Has TPA changed?

[Deadshot]

I was once a fairly prolific poster here, then there was a problem - I left coming back to check on friends and play games - now I've come back to give TPA another go, having been told that it's changed. Something happened yesterday that's kinda bothering me and I thought I'd ask your opinion on the matter.

While I can't give you the specifics, PM me and I think I can, here's the basics.

PM's and what's written in the Reputation boxes are "Private" matters and may not be brought up here in the forums, so please excuse me for being so obtuse on this matter, I do not wish to be banned.

Hypothetically speaking, let's say I sent a rep to OceanBreeze (I'm picking on her because while we do not agree on anything, we do treat each other with a modicum of respect and NEITHER of us would write something like this to the other - and my apologies OB in advance) so I write "You are a wetback whore who is into kiddie porn!"

It's a disgusting, nasty statement that has no truth in it, but for arguments sake, say I wrote it. Should anything be done to me? Before you answer let me go on to say that after putting this in her Rep column let's say I keep posting how morally right I am.

First question is, should anything be done to me by the management here at TPA? For the record I was told, at first that the mod I contacted was quite upset, then in the end told that PM's and REP's are private and to simply put the offender on ignore.

Second question is, to you old timers out there - those of you who were here when it was just Tarty, then The Q, finally Kurtz, Sag and crew...have things changed? If so, how? Because I've been back for a few days and just don't see it.

Finally, can things really change when PM's and Rep's are private and I could hit OB with some digusting shit in the "private" area, then act all nice and sweet in the forums, knowing she can do nothing about it?

For any MODS reading this, I believe I have kept to the TOS. I have not mentioned what was in the message or the person involved. I've picked on a Mod and someone with whom I would not act like towards for my example for two reasons. One, we have always respected each other and treated each other civilly in our disagreements. Two, if I accused her of being into "kiddie porn" I think OB would reach through my Internet connection and kill me :scared. I think if I did do something like that she would have every right to, and someone telling her to simply put me on Ignore, is simply ignoring the problem.

Just curious as to your opinions.

[Zanoog]

I don't know Deadshot, but I do know that you can't call the president an effing moron without your post getting edited. :shakehead

What is up with that?!

[Oceanbreeze]

Ok, that wasn't me, Zanoog

Dead; I appreciate you hypothetically plugging me in there. As much as we do disagree, I could still have a drink with you at the end of a day. Anyway, I hope the matter gets cleared up.

[Sweet Tart]

Are you saying you want PM's and rep to be public, DS?

[Oceanbreeze]

Are you saying you want PM's and rep to be public, DS?

"PM's and what's written in the Reputation boxes are "Private" matters and may not be brought up here in the forums, so please excuse me for being so obtuse on this matter, I do not wish to be banned."

I'm reading it as a poster hiding behind a mask.

[Deadshot]

Are you saying you want PM's and rep to be public, DS?

Thanks for pointing out my statement ,OB.

What I am saying is that if the board is saying that you can't call someone "X" or say "X" on the board, then they say it in your rep or PM you with it I would like some sort of Mod response to the person that sent the offending material.

Simply saying, "Put them on Ignore", is not the answer. This isn't a conversation that I can simply walk across the room from the offending party. Putting someone on Ignore simply leaves empty spaces in discussions and leaves one out of the loop.

Instead, I get the feeling that since this is "out of camera" the offending party and I can go back and forth being as vile and nasty as we wish until it becomes a problem and then there's a reaction.

Tarty, I know that Sag contacted you about the problem. Since this is deemed "OK" and not a TOS offense, am I given tacit approval or simply the approval of no mod action to post on every person I rep what was posted to me?

[nixon]

I don't know Deadshot, but I do know that you can't call the president an effing moron without your post getting edited. :shakehead

What is up with that?!You don't have to call him that, it is understood without saying.

[Deadshot]

You don't have to call him that, it is understood without saying.

True...but if it's against TOS to do it in the open, then it should be wrong to do it in Private. Correct?

[nixon]

True...but if it's against TOS to do it in the open, then it should be wrong to do it in Private. Correct?I don't know what the rules are. If my posts get edited or I get barred, so be it. To be honest with everyone, I'm actually surprised you people put up with me. I guess I found a home. Nixon.

[Deadshot]

I don't know what the rules are. If my posts get edited or I get barred, so be it. To be honest with everyone, I'm actually surprised you people put up with me. I guess I found a home. Nixon.

That's fine nixon, to each his own. But the rules are that I couldn't call someone a "wetback whore who likes kiddie porn" out in the open, but in private I can say what a will, no repercussions.

I think it's wrong. If it's wrong out where everyone can see what a racist or evil person you are, it should be wrong in private.

[Zanoog]

Ok, that wasn't me, Zanoog



I know it wasn't you. Didn't mean to imply that at all!

I only mentioned it because of the "rules" question from Deadshot. I know it wasn't related, but :shrug :twocents sort of thing.

It was Sag - I think she misunderstood who I was calling an effing moron, even though I quoted a line from Bush above my post.

I didn't even use the term "fucking moron" to keep it relatively clean. Sheesh! :roll

Y'all sure are touchy.

[Zanoog]

That's fine nixon, to each his own. But the rules are that I couldn't call someone a "wetback whore who likes kiddie porn" out in the open, but in private I can say what a will, no repercussions.

I think it's wrong. If it's wrong out where everyone can see what a racist or evil person you are, it should be wrong in private.

Man oh man - that is wrong. :shakehead

[Sweet Tart]

Thanks for pointing out my statement ,OB.

What I am saying is that if the board is saying that you can't call someone "X" or say "X" on the board, then they say it in your rep or PM you with it I would like some sort of Mod response to the person that sent the offending material.

Simply saying, "Put them on Ignore", is not the answer. This isn't a conversation that I can simply walk across the room from the offending party. Putting someone on Ignore simply leaves empty spaces in discussions and leaves one out of the loop.

Instead, I get the feeling that since this is "out of camera" the offending party and I can go back and forth being as vile and nasty as we wish until it becomes a problem and then there's a reaction.

Tarty, I know that Sag contacted you about the problem. Since this is deemed "OK" and not a TOS offense, am I given tacit approval or simply the approval of no mod action to post on every person I rep what was posted to me?

The issue is that PM's and rep are private. Much like your e-mail. If someone sends you a nasty e-mail, do you complain to your ISP?

I do see your point, don't get me wrong, I just don't think that any of us should have to play referee or babysitter. If a political post leads to some personal disagreement, then maybe its time to log off and get some air.

The TOS does state that you will be banned for posting PM's or rep comments. I won't go back on that. I will apologize for the insults that are being slung at you and do my best to see that it doesn't continue.

[Deadshot]

The issue is that PM's and rep are private. Much like your e-mail. If someone sends you a nasty e-mail, do you complain to your ISP?

No, but my ISP does not monitor my conversations. Using your example, I can say what I wish, when I wish, how I wish. That is not true here. You have a code of conduct.

A better example is that imagine yourself at a party, one that decorum is enforce or your bootted from the party, except when someone gets you "one-on-one." Now imagine that during that time someone calls you a racial slur, but you can't say a word about it, because that was a "private" conversation.

That's a better example of just what happened.

I do see your point, don't get me wrong, I just don't think that any of us should have to play referee or babysitter. If a political post leads to some personal disagreement, then maybe its time to log off and get some air.

So I rep you and call you a racial slur and the answer isn't for ME to stop, but YOU to log off?

The TOS does state that you will be banned for posting PM's or rep comments. I won't go back on that. I will apologize for the insults that are being slung at you and do my best to see that it doesn't continue.


Well that is something more then I had before, that is that you'll try and see that it stops. I still think that reps and PM's should be policed. Hell I'll do it and give the recommendations to the Mod's to decide on. But for there to be a free for all in the Private areas and we play nice on the forums isn't right.

Either you have decorum everywhere, or take the gloves off and let's have a free for all everywhere, but the Mods knowing we have racist behavior and ignoring it because its "private" is a disservice to everyone.

[nixon]

That's fine nixon, to each his own. But the rules are that I couldn't call someone a "wetback whore who likes kiddie porn" out in the open, but in private I can say what a will, no repercussions.

I think it's wrong. If it's wrong out where everyone can see what a racist or evil person you are, it should be wrong in private. Life's not fair. I think its wrong, too. But seeing how you and I get along pretty good, I'm going to give you some advice. Choose your battles wisely, as some shit just doesn't matter.

[Sweet Tart]

DS, as much as I would love to change the world and tell everyone how to behave according to my needs, its just not going to happen. If this were a party and people were behaving that way, I would say the same things... handle it yourself, or go to the next party.

You see, I am not responsible for your happiness, or anyone else's happiness except my own and your insinuation that I'm not doing everything I can to make everyone happy is ridiculous just in the fact that it is IMPOSSIBLE. Why do you think we've been through so many admins and mods here? This is NOT an easy gig, and if you think you can do better AND keep members posting, then by all means, suggest away.

I think its absolutely wrong that anyone is being subjected to name calling by immature assholes who should know better. I've been called quite a few, myself, but I'm not bitching about it to the creators of vBulletin.

You have freedom of choice in this situation. You can post those private insults all you want, you will be banned and everyone else will just shrug. You're not special in being insulted by that person, everyone else has had the same complaints. As soon as he fucks up again, he'll be gone. Then another one will pop up. That's just how it happens.

[Deadshot]

DS, as much as I would love to change the world and tell everyone how to behave according to my needs, its just not going to happen. If this were a party and people were behaving that way, I would say the same things... handle it yourself, or go to the next party.

I just received a PM, from YOU, telling me to back off...so I guess you're telling me to leave because I am being told NOT to handle it myself.

You see, I am not responsible for your happiness, or anyone else's happiness except my own and your insinuation that I'm not doing everything I can to make everyone happy is ridiculous just in the fact that it is IMPOSSIBLE. Why do you think we've been through so many admins and mods here? This is NOT an easy gig, and if you think you can do better AND keep members posting, then by all means, suggest away.

Why are you going off the deep end on this?

I simply am asking why there is decorum in one section - where you seem to want to promote "happiness", yet in another section you write as you have above.

This isn't two different boards is it?

I think its absolutely wrong that anyone is being subjected to name calling by immature assholes who should know better. I've been called quite a few, myself, but I'm not bitching about it to the creators of vBulletin.

But you do not control vBulletin, you do TPA.

Is your answer that I should start a flame war, through PM's and reps, with the party in question?

Is it so bad to WANT or ASK for a better world or board?

You have freedom of choice in this situation. You can post those private insults all you want, you will be banned and everyone else will just shrug. You're not special in being insulted by that person, everyone else has had the same complaints. As soon as he fucks up again, he'll be gone. Then another one will pop up. That's just how it happens.

I don't disagree with that. I just thought that he should be gone now, after hearing from others that the person in question has been an ass.

As to my "freedom of choice", being banned for doing something isn't much of a freedom.

[Sweet Tart]

DS, its not bad to want a better board. Its just not possible to have a good board with a decent amount of Freedom of Speech.

My answer is to just drop it. He's an ass, we all know it, and he likes to pick on people to make himself feel better. You're letting him win.

As for the 2 boards deal... there is a moderated section and an unmoderated section. The unmoderated section is 'anything goes' until it violates the TOS. The mods have control over their forums in the moderated section and can do with those threads as they please.

[Sweet Tart]

Wait, let me rephrase that... its impossible to have a POLITICAL board live up to such high standards :lol

[Deadshot]

C'est la vie!...but it sure would be nice to name the ass of whom you speak, even if everyone knows it!:rooster:drevil

[Sweet Tart]

Oh, you mean Bart? Of course it would :whistle

[Deadshot]

:saluteyeah, Barton X:pisslaugh

[Oceanbreeze]

Deadshot; look around he's constantly edited.

He either;
1) doesn't know
2. doesn't care.

:barton My guess is the latter. :barton

[Deadshot]

Well I don't get along with Ringo or Wabbi, but they've never been as bad as he was.

[nixon]

The problem here isn't what is said amongst members. The problem lies in the nature of man. It is being able to say something and not be held accountable for the statement. Being annonomous on the internet, noone knows the next member from the last. Something we all forget in all of this, and that is we are all Americans. That's why I'm asking for you to vote Nixon; To bring us all back together, One Nation, Under God, With Liberty and Justice and free pussy and beer For All.

[Sweet Tart]

:woot

I mean :para

[BartonX]

Deadshot since you want to be a little sissy after starting this mess let me tell you how it is going to be. If you don't want to be told off keep your damn mouth shut, just that simple! Now if you don't like getting as good as you put out you don't have to be a little sniveling punk about it. I will be happy to accomodate you away from the board to settle your grievance if you insist. But until you grow a pair, if you don't wanna hear a proper reply to your insults then don't attack someone.

[BartonX]

Well I don't get along with Ringo or Wabbi, but they've never been as bad as he was.

Keep your smart mouth to yourself then crybaby! I have had mods cuss me out in those and threaten me and I was man enough to bite the bullet so you can do that too or leave this is not kindergarden take your lumps when you start shit. I don't know of anyone that is going to roll over for you and take your crap. I won't!