Board guides personal posts

MrsE_2

Contary to the (almost threatening) PM I've had, I started this as its something I'ver often though as an MSEer.

MrsE_2

cyberbob wrote: »

If you cant tell the difference between a BG personal posts and an official one without the signature being removed you really shouldn't be allowed on the internet or out the house unaccompanied.

Fair point:rotfl:

poet123

I also think that personal alliegences and leanings should be disclosed. After all, how can one be impartial or even fair if one has an interest or affiliation to a certain person or subject.

MrsE if you have had a pm which you consider abusive you should post it here, anonymity is the refuge of the coward, if you have to say it by pm and cannot say it on the thread there is clearly something you dont wish others to see about the content of the message. Name and shame.

Gingham_Ribbon

MrsE wrote: »

Do you think it would work better if you had a check box for your offical posts & your default style was a normal personal post?

But why? What is it about the signature that bothers you? It's perfectly clear what BGs do. It's perfectly clear that they're member volunteers who help with the smooth running of the site. And it's ridiculous to expect them to mess about turning off their signature when they're not boardguiding.

When I was a boardguide, I used to get lots of pms from people asking for help to navigate the site and find things they needed. I'm sure lots of people spotted that I was able to help because they saw my signature on non BG posts.

I can't imagine why this bugs you or why you are referring to them as prefects unless you think of yourself as a naughty school girl, which I'm sure would make amistupid and many of the other male 'members' very happy. See what I did there? :D

ceridwen

I wasnt aware that there is the option for Board Guides to remove their signature I must say.

People are going to be aware that someone IS a B.G. - even with the B.G. signature removed and that might have some sort of influence on their thinking....However - its easy to see who likes/dislikes who amongst regular posters on a Board anyway and if a poster dislikes another poster then they would sooner "bite their tongue off" than say they agree or even click the "thanks" button. By now one can see a post by Mrs X and know instantly exactly who will have made a point of thanking her (because they like her) and who, in reverse, will have made a point of thanking a post critical of Mrs Y (because they DONT like her). Thats how it is on the Boards. One cant eradicate that. But a BIG step towards objectivity would be a policy of BG's only using the BG signature for totally objective BG posts.

This could be a constructive way to proceed though - ie any time a B.G. wishes to post something that constitutes a personal opinion that they remove the B.G. signature from their post.

Re forgetting - then its probably the best course of action for BG's to have a default setting of no signature at all - and have to take a deliberate click box action to bring up the B.G. signature on any posts they make. That way - if a memory lapse occurs about the specific B.G. signature then its in the direction of a post written by them in their B.G. capacity appearing to be a personal post. Better that way than a personal post appearing under the imprimatur of a Board Guide methinks.

I have always taken the view when I held various leading roles in voluntary groups before now that I would have to just shut up and not come out with personal views when representing the group officially and just be in "neutral mode". That DID cause me personal difficulties occasionally - as the Group I represented and myself had different views on some issues, but I still had to represent the Groups views....There was no signature/non-signature option available in those circumstances. On MSE - there is this option.

So - my vote is for an MSE policy of Board Guides removing their B.G. signature when expressing personal opinions. That seems about the best way forward I feel. Its not perfect - as there will be occasions doubtless when a B.G. expresses a personal opinion without being aware that it IS a personal opinion and therefore leaving their B.G. signature in place on a post. But I would say this is probably the fairest thing for MSE to do.

Fridge2

I couldn't give a monkeys chuff one way or the other....

ceridwen

poet123 wrote: »

I also think that personal alliegences and leanings should be disclosed. After all, how can one be impartial or even fair if one has an interest or affiliation to a certain person or subject.

MrsE if you have had a pm which you consider abusive you should post it here, anonymity is the refuge of the coward, if you have to say it by pm and cannot say it on the thread there is clearly something you dont wish others to see about the content of the message. Name and shame.

Whilst I think you have a valid point there - it IS MSE policy not to disclose the contents of PMs as I understand it. It think it would be wise if MrsE abides by the policy - and doesnt disclose the contents. She herself could be in trouble if she does.

i think we can all hazard a few guesses - but Mrs E - I urge you to stick to MSE privacy policy on this.

poet123

I agree with MrsE on this, I just think that there should be a differentiator between their personal posts and those which they make in their "professional" capacity. Nor do I think that they should be able to moderate those posts in a thread where they have posted in a personal capacity. I just think that course of action would go a long way to removing the suspicion that they give more lattitude in certain areas than others.

VenusFlytrap_2

poet123 wrote: »

I also think that personal alliegences and leanings should be disclosed. After all, how can one be impartial or even fair if one has an interest or affiliation to a certain person or subject.

MrsE if you have had a pm which you consider abusive you should post it here, anonymity is the refuge of the coward, if you have to say it by pm and cannot say it on the thread there is clearly something you dont wish others to see about the content of the message. Name and shame.

It was me who PMd MrsE poet, and I would be quite happy for the message to be reproduced on thread if that is what MrsE wished to do as it is not threatening or abusive in any way. I am a longtime lurker and sometime poster on these forums who was just giving her my POV, privately, as I felt it was more appropriate, not because I am a coward seeking refuge in anonymity.

As I said, if MrsE wants to make my PM public on here she can, I have named myself and I have nothing to be shamed about. Hope that clears things up.

Venus

Glad

I always leave my sig in, I'd never remember to remove it every single time so if I forgot occasionally then those 'personal' posts would look 'official'

I also try very hard not to get involved in discussions where I may be seen as taking sides as a 'mere mortal' especially on the boards I'm a BG on, that's a personal decision so that hopefully my BG'ing is seen as impartial