Introducing The Phorum Purge. Environment Cleanup.

[maximillion]

Watch out. This is open mic, not debate table.

[mortify ii]

While I do believe the devil is permitted by God to roam around and tempt us, I trust that God has a good reason for this permission. I personally do not believe though, that we need the devil.

Interesting topic you should start a thread in the debate table

[Credo in Deum]

Meh.

[KnightofChrist]

I am sorry but it's clear to see where this purge will lead and where it will end, Drama Llamaville and divisions in the phamily. It's going to break down trust between us, and if we are going to be a phamily, if being a phamily actually means anything we need to be able to have some basic trust in one another. But the purge will hamper trust, we are going to start worrying if our Phatmass brother or sister in Christ has reported us, and which of us has reported one of our friends who has be purged. 

 

Bishop Sheen use to speak about a group of Christians who were jailed inside Russian prisons, when one of their brothers or sisters would be subject to punishment they would volunteer themselves for their punishment. Now this case is nothing like that, but in a like spirit I would like to volunteer myself to take the place of everyone who would be subject to the purge. I'll serve their time for them and I'll spend it by praying for that person or persons. 

 

I believe that if Dust was more active on the phorum more often and stepped into threads that were beginning to go Drama Llamaville and ordered everyone to hug and make up it would be more effective. It will take more time, and require more work than the purge but I doubt it would lead to a break down of trust between us.

[CatherineM]

I am sorry but it's clear to see where this purge will lead and where it will end, Drama Llamaville and divisions in the phamily. It's going to break down trust between us, and if we are going to be a phamily, if being a phamily actually means anything we need to be able to have some basic trust in one another. But the purge will hamper trust, we are going to start worrying if our Phatmass brother or sister in Christ has reported us, and which of us has reported one of our friends who has be purged.

Bishop Sheen use to speak about a group of Christians who were jailed inside Russian prisons, when one of their brothers or sisters would be subject to punishment they would volunteer themselves for their punishment. Now this case is nothing like that, but in a like spirit I would like to volunteer myself to take the place of everyone who would be subject to the purge. I'll serve their time for them and I'll spend it by praying for that person or persons.

I believe that if Dust was more active on the phorum more often and stepped into threads that were beginning to go Drama Llamaville and ordered everyone to hug and make up it would be more effective. It will take more time, and require more work than the purge but I doubt it would lead to a break down of trust between us.

Dust is busy. I think he has 4 jobs and a dozen kids at last count. Well, maybe not a dozen, but I bet it seems like that many when they're trying to get them out the door to be on time for mass.

[KnightofChrist]

Dust is busy. I think he has 4 jobs and a dozen kids at last count. Well, maybe not a dozen, but I bet it seems like that many when they're trying to get them out the door to be on time for mass.

 

I know, and I understand but I couldn't come up with anything else that I thought would be effective and not cause drama. Perhaps someone wiser than I can think of something better. I just did not want to say I was against the purge and offer no other idea. 

[dUSt]

Agree with me being more active.

 

Reality dictates otherwise.

 

So, option 1: Shut down the phorum.

Option 2: Permanently ban any members who consistently take up too much of my time.

Option 3: Come up with creatively brilliant ideas that allow disruptive members to continue posting on phatmass without outright banning them.

[CrossCuT]

I have mentioned it earlier in the thread but I feel as though redefining what it means to be a Church Militant might be helpful. Considering that about 90% of active users are now CMs on phatmass kind of dilutes its meaningfulness imo.

 

I think the definition should extend beyond simply adhering to church teaching but also the person needs to be a charitable representative of the faith. I know of at least 3 people who have lost their faith because of how they were treated by CM's who had no sense of prudence in their comments. And I know that Dust has seemingly washed his hands of the issue by stating that its simply those peoples fault for being hurt by the fake people on the internet. 

 

I myself have questioned my faith moreso since rejoining Phatmass because of the way I have been treated after expressing my views. I dont mean those people who have discussed them with me in a mature way, but those who have personally attacked me and judged my character both on the board and private message.

 

IMO, phatmass is a place where your authority comes from the number of props you get and as long as people support your comments (regardless of their value, truthfulness, or charity) you can pass as being this dandy Church Militant member who bullies.

 

I dont say all of this as an attempt to absolve myself. its simply my observations. People are welcome to disagree with me. 

 

 

At the end of the day this is a Catholic forum meant to be a haven for other catholics or for people with questions right? You ARE representatives of the faith. So the Church Militant tag needs to mean something beyond that of a popularity contest.

Edited August 1, 2014 by CrossCuT

[dUSt]

I have mentioned it earlier in the thread but I feel as though redefining what it means to be a Church Militant might be helpful. Considering that about 90% of active users are now CMs on phatmass kind of dilutes its meaningfulness imo.

 

I think the definition should extend beyond simply adhering to church teaching but also the person needs to be a charitable representative of the faith. I know of at least 3 people who have lost their faith because of how they were treated by CM's who had no sense of prudence in their comments. And I know that Dust has seemingly washed his hands of the issue by stating that its simply those peoples fault for being hurt by the fake people on the internet. 

 

I myself have questioned my faith moreso since rejoining Phatmass because of the way I have been treated after expressing my views. I dont mean those people who have discussed them with me in a mature way, but those who have personally attacked me and judged my character both on the board and private message.

 

IMO, phatmass is a place where your authority comes from the number of props you get and as long as people support your comments (regardless of their value, truthfulness, or charity) you can pass as being this dandy Church Militant member who bullies.

 

I dont say all of this as an attempt to absolve myself. its simply my observations. People are welcome to disagree with me. 

 

 

At the end of the day this is a Catholic forum meant to be a haven for other catholics or for people with questions right? You ARE representatives of the faith. So the Church Militant tag needs to mean something beyond that of a popularity contest.

 

You're Catholic? I've read some of your posts which did not seem like you were Catholic.

[CrossCuT]

You're Catholic? I've read some of your posts which did not seem like you were Catholic.

 

CMs on here have told me I am not. So I decided to assume that position. However I do not disagree with the label because I understand that I do not adhere to all Catholic teachings and I do not wish to confuse people.

 

I respect the tags on the forum which is hwy I am suggesting the change (or at least tightening) of the CM tag.

[CatherineM]

My biggest problem has always been those who call themselves Catholic while blatantly denying the Church teaches a certain thing or saying that the Church is wrong to teach a certain thing. Either get with the program, or move along.

[CrossCuT]

You're Catholic? I've read some of your posts which did not seem like you were Catholic.

 

I dont feel that I deserve as being marked as phishy. I have been in contact with people via private message as I attempt to decipher my faith. I have met people who have been good resources of information. 

I will happily accept beign marked as a Non-Catholic but I do not understand what about my presence is deserving of Phishy. 

 

If that is ultimately what the response is to my questions in regards to my faith then i guess Ill just go elsewhere for help since people are not willing on this forum. 

 

From what I understand the last person who was marked phishy and subsequently banned was because we was being kind of gross. 

Edited August 1, 2014 by CrossCuT

[Anastasia13]

Agree with me being more active.

 

Reality dictates otherwise.

 

So, option 1: Shut down the phorum.

Option 2: Permanently ban any members who consistently take up too much of my time.

Option 3: Come up with creatively brilliant ideas that allow disruptive members to continue posting on phatmass without outright banning them.

I am ok with 2 or 3. 1 would be sad. I have learned a lot here. :|

 

If you are going for 3, you might temporarily require moderation for disruptive members before their posts show. I don't know if this is the same board programming (non-techie here), but there are some boards I have started on where moderators have to approve each of someone's first X number posts before they show on the board. This might be a good training opportunity for disruptive members, but because of the work involved, might require taking on a couple new mods, maybe start with 10 or 20 posts like that?

 

Or temporary ban, like where they can't post for 2 weeks or a month but can come back, like a cooling off period or time-out. Another board I have been on for years has done this.

Edited August 1, 2014 by Light and Truth

[cmaD2006]

I'm going out on a limb here ... but I'm going to defend dUSt's actions.

 

a) The report button is there for use.  And yes -- the biggest issue is that when a thread is going beserk it needs to be used, even if it means getting 20-30-40 reports on a single thread.

b) Assuming that people prayed about using the purge form ... I don't see it as clickish (at least -- I am hoping and praying that it isn't the case).

c) Right now it looks like it could be used as a temporary "confinement"  area.  And that's good ... i.e. if a person's actions changes then great.  They come out, and if they follow the rules voila -- no further problems.

d) The purge area is awesome too -- it would give an area that if a thread goes ballistic (more than a Debate Table) for whatever reason, the mods now can toss it in there, and if someone is causing too much of a disruption then put the person there too.  Then now the drama/whatever-you-want-to-call it is limited to this purge board.  And the board becomes a free-for-all.  Heh -- the report button shouldn't apply in there.

 

As a mod (I can say this now) ... it is quite hard.  If you make a decision that a whole bunch of people don't agree with, you can get slammed PUBLICALLY (slamming a mod privately may be a bit better btw).  Yet -- decisions need to be made based on the phorum rules and conscience (I mean -- it is a Catholic phorum).   Vocation Station rules are clear cut.  Other areas are not. 

 

 

 

 

[Nihil Obstat]

Creative suggestion: keep the Purge group, change what it entails.
Disruptive members require mod approval for every post during their purge period. A week, a month, whatever. Empower the mods to take care of it without your input, then hold them accountable for its consistent implementation and enforcement.
Allows continued albeit reduced posting. Shifts responsibility to moderation instead of you. Perhaps add a couple mods to handle the increased workload.