A request for EVERYONES support

Toto

Perhaps we should agree to disagree then bakey. The other striking difference I can see between this and all of the other boards is the level of traffic. I do agree that there will be some desperate people on DFW and benefits, but there are equally a multitude of people to post help and support.

Here, there are a select few people who post regularly; many of those are being driven away. The very title of this board attracts people with an agenda to cause uproar but unlike the other boards there isn't the quantity of people to undo the damage. I mean no disrespect at all to the people who do post regularly, you all do a fantastic job and I hope you see my point.

Although I don’t dispute living on benefits is miserable, I do think that without debt and other significant life changes that in itself doesn’t generally push people to desperation. People who are just on benefits can see a way out, even if it feels out of their reach. Bankruptcy for many is the end of the line, there are moral worries, fears about their name being in the paper and feeling ashamed of telling relatives. There is the fear of the court, the official receiver, losing their family home, their car. Their whole life is changing and there is a perceived stigma attached to that. For some that in itself is enough to drive them to end it all.

Frankly I don’t think that having a higher level of moderation on this board will make the blind bit of difference to the other boards. How will they even know? If people want to discuss their opinions about bankruptcy there are places here to go and do that, the arms/discussion time. This board is not the place but despite martin’s post some people don’t understand or choose to ignore that. Therefore, in my opinion, this board is the one place on this website which needs to have a higher level of moderation to move threads to where they should be and to delete posts which are potentially dangerous.

Remmer

Just to lighten things up for a sec. Try this. we can go back to the serious stuff in 5 minutes

1. WITHOUT anyone watching you (they will think you are mad......) and while sitting where you are at your desk in front of your computer, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles.

2. Now, while doing this, draw the number "6" in the air with your right hand

Your foot will change direction.

Richard_S

Toto wrote: »

I think we are missing the point a little. I do know that the other boards all have their issues, trolls and arguments. However, this board is special and different. The mental state of someone going into the arms or into grabbit etc is going to be very different from the mental state of someone coming onto a bankruptcy board.

People come here at rock bottom, I know, 9 years ago a close friend hung himself because of his debt issues. He was trying to sort things out, he had written all of the letters and was trying his best to find another job. One stupid little thing pushed him over the edge of his stairway with a belt around his neck. That stupid little thing was his fridge freezer breaking down. He had just done his weekly shop and had lost all of his food.

Now, to you and I that's silly, he could have visited friends and no doubt he would have had a spare fridge/freezer given to him and enough food to last a month. But, it was the last final straw which pushed him from just about holding on, to seeing no hope and no way out.

How many people like my friend dave are lurking here looking for hope? I can't say, but even if there is one or two, I think we owe it to them to take whatever measures we can to make this the one safe moderated board on this website.

Toto,

That sums up exactly why I feel as passionately as I do about protecting this Forum and the people who visit it. We've lost one relative and one friend through debt related suicide; and I know others on the web site have had similar experiences.

You can't stop what people do in a moment of weakness, that's the question people always ask "if only I'd known, why didn't they say something"? The time to do something is now. When people come here looking for advice and support we're morally obliged to give it; we've all had an awful lot from this site and there comes a time when you have to reciprocate.

The real lowest of the low, the really bad posts over the last few days haven't truthfully surprised me; humanity has a huge capacity for evil as well as good. The point is that it's got to be stopped, and the ability for somebody to just delete a post because it's basically wrong is not rocket science.

Give four people the clearance to just delete inappropriate posts and the problem's solved; anybody who persistently does it gets suspended. Where's the difficulty in that Martin?

Richard

Richard_S

Bakeybadoo wrote: »

Ok, I think I'm up to speed.

First off, I agree that the post was disgraceful.

Secondly, I've no qualms about using the word 'troll' if someone clearly is being one. I think we all know who is doing what and why. It's not offensive.

It is a recognised term, not just something people made up to throw at someone they don't like.

Thirdly, having more mods/BG won't change a thing. They have limited powers and rightly so. I agree with them being able to lock a thread but nothing more - I don't like the idea of deleting threads full-stop as it only leads to futher spin-off posts and questions and arguments.

I like to see ALL posts, good and bad. That way you know who to avoid!

And lastly, I don't like being told I shouldn't reply to trolls or trolling threads. I see the logic but in my opinion, a well thought out, mature reply causes no harm. Ignoring it is as good as condoning it.

If I'd ignored AlanD's thread and let people slag Mike St Helens and AlanD off without saying anything, I'd have been very disappointed in myself. 2 great blokes who didn't deserve the criticisims and who deserved some support.

Bakey,

I agree; almost.

I don't think we've disagreed on anything over the last few months, and we've both of us had some fun as well as giving support and advice to others. I was actually jealous of AlanD I wish those guys had thought I was worth having a go at

The serious point being that there are people who visit this site who should never have to be subjected to that sort of abuse and intimidation. Nobody could seriously upset or offend you, or me either; we're lucky in that it doesn't affect us; some people aren't so lucky and they should be afforded the decency of being able to ask questions and look for support without intimidation.

Rich

Richard_S

Toto wrote: »

Perhaps we should agree to disagree then bakey. The other striking difference I can see between this and all of the other boards is the level of traffic. I do agree that there will be some desperate people on DFW and benefits, but there are equally a multitude of people to post help and support.

Here, there are a select few people who post regularly; many of those are being driven away. The very title of this board attracts people with an agenda to cause uproar but unlike the other boards there isn't the quantity of people to undo the damage. I mean no disrespect at all to the people who do post regularly, you all do a fantastic job and I hope you see my point.

Although I don’t dispute living on benefits is miserable, I do think that without debt and other significant life changes that in itself doesn’t generally push people to desperation. People who are just on benefits can see a way out, even if it feels out of their reach. Bankruptcy for many is the end of the line, there are moral worries, fears about their name being in the paper and feeling ashamed of telling relatives. There is the fear of the court, the official receiver, losing their family home, their car. Their whole life is changing and there is a perceived stigma attached to that. For some that in itself is enough to drive them to end it all.

Frankly I don’t think that having a higher level of moderation on this board will make the blind bit of difference to the other boards. How will they even know? If people want to discuss their opinions about bankruptcy there are places here to go and do that, the arms/discussion time. This board is not the place but despite martin’s post some people don’t understand or choose to ignore that. Therefore, in my opinion, this board is the one place on this website which needs to have a higher level of moderation to move threads to where they should be and to delete posts which are potentially dangerous.

Toto,

I don't have any difficulty in expressing my thoughts and feelings and I always have the best interests of this Board at heart, but I have never seen anyone on this web site who can so effectively get to the "heart of the matter".

(Makes mental note, "don't p1ss Toto off )

Bakeybadoo

Richard_S wrote: »

Give four people the clearance to just delete inappropriate posts and the problem's solved; anybody who persistently does it gets suspended. Where's the difficulty in that Martin?

See, I'm not against more active mods/BG BUT I will not agree to posts being deleted. I detest to see that on ANY board and I'm on and have been on enough to know that it causes more problems than it solves.

Let them move threads or lock them but no deleting. It's something that drives me absolutely batty.

Toto

So the alternative is to leave threads like the Alan one there but locked? Posts do get deleted here all the time, and I for one am glad to see it. I just wish they could go quicker so fewer people post on the thread and less harm is done.

Bakeybadoo

But in some cases it spurs spin-off threads or threads asking where said thread went, which in turn causes all sorts of gossiping and speculation.

I don't like closed door authoritive policing I'm afraid. I've never been a fan of it, not just here or on this subject.

Yes, AlanD's thread was cruel and disgusting but leaving it would have stopped the 2 spin-off threads (possibly) AND it would have shown up the ugly trolls for what they were, even those regulars who stuck the boot in. Once it's gone, those are in danger of being allowed to do it again and again with some people none-the-wiser.

Bakeybadoo

blind-as-a-bat wrote: »

So do you not think the thread attacking alan should not have been deleted just moved? would it not have caused just as much offence wherever it was put?

Please read this the right way im not having a go im just trying to understand your point of veiw:D

Lock it, leave it. Or lock it and move it. Either would be preferable to deleting.

I've seen what deleting usually does. It would just create more of everything we are trying to stop.

Toto

Locking it would cause the 'why was that post locked threads' and it all starts again. Get rid of it quickly, if it stays 5 minutes very few people read it and much less harm is done. Leaving it there encourages more people to offer an opinion on the original thread and it's always there for the victims to see.