Complaint against moderator Taylor Swift

Austin Nelson2 MemberOP

29 messages
joined Mar 2011

#1 · Jun 7, 2011

She keeps deleting my posts. I’ve reached out via DM twice—being perfectly polite, mind you—to ask why my contributions just seem to vanish from the threads. Her response? That they weren't "constructive," followed by a firm pointer toward the forum guidelines. So, I read them. I adjusted my tone to be more constructive, yet my posts and even new threads continue to disappear into thin air.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

placidfox55 Active Member

118 messages
joined Dec 2002

#2 · Jun 7, 2011

I have absolutely no clue what you're talking about.

It seems to me like velvettrucker52 loves moderating in a way that puts her on a pedestal above the rest of us... because, clearly... she's just such a polite little moderator... 🤣

velvettrucker52, you could try recommending the forum rules without being condescending. Or better yet, stop using yourself as some kind of "gold standard" for everyone else to follow. ☕

hollowtrucker77 Regular

681 messages
joined Nov 2007

#3 · Jun 7, 2011

Across five pages of posts, velvettrucker52 went ahead and wiped out three of them
One was just pure nonsense, and the other two were "top tier" contributions, if you believe in sarcasm
And those were all incredibly constructive pieces that really elevated the quality of this entire forum
🙂
Now, I’m sitting here trying to wrap my head around what exactly was so controversial about them?

Joshua Jones13 Active Member

69 messages
joined Jun 2006

#4 · Jun 7, 2011

At the FBI, we’re scrubbing all those signature posts, smiley face replies, and any fluff that just clutters the thread without adding anything useful.

hollowtrucker77 said:out of 5 pages of posts, velvettrucker52 deleted 3 of them
one lol, and two "nice job" posts
all incredibly constructive contributions that really leveled up the quality of this forum
🙂
I guess I'm just not seeing what the issue is here?

Honestly, most people would probably delete those "lol" and "nice job" posts too.

velvettrucker52 Member

31 messages
joined Dec 2011

#5 · Jun 7, 2011

@Michelle Wilson50/">@@Michelle Wilson50, I didn't delete your posts myself—a colleague handled that.
I actually agree with his assessment; those posts really should have been removed since they weren't adding anything constructive to the conversation.
The FBI isn't a support group; it's a place for discussion. Posts like "hang in there, things will get better" don't contribute anything to a meaningful debate.

@placidfox55/">@@placidfox55 — if memory serves, I’ve had to clear out your posts that consisted of nothing but emojis or an emoji paired with "I agree." That is essentially useless spam, and we apply the removal rule to everyone equally. Furthermore, if I recall correctly, after I removed those posts, you intentionally continued to repost them, arguing that you had a right to express your agreement.

The forum rules are available for everyone to read, and it isn't my "job" to provide a tutorial on how to properly participate in a discussion.

That’s all from me.

rustydrifter10 Regular

693 messages
joined Apr 2011

#6 · Jun 7, 2011

Emily, I went through your posts and ended up deleting most of your stuff from Zud. We’re clearing out anything that’s just a smiley face, a "like," or a signature because honestly, it’s nothing but off-topic clutter and spam. Your last deleted post was basically the same thing—just a few sentences wrapped around a "good luck, don't worry" vibe.

It isn't just that you're breaking the rules with these pointless posts that clog up the thread without adding a single thing to the conversation; it's also that you've been getting away with it without any warnings. Unfortunately, it looks like the old saying "give them an inch and they'll take a mile" really applies here, so please expect formal strikes moving forward for posts like these.

placidfox55, the forum rules are laid out clearly in several spots, and we specifically asked everyone to give them a good read right when they signed up.

Austin Nelson2 MemberOP

29 messages
joined Mar 2011

#7 · Jun 7, 2011

rustydrifter10;34129507 said:Emily, I went through your posts and ended up deleting most of them from Zud. We are clearing out everything that consists of just emojis, likes, or signatures—it’s pure off-topic clutter and spam. Your last deleted post was essentially the same thing, just stretched into a few sentences alongside a "good luck, don't worry."

Forgive me, rustydrifter10, but that isn't quite accurate.
My last two posts were actually constructive. And now I am being told that we aren't supposed to offer advice here? This isn't an advice column, yet everyone opens threads specifically asking for guidance. Frankly, you moderators over at Zud have been quite disappointing.

It isn't just that you're breaking the rules with senseless posts that stifle the conversation without adding anything of substance; it’s that you’ve been getting away with it without receiving any deserved warnings. Unfortunately, it seems the old saying "give them an inch and they'll take a mile" applies perfectly here,
so you can expect formal warnings moving forward for posts of this nature.

Why would we be stifling the discussion? We are here to grow, to share our perspectives, and by doing so, contribute to the dialogue. There is really no need to insult us in such a manner.👎

ZgSash

Who exactly said my posts were "very good"? And what, precisely, constitutes a "very good post" in your eyes? If I have navigated a certain life situation and possess relevant experience, why shouldn't I share that on a forum?

briskmoose90 Active Member

62 messages
joined Feb 2010

#8 · Jun 7, 2011

Look, Emily, he didn't say your posts were actually good. He just said you wrote "very good" in them. Those two words 😁

rustydrifter10 Regular

693 messages
joined Apr 2011

#9 · Jun 7, 2011

Michelle Wilson50 said:Why on earth are we stifling the conversation? Look, the whole point of being here is to grow together, to share our own perspectives, and actually contribute something meaningful to the discussion. So please, let’s not be so dismissive or hurtful toward one another like that.👎

Is it just me, or is anyone else finding those posts that consist of nothing but a signature, a quick "I agree," or just a random smiley face actually kind of hilarious...?🤣Honestly, those random "D" replies—you know, like that one deleted post from a certain someone—and all those other low-effort comments just clutter up the thread. On Zud, unless we're in a dedicated chat thread, there really isn't any place for that kind of noise.

So far, I’ve just been deleting the posts, but honestly, that clearly isn't cutting it since it feels like so many people are still ignoring the rules. Because of that, I’m moving to formal warnings. And just to be clear, this applies to everyone on the forum, not just you two!

Look, I wasn't the one who deleted your last post anyway, so there isn't much more I can really say about him beyond what’s already been laid out here.

placidfox55 Active Member

118 messages
joined Dec 2002

#10 · Jun 7, 2011

velvettrucker52 said:@Emily, I didn't delete your posts—my colleague did.
I actually agree with his call; those posts definitely needed to go because they weren't adding anything to the conversation.
Zud isn't a support group; it's a discussion forum. Posts like "hang in there, things will get better" don't contribute anything to a debate.

@placidfox55/">@@placidfox55 - if I recall correctly, I’ve had to pull posts from you that were just emojis or an emoji paired with "I agree." That’s useless spam, and we clear it out for everyone. Plus, if my memory serves, after I deleted those, you kept trying to repost them under the guise that you have a right to express agreement.

The forum rules are public. It isn't my "job" to sit here and teach you how to write properly on a message board.

That's all from me.

Anything you moderated for me was ages ago; I don't remember.

But I constantly see people "preaching" at others with these little life lessons. It’s pretty tedious, totally unhelpful, and honestly unprofessional. As a moderator, you're here to do a job, not to act like a life coach. 🙂 😎

placidfox55 Active Member

118 messages
joined Dec 2002

#11 · Jun 7, 2011

rustydrifter10 said:placidfox55, the forum rules are laid out pretty clearly in several spots. Plus, everyone’s asked to give them a read right when they sign up.

Thanks for pointing that out, rustydrifter10.

placidfox55 Active Member

118 messages
joined Dec 2002

#12 · Jun 7, 2011

rustydrifter10 said:Posts that are just a signature, an "I agree," or a random emoji...

...

- (quoting one of your deleted posts) and stuff like that just clutter up the thread...

Fine, maybe there's some truth to that, but let's be real... a rule like that feels more like a way to save server memory than actually making conversation easier... ☕

rustydrifter10 said:"Is anyone else still finding this funny...?🤣D"

Now that's what I call a descriptive comment. 🙂 😎 And a comment like that can definitely kick off a whole new debate!! 👍

Being concise isn't a flaw. 🙂

I have no clue what the original comment was about, but sometimes it's good to throw out a little doubt just to see if there are other perceptive people around to get the discussion moving. If there aren't enough people picking up the ball, you just keep your thoughts to yourself and walk away...

Joshua Jones13 Active Member

69 messages
joined Jun 2006

#13 · Jun 7, 2011

placidfox55 said:Okay, maybe that’s true, though... I guess a rule like that is more about saving server memory than actually making the conversation easier... ☕

Not really.

placidfox55 said:That’s quite a wordy comment. 🙂 😎 And a comment like this could definitely open the door to a whole new discussion!! 👍

Unlikely.
It’s exhausting, honestly. Scrolling through a mountain of emoji posts just hoping to stumble upon one constructive thought? Not fun. And if you want to start a discussion, maybe try using actual sentences and arguments instead of just liking everyone else's posts.

rustydrifter10 Regular

693 messages
joined Apr 2011

#14 · Jun 7, 2011

placidfox55 said:Now that is what I call an incredibly expressive comment! 🙂 😎 Honestly, a take like that is exactly what opens the door to a whole new conversation!! 👍

Being concise is definitely NOT a flaw. 🙂

To be totally honest, I didn't even have a clue what the original comment was actually about...

No way. All they could have done was have someone else chime in just to say they found it funny too 🤣, have a third person jump in 👍, everyone liking each other's stuff 🙏 and just completely suffocating the thread.

Austin Nelson2 MemberOP

29 messages
joined Mar 2011

#15 · Jun 8, 2011

rustydrifter10,

Even if my previous post was deemed out of line—which is debatable—I have been browsing this forum for several years now. I have witnessed plenty of similar comments pass by without anyone lifting a finger to delete them. And it isn't just here on Zud; I frequent other subforums as well.

If I merely included a "very good" to show agreement, why was my entire post scrubbed? Why was the whole thread deleted right at the start? Why wasn't there even a polite warning? My post did contain an affirmation, certainly, but it was also constructive in its own way.

I am at a loss for words. It seems there is no democracy to be found here.

Austin Nelson2 MemberOP

29 messages
joined Mar 2011

#16 · Jun 8, 2011

briskmoose90 said:Oh, Emily, they didn't actually tell you your posts were great—they just said you wrote "very good" in them. Those two little words 😁

I have never actually written it that way. When I first registered, Life in Two explained to me during my first confirmation that such phrasing isn't allowed. Naturally, I went straight to the forum rules and read through the guidelines.

Admittedly, there are moments when I feel the urge to snap, "Is anyone else finding this ridiculous?" It stemmed from a thread where a man was attacking a woman simply because she hit his car in the garage. Someone had even gone as far as to ask if he would be just as violent if she had broken a baby's neck—or perhaps driven a car into his mother.

I am honestly not sure if I will end up receiving a red card from the moderators for this particular post.🤷

placidfox55 Active Member

118 messages
joined Dec 2002

#17 · Jun 8, 2011

Michelle Phillips54 said:If you want to start a real conversation, try using actual arguments instead of just hitting the like button.

I get paid pretty well to deal with crowds of people every single day.

Usually, a quick smile, a hand gesture, or even just a subtle smirk is all it takes to kick off a conversation or pivot to a whole new topic. 👍

placidfox55 Active Member

118 messages
joined Dec 2002

#18 · Jun 8, 2011

rustydrifter10 said:Nah, no way. The only thing that happens is a few other people chime in saying they find 🤣 funny too, a third person jumps in 👍, everyone starts liking each other's posts 🙏, and suddenly the whole thread is buried.

rustydrifter10, I’m noticing you have some pretty redundant posts. You say a full sentence, but you aren't actually adding anything useful to the conversation. Nothing that hasn't already been said.

Does that count as spamming or cluttering the thread too?

David Foster80 Active Member

79 messages
joined Aug 2008

#19 · Jun 8, 2011

Michelle Wilson50 said:rustydrifter10,

Look, maybe my last post was a bit much, but I’ve been lurking on this forum for years now. I’ve seen plenty of comments just like it fly under the radar without anyone hitting the delete button. And I'm not just talking about Zud; I spend time on other subforums too.

I do the same thing—I drop those kinds of posts all the time. But over on Zud, they scrub them immediately. Which is fine. It’s a more serious section of the site. Honestly, if I posted that stuff in the Politics forum, they’d probably kick me off too. Not that I write there. I don't have enough political ambition for that headache.😳

hollowtrucker77 Regular

681 messages
joined Nov 2007

#20 · Jun 8, 2011

emilia, I’m hoping it finally clicked for you—just once and for all—what actually qualifies as spamming on this board.

shtefitza, look, save the passive-aggressive attitude for your real life; over here, I’m asking you to try writing in a way where the rest of us don't have to play detective just to figure out which side of your mouth you're smirking on (assuming anyone actually cares).

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