Non-Technical To-Do List

John's opened up a to-do list regarding technical problems and/or nice things we'd like to have. I imagine this will probably be smaller, but now that Daniel has given us the go-ahead to make decisions without his prior approval, I thought a list regarding other adminly stuff would be a good idea. Mods (or the lack thereof) is obviously one issue that has been raised. What else would people like to see changed?

A strongly moderated section for Christian or Religious Flat Earth Discussion.

Can we unban Parsifal now?

My understanding was that he was already unbanned.

I hope he starts posting again.

I hope he starts posting again.

I hope someone told him.

A strongly moderated section for Christian or Religious Flat Earth Discussion.

This could be a good idea. At the very least, having a separate section for it will probably help noobs understand that it's not what we're about.

I'd suggest AR, but that particular discussion is more cliched than a plate tectonics thread.

My understanding was that he was already unbanned.

Had a look at his profile, and apparently not. I've deleted all the bans related to him in the Ban Log now, so he should be able to access the site now. I too hope he'll come back.

I'll respond to the rest of this later, but I need to head out now. Keep posting, and I'll look at it all later tonight.

Read access to the (a copy or summary of) ban log. Then we know, who got banned, why and for how long.

Even if it is just

Thork       1 week starting 10-Feb-2012        Flaming Wilmore. 
*(I wouldn't flame Wilmore.)

This probably isn't the correct thread for this suggestion, but something really needs to be done about the angry noobs accusing anyone who takes the FE side in the discussions of being trolls. This is the Flat Earth Society! It's not important if the person taking the flat side really believes the earth is flat.  Just about every thread in the upper forums turns into a debate over who's trolling. 

I remember Daniel posting once that he created this board so that people with alternative ideas would have a place to discuss them. Now it seems like the board is a place for people with alternative ideas to be mocked.

I know that I do not participate in the upper forums, but I appreciate the people who valiantly try to keep the FE community going, and I enjoy reading the discussions from time to time... well I used to enjoy it.

This probably isn't the correct thread for this suggestion, but something really needs to be done about the angry noobs accusing anyone who takes the FE side in the discussions of being trolls. This is the Flat Earth Society! It's not important if the person taking the flat side really believes the earth is flat.  Just about every thread in the upper forums turns into a debate over who's trolling. 

I remember Daniel posting once that he created this board so that people with alternative ideas would have a place to discuss them. Now it seems like the board is a place for people with alternative ideas to be mocked.

I know that I do not participate in the upper forums, but I appreciate the people who valiantly try to keep the FE community going, and I enjoy reading the discussions from time to time... well I used to enjoy it.

There isn't really much we can do about it, though. Banning people for suggesting we aren't serious is a bit extreme, and will probably just give them martyrs to rally around.

I'm not suggesting they be banned, but markjo is quick to scold FEers who get out of line, he tends to ignore his RE gang.

Part of the problem is that the most of the angry noobs come and go so quickly that there really isn't much we can do about them.  However, in my opinion, if FE'ers want to be taken seriously (and I really don't see much evidence that they do), then they should be above goading and/or trolling the noobs.  The same goes with the RE regulars.  If we're so sure that we're right, then we should be able to present calm, coherent arguments to support our cases.  But that brings us back to the frustration of FE'ers (necessarily) needing to deny conventional science in lieu of more and more extravagant theories.  Of course the back and forth is what give this place it's color and charm, but the real question is "how do we strike a balance?"

This probably isn't the correct thread for this suggestion, but something really needs to be done about the angry noobs accusing anyone who takes the FE side in the discussions of being trolls. This is the Flat Earth Society! It's not important if the person taking the flat side really believes the earth is flat.  Just about every thread in the upper forums turns into a debate over who's trolling. 

I remember Daniel posting once that he created this board so that people with alternative ideas would have a place to discuss them. Now it seems like the board is a place for people with alternative ideas to be mocked.

I know that I do not participate in the upper forums, but I appreciate the people who valiantly try to keep the FE community going, and I enjoy reading the discussions from time to time... well I used to enjoy it.

This is the sanest post i've read on the forum for a while 

Mizuki x

Part of the problem is that the most of the angry noobs come and go so quickly that there really isn't much we can do about them.  However, in my opinion, if FE'ers want to be taken seriously (and I really don't see much evidence that they do), then they should be above goading and/or trolling the noobs.  The same goes with the RE regulars.  If we're so sure that we're right, then we should be able to present calm, coherent arguments to support our cases.  But that brings us back to the frustration of FE'ers (necessarily) needing to deny conventional science in lieu of more and more extravagant theories.  Of course the back and forth is what give this place it's color and charm, but the real question is "how do we strike a balance?"

The best way to strike a balance is the same as the rules: no personal attacks, no yelling.
Everything else is fair game.

However, I think that to help keep things seemingly fair, an RE mod should be the one repermandin RE noobs and FE mods repermandin FE noobs. That way neither side can claim discrimination.

Maybe 1st offense verbal warning in thread.
2nd offends a 1 day ban.
3rd offense a week ban.
4th offense permaban.

Having a moderator telling people as soon as they arrive that its all stupid is the worst advert possible.

Quote from: markjo on February 11, 2012, 11:18:39 AM

Part of the problem is ...

Having a moderator telling people as soon as they arrive that its all stupid is the worst advert possible.

When have I ever done this as a mod?

Quote from: Space Cowgirl on February 11, 2012, 10:27:40 AM

This probably isn't the correct thread for this suggestion, but something really needs to be done about the angry noobs accusing anyone who takes the FE side in the discussions of being trolls. This is the Flat Earth Society! It's not important if the person taking the flat side really believes the earth is flat.  Just about every thread in the upper forums turns into a debate over who's trolling. 

I remember Daniel posting once that he created this board so that people with alternative ideas would have a place to discuss them. Now it seems like the board is a place for people with alternative ideas to be mocked.

I know that I do not participate in the upper forums, but I appreciate the people who valiantly try to keep the FE community going, and I enjoy reading the discussions from time to time... well I used to enjoy it.

This is the sanest post i've read on the forum for a while 

Mizuki x

Yes, that is true, my Friends. For example, I have been mocked numerous times by angry noobs and malconents for my excellent KFC theory but so far nobody has ever tried disproving it instead of mocking me and my fellow Brothers. We are discriminated even by the moderators, which is very sad.

Part of the problem is that the most of the angry noobs come and go so quickly that there really isn't much we can do about them.  However, in my opinion, if FE'ers want to be taken seriously (and I really don't see much evidence that they do), then they should be above goading and/or trolling the noobs.  The same goes with the RE regulars.  If we're so sure that we're right, then we should be able to present calm, coherent arguments to support our cases.  But that brings us back to the frustration of FE'ers (necessarily) needing to deny conventional science in lieu of more and more extravagant theories.  Of course the back and forth is what give this place it's color and charm, but the real question is "how do we strike a balance?"

Well said. Don't let the trolls get you down, markjo. You're doing a fine job both as a member and an admin.

Well said. Don't let the trolls get you down, markjo. You're doing a fine job both as a member and an admin.

He is a moderator, not an admin. Being as you and others seem to have no intention of letting up and believe you are performing some kind of service to mankind, I will take a hiatus and hope things change with the new improvements. I'm jaded, sick of the upper fora and like all the other FErs, (except Tom) I need a break. Hopefully my absence will create a vacuum that one or two of you might fill.

Well you just laid down a perfect example to someone new, exploring FE theories about the presence of Antartica.

Quote from: markjo on February 11, 2012, 12:32:27 PM

It's right there where it should be:

Why did you answer that? Why couldn't you leave it for someone new to get their teeth into it? Why the sarcasm? But mostly why should an FEr waste time explaining to you why a photo might be fake? Your example the earth doesn't even have an atmosphere. Its been shopped to death. The curve isn't even smooth.

This really isn't the thread to discuss this, but since you insist...

My post was in direct response to iWitness's asking why Antarctica was not visible in satellite photos of the southern hemisphere.  If you think that the photograph that I posted is fake, then feel free to refute it in the appropriate thread.

Guys, whatever needed to be said has been said. Please don't derail the topic, okay?

Read access to the (a copy or summary of) ban log. Then we know, who got banned, why and for how long.

Even if it is just

Thork       1 week starting 10-Feb-2012        Flaming Wilmore. 
*(I wouldn't flame Wilmore.)

I'll ask about this. I can't remember what people thought last time to be honest... or even what I thought. So much for consistency I guess.

I'm concerned that the mods are actually listening to our suggestions for once. 

Quote from: John Davis on February 11, 2012, 09:42:59 AM

My understanding was that he was already unbanned.

Had a look at his profile, and apparently not. I've deleted all the bans related to him in the Ban Log now, so he should be able to access the site now. I too hope he'll come back.

Thanks! Much appreciated.

No problem.

Quote from: Lord Wilmore on February 11, 2012, 09:49:57 AM

Quote from: John Davis on February 11, 2012, 09:42:59 AM

My understanding was that he was already unbanned.

Had a look at his profile, and apparently not. I've deleted all the bans related to him in the Ban Log now, so he should be able to access the site now. I too hope he'll come back.

Thanks! Much appreciated.

We didn't forget about you.

I'm not sure whether this fits the technical section better or the non-technical one. It's a bit of both.

We need to do something about the n-word. Ideally, we could just not ban for it, but I'm guessing you're still not allowed to do that.
If so, perhaps we could filter it out in a fashion similar to lime? Just replace all occurrences of the word with an empty space, "[CENSORED]", "e", or "lime". That way there would be no need to ban someone who just carelessly typed the word in without thinking about it (or without knowing about the rule), and if someone would consciously circumvent the filter (lol lemon), banning them would be much less controversial.

I'm not sure whether this fits the technical section better or the non-technical one. It's a bit of both.

We need to do something about the n-word. Ideally, we could just not ban for it, but I'm guessing you're still not allowed to do that.
If so, perhaps we could filter it out in a fashion similar to lime? Just replace all occurrences of the word with an empty space, "[CENSORED]", "e", or "lime". That way there would be no need to ban someone who just carelessly typed the word in without thinking about it (or without knowing about the rule), and if someone would consciously circumvent the filter (lol lemon), banning them would be much less controversial.

Second this.