Why was my post locked???

28 Apr 2005

I posted earlier about a situation I found myself in with a nameless member who could not be identified from what I had disclosed.
I was just seeking a bit of release/moral support I guess...
Why was it deleted? I'm a bit shocked? I've had a number of supportive PM's and just can't fathom it out.
Confused.

28 Apr 2005

Quote by PoppyMac
I posted earlier about a situation I found myself in with a nameless member who could not be identified from what I had disclosed.
I was just seeking a bit of release/moral support I guess...
Why was it deleted? I'm a bit shocked? I've had a number of supportive PM's and just can't fathom it out.
Confused.

Was it "crap" or "pointless"? :?

29 Apr 2005

I've just experienced this too .... concerning a post about whether adults sites should have a paid section to help protect from perverts. I don't wish to discuss that topic here and hijack the thread ... but arbitarily locking threads does seem, well, bloddy rude, especially when not accompanied by some sort of an explanation.
If a thread is uninteresting or "crap" as suggested above then surely it would sink into oblivion anyway without needing to be locked. And if mods feel that a thread should be locked then surely the person who posted should be emailed and informed as to why the thread has been ended. If this doesn't happen then how do we know what we have done wrong and avoid doing it again? It could even be posted at the bottom of the offending thread as a lesson to other posters.
As stated above, it does seem very rude. What happened to free speech?

29 Apr 2005

Sorry but I don't think the Mods are arbitarily locking posts.

I don't really think so either ... and certainly hope not. But with no stated reasons, how do we know? This is my point.

I can only guess but Uk in your case I would guess that it was because you are discussing the merits of charging for the service on a FREE site.

But my point is, if a reason was given at the end of the locked thread, we wouldn't have to be guessing! Yes I was discussing this, but there is nothing within the posting rules that bans such discussion and we live in a free country and enjoy free speech. I wasn't looking for a change of policy - simply a discussion concerning the effectiveness of paid services being able to ward off perverts and abusers of the system.

Swingingheaven is I would say THE BEST, THE LARGEST free swingers resource currently around. Mark, the owner (aka the black Darlek) has worked his butt off to provide us with this fabulous site FREE and everyone has an option there are a lot of very inferior pay sites out there they can migrate too if they so wish but the huge majority of us Like this site and support it any way we can. I don't know of any free site where the regulars try to help the MOds as much as they do on this site.

I don't disagree with any of this. Just because I point out one particular issue does not mean that I am down on the whole site or anyone who helps to run it. I'm just pointing out an area where there could be possible improvement. Two of us on the site have had threads locked and no reason given. I happen to have an advert on this site and frequently contact the moderators if I find something out of place, such as an advert placed in the incorrect category.

In Poppys case I have not got a clue why it was locked other than recently there has been a spate of one sided personal tales.

But, if a reason was given at the end of the locked thread then we would have a clue ... we would know, full stop! That is my point. We wouldn't even need to be having this discussion trying to guess at why!

As far as sending emails to every person who's threads are locked - please get real. These boards have hundreds of topics per week. The Mods have to read every ad to make sure it conforms to the AUP read every posting to make sure there is no unregistered emails or phone numbers, cam ads being placed in the wrong area, etc and now you want to add further burden to their workload.

It was only a suggestion .. and I said that it would probably be more effective to add the reasons to the end of the thread when locking it .. thus making the reasons clear to everyone reading it. I agree that it is time consuming and I know this from first-hand exprience.

What do you think a MOD is? They may appear superhuman but basically they are a very hardworking bunch of people who give their time and energy to maintain this site as well as they do.

I happen to be a volunteer moderator for a philosphical discussion forum. The forum probably does not enjoy the traffic that this site does .. but I'm well aware of what being a moderator entails.
As far as my own moderation goes, I would NEVER lock down a thread without first giving warning to the participants in a thread and without giving a final reason post at the end. This only seems good manners, especially if someone has taken considerable time and effort typing their contribution. Everyone participating in the thread has been warned and therefore has a chance to alter what it is they are doing wrong but also everyone reading the thread is also re-reminded of the site rules.
However, neither of the locked threads under discussion appear to have contravened the rules of posting on this site. I've re-read this site rules and nowhere can I see where they do.

They are also swingers who would like to play as well - How they manage this at the same time as as banning the twats, bollocking the berks, winding up the trolls (before nuking thier arses) Shit I reckon they are Super Men and Women. Ohhhh and they do have real lifes too.

I'm well aware of all of this. The answer could be the need for more moderators. Locking down threads without explaining why leads to confusion over site rules etc and leaves everyone trying to guess as to why it has happened.

29 Apr 2005

Without going into specific - anyone remember this?

Swinging Heaven - Registration Agreement Terms
While the administrators and moderators of this forum will attempt to remove or edit any generally objectionable material as quickly as possible, it is impossible to review every message. Therefore you acknowledge that all posts made to these forums express the views and opinions of the author and not the administrators, moderators or webmaster (except for posts by these people) and hence will not be held liable.
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By clicking Register below you agree to be bound by these conditions and our site-wide Acceptable Use Policy.
I Agree to the terms above, I am in the UK and over 18 years of age
I do not agree to these terms

All I can say is that we don't lock posts for fun! There HAVE been a huge number of posts lately which are now locked, and for a variety of reasons. Usually the motivation behind a locking is obvious, though not perhaps to the person posting it.
Just with the photo ads (which incidentally Mark has calculated to be 87% of the site traffic these days and so take up shed-loads of time) we expect people to have read the AUP/registration form and system guidelines before they post. It MAY be that the Mod who deleted/locked a thread is distracted by something going on somewhere else on the site/at home/in the back garden/upstairs etc etc and doesn't PM the person - sometimes it's blindingly obvious and needs no PM. If you are offended then PM a visible Mod, or if none are visible then PM any Mod.
Currently we are all struggling with determined attempts by various pay-for-sex sites to swamp the photo ads systems, men who are posting to set their wives, men who are posting pics of their ex-girlfriends wanting revenge, people pretending to be women but really just other websites/men and or professional sex workers. And then we come on to read threads like 'front door or back door'. :shock: :shock: :shock:
If you expect tolerance than please give it too.
:P
Just found this on the Help pages:

Why has my post/thread been locked/deleted!?
Firstly, please carefully read our Forum Posting Guidelines to gain some insight as to why this may have happened. Also, refamiliarize yourself with the forum registration terms you agreed to, paying particular attention to this section: You agree that the webmaster, administrator and moderators of this forum have the right to remove, edit, move or close any topic at any time should they see fit.
Usually when a post is locked the reason is given by the Moderator who locked it. If your post/thread was deleted then it was most likely considered so pointless or such an infringement of the AUP that it should no longer remain on the site.
The possible reasons your post/thread was locked or deleted are too numerous to mention here, so we simply ask you to accept the decision and move on. What we certainly do NOT want to see is yet another post asking why your previous one was locked or deleted.
If you think your rights as a forum member have been abused and you want to have the matter looked into, please see our abuse page and send us as much information as possible, including your forum username and the link to, or content of, the post in question.

I think that covers most options. If not then PM one of us.
:P

29 Apr 2005

Quote by Jags
Currently we are all struggling with determined attempts by various pay-for-sex sites to swamp the photo ads systems, men who are posting to set their wives, men who are posting pics of their ex-girlfriends wanting revenge, people pretending to be women but really just other websites/men and or professional sex workers. And then we come on to read threads like 'front door or back door'. :shock: :shock: :shock:

29 Apr 2005

Quote by Rainbows

Currently we are all struggling with determined attempts by various pay-for-sex sites to swamp the photo ads systems, men who are posting to set their wives, men who are posting pics of their ex-girlfriends wanting revenge, people pretending to be women but really just other websites/men and or professional sex workers. And then we come on to read threads like 'front door or back door'. :shock: :shock: :shock:

Good point Jags.
Come on guys - give the mods a break (oh except for Chicken Legs - he's rusty and needs some polishing up :twisted: ).
These people work hard voluntarily, to keep this site the successful site it is. When you have been here long enough you will be able to almost instantly realise why a thread has been locked yourself. And sometimes you may even wish you had the magic buttons to lock some yourselves!
Arguing relentlessly about whether threads should be locked or not is pointless. Let the mods get on a regulate the site in the way that MARK wants them to.
Rainbows realises that she sounds too much like an "oldie" now - and quickly retreats
Folks are genuinely concerned about this issue and everyone so far has made valid points. The mods certainly have a tough job just moderating the ads and with the success of this site comes also an increase in abuses which need regulating. But it's not just the mods that make this site/forum successful, it's also the hundreds of posters that invariably post on subjects that engage, amuse and yes sometimes irritate others..but isn't that just a reflection of society in general? Being here in itself says something about who we are..doesn't it? People involved in this alt lifestyle tend to be more liberated, open minded and hopefully more understanding than your average person and probably deserve at least a fair hearing of what ever they want to get off their chest at a particular time. It's a shame that people are now shallow breathing, worrying about what they're going to post and the negative reaction it might receive.
I have no idea why these posters have had their threads locked/deleted and it may appear to them as though it has been done arbitrarily..which does appear rude. Maybe if a post does not break any obvious rules, in terms of being abusive, offensive etc, then maybe it should be left, until a mod finds time to pm that member to explain why?
Let's be nice to each other!! lol

:lol:

:) :)

29 Apr 2005

Quote by alspals
Let's be nice to each other!! :lol:
:) :)

Yep - I'm all for that. :lol:
:P

29 Apr 2005

Quote by Sexysteph
It is in my personal opinion that the incident you mention although outrageous and I am sorry it happened to you was NOTHING about SWINGING.

The Cafe
General discussion and chit-chat. Post anything here that is NOT a Meet Up or about Dogging. Use the sections below for those

Hmmmmm!

With this in mind, perhaps we will see the dispearance of the threads about football, television, piercings, tattoos, jokes ... blah blah blah :roll:

29 Apr 2005

I agree with everything thats been said, i too have had posts locked with no apparent reason behind it, my locked post has been read by 104 people, so the heading must have stimulated some interest. I agree that the mods are there to keep things cool, but under the terms of the content of "The Cafe" it's just a place to chat, and expand ideas and friendships, come on guys, lifes hard enough as it is, at least give us a reason, most of the time we're just looking for some light hearted fun or banter, and there are some great threads that have really made me chuckle, it's a great site, and hats off to everyone who makes it so, but be careful not to alienate as well lol

Some of my posts may seem boring or wierd to some, but then vice-versa i dont read all of the posts myself!!!!!!! :shock:

29 Apr 2005

Quote by marktheminx
I agree with everything thats been said, i too have had posts locked with no apparent reason behind it, my locked post has been read by 104 people, so the heading must have stimulated some interest. I agree that the mods are there to keep things cool, but under the terms of the content of "The Cafe" it's just a place to chat, and expand ideas and friendships, come on guys, lifes hard enough as it is, at least give us a reason, most of the time we're just looking for some light hearted fun or banter, and there are some great threads that have really made me chuckle, it's a great site, and hats off to everyone who makes it so, but be careful not to alienate as well
Some of my posts may seem boring or wierd to some, but then vice-versa i dont read all of the posts myself!!!!!!! :shock:

..well said Mark..and I read all your posts :sleeping: :sleeping:
..sorry! :lol: :lol:

29 Apr 2005

No worries,
ime here to laugh at, poke at, an anything else people may fancy hump

29 Apr 2005

Quote by marktheminx
No worries,
ime here to laugh at, poke at, an anything else people may fancy

me too!! Good luck cool

29 Apr 2005

Quote by alspals
People involved in this alt lifestyle tend to be more liberated, open minded and hopefully more understanding than your average person and probably deserve at least a fair hearing of what ever they want to get off their chest at a particular time. It's a shame that people are now shallow breathing, worrying about what they're going to post and the negative reaction it might receive.

Totally agree with you. I am not advcating locking all non swinging related topics. Hmm - seem to remember we did this last year. And the result was silly. Everyone was too scared to post anything non swinger related - but only for a short time and then everything got back to normal again.
I remember being really upset becuase one of my threads was reffered to as being "pointless". Then I remembered that this is an internet forum FFS - and wasn't worth getting upset about.
I guess the key word is "balance" IMHO. I would hate to see the cafe become a swinging related place only - with no non swinging topics allowed, but there has to be some sort of balance and moderation.
I don't have an answer. Just opinions.
aRSexx :color:

29 Apr 2005

I agree that there do seem to be a lot of locked threads just lately. Some threads do need to be locked because they have content that breaks the AUP but there does seem to be an arbitrary nature to some of the locking. Some very similar threads are left to run eg. some joke threads are locked immediately, some are left to run. It is this seeming arbitrariness that leads to the complaints of unfairness.
The problem is that the forums have remained static in size as the membership has grown. Posts come so quickly that some 'interesting' threads are swamped by the 'uninteresting'. I can see the argument for not opening another forum as this could lead to a two-tier system but is the solution to lock so many threads without offering guidance as to why they were locked? If the mods are struggling under their workload then the solution could be to recruit more mods.
However, just as the search button is our friend, maybe the 'back' button should be our friend also. Noone is forced to read threads that they find uninteresting. The truly uninteresting will soon sink to the pit of oblivion that is page 2.

29 Apr 2005

Quote by northwest-cpl
The truly uninteresting will soon sink to the pit of oblivion that is page 2.

Or as it is otherwise known - the "Hull Page"
lol

29 Apr 2005

Guess what ?????????///
I'm locking this one :shock: :shock: :shock:
Only because there are 4 threads covering this subject on the go now. I will keep this one open simply because it was the first one: http://www.swingingheaven.co.uk/swingers-forum/viewtopic/42525.html