fadedsailor932 said:"..kids, listen up... mom’s had enough—she’s gone and had too much..."
..after talking things over with my fellow mods, and after they gave me a quick rundown on all those old conquerors, those Ottoman types, Suleiman Pasha, and the Janissaries... well, I hate to break it to you, but I'm siding with them. The only advice I can give is to try and win them over somehow... maybe with a wink, a little charm, or some homemade treats....Whatever they decide, I’m standing by their side like a true friend and leader...
Alright, so you've consulted with Jay... who originally started the Ask I Memn thread, along with certain users who dropped in a couple of times—though I didn't personally notice them before the situation involving Ezel popped up (just one silly, harmless episode one evening). Then there's Ben, who visited the thread occasionally without any issues whatsoever from his end or anyone else's, and I assume the head admin isn't particularly interested in the soap opera section as such (even though, to be fair, this isn't strictly a soap opera, we all collectively agreed it fit that category, so that's beside the point now). Regardless, the question remains as to why opening a follow-up thread is prohibited:
1) Usually, once a thread hits the ten-thousand-post mark, we open new threads here—even for shows that aren't airing anymore. This series wrapped up yesterday, and it's obvious the conversation is still very much alive, especially since it's a top-tier drama that naturally sparks intense reactions once you start watching. I don't think it's time to get hung up on old prejudices regarding Turkey or the Turkish people and historical grievances, because really, in the year 2011, none of that matters anymore.
2) Those arguments about insults, chaos, mass reports, and general disorder simply don't hold water. I mean, would all these people truly participate in such a heavily visited thread with this level of intensity and passion if the discussion were just a rowdy tavern brawl filled with nothing but insults? We aren't some low-rent internet comment section, are we?😬
3) If the reason for banning a sequel is something other than those first two points, why not just tell the community? There is clearly a huge interest here, and surely the whole purpose of being part of a community is to communicate and exchange opinions.
Sarah Hernandez3 said:I’ve never really believed that locking a thread is the answer... It feels more like punishing the whole group when, in reality, it’s usually just a few specific people causing the friction. In my view, those individuals should be the ones dealt with—using the actual tools available here, like bans or warnings, you know? But I’ve noticed this pattern on forums quite often—closing down threads that get messy or start attracting insults. And honestly, I think this particular thread was leaning a bit in that direction.
Regarding the subject matter and the insults... it’s not like they weren't happening. I can say that I’ve personally been on the receiving end of some insults myself—both in the soap opera threads and the ones with spoilers and without. Just because I voiced a different opinion, I was labeled an "emotional invalid," for instance. 😕 I haven't actually reported anyone yet... if I’m being honest, I don't think I've ever reported a single user or moderator on any forum I've been on. 🤷 But I am starting to think about doing it for the first time.
I also noticed a handful of people—I won't name names since I didn't even catch them all—who weren't exactly friendly toward anyone expressing an opinion that differed from their own or from the majority consensus. There was also that whole thing where they call people "bandwagoners" just because they started commenting during the final episodes, creating this vibe that they aren't welcome here. I mean, is there actually a rule on this forum that forbids someone from commenting on a series just because they didn't participate earlier and the show is nearing its end? 😕
As for the confusion over opening a new thread, the girl joined the forum wanting to discuss the show, saw the existing thread was closed, so she started a new one to share her thoughts (back when that wasn't against the rules). Even though her post wasn't a formal intro with all the cast photos, series data, and links, it was a fairly long post with well-reasoned impressions. You could tell she put a lot of time and effort into writing it, and frankly, I think some of the comments directed at her were way too harsh. Again, the "bandwagoner" labels, the claims that she didn't "deserve" to start a thread because she had zero previous posts, the comments about how she dared to mention a certain character in her very first post... I think the frustration regarding how the new thread was opened could have been expressed much more mildly and politely.
Hey there... if you're referring to my earlier post where I mentioned that troll, honestly, the guy really flew in last night with this whole argument about how we shouldn't be numbing our brains with these shows while significant events are unfolding in Japan, and he posted a few more things right after, but I didn't even bother reading them because it was painfully obvious he was just being a troll and that's exactly what I was thinking 😉
but now it turns out that having someone like that reported is actually becoming an issue itself.🤣
lonemoose6 said:Wait, didn't Arthur Mendoza5 try to cut a deal with Ben Marshall? I mean, Ben was being loud and clear last night—so why the hell is ambermason16 back at it again, trying to play both sides and lock things down? 🙄
Do you honestly remember that we were all fully aware last night that this thread had already blown past 10,000 comments? We really felt like we needed to touch base with Ben first—since he was always in the loop and would tune into the series every now and then anyway—to coordinate before actually launching a sequel. I mean, who could have possibly predicted things would turn out this chaotic?🤷
I’ll tell you, this is actually pretty standard practice on the other subforums around here. Just the other day over in Politics, they had to shut down a thread about the protests because it hit that 10,000-post mark. The moderator was actually quite helpful about it; he explained exactly why it happened, opened up a follow-up thread to keep things moving, and provided a direct link back to the original discussion so everyone could find their way back. It was all very straightforward.🤷
The reality is that saying a series has wrapped up isn't really a valid argument on its own, especially since we regularly have discussions about shows that have already reached their series finales. Similarly, claiming it lacked viewership doesn't carry much weight either. Ask and Memnu This thread has been absolutely dominating the top of the charts lately, racking up an incredible 300,000 views and over 11,000 individual posts in just two months. 😁🤷 It felt like the whole thing was just a barrage of insults and reports. I mean, wasn't there that one troll lurking around last night too, clearly just showing up to throw shade and mock everyone? Now, because of those specific topics, the thread is locked, and we aren't even allowed to start a follow-up discussion? 🙄🤣🤣
To me, it feels exactly like that situation where Behul convinced Nihal that Bashir’s findings were actually on the disc, just so he could swoop in and take them for himself. I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that. Could you please clarify what you meant? It honestly feels like she’s just doing it by instinct at this point, almost as if everything happens purely by hand.😂
Paul Kim said:It isn't even about whether people like the opening post of the former Aşk-ı Memnu Vol.2 or not, it's really more about the fact that... The theme of Aşk-ı Memnu is forbidden... In other words, it doesn't even exist... No one is allowed to open it......
The irony is palpable... being forbidden from even discussing a forbidden love... ...so much for the internet being the final bastion of free speech... Moderators, have some shame!...
Hey there... I'm struggling to see where this supposed disrespect or chaos and mess come from. You can't just have one person throw out an accusation like that without providing some actual evidence to back it up, right? And as for how she moderated the thread? Honestly, it didn't happen. She barely showed up, and even then, it was only after Ezel flagged things. She handed out a bunch of warnings—though strictly within our thread—then popped back in a few days later because she knew the bans had expired. One of those warnings was about the same level as that video we watched yesterday (the one parodying Behlul). That wasn't what moderation looks like. If it's true that the thread turned into a complete disaster, then that falls squarely on her shoulders🤷😁 But despite all that alleged spam and off-topic chatter, the thread proved its worth through its engagement levels; the only way I could validate ambermason16's insinuations would be if they actually deleted it, like 🙂
And I don't quite get why nobody else is weighing in. Miroball was online—what about the other admins?
We have one person claiming the thread was overflowing with insults and disorder, while several others are saying that simply wasn't the case, so let's pause for a second and think about that...🤔
The question I’m posing is whether one of us members, or perhaps a moderator, could start a fresh thread—something along the lines of Ask me Memnu 2—similar to how sequels get launched on the rest of the forum or when the television network decides to open up follow-up discussions for other series.
And who actually has the final say on a move like that? Is it the admin, the moderators over at the network, or maybe the specific mod who kicked off the original thread? Or would it require a third party to step in?
@ambermason16 I’m sorry, but what kind of reports are you actually referring to? Why are you trying to push this narrative that the topic became a breeding ground for insults and conflict when that simply isn't the case? Are you trying to convince some higher authority or what? 😕 The engagement and readership levels speak for themselves, and I would assume everyone who took part knows whether they were being abusive or just engaging in normal conversation. Of course, there have been lapses—some spam, a bit of trolling—though I doubt other threads are held to the standard of academic debates, let's be real—and that’s just human nature, especially when things get heated. Most of that can be handled with a simple warning rather than immediately going for the heavy-handed approach if one wants to keep things clear. No, the discussion was never stifled, nor can we call it the undisciplined chaos you’re attempting to portray for whatever reason.
Last night, someone was being provocative on the thread, insulting everyone who watches the series... naturally, someone reacted and reported those posts. Good grief, that is exactly what the "report misconduct" feature is for. I don't see the point of having it if regular users who are constantly active can't complain about these outbursts. Isn't that option specifically designed to assist moderators, who physically aren't able to monitor every single conversation across every single thread? 😕
ambermason16 said:It’s a sad, sad story... and honestly, I totally get where you're coming from. The thread stays open regardless. 😁
Usually, when a show wraps up but the thread stays live, it’s because the series was a massive hit and the community, for lack of a better term, earned the right to keep the conversation going. This particular topic doesn't meet either of those criteria.
And look, we aren't going to sit here and tolerate another thousand pages of people insulting, trolling, whining, reporting posts, or picking fights with Ezel and whoever else in a thread dedicated to a show that's already over.
Actually, this is worse than I initially thought. So, the claim is that someone was intentionally jumping in last night to post about events in Japan (?) and insulting the women on the thread—and that’s being cited as the reason for the lock? Plus, the fact that people were reporting posts (for instance, I personally reported something twice over the last two months) when users were deliberately dropping spoilers—is that also a reason for the lock? Is it because we didn't want to deal with users who simply refused to stop posting spoilers? 👍
Oh, I see, so it's actually about Ezel, something you penalized just a few weeks ago (which is a whole other discussion in itself)! Well, I'm certainly satisfied with that explanation. Thank you for the honesty and for publicly admitting the motives behind locking the thread—even if you did describe the situation quite, quite incorrectly. 🙂
I am aware that according to the policy regarding the 10,000-post threshold, the moderators typically open a new thread to avoid any unnecessary drama, even on a highly active and bustling forum like the Politics section here.
However, it seems this rule applies to the Television sub-forum for some users, while others seem to be treated differently.
Take, for instance, the discussion surrounding the Turkish drama Aşk-ı Memnu. Since there wasn't a more permanent home for it, it ended up being hosted over in the Soap Factory section, where it sparked massive interest among both women and men alike.😍 In terms of sheer view counts and engagement, it actually outpaced series that have been running much longer. The story itself is based on a novel from the 1900s and was first adapted for the screen back in 1975.
Because the number of posts surpassed the 10,000 mark, the moderator Ben Marshall locked the thread last night, explained the situation, and noted that a follow-up thread would be opened. Someone went ahead and did exactly that today, but then the moderator ambermason16 closed the new thread immediately, claiming it was filled with insults, reports, and trolling... 🤷 I don't want to nitpick about moderation styles, but if the reason given last night was simply what we all expected—hitting the post limit—then why this sudden change of heart and refusal to provide a solution now?
My question is quite simple: is it permissible (I believe it is, is it permissible 🤷😁 ) to open a continuation thread, just as is standard practice in other sub-forums and as we have seen with various other series in the Television section?
I truly had no intention of posting some sort of political manifesto, and unlike a few people hanging around this Forum, I don't use this space for those kinds of agendas 😁
besides, given how chaotic and messy this thread already is, my single post containing a snippet of text and a link is practically a drop in the bucket and considering how much nonsense is being thrown around here, I find your sudden, frantic reaction and labeling me quite ridiculous, especially since this entire discussion has turned into an absolute circus
so now it turns out that I'm the one spreading propaganda in the middle of this complete disaster 🤣😁 😵
oh, my dear Sasha (just like that song by the old guard 🙄🤣
🤣 Well, Sasha, it looks like you'll have your hands full cleaning up all those "pamphlets" later on, though I have no doubt you'll step up since you take such pride in high-quality moderation and keeping this thread decent—or at least aligned with actual historical facts. By the way, there’s a right way to link a pamphlet and actually provide the necessary context within a discussion.😍
The truth is, this entire thread is a complete mess that misinterprets historical events, hard facts, and everything currently happening in relation to them. So, when I post a specific excerpt from a text along with its source, which truly places everything mentioned into its proper context,you can go ahead and label it as breaking Forum rules, trolling, communist propaganda, or whatever other nonsense you want to call it. But I am asking you nicely: please DO NOT refer to my posts as pamphlets, especially not using that ridiculous terminology.
redhawk76, I'm right there with you on this, the whole situation is just pure chaos.
It feels like everything was intentionally set up so that the "main" section has become nothing more than conspiracy theory politics and mindless political gossip, while every other topic just gets buried under endless layers of redundant documentation. 🤷😁
It isn’t exactly a rare occurrence, but I just caught a fresh example in a digital edition of the New York Times—where a troll’s blatant provocation was met with a response along the lines of, "Oh, I see they finally brought high-speed internet to San Francisco"
We often see forum users interacting this way, essentially using sarcasm to signal their disagreement or attempting to land what they think is a "killer comeback" against someone they view as an opponent🤷
The underlying implication is that people residing in psychiatric hospitals are simple-minded, unintelligent, or merely looking to cause trouble, which perpetuates the harmful habit of mocking a population that is already heavily stigmatized by both their illness and the reactions of those around them
Because of this, I truly believe that this kind of forum rhetoric is unacceptable and should be strictly moderated, even if the prejudices, ignorance, and arrogance of the "healthy" population will never change unless they actually realize the weight of their own actions
wiredangler5 said:The reality is that Phoenix is facing the exact same fate that usually hits forum members who have been permanently banned.
It’s a matter of perspective, or more simply put: this is just untrue. I’m stating that quite bluntly because everyone already knows it, but if you’re going to lean on the rules regarding permanent bans, then at least clarify whether that rule is actually applied consistently across the board or not. If it is, fine, but if it isn't, then it serves as no valid argument against Phoenix.
Privileges? Calling Phoenix's corner a PRIVILEGE? He's been barred from posting in Politics (though nobody has ever provided a coherent explanation as to why), so he was graciously granted the PRIVILEGE of having his own thread—a thread whose title originally mentioned Phoenix, though it could have just as easily been titled "Good Morning, America."
Given that the whole point of an exchange forum is to pit different viewpoints against one another, I truly don't understand what you all are trying to achieve with this situation in the Politics section. If Phoenix holds an opinion that differs from what Chicago Sash, wiredangler5, or especially Simbi OS or xy prefer, is that really enough reason to silence him? What year is this, and what kind of society are we living in?
His posts are being cited by other media outlets, yet here on this Forum, they are being deleted. 😕
You really shouldn't jump to any final conclusions until you've responsibly confirmed or debunked whether the rule regarding permanent bans is actually being strictly followed ☕ since you seem to be basing your argument on what was said (on the Forum)
I honestly don't think you're being entirely truthful here, and I feel it would be beneficial if someone else—perhaps the moderators over on the Politics Forum, other admins, or even Anderson...—could step in and verify whether Phoenix really is the sole individual who has actually violated the rules
(if we're going to lean into that specific argument, shouldn't we?)
I posted this question a few days back, though I suspect I might have picked the wrong thread, so I wanted to ask if anyone other than hollowtrucker77 could weigh in on this. What exactly are these "agreements" people keep mentioning, and what is the specific reasoning behind trying to stop Phoenix from posting on Politics? I really don't want to make it seem like I'm just looking for loopholes when everything being said is clearly permitted by the rules.
Invoking these supposed "backroom deals" or claiming a violation of the rules is a pretty hard argument to make when we all know those standards aren't applied equally to everyone here.
After all, isn't the whole point of the Forum to allow for a diverse range of perspectives and opinions?
I’ve always felt that kids—and I can certainly speak from my own childhood experience here—tend to handle the realization that gifts aren't actually coming from magical figures quite effortlessly. It seems like that innate adaptation mechanism for navigating the grown-up world works perfectly fine; children are remarkably resilient little beings from the very start. They either simply embrace the joy of the presents or they don't bother digging deep enough to question the logistics behind them. Even in deeply religious households, I don't think children lose that sense of wonder when they eventually figure out that Mom, Dad, or Grandma were actually the ones behind the shopping bags. To me, that realization doesn't diminish the magic or the core essence of faith at all.🤷
Furthermore, I suspect the real shock—and the much heavier parental responsibility—lies in having to explain things like the concept of different types of families🤷 or how 😁 modern social structures 🤣 have evolved these days and those kinds of nuanced details.
From everything we know, Saint Nicholas—the Catholic and Orthodox saint originally from Asia Minor in Greece—is the one who brings gifts to children and serves as their protector. There's even a story about him saving a child from choking on a fish bone, though he’s also famous for helping out poor young women by providing them with dowries, which was a mandatory custom back then 😁- he reportedly slipped bags of gold coins through their windows under the cover of night, and word of his generosity eventually got out. 🤷
The whole narrative surrounding the Baby Jesus is a bit more recent, yet it remains deeply connected to what I mentioned earlier regarding the old Roman traditions used to celebrate the long winter nights of December, which themselves trace back to Celtic customs centered on the celebration of Light. This historical lineage is precisely why the celebration of Christmas falls right around the winter solstice.
As for the other stories circulating today, they are much newer developments, largely driven by commercial interests and the mainstreaming of Christianity, all while being heavily blended with various local folk customs.
Richard Wilson4 said:Are you tired of those "middle-of-the-road" moderators who try way too hard to be reasonable, thinking they can just ignore their own biases when things get heated?
Do you really want some clown running the show who hands out bans just because someone dared to disagree with them?
Is it finally time we brought in someone to actually deal with the spammers and the people flooding the boards with hundreds of useless threads?
If so, get behind Richard Wilson4 for the 2011 moderator spot. 👍
I'm going to pass on that, because I truly believe power corrupts, and I have no desire to be an accomplice to that process.☕
People have actually gone as far as saying I'm just a carbon copy of Vesna Pusić 😂
As for that guy Marun, he’s basically a clone of someone who was permanently banned, which honestly makes his presence here feel like some kind of glitch in the matrix while he’s still posting 🤣☕ It probably isn't the best move for you to be drawing any attention toward him, you really ought to focus on the game instead we need to make sure they realize we're still here😉