Jinn

How many of you have "lightened" or removed an extremely direct/truthful/disagreeing response to a thread for fear of slight retribution by a moderator?

I'm not implying that any moderator here would feel the need to seek "revenge" on a poster who criticized them, as I think that the majority of the posters and moderators here are very mature individuals. I'm simply referring to the idea that by disagreeing with a moderator in one thread, they might be more biased against you in further heated arguments. Has anyone written out a response, or considered writing a response, critical of a moderator's idea and decided against it? Here at TFP, or elsewhere?

It's an anonymous poll, so you don't need to reply unless you wish to further expound on your choice.

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"I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel

Glory's Sun

I think you can disagree with anyone on here including the mods as long as you do it in the proper manner. If I felt that my post was too harsh, I may edit it later not because I felt I was wrong, but because I knew it wasn't handled the way it should have been. There's nothing wrong with putting your beliefs and feelings out there.. it's only wrong if you can't do it without attacking an individual.

ratbastid

I've lightened posts, but not because I was afraid a mod would come down on me. I've done it because, on re-reading, I've realized I was being heavy-handed and, occasionaly, downright rude.

As a ModSpouse (TM) and a 2+ year member of TFP, I can personally guarantee that the mods don't use their Mod Powers as arguing points.

JustJess

Nope. I'm just not that much of a worrier, I guess. I figure I'd have to say something pretty outrageous to warrant that kind of response, and there hasn't been an occasion for me to feel that way as yet.
Just lucky, I guess!

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My heart knows me better than I know myself, so I'm gonna let it do all the talkin'.

Jinn

HAHA...

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"I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel

Charlatan

I've done the same. Politics can frequently make my blood boil. Posting in haste isn't really a good idea. Occasionally, I will post in haste and then quickly edit what I've said so that it isn't quite so nasty or cutting.

There is no need to be rude or outrageous to make a point.

EDIT: I still voted "nope" because I didn't do it out of any fear of the mods.

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"My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars."
- Old Man Luedecke

Ustwo

Sure there have been times when I want to figuratively shake some sense into some posters on the board, beat them with my verbiage, smack them upside the head with my exposition, and shine my literary mirror of truth on their pathetic lives but who am I to judge.

On the other hand if they call me out don't expect me to pull any punches with my prose.

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Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host

Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

Mantus

Done that a few times.
Not out of fear of retribution.
Felt that something wasn't right and I trust my instinct.

skier

I voted "cowboy Neal" because I thought it was a little ridiculous to change my post because of what people (or modedrators) might think of me, but it seems to be something a lot of people do. Maybe I am missing something.

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"Asking a bomb squad if an old bomb is still "real" is not the best thing to do if you want to save it." - denim

Marvelous Marv

Okay, I'll bite. What does "cowboy Neal" mean?

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"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."
Margaret Thatcher

Willravel

I get heated. I say or write something stupid. TFP lets me go back and fix it. Only once or twice out of fear of mod retribution, and it's been a while.

Cynthetiq

sure... not because of mods but because of clarity and succinctness. There is no body language, there is no tone to text. It's just letters assembled on a screen, so more often then not it's going to be not get across exactly the right meaning.

A stinging post is a stinging post no matter how you sugar it. It just doesn't have to be disrespectful and condescending sounding.

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I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

Gilda

Yeah, I go back and edit or delete posts if I realize later on that there is something off in them, something that makes me feel bad for having posted it. Most of the time I catch myself before actually posting. I'll type up a response, then end up deleting it insteading of posting. I'd probably have twice as many posts here if I'd posted everything I've written.

Sometimes the self editor saves me in time, sometimes she's out playing golf and comes back a little later and tells me I really don't want to be saying that here.

Gilda

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I'm against ending blackness. I believe that everyone has a right to be black, it's a choice, and I support that.

~Steven Colbert

Astrocloud

I've done it particularly in the day when someone seemed to be complaining about my every post. I have a feeling that the somebody doesn't come around here much anymore. Onetime he did.

mrklixx

(This post has been deleted by a pissed off moderator)

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I hate animated avatars.

Ace_O_Spades

The nazi modding begins!

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Feh.

Suave

Seconded. This message is now over 10 characters long.

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"Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions." - Albert Einstein

"Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something." - Plato

spectre

This is exactly right. Disagree with our opinions in threads, please. We don't want people to read one of our opinions in a thread and think that disagreeing with us will cause trouble. That would make for one really boring discussion. Now, it will cause trouble if you act like an ass when you do it, but that's the same no matter who you reply to, be it a mod, admin, or rookie. The key here being, don't act like an ass and it's not a problem.

And if you disagree with us, it's like anyone in real life disagreeing with us, we may dispute what they say, but it won't go beyond that.

It comes from slashdot where he's always a joke poll option.

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"Fuck these chains
No goddamn slave
I will be different" ~ Machine Head

PayUp

I come here everyday and catch up on all the new stuff. I don't post as often as I should or use to, it seems by the time I get around, there have already been some decent replys. I see no point in wasting space to quote someone else and then add "exactly".

That being said- There alot of members here that post some very level headed and worthwile responses. There are some very smart and helpful people here also.

Then there is the ass kissing no way in hell you think like that posts and responses.

Example ( not exactly from the tfp )- A married guy tells a group of buddys that he got a killer blow job from the neighbors hot wife. At one point in that conversation you would probably hear " It's only cheating if you get caught". And a round of high fives. Place a female in that room and more than likely you would probably hear " you hafta come clean and talk to your wife" from the same yahoo that said the other.

I think people in general want to be accepted and don't want to be the one to stir the pot, and I think thier posts reflect that.

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Born to Lose.

Ustwo

While you are correct, a lot of people are afraid to stir the pot and just want to be liked, I know a lot of guys who wouldn't be high fiving a guy who is cheating on his wife.

My feeling is I can have plenty of innane 'we are both right' conversations anywhere, Its much more interesting to stir the pot and get what people really feel.

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Agents of the enemies who hold office in our own government, who attempt to eliminate our "freedoms" and our "right to know" are posting among us, I fear.....on this very forum. - host

Obama - Know a Man by the friends he keeps.

Psycho Dad

I can't recall that I have. I try to post in line with the rules of the particular board, but if I'm outside the lines I figure that a mod or admin is free to do with it what they wish.

I also figure if a post were to ever get edited/deleted/closed, there wouldn't be a point of arguing about it with the admin/mod. But you see that all the time where someone posts a "why did my thread get closed" thread instead of IMing the admin/mod who moderated the post. :shrug:

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Don't always trust the opinions of experts.

MSD

Make way for the new king of comedy : (our smilie with its tongue out is truly pathetic)


To answer the question: nobody has to fear retribution; we well voluntarily remove ourselves from decisions and public actions involving people who we have recently clashed with in order to be fair.

As for editing my own posts because I posted something that I would consider unacceptable coming from other members, yes, I've done it a few times. Sometimes I'll type out what I really want to say and then just hit "back" and stay out of a thread. Coincidentally, this hasn't happened since I stopped going into politics.

snowy

Nope.

I like to let the chips fall where they may. But I rarely post in haste.

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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

World's King

Fuck no...

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heavy is the head that wears the crown

shakran

There really isn't anything to fear from the mods unless you're a total asshole. Most of you guys have seen my posts in politics. I don't exactly pull punches, but I'm still here. There's that fine line between slamming a person and slamming the person's post. From what I've seen, slam away at what the guy says as long as you don't slam the guy (too hard).

pattycakes

i will speak what is on my mind and if it offends someone it sto bad for them. i would expect someone to tell me how they felt sarcastically or not

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cj2112

I rarely make personal attacks on the board or on the street. I've never edited a post because i was afraid to be moderated, but I have because upon rereading what I'd typed I found that I didn't like the way it came across.

Marvelous Marv

I made a post that was intended to be matter-of-fact, but it came across REALLY nasty.

The person sent me a mildly pissed-off PM, and after I figured out why, I explained what I had originally meant. Then I went back, and couldn't believe how bad the post appeared to be.

But I didn't edit it, because the recipient already knew the real situation.

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"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money."
Margaret Thatcher

analog

Pretty much any post i'm halfway passionate about gets written, and then re-written... and then usually half of it gets deleted and something similar but different is typed to replace it, and then I re-word some things, and then I edit for clarity (read: make a bizarre rant of mine make sense to other people than just myself ). I subtract any odd and superfluous movie references or stream-of-consciousness-type tangents, and (usually several) "your mom" jokes, then solve for Pi.

I've never been on a board where I didn't trust the staff not to be idiots, and this is the only board i've ever stayed on for any period of time. In all seriousness, i sometimes will do a bit of touching-up and re-editing because i might come on stronger than I intend to or use words that make others think i'm mad at them when really i'm just passionate about the subject matter. But, i've never edited a post in response to a mod (before I was a mod) fearing they would treat me unfairly in the future.

DonovanDuVal

As with many here I have no fear from reprisals when I merely disagree with anyone be they a mod or not. I do however edit my initial writing if I think that it is ambiguous in any way.

I think that Cynthetiq hit on this issue earlier. Posts can easily be taken the wrong way as they can be out of congruence with the writer’s thoughts. If I were to speak then I would be a lot more scathing of things because I tend to use vocal tone to get more across than just he words.

So I do find myself editing notes before I even post them, although that said I am sure that even then I can sometimes fail to get my intended point over.

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"I've been Donovan DuVal. Take care of yourselves, and each other."

ziadel

if anything I edit to add racial slurs and general profanity.

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Ron Paul '08
Vote for Freedom
Go ahead and google Dr. Ron Paul. You'll like what you read.

Lebell

Occassionally I'll let my dander get up and I'll post in haste. I've then either edited or removed the posts, but I can't recall that I've done so out of fear.

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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis

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raeanna74

I deleted one long post, partly from fear of retribution and partly because I'd had time to calm down a little after writing it. It was in response to a personal attack in a thread in the philosophy board and I had responded in kind but quite viciously. I wanted badly to strangle the other poster but began to feel that my post would only aggravate the situation.

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"Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama
My Karma just ran over your Dogma.

Astrocloud

Yes, the people in Politics <del>take themselves way too seriously -and expect others to believe their own BS.</del> are a little too obstinate for their own good.

Lasereth

No moderator here would ever condemn anyone for their opinion or belief. The only thing outlawed on TFP is being rude and inconsiderate. The only mod that has ever been "out of control rude" is now gone. I reported him, and less than a day later he was no longer a mod. TFP is under great moderation.

-Lasereth

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"A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert

absorbentishe

All you have to do is think first, then write, and you'll be fine. I've answered "nope".

laconic1

I've never altered a post out of fear of retribution, usually I don't post because it is redundant or my post just sucks when I proofread it before posting.