Fora

What is it about fora?

I started visiting them early on when they were little more than sequential discussions and you had to scroll down the page to see the threads. Indeed, the Men’s Longhair Hyperboard clings doggedly to this format. Since the advent of PHP and Invision the format offers much more scope for splitting the forum into discrete sections. I like it providing it is well done. What bothers me, though is online behaviour.

Moderation Policies

Every board needs them; necessary evil that they are. Unfortunately they bring with them cries of censorship. It is a difficult line for many to tread. The Longhair board is determined to maintain a G-rating. This means that swearing and suggestive (even mildly suggestive) images and discussion are deleted; so, too are discussions about board policy. Naturally people get upset when this happens. The NO2ID forum has a slightly different problem – although related. They want to discuss Identity Cards and the impending bill going through parliament. They do not want to get sidetracked. Despite being clear about this, some folk insist upon plastering cut and paste volumes from conspiracy sites and then complain when they get moderated. It got so bad that even slightly off topic discussion is now deleted, which is annoying to those of us who feel that a discussion that is slightly tangential but relevant is worth following up – yet the moderators make a decision and we have no option but to fall into line. It is no longer a place I want to frequent because the policy has gone from none at all, to too harsh.

Self Righteous Behaviour

Some folk just seem to think that they are right and that is all there is about it. I found that sites specialising in theological discussion seem to be particularly bad. The issue overlaps with moderation policy – if the moderation team take a particular line and their clique fit in with them, dissenting voices are silenced by excessive use of moderation when it is not appropriate. I had hoped that being an atheist, the Internet Infidels forum would provide a place to meet like minds. Unfortunately, I met people who were so far up their own arses, I didn’t want to hang about. They give atheism a bad name.

It’s a private place

This is the nub of the matter. All of the boards I mention are privately owned and operated. So, they set the rules. That is their prerogative. Unfortunately for me, I find them off-putting because they are just too rulebound. When I set up News & Views it was a backlash against excessive moderation. My rules are simple; treat everyone else with the courtesy you expect of them. Behave like an adult. That’s it – apart from no spamming, thankyou very much. The only other independent forum that I still regularly visit because the moderating policy is so understated and works well is UK Bike Forum. Here the admin and mod team seem to have got the light touch spot on and it works. Unlike Rider Site where the moderation policy has failed to stop little cliques ganging up on anyone who dares to venture an opinion they dislike.

So one by one, I have deleted most of the discussion boards from my list of favourites because people cannot manage their sites without being excessive when it comes to their polices. This is a pity as I can understand why. It’s their place, they set the rules That’s fine, it is a balancing act after all. For me, they have managed to get that balance wrong. I can vote with my feet. And that is exactly what I have done.