how do i complain to a moderator

[biggles99]

it didn't do any good complaining anyway.to me it just confirmed what i always thought there are members, and then there are favoured members of this forum.some members can insult and abuse other members and get away with it and others can't.

[biggles99]

Is it me or there a lot of people who are getting upset far to bloody easily at the moment ?
Its a good job not everyone gets the hump. There'd be a lot of unanswered posts.

but then again buffy aren't there a lot of posts where sarcasm and wit seems to be the order of the day.

perhaps if there was less sarcasm and wit people would be less likely to get upset as you put it.

[johndibben]

You actually said something I agree with 'biggles' but it's easy to accuse other of what we do ourselves.

There's no favoured people on this forum as far as I'm concerned and I'm not liked in some quarters for it.

A fact I weep copious tears over.

Whoops .... a touch of sarcasm there.

To quote Winston Churchill, 'As you sow the wind, so you reap the whirlwind'.

Enigmatic maybe but all will become clear when it happens.

Something to think about anyway.

Also something to think about before making posts which have no real intention of making a clear statement or improving matters in the slightest.

This however, is good advice, I feel and therefore, if taken, would help matters.

Only my opinion and make little difference personally. Constant bickering only results in a shake up which is designed to be beneficial to the members as a whole and therefore can be seen as a win-win situation, in the long term, for those who value the site.

[allypally]

Everyone is happy with a bit of a laugh around here, its always been that way, and I want it to stay like that, as a personal opinion. If you take things too seriously, then I can't see how you can enjoy anything. Once you've been around awhile, you start to know who the sarcastic/witty people are, and recognise when to take them seriously/or not. Ive never seen the point of a complain to moderator function anyway. If something happens, the mods tend to read it eventually anyway, so they can deal with it as they see fit. If you get upset by a bit of leg pulling, then more fool you.

[johndibben]

I agree.

Mods arn't daft and know the difference between harmless banter and anything serious and so do the members.

Sarcy and less than brave 'slash and dash' one liners that say something yet nothing are all too clear in their intent, if not who or what they're aiming at. That causes rows and it's about time some 'grew up a bit' or had the courage to say what they mean.

Most is harmless banter though and heaven forbid anyone should discourage that.

We also see the usernames created to cause trouble but have to watch most of the time as they've become cleverer at covering their tracks.

They can't expect and indeed, won't receive any attention other than to be watched and banned when they cause a row.

I take the opinion that it's up to the members to work out who it's worth talking to and who will give a clear and pleasant response to any requests.

Leave the others alone and ask them nothing if the past suggests you will not receive a reasonable reply.

Bit like a pub really.

You're not going to like everyone but you can still have a good time.

[markw]

Is it me or there a lot of people who are getting upset far to bloody easily at the moment ?
Its a good job not everyone gets the hump. There'd be a lot of unanswered posts.

but then again buffy aren't there a lot of posts where sarcasm and wit seems to be the order of the day.

perhaps if there was less sarcasm and wit people would be less likely to get upset as you put it.

Wit(noun) (1) Intelligence, quick understanding (2) the unexpected, quick and humorous combining or contrasting of ideas or expressions, the power of giving intellectual pleasure by this (3) a person posessing such a power, especially a cleverly humorous person.

Sarcasm (noun) the use of bitter or wounding especially ironic remarks, language consisting of such remarks.

Irony (noun) (1) Expression of meaning, often humorous or sarcastic, by the use of language of a different or opposite tendency (2) an ill-timed or perverse arrival of an event or circumstance that is in itself desirable

Apart from sarcasm which has a negative element, and can be intended to hurt, Wit is an entirely positive and uplifting aspect which is needed more. Wit and irony have been the cornerstones of British humour since Shakespeare's days, and despite the attempts of American "comedy" to kill it dead it still keeps going, just. So, either you mean something else by "wit" or you don't fully understand the meaning, which might explain why the moderator couldn't find any fault and nothing to do with "favoured" members.

Thanks to our increasingly Americanised culture too many people confuse "sarcasm" for "wit" and get themselves into trouble for it. As you can see from the Oxford English Dictionary definitions, they are entirely different things.

[thenudehamster]

And on the same theme, 'Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit'.

Whilst offensive language is not really acceptable, we have to remember that facial expressions and voice tones are missing from the written word. What may have been laughed off had it been said to someone face-to-face become offensive in cold print. Emoticon (smileys) help a little, but we don't all remember to use them.

Then again, criticism often hurts, even when it is intended as helpful.

Unfortunately one needs a slightly thicker skin to converse in writing than verbally; it takes time to develop it.

On Moderation: Most of theModerators, I have found, keep a fairly close eye on the forums and do not let things get out of hand easily. What may seem to be offensive to one person, is not necessarily offensive to all, so a Moderator complaint may not solve the problem.

My views and those of others may not always be the same; I'm not afraid to state mine, or to have them criticised.

If anyone here has a complaint about me, my views, or my posts, send me a PM and we'll try to work out what the trouble is. I am usually quick enough to recognise if I've misunderstood something, and will usually apologise quickly too. Occasionally I haven't, but the matter has usually been sorted amicably.

Rarely should there be a need for Moderator or Adminstrative sanction for a single member; most disputes are resolveable between the parties concerned

[johndibben]

The dictionary has little use when reading a post as I presume most people have not got one at hand when posting and so the meaning of the word in the context of the thread is all that matters.

'Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit', therefore the meaning of sarcasm and wit is clear in the context of the post.

Emoticon (smileys) help a little, but we don't all remember to use them.

I've found emoticons very useful and vital part of communication on the forums. Initially, I thought they were childish and wouldn't use them. However, I found I was misunderstood so many times, I found it neccessary. Overuse does appear childish though.

As someone who's job it is to read and understand posts, I find those who post regularly and does not use them are at a disadvantage unless they're very clear indeed.

Putting a winky smillie after a sarcy comment fools no one though and won't spare the poster any grief.

Unfortunately one needs a slightly thicker skin to converse in writing than verbally; it takes time to develop it.

Really? I don't know who 50% are, won't meet 99% and so they can say what they like. Unless a close friend or standing beside me, it doesn't matter what they say. They'll say it private if not in public and I won't see that.

Rarely should there be a need for Moderator or Adminstrative sanction for a single member; most disputes are resolveable between the parties concerned

If only?

Disputes rumble on for years with neither side willing or having any need to resolve the issues between them unlike those you live or work with where it's desirable in order to make life more tolerable.

The Internet is like real life in many ways.

Dispute resolution is an exception to that.

[markw]

'Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit', therefore the meaning of sarcasm and wit is clear in the context of the post.

.

The post concerned didn't use that phrase so that is a red herring and irrelevant.

Although I quoted from the dictionary, I did so to re-inforce the fact that wit and sarcasm are not, never have been and never will be the same thing. I knew this without reference to the dictionary, many other people will also. My posting was to pass on the information to someone who clearly didn't, and in the process was, presumably accidentally, making a nonesense of his comment, which if taken to be a comment that sarcasm is too common on these boards and damaging to them, was a valid point even if I personally don't fully agree. To say there is too much wit on the boards though contradicts that argument as wit is opposite to sarcasm.

I'm sorry John but I am not going to hide the fact I had a good English education, and understand the meaning of words. Nor will I pander to the lowest common denominator, as a message full of "yeah but no but yeah" type grunting would be of little value. If you recall I said

So, either you mean something else by "wit" or you don't fully understand the meaning, which might explain why the moderator couldn't find any fault and nothing to do with "favoured" members

Nothing personally offensive there, or sarcastic, and quoting Oscar Wilde - a true advocate of sarcasm in it's most hurtful form - has absolutely no relevance there. If you are suggesting I am being sarcastic in this posting, then I take exception to that.

[johndibben]

The difference is between us is that I never took the word wit literally. I got the message the complaint was about sarcasm and low standards of wit.

I could be wrong but I don't care much as it doesn't matter to me and only picked up on the favouritism and sarcasm remarks which were relelvant but still of no Earth-shattering importance.

Showing educational skills appears a double-edged sword. It can impress or intimidate, personally, I prefer to underplay my abilities, such as they are, as it's safer and I believe members feel easier with that.

The phrase 'Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit' is a phrase most would agree with and links the two words as sarcasm being wit. It appeared too simple to require explanation.

Feel free to take any other unintended and convoluted meaning from it which would allow some offense to be taken as that's commom on the forums and causes problems for the reader, not the poster.

[nickuk]

The reason for the lack of 'Repoty to moderator' link is due to each style having its own set of templates. Clearly the admin hasnt edited the templates for the two other styles.

[markw]

The phrase 'Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit' is a phrase most would agree with and links the two words as sarcasm being wit. It appeared too simple to require explanation.

Feel free to take any other unintended and convoluted meaning from it which would allow some offense to be taken as that's commom on the forums and causes problems for the reader, not the poster.

There is no confusion. Sarcasm isn't wit, and that is what was meant by that phrase originally, so to say wit is the same as sarcasm is (a) wrong and (b) completely misunderstanding the the meaning of the statement.

If you didn't mean your associating that phrase with my earlier posting to indicate you thought I was being sarcastic, I accept that. I'm not putting any convoluted meanings into your posting, you mentioned the phrase when the original poster did not, so it seems completely irrelevant unless some meaning is attached to it.

Showing educational skills appears a double-edged sword. It can impress or intimidate, personally, I prefer to underplay my abilities, such as they are, as it's safer and I believe members feel easier with that

I'm not deliberately showing off. I'm just not going to deliberately hide the fact I understand English as that would be to negate a lot of hard work done by dedicated hard working professional teachers and lecturers, and I respect their hard work and dedication enough to use the skills they have passed on to me. I'm not out to impress, I'm not out to intimidate, I'm about using what I've been taught by very good and brilliant teachers in a bog standard Comprehensive and state funded Polytechnic, both of which were open to others to use to develop the same standard of education as myself.

[johndibben]

You keep at it, Mark, too clever for me.

What may have escaped your notice is 'biggles' has gone quiet since one of his threads appreared to catch light.

That's what I was watching.

I suggest other members take note.

[buffy500]

Is it me or there a lot of people who are getting upset far to bloody easily at the moment ?
Its a good job not everyone gets the hump. There'd be a lot of unanswered posts.

but then again buffy aren't there a lot of posts where sarcasm and wit seems to be the order of the day.

perhaps if there was less sarcasm and wit people would be less likely to get upset as you put it.

No offence to anyone, but I'm not going to walk on eggshells just in case someone else takes offence to a virtually meaningless off the cuff quip or a bit of sarcarsm (which if done properly is actually very clever).
All the time I have to put up with people who can't be bothered to even attempt to use any form of spell checker, punctuation or common sense I don't see why I should change my entire personallity to cope with a few people who either need to grow up, of get a sense of humour or both.

[Garthion]

I usually try to keep my posts friendly, blocking out any offensive words with stars, (they are there to show what I would say if I were speaking in person not typing to a mass audience!) If I offend any one and thay ask my to apologise publicly then I will, and if they ask for a private apology then I will apologise privately, like wise, if some one offends me even by mistake then (depending on how I feel offended) I will generaly ask for an apology. I rearely use emoticons because I try to type how I feel I talk but I do admit it is sometimes neccessary

What may have escaped your notice is 'biggles' has gone quiet since one of his threads appreared to catch light.

That's what I was watching.

I suggest other members take note.

I have noticed this, very showing isn't it?

Anyway, enough of my inane (it is a real word, just rarely used/typed so it is not a spelling mistake!) typing/rambling lets let someone else have a moan unlike me!

One final point though, In a topic a few weeks back there were people advocating using the 'Preview' button when typing replies to posts, If the users who were a bit rash used this button, then they could read what they have typed before commiting the fatal action of pressing 'submit' and getting into trouble for their comments, just a thought!