Print

[Administration]

In an effort to keep moderation consistent on Monroe Talks, we will begin using Simple Machine Forums moderation tools.   Here's how they work: 

If a user breaks the rules of the site, we will issue them a warning and adjust the warning level.   The percentage levels are upped in 5% increments, but can be adjusted accordingly depending on the severity of the disruption.   

0-30%: Adds the user to a moderator watch list.

35-60%:  All users posts will be moderated.

65-100%:  User will not be able to post.

When issuing a warning, the user will be notified and the citation logged in our system under the users profile.    This will keep records of everything, and be accessible to the moderation team, so everyone is aware of users activities. 

The system is also set up to drop in 5% increments every 24 hours if a user isn't issued any warnings within that time.   

Again, I hope we don't even have to use this system.  It comes packaged with the software, and up until recently did we even realize it existed.   This will take a lot of the guess work out of moderating, especially when multiple moderators are watching the site.  During the flood of traffic we had a few weeks ago, we really had a tough time consistently moderating the site.   Things have settled down, but we're working to prepare for the future, in hopes all users can have a better experience using the site.     

Questions, comments, suggestions?   

[Aunt B]

I think this is an excellent idea!!!

[MM1]

In an effort to keep moderation consistent on Monroe Talks, we will begin using Simple Machine Forums moderation tools.   Here's how they work: 

If a user breaks the rules of the site, we will issue them a warning and adjust the warning level.   The percentage levels are upped in 5% increments, but can be adjusted accordingly depending on the severity of the disruption.   

0-30%: Adds the user to a moderator watch list.

35-60%:  All users posts will be moderated.

65-100%:  User will not be able to post.

When issuing a warning, the user will be notified and the citation logged in our system under the users profile.    This will keep records of everything, and be accessible to the moderation team, so everyone is aware of users activities. 

The system is also set up to drop in 5% increments every 24 hours if a user isn't issued any warnings within that time.   

Again, I hope we don't even have to use this system.  It comes packaged with the software, and up until recently did we even realize it existed.   This will take a lot of the guess work out of moderating, especially when multiple moderators are watching the site.  During the flood of traffic we had a few weeks ago, we really had a tough time consistently moderating the site.   Things have settled down, but we're working to prepare for the future, in hopes all users can have a better experience using the site.     

Questions, comments, suggestions?   

Sounds like a good plan. 

Also sounds like you're trying to figure this thing out.


  

[SidecarFlip]

I realize that your advertising helps defray the cost of maintaining the site but I find it irritating in as much the amount of revenue gleaned from the key word activated ads is negligible.

I imagine they won't go away but it would be nice.  I'm also surprised you aren't running at least v-Bulletin as a forum platform.  It's much easier for the end user (us) to manipulate, you don't have to employ tags for special effects and inserting pictures is much easier because they can be inserted in a copy and paste format from the user computer instead of from a web hosted site.

Simple Machine works well as long as the set parameters are consistent and followed correctly.  I'm jusr a little surprised you haven't looked at other platforms.  Your current one is tedious for the end user.

[Administration]

I realize that your advertising helps defray the cost of maintaining the site but I find it irritating in as much the amount of revenue gleaned from the key word activated ads is negligible.

I imagine they won't go away but it would be nice.  I'm also surprised you aren't running at least v-Bulletin as a forum platform.  It's much easier for the end user (us) to manipulate, you don't have to employ tags for special effects and inserting pictures is much easier because they can be inserted in a copy and paste format from the user computer instead of from a web hosted site.

Simple Machine works well as long as the set parameters are consistent and followed correctly.  I'm jusr a little surprised you haven't looked at other platforms.  Your current one is tedious for the end user.

You are correct, the national advertising (Google ads) does a little bit to offset the expenses to run the site.  Not much, but, every little bit helps. 

v-Bulletin is nice, but it costs $.  We looked at it before launching with SMF.  We wanted to keep costs down as we weren't sure people would even visit the site.  If I can ever justify the purchase, I would like to switch to it, as it's one that has a technical support staff on hand at all times.   I can't even imagine porting everything over, but, I'm sure there's a way.   The SMF community has been helpful though with any bugs we've experienced, and it does appear that they are continuing development of the software.   

I'll take a look at the things you mentioned on inserting pictures, maybe there's an easier way for SMF to handle them.   

Thanks for the input. 

[Baby Hitler]

http://monroetalks.com/forum/index.php?topic=14163.msg361478#msg361478

http://monroetalks.com/forum/index.php?topic=12850.msg361476#msg361476

http://monroetalks.com/forum/index.php?topic=14261.msg361399#msg361399

Three posts in a row from one user who, it seems, that his only intent on these posts is to infuriate other users that do not subscribe to his way of thinking. i.e. trolling, which is in violation of your TOS agreement.

In addition, this user is continually circumventing the profanity filter, for which other users have been banned, and is also against your TOS agreement.

[SidecarFlip]

Speaking frankly, I find the general attitude of the administration on this site to be less than PG13 themselves, even though they are supposedly adults.

Like Monroe County politics, this site allows, even condones certain posters blatant infringement of the users agreement while other posters are sanctioned for the same behavior.  Seemingly, Monroe good old boy politics is good old boy Monroe Talks politics as well.

Consequently, one has to tippy toe around this site and hopefully not incur the ire of the favored ones.  That to me is pure BS and no way to run a public forum or a newspaper for that matter because the MEN operates on the same tilted principle.

Other than AP stories, our only use of the MEN is checking township happenings and lining the kitty litter box.

Even the tiny Dundee Independent is a better read simply because it's journalism is professional whereas the journalism in the MEN is at a high school level and that spills over to this site.

While this site may or may not add membership, your hard print editions need to get with adult journalism and unbaised, comprehensive reporting or you will cease to exist.  You are loosing your advertising base as businesses close or move to more prosperous locations.  Consequently, you need to get your head out of the hole you have it in and revamp your newspaper to a vibrant, unbaised, comprehensive vehicle that's aimed at the readership or frankly, you ain't gonna make it.

The very reason I suggested V-Bulletin in the first place is because you can filter your audience by age requirement and filter your pop-up ads.

I'm sure (tongue-in-cheek) pro actively that some of your pop up ads are for dating sites and sexual aids...just what a pre-teen needs to be exposed to.

You can't straddle the fence (as administration) and at the same time show bias or violate the very agreement you set forth in the first place.

You may be employing Virtual Machine to monitor the infractions or warnings given to posters who violate the users agreement but the actual comprehension of whether, in fact, there was an infraction is still in your biased hands.  That don't work.

You can't operate this site as a socialist bastion because, ultimately, it will fail or generate a negative reputation.  Just ask LordFly.

You might have new 'tools', but your blades are still dull.

[Frenchfry]

"Socialist bastion"??......they voted for McCain....(Ab)Normal Joe is one of theirs.....the vast majority of posters are "Conservatives" (by their own definition, but 99.97% of them vote Republican)........let's face it....the site is predominantly ignorant right-wingers.....speaking of which, some of you fools should learn the difference between loose and lose (loser and looser)........Repukes are losers and I assume your rear is looser since I just pulled my boot out.   

[Baby Hitler]

"Socialist bastion"??......they voted for McCain....(Ab)Normal Joe is one of theirs.....the vast majority of posters are "Conservatives" (by their own definition, but 99.97% of them vote Republican)........let's face it....the site is predominantly ignorant right-wingers.....speaking of which, some of you fools should learn the difference between loose and lose (loser and looser)........Repukes are losers and I assume your rear is looser since I just pulled my boot out.   

Why on earth would you want a poo covered boot? That's just weird.

[SidecarFlip]

"Socialist bastion"??......they voted for McCain....(Ab)Normal Joe is one of theirs.....the vast majority of posters are "Conservatives" (by their own definition, but 99.97% of them vote Republican)........let's face it....the site is predominantly ignorant right-wingers.....speaking of which, some of you fools should learn the difference between loose and lose (loser and looser)........Repukes are losers and I assume your rear is looser since I just pulled my boot out.   

Gee, I was under the opinion that you ran around barefoot.  I can smell your feet all the way out here in Petersburg.

edit....On second thought, it could be your fetid breath.

[lordfly]

You can't operate this site as a socialist bastion because, ultimately, it will fail or generate a negative reputation.  Just ask LordFly.

We're doing just fine, thanks.

[SidecarFlip]

We're doing just fine, thanks.

I know you are.  I lurk there all the time.  Your forum actually has some continuity about it\ as well as across the board civility.