Important Question re: Site Operation

[Doreen Peri]

Anybody want my job?

[Doreen Peri]

I was just thinking that I'm apparently not being successful with operating these boards.

There are people complaining about people, and we have our resident badmouth who thinks it's funny to slam people and call them names and we have other people who answer in return with slams and no matter what I say, no matter how kindly I ask, no matter how humorously I try to handle the situations, I get ignored.

When I try to turn it into comedy, it doesn't work. When I ask people nicely to stop name-calling and to quit fighting on the boards, it doesn't work. When I point out the Fireplace and Chat and Freedom Hall as options for places to be rude and throw up all over the carpet without spoiling the party by regurgitating in the living room, it doesn't work. Nobody listens. Nobody seems to care that I care very much about these boards.

People are posting their opinions, and some are pushing my hand. I have received emails, as I've stated before, where people have threatened to leave because I moderate the board too lightly. And I have received emails where people have threatened to leave because I moderate the boards too heavily. They say I shouldn't get involved in the fights and try to stop the name-calling.

I spent 3 or 4 hours on here last night, changing perezoso's icon to a picture of Don Rickles just to show our other board members that his insults should be taken as comedy, not seriously. Every time I changed the avatar, he removed it. Why did I do this? Because I don't want people to get insulted by ridiculous, adolescent slams.

And I don't want to broadcast or host such garbage.

I do the best I can with it, but I'm tired and it's getting tiresome. Now we have a poll where one is saying, "it's me or him." And I have no plans on removing either membership no matter the results of the poll. We have had at least 10 new member names register in the past day for probably the sole purpose of voting in this poll. And I just read a comment where a treasured member says that she thinks that people on this board must think the name-calling is clever.

NOBODY thinks it's clever. I'm very sure of that. It's NOT clever and it's not funny. But the only way I know how to deal with it is to ask people to STOP! And to treat it as comedy if they don't.

So, maybe we should work it this way.

Who wants my job?

You guys can elect a new Administrator and that Administrator can select Moderators or you can vote them in or something, and you can all make rules and you can all be in on planning the rules and regulations and form a sort of government if you like. Then, it will be up to you who stays and who goes and you can decide for yourselves whether what goes on here is acceptable to your tastes.

I will create a new banner for you every few days and post my poetry and stories and while you're governing the place, I'll go take a nap.

Whaddya all say? Any takers?

[Lightning Rod]

I nominate perezoso

[Anonymous-one]

I second the nomination.

[Doreen Peri]

OK.

Do we have a third?

[knip]

3rd

[Doreen Peri]

OK!

Now we're getting somewhere!

Where is that Don Rickles dude anyway?

It's the American Way!

Some sites have 3-strikes-and-you're-out.

But we are setting a precedent for voting IN a new Administrator!

Thing is, we need a second candidate or the election won't be fair.

Who wants to step up to the plate? Any other nominations out there?

This will be GREAT! I'll be able to write again!

[Ever hear about the gal who got in a major car accident and the nerves to her hands got severed and the doctor recommended surgery and she said, "But... but.... will I be able to play the piano?" and he said, "YES! Of course!" and she replied, "Great! I never could play the piano before!"]

[abcrystcats]

Doreen, you keep telling me that you admire the fact that I always tell the truth. Well, I'm going to tell the truth now, and I am absolutely positive that you will NOT admire for it!

This recent post of your sounds awfully familiar. Do you remember our arguments/discussions about the troll subject some months ago? You made the EXACT same request then. You said if someone wanted to moderate the board, you would welcome the help. I eagerly volunteered to be that moderator, and then all of a sudden, mysteriously, you could not find a way to make the "moderator" task work for your forum.

I ended up getting my own exclusive site on this forum, which I did not ask for and really (this is the truth, now) did not want.

Shortly thereafter, the moderator button magically became operative and several people had the opportunity to moderate parts of the site.

At that point, I threw up my hands. It was quite obvious to me that you were not seriously or sincerely requesting help with your forum to keep the trolls in abeyance. Now, again, you say you want help. I think this is a case of the little boy that cried wolf. I find it difficult to believe you after our previous lengthy discussion.

I cannot believe that you think flattering Perezoso for his "sense of humor" is helping the situation. I can easily provide examples of what I mean when I say this. I am tired of watching good discussions dwindle down into namecalling, putdown trading sessions, or Perezoso mitigating-and-calming-down contests.

I am not at all surprised that people have told you outright that they will leave the group if Perez stays in it. I've been staying out of here frankly because every time I post ANYTHING to this board and he sees it, he responds with some kind of insult. I haven't been responding to the insults (until now) but I haven't been looking forward to posting here, either.

I really and truly don't know what you are going to do -- or can do -- about Perezoso. Maybe it is really true that you can do nothing at all about him and your hands are tied. If so, I feel bad about that, because this was really looking like a great website. As for moderators, I cannot A. believe that you want them, and B. agree to be one NOW because my first sincere offer to help you was treated so badly.

I meant what I said about his posts. I think they are obtuse, mostly devoid of meaning and filled with half-expressed overintellectualizations. That is, when he is actually posting seriously and not in the act of denigrating others. I do not think his posts are interesting or thought-provoking. I know others disagree with me. I don't think his serious posts are worth the price of reading his sarcasms, not at all. That is just my opinion, and it is only one of many.

I probably have no right whatsoever to express my opinion because this is not my site and I already told you I cannot volunteer (AGAIN) to moderate your forum. I already did it once and I do not think my offer was treated very appropriately.

Sorry to disappoint you by descending to Perezoso's level in the discussion you recently discarded into the Fireplace, but if he can do it, then everybody in this forum ought to be permitted to do the same thing. I do not see how you can stop it.

[knip]

i always feel like you're scolding when you post, cat

sorry...being honest


i think i'm going to take a vacation from here for a while

[perezoso]

Descending to my level Mizz AbBonBon? That's amusing. My "level" is based on the notion that when people put forth their ideas or claims, they support them with evidence, facts, data, and argue for their case, instead of relying on juvenile emotions and sentimentalities.You are seemingly unable to do this.

Your arrogant, know-nothing, emotional approach to writing (and life) is showing again. You like to pretend you're some great intellectual (or poet, heh heh) when you are obviously stymied by any appearance of deductive or inductive reasoning.

--------------------------------

Thanks, L-Rod and A-O, but really I'm not administrator material, since I'm not such a fan of poetry or chit chat, and would require that writing meet a logical criteria which would eliminate, well, Miss ABski and Goobertrash, for instance.

I hate to sound like the conservative curmudgeon I don't want to be, but something could be said for more non-fiction and political essays and less creative writing and chit chat. And I've had enough of flames really. It was Mr. Trash who started the lame "poll" and subsequent flame war.

[Doreen Peri]

Cat-

The software allows me to designate moderators for specific boards. Was what you originally wanted your name on ALL of the boards? I didn't understand it that way.

I'm sorry for the confusion. Apparently, you felt I dissed you when I didn't at all mean to do that. I wanted help, yes, but I do not want this board to become anything similar to other online moderated boards where posts are taken into private sessions for subjective evaluation. I didn't want that then. And I don't want that now.

I created the Studios for people to have their own areas for posting material so they become the performer in that studio. Your Studio was the first here. I gave it to you because I thought you wanted it. If I misunderstood in some way, I sincerely apologize.

I don't believe in heavy-handed moderation. I don't like censorship. At the same time, in my personal life and in my life ANYWHERE, on the net included, I don't accept antagonization, ridicule, and belittlement.

I do the best I can. That's all I can say.

Yes, you saw moderators added to the boards as each were given their own Studios and as the Jam Session was created. It's a process of creation.

This post of mine was rhetoric, for the most part.

It's saying to those in the community who are complaining, "Put yourself in MY shoes. You want to complain? YOU do it, then, DAMMIT!"

All I wanted to do was to create a space to publish some of the creative artists I know and to have a gathering spot for interactive conversation about the arts.

If anybody thinks they can handle it better than me, then I welcome them to either create their own forums or step up to the mic and tell me my management style is fucked up.

Did you just tell me that?

I'm not sure.

We love having you here, Cat.

I'm very confused about where you took offense during the development of these forums. I just created them a little at a time and came up with ideas along the way and presented them. I never asked for moderators to make rules or enforce them. Every post I've made on this topic AND every email or pm I exchanged with you has been based on people having the ability to handle themselves with some semblance of maturity and respect for each other. I have posted in public forums, this one and others, many times, about how I would not be able to be a subjective judge or jury.

I just want to create art and talk about the art other people create.

Thanks for your reply. Please know I never meant to offend you or dismiss your offer to help.
---------------

knip -

and now I see your reply which wasn't here initially when I clicked to respond to Cat.

I'm sorry you feel that way.

I guess you're not our next rhetorical candidate for Administrator, huh?

Come back soon. We love you.

[abcrystcats]

"i always feel like you're scolding when you post, cat"

well, this time you'd be right, Knip. And for the record, that is exactly the way I feel when I read your posts. Almost all of them.

[Doreen Peri]

peresozo

knock it off

quit insulting my guests

go somewhere else if you want to throw up on someone's carpet

[perezoso]

Yr not too bright are you, Doe Doe.

I was insulted, dummy, and am responding in kind.

Again, the irrational bickerings on this site indicate the necessity for logic and a clearly stated editorial policy.

[Doreen Peri]

Just because you get insulted by someone, doesn't mean it is proper to answer with insult, Mr. P.

Your posts were insulted because many of your posts are insulting.

I may not be the brightest light on the planet, but I'm wise enough to know some things.

And I know this.

Your essays and poetry and philosophy interactions are welcome here but your insults are not.

So, cut it out. Please.

Thank you.

(The 3 most important phrases in the English language. Please. Thank you. And I'm sorry. Why don't you try apologizing.)

What IS

"a clearly stated editorial policy?"

Rules?

What rules would you suggest?

Aren't you the one who calls people Nazis when they have rules?

You tell me what type of "clearly stated editorial policy" would work well?

Would you be able to follow your own rules?