Forum censorship.

amistupid

A couple of days, ago in response to a recent on going news item, someone posted in Discussion Time.

Shows that 30 does go into 15.

(I'm being deliberatley ambiguous to avoid this thread being deleted.)

The post was thanked by over twenty people and not challenged by anyone. To me this shows although the subject matter was serious, the humorous comment was acceptable, appreciated and not offensive.

Today I see it's been deleted.

I can only assume that someone took offence and reported it to abuse.

I appreciate on such large forum each complaint cannot be investigated separately, but surely censors are able to judge, by the response to the 'offending' post, whether the complaint is justified rather than just deleting it.

If my assumption as to the deletion of this post is correct, the abuse system is wide open to abuse itself. What's to stop someone reporting any humourous remark on a serious issue? What's to stop one individual using the abuse system to target the posts of another.

It will be a very sad day when we're not allowed to see the funny side of serious things.

So can you enlighten me to what considerations you make before deleting a post or thread, or is it as I suspect, just one complaint and it's gone?

Rhenser

amistupid wrote: »

A couple of days, ago in response to a recent on going news item, someone posted in Discussion Time.



(I'm being deliberatley ambiguous to avoid this thread being deleted.)

The post was thanked by over twenty people and not challenged by anyone. To me this shows although the subject matter was serious, the humorous comment was acceptable, appreciated and not offensive.

Today I see it's been deleted.

I can only assume that someone took offence and reported it to abuse.

I appreciate on such large forum each complaint cannot be investigated separately, but surely censors are able to judge, by the response to the 'offending' post, whether the complaint is justified rather than just deleting it.

If my assumption as to the deletion of this post is correct, the abuse system is wide open to abuse itself. What's to stop someone reporting any humourous remark on a serious issue? What's to stop one individual using the abuse system to target the posts of another.

It will be a very sad day when we're not allowed to see the funny side of serious things.

So can you enlighten me to what considerations you make before deleting a post or thread, or is it as I suspect, just one complaint and it's gone?

Hi,

I have just signed up to this forum having seen Martin's recent tweet, so have this morning familiarised myself with the forum rules.

I hope I'm not speaking out of turn, but from what I gather, any reader can report any spam, illegal, offensive, racist, libellous posts & PMs to [EMAIL="forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com"]forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL]. They don't even need to be a member (but obviously they do to receive a PM)

My understanding is that such a report is then looked at by one of the forum team (their picture appears top right of this page)
and it's a real human being that then assesses the report, looks at the offending post/thread, and decides upon the appropriate action.

I also am led to understand that the discussion time board is not considered a core moneysaving board, and hence is low priority, so if a post is made which may have been quoted and commented upon by many others on what appears a very popular board, then it may be quicker and easier to remove the entire thread rather than going through the thread to remove an offending post and all the references thereto.

Yes, just one report is all it takes to bring to the attention of the forum team an offending post but it is up to the person reviewing that as to what action may be taken. I understand sometimes action may even be taken off the board (so no obvious evidence anything has been done)

There is a spam button, which I think may result in automatic removal, but I've no idea how many hits that would need (I doubt it's just one) and even then the forum team may reinstate such a removed post/thread if it thinks something was removed without good cause (e.g. by abuse of multiple users).

Under the forum rules, it says:

Why are posts removed?
The Forum Team's resources must be focused on the MoneySaving areas of the site.

Sometimes on the spot decisions are made to protect the site. The Team doesn't have the resources to confer with our (very expensive) lawyers on every subject.

The Forum Team's remit is simply 'if a post may be legally dodgy, it has to go'. This doesn't mean it's wrong, but sometimes they have to take that decision. However, we are here as a consumer site and we will endeavour to protect fair comment about companies - if it's in consumer interest.

If you disagree with a Forum Team decision you should email your appeal to [EMAIL="webmaster@moneysavingexpert.com"]webmaster@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL]. Please don't question Forum Team decisions on the public forum; they're unlikely to see your post anyway. This includes criticising individual members of my staff. It's my job as an employer to protect my staff. Any such posts shall be removed and the appropriate action taken.

It may be worthwhile you re-familiarising yourself with the forum rules as well as the sites terms and conditions. They're a right riveting read I can tell you, but it appears we all agree to abide by them when accessing this forum.


HTH, and as I said, I hope I have not posted out of turn.

Former_MSE_Forum_Manager

Hi amistupid,

I didn't deal with this report personally, but I can take a pretty good guess on what your quote refers to. As a money saving site, where our resources are focussed mainly outside the discussion areas, if it's reported and my team agree with the report, it goes.

The fact that 20 people liked/thanked/comment on it does not influence our decision in proving the content was acceptable to every single person who might see it, much as the fact simply reporting a post does not mean it is automatically removed.

In this case, the "joke" refers to an implied illegal sexual act; we have to err on the side of caution and my team have a responsibility to consider that not everyone would find that funny but to some it would actually be considered wholly unpleasant. Indeed, the fact it's been reported shows us that people are offended. Humour is obviously a personal preference, but if in doubt we work to the core family money saving ethos this site was set up to serve.

I hope that helps.

amistupid

MSE_Forum_Manager wrote: »

I hope that helps.

It has clarified things, thank you for the prompt response.

The_White_Horse

basically the opinions of the posters are irrelevant. If no one is offended, and in fact hundred approve of the post, the admins can just deem that everyone is offended and remove it.

it is a sort of dictatorship.

NoMoreTears

Hi all,

I am a long time member of this site, and it was of great use to me a few years back when I was in severe debt and did not know which way to turn.

Gradually I am getting myself back on course, and part of this is setting up a web site for small businesses to advertise on.

To help me grow this business, I am happy to offer money to those who can help.

I have placed details of how this works on this site, but my posts are removed within minutes or hours, I guess because my post is seen as a referral?

There a loads of posts on here about sites where you can click 100 adverts and get 20p, but I am an honest bloke offering much more money, so do not understand why I cannot help others who help me.

I cannot tell you more because my post will be removed, I'm just annoyed that when someone like me has a genuine way to offer a little ray of sunshine to people, I am not allowed to.

If people want to earn money, then we must allow small businesses to advertise, and explain how that money can be earnt.

Yours frustratingly,
Martin

Savvy_Sue

You need to read the Forum Rules, especially those about advertising / referrals.

thistledome

amistupid wrote: »

I can only assume that someone took offence and reported it to abuse.

ColinFishwick

Your last post was plugging your own site which has been reported it was posted in eagerlearners thread. maybe you should take time to read the rules so as to avoid any more posts removed If you want to earn money than by all means do so but if you cant abide by the rules of others who create forums to which you can post maybe its time you started your own forum and then you can make your own rules up

NoMoreTears wrote: »

Hi all,

I am a long time member of this site, and it was of great use to me a few years back when I was in severe debt and did not know which way to turn.

Gradually I am getting myself back on course, and part of this is setting up a web site for small businesses to advertise on.

To help me grow this business, I am happy to offer money to those who can help.

I have placed details of how this works on this site, but my posts are removed within minutes or hours, I guess because my post is seen as a referral?

There a loads of posts on here about sites where you can click 100 adverts and get 20p, but I am an honest bloke offering much more money, so do not understand why I cannot help others who help me.

I cannot tell you more because my post will be removed, I'm just annoyed that when someone like me has a genuine way to offer a little ray of sunshine to people, I am not allowed to.

If people want to earn money, then we must allow small businesses to advertise, and explain how that money can be earnt.

Yours frustratingly,
Martin

fermi

Rules/FAQ ---> Why was my post about my company/site/blog/offer deleted?

Welshwoofs