This week in moderation: Are there rules on this message board? How do the mods decide which threads to delete?

There are posters whose views I may disagree with or who may feel strongly about an issue but don't go and create multiple threads on the same issue spamming the boards. I think there is a difference. Generally, I'd say unless you are starting threads on one topic we are going to evaluate the content of the individual post.

I'm away from home so I don't have access to the statistics, but a while back I wrote a web scrapper that looked at threads started by unregistered vs registered users and which threads get deleted and the overwhelming majority of threads are started by unregistered users and virtually all of the threads that get deleted are started by unregistered users.

I'd suggest that a large part of the perceived moderation problem on LetsRun forum is because the current system makes moderation so difficult.

While we support the principles of free speech we also want to foster a community within those priniciples.

Under your guidelines, we should let people post porn links on the site or let non-running threads dominate? Unlike say twitter, every thread, every post is treated equally. We don't prescreen content or use algorithms to limit the content with speech that isn't high value.

The way we handle this is by deleting low value threads.

Treating thread starters differently than thread posters is something we do to some extent but need to expand upon.

They just throw a dice. Perhaps the Brojos set them a target of deleting x number of threads a day, and they just randomly meet their target?

I'm perfectly fine with the moderation on this site and the Brojos are good guys in my opinion.

I might be one of your 5 problems, and that really bothers me (honestly). I am not the poster that keeps writing the same posts. I don't copy and paste the same thing over and over, and I think a discerning reader can tell when a post is serious vs trolling. I've reached out like you requested (with no response, though I understand it's not been very long), and I’m more than willing to back off my issue, if you guys take some steps (easy ones) to back off.

As for moderation, if you're serious, then great. But, you'll have to excuse several of us "lifers" who will have to see it to believe it. You have good rules (or at least a decent start), but they're nowhere close to being enforced consistently. Not close. Some have claimed that you guys don't have control of your mods or even know who all the mods are. I can't see how that could be possible, but if it is, no wonder the moderation is as poor as it is. There's a thread started a year ago by a poster named mikeh33 (or something like that) about moderation, and it is going on 30 or 40-something pages. There are many posts that are just voicing grievances, but there are also many good suggestions that I think you should consider.

Lastly, I started a thread about why I appreciate you more than Rojo (which was totally an honest assessment), and I got banned for 6 days for it. So, maybe you need to add a rule that comments about you guys are forbidden.

There was a good thread last night about licking butt holes. I went to check it this morning and those out-of-control mods had deleted it.

Malmo is in charge. If he wants it gone, it’s gone

"because the thread has spiraled out of control"

What does that even mean? What is the standard for how "off" topic a conversation has become? Does the subject as chosen by the OP dictate? Conversations don't just stick on one thing but can fork based on what people say.

Can you address the poster who is copying and pasting threads from reddit nearly every day?

Or the guy who bumps old threads to post spam links. Some of those links go to harmful websites.

See this guy is one of our trouble makers as well.

Look at his username.

Should have added to the problematic things the posters who constantly target Greg and Deno. It's human nature I guess but I find it sad that people come on here and just target other posters.

Spammers are a problem with every forum but I didn't even post that. We just ban them and clean up when we can. Most problematic in the off hours. So we need more European moderators.

If you have an issue with a moderator email me directly. A very easy way to get something deleted or even banned is to go off topic in a thread about moderation. We can't have threads going off the rails to discuss moderation.

C'mon, wejo. Those two, and a handful of others, bring absolutely nothing of value to this site. It's truly disgusting that you give them a safe space to spread their lies and hate.

I see a very lengthy email from yesterday now. I'll write back now.

Wejo - why don't you employ an intern for $200 a week to review all thread deletions? Your mods deleted a thread a few weeks ago in which you had personally added to the title that you found the thread 'fascinating'. There was a thread where the OP claimed that his father had handtimed Roger Bannister's sub 4 mile at 4:00.6, and that he wanted to tell his story as he was getting on - and the mods deleted it. There was another thread on the subject of a world class miler in the 80's from South Africa who was prevented from competing internationally, and there was a great debate developing on whether he could have beaten the Brits - and the mods deleted it.

Plus, I keep telling you that at the end of the day it is costing you money. Your site is very likely being penalized by Google because so many threads get indexed and then deleted. Google considers that an unstable site and will penalize it hard. It would actually save you money by paying somebody competent $200 a week to review deleted threads.

Why is there a 20 page thread making fun of SJD?