Threads closing

[TheLivingLegend]

Your right its their site, but without posters like us they have nothing. Its very clear who runs this site, and that is great, but threads getting deleted off of bias is stupid.

[TheLivingLegend]

How is it a bad thing for posters to offer advice to admins on how to make a site better?

[SLMadiCat]

Originally Posted by richard k.

They are not "given" authority, this is THEIR project. If you don't like the way it is run you are, of course, free to go elsewhere, or perhaps even start your own "board," where you can make the rules (and I don't want to hear a whine about you can't do that - there are a number of other sites that guys have started - if you're that unhappy move along with your life). I am sick to death of people complaining about this, that, and the other thing concerning how this site is run. The guys who run it are doing it out of love for UC athletics, have probably a 20 year history with this particular forum and its predecessor, and get little to no compensation.

Amen. I often disagree with some of the thread closings but it is their site, they put the work into it, and I'm grateful that they do it out of pure pleasure and no cost to us. If I get to the point to where I can no longer stand it, I will just quit posting. And like you said, I have the ability to create my own site. It is much harder than people think and takes a lot of one persons time.

Originally Posted by iamspen

I don't have a dog in this fight at all, but your argument (which I've seen spewed by many people on this board in the past) is, quite frankly, moronic. If we don't like something, we've every right to complain about it. Just because the powers that be can do whatever they want doesn't necessarily mean they should. This is a community, and the moderators have a responsibility to behave ethically.

Again, I'm not arguing against the moderation here, but your claim is just stupid, because we belong to this community, too.

Sorry, but this argument is moronic. This board isn't a democracy. They own it and can do whatever they like of it. You don't have a right on this board. If they want to ban you for no reason, they can. They do not have to behave ethically. This isn't a community, it's a message board owned by a few people.

Originally Posted by TheLivingLegend

Your right its their site, but without posters like us they have nothing. Its very clear who runs this site, and that is great, but threads getting deleted off of bias is stupid.

I have no idea how long you have been on bearcatnews, but the site has been around for a long, long time. There are plenty of users to support this site regardless of the select few who oppose the moderation.

[TheLivingLegend]

It was just an example, that posters make this website work, they should be able to have some input.

[SLMadiCat]

Originally Posted by TheLivingLegend

It was just an example, that posters make this website work, they should be able to have some input.

I agree, which is the point of the feedback board, but a little advice: try to phrase the input a little better. Saying the admins need to "chill" with the authority "given" and that it is ridiculous probably doesn't help too much.

[ME80]

Originally Posted by iamspen

I don't have a dog in this fight at all, but your argument (which I've seen spewed by many people on this board in the past) is, quite frankly, moronic. If we don't like something, we've every right to complain about it. Just because the powers that be can do whatever they want doesn't necessarily mean they should. This is a community, and the moderators have a responsibility to behave ethically.

Again, I'm not arguing against the moderation here, but your claim is just stupid, because we belong to this community, too.

You might have the right to complain about it but the concept that the moderators have to change the methods due to these compalints is what I do not understand. I would bet that the majority of these threads are closed because they always degrade into the same discussion...which are very very old and tiresome.

[iamspen]

Originally Posted by ME80

You might have the right to complain about it but the concept that the moderators have to change the methods due to these compalints is what I do not understand. I would bet that the majority of these threads are closed because they always degrade into the same discussion...which are very very old and tiresome.

Like I said, I don't have a dog in this fight. But to say that we can't complain when we perceive a wrongdoing against us is a bit ridiculous. The administrators here typically do a pretty good job, but if I start a thread I believe to have merit, and it's closed, I've every right to complain because this is my community, too. Do the administrators have to listen to me? No. They can do whatever they want. But that doesn't mean they should do whatever they want. This stopped becoming their project when a legitimate community was built. It's now our project, and, IMO, the powers that be have a certain moral responsibility to not be douchebags (I reiterate, I'm not saying they WERE being douchebags).

[SLMadiCat]

Originally Posted by iamspen

This stopped becoming their project when a legitimate community was built. It's now our project, and, IMO, the powers that be have a certain moral responsibility to not be douchebags (I reiterate, I'm not saying they WERE being douchebags).

Where do you get this from? This isn't our project, we have absolutely zero ownership in this website.

[ME80]

Originally Posted by iamspen

Like I said, I don't have a dog in this fight. But to say that we can't complain when we perceive a wrongdoing against us is a bit ridiculous.

Actually I said you can complain, but don't expect changes to come when handling threads. In fact I don't remember the admins ever close a thread because some one complained.

[iamspen]

Originally Posted by SLMadiCat

Where do you get this from? This isn't our project, we have absolutely zero ownership in this website.

Because without us, there wouldn't be much of a website.

[SLMadiCat]

Originally Posted by iamspen

Because without us, there wouldn't be much of a website.

Still doesn't make it our project. Although there are many members here and those members that left would easily be picked up by other members. Like I said, this site has been around a long, long time.

[jeffto]

Originally Posted by SLMadiCat

Still doesn't make it our project. Although there are many members here and those members that left would easily be picked up by other members. Like I said, this site has been around a long, long time.

Since they started adding advertising, it becomes a little different "project." With the Orange Bowl and the BBall team coming back they might even make a few bucks.

Any commercial venture should be looked upon differently than a "labor of love."

[SLMadiCat]

Originally Posted by jeffto

Since they started adding advertising, it becomes a little different "project." With the Orange Bowl and the BBall team coming back they might even make a few bucks.

Any commercial venture should be looked upon differently than a "labor of love."

I could be wrong, but I don't think they make much money, if any at all, on the advertising. It's used to support the costs of the site. For some reason, I thought they said that a while ago.

LOL... amusing thread. I can't believe that people are getting attacked for providing feedback in the Feedback forum.

Personally, I would like to see threads that move off topic moved to the General forum rather than closed down, unless there is some kind of storage space issue. No, I don't care enough about that to start my own message board, but I do think that some interesting chains of discussion between Bearcat fans are ended prematurely before they are able to full play out because they are deemed to be Off Topic.

And of course, as the mods love to remind us when we complain about certain posters spamming the board, there is always an ignore function so you don't have to subject yourself to those posters who occasionally stray off topic if you don't want to.

[MikeInClifton]

Wow - I just found this thread and read the last weeks worth of posts. (now this is where you complain about the mods not reading their own Feedback board!)

I'll try to address some things from the last few posts -

= = = = =

SLMadiCat - I often disagree with some of the thread closings but it is their site, they put the work into it, and I'm grateful that they do it out of pure pleasure and no cost to us. If I get to the point to where I can no longer stand it, I will just quit posting. And like you said, I have the ability to create my own site. It is much harder than people think and takes a lot of one persons time.

SLMadiCat? "Stop posting"? No freekin way.
What would you do with those extra two hours each day? haha
Alot of folks seem to forget that the site is free.

SLMadicat - I have no idea how long you have been on bearcatnews, but the site has been around for a long, long time. There are plenty of users to support this site regardless of the select few who oppose the moderation.

BearcatNews.com was started in 1999 as I recall. Before that there were two independent websites run by Keith and Brett. I joined the team about the same time they joined forces.

After looking at some numbers (and removing the attempts by spammers to join) I would guess that about 1000 people have joined the message board since its inception, but obviously only a hundred or so post regularly.

iamspen - The administrators here typically do a pretty good job, but if I start a thread I believe to have merit, and it's closed, I've every right to complain because this is my community, too. Do the administrators have to listen to me? No. They can do whatever they want. But that doesn't mean they should do whatever they want. This stopped becoming their project when a legitimate community was built. It's now our project, and, IMO, the powers that be have a certain moral responsibility to not be douchebags (I reiterate, I'm not saying they WERE being douchebags).

SLMadicat's reply - Where do you get this from? This isn't our project, we have absolutely zero ownership in this website.

Yay! I'm not a douchebag! If a thread is closed, you are welcome to complain. Send a PM to me or Keith or both.

"This stopped becoming their project when a legitimate community was built."
- I disagree with this. Thanks SLMadicat for the reply. Its still our project and our board. You cant demand to buy a Toyota at your local Chevy dealer, even though both are cars. No one is required to post on this board when - off the top of my head - I can think of five other boards that would happily host Bearcat/college sports chatter.

ME80 - Actually I said you can complain, but don't expect changes to come when handling threads. In fact I don't remember the admins ever close a thread because some one complained.

We occasionally get emails about a "Reported Post" and we check them right away (assuming I am in front of my PC), but most are closed because we want to eliminate possible flaming or a downgrade of the thread or the topic is old.

jeffto - Since they started adding advertising, it becomes a little different "project." With the Orange Bowl and the BBall team coming back they might even make a few bucks.

Without going into detail, I will say that yes we make a few bucks. But we only receive checks about every six months. None of the three of us will retire on this income. Believe me.

frankstallone - Personally, I would like to see threads that move off topic moved to the General forum rather than closed down, unless there is some kind of storage space issue. No, I don't care enough about that to start my own message board, but I do think that some interesting chains of discussion between Bearcat fans are ended prematurely before they are able to full play out because they are deemed to be Off Topic.
And of course, as the mods love to remind us when we complain about certain posters spamming the board, there is always an ignore function so you don't have to subject yourself to those posters who occasionally stray off topic if you don't want to.

No storage space issue.

Yes, please us the Ignore function.

I guess we could investigate starting an 'open thread' once in a while. Maybe we can set some reduced guidelines - meaning that a particular thread is a little more wide open than a standard thread and the moderation would be reduced. Thoughts?

[shaunsimpson]

I have been on the message board for a while now (long before it became a web based system and was ran over email) and I come and go depending on how bad the personal attacks have been. They have seemed to die down lately with the success of the football team and the improved basketball team. Just remember that you have very little rights here. It is a public forum, but the time that Keith, Mike, etc. put into it gives them the right to regulate it how they please. They do this (my guess) because they have an interest in the programs and not to make money so keep that in mind and I think this because I have seen them at a few UC athletic events.

[TheLivingLegend]

Admins tell me this, why clothes threads on AK? Nothing negative was said in the one, and it got closed for no reason. I dont get why everything is on lockdown. As far as im concerned there is nothing wrong with people putting a story up that is relevant to UC.

[mboston67]

Originally Posted by TheLivingLegend

Admins tell me this, why clothes threads on AK? Nothing negative was said in the one, and it got closed for no reason. I dont get why everything is on lockdown. As far as im concerned there is nothing wrong with people putting a story up that is relevant to UC.

Was wondering this exact thing. Frankly, find it a bit ridiculous, as I think it is clearly relevant to the forum seeing how he is our former coach and got arrested in this very city.

[jkwuc89]

Talking about Kennedy's incident can only go one place and that one place is negative. I saw this when several attempts were made to start threads on this subject. We don't need that here. Also, Kennedy does not coach here and this incident has absolutely no impact at all on the current team.

[TheLivingLegend]

Originally Posted by jkwuc89

Also, Kennedy does not coach here and this incident has absolutely no impact at all on the current team.

Your right, which is why it was put in the Where Are they now section.