Forum Moderation - Howzat?

[gwilson]

Could someone in charge of the management of Ubuntu Forums please respond to this for me? (...as opposed to a random smattering of opinion...)

I'm wondering in what ways this forum is moderated. I know that messages sometimes get moved from one area to another by individuals other than the original poster. Under what circumstances?

I've posted a couple of messages to the Ubuntu 5.10 Support (Gnome) / Desktop Support forum only to find my message appear in the Absolute Beginners forum. Is someone redirecting my post to a different group of readers than I addressed it to? That could be seen as a freedom of speech or freedom of association issue if postings are being arbitrarily redirected. Not what I would expect of Linux people.

I recently posted a message with a title referencing both Amarok and Rhythmbox to the Gnome Desktop and Kubuntu Desktop forums because I wanted to hear from readers of both forums. The question had to do with the difference between the way each program built its database of music.

One reader directed me not to cross-post messages in the future.

Another reader (who is apparently a moderator) directed me to post questions that are not limited only to Gnome or only to KDE to the Absolute Beginners forum because the AB forum is not desktop-specific.

If the forums are segregated by the organizers into Ubuntu-only and Kubuntu-only sections, and your question concerns two programs, one KDE and one Gnome, the organizational structure invites cross-posting.

How would you suggest I reach both sets of readers without cross-posting?

There seems to be an assumption on someone's part that everyone who reads the Ubuntu Forums wants to sort through ALL of the new messages ALL the time rather than viewing only those in a specific forum. Some forum participants only read certain forums so as not to be inundated with messages that do not concern their area of interest. Not everyone wants to read ALL of the new messages relating to things like Hoary Hedgehog or Python programming.

At any rate, I don't think there should be a blanket prohibition against cross-posting under all circumstances. I would rather have my postings blocked completely than have them altered and redirected without my knowledge and still attributed to me.

Am I so wrong-headed? Do I need to be censored?

GW

[mstlyevil]

You have some very valid questions.

Edit: I changed my mind here maybe the forum discussion is a better place for this.

[gwilson]

You have some very valid questions.

Edit: I changed my mind here maybe the forum discussion is a better place for this.

Well, that's just fine, but once again I addressed it to one forum and you've "hijacked" it to another that I wasn't trying to post to.

How many of your readers look at the messages in the Forum Discussion forum? It's nice to be organized, but why are my questions shunted over to a backwater forum that a lot of readers don't look at? Don't you see that this interferes with free communication? It would be more appropriate to at least let my posting show up in the forum I addressed it to so that it can be seen and then announce that you are moving it to a different forum. It isn't as if I am advocating sedition or anything.

GW

[rfruth]

I usually check for "New Posts" and if i have an (the?) answer I chime in ...

[gwilson]

I usually check for "New Posts" and if i have an (the?) answer I chime in ...

But lately that means going back through five screens of "posted ten minutes ago" messages. There's a lot of traffic here, and not everyone reads all of the messages. Some read specific forums.

[mstlyevil]

I'm wondering in what ways this forum is moderated. I know that messages sometimes get moved from one area to another by individuals other than the original poster. Under what circumstances?


The circumstances vary. If the thread discusses topics that would recieve better attention in another section of the forum we will move it. If the thread is off topic, we move it to the appropiate forum. ( I have had some of my threads moved before so don't feel bad.) If it violates forum guidelines or is psam we move it to the Jail.

I've posted a couple of messages to the Ubuntu 5.10 Support (Gnome) / Desktop Support forum only to find my message appear in the Absolute Beginners forum. Is someone redirecting my post to a different group of readers than I addressed it to? That could be seen as a freedom of speech or freedom of association issue if postings are being arbitrarily redirected. Not what I would expect of Linux people.

This is not a freedom of speech issue. The messages apparently were much more suited for the Absolute Beginners forum. They were moved because the people who provide support in those forums are more experienced with your particular problem. This forum is first and foremost about support issues so that is the guage used top determine if the post needs to be moved.

Honestly, One post in the Ubuntu Cafe (community chat) or in the absolute beginners area with the question posed to those using both DE's would be a better solution. Cross posting is a big problem so we can not make exceptions in specific circumstances or others will feel free to cross post. This takes up extra unnecessary space on the servers. We have to treat all posters equal to maintain fairness.

There seems to be an assumption on someone's part that everyone who reads the Ubuntu Forums wants to sort through ALL of the new messages ALL the time rather than viewing only those in a specific forum. Some forum participants only read certain forums so as not to be inundated with messages that do not concern their area of interest. Not everyone wants to read ALL of the new messages relating to things like Hoary Hedgehog or Python programming.

At any rate, I don't think there should be a blanket prohibition against cross-posting under all circumstances. I would rather have my postings blocked completely than have them altered and redirected without my knowledge and still attributed to me.

Am I so wrong-headed? Do I need to be censored?

GW

You can always use the search function to search for specific threads without having to sort through messages that have no interest to you. The blanket prohibition is in place to keep it simple. If you start making exceptions things get confusing and the forums become a mess.

[mstlyevil]

Well, that's just fine, but once again I addressed it to one forum and you've "hijacked" it to another that I wasn't trying to post to.

How many of your readers look at the messages in the Forum Discussion forum? It's nice to be organized, but why are my questions shunted over to a backwater forum that a lot of readers don't look at? Don't you see that this interferes with free communication? It would be more appropriate to at least let my posting show up in the forum I addressed it to so that it can be seen and then announce that you are moving it to a different forum. It isn't as if I am advocating sedition or anything.

GW

I left it in place. I was going to let the Admins answer your questions but decided that in the end to leave it here so those that have moved your threads have a chance to respond. This does probally belong in the resolution center but I will leave it here for now.

[kassetra]

Regarding thread relocation -

Since this thread is related to forum business it was moved to the appropriate area (Forums Discussion). All threads are subject to relocation based upon their content. Most threads that are moved have a redirection thread left in place to guide users to the new location.

Relocating threads serves the entire community by attempting to ensure that the appropriate audience is reviewing the content. Technical support areas are only for technical support, the Cafe is for a broader range of topics, the Site Discussion is for forum business, et cetera.


Regarding stated forum policies, generic thread and posting (relocation) -
By registering and participating in Ubuntu Forum discussions you agree to the following policy. If you should not agree you have the right to no longer participate in forum discussions at your own discretion.

You agree that the web-master, administrators and moderators of this forum have the right to remove, edit, move or close any topic or post at any time should they see fit under the guidelines specified below. You agree that the web-master, administrators and moderators of this forum have the right to send a private message with a warning and or censor any forum user who is in violation of forum policy.


It should be noted that, like all things, these rules will continue to change and evolve with constructive feedback from users and from experience. It is our hope that these policies will create open, honest, and civil discussion. As always, we welcome feedback about any concerns that you may have so feel free to post in the forum discussion section of the forums. It is the users responsibility to check forum policy for updates.


It should also be noted that this is a privately owned and operated site by Ubuntu-Geek; therefore posting here is a privilege rather than a constitutional 'right' to free speech and freedom of expression, we ask that the forum rules are followed at all times.

[gwilson]

Well, I feel properly chastised. ;-)

AND put in my place. ](*,)

Ubuntu is a great distribution, but half of its strength is in these forums.

I'll just calm down, go with the flow, and make the best of things.

GW

\\:D/