GasBuddy Blog

Message Forum - Read Message

Category: Talk back to us! > Topics	Add to favorite topics Post New Topic

Author	Topic: Punishment	Topic is locked Back to Topics

Shockjock1961 Champion Author Illinois Posts:20,100 Points:2,182,235 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Feb 12, 2013 9:21:50 AM Ignore Shockjock1961 Report Abuse Why do the Moderators use blanket punishment when two persons are debating and one person decides to use personal attacks as a tool, rather then warn/punish the person making the attacks? I can't seem to get an answer in private, so I thought I would ask in public...

Shockjock1961

Champion Author
Illinois

Posts:20,100
Points:2,182,235
Joined:Apr 2006

Message Posted: Feb 12, 2013 9:21:50 AM

Ignore Shockjock1961 Report Abuse

Why do the Moderators use blanket punishment when two persons are debating and one person decides to use personal attacks as a tool, rather then warn/punish the person making the attacks?

I can't seem to get an answer in private, so I thought I would ask in public...

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

CampKohler Champion Author Sacramento Posts:9,446 Points:1,562,015 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Feb 14, 2013 10:14:20 PM Ignore CampKohler Report Abuse It only takes two to start an argument, but it takes at least three or four to get the funball rolling.
scoutmaster Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:81,180 Points:3,250,695 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Feb 13, 2013 2:28:43 PM Ignore scoutmaster Report Abuse Yes sireee bob!
regulate_now Champion Author Indiana Posts:6,626 Points:1,009,050 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 13, 2013 12:03:01 PM Ignore regulate_now Report Abuse Can not
scoutmaster Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:81,180 Points:3,250,695 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Feb 13, 2013 11:32:47 AM Ignore scoutmaster Report Abuse My dad can whoop your dad!
RichWLIN Champion Author Indiana Posts:4,079 Points:635,940 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 13, 2013 9:12:35 AM Ignore RichWLIN Report Abuse Seems to me that there have been some pretty intense salvos here without -any- intervention or moderation. Most are caused by one party purposely baiting others (trolling), or sometimes it just boils down to disagreement or personality conflicts that result in reported site rules infractions. Typically, one party has to whine, complain and report abuse incessantly before management grows weary enough of it to take some form of proactive or punitive action resulting in a cease-fire.
regulate_now Champion Author Indiana Posts:6,626 Points:1,009,050 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 13, 2013 5:58:59 AM Ignore regulate_now Report Abuse DUZ NOT
scoutmaster Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:81,180 Points:3,250,695 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Feb 13, 2013 5:11:30 AM Ignore scoutmaster Report Abuse Does too~
kwzh Champion Author San Jose Posts:20,634 Points:3,679,735 Joined:Jul 2001	Message Posted: Feb 13, 2013 2:28:18 AM Ignore kwzh Report Abuse Does not!!!!
ziyulu Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:8,484 Points:1,599,950 Joined:Aug 2007	Message Posted: Feb 12, 2013 5:52:28 PM Ignore ziyulu Report Abuse It takes two to start an argument.
Gas_Buddy Champion Author Maryland Posts:25,953 Points:3,031,140 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Feb 12, 2013 4:01:28 PM Ignore Gas_Buddy Report Abuse First, you're not indicating what you mean by "use personal attacks as a tool", which can be as simple as a member calling another member an idiot or stupid (for their point of view), could be using profanity or derogatory terms, or letting a topic go on well beyond it's purpose. Second, you're not saying what you mean by "punishment", a term which has been used in previous discussions as a topic being closed (before the members could continue their "discussion"), members being banned, or any other type of "punishment". Without knowing anything other than your perspective, that two persons are debating and one uses personal attacks, (as indicated below), the moderators don't have the time, nor should they take it, to do a detailed review of all that's taken place in a "debate" to determine if this one or that one is to blame, or more to blame. Discussions (debates, if you will) are an incidental part of this website, not an essential or required element, nor should there be (as far as I can determine) issues so sensitive as to create any animosity among members. We're pretty much here to post gas prices, discuss-share information-and learn about fuel and energy and related issues; hardly the stuff of debates warranting personal attacks. To stop such "attacks", the moderators have every right to impose what they deem appropriate "punishment"; it's their website for you to use, and for them to see is operated and conducted in a civil manner. If their "punishment" is deemed too harsh by members, there's no requirement that members use the site. Sorry, but, not knowing the specific issues that prompted "blanket punishment", I can understand the moderators taking quick, effective, and possibly broad action so that the members can move on to more productive issues.
SUVFan Champion Author Columbus Posts:13,881 Points:1,630,650 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Feb 12, 2013 9:53:50 AM Ignore SUVFan Report Abuse When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. I think in many cases, the mods probably believe that the person claiming the moral high ground probably baited the attacker. Bottom line, they don't have time to sort out the history of these things. At some point, they do choose to ban the attacker, but that takes either a fairly long track record or some extreme form of abuse (language or pictures) from what I've seen.
scoutmaster Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:81,180 Points:3,250,695 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Feb 12, 2013 9:24:46 AM Ignore scoutmaster Report Abuse The answer I have gotten is to prevent any more bashing from either party.