Call For Feedback: Delete Spam Button + New CPAPtalkers

I am a moderator on another forum board.
We have been directed to never "delete" a post but to move it to a moderators forum.
Clear spam is immediately then deleted, disagreements between users are reviewed and can be restored back if deemed okay.
Could the same thing happen here?

I'm retired, don't have time to use my spam button. Will trade it for a Med. Swift LT pillow cushion.

I belong to another forum that is moderated, and this is done quite well. However, it is a much smaller forum and so far, there have been no flame wars. However, this group, here, is huge and quite diverse and difficult to moderate. So, I'm casting my vote for withholding "delete spam" privileges from newcomers. Sometimes, when I get up early, especially on Sundays, there is a lot of spam that just irritates the daylights out of me, and I like getting rid of it. It's like getting pus out of a pimple. Eewwww!

bearcatx16 wrote:I'm retired, don't have time to use my spam button. Will trade it for a Med. Swift LT pillow cushion.

Ok, I was going to stay out of it, but I can't resist so here's my 2 cents.

I would have the current button renamed "delete spam" with at least a 1 month waiting period for newbies (3 months sounds good). And remove the privilege for anyone that uses it for something other than obvious spam.

Secondly, add a second button named "report content". That button would not immediately delete anything. Either require several people to report content before deletion or send it to Johnny or a set of volunteers to decide.

I think if the "report content" option was there, people would be less likely to misuse the "delete spam" button.

Johnny, you've done a great job with this forum. Anything you decide is fine by me. Thanks for asking us.

Dan

I've no opinion whatsoever about the spam button. I agree that there should be some sort of limit placed on the ability to delete posts, but lack a good idea to do that. I'm a former member of a local camping forum that was torn apart because a moderator would delete posts that he did not agree with. Those of us that left formed a new forum that made all members administrators with all privileges. Being a small forum, this works for us but would be a disaster for anything larger (read - I am not recommending this for CPAPtalk whatsoever!).

David

The issue of moderation is always a difficult one & the heart of the problem is
- it takes up someones valuable time
- the moderator will often get criticized no matter who they please (who needs that angst)
- some participants will try to use the moderator as a weapon in their disputes (real or imagined)

Bottom line is, who wants all that time wasting difficulty & agony ?

Johnny - has shown that this forum can sort itself out. Yes we can get dysfunctional for periods,
usually when a new participant joins & works through their personal interaction (& sometimes
mental) issues in the group.

However, the delete spam button is very useful for the mature members who know what it is
for but gets to be a PITB when strong minded, members decide it should in their eyes be used as
a censure device (I confess I once deleted a post that attacked a very prominent new political
leader). In retrospect I believe I did the wrong thing - I told myself I was wisely averting a flame
war between repubs & dems but in reality I was playing censor & that is not my role here - ).

I now stick to using 'report spam' & delete it, to just deleting spam.

Johnny, You really have shown great patience & wisdom in your management of the forum over
time.

DSM

I think the delete spam button is to keep the workload of the forum administrators down and that is a good thing. So you just need enough people with this privilege to fairly quickly delete spam. I am guessing that if all who have been members for at least one year are given the privilege, then the spam will get deleted quickly enough. So I vote for one year membership requirement.

BTW, I lost my privilege a long time back for deleting a duplicate post of mine. This hasn't been a problem and any spam I have seen seems to get deleted quickly.

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't the majority of spam posts from unregistered users? If so, couldn't it be set up that only unregistered posts be deleted using common sense? I believe the vast majority of our forum members have common sense but the few who would delete posts because of the content could be the ones to lose the button. What has always made this forum great is the ability to speak freely. What comes out of your brain and into a forum post is for us to determine if we want to read it or not. It is not our decision to delete because we don't like what is said. Delete the true spam and leave the rest alone.

Besides flame wars can be interesting and entertaining reads......

I stand by my previous post....
However, I wanted to add that I've been a member for over a year (actually coming up on 2) and I have never used the spam button. I have seen very little spam because others have "done the deed", but I don't presume to judge any post (porn etc. would be a different story - I just haven't seen any of them).
Once again, flame wars only show the level of those casting flames -- if ignored by the masses they will go away. I note that there was at least one post in this thread that appeared to me to be an attempt to fan some flames - but the recipient is either not here any longer or has not seen the post. There always seems to be one in the crowd that can't help themselves.....

As an added opinion, I do think that "guests" should not be permitted to post until registered -- that could severely curtail the "bot" spam.....

I'd be very interested in Johnny's thoughts as he's perused through this discussion.....I second DSM's comment!!!!
cheers
goose

We have seen a lot of ideas, many seconded,etc., but can we come to consensus for Johnny? After reading this thread I still don't know the direction of the majority here. Reminds me of just about every home owners association meeting I've ever been to.

I'd like to see the list boiled down to a very few alternatives and put into a poll that would represent the members.

Keep the spam!

Get rid of it and I will no longer be able to find cheap sources of Viagra made in India, male enhancement devices, and powdered plankton to cure cancer.

OldLincoln wrote:We have seen a lot of ideas, many seconded,etc., but can we come to consensus for Johnny? After reading this thread I still don't know the direction of the majority here. Reminds me of just about every home owners association meeting I've ever been to.

I'd like to see the list boiled down to a very few alternatives and put into a poll that would represent the members.

I think Johnny knows us well enough to know we will all place our full support behind whatever he decides. It's nice that he dignifies us this way and listens to us talk it out and kick around ideas and all. But I'm also glad the decision is, ultimately, his. In my opinion, that's a big part of what makes this board the nice place that it is. Said another way: I respect him for this methodical approach, but I am also glad the responsibility and control, in the best senses of both words, are where they are.

I mean, just imagine if rooster were the moderator! (j/k)

jeff

[Note: Please ignore my blatant attempt at starting a flame war with rooster.]

jnk wrote:......
I mean, just imagine if rooster were the moderator! (j/k)

jeff

[Note: Please ignore my blatant attempt at starting a flame war with rooster.]

Oh Jeff, You are such a Sweet Old Boy.

rooster wrote:

jnk wrote:......
I mean, just imagine if rooster were the moderator! (j/k)

jeff

[Note: Please ignore my blatant attempt at starting a flame war with rooster.]

Oh Jeff, You are such a Sweet Old Boy.

And as I've said before, the spirit of a certain audible-breathing-K9 lives on!

Be assured I love what you do, Mr. Rooster.

I don't have a problem with a waiting period, but please, no moderators.