LGBT
Related: About this forumA few things about the group hosting issues
One, no host can remove a post no matter how egregiously the post violates the purpose of the forum. Our powers are limitted to locking threads, pinning threads, blocking posters, and naming posters hosts. Posts which contain insults, much less homophobic ones, are clearly against the community standards of DU and should be taken care of by juries. Sadly, juries haven't always been doing their jobs so it has fallen to our hosts to do their jobs for them. I have, and will continue to, block unrepentent posters for posting comments that are across the line regardless of jury decisions. To be clear, accusing female posters (straight, bi, or lesbian) of being man haters is unacceptable conduct (frankly I think for DU let alone here). Such posts will lead to a host asking for it to be removed and for an apology. If neither are forthcoming, then action will be taken.
Two, May has been a very bad month for me and I have had very limitted time to spend on DU. I made two trips to Ohio (one to watch my dad die and bury him, and one to clear up loose ends such as signing thankyou notes etc.) I missed 6 days of school and faced grade deadlines that fell before Memorial day requiring twelve hour days. In short, I have not been as present as normal and thus people such as William have had to step up. For the most part, I think things went fairly smoothly.
Three, In the case of the thread where the conduct occured, the jury system worked (Halleluah) and I think that is why hosts were reticent to act further. In my case, I frankly didn't see the post as I was traveling and/or working. There will be a block put on the offending poster as soon as I am done posting this. Again, to be clear, such posts have no place here and will result in host action.
Four, As to the beefcake threads, I don't find them problematic frankly nor would I find such threads aimed at those who find females attractive. I would hope this forum wouldn't be entirely made up of such threads, but I feel that clearly labeled threads that are aimed at showing us attractive people, are not a huge problem. I don't view them at work and suggest that others don't either, but otherwise I think they are no more a problem than similar things in say Out Magazine.
Five, As to the lack of female hosts, I plead for any female who reads this forum to please consider being a host. In particular I hope that Yardwork would consider being reinstated. I put any person who wanted to be host in as host so far.
Hope this clears things up.
La Lioness Priyanka
(53,866 posts)hope you are doing ok
dsc
(52,169 posts)but I am making it through. thanks.
Fearless
(18,421 posts)Call Me Wesley
(38,187 posts)May he be free from suffering. Peace and comfort to you and yours, dsc.
hedgehog
(36,286 posts)dlwickham
(3,316 posts)dsc
(52,169 posts)which is why we have had to be more heavy handed than we might otherwise have been.
dlwickham
(3,316 posts)Fearless
(18,421 posts)Back in the day, entire threads would be shut down because disruptors would come in and make a mess. Now we have a tool to remove disruptors and continue conversations. While it is never going to be a perfect system, at least the disruptor has less power over our conversation now than they did before.
dlwickham
(3,316 posts)the system they had in place at the time worked
threads were only locked when they got totally out of hand and they were too long to remove individual posts
it was easy to remove individual posts
Fearless
(18,421 posts)Threads being locked because of trolls intentionally sabotaging them. We are now able to separate the troll from the conversation. A much better option. How we identify trolls is of course still a difficult process sometimes.
pinto
(106,886 posts)And my spot would be better open for another host volunteer. I'm pulling back from hosting other forums, as well. All are in good hands. Will continue to participate, post, join discussions, etc. Just don't have the time to do a good job in a host role. ~ pinto
Aerows
(39,961 posts)I'll host. I already host for Gaming and for LBN.