Just one request to start: read everything I've written, and I mean everything. Thanks.
Anthony Lopez5 said:Here’s my take on this thread, which I’d probably have started myself if I were one of the old-school members here.
Look, I think it's obvious to all of us that being a moderator comes with a massive amount of responsibility alongside the power you gain. You have to handle it responsibly and impartially—at least most of the time.
But let's be real: the way Michael Lee4 demonstrates his power through his moderation, his sarcasm, and the constant—both overt and subtle—mocking and insulting of users who don't fall in line, is definitely not a textbook example of good leadership.
Let me explain why I say that...
Our local "love him or hate him" figurehead has proven time and again that his actions are driven by pure ego. Honestly, it’s gotten to the point where I can’t tell if we’re dealing with Michael Lee4’s ego or if the ego itself has become its own entity.
I’ll look back at things over the last three years or so...
Back on the car boards, some troll using a handle like Rionero would start a "BMW vs. Mercedes" thread. What began as a total troll thread turned into a virtual hangout for many of us. We'd discuss everything vaguely related to PF, but genuine friendships formed there—offline, of course (to the extent that I actually spent my vacation this year staying with User and partying with User and User). It was all built on banter and casual conversation. Naturally, the popularity and post count grew because of it. If I remember correctly, Michael Lee4 wasn't a mod when the thread started, but he became one later. Basically, during that era, there was very little off-topic chatter elsewhere because everything centered on that one thread, making it the perfect digital lounge.
If you click the link to that thread and read even just the first 10 or 20 pages, you’ll be laughing your head off—and pay close attention to who wrote the very first post after the OP:
Of course, the main roadblock was Michael Lee4. He used to complain about us on other threads regarding that specific discussion. Even if he didn't delete those posts, I really don't have the energy to spend hours digging through archives to prove what he'll just deny anyway—not to mention he called me mentally unstable in a private message.
Then, once Michael Lee4 felt sufficiently empowered by his mod tools, one day the thread just vanished. It disappeared as if it never existed, without any warning or explanation. That was my first real glimpse of his character, which is ultimately the biggest stumbling block and the reason people are calling for a change in leadership.
It wasn't until about a month ago that I received a blunt, baseless explanation via DM: "there's no room for chat on the car boards." I don't buy that for a second. Productive conversations can come from anywhere, including a chat thread.
Anyway, the thread was dumped into the off-topic section—which is a tier below the recycling bin—and predictably fell into oblivion since it was technically part of the automotive PF. I honestly suspect this was a calculated move to make it look like the topic wasn't popular and deserved to die out.
My experience with Michael Lee4 shows someone who can hold a perfectly normal conversation right up until someone presents a solid argument or proves him wrong. Once that happens, the insults start—subtle in a DM, or blatant through deleting posts and handing out warnings. It’s the classic double standard: I call someone an idiot and get a warning, but he calls someone a MORON and gets a pass. And it’s not a one-off thing; it’s chronic, like bronchitis.
That aforementioned game of guessing cars was shut down abruptly and autocratically, without any prior warning. It was bottom-tier moderation. Thank God that out of a dozen or so posts, I managed to nail half of them on other PFs. I've dealt with other moderators before, and their style isn't anywhere near this. I honestly don't know how to describe this level of moderation without resorting to insults or getting a warning myself. Besides, I have no desire to stoop to Michael Lee4's level or give him the satisfaction of handing me a warning or a ban.
I also think a moderator should be able to tell the difference between a new user who’s just struggling to navigate the forum waters and a clone or troll who's specifically here to flame people and cause trouble. The former needs some gentle guidance, not to be immediately met with all guns blazing and handed a ban from the PF.
Real life is serious and difficult enough for all of us; we come here for information and a bit of relaxation and banter. But how are you supposed to relax when you're waiting around wondering if Michael Lee4 is going to jump out from around a corner with a red or yellow card? For God's sake, if this were soccer, fans would have torn him to shreds by halftime...
I know Michael Lee4 will probably start making excuses now through jokes, sarcasm, and provocations—but honestly, his chosen avatar says more about him and his ego than anything else.
I’ll also touch on that Lupo topic and those lukewarm apologies from Michael Lee4 about not being able to make it—look, I don't care if you couldn't make it, but you seem to find time for everything else, and that topic was bumped to the top of the PF for over seven days. Cj7 deserved at least a three-day ban for openly insulting forum members, but he DIDN'T GET ONE. He deserved the topic to be locked, but YOU only did that once the anti-comments reached massive proportions. Honestly, that topic probably would still be at the top right now if you had acted sooner.
I won't call you a shill for certain car brands or a journalist or any of those other nonsense labels, because I know that isn't true. You're simply incapable of being a quality moderator for this PF.
But the fact remains: based on your reactions, it looks like you blindly support one specific brand while refusing to allow any comparisons with other brands regarding design, price, quality, etc., always following up with that weak explanation that "this topic isn't for that." For crying out loud, where are we supposed to discuss it then? On a cooking forum?
This, like any other PF, should be a place where people can't wait to visit to read something new and have a laugh, provided it doesn't cross the line into insults. It shouldn't be a chore to check in.
Michael Lee4—you said yourself that you don't need this moderation in your life and that things would be easier without it, SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST STEP DOWN?
Also, I'm curious why the poll isn't public so we can see how everyone voted.
That's all from me for now. There's a lot on my mind, and maybe it's not perfectly polished, but if I think of anything else, I'll write it down.
Oh God, here we go again... First off, I haven't been a moderator nearly as long as you think—it's barely been over a year. If you really believe I deleted anything in that chat you're talking about, feel free to reach out to any admin to check; they can see everything.
You figured it out the second you noticed the topic was gone. Honestly, I think it happened the same day. It’s exactly what I told you back in our PMs, and it’s what I’m telling you now. The Mercedes vs. Benz thread was only pulled because they nuked that other chat—the one about women drivers or whatever it was called. I didn't kill it immediately because I completely forgot it even existed, but once the trolls from that deleted thread migrated over to "your" chat and started acting up and making a mess of things, it had to go.
I don't know how else to break this down for you. If you still don't believe me after what I said in my PM, there's nothing left to say. Honestly, it's insulting that you won't take my word for it and keep twisting my facts.
Anthony Lopez5 said:Here’s my take on this thread, which I’d probably have started myself if I were one of the old-school members here.
Look, I think it's obvious to all of us that being a moderator comes with a massive amount of responsibility alongside the power you gain. You have to handle it responsibly and impartially—at least most of the time.
But let's be real: the way Michael Lee4 demonstrates his power through his moderation, his sarcasm, and the constant—both overt and subtle—mocking and insulting of users who don't fall in line, is definitely not a textbook example of good leadership.
Let me explain why I say that...
Our local "love him or hate him" figurehead has proven time and again that his actions are driven by pure ego. Honestly, it’s gotten to the point where I can’t tell if we’re dealing with Michael Lee4’s ego or if the ego itself has become its own entity.
I’ll look back at things over the last three years or so...
Back on the car boards, some troll using a handle like Rionero would start a "BMW vs. Mercedes" thread. What began as a total troll thread turned into a virtual hangout for many of us. We'd discuss everything vaguely related to PF, but genuine friendships formed there—offline, of course (to the extent that I actually spent my vacation this year staying with User and partying with User and User). It was all built on banter and casual conversation. Naturally, the popularity and post count grew because of it. If I remember correctly, Michael Lee4 wasn't a mod when the thread started, but he became one later. Basically, during that era, there was very little off-topic chatter elsewhere because everything centered on that one thread, making it the perfect digital lounge.
If you click the link to that thread and read even just the first 10 or 20 pages, you’ll be laughing your head off—and pay close attention to who wrote the very first post after the OP:
Of course, the main roadblock was Michael Lee4. He used to complain about us on other threads regarding that specific discussion. Even if he didn't delete those posts, I really don't have the energy to spend hours digging through archives to prove what he'll just deny anyway—not to mention he called me mentally unstable in a private message.
Then, once Michael Lee4 felt sufficiently empowered by his mod tools, one day the thread just vanished. It disappeared as if it never existed, without any warning or explanation. That was my first real glimpse of his character, which is ultimately the biggest stumbling block and the reason people are calling for a change in leadership.
It wasn't until about a month ago that I received a blunt, baseless explanation via DM: "there's no room for chat on the car boards." I don't buy that for a second. Productive conversations can come from anywhere, including a chat thread.
Anyway, the thread was dumped into the off-topic section—which is a tier below the recycling bin—and predictably fell into oblivion since it was technically part of the automotive PF. I honestly suspect this was a calculated move to make it look like the topic wasn't popular and deserved to die out.
My experience with Michael Lee4 shows someone who can hold a perfectly normal conversation right up until someone presents a solid argument or proves him wrong. Once that happens, the insults start—subtle in a DM, or blatant through deleting posts and handing out warnings. It’s the classic double standard: I call someone an idiot and get a warning, but he calls someone a MORON and gets a pass. And it’s not a one-off thing; it’s chronic, like bronchitis.
That aforementioned game of guessing cars was shut down abruptly and autocratically, without any prior warning. It was bottom-tier moderation. Thank God that out of a dozen or so posts, I managed to nail half of them on other PFs. I've dealt with other moderators before, and their style isn't anywhere near this. I honestly don't know how to describe this level of moderation without resorting to insults or getting a warning myself. Besides, I have no desire to stoop to Michael Lee4's level or give him the satisfaction of handing me a warning or a ban.
I also think a moderator should be able to tell the difference between a new user who’s just struggling to navigate the forum waters and a clone or troll who's specifically here to flame people and cause trouble. The former needs some gentle guidance, not to be immediately met with all guns blazing and handed a ban from the PF.
Real life is serious and difficult enough for all of us; we come here for information and a bit of relaxation and banter. But how are you supposed to relax when you're waiting around wondering if Michael Lee4 is going to jump out from around a corner with a red or yellow card? For God's sake, if this were soccer, fans would have torn him to shreds by halftime...
I know Michael Lee4 will probably start making excuses now through jokes, sarcasm, and provocations—but honestly, his chosen avatar says more about him and his ego than anything else.
I’ll also touch on that Lupo topic and those lukewarm apologies from Michael Lee4 about not being able to make it—look, I don't care if you couldn't make it, but you seem to find time for everything else, and that topic was bumped to the top of the PF for over seven days. Cj7 deserved at least a three-day ban for openly insulting forum members, but he DIDN'T GET ONE. He deserved the topic to be locked, but YOU only did that once the anti-comments reached massive proportions. Honestly, that topic probably would still be at the top right now if you had acted sooner.
I won't call you a shill for certain car brands or a journalist or any of those other nonsense labels, because I know that isn't true. You're simply incapable of being a quality moderator for this PF.
But the fact remains: based on your reactions, it looks like you blindly support one specific brand while refusing to allow any comparisons with other brands regarding design, price, quality, etc., always following up with that weak explanation that "this topic isn't for that." For crying out loud, where are we supposed to discuss it then? On a cooking forum?
This, like any other PF, should be a place where people can't wait to visit to read something new and have a laugh, provided it doesn't cross the line into insults. It shouldn't be a chore to check in.
Michael Lee4—you said yourself that you don't need this moderation in your life and that things would be easier without it, SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST STEP DOWN?
Also, I'm curious why the poll isn't public so we can see how everyone voted.
That's all from me for now. There's a lot on my mind, and maybe it's not perfectly polished, but if I think of anything else, I'll write it down.
Kind of true... I’m capable of communicating normally, but once I have to repeat the same thing ten times because someone just isn't getting it, that's where it ends. I don't know how you guys handle those situations, but personally, I only see two possibilities: either you're trying to push my buttons, or there's something broken "under the hood"... and either way, you're getting a reaction.
Anthony Lopez5 said:Here’s my take on this thread, which I’d probably have started myself if I were one of the old-school members here.
Look, I think it's obvious to all of us that being a moderator comes with a massive amount of responsibility alongside the power you gain. You have to handle it responsibly and impartially—at least most of the time.
But let's be real: the way Michael Lee4 demonstrates his power through his moderation, his sarcasm, and the constant—both overt and subtle—mocking and insulting of users who don't fall in line, is definitely not a textbook example of good leadership.
Let me explain why I say that...
Our local "love him or hate him" figurehead has proven time and again that his actions are driven by pure ego. Honestly, it’s gotten to the point where I can’t tell if we’re dealing with Michael Lee4’s ego or if the ego itself has become its own entity.
I’ll look back at things over the last three years or so...
Back on the car boards, some troll using a handle like Rionero would start a "BMW vs. Mercedes" thread. What began as a total troll thread turned into a virtual hangout for many of us. We'd discuss everything vaguely related to PF, but genuine friendships formed there—offline, of course (to the extent that I actually spent my vacation this year staying with User and partying with User and User). It was all built on banter and casual conversation. Naturally, the popularity and post count grew because of it. If I remember correctly, Michael Lee4 wasn't a mod when the thread started, but he became one later. Basically, during that era, there was very little off-topic chatter elsewhere because everything centered on that one thread, making it the perfect digital lounge.
If you click the link to that thread and read even just the first 10 or 20 pages, you’ll be laughing your head off—and pay close attention to who wrote the very first post after the OP:
Of course, the main roadblock was Michael Lee4. He used to complain about us on other threads regarding that specific discussion. Even if he didn't delete those posts, I really don't have the energy to spend hours digging through archives to prove what he'll just deny anyway—not to mention he called me mentally unstable in a private message.
Then, once Michael Lee4 felt sufficiently empowered by his mod tools, one day the thread just vanished. It disappeared as if it never existed, without any warning or explanation. That was my first real glimpse of his character, which is ultimately the biggest stumbling block and the reason people are calling for a change in leadership.
It wasn't until about a month ago that I received a blunt, baseless explanation via DM: "there's no room for chat on the car boards." I don't buy that for a second. Productive conversations can come from anywhere, including a chat thread.
Anyway, the thread was dumped into the off-topic section—which is a tier below the recycling bin—and predictably fell into oblivion since it was technically part of the automotive PF. I honestly suspect this was a calculated move to make it look like the topic wasn't popular and deserved to die out.
My experience with Michael Lee4 shows someone who can hold a perfectly normal conversation right up until someone presents a solid argument or proves him wrong. Once that happens, the insults start—subtle in a DM, or blatant through deleting posts and handing out warnings. It’s the classic double standard: I call someone an idiot and get a warning, but he calls someone a MORON and gets a pass. And it’s not a one-off thing; it’s chronic, like bronchitis.
That aforementioned game of guessing cars was shut down abruptly and autocratically, without any prior warning. It was bottom-tier moderation. Thank God that out of a dozen or so posts, I managed to nail half of them on other PFs. I've dealt with other moderators before, and their style isn't anywhere near this. I honestly don't know how to describe this level of moderation without resorting to insults or getting a warning myself. Besides, I have no desire to stoop to Michael Lee4's level or give him the satisfaction of handing me a warning or a ban.
I also think a moderator should be able to tell the difference between a new user who’s just struggling to navigate the forum waters and a clone or troll who's specifically here to flame people and cause trouble. The former needs some gentle guidance, not to be immediately met with all guns blazing and handed a ban from the PF.
Real life is serious and difficult enough for all of us; we come here for information and a bit of relaxation and banter. But how are you supposed to relax when you're waiting around wondering if Michael Lee4 is going to jump out from around a corner with a red or yellow card? For God's sake, if this were soccer, fans would have torn him to shreds by halftime...
I know Michael Lee4 will probably start making excuses now through jokes, sarcasm, and provocations—but honestly, his chosen avatar says more about him and his ego than anything else.
I’ll also touch on that Lupo topic and those lukewarm apologies from Michael Lee4 about not being able to make it—look, I don't care if you couldn't make it, but you seem to find time for everything else, and that topic was bumped to the top of the PF for over seven days. Cj7 deserved at least a three-day ban for openly insulting forum members, but he DIDN'T GET ONE. He deserved the topic to be locked, but YOU only did that once the anti-comments reached massive proportions. Honestly, that topic probably would still be at the top right now if you had acted sooner.
I won't call you a shill for certain car brands or a journalist or any of those other nonsense labels, because I know that isn't true. You're simply incapable of being a quality moderator for this PF.
But the fact remains: based on your reactions, it looks like you blindly support one specific brand while refusing to allow any comparisons with other brands regarding design, price, quality, etc., always following up with that weak explanation that "this topic isn't for that." For crying out loud, where are we supposed to discuss it then? On a cooking forum?
This, like any other PF, should be a place where people can't wait to visit to read something new and have a laugh, provided it doesn't cross the line into insults. It shouldn't be a chore to check in.
Michael Lee4—you said yourself that you don't need this moderation in your life and that things would be easier without it, SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST STEP DOWN?
Also, I'm curious why the poll isn't public so we can see how everyone voted.
That's all from me for now. There's a lot on my mind, and maybe it's not perfectly polished, but if I think of anything else, I'll write it down.
Sure, you’re on this site 24/7, so you think you see everything I do—who I message, who I warn, what I write before you even step in. But you don't have the full picture. Claiming you won't act because you're afraid of handing me a warning like you did to me is just nonsense. You gave me two warnings because I was trolling, plain and simple. The sheer volume and reasoning behind everyone else's warnings speak much louder than my two.
Anthony Lopez5 said:Here’s my take on this thread, which I’d probably have started myself if I were one of the old-school members here.
Look, I think it's obvious to all of us that being a moderator comes with a massive amount of responsibility alongside the power you gain. You have to handle it responsibly and impartially—at least most of the time.
But let's be real: the way Michael Lee4 demonstrates his power through his moderation, his sarcasm, and the constant—both overt and subtle—mocking and insulting of users who don't fall in line, is definitely not a textbook example of good leadership.
Let me explain why I say that...
Our local "love him or hate him" figurehead has proven time and again that his actions are driven by pure ego. Honestly, it’s gotten to the point where I can’t tell if we’re dealing with Michael Lee4’s ego or if the ego itself has become its own entity.
I’ll look back at things over the last three years or so...
Back on the car boards, some troll using a handle like Rionero would start a "BMW vs. Mercedes" thread. What began as a total troll thread turned into a virtual hangout for many of us. We'd discuss everything vaguely related to PF, but genuine friendships formed there—offline, of course (to the extent that I actually spent my vacation this year staying with User and partying with User and User). It was all built on banter and casual conversation. Naturally, the popularity and post count grew because of it. If I remember correctly, Michael Lee4 wasn't a mod when the thread started, but he became one later. Basically, during that era, there was very little off-topic chatter elsewhere because everything centered on that one thread, making it the perfect digital lounge.
If you click the link to that thread and read even just the first 10 or 20 pages, you’ll be laughing your head off—and pay close attention to who wrote the very first post after the OP:
Of course, the main roadblock was Michael Lee4. He used to complain about us on other threads regarding that specific discussion. Even if he didn't delete those posts, I really don't have the energy to spend hours digging through archives to prove what he'll just deny anyway—not to mention he called me mentally unstable in a private message.
Then, once Michael Lee4 felt sufficiently empowered by his mod tools, one day the thread just vanished. It disappeared as if it never existed, without any warning or explanation. That was my first real glimpse of his character, which is ultimately the biggest stumbling block and the reason people are calling for a change in leadership.
It wasn't until about a month ago that I received a blunt, baseless explanation via DM: "there's no room for chat on the car boards." I don't buy that for a second. Productive conversations can come from anywhere, including a chat thread.
Anyway, the thread was dumped into the off-topic section—which is a tier below the recycling bin—and predictably fell into oblivion since it was technically part of the automotive PF. I honestly suspect this was a calculated move to make it look like the topic wasn't popular and deserved to die out.
My experience with Michael Lee4 shows someone who can hold a perfectly normal conversation right up until someone presents a solid argument or proves him wrong. Once that happens, the insults start—subtle in a DM, or blatant through deleting posts and handing out warnings. It’s the classic double standard: I call someone an idiot and get a warning, but he calls someone a MORON and gets a pass. And it’s not a one-off thing; it’s chronic, like bronchitis.
That aforementioned game of guessing cars was shut down abruptly and autocratically, without any prior warning. It was bottom-tier moderation. Thank God that out of a dozen or so posts, I managed to nail half of them on other PFs. I've dealt with other moderators before, and their style isn't anywhere near this. I honestly don't know how to describe this level of moderation without resorting to insults or getting a warning myself. Besides, I have no desire to stoop to Michael Lee4's level or give him the satisfaction of handing me a warning or a ban.
I also think a moderator should be able to tell the difference between a new user who’s just struggling to navigate the forum waters and a clone or troll who's specifically here to flame people and cause trouble. The former needs some gentle guidance, not to be immediately met with all guns blazing and handed a ban from the PF.
Real life is serious and difficult enough for all of us; we come here for information and a bit of relaxation and banter. But how are you supposed to relax when you're waiting around wondering if Michael Lee4 is going to jump out from around a corner with a red or yellow card? For God's sake, if this were soccer, fans would have torn him to shreds by halftime...
I know Michael Lee4 will probably start making excuses now through jokes, sarcasm, and provocations—but honestly, his chosen avatar says more about him and his ego than anything else.
I’ll also touch on that Lupo topic and those lukewarm apologies from Michael Lee4 about not being able to make it—look, I don't care if you couldn't make it, but you seem to find time for everything else, and that topic was bumped to the top of the PF for over seven days. Cj7 deserved at least a three-day ban for openly insulting forum members, but he DIDN'T GET ONE. He deserved the topic to be locked, but YOU only did that once the anti-comments reached massive proportions. Honestly, that topic probably would still be at the top right now if you had acted sooner.
I won't call you a shill for certain car brands or a journalist or any of those other nonsense labels, because I know that isn't true. You're simply incapable of being a quality moderator for this PF.
But the fact remains: based on your reactions, it looks like you blindly support one specific brand while refusing to allow any comparisons with other brands regarding design, price, quality, etc., always following up with that weak explanation that "this topic isn't for that." For crying out loud, where are we supposed to discuss it then? On a cooking forum?
This, like any other PF, should be a place where people can't wait to visit to read something new and have a laugh, provided it doesn't cross the line into insults. It shouldn't be a chore to check in.
Michael Lee4—you said yourself that you don't need this moderation in your life and that things would be easier without it, SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST STEP DOWN?
Also, I'm curious why the poll isn't public so we can see how everyone voted.
That's all from me for now. There's a lot on my mind, and maybe it's not perfectly polished, but if I think of anything else, I'll write it down.
Just do me a favor and read what I wrote earlier on this thread. If I say I didn't even enter the thread, then I didn't. I don't jump into every single discussion; I'm not on here 24 hours a day, though I am pretty active during the time I am. Again, if anyone had actually reported the issue, it would have been fixed immediately.
Anthony Lopez5 said:Here’s my take on this thread, which I’d probably have started myself if I were one of the old-school members here.
Look, I think it's obvious to all of us that being a moderator comes with a massive amount of responsibility alongside the power you gain. You have to handle it responsibly and impartially—at least most of the time.
But let's be real: the way Michael Lee4 demonstrates his power through his moderation, his sarcasm, and the constant—both overt and subtle—mocking and insulting of users who don't fall in line, is definitely not a textbook example of good leadership.
Let me explain why I say that...
Our local "love him or hate him" figurehead has proven time and again that his actions are driven by pure ego. Honestly, it’s gotten to the point where I can’t tell if we’re dealing with Michael Lee4’s ego or if the ego itself has become its own entity.
I’ll look back at things over the last three years or so...
Back on the car boards, some troll using a handle like Rionero would start a "BMW vs. Mercedes" thread. What began as a total troll thread turned into a virtual hangout for many of us. We'd discuss everything vaguely related to PF, but genuine friendships formed there—offline, of course (to the extent that I actually spent my vacation this year staying with User and partying with User and User). It was all built on banter and casual conversation. Naturally, the popularity and post count grew because of it. If I remember correctly, Michael Lee4 wasn't a mod when the thread started, but he became one later. Basically, during that era, there was very little off-topic chatter elsewhere because everything centered on that one thread, making it the perfect digital lounge.
If you click the link to that thread and read even just the first 10 or 20 pages, you’ll be laughing your head off—and pay close attention to who wrote the very first post after the OP:
Of course, the main roadblock was Michael Lee4. He used to complain about us on other threads regarding that specific discussion. Even if he didn't delete those posts, I really don't have the energy to spend hours digging through archives to prove what he'll just deny anyway—not to mention he called me mentally unstable in a private message.
Then, once Michael Lee4 felt sufficiently empowered by his mod tools, one day the thread just vanished. It disappeared as if it never existed, without any warning or explanation. That was my first real glimpse of his character, which is ultimately the biggest stumbling block and the reason people are calling for a change in leadership.
It wasn't until about a month ago that I received a blunt, baseless explanation via DM: "there's no room for chat on the car boards." I don't buy that for a second. Productive conversations can come from anywhere, including a chat thread.
Anyway, the thread was dumped into the off-topic section—which is a tier below the recycling bin—and predictably fell into oblivion since it was technically part of the automotive PF. I honestly suspect this was a calculated move to make it look like the topic wasn't popular and deserved to die out.
My experience with Michael Lee4 shows someone who can hold a perfectly normal conversation right up until someone presents a solid argument or proves him wrong. Once that happens, the insults start—subtle in a DM, or blatant through deleting posts and handing out warnings. It’s the classic double standard: I call someone an idiot and get a warning, but he calls someone a MORON and gets a pass. And it’s not a one-off thing; it’s chronic, like bronchitis.
That aforementioned game of guessing cars was shut down abruptly and autocratically, without any prior warning. It was bottom-tier moderation. Thank God that out of a dozen or so posts, I managed to nail half of them on other PFs. I've dealt with other moderators before, and their style isn't anywhere near this. I honestly don't know how to describe this level of moderation without resorting to insults or getting a warning myself. Besides, I have no desire to stoop to Michael Lee4's level or give him the satisfaction of handing me a warning or a ban.
I also think a moderator should be able to tell the difference between a new user who’s just struggling to navigate the forum waters and a clone or troll who's specifically here to flame people and cause trouble. The former needs some gentle guidance, not to be immediately met with all guns blazing and handed a ban from the PF.
Real life is serious and difficult enough for all of us; we come here for information and a bit of relaxation and banter. But how are you supposed to relax when you're waiting around wondering if Michael Lee4 is going to jump out from around a corner with a red or yellow card? For God's sake, if this were soccer, fans would have torn him to shreds by halftime...
I know Michael Lee4 will probably start making excuses now through jokes, sarcasm, and provocations—but honestly, his chosen avatar says more about him and his ego than anything else.
I’ll also touch on that Lupo topic and those lukewarm apologies from Michael Lee4 about not being able to make it—look, I don't care if you couldn't make it, but you seem to find time for everything else, and that topic was bumped to the top of the PF for over seven days. Cj7 deserved at least a three-day ban for openly insulting forum members, but he DIDN'T GET ONE. He deserved the topic to be locked, but YOU only did that once the anti-comments reached massive proportions. Honestly, that topic probably would still be at the top right now if you had acted sooner.
I won't call you a shill for certain car brands or a journalist or any of those other nonsense labels, because I know that isn't true. You're simply incapable of being a quality moderator for this PF.
But the fact remains: based on your reactions, it looks like you blindly support one specific brand while refusing to allow any comparisons with other brands regarding design, price, quality, etc., always following up with that weak explanation that "this topic isn't for that." For crying out loud, where are we supposed to discuss it then? On a cooking forum?
This, like any other PF, should be a place where people can't wait to visit to read something new and have a laugh, provided it doesn't cross the line into insults. It shouldn't be a chore to check in.
Michael Lee4—you said yourself that you don't need this moderation in your life and that things would be easier without it, SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST STEP DOWN?
Also, I'm curious why the poll isn't public so we can see how everyone voted.
That's all from me for now. There's a lot on my mind, and maybe it's not perfectly polished, but if I think of anything else, I'll write it down.
I’ll ask you again: go back through my posts and find any proof for those claims. It would be pretty weird if I were biased toward certain brands when I don't even work for the two or three major players on the market. I’ve been doing the same job for ten years, and it has zero to do with cars.
I’ve commented on design plenty of times, and there’s nothing wrong with that. The issue is when people start critiquing someone else's taste. That inevitably leads to bickering, then full-blown fights, and eventually just straight-up swearing once a bunch of random forum trolls jump in to stir the pot. That’s exactly why I try to shut those arguments down immediately. If someone can't wrap their head around that and thinks I'm just attacking their favorite brand, I honestly can't help them.
Anthony Lopez5 said:Here’s my take on this thread, which I’d probably have started myself if I were one of the old-school members here.
Look, I think it's obvious to all of us that being a moderator comes with a massive amount of responsibility alongside the power you gain. You have to handle it responsibly and impartially—at least most of the time.
But let's be real: the way Michael Lee4 demonstrates his power through his moderation, his sarcasm, and the constant—both overt and subtle—mocking and insulting of users who don't fall in line, is definitely not a textbook example of good leadership.
Let me explain why I say that...
Our local "love him or hate him" figurehead has proven time and again that his actions are driven by pure ego. Honestly, it’s gotten to the point where I can’t tell if we’re dealing with Michael Lee4’s ego or if the ego itself has become its own entity.
I’ll look back at things over the last three years or so...
Back on the car boards, some troll using a handle like Rionero would start a "BMW vs. Mercedes" thread. What began as a total troll thread turned into a virtual hangout for many of us. We'd discuss everything vaguely related to PF, but genuine friendships formed there—offline, of course (to the extent that I actually spent my vacation this year staying with User and partying with User and User). It was all built on banter and casual conversation. Naturally, the popularity and post count grew because of it. If I remember correctly, Michael Lee4 wasn't a mod when the thread started, but he became one later. Basically, during that era, there was very little off-topic chatter elsewhere because everything centered on that one thread, making it the perfect digital lounge.
If you click the link to that thread and read even just the first 10 or 20 pages, you’ll be laughing your head off—and pay close attention to who wrote the very first post after the OP:
Of course, the main roadblock was Michael Lee4. He used to complain about us on other threads regarding that specific discussion. Even if he didn't delete those posts, I really don't have the energy to spend hours digging through archives to prove what he'll just deny anyway—not to mention he called me mentally unstable in a private message.
Then, once Michael Lee4 felt sufficiently empowered by his mod tools, one day the thread just vanished. It disappeared as if it never existed, without any warning or explanation. That was my first real glimpse of his character, which is ultimately the biggest stumbling block and the reason people are calling for a change in leadership.
It wasn't until about a month ago that I received a blunt, baseless explanation via DM: "there's no room for chat on the car boards." I don't buy that for a second. Productive conversations can come from anywhere, including a chat thread.
Anyway, the thread was dumped into the off-topic section—which is a tier below the recycling bin—and predictably fell into oblivion since it was technically part of the automotive PF. I honestly suspect this was a calculated move to make it look like the topic wasn't popular and deserved to die out.
My experience with Michael Lee4 shows someone who can hold a perfectly normal conversation right up until someone presents a solid argument or proves him wrong. Once that happens, the insults start—subtle in a DM, or blatant through deleting posts and handing out warnings. It’s the classic double standard: I call someone an idiot and get a warning, but he calls someone a MORON and gets a pass. And it’s not a one-off thing; it’s chronic, like bronchitis.
That aforementioned game of guessing cars was shut down abruptly and autocratically, without any prior warning. It was bottom-tier moderation. Thank God that out of a dozen or so posts, I managed to nail half of them on other PFs. I've dealt with other moderators before, and their style isn't anywhere near this. I honestly don't know how to describe this level of moderation without resorting to insults or getting a warning myself. Besides, I have no desire to stoop to Michael Lee4's level or give him the satisfaction of handing me a warning or a ban.
I also think a moderator should be able to tell the difference between a new user who’s just struggling to navigate the forum waters and a clone or troll who's specifically here to flame people and cause trouble. The former needs some gentle guidance, not to be immediately met with all guns blazing and handed a ban from the PF.
Real life is serious and difficult enough for all of us; we come here for information and a bit of relaxation and banter. But how are you supposed to relax when you're waiting around wondering if Michael Lee4 is going to jump out from around a corner with a red or yellow card? For God's sake, if this were soccer, fans would have torn him to shreds by halftime...
I know Michael Lee4 will probably start making excuses now through jokes, sarcasm, and provocations—but honestly, his chosen avatar says more about him and his ego than anything else.
I’ll also touch on that Lupo topic and those lukewarm apologies from Michael Lee4 about not being able to make it—look, I don't care if you couldn't make it, but you seem to find time for everything else, and that topic was bumped to the top of the PF for over seven days. Cj7 deserved at least a three-day ban for openly insulting forum members, but he DIDN'T GET ONE. He deserved the topic to be locked, but YOU only did that once the anti-comments reached massive proportions. Honestly, that topic probably would still be at the top right now if you had acted sooner.
I won't call you a shill for certain car brands or a journalist or any of those other nonsense labels, because I know that isn't true. You're simply incapable of being a quality moderator for this PF.
But the fact remains: based on your reactions, it looks like you blindly support one specific brand while refusing to allow any comparisons with other brands regarding design, price, quality, etc., always following up with that weak explanation that "this topic isn't for that." For crying out loud, where are we supposed to discuss it then? On a cooking forum?
This, like any other PF, should be a place where people can't wait to visit to read something new and have a laugh, provided it doesn't cross the line into insults. It shouldn't be a chore to check in.
Michael Lee4—you said yourself that you don't need this moderation in your life and that things would be easier without it, SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST STEP DOWN?
Also, I'm curious why the poll isn't public so we can see how everyone voted.
That's all from me for now. There's a lot on my mind, and maybe it's not perfectly polished, but if I think of anything else, I'll write it down.
I’m too attached to this forum to leave over nonsense like this. If the majority decides (and I know who I'm talking about) that it's time for me to go, then I'll leave—at which point I won't need moderation anyway. But as long as I have to deal with trolls and idiots, I'm fine staying.
The poll isn't public because I didn't set it up. Ask the author. My guess is it's to prevent people from just signing up repeatedly to skew the results. I'm not saying that's the reason, but it's probably not as big a deal as everyone is making it.
No clue how long this thread will last. Things move slow because a few people feel the need to repeat themselves constantly, which brings me back to my original doubt: whether someone is just being provocative or if there's something actually wrong "under the hood." 🤷
