussion became, shall I say, colorful (as when Nathan
tries to pull something on me and I have to respond).  BUT...
THAT moderator was more credible because he/she DID NOT
insert editorial content like "jerks" or purposefully sounding
rude.  In fact, he/she sounded very polite.  I complied with
the moderator's wishes.  Now if the moderator were as rude
as the one who replied to SciFan, I would have been VERY
upset and cancelled my account on the spot.

See the difference?

>> I think the
>> response from the moderator is not too harsh, except for the last
>> sentence and the word "jerks" and "lies" in the first line.  I feel
>> that if the purpose of the removal of a thread was to limit flames,
>> the response from the moderator should not be in itself a flame.
>
>     Weak try. The forum manager did nothing when the original Delphi
>poster was flamed for his/her question titled "Whatever happened to
>Asimov?". As indicated by his own language, the forum manager was never
>especially concerned with flames per se. He was scared purple when
>SiFan's polite non-flame replies left the attackers looking both dead
>and dead wrong.

Like I said previously, my purpose was not to defend or attack this
particular moderator but rather to relate actions by ANOTHER
moderator that I happened to have dealings with. THAT moderator's
actions were acceptable to me.  THIS one, even based on JUST
the email you posted, seemed to have crossed the line a bit.

>> Perhaps Delphi moderators can in the future be less rude.
>
>     That would be a very good idea.

That's my whole point.  No defense OR attack of Delphi intended.

>> When
>> I used Prodigy for a short time many, many years ago, I too got
>> a response from a moderator, but it carried nothing of rude.

Just wanted to say again...THIS is my point.

>>It
>> was just a simple statement that something was inappropriate,
>> would be removed, etc.  Most moderators behave in similar ways.
>> Removing an off-topic or unacceptable thread is NOT rude.
>
>     No one on either side ever claimed the discussion was "off topic".
>The forum manager's own rant makes this clear.

Just wanted to say...you took this out of context...I am saying that
THIS moderator was NOT acting like MOST moderators...that is,
he was being RUDE.  BIG difference.

By "off-topic" the reference is to "colorful language" which
basically could have evolved into a flame war.  Again, this refers
not to the Delphi incident but my dealings with ANOTHER
moderator...the whole point being he/she was able to do the job
WITHOUT being rude.

>     There is no excuse for A2-Delphi suppression of polite or, even,
>somewhat impolite discussion of any Apple II topic.

First, I am going to make a comment but this is NOT specific to
A2-Delphi.  The fact of the matter is these being privately
owned online services...they can control what they feel is a
proper discussion.  This is sad, but true...

It used to be that a moderator from Prodigy or Compuserve will
NOT be rude in his/her actions because the people were all
paying customers.  They'd simply inform and act.  It seems
that A2-Delphi, since discussion is free, is forgoing this more
reasonable policy.  My observation is that A2-Delphi moderator
seems to lose much credibility when he/she is being rude
while doing a moderator's job.  Why be rude?  You'd just toss
the flame war into csa2?  Why not just say "This is inappropriate."
and remove all the inappropriate posts?

The way the email was written, it sounds too much like certain
distasteful editorial rants often seen on csa2 (what with all the
words like "jerk", "lies", etc).  ;-)

>     People make mistakes; but, people can learn to correct mistakes. If
>the A2-Delphi forum manager and staff will end the heavy-handed
>suppression of Apple II-related discussions and sincerely respect user
>rights and wishes, A2-Delphi may survive and, even, prosper.

They gotta do what they gotta do and the user should ALSO
act with his/her best interest.  I say let nature take its course.
Why force the issue?  If you don't like A2-Delphi's moderators,
forget about it...let their policies cause more and more users to
leave.  Sooner or later, they will come to their senses or get
fired...