Suggestions

Chris

I did not realise that anyone had treated Sylvia like that until I read it on here. I am on several threads with her and am appalled at her being treated like that.

I don't know if any of us New Zealanders have had that sort of treatment. I haven't, but then I can enlist a very good bunch of front row forwards to deal with the likes of that.

Persie

Well I don't know what ol' Enid Blyton would have made of all things GR, wev'e had, Disappearing Threads, Vanishing Posts, Spiteful Messages, Phantom Nudgers, and to date the Mysterious Reporter, oh whatever next eh?...Lol.

(But, on a serious note, I am very sorry to read Sylvia has received such messages, to say not nice is an understatement)

Chris :)

It looks like someone posted inbetween Susan with numbers posts. I remember reading one of them and Susan was being her usual self... nothing offensive. I am in the other time zone but have been out and of course you don't know till later all you know is who the last person was... not that someone has been delving.

Does Susan know?

I have been meaning to thank Phil for listening to us and being prepared to look into it all.

I took the liberty Phil of copying part of one of your items re the troubles with the site, error messages etc on to a thread complaining about it. Just to tell that person you were onto it.

Persie

Just a thought....they were reported in the middle of the night (UK) so it someone who either stays up very very late or is in another time zone

Phil

I didnt say thank you for communicating with us on here, sorry...
Thank You :-D

If the reporter of posts had their name added to the report then I guess that would stop this

If I reported a post, it would be because the content was abusive ie; strong language (very strong language for me to report!) or it was breaching equality or privacy in some way. I wouldnt mind you adding my name because it would be a 'just' reason for reporting

Now, if I was being a petulant child and reporting posts for the wrong reason, I would think twice :-D

Hi Susan

What on earth has happened to your posts?

The Phantom Post Reprter of Old London Town....?

I didnt see them so dont know what the content was but I would guess it was not offensive

Phil

Help..................please :-D

Lol


Now you are being silly :-)

Weird that my post should have been RRd

Isn't this what the thread is about.

I was answering a post on the thread.

I had a pm too.

There isn't anything on that post that should have been RRd but not to worry

it seems I have annoyed someone with my opinion.....I wonder who? :-)

I agree that everyone has a right to post......as long as they watch what and how they write.

It seems that some offend others easily without much thought as to the content or manner of their post.

it is difficult sometimes to let the other person know that they have caused offence if they cannot see that they have.

Not everyone who tries to put another point of view across is drunk or bored and the assumption that they are, is in itself offensive.

Thanks for your feedback Phil, that's that first thing I would like to say. It is great that you have taken the time to read the opinions expressed and are looking at taking some action.

I agree with the suggestion re the discrimination etc. You could build this into the new membership/renewal screen where you either agree to meet the conditions of membership or you cannot proceed.

That way both your back is covered in a legal sense, it empowers you at the very least to remove the people who behave in an offensive manner (which can be supported obviously by looking at their posts and personal messages to other members), and the members aren't (hopefully) exposed to these people.

You are correct in that the term Abuse does not really fit the review action - some people would interpret abuse as a physical action rather than someone not acting in alignment with the rules of membership.

I'm looking forwrad to the changes being made (especially if you can advise the poster why a thread was removed, and not just that it has been)

Cheers

"while you are considering all these viewpoints, what about discrimination?"
- in my opinion, there should be no discrimination of any kind. This site is universal, across the world.

Tooty

that's what I think, but it seems some people have other thoughts

Discrimination should never be tolerated in any way shape or form. Everyone who pays their subs has a right to an opinion which some will agree with and some won't but is not an excuse for making another member unwelcome or to personally attack anyone.

Hi Phil

Another idea is rather than just have a sticky about the 'procedures' to posting, you could make it a 'sign' to say you have read it and agree to it and if they dont agree....they cant be a member

Phil

while you are considering all these viewpoints, what about discrimination?

We all know about racial, sexual etc discrimination


But I and one or two others have at times been told that we have no right to post or contribute to threads, especially on Chat, because we are Canadian and not English. I have been told to "go back to Canada and stop posting on here".

I have been told when providing information on when certain records became available how I could have the nerve to post or know about xxxxx because "you are Canadian"

That's discrimination on the basis of nationality.

and very upsetting


So far as I know, all overseas members have the same rights as UK members.

If I complain to abuse@ about such posts, will it be taken seriously?

even though it is the same 2 or 3 people who repeatedly do this type of thing.

Or will I be the one who ends up being banned?


I never have complained about this in the past ................. partly because I got the feeling that nothing would be done.



I'm afraid that I won't be able to reply to you about your response to this until next week as I am going away for a few days.


But I do hope you will give it consideration.



sylvia

Phil

what about people who get banned by GR because multiple "abuse" reports have been sent in maliciously?

I know of several occasions where someone has been banned or suspended, and most of us had seen nothing wrong in posts that were reported for review.

I'm not kidding when I say there was a period of time when posts saying "hello" were reported for review!

It sometimes seems as though the banning is an automatic response, based on x number of "abuse" reports received, with no judicious review of what was reported and WHO was doing it.

Is there any way of conducting a review of those bannings, and reinstating the people without any penalty?


Many of the malicious reports seem to happen at weekends, especially late at night UK time. Maybe alcohol involved, or bored people at a loose end. I am under the belief that GR staff do not work at such hours.

Any suggestions as to how to deal with that




Secondly, if people who have been banned because they have been posting maliciously or making multiple reports, are later allowed back, is there going to be a "one strike and out" deal with them?




sylvia

Personally I dislike the term Abuse - and in many cases it is not abuse. Thus I am suggesting the link is actually changed to just say "Report" - and some indication is given as to what Report is for when you hover over, as well as when it is clicked and a confirm dialog box is presented on screen. And finally the report screen that follows should also make it clear as to its purpose and misuse.

Sorry you misunderstood me Phil

So members are to report these posts as abuse? reason being incorrect board?

jax

Hi Jax - my complete confusion in understanding your comment. I thought you were meaning are the changes I refer to going to be done in the next few hours - re-reading your post I now understand. I was referring to where an active and ongoing thread is in the wrong board, then these should be reported - and full indication be given at all times about the state and future state of the thread. If it is closed and it helps de-clutter, then possibly it could still be used - but if there isn't a demand then probably not. I would hope that reporting gets dealt with fairly quickly - but this is something I will have to discuss with the support team.

Well then I cannot see any point in moving something that has been completed...only for the purpose that it will not clutter up a board that is meant to be used for questions and tips ect.

So are the members meant to report these posts on the wrong boards or are the Genes staff going to find them?

jax

Sorry Jax. No, this won't happen straight away. I would like to see what feedback specially comes along on this for the net few days - in the meantime we're doing performance/stability work or some otehr things that were in the pipeline. I will keep you posted.

lancashireAnn - I will edit the list to take this into account. It seems a fair comment also.