Posts by Drew Martin84

It isn't just about the appeal of a card, really, but rather the constant deletion of my posts and her frankly childish behavior...

To be clear, I was contributing to the thread titled "Update on returning to America" over on the Diaspora forum, specifically discussing the American education system, which wasn't intended as trolling at all, especially since there were at least a dozen prior posts on that exact subject, yet when I replied to someone's comment without any insults or off-topic remarks, I ended up receiving an Infraction and having my post wiped away, even though no other comments in the entire thread were removed, despite mine being no different from the rest...

The fact that she is close friends with Skattemus, and they both seemingly harbor a grudge against me and a few other forum members, shouldn't be a reason to delete posts; I was hit with an Infraction for trolling when my contribution had absolutely nothing to do with trolling and was strictly about the topic under discussion.

I truly don't understand how much longer this can continue, as it seems the two of them can act however they please on the Diaspora board without any consequences, behaving like twelve-year-olds, where if anyone dares to say a single word against them, they face deleted posts, warnings, and so on, and while so many people have already complained about their moderation style, nothing is ever done about it, so I honestly don't know what else to say...

I started a thread earlier this morning over on the FBI boards to lodge an appeal of a card regarding the moderator Striker, but I was wondering if anyone could clarify why that thread was removed and who was responsible for deleting it...

On most other forums, discussing moderation isn't permitted, so I'm curious if that rule has been extended here as well...

Here is a quote from an excellent post found in the thread about the USA:

GLAVATAR said:maybe try reaching out to the admin, perhaps they can assist... based on what I've gathered, this doesn't seem like grounds for a ban (personally, I feel that if there aren't any actual complaints, then there shouldn't be a reason to issue a ban, regardless of how heated a debate might get—and this certainly wasn't the case here), lately it seems like the moderators have actually started working against the interests of the forum (this isn't just an isolated incident), I follow quite a few threads and several of them have completely died off because the moderators drove people away with this kind of behavior....

a bit of friendly advice for the moderators— it’s fine to clash with one or two people, but if a handful of users start questioning your actions, then perhaps you should take a moment to reflect, as you might not actually be in the right....

one ought to be able to accept criticism with dignity, rather than simply handing out bans and driving people away the moment someone says something you don't care for....moderators, you are on this forum for our sake, not the other way around

brightpuma said:Hold on... So, you're saying the moderator should apologize just because people are breaking the forum rules and she's enforcing them?🤷 Whether it's insults, off-topic rambling, or trolling, you get a card. It's all against the rules. The only difference is how many points you lose.

And then you have YouTube over there practically begging for it, saying, "...yeah, go ahead, give me a card now, please..."

Unfortunately, if you can't read the rules and follow them, I think you'll find plenty of other "undemocratic" forums out there.🙄

No, she is the one who owes an apology because she set this entire mess in motion:

1) Seomag was insulting acquaintances of wanderingharbor492 on that thread—I have already posted the quotes here if anyone cares to see them—yet instead of issuing him a warning or a sanction, she completely bypassed him under the flimsy excuse that she was "busy" and somehow "missed" his posts,
2) Instead of addressing him, she went after Mimosa, simply because Mimosa stood up to Seomag (which was entirely justified), which Disney deemed off-topic, regardless of how much off-topic content Seomag himself had been pumping out, which apparently doesn't matter at all in this scenario,
3) After that warning was issued to Mimosa, several of us pushed back against such blatant unfairness, and it wasn't until the situation migrated here that Disney finally realized her mistake and concocted that ridiculous excuse about missing Seomag's posts—though honestly, they are sitting right there just a few comments above Mimosa's, so clearly she didn't miss those, and she claimed she would sanction him too, though I haven't checked and it doesn't look like Seomag received a red card for his insults and off-topic rambling, while everyone else who uttered a single word against Disney received an immediate red card,

If that is what passes for fair and just moderation, then she hasn't done anything wrong and has no reason to apologize, and for her and the rest of the moderation team here, this is clearly the standard way of doing things...

Rather than admitting her error—specifically the unequal treatment of certain users, namely Seomag and Mimosa—and offering an apology or at least unbanning the people who didn't deserve it, she continues to double down and hand out red cards to anyone who dares to protest, and I suspect there will be more and more of us doing exactly that, since we went from just a couple of people a few days ago to over a dozen now...

mimozaaa said:I find myself agreeing that we really ought to have a way to appeal, because this version of democracy on the forum feels like whatever the moderator decides it will be—otherwise, you just get a warning or a strike even if you haven't actually done anything wrong.
It truly saddens me to see someone receive a yellow card simply because they were responding to me and my own baseless warning.
It is honestly quite shameful that someone can pull this kind of stunt on us without any justification.
So, let's start right here by asking publicly: who exactly is the authority we are allowed to complain to regarding a moderator's lack of objectivity?
I'll go first, so feel free to ban me for good... or just ship me off to the USA...😁

YouTube said:...THE TRUTH... The absolute truth!! ...and the truth hurts...

..now hurry up and give me a strike too, please...

bronco said:I completely agree; the moderator has lost all sense of direction, and one wonders if the higher-ups ever actually monitor what is happening here. Perhaps they will eventually just shut down the entire expatriate community just to ensure no one dares to write anything against the single narrative.

Here are the exact kinds of statements that caused three different people to get a red card. There was no insult involved, merely an expression of dissatisfaction with the moderation, yet it resulted in an automatic ban. It is the most effective way to silence someone.

What seems to be escaping your understanding is that these instances will only become more frequent. This isn't just isolated to one specific thread; things spiraled out of control there because Disney was deleting posts and issuing warnings without any legitimate cause—so it is perfectly natural that people are expressing their frustration there, and that sentiment is beginning to spread. With every new penalty issued, the number of dissatisfied users will only grow.

If anyone here actually understood how to moderate these people, these unjustified bans would be overturned, Disney would apologize and admit her mistake, and perhaps everything could return to normal; instead, the situation will only deteriorate until half of the expatriate community rebels, at which point you might finally have no choice but to replace her.

But as I have already said, I no longer have any intention of participating in such an undemocratic forum, so as far as I am concerned, you may close this topic whenever you wish... this will be my final post.

rustydrifter10 said:Look, we saw those deleted posts.

The mimoza user got flagged because they just wouldn't stop picking fights with the moderation team and bickering with the other sanctioned users on the thread, even after Henry Moore2 gave several warnings to drop it. Honestly, the mods messed up here, and the penalties they handed out were totally justified given the situation.

The sole reason mimoza felt the need to address the moderation was that Henry Moore2 initiated a warning unnecessarily at the very beginning, given that there was no insult intended toward her, yet she apparently took everything personally, which suggests a complete lack of objectivity... However, it is clear that you all have already made up your minds and have no intention of revisiting the sanction, so as far as I am concerned, you may close this thread, and I will be the first to announce that I will no longer be participating in this community, as I see there is simply no point...

Instead, I shall make sure to represent the moderation team from this site in the most glowing light possible on all the other platforms where I am active. That is all from me. Regards.

ambermason16 said:brightpuma, you hit the nail right on the head. It starts with Australia and Canada, then Germany follows suit—it’s a total reign of terror against newcomers and moderators alike. They are insufferable, acting like they're untouchable. Honestly, it's embarrassing when people carry that kind of ego into their real lives and still claim to represent Americans. The constant noise, the endless drama, and the screaming matches in those three specific threads have been going on for years! The sheer amount of toxicity and bitterness thrown around, the public threats, the secret ones, the absolute horrors... I was honestly stunned when I first took on a moderator role for the diaspora.

The most pathetic part of this whole mess? The very same losers driving this entire trainwreck are the ones opening these threads, swarming like a pack of wolves to attack the moderator just because she’s doing her job. And she did it perfectly: strictly by the book, but with more humanity than was probably even necessary. When she responded, she was peaceful, clear, and polite—she even left room to admit if she were wrong (which she isn't) and offered an apology upfront just in case. But that doesn't matterrr... no, what matters is surrounding her and systematically attacking her on a personal level, over and over again. They drag the topic out as long as possible just so the whole world can see what terrible players they are, acting like Henry Moore2 isn't worth the breath it takes to speak her name.

Please, let’s not dwell on baseless assumptions... I am the one who initiated this entire discussion, yet I have only been a registered member of this forum for a single month, and I hardly know anyone here, much less the people you are implying I am connected to. This is quite literally my first thread, which means your theory falls apart before it even begins to take shape... If you find that hard to believe, you are more than welcome to examine my profile and review my posting history for yourself...

ambermason16 said:brightpuma, you hit the nail right on the head. It starts with Australia and Canada, then Germany follows suit—it’s a total reign of terror against newcomers and moderators alike. They are insufferable, acting like they're untouchable. Honestly, it's embarrassing when people carry that kind of ego into their real lives and still claim to represent Americans. The constant noise, the endless drama, and the screaming matches in those three specific threads have been going on for years! The sheer amount of toxicity and bitterness thrown around, the public threats, the secret ones, the absolute horrors... I was honestly stunned when I first took on a moderator role for the diaspora.

The most pathetic part of this whole mess? The very same losers driving this entire trainwreck are the ones opening these threads, swarming like a pack of wolves to attack the moderator just because she’s doing her job. And she did it perfectly: strictly by the book, but with more humanity than was probably even necessary. When she responded, she was peaceful, clear, and polite—she even left room to admit if she were wrong (which she isn't) and offered an apology upfront just in case. But that doesn't matterrr... no, what matters is surrounding her and systematically attacking her on a personal level, over and over again. They drag the topic out as long as possible just so the whole world can see what terrible players they are, acting like Henry Moore2 isn't worth the breath it takes to speak her name.

Yes, she carried out that action flawlessly, primarily because she went ahead and scrubbed every single post that proved her mistakes... such as that one from mimoza which led to her issuing a warning and a formal strike, despite the fact that nothing offensive was actually written in it. If that post were still live on the forum, I would gladly copy it right here just to demonstrate how absurd the accusation really was... but of course, the easiest path is simply to delete the evidence, find a few moderators who will conveniently take your side, and then claim you performed your duties perfectly without any errors at all...

wanderingharbor492 said:It feels increasingly futile to vent any frustrations regarding the administration or the various figures in charge, given that they seem to operate under a system where the prosecutors and the judges are one and the same... Henry Moore2 refuses to acknowledge even the slightest error on his part, instead choosing to shift the blame onto those deemed "unfit," particularly those who dare to speak out against blatant unfairness. Even the regular members who stand in solidarity with such individuals end up catching heat, much like VideoZid... The higher-ups simply back their moderators regardless of the circumstances, and that seems to be the final word on the matter...

This is absolutely correct, and with every passing post, the reality of the situation becomes increasingly transparent... Here we have four users complaining about Henry Moore2, and I suspect at least three others would have voiced their grievances if they hadn't been banned already; that makes seven people in total, yet it turns out all seven are in the wrong while she remains the only one standing on solid ground... It follows that no matter how much we protest, there is no point, because a handful of moderators will inevitably side with her simply because they have known her for so long, and that is where it ends. This entire PZK forum feels utterly futile, given that the moderators are clearly always right and everyone else is perpetually mistaken, making any attempt to appeal a complete waste of energy... wanderingharbor492 made an excellent point when he suggested that the best course of action is to simply pack up and walk away, to stop participating entirely, so that perhaps when only the moderator is left alone in certain threads, some things might finally become clear...

rustydrifter10 said:You are absolutely free to debate and express opposing views. In fact, we encourage it! But you cannot resort to insults, provocation, or breaking any of the other forum rules.

Perhaps Henry Moore2 could simply copy and paste the exact comment here that led to mimoza being banned—the specific remark that was supposedly offensive enough to warrant a warning, a yellow card, and eventually a full ban... so we can all judge for ourselves whether she actually deserved such treatment.

Furthermore, I have noticed that quite a few people living in Australia seem to be getting banned on this forum, and soon enough, when someone wants to ask a question regarding life in Australia, there won't be anyone left to answer, because those living in Australia will either end up banned or simply stop participating due to this style of moderation...

And I completely understand why they would feel that way (for instance, Nancy Jones91), because there is little reason for them to waste their time participating here when they have already relocated and achieved their goals, leaving them with very little to gain from these types of forums... people join out of pure goodwill to help one another, so instead of issuing bans and warnings over trivialities, perhaps they should be granted a bit more freedom...

It was also rightly pointed out that a moderator on the Diaspora forum really ought to be someone from the diaspora itself, as Henry Moore2, through this particular approach to moderating, seems to be creating more friction than they are resolving... merely escalating tensions by sanctioning individuals like mimoza, who truly did nothing wrong at all...

rustydrifter10 said:If you don't have anything constructive or specific to contribute to this appeal, please just hold off on posting instead of turning this thread into a massive back-and-forth argument.

The appeal is currently under review, so I’m asking everyone to please show a little patience while we work through it.

I would like to formally request that the bans placed upon mimoza, VideoZid, and the rest of the group by Henry Moore2 be rescinded, especially considering those sanctions lacked any legitimate basis... It seems to me that her actions—specifically the constant issuance of warnings and the arbitrary deletion of posts—served only to provoke the very reactions she now seeks to punish. I suspect even she might realize that the moderation hasn't been applied consistently across all participants in this thread, particularly when observing how someone like Seomag was handled, and frankly, I don't believe anyone involved actually deserved to be banned, given that their frustrations were entirely justified...

Henry Moore2 said:Look, I’ve already made my stance clear on this whole issue.
The post from Mimosa didn't even touch on the actual topic; it was just a personal jab at me and the fact that she's living out in Los Angeles, so honestly, it was just total off-topic noise.
I feel bad if you guys don't appreciate me trying to keep everyone on track and making sure we actually stick to the point so things stay organized.
It’s funny how there's always some kind of drama involving people in Australia, isn't it?
Anyway, I really hope we can all work together better moving forward. I'm totally open to constructive criticism and I'll definitely start using it to improve how I handle things here.
Thanks to everyone who reached out.

It is certainly curious that you issued a ban to her for being off-topic, yet Sega didn't even receive a single warning. Here are a few instances of what Sega actually wrote within this same thread:

I wouldn't have even engaged with them if you hadn't tried to paint Los Angeles using their primitive nature as a backdrop...
One can hardly believe it... Have people like that ever actually emerged from the dens where they were born?
I agree, but if someone who has endless opportunities for a high-quality, civilized life (like the people in your example) chooses to live like a backwoods hillbilly, why shouldn't they be identified by that very description?

They seize every opportunity to insult others, and I could provide countless more examples where they veer completely off-topic without a single reprimand, all while you banned Mimosa over the most trivial matter. That serves as a sufficient summary of your moderation style...

Now, there is only one question remaining: will I receive an answer from anyone other than the two of you, and is there anyone here more responsible than both of you with whom I might discuss this specific situation?

Henry Moore2 said:Actually, no, because even though you signed up a month ago, you clearly didn't take the time to actually read the rules.
If I already gave you a heads-up about staying on topic and not leaning on DMs or FEMA, and you’re still pushing it, then yeah, that’s a warning card situation.

I don't need a lawyer here. ambermason16 just happened to be around before me, but Mimosa also totally called out my work, and it was pretty obvious in that post. Objectively speaking, deleting this and handing out a penalty is the same thing I'd do if someone else did it to you.

The whole thread is supposed to be about Australia, not about me personally. I asked a few times for everyone to stop making it about me, but since people wouldn't drop it, I had to step in.
I delete off-topic posts. This Australia thread is huge as it is, and when people coming from outside are looking for info, they don't need five pages of useless spam cluttering everything up.

I wasn't even aware that FEMA existed, and since you mentioned yourself that I only joined a month ago, I was mostly active in the expatriate community, which is why my very first post was there; things had escalated to posts being deleted and warnings being handed out, so by my second post, I was asking who to contact and was promptly sent the link to this Reddit thread, where I decided to continue the discussion...

Henry Moore2 said:Actually, no, because even though you signed up a month ago, you clearly didn't take the time to actually read the rules.
If I already gave you a heads-up about staying on topic and not leaning on DMs or FEMA, and you’re still pushing it, then yeah, that’s a warning card situation.

I don't need a lawyer here. ambermason16 just happened to be around before me, but Mimosa also totally called out my work, and it was pretty obvious in that post. Objectively speaking, deleting this and handing out a penalty is the same thing I'd do if someone else did it to you.

The whole thread is supposed to be about Australia, not about me personally. I asked a few times for everyone to stop making it about me, but since people wouldn't drop it, I had to step in.
I delete off-topic posts. This Australia thread is huge as it is, and when people coming from outside are looking for info, they don't need five pages of useless spam cluttering everything up.

She didn't insult you with a single word, and if you are taking everything this personally, then perhaps you aren't suited for this kind of role, especially since the post you deleted actually contained several interesting perspectives regarding the subject at hand... Furthermore, Sega, who was in that same thread openly insulting people and calling them hicks, didn't even receive a warning, let alone a strike or a ban, yet Mimosa was penalized simply because she called that same individual out... Did she deserve a ban just because she touched upon one of your friends?...

Henry Moore2 said:Actually, no, because even though you signed up a month ago, you clearly didn't take the time to actually read the rules.
If I already gave you a heads-up about staying on topic and not leaning on DMs or FEMA, and you’re still pushing it, then yeah, that’s a warning card situation.

I don't need a lawyer here. ambermason16 just happened to be around before me, but Mimosa also totally called out my work, and it was pretty obvious in that post. Objectively speaking, deleting this and handing out a penalty is the same thing I'd do if someone else did it to you.

The whole thread is supposed to be about Australia, not about me personally. I asked a few times for everyone to stop making it about me, but since people wouldn't drop it, I had to step in.
I delete off-topic posts. This Australia thread is huge as it is, and when people coming from outside are looking for info, they don't need five pages of useless spam cluttering everything up.

The topic isn't about you, but your specific style of moderation seems to be provoking people, and every time you unnecessarily delete a post or hand out a strike without cause, you only increase that provocation... If Mimosa deserved a red card and a deletion for being off-topic, then why hasn't Sega been banned?...

And I just realized you awarded her a red Mimosa, which honestly shows just how unique your perspective is, and we are truly fortunate to have moderators like you on our side...

Henry Moore2 said:So, ambermason16 already mentioned this, but regarding whether I’m being fair or not—look, I always try to give everyone a heads-up via a post before I actually hand out a ban.
I rarely hand out red cards, but I felt forced to step in after warning you all to stop the flame wars and get back to discussing the topic about Australia.
Since you didn't listen and kept attacking my moderation—with some users (like Mimosa) insulting me directly while the rest of you just cheered them on—I had no choice but to issue the red card.
It isn't even about me personally; I’d hand out a red card if anyone else here was being insulted too, which I’ve definitely done in the past.

It’s funny how it’s always the exact same group complaining, and usually, it's the same group that refuses to follow the rules.
I really hope we don't see another outburst like this, and that we can all just get back to having good conversations in the expatriate community.

The issue isn't whether you provide warnings before issuing bans, but rather that you seem to find fault in every minor detail or triviality, handing out reprimands and sanctions without any legitimate justification, not to mention the constant deleting of posts...

Henry Moore2 said:So, ambermason16 already mentioned this, but regarding whether I’m being fair or not—look, I always try to give everyone a heads-up via a post before I actually hand out a ban.
I rarely hand out red cards, but I felt forced to step in after warning you all to stop the flame wars and get back to discussing the topic about Australia.
Since you didn't listen and kept attacking my moderation—with some users (like Mimosa) insulting me directly while the rest of you just cheered them on—I had no choice but to issue the red card.
It isn't even about me personally; I’d hand out a red card if anyone else here was being insulted too, which I’ve definitely done in the past.

It’s funny how it’s always the exact same group complaining, and usually, it's the same group that refuses to follow the rules.
I really hope we don't see another outburst like this, and that we can all just get back to having good conversations in the expatriate community.

This is precisely why I struggle to deal with you; I had the opportunity to read Mimosa's post before you deleted it, and there wasn't a single word in there that was disrespectful toward you, nor was there any conceivable reason to issue a warning, let alone a ban... The fact that you take everything so personally suggests you lack the objectivity required to be an effective moderator on any online platform...

Henry Moore2 said:So, ambermason16 already mentioned this, but regarding whether I’m being fair or not—look, I always try to give everyone a heads-up via a post before I actually hand out a ban.
I rarely hand out red cards, but I felt forced to step in after warning you all to stop the flame wars and get back to discussing the topic about Australia.
Since you didn't listen and kept attacking my moderation—with some users (like Mimosa) insulting me directly while the rest of you just cheered them on—I had no choice but to issue the red card.
It isn't even about me personally; I’d hand out a red card if anyone else here was being insulted too, which I’ve definitely done in the past.

It’s funny how it’s always the exact same group complaining, and usually, it's the same group that refuses to follow the rules.
I really hope we don't see another outburst like this, and that we can all just get back to having good conversations in the expatriate community.

I was also issued a yellow card simply because I spoke up, even though I never insulted you and merely stated that you aren't performing your duties properly... It seems that for you, any disagreement with your actions or your words is sufficient grounds for a sanction...

Henry Moore2 said:So, ambermason16 already mentioned this, but regarding whether I’m being fair or not—look, I always try to give everyone a heads-up via a post before I actually hand out a ban.
I rarely hand out red cards, but I felt forced to step in after warning you all to stop the flame wars and get back to discussing the topic about Australia.
Since you didn't listen and kept attacking my moderation—with some users (like Mimosa) insulting me directly while the rest of you just cheered them on—I had no choice but to issue the red card.
It isn't even about me personally; I’d hand out a red card if anyone else here was being insulted too, which I’ve definitely done in the past.

It’s funny how it’s always the exact same group complaining, and usually, it's the same group that refuses to follow the rules.
I really hope we don't see another outburst like this, and that we can all just get back to having good conversations in the expatriate community.

That is quite interesting indeed, considering that I am also complaining, despite having only registered a month ago and feeling as though I don't belong to any particular clique... Has it ever occurred to you that the problem might actually lie with you and your specific style of moderation?...

ambermason16 said:You're trolling, you're being insulting, and you're giving these long-winded lectures—all while doing it in a thread about living in Australia. Instead of making a civilized complaint here, where feedback actually belongs, you decide to act out. And then Henry Moore2 tries to be reasonable by giving you a warning instead of just kicking you out instantly, pointing you toward the proper channels to complain to your heart's content, and somehow you conclude that starting this massive rant is the logical next step. You've got some nerve.

I fail to see how I have insulted anyone at all... I haven't used a single slur, profanity, or derogatory term in my remarks. Am I to understand that simply because she holds a moderator position, I am forbidden from offering any form of criticism against her? Is she inherently correct in every instance? I am certainly not the only one expressing dissatisfaction, as many others on this Reddit also have issues with her conduct, yet predictably, the other moderators will always align themselves with her side...

And if you truly believe my last two posts were mere trolling, then perhaps I might suggest you consult a dictionary for an actual definition of the term... It seems to be a convenient way to deflect from the reality that people are protesting because Henry Moore2 is deleting posts without cause and banning anyone who dares to object... let us simply pivot the discussion toward my character, so that she needn't face any accountability for her own actions...

For your own information, I was indeed warned, though I received a strike immediately after that single post, whereas the user on YouTube received a permanent ban for just one comment...

It appears to me that this platform operates under a dictatorship rather than a principle of free speech, because heaven forbid someone utters a single word against a moderator, they face an instant ban...

I would like to formally request that Henry Moore2 be removed from the moderator list, or at the very least receive a serious reprimand regarding her conduct on the expatriate community Reddit...

Her behavior is utterly irresponsible and lacks any sense of professional integrity, as she routinely deletes any post that doesn't align with her personal whims, regardless of whether those posts actually violate any community guidelines, while anyone who dares to disagree with her—even in the most polite manner imaginable—is met with a warning or an outright ban. To give a trivial example: if someone merely mentions card games, which I believe is her area of interest, she finds sufficient cause to wipe the post and issue a warning to the user, even when they haven't uttered a single slur or insult, yet she remains completely silent when far more egregious violations occur, provided they don't involve her personally...

http://www.reddit.com/r/thread/199883&page=378

This is the specific thread where the arbitrary deletions and warnings took place without any legitimate justification; just look at the comment that caused a YouTube user to receive a red card, though much more evidence is lost because she has already scrubbed the posts...

It is my belief that moderators ought to remain objective and foster healthy debate—which is, after all, the entire purpose of this platform—rather than attempting to enforce a system where she maintains absolute authority over every topic, ensuring everything conforms to her preferences, while anyone who objects is automatically penalized. I honestly struggle to understand how individuals lacking such basic objectivity are appointed to these positions, as it seems clear she does not grasp her actual responsibilities, instead using the community as a tool to vent her own private frustrations...

To ensure I am not the only one troubled by her moderation style and her general approach, I could easily name at least five other people who feel exactly the same way...