Just want to air a thought or two here & get some feedback/discussion. I frequent quite a few outdoors related sites, some virtually unmoderated, some are moderated very heavily. I have gathered some impressions and noticed a trend comparing the levels of moderation/censorship.
I find that most unmoderated sites are not ones that I would want my family to spend time on and as a result don't spend much time on them myself unless looking for an answer or info about hunting or shooting. The exception to this is 24hour Campfire. It is pretty unmoderated for the most part but the regulars are also savvy enough to keep things mostly civil. Sites like these attract people who generally are a wealth of information about shooting, hunting & the like and are quick to recognize a phony & will say so. Nothing wrong with that IMHO. Over-moderated sites (and there are more than a few) tend to become boring and lose members over time because there is already too much political correctness and fear of saying something that may just tread on someone's toes which would result in censure or ejection as a member.
I certainly draw the line at vulgarity, obscene language and personal attacks, but, surely if one disagrees passionately with another poster while keeping things civil, should he/she be censored? I recall a thread a week or two ago about medicare/social security and the war in Iraq taking money from these programs. The thread disappeared, I'm guessing because I had an opposing point of view? I sincerely believe that we (members and Moderators) need to think carefully before replying to posts AND before censoring same before it sets a tone that is so restrictive that Woody's suffers the same fate that some other forums did in the past. (Shooters is an example)
I posted this thread not because I have any axe to grind, but because I truly love Woody's, & look forward to getting online every day to read about whats going on in our neck of the woods. The intention is to generate discussion (& maybe a little introspective look at ourselves) to ensure that Woody's doesn't lose that campfire atmosphere & take on the "big brother" syndrome that tends to alienate members, rather than encourage participation.
What say Y'all................?
If I stepped out of line mentioning another website, my apologies, censor away.
badger
I find that most unmoderated sites are not ones that I would want my family to spend time on and as a result don't spend much time on them myself unless looking for an answer or info about hunting or shooting. The exception to this is 24hour Campfire. It is pretty unmoderated for the most part but the regulars are also savvy enough to keep things mostly civil. Sites like these attract people who generally are a wealth of information about shooting, hunting & the like and are quick to recognize a phony & will say so. Nothing wrong with that IMHO. Over-moderated sites (and there are more than a few) tend to become boring and lose members over time because there is already too much political correctness and fear of saying something that may just tread on someone's toes which would result in censure or ejection as a member.
I certainly draw the line at vulgarity, obscene language and personal attacks, but, surely if one disagrees passionately with another poster while keeping things civil, should he/she be censored? I recall a thread a week or two ago about medicare/social security and the war in Iraq taking money from these programs. The thread disappeared, I'm guessing because I had an opposing point of view? I sincerely believe that we (members and Moderators) need to think carefully before replying to posts AND before censoring same before it sets a tone that is so restrictive that Woody's suffers the same fate that some other forums did in the past. (Shooters is an example)
I posted this thread not because I have any axe to grind, but because I truly love Woody's, & look forward to getting online every day to read about whats going on in our neck of the woods. The intention is to generate discussion (& maybe a little introspective look at ourselves) to ensure that Woody's doesn't lose that campfire atmosphere & take on the "big brother" syndrome that tends to alienate members, rather than encourage participation.
What say Y'all................?
If I stepped out of line mentioning another website, my apologies, censor away.
badger