Suggestions

I had a long standing thread removed when it was RR'd no warning and no explanation...so yes they did remove the entire thread

Members may have asked for change but I never asked to have none offending posts RR'd

Change is a completely seperate issue to the one that we are talking about here

Here, the main discussion is the vindictive reporting of posts that have no abusive content.

I can confirm that the whole of Ginny's thread was removed last year but we never knew why.

Likewise Sue's 'Help us to help you' thread was entirely removed too. I have often seen comments, especially on Chat, that threads have been 'whooshed'. So it has happened.

This thread isn't about change - some of which are great - it's about the fact that so many opening posts, which are totally innocuous, are being Requested for Review.

There are too many of them for it to be an innocent poster who doesn't know what the button is for (I have been asked that several times by newbies)or, it's a glitch in the system whilst things are being changed.

The final thing to consider is, that it's someone with a peculiar sense of humour who finds delight in RR'ing just for the sake of it.


Cx
:-(

I had my thread put up for review yesterday. regarding my Grt Aunte, Of whom I have not requested info about before.

I would dearly love to know why.

After a 2yr break I would love to know why me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Any thoughts?

My thoughts Sox are.....it's NOT you, so dont worry! It's someone or a group of people that are having their fun

Keep posting thats what I say :-)

If my understanding is correct this is what happens if a post which has been referred for review is found, by whoever at GR is responsible for deciding such things, to be guilty of a breach of GR's rules or of infringement of a third party's privacy.

If the offending post is the original post, then the whole thread is deleted.

If the offending post is a later one within the body of the thread only that post is deleted. The remainder of the thread continues to be displayed.

Remarking that the current apparent considerable increase in the number of posts being requested for review is the result of GR members asking for change is probably both inaccurate and misleading. Perhaps the poster of that comment fails to see what the fuss is about because they have not had one of their own posts removed and then subsequently restored after it has been found to be innocent of any breach of GR's rules or the privacy of any individual.

True to a point Jonesey but Sue's first posting in her long running thread was simply helpful tips for newbies............the whole thread went!

No rhyme nor reason it seems.


Cx :-D

i wonder...I just moved over to my old PC from my laptop - now my PC uses IE6 (egads, I know) and when the threads come up they slip down the page and the formatting is all fouled up...

Now I noticed just then on my own thread that the links look like this

Report as Abuse Edit Delete Mark this
as answered

Now I wonder if it is possible that the posters themselves are inadvertently reporting their own post by clicking on the left hand link, thinking they are marking it as answered, but actually reporting it instead!!!

I haven't tried it so not sure what comes up - does it ask to confirm the reporter's intention - e.g. are you sure you want to report this thread? - or if it just 'does it'.

Perhaps GR needs to follow the lead of Facebook and have a bit more detail - asking the reason for the report, such as...

Abusive or inappropriate content
Duplicate thread
Living person's details included

What do others think? I'm not sure if this has been suggested before (or even if it is in fact what happens now!)

Cherilyn

I just clicked on your post and reported it as abuse and got this

Request a review
Vindictive Post reporting YOU RISK BEING BANNED
Please help us to review this post by entering a brief description of why you think this post breaks our house rules. Your comments will be treated in confidence and will be read by our highly experienced customer service team.

There was a drop down menu:

Report as:

Offensive/abusive
Data protection
Duplicate post
Other

You had to check one of those and click on submit

As you see I didnt click submit!!!

Aha! Excellent, good to know, Ginny!

I guess my theory of accidental reporting goes out the window then! :-)

Just so you're aware I still keeping track of this (and the few duplicate threads that seem to have been spawned), yes I agree with Ginny's comments that a new member making their first post looking for Ancestors or Living Relatives or whatever, might put their post on the wrong board. To then have it reported for being in the wrong board when at this point we (GR) don't provide an easy method to switch the thread to another board is not helpful. I would therefore suggest that reporting something because it is in the wrong board should be discouraged by the community until we can implement some of the changes previously discussed. What would be more helpful is to add a reply stating:

"I have noticed that you have created a new thread in board x. To get the best response from the members of the community, I would suggest re-posting your request in board y. When you have done that, it would helpful to return to the original post and delete it. This helps keeps the boards organised, and allows you to get the best out of the GR community and its members."

or something along those lines.

A similar approach could be used to deal with a number of potential reporting issues. The Report feature should be used sparingly.

Thanks
Phil

Very sensible Phil. :-)

Phil,

Once again your proposals make good sense.

P.S. I love your disclaimer. Rough translation: My employer does not necessarily agree with everything I say but I am working at it. ;-)

I agree with what you are saying Phil about mentioning that a post is on the wrong board ect.....but there are some people that dont take kindly to people advising them.

When that sticky appeared on Genealogy chat the first look up that was posted I mentioned it....well I must say that did'nt go down too well and turned into a nasty thread on general chat where I and another member were called the board police ect.

I do not see why it should be down to other members to do this

Also as people are having problems getting on all the boards because of maintenance we do not know if that is the reason they have posted there

jax

I think it all depends on how the advice is worded. I've seen posts 'advising' new people to post on another more appropriate board that comes across as ... well suffice to say ... somewhat bossy. There is a big difference between (and I'm not quoting anybody here ) 'You've posted this on the wrong board, go post on xxxx board and you'll get some help, this board is not for these kind of queries' and 'you might get a little more help with your question if you posted again on xxxx board, though do keep an eye on this too, helpful people are on all boards here.'

I want to stress I'm not having a go and anyone in particular here, just stating that I have seen for myself the 'advice' given to various people which has come across as aggressive and would make them feel 'policed' rather than advised.

Jax,

It is not really down to GR members to do this, indeed it is not their responsibility, it is just that in the current absence of an official GR message board moderator that some members such as yourself choose to do it voluntarily.

Unfortunately whilst some GR members welcome the advice given there is always the possibility that others may view it differently seeing it as interference, resulting in situations such as you describe.

Other sites such as Rootschat do have message board moderators who, if they see a post is in the wrong location or which contains anything contrary to that site's rules, either move it to the correct board or modify the post so that its content no longer breaches the site's rules. If such action is taken the originator of the post is notified by email of the action taken and of the reason for the action.

From Phil's comment it sounds as if GR may at some point in time consider employing a similar method.

I think there is a more standard way to advise where a thread ought to be posted for better results,,,,,,and stop the quoting of RULES.......



Hi xyz ==If you post this on the xyz board you will get lots of help.....but you must return and delete this posting which you can do by just clicking on the message you posted.

hey YOU you are posting on the wrong board and its not allowed its written in the RULES and you are NOT allowed to do it.

I know which is more pleasant reading to the eye and know that many newer members flee and feel they wont post again because they belive its GR staff giving a 3rd degree.....

Yep Kay....thats a very good point, there are ways and means of helping someone

I agree there are ways and means of helping people.

The thread I was talking about was not by a newbie and it was said I told her to delete the thread ???

When I said" is this going to be deleted" ? because the sticky says any look ups would be removed.

I pointed out the sticky...anyone would have thought I put it there :-D

So I will not bother anymore

Newbies you can point them in the right direction but if someone has always posted there they may take umbridge to being asked not to, and I dont think it should be down to other members to do that job

jax

Good point Kay..........I use the old adage....

It's not what you say, it's the way that you say it!


Thanks to Phil for keeping us informed and involved. Cx.

Sorry Jax, I didnt have you (or anyone in particular) in mind when I posted about how to tell someone they need so change something

I meant it in general, sometimes I see very 'curt' messages about the rules!