Question for Members

[VtSteve]

Originally Posted by webmaster

I appear to be losing this war. The members who responded in this thread almost unanimously agreed that this forum should be "lake only" and yet the number of non-lake related posts keep rising. The "Laconia jobless/unemployed" and "Health Care in the Lakes Region" threads are just a few examples.

It seems like the members want the forum to be lake-only but just can't restrain themselves from posting about Obama, Health Care, Global Warming and other political issues. Maybe these issues are getting so large and important that they overwhelm the small local issues.

The thread Laconia Jobless/Unemployed, was started by a bomb-thrower. No hits on the first try, throw another bomb. It went downhill from there. So yes, I fully understand your frustration. I would have sent PM's to everyone indicating their tones were not acceptable, and recommend that they edit them (sooner than later). A far better policy than selective moderation, which can be addicting in the wrong hands. I was actually surprised that the thread wasn't intruded on by an adult.

You're not losing any battle Don, just a cyclical thing all sites go through. This is a very political year, and the economy is still not peaches and cream for most people. Foul language, outright hostile attacks and other such behavior is pretty well spelled out on most sites (not all), as taboo which will get you booted.

I think a well-rounded site always has topics that stray from the primary mission. If not for such topics, you'd be reduced to weather, ice outs, some restaurant reviews, direction, and sewing circles. Nothing wrong with that, but real life is quite a bit larger than that. This site has many, many different forum areas and topics. Some topics obviously can get out of hand and create extra work for you. On many sites, it's usually the ones that state they don't want to read the topics, that complain about the topics After reading them all

I agree with most here, that you don't want a free for all discussion of the religion/politics threads that really cause problems. But if you want no dissension, you'd probably have to eliminate the restaurant threads first

One of the most successful methods of controlling contentious topics is to make those threads available to only paying members. AND continue a policy of moderation for offensive language, personal attacks, etc. I personally think that a politics thread is a bad idea, paid or not. It never ends, and never will accomplish anything positive. On the other hand, topics like health care and unemployment are a part of everyday life. It would be quite hard to describe the lake last summer without discussing the economy, unemployment, and other cyclical events around us all.

One of the hardest jobs of moderation is to know when to delete and close. I have always felt it should be rules-based, not personal opinion based. Sites that skew reality tend to end up with a homogenized sameness that clouds reality. I know a few sites where the discussions left on the entire site all read like a Ditto of whatever the site owner thinks. (he deletes the rest). So basically, you know what every post will read like.

There are lots of different people on this site, and the overwhelming majority are good, decent people. They also share opinions, and have differing points of view on a wide variety of topics.

[sa meredith]

I'd love a small area for sports discussion...but that's just a quick opinion. No biggie.
On another note, I was shocked and appalled to read that threads in this forum sometimes turn contenious, argumentative, and offensive.
What's next..personal attacks??!!
I had no idea.....

[webmaster]

A couple points:

First, this site has always been for the entire Lakes Region. I may refer to "lake issues" sometimes but the Rules and Guidelines (in the FAQ) refer to the "Lakes Region". The front page of the site says: "Welcome to The Lake Winnipesaukee Home Page, your online portal to the Lakes Region of New Hampshire". Feel free to discuss any lake or pond in the area.

Second, many of you may not realize that I operate this site in my limited spare time. Sometimes I can barely keep up with the email notifications I get from the site. Writing to everyone that makes an insensitive comment is not practical. The strongest hint I can give is moderation.

Going straight by the rules is difficult. Too many posts are in a grey area. That's why we need moderators to interpret the rules, even if they aren't perfect.

[BroadHopper]

Folks that you know on this site if they will help you moderate the site?

You really need to delegate some authority and not taking it all upon yourself. You don't need the stress!

[Merrymeeting]

Those that want to comment on sports, politics, non-lake-related topics have PLENTY of other options. Almost every major newspaper (eg: The Boston Globe) provide room for comments on stories. Google, Yahoo, and others are full of groups where you can comment on any topic at all.

Don would still need to spend time moderating off-topic forums. Even if the rules were clear, he'd still want to watch for libel, personal attacks, inappropriate language / topics for a family site, etc. Not to mention the cost of hardware, storage, bandwidth, etc that is needed as a site grows. It's not worth the time, money, or hassle.

Don, again, there is a reason that this site has been so successful and people like spending their time "here", and you have a lot to do with that. Keep it as is.

[SteveA]

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

Those that want to comment on sports, politics, non-lake-related topics have PLENTY of other options. Almost every major newspaper (eg: The Boston Globe) provide room for comments on stories. Google, Yahoo, and others are full of groups where you can comment on any topic at all.

Avoiding, "The Devil made me do it" defense, I plead guilty to occasionally slipping into off topic discussions.

All of us that slip over the line know who we are, and know when we bend or break the forum rules.

Merrymeeting is exactly correct about all of the other places for non-Winni conversations. I'll take my thoughts and comments on banned subjects to a more suitable place.

Keep the Winni Forum for lake issues as laid out in the guidelines.

"Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.”

Benjamin Franklin

[RLW]

Originally Posted by SteveA

Avoiding, "The Devil made me do it" defense, I plead guilty to occasionally slipping into off topic discussions.
All of us that slip over the line know who we are, and know when we bend or break the forum rules.
Merrymeeting is exactly correct about all of the other places for non-Winni conversations. I'll take my thoughts and comments on banned subjects to a more suitable place.
Keep the Winni Forum for lake issues as laid out in the guidelines.
"Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.”

Benjamin Franklin

and a big to you and Merrymeeting