Quality of Moderation on MacRumors Forums

[icanhazmac]

I am sure some members have good intentions but some simply want the site to be EXACTLY the way they want it to be, regardless of what management or the majority of the members/community want it to be. They tend to be few in number but they tend to be very vocal.

I liken this to how I perceive the general population... there are extremely loud fringes, <5% IMHO, of society that will stomp their stupid little feet and scream their stupid little heads off trying to get the world the way they want it while the other 95% of us just keep our heads down and try to live normal lives. Those 5%, again IMHO, are not trying to make things better for everyone, they are trying to make things the way they want them and screw the 95%.

 

[tolsen718]

Regarding macrumors being a private site, yes they are free to moderate as they please.

I just want to get an idea if the moderation is being done fairly.

If it is, then I will continue to contribute to the conversation in the comments section of the articles. And I will let others know that I believe moderation at macrumors is done fairly.

If not, I will continue to read the articles here, but I won't bother investing time in participating in the comments section. There are other sites where I can invest my time better. And I will also be sure to let others know why I think macrumors moderation is biased.

So far I am leaning towards believing the moderation is biased. Macrumors is totally free to moderate in a biased fashion. They probably won't even notice the 1/10 of a penny they lose this year from advertising revenue because I stopped engaging in the comments sections ;-)

 

[laptech]

When it comes to the issue of context in my opinion you lot are either trolling me or being ostensibly awkward because you know full well what I am talking about but you are trying to twist to make it look like something completely different. You know full when what I mean so do not pretend otherwise. The forum is filled with posts of members giving negative opinions about their iphone, from complaining about battery drain to not liking how the display looks and when those type of posts appear you can guarantee that 5 or 6 posts later a member will post 'well if you don't like it, build your own phone' or 'if you don't like it buy an android phone'. The 2nd one has been extremely common in threads where people have voiced negative views and opinions about the app store or the price of a newly released iphone model. Not only is it very condescending but it is also being used to try and shutdown conversation on topics but yet nothing is done about it because MR admins saying do so is acceptable. Well telling someone to go search for something themselves is considered condescending and is not allowed per site rules so why isn't 'if you don't like it go build your own' or 'if you don't like it buy and android' because saying that is condescending also but MR admins allow it.

 

[I7guy]

Regarding macrumors being a private site, yes they are free to moderate as they please.

I just want to get an idea if the moderation is being done fairly.

If it is, then I will continue to contribute to the conversation in the comments section of the articles. And I will let others know that I believe moderation at macrumors is done fairly.

If not, I will continue to read the articles here, but I won't bother investing time in participating in the comments section. There are other sites where I can invest my time better. And I will also be sure to let others know why I think macrumors moderation is biased.

So far I am leaning towards believing the moderation is biased. Macrumors is totally free to moderate in a biased fashion. They probably won't even notice the 1/10 of a penny they lose this year from advertising revenue because I stopped engaging in the comments sections ;-)

I on’t understand the point of threats rather than constructive criticism. The threat is spreading the bad word regarding MacRumors. Imo, the universe doesn’t care.

You don’t have to explain your participation here. I don’t quite think that is the purpose of S&FF. If you want less moderation, less rules, more online freedoms the ability to engage in PRSI type topics there must be other places on the internet that fit the bill.

 

[icanhazmac]

'If you don't like it, build your own' is the most pathetic and lamest reasoning for responding to someone who has a complaint about something. People who use is are lame and pathetic in me opinion.

When it comes to the issue of context in my opinion you lot are either trolling me or being ostensibly awkward because you know full well what I am talking about but you are trying to twist to make it look like something completely different.

Speaking for myself, I am not trying to troll anyone. However, your post above reflected an absolute. People who say X are pathetic. I was merely trying to justify the few times I used similar language in a way that I didn't feel was pathetic in any way.

I would agree with you that anyone who replies to a simple post like "I don't like X about the iPhone" with "Then build your own" is probably trolling or taking a very lazy approach to discourse. The only time I would ever think of saying that, in that context, would be if the other member was in fact trolling the thread with constant "I don't like...." posts. We do have some members here who hate Apple products, or seem to, and just troll Apple fans.

Edit: Where I will not agree with you is in terms of those who want to break the Apple ecosystem via alt-stores. In that case I will continue to tell fans of that stance to "go buy an android". My reason... once alt-stores are legislated into existence a very unique, and in my opinion customer friendly, way of searching for, comparing, purchasing and upgrading apps will be lost. I bought into this system and I like it the way it is. Fans of alt-stores have other places to go, I don't. I didn't buy and Android and then spam their forums with requests for them to wall up their garden. This is not the place to debate that issue but I did want to defend my use of "go buy an android" and don't feel it is pathetic at all, of course YMMV.

 

[I7guy]

When it comes to the issue of context in my opinion you lot are either trolling me or being ostensibly awkward because you know full well what I am talking about but you are trying to twist to make it look like something completely different. You know full when what I mean so do not pretend otherwise. The forum is filled with posts of members giving negative opinions about their iphone, from complaining about battery drain to not liking how the display looks and when those type of posts appear you can guarantee that 5 or 6 posts later a member will post 'well if you don't like it, build your own phone' or 'if you don't like it buy an android phone'. The 2nd one has been extremely common in threads where people have voiced negative views and opinions about the app store or the price of a newly released iphone model. Not only is it very condescending but it is also being used to try and shutdown conversation on topics but yet nothing is done about it because MR admins saying do so is acceptable. Well telling someone to go search for something themselves is considered condescending and is not allowed per site rules so why isn't 'if you don't like it go build your own' or 'if you don't like it buy and android' because saying that is condescending also but MR admins allow it.

Forum Rules

Jump to: Instantly Bannable Offenses | Advertising/Self-promotion | Things Not to Do | Minor Problems The following rules govern use of the forums. You are also responsible for observing the Regist...

macrumors.zendesk.com

Things not to do, point 7 covers “go search for it.” In some cases telling someone to switch to xxxxx, is a legitimate response to for example: “the iPhone sucks”.

 

[icanhazmac]

I just want to get an idea if the moderation is being done fairly.

Nuanced. Being done fairly in your mind? The owners mind? A moderators mind? Personally I find the moderation here around a 60'ith percentile if 0 is a free for all and 100 is NEVER DEVIATE, OBEY!

So far I am leaning towards believing the moderation is biased.

Biased is such a weighted word. How do you mean it? Politically or in more of a bias in application of the site rules?

Again, I find a very reasonable balance here between applying the rules and "in the spirit of lively conversation". Do I agree with every single decision... no, but it isn't my site. Have I been warned for being off-topic when I thought I was just following the conversation, yes. Do I feel I have seen way worse instances... yes. You also need to remember that posts tend to get more attention from the mods if they have been reported. Instances of moderation may in fact not be the fault of an overzealous moderator but in fact caused by another member that felt a post broke the rules and in the moment a moderator agreed.

I doubt any of us will ever be 100% happy 100% of the time. If you are not happy here then you have already stated what your path will be. If you are only upset because some posts were viewed by the mods as jokes and not PRSI commentary then perhaps your standards for applying the rules (or what you consider PRSI) are too strict for you to be happy here.

 

[Apple_Robert]

There is one thing that hasn't been mentioned and that is, this place is much more than a forum. It is Arn's business that he uses to feed and take care of his family. As such, we are here at his pleasure (so to speak). I think many forget that salient fact.

We may shop in or frequent a business we may know little to nothing about the positions of the owner much less the general ebb and flow, or frequent one where we are seen and viewed as an appreciate regular, even if the owner may not know us personally. The same kind of philosophy applies here.

Does this business (generally speaking) provide you with a service you appreciate and are thankful for, even if there may be moments where it just isn't the exact same the last time you visited? If so, try to focus on what benefits you the most and leave the rest to others who are charged with watching the front door. In the grand scheme of things, this business could be sold tomorrow or experience some other change that none of us saw coming. And all the posturing, lamenting, and hurt feelings about something that really didn't directly impact your personal identity and life really doesn't matter.

Life isn't about always being right or happy every time you visit this wonderful place. It's about making the most of each moment we have while we are here.

 

[avz]

There is one thing that hasn't been mentioned and that is, this place is much more than a forum. It is Arn's business that he uses to feed and take care of his family. As such, we are here at his pleasure (so to speak). I think many forget that salient fact.

We may shop in or frequent a business we may know little to nothing about the positions of the owner much less the general ebb and flow, or frequent one where we are seen and viewed as an appreciate regular, even if the owner may not know us personally. The same kind of philosophy applies here.

Does this business (generally speaking) provide you with a service you appreciate and are thankful for, even if there may be moments where it just isn't the exact same the last time you visited? If so, try to focus on what benefits you the most and leave the rest to others who are charged with watching the front door. In the grand scheme of things, this business could be sold tomorrow or experience some other change that none of us saw coming. And all the posturing, lamenting, and hurt feelings about something that really didn't directly impact your personal identity and life really doesn't matter.

Life isn't about always being right or happy every time you visit this wonderful place. It's about making the most of each moment we have while we are here.

Ultimately all of us(including Arn and his business) exist at the pleasure and mercy of the very powerful players who are essentially allowing us to live and do what we do. It is very important to remember this and as you said make the most of each moment(while hopefully avoiding telling others what they should or should not do) while "we are still here".

 

[avz]

Edit: Where I will not agree with you is in terms of those who want to break the Apple ecosystem via alt-stores. In that case I will continue to tell fans of that stance to "go buy an android". My reason... once alt-stores are legislated into existence a very unique, and in my opinion customer friendly, way of searching for, comparing, purchasing and upgrading apps will be lost. I bought into this system and I like it the way it is. Fans of alt-stores have other places to go, I don't. I didn't buy and Android and then spam their forums with requests for them to wall up their garden. This is not the place to debate that issue but I did want to defend my use of "go buy an android" and don't feel it is pathetic at all, of course YMMV.

What if Apple was a Chinese company? Would you still want it to be a closed ecosystem?

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Every warning message carries a link or direction to the ‘Contact Us’ page if you want to further be patronised. I wouldn’t recommend it but if you think you need further explanation from the site, that’s the process.

 

[Lioness~]

My view of moderations.

If I'm geting upset about a moderation, the moderation is probably right.

If I don’t have any emotional reactions of a moderation, ah well, then I really don’t care if they have a different view then I have anyway. We are allowed to have different opinions, we don’t have to agree with everyone. But it’s good if and when we can chill and disagree - for everyone!

Both I have happened. Not that I have been moderated many times.

 

[Apple fanboy]

My view of moderations.

If I'm geting upset about a moderation, the moderation is probably right.

If I don’t have any emotional reactions of a moderation, ah well, then I really don’t care if they have a different view then I have anyway. We are allowed to have different opinions, we don’t have to agree with everyone. But it’s good if and when we can chill and disagree - for everyone!

Both I have happened. Not that I have been moderated many times.

Also I think if you come across a poster that is well argumentative or just frustrating to deal with, I find using the ignore feature really enhances my experience on MR. Helps with the stress and emotions. Probably reduces the need to be moderated as well!
Life’s too short to get stuck in pointless conversations on the internet.

 

[Lioness~]

Also I think if you come across a poster that is well argumentative or just frustrating to deal with, I find using the ignore feature really enhances my experience on MR. Helps with the stress and emotions. Probably reduces the need to be moderated as well!
Life’s too short to get stuck in pointless conversations on the internet.

Absolutely, I am pretty fast of ignoring mindless, in my opinion, rants and attention seeking, comments today. I can always use show 'ignored content' if I at times want to.
Life is even too short to read pointless rants imho on internet.

A moment later, long or short, things may have changed, or not.
The point with the whole internet is, it’s for our own information, education and inspiration, not a place to waste our time at. We also have to be aware that everyone have the same right of this freedom of speech, and freedom of ignoring, regarding what serve or not serve us.

 

[Fat_Guy]

I have a soft spot for moderators…


I ran a site and as a “free speech guy” and I let anything and everything go. Guess what - the forums became a porn site - so some moderation is needed. This may sound chauvinistic but guy heavy sites got less moderation than sites that had a decent amount of female usage. Moderators usually work for free and if you lose them then the site owner has to do it all on their own. So moderators can’t be treated like crap. They are needed to keep the place healthy and vital.



I usually get banned from sites sooner or later and some with a heavy teenage population I prefer to go out banned to show the kids that social pressure cannot trump what you feel is right - so I fall in my sword and get banned.



One site banned me with one moderator explaining why I got banned to the others and with the end noting that knowing me I probably wanted to go out this way anyway. And he was right!



Having said all that I’m a union guy and will give more chances to those that have put in more years of their lives into a site than the newbies. More years = more get out of jail free cards. A newbie getting banned after 2 months is not equal to a member there for years getting banned the same way but over a much longer period of time. I try to be fair but that is just me. It hurts when you get banished from a place you used to call home. Sure lengthen the time-out but realize we are all human beings with feelings - and not everyone is like me, for some being bannned really hurts…



Feel free to delete this post if I have over-stepped any protocols.

 

[Madhatter32]

I have a soft spot for moderators…


I ran a site and as a “free speech guy” and I let anything and everything go. Guess what - the forums became a porn site - so some moderation is needed. This may sound chauvinistic but guy heavy sites got less moderation than sites that had a decent amount of female usage. Moderators usually work for free and if you lose them then the site owner has to do it all on their own. So moderators can’t be treated like crap. They are needed to keep the place healthy and vital.



I usually get banned from sites sooner or later and some with a heavy teenage population I prefer to go out banned to show the kids that social pressure cannot trump what you feel is right - so I fall in my sword and get banned.



One site banned me with one moderator explaining why I got banned to the others and with the end noting that knowing me I probably wanted to go out this way anyway. And he was right!



Having said all that I’m a union guy and will give more chances to those that have put in more years of their lives into a site than the newbies. More years = more get out of jail free cards. A newbie getting banned after 2 months is not equal to a member there for years getting banned the same way but over a much longer period of time. I try to be fair but that is just me. It hurts when you get banished from a place you used to call home. Sure lengthen the time-out but realize we are all human beings with feelings - and not everyone is like me, for some being bannned really hurts…



Feel free to delete this post if I have over-stepped any protocols.

I often ask myself, "how do computer forums become porn sites." Now I know. I agree with your comments about seniority 100%.

 

[Abdichoudxyz]

Internet forum moderation is a difficult job, made more so the bigger the forum gets of course. Personally. I think it's very important that moderation remains as politically neutral as possible; obviously abhorrent extremist views need to be moderated. But for example; there is a popular UK based photography forum, where people Talk about Photography, and the current moderation has a very right-wing bias. Dissenters get banned for speaking out. This is very bad, because it discourages a broad range of individuals from contributing, and leads to a drop in the quality of content.

Having said all that I’m a union guy and will give more chances to those that have put in more years of their lives into a site than the newbies. More years = more get out of jail free cards. A newbie getting banned after 2 months is not equal to a member there for years getting banned the same way but over a much longer period of time. I try to be fair but that is just me. It hurts when you get banished from a place you used to call home. Sure lengthen the time-out but realize we are all human beings with feelings - and not everyone is like me, for some being bannned really hurts…

What happens there very often though, is that you end up with 'cliques' that others are excluded from (unless they conform to the clique). And you get some individuals spending far too much time on there. The internet should not be your 'home'; people need to interact more with others in the real world, and increase levels of socialisation. Spending all your time online is not healthy.

 

[Sal09]

I think @Doctor Q handled the other thread very gracefully with a clear explanation.

 

[Fat_Guy]

Internet forum moderation is a difficult job, made more so the bigger the forum gets of course. Personally. I think it's very important that moderation remains as politically neutral as possible; obviously abhorrent extremist views need to be moderated. But for example; there is a popular UK based photography forum, where people Talk about Photography, and the current moderation has a very right-wing bias. Dissenters get banned for speaking out. This is very bad, because it discourages a broad range of individuals from contributing, and leads to a drop in the quality of content.


What happens there very often though, is that you end up with 'cliques' that others are excluded from (unless they conform to the clique). And you get some individuals spending far too much time on there. The internet should not be your 'home'; people need to interact more with others in the real world, and increase levels of socialisation. Spending all your time online is not healthy.

Some people have medical issues that keep them home. Some cancer patients are missing parts of their face and never leave home. Lonely older people, the list goes on. There are all sorts of reasons why people become very attached to a specific site. I always try to be a bit more human in permanently banning people.


As an aside I probably got banned from that photo forum. Got banned by some of the biggest also… 🤣

 

[George Dawes]

I've modded a few time and it's a thankless task and too much like real work imo

 

[Abdichoudxyz]

Some people have medical issues that keep them home. Some cancer patients are missing parts of their face and never leave home. Lonely older people, the list goes on. There are all sorts of reasons why people become very attached to a specific site. I always try to be a bit more human in permanently banning people.

Sure, but those people should have real human interaction on a regular basis too. Everyone should. It's a basic human need. Spending too much time online isn't healthy.

As an aside I probably got banned from that photo forum

It really doesn't take much. Simply express anything vaguely moderate and reasonable, and you'll incur the wrath of the reactionary bigots that run the site...

 

[icanhazmac]

About how great the moderation is here at MR of course.

 

[Madhatter32]

Anyways, if you're a regular here - you know who started the thread and the reasons why. I'll leave it at that. The mods are doing their job and sometimes I agree and sometimes I don't, doesn't mean I'm going to throw a hissy fit on a forum.

I'm pretty much a regular person -- perhaps not as regular as you. Anyway, I don't know who started the thread or their motivations. I also don't really care if someone gets banned so long as it's for good reasons, which is generally impossible to know (unless you are very regular I suppose). I guess we just need to take it on faith that there was a very serious infraction of some rule.

 

[George Dawes]

Tbh the moderator on here is pretty mild compared to some places I’ve frequented in the past

Not naming names but imagine being banned because a mod won’t believe you’ve got two Nintendo switches … no I’m not making it up 😂

 

[AbSoluTc]

I'm pretty much a regular person -- perhaps not as regular as you. Anyway, I don't know who started the thread or their motivations. I also don't really care if someone gets banned so long as it's for good reasons, which is generally impossible to know (unless you are very regular I suppose). I guess we just need to take it on faith that there was a very serious infraction of some rule.

Yeah I'm not a regular poster because most times I have nothing to add that hasn't already been said. If I do, I'll post. However I am always reading. The mods have their reasons an I really don't care. I support the decision You may now see newer people talking and providing good discussion that isn't drowned out by sludge.