thread closed by mod without much justification

[ZerocoolAstra]

An outing thread I created recently has recently been closed by a mod.
Though I understand the reasons for the action, I feel that in this case the mod was a bit excessive.

1) Comment was made about "please don't start a thread for only kakis".
I understand that it's not a nice thing to do, BUT I did go through the rules of the gatherings and outings section, and nowhere did it specify that such an action was not allowed.
- All the people on the list are Clubsnap members.
- No money was being collected.
- Thread title mentioned date and time. I intended to close the thread after the outing.

Furthermore, in the spirit of trying to be as inclusive as possible, I expanded the list to include 2 newbies.

2) OT in outing thread.
This I feel requires some leeway on the mods' part. Unless Clubsnap wants to foster an "office-like" environment, where we do our business and get the heck out of there, I hope there can be more slack. After all, there are other subforums (not kopitiam) where more tolerance is exercised. I feel that it's a natural thing to get sidetracked in human conversation. Even in meetings I find people digressing and talking about World Cup, etc.


In summary, I would just like to say that I made good friends through Clubsnap and would like to be an active part of it. But through these actions I feel like I'm being shoo-ed away for being a nuisance.

 

[dingaroo]

I've noticed posts that are OT being removed. I believed that is fair.

But if a posting is taken out, even if it had been fair to let other members join in, does seem malicious.

Don't wish to take anybody's side, but am afraid to put up outing threads anymore.

Don't be cruel ...

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

I think clubsnap as a community will be the poorer for it if we have an environment in gatherings and outings that resembles a parliament session.

 

[scramblur11]

Just a forum..give and take lor...

 

[pokiemon]

but isn't the forum free for all? if you were to make it exclusive to your friends then maybe facebook could be a better platform?

i guess what the mods want to avoid is being too groupie.

 

[daredevil123]

but isn't the forum free for all? if you were to make it exclusive to your friends then maybe facebook could be a better platform?

i guess what the mods want to avoid is being too groupie.

The thing is, some slots were opened up to the public.

 

[Numnumball]

My sentiments with the above..

Believe some went overbroad by OT'in too much and despite being warned, still get carried away. The fault is clear.. We concur with the deletion of posts without notice.

But i dun quite understand the reason behind thread closure becos as i believe ZCA did abide by the rules of gatherings and outings section and did nth offensive... He merely started a thread for a outing comprised of fellow CS members so that those involved in the outing can discuss details in a facilitated manner..

I take a neutral stand on this as well.. (though thinking, from the Mod standpoint, he might not want this to be a exclusive, private outing as this forum is public and open to all.. :think

But would like to hear Chris (DM) thoughts on this, so that ZCA "grievance" is addressed..

Peace

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

but isn't the forum free for all? if you were to make it exclusive to your friends then maybe facebook could be a better platform?

i guess what the mods want to avoid is being too groupie.

Based on the guidelines posted in THIS thread, there's no mention about such rules as outings MUST have _____ open slots for CSers.
The outing is for CSers, which I did abide by.
My thread title had stated the date/time clearly.
There was no money being collected by myself, whether or not for profit.

So I satisfied all 3 rules, and yet I got in 'trouble'.
There are plenty of 'groups' within CS as well. I don't see how we're so different.

 

[night86mare]

But would like to hear Chris (DM) thoughts on this, so that ZCA "grievance" is addressed..

Peace

Dream Merchant is the moderator who closed the thread?

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

I don't know, but his was the last post. It looked threatening.

 

[Francis247]

We closed the thread to prevent further degeneration of the thread into a KPT thread.
It is just a thread.
Simply open a new one with the last post and avoid OT.

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

I don't quite understand how closing the thread and starting another one with the last post would eliminate the OT posts. In fact, I feel that starting another thread would be tantamount to an act of defiance, like "close my thread if you dare!"... which is not my intention.

 

[night86mare]

I don't quite understand how closing the thread and starting another one with the last post would eliminate the OT posts. In fact, I feel that starting another thread would be tantamount to an act of defiance, like "close my thread if you dare!"... which is not my intention.

ZCA - well, mod francis has given the go-ahead to start a new thread, so just live and let live.

you can only control yourself. since you have already made your point, this is a documentation of one instance, if you get my drift. just move on..!

 

[Francis247]

I don't quite understand how closing the thread and starting another one with the last post would eliminate the OT posts. In fact, I feel that starting another thread would be tantamount to an act of defiance, like "close my thread if you dare!"... which is not my intention.

Will it be cleaner to just close up one thread crowd with OT or just start a new one and avoid OT?
If we are to read through every single post, delete the OT one, won't it be more taxing?
Since you already started a KPT thread, then I believe you can carry on your discussion there.
It is just a thread. There is life outside CS.
Chill.

 

[Francis247]

ZCA - well, mod francis has given the go-ahead to start a new thread, so just live and let live.

you can only control yourself. since you have already made your point, this is a documentation of one instance, if you get my drift. just move on..!

Thanks for your understanding night86mare.
Appreciate that.
It is not easy and glamour job to be a mod. We need to answer to complain about why senior members are showing discrimination to newbies in outing thread and we have to answer to angry members over closing of threads.
We are always caught in the middle, who pity us?
Live and let live, there is always life outside CS.
Take it easy.

 

[dingaroo]

On behalf of all the CS members, we understand that the job of the Moderators is a thankless one.

We often complain when things don't go our way, and when things are good, we never even say a single 'Thank you very much' at all. (Well, most of us anyway!)

Nonetheless, thanks for the explanation. Much appreciated.

Cheers!

 

[Francis247]

On behalf of all the CS members, we understand that the job of the Moderators is a thankless one.

We often complain when things don't go our way, and when things are good, we never even say a single 'Thank you very much' at all. (Well, most of us anyway!)

Nonetheless, thanks for the explanation. Much appreciated.

Cheers!

Thanks for your understanding too dingaroo.

In fact, looking back, what is the Mission and Vision of Clubsnap?

To be the Photography Community for sharing knowledge, discuss ideas, forge new friendships with others who have similar passion and interest in photography.

To us, we do not regard
senior or newbies,
film or digital,
compact, prosumer or dSLR,
Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus or Pansonic,
as long as you have the passion and interest, all can join the outing organised in CS.

When people start a thread in the outing section, they see the potential of learning new things from a group, that is why people will automatically want to join. Especially viewing some of your works that you all posted in Landscape and Travel section.

However, someone got shot down and been call a sore grape, how will you feel on the receiving end? This is even worse when the person is a newbie, they will feel that CS is having elitist groups as what pokiemon had pointed out and bias against newbies.

Is Clubsnap a forum for elitist only? No. We are all here to share and learn from one another.

We do not have rules against setting up exclusive group. In fact, look at Tangshooters, the CS Ladies Photographers.

If it is only for exclusive outing, why not just start a discussion thread in KPT like what the other groups did. Discuss there and organise there.

But if you post in Gathering and Outing, regardless of the title you post, people will want to join and the whole cycle continue.

Hope that we all can see eye to eye here.

 

[wildcat]

Thanks for the lengthy explanations Francis247 and the other mods. From my observations, there has been nothing personal and everything has been done according to the rules. If anything, I felt that the rules have been too relaxed with respect to the outing threads...

There were warnings given not to OT in the threads in earlier outings threads.
Then the mods started removing OT posts (but not threads) while keeping the warnings coming on.
Finally the mods ended a thread, because of excessive OT.

I think there isn't anything personal here and the mods are just doing what they are supposed to do, so if anything, either we either start a new outing thread (or in this case, just keep it within the group in KPT as we just want people we are familiar with for a recce trip).

 

[ZerocoolAstra]

thanks Francis for weighing in with your ideas.
I am aware of the thankless job that the mods are given, and I would like to express my appreciation for the work that you guys (and gals too, I think) do.
It has been a lesson learnt and I won't start any more such "exclusive" threads in Gatherings&Outings.

As a final point I would just like to highlight that the atmosphere in the Gatherings & Outings section is kinda rigid at the moment. Feels a bit like Bangkok on lock-down.
In this environment I don't feel like I want to organise any more Newbies Outings, because almost certainly there will be some OT and then the whole vicious cycle starts again. Might as well save myself the anguish.

 

[Numnumball]

Thanks Francis.. for standing out and explain things.. Much appreciated.. And we know that it's aint easy being a MOD, despite all these, u make a valid point with rdgs to excessive OT'in in recent Outing threads.. Think its sth we shd avoid at all costs, sticking to the primary objective of the opening a thread.. Think its much clearer now and we should just move on.. Peace to all~