Istanbul's blog

**Posted:** Tue Apr 24, 2007 10:57 pm

So it finally quit raining, the sun came out, the birds were singing and the gnats were nattering. A good time to invite Gus over for a BBQ.
Emmy figured on a Alfredo pasta dish with Rhubarb trimmings but I knew Gus preferred steak or ribs. BBQing pasta may be in vogue but Gus, (and I too I might add) are still stuck in the ways of Cooper, Wayne, James and Gantry.

Emmy thought Gus looked disappointed with her menu selection so suggested a red wine marinated T-bone with navy beans instead. That was Gus's favourite dish. A delicacy pleasing to the most refined palate. So much so he has it every Thanksgiving before the turkey spoils his appetite.
I got the BBQ going.

It didn't help much. Gus still looked glum so Emmy slung him a beer with a "Whassup Gus?"

"It's me Mum" he said.

"Oh OH! Did she have a relapse?" I asked.
"Well no. She is fine. Just that she was banned".
"Banned" I blurted, "banned from what?"
"Her favourite forum" He said. "It seems she was in a hurry and forgot to add a SCB to a picture she posted"
"OK. Now what is a S C B?" queried Emmy.
"SCB is a Self Censored Bar" Gus explained. "Mum belongs to the BC chapter of Sunny Side Nudist Bridge Mix Club of Sacramento, California, USA.

They have a lively forum and livelier chat. Normally members paste a bar over the member's member in a full frontal picture.
Mum and her bridge group were trading baby pictures. To two members she added the SCB. (Self censored bar). To the other she forgot and got a stern warning from a Moderator. Then she was banned. Really sad. :cry:

Here are the baby pictures of Connie in party-costume and his twin Istanbul with the SCB* added" added Gus.
(*Self censored bar).

"And here is the one where she forgot!"

"Well a warning is not a banning" observed a wide eyed EmmyLou.

"True but Jethro never got banned or even a warning when he posted a portrait of his lady love. Probably because he attempted a SCB." (self censored bar).

"No verboten parts are showing" I guessed. "It makes it difficult for a moderator to make a judgement call"
"Istanbul is right" Emmy butted in. I recall Moderator "X" thought this picture of two males kissing as being in bad taste. "

He figured two females kissing was acceptable."

"Well guys" I said, "Moderators set the tone and feeling of a forum. Some forums are friendly, some feel like satanic anarchy and others have no feelings whatsoever. Moderators should moderate by setting an example. If Mods attack members, remove people's posts without warning, ban people for saying something negative about their staff and finally editing posts then they should be demoted. Particularly if such actions appear partisan. Favouring some jerks over other jerks is tantamount to sectarian heresy of the worst kind.
Moderators are similar to parents in that the resulting forum community or children will be of the same characteristic qualities. They should contribute useful information and what they say should be credible and usually correct.

Mods should edit posts ONLY when absolutely necessary. People do not like to have their posts messed with. Do not publicly ridicule them. Explain the violation publicly but explain the situation privately. In a friendly tone of course. (eg. Hey Bud.. you fucked up when you....)
If the offense was really offensive only then it is time to remove the person and posts.

The members should be free to express their points of view whatever they are.
A moderator who thinks that he is God is a quick way to get people to leave.
If a Mod starts trouble by feuding with members. closing down posts or banning people for no good reason it is time to get rid of him. A moderator who thinks he rules the place can be death for a forum."

"Gor Blimey Istanbul" piped up Gus,"you should be a Moderator! Tell me, me Mum and Emmy how you would judge the following posted pictures of a member hitchhiker? Remember Mum's forum is the Sunny Side Nudist Bridge Mixed Club of Sacramento, California."

"Ah I see you wanted me to check the graduations of irresponsible posts to determine a line in the sand, a benchmark where posters should not cross!

Well Gus, instead I ran the pictures past the Mods at Sunnyside Nudist Bridge Mix Club of Sacramento, California. They each took a stab at it, put on the MCB's (Mod Censor Bar) but left the first and last untouched!

I had to PMCB (Pseudo Mod Censored Bar) the final picture. It was not so much the full Monty but the possibility the Nudist club forum members were not yet ready for Transvestites."