Banned user

To the management,

It’s been ten full days since a user explicitly admitted to being a clone of a permanently banned member—so why hasn't a single thing been done? You’re just letting this stench linger, allowing him to pollute the very threads we participate in, which is exactly why the regular visitors have lost all motivation to show up.

The issue isn't just that he's a clone; it's the blatant disrespect directed at you:
If you want to ban me, maybe try getting on your knees for one of the admins—we all know you wouldn't have any trouble with that.

On top of that, he’s committed several egregious violations, including the intentional manipulation of content when quoting others:

not to mention leaking private messages:

When I reached out to the supermod Saba, she gave a standard response and promised to look into it. But after "consulting" with you, she simply locked the thread under some transparently flimsy excuse, and since then, there hasn't been a shred of follow-up from her.

I don't actually expect you to lift a finger about this, but could you at least be honest for once? What exactly is your connection to this individual, and what is your actual policy toward alternative viewpoints?

If you think driving engagement through conflict is the way to go—assuming that more gnus means more money in your pockets (at least for those of you on the payroll)—you are dead wrong. Both the alternative crowd and their critics have lost any desire to contribute, and he has successfully chased everyone away. We’ll all just migrate to a different forum. 😛 Or perhaps that was your intention all along...

I am making this post simply so the community can see how vulgar, unjust, and unprofessional you are, and to demonstrate that your rules clearly don't apply to everyone. Though, frankly, people coming over from other sites already knew that.

I truly believe the administrators are doing their absolute best and are genuinely trying to make everyone’s experience here on the Forum as pleasant as possible.
That said, the blatant rule-breaking by Exotericon has honestly crossed a line, and it seems to be happening simply because there isn't a moderator present to step in, leaving everyone to basically do whatever they please. 🤷

Despite all the respect I have for the administration, one thing remains deeply baffling to me...how is it even possible that after more than nine months, the admins haven't managed to find even a single moderator for the alternative sub-forum? 🤷
How is that even feasible???
Can anyone please convince me that not a single soul in nine whole months was qualified enough to moderate the alternative section? 🙂
Does one need some sort of specialized certification, an associate degree, a bachelor's, or perhaps even two...???
Because at this rate, it feels like you need a PhD just to find someone, considering it's been nearly a year... 🤦

Honestly, folks, in nine months you could have picked out a leader for the entire space—not even the President of the United States, but the President of space itself...you surely could have found volunteers willing to fly a 1969-era tin can all the way to Pluto.

I realize this is all volunteer work, 🙂and I get that nobody wants to work for free or spend two hours a day on something they aren't passionate about.
However, I am just as certain that there are plenty of people interested in alternative topics who would moderate with enthusiasm, quality, and integrity, which would prevent these kinds of gross rule violations from occurring.
Some users have put names forward, and I personally have suggested a few people myself, but apparently, that's not how it works; 🙂, they're being chosen differently......🙂

How much longer is this status quo going to last, and how much longer must we endure insults and all these other breaches of conduct on the sub-forum?
How much longer will threads on the PŽK be shut down simply because we are asking for what we are entitled to under the forum's own rules?

I would like to ask the administration, and specifically Nico, to provide a straightforward answer and finally resolve this issue that has been dragging on for months.

Thank you, and warm regards to everyone.

So, regarding this Exotericon guy... honestly, he’s broken way more rules than the ones Daniel Davis40 just listed. We're talking about some seriously nasty insults here, stuff that shows up in basically every single post where he's attacking everyone he talks to. It’s just constant... I’ve pulled some examples of these insults below, so please, can you guys take a look and tell me if this is actually okay? Like, is it really alright for the Forum to let this kind of behavior slide?...

Alright, so I’ve been grinding away trying to dig up as much info as possible on this...
Since there hasn't been an actual moderator active on the alternative board for ages, and I honestly have no clue who the head moderator even is, I reported all that verbal abuse to Nico a long time ago... but seriously, there's been zero reaction. The guy just keeps going at everyone, totally unhinged... How is this even allowed to happen? Especially since all those insults were properly reported directly to the main admin... nothing. Just silence...

Any updates here?

Look, I’ve already made it clear that I don't expect you to actually *do* anything—it's obvious enough that the rules don't mean a thing to you people. Message received.

But honestly, hiding behind silence and dodging direct questions is just cowardly. If you want to be fair—and let's be real, transparency isn't exactly your strong suit—you should just come out and state your actual policy toward alternatives. Just say it plainly: "We hate you, we don't want you here, you're freaks, and we want everyone to insult you until you never show your face on this Forum again." At least then we'd know where we stand.

I truly don't see why being honest is such a massive struggle for you. Hell, you could even just slide into my DMs to clarify things—I'd at least appreciate knowing what the deal is.

Forum has become honestly pathetic—it's just not a chill or useful place to hang out anymore.
You could basically call it a "graveyard of civility" because of how often people are being toxic and straight-up rude lately.

It’s been months now, and honestly, the best old-school forum feature is just hitting that "ignore" button...

Daniel Davis40 and Gregory Ramirez2, I think you both hit the nail on the head. 🙂

I feel quite certain, even from the very first post in this thread, that the admins are just going to tune us out. They’ll either dodge giving a straight answer or they'll just shut the whole topic down—which, if we're being honest, is what's happened a few times already. And yet, we still don't have any moderators in sight... who knows how much longer this will drag on... regardless of all that "intense effort" supposedly being poured into finding someone....

So, if I may be so bold as to ask— what kind of impossible standards does someone actually have to meet to alternative moderate this place properly and follow the rules of the Forum and its sub-sections?
I’m really not trying to be difficult here; I am genuinely curious since we haven't had any moderation for nearly a year now 🤦 and I believe we have a democratic right as users to expect the admins or supermods to actually give us a direct answer. I’m sure I’m not the only one wondering about these criteria.

The reason I'm asking is that I simply can't wrap my head around it. How is it possible that in ten months, they haven't found a single genius among the hundreds of thousands of registered users? Out of the dozens of active, on-topic members who have gone years without so much as a single warning, people who actually enjoy and understand the discussions in the PDFs and would likely moderate with high quality and integrity—even as volunteers?
It seems statistically impossible that such people don't exist.

Given that this search for a moderator has been going on for so long (it’s probably a record for any online community globally), I suppose you're looking for someone who is essentially flawless—someone whom absolutely no one could ever find a single thing to complain about.
As someone who is very active in the alternative section, I would truly love nothing more than for that to be the case.

To wrap things up, I have one very pointed question:
- What is the justification for not sanctioning any of the posts our colleague linked , when every single one of them represents the most blatant insults imaginable?
Please, just don't tell me we were supposed to report them by clicking the little icon and then wait... because we all know there are no moderators to see them, making clicking that button about as useful as barking at the moon....

Look, I get it—finding a moderator is a nightmare these days. It’s getting harder to find anyone willing to work for a standard American salary, let alone deal with this. And even if someone actually has the spare time to volunteer, they’re probably going to pick something that looks better on a resume—at least that's my take. Maybe others don't see it that way, but it’s obvious to me why more and more sub-forums are being left completely unmoderated.

But honestly? That's no excuse. You can't just let slimy, vulgar garbage be posted all over the Forum without any pushback from the people in charge. This stuff is showing up in PDFs and threads that are being read by seriously ill people—people who have absolutely nothing to do with LJES.

Elizabeth Jackson said:Daniel Davis40 and Gregory Ramirez2, I think you both hit the nail on the head. 🙂

I feel quite certain, even from the very first post in this thread, that the admins are just going to tune us out. They’ll either dodge giving a straight answer or they'll just shut the whole topic down—which, if we're being honest, is what's happened a few times already. And yet, we still don't have any moderators in sight... who knows how much longer this will drag on... regardless of all that "intense effort" supposedly being poured into finding someone....

So, if I may be so bold as to ask— what kind of impossible standards does someone actually have to meet to alternative moderate this place properly and follow the rules of the Forum and its sub-sections?
I’m really not trying to be difficult here; I am genuinely curious since we haven't had any moderation for nearly a year now 🤦 and I believe we have a democratic right as users to expect the admins or supermods to actually give us a direct answer. I’m sure I’m not the only one wondering about these criteria.

The reason I'm asking is that I simply can't wrap my head around it. How is it possible that in ten months, they haven't found a single genius among the hundreds of thousands of registered users? Out of the dozens of active, on-topic members who have gone years without so much as a single warning, people who actually enjoy and understand the discussions in the PDFs and would likely moderate with high quality and integrity—even as volunteers?
It seems statistically impossible that such people don't exist.

Given that this search for a moderator has been going on for so long (it’s probably a record for any online community globally), I suppose you're looking for someone who is essentially flawless—someone whom absolutely no one could ever find a single thing to complain about.
As someone who is very active in the alternative section, I would truly love nothing more than for that to be the case.

To wrap things up, I have one very pointed question:
- What is the justification for not sanctioning any of the posts our colleague linked , when every single one of them represents the most blatant insults imaginable?
Please, just don't tell me we were supposed to report them by clicking the little icon and then wait... because we all know there are no moderators to see them, making clicking that button about as useful as barking at the moon....

Just two things. They have to want to moderate the alternative section, and they need to be at least somewhat mentally stable.

An oxymoron, obviously. So, nothing's happening there.

Who would even bother moderating that asylum, that circus, that absolute joke of a sub-forum?

I don't want to generalize—and credit where it's due to those rare exceptions on Alternative who actually bring arguments to the table instead of just empty nonsense—but all their hard work basically goes down the drain because of a few certain individuals.

The most realistic solution would be to just merge Alternative with Vic’s board, so people could actually get a good laugh at all these self-proclaimed gurus and charlatans who pour their souls into screaming their delusions into the void over there.😁

Daniel Davis40 said:Look, I get it—finding a moderator is a nightmare these days. It’s getting harder to find anyone willing to work for a standard American salary, let alone deal with this. And even if someone actually has the spare time to volunteer, they’re probably going to pick something that looks better on a resume—at least that's my take. Maybe others don't see it that way, but it’s obvious to me why more and more sub-forums are being left completely unmoderated.

But honestly? That's no excuse. You can't just let slimy, vulgar garbage be posted all over the Forum without any pushback from the people in charge. This stuff is showing up in PDFs and threads that are being read by seriously ill people—people who have absolutely nothing to do with LJES.

I’ve noticed a few things regarding this matter myself. It makes me wonder—are we seeing the beginning of the end for this Forum?
If this lack of moderation continues to bleed into other topics, I suppose it isn't particularly difficult to predict exactly where this is all heading. It feels like an inevitable slide.

Daniel Davis40 said:Look, I get it—finding a moderator is a nightmare these days. It’s getting harder to find anyone willing to work for a standard American salary, let alone deal with this. And even if someone actually has the spare time to volunteer, they’re probably going to pick something that looks better on a resume—at least that's my take. Maybe others don't see it that way, but it’s obvious to me why more and more sub-forums are being left completely unmoderated.

But honestly? That's no excuse. You can't just let slimy, vulgar garbage be posted all over the Forum without any pushback from the people in charge. This stuff is showing up in PDFs and threads that are being read by seriously ill people—people who have absolutely nothing to do with LJES.

It seems more than obvious that there are certain people for whom this particular topic—and honestly, this entire sub-forum—is the single biggest thorn in their side. It’s become quite a defining feature of their lives, I suppose. Still, I have to admit, I always find a certain quiet satisfaction in watching them obsessively dwell on the very things that seem to bother them so deeply. 😁

bluemason3 said:Just two things. They have to want to moderate the alternative section, and they need to be at least somewhat mentally stable.

An oxymoron, obviously. So, nothing's happening there.

And just who exactly is deciding all of this? I mean, what kind of criteria are they actually using, what methods are being applied, and what sort of qualifications do these people even possess to make such determinations? 🤷
You’re basically calling me Superman, bluemason3, just because I stepped up to moderate. That’s incredibly kind of you, though I’d say I was more of a steady hand on the wheel than a caped crusader. 🙏

Sandra Kern37, please, let’s not be quite so obvious about it. Could you at least try to vary your writing style? 🤦
Consider yourself ignored from here on out, and that goes for this handle too. Happy New Year. 👋

Daniel Davis40 said:Any updates here?

Look, I’ve already made it clear that I don't expect you to actually *do* anything—it's obvious enough that the rules don't mean a thing to you people. Message received.

But honestly, hiding behind silence and dodging direct questions is just cowardly. If you want to be fair—and let's be real, transparency isn't exactly your strong suit—you should just come out and state your actual policy toward alternatives. Just say it plainly: "We hate you, we don't want you here, you're freaks, and we want everyone to insult you until you never show your face on this Forum again." At least then we'd know where we stand.

I truly don't see why being honest is such a massive struggle for you. Hell, you could even just slide into my DMs to clarify things—I'd at least appreciate knowing what the deal is.

They won't act, they can't act, and they don't want to act.

They won't because there's no reason to; the Alternative crowd will eventually just fizzle out on its own.
They can't because if they actually applied clear, consistent standards, they’d probably have to permanently ban about 20 or 30 members based on the PDF guidelines. Who wants to take that on?
And they don't want to because, let's face it, swearing, insults, and constant bickering are fantastic ways to grab attention and drive up page views (which means more clicks and more ad revenue). That's the whole game! If a thread stays contained, it stays small and niche. But if you let the arguments and fighting spiral out, the view counts skyrocket, bringing in new members—and with them, those "tourists" who hop from forum to forum just to watch the chaos unfold. More views equals tangible results.

Simple math, right? 👍

Elizabeth Jackson said:Daniel Davis40 and Gregory Ramirez2, I think you both hit the nail on the head. 🙂

I feel quite certain, even from the very first post in this thread, that the admins are just going to tune us out. They’ll either dodge giving a straight answer or they'll just shut the whole topic down—which, if we're being honest, is what's happened a few times already. And yet, we still don't have any moderators in sight... who knows how much longer this will drag on... regardless of all that "intense effort" supposedly being poured into finding someone....

So, if I may be so bold as to ask— what kind of impossible standards does someone actually have to meet to alternative moderate this place properly and follow the rules of the Forum and its sub-sections?
I’m really not trying to be difficult here; I am genuinely curious since we haven't had any moderation for nearly a year now 🤦 and I believe we have a democratic right as users to expect the admins or supermods to actually give us a direct answer. I’m sure I’m not the only one wondering about these criteria.

The reason I'm asking is that I simply can't wrap my head around it. How is it possible that in ten months, they haven't found a single genius among the hundreds of thousands of registered users? Out of the dozens of active, on-topic members who have gone years without so much as a single warning, people who actually enjoy and understand the discussions in the PDFs and would likely moderate with high quality and integrity—even as volunteers?
It seems statistically impossible that such people don't exist.

Given that this search for a moderator has been going on for so long (it’s probably a record for any online community globally), I suppose you're looking for someone who is essentially flawless—someone whom absolutely no one could ever find a single thing to complain about.
As someone who is very active in the alternative section, I would truly love nothing more than for that to be the case.

To wrap things up, I have one very pointed question:
- What is the justification for not sanctioning any of the posts our colleague linked , when every single one of them represents the most blatant insults imaginable?
Please, just don't tell me we were supposed to report them by clicking the little icon and then wait... because we all know there are no moderators to see them, making clicking that button about as useful as barking at the moon....

I think you're missing the point entirely. The whole point of THIS THREAD is that there's this one total moron who has managed to scatter everyone—both sides—away from the Alternative. Just ask yourselves: who is this guy and why is he even here? He does nothing but insult people, fixate on specific individuals, and his only contribution to any topic is pure degradation and tearing threads apart. Personally, I'm not even bothered by his insults; I could easily give him a taste of his own medicine, but I don't want to stir the pot and make the smell even worse. Lately, most of the threads around here (largely thanks to him) have turned into exactly that: a giant pile of garbage. (And we all know what I mean).

Elizabeth Jackson said:Daniel Davis40 and Gregory Ramirez2, I think you both hit the nail on the head. 🙂

I feel quite certain, even from the very first post in this thread, that the admins are just going to tune us out. They’ll either dodge giving a straight answer or they'll just shut the whole topic down—which, if we're being honest, is what's happened a few times already. And yet, we still don't have any moderators in sight... who knows how much longer this will drag on... regardless of all that "intense effort" supposedly being poured into finding someone....

So, if I may be so bold as to ask— what kind of impossible standards does someone actually have to meet to alternative moderate this place properly and follow the rules of the Forum and its sub-sections?
I’m really not trying to be difficult here; I am genuinely curious since we haven't had any moderation for nearly a year now 🤦 and I believe we have a democratic right as users to expect the admins or supermods to actually give us a direct answer. I’m sure I’m not the only one wondering about these criteria.

The reason I'm asking is that I simply can't wrap my head around it. How is it possible that in ten months, they haven't found a single genius among the hundreds of thousands of registered users? Out of the dozens of active, on-topic members who have gone years without so much as a single warning, people who actually enjoy and understand the discussions in the PDFs and would likely moderate with high quality and integrity—even as volunteers?
It seems statistically impossible that such people don't exist.

Given that this search for a moderator has been going on for so long (it’s probably a record for any online community globally), I suppose you're looking for someone who is essentially flawless—someone whom absolutely no one could ever find a single thing to complain about.
As someone who is very active in the alternative section, I would truly love nothing more than for that to be the case.

To wrap things up, I have one very pointed question:
- What is the justification for not sanctioning any of the posts our colleague linked , when every single one of them represents the most blatant insults imaginable?
Please, just don't tell me we were supposed to report them by clicking the little icon and then wait... because we all know there are no moderators to see them, making clicking that button about as useful as barking at the moon....

Honestly, all you need is someone who’s level-headed, lives an honest life, and just doesn't give a flying rip about the emotional outbursts from people whining because their "own" threads aren't being validated by their supposed "expertise" (even while they turn around and belittle everyone else!).

The only thing that actually matters is that they respect common sense, have at least a basic grasp of the subject matter, and stick to the Forum rules and the PDF. That's it. Nothing more.

Elizabeth Jackson said:Daniel Davis40 and Gregory Ramirez2, I think you both hit the nail on the head. 🙂

I feel quite certain, even from the very first post in this thread, that the admins are just going to tune us out. They’ll either dodge giving a straight answer or they'll just shut the whole topic down—which, if we're being honest, is what's happened a few times already. And yet, we still don't have any moderators in sight... who knows how much longer this will drag on... regardless of all that "intense effort" supposedly being poured into finding someone....

So, if I may be so bold as to ask— what kind of impossible standards does someone actually have to meet to alternative moderate this place properly and follow the rules of the Forum and its sub-sections?
I’m really not trying to be difficult here; I am genuinely curious since we haven't had any moderation for nearly a year now 🤦 and I believe we have a democratic right as users to expect the admins or supermods to actually give us a direct answer. I’m sure I’m not the only one wondering about these criteria.

The reason I'm asking is that I simply can't wrap my head around it. How is it possible that in ten months, they haven't found a single genius among the hundreds of thousands of registered users? Out of the dozens of active, on-topic members who have gone years without so much as a single warning, people who actually enjoy and understand the discussions in the PDFs and would likely moderate with high quality and integrity—even as volunteers?
It seems statistically impossible that such people don't exist.

Given that this search for a moderator has been going on for so long (it’s probably a record for any online community globally), I suppose you're looking for someone who is essentially flawless—someone whom absolutely no one could ever find a single thing to complain about.
As someone who is very active in the alternative section, I would truly love nothing more than for that to be the case.

To wrap things up, I have one very pointed question:
- What is the justification for not sanctioning any of the posts our colleague linked , when every single one of them represents the most blatant insults imaginable?
Please, just don't tell me we were supposed to report them by clicking the little icon and then wait... because we all know there are no moderators to see them, making clicking that button about as useful as barking at the moon....

Generally speaking, based on what's been said, there are only two or three people basically running a campaign for this "job," and they're clearly the ones most desperate for an answer. To everyone else, even a lack of response is a response—people realize that the forum administration (who, at the end of the day, are just regular folks) has had quite enough of spending hours every single day "entertaining" self-promoters, trolls, and weirdos. You know, the types who try to turn a public space (available to everyone) into something private (reserved only for themselves and their buddies). It attracts the kind of personalities you'd usually find in certain "closed" institutions, whether they're medical or judicial. And then, after all that, someone else gets blamed for it! So, it’s honestly easier to just let the system, as Zecopas once put it, "reset itself" back to normal.
This whole situation actually happened before when moderation stopped after certain people (like Rorion and his crowd) left. Now, a new character has stepped up and kicked things off aggressively, and here we go right back to square one.

Elizabeth Jackson said:Daniel Davis40 and Gregory Ramirez2, I think you both hit the nail on the head. 🙂

I feel quite certain, even from the very first post in this thread, that the admins are just going to tune us out. They’ll either dodge giving a straight answer or they'll just shut the whole topic down—which, if we're being honest, is what's happened a few times already. And yet, we still don't have any moderators in sight... who knows how much longer this will drag on... regardless of all that "intense effort" supposedly being poured into finding someone....

So, if I may be so bold as to ask— what kind of impossible standards does someone actually have to meet to alternative moderate this place properly and follow the rules of the Forum and its sub-sections?
I’m really not trying to be difficult here; I am genuinely curious since we haven't had any moderation for nearly a year now 🤦 and I believe we have a democratic right as users to expect the admins or supermods to actually give us a direct answer. I’m sure I’m not the only one wondering about these criteria.

The reason I'm asking is that I simply can't wrap my head around it. How is it possible that in ten months, they haven't found a single genius among the hundreds of thousands of registered users? Out of the dozens of active, on-topic members who have gone years without so much as a single warning, people who actually enjoy and understand the discussions in the PDFs and would likely moderate with high quality and integrity—even as volunteers?
It seems statistically impossible that such people don't exist.

Given that this search for a moderator has been going on for so long (it’s probably a record for any online community globally), I suppose you're looking for someone who is essentially flawless—someone whom absolutely no one could ever find a single thing to complain about.
As someone who is very active in the alternative section, I would truly love nothing more than for that to be the case.

To wrap things up, I have one very pointed question:
- What is the justification for not sanctioning any of the posts our colleague linked , when every single one of them represents the most blatant insults imaginable?
Please, just don't tell me we were supposed to report them by clicking the little icon and then wait... because we all know there are no moderators to see them, making clicking that button about as useful as barking at the moon....

Given the constant descriptions of "perfection" (which, coincidentally, seem to perfectly describe the author of this little rant—“oh, please praise me”), I’d suggest looking up the definition of "moderator" in a standard American English dictionary. Maybe then we wouldn't have to deal with this kind of nonsense anymore. At least if those in charge are making decisions based on some sort of delusional fantasy, they should aim for actual competence.

Elizabeth Jackson said:Daniel Davis40 and Gregory Ramirez2, I think you both hit the nail on the head. 🙂

I feel quite certain, even from the very first post in this thread, that the admins are just going to tune us out. They’ll either dodge giving a straight answer or they'll just shut the whole topic down—which, if we're being honest, is what's happened a few times already. And yet, we still don't have any moderators in sight... who knows how much longer this will drag on... regardless of all that "intense effort" supposedly being poured into finding someone....

So, if I may be so bold as to ask— what kind of impossible standards does someone actually have to meet to alternative moderate this place properly and follow the rules of the Forum and its sub-sections?
I’m really not trying to be difficult here; I am genuinely curious since we haven't had any moderation for nearly a year now 🤦 and I believe we have a democratic right as users to expect the admins or supermods to actually give us a direct answer. I’m sure I’m not the only one wondering about these criteria.

The reason I'm asking is that I simply can't wrap my head around it. How is it possible that in ten months, they haven't found a single genius among the hundreds of thousands of registered users? Out of the dozens of active, on-topic members who have gone years without so much as a single warning, people who actually enjoy and understand the discussions in the PDFs and would likely moderate with high quality and integrity—even as volunteers?
It seems statistically impossible that such people don't exist.

Given that this search for a moderator has been going on for so long (it’s probably a record for any online community globally), I suppose you're looking for someone who is essentially flawless—someone whom absolutely no one could ever find a single thing to complain about.
As someone who is very active in the alternative section, I would truly love nothing more than for that to be the case.

To wrap things up, I have one very pointed question:
- What is the justification for not sanctioning any of the posts our colleague linked , when every single one of them represents the most blatant insults imaginable?
Please, just don't tell me we were supposed to report them by clicking the little icon and then wait... because we all know there are no moderators to see them, making clicking that button about as useful as barking at the moon....

In my book, a truly great moderator is someone who steps up to this chaotic thread and commits to handling it with total honesty and integrity. They shouldn't be afraid to roll up their sleeves and get a little ruthless when they have to—specifically when it comes to cutting down ungrounded claims that could actually jeopardize someone's health or even put a life at risk. We need that kind of decisive action to keep things safe! At the same time, I think a good mod needs to be an open ear. They should be willing to listen to any helpful advice that can offer a positive impact, even if it doesn't come from a traditional medical, pharmacological, or nutritional textbook. As long as that advice is practical and comes from someone who has actually proven their methods work in real-world situations, it deserves a seat at the table. It’s all about finding that balance between safety and genuine, actionable wisdom!

To be honest, things have been feeling pretty empty around here lately—and I mean that in a good way! We haven’t seen much of the usual nonsense. See, I truly believe that pushing sectarian, cultish, or fanatical religious agendas isn't what "Alternative" is about. It’s definitely not about being judgmental, belittling actual scientific breakthroughs, or peddling shady, low-quality websites that don't meet any standards. That stuff is just pure garbage, plain and simple. And let's get one thing straight: just because someone is "active" or posting constantly doesn't mean they're adding value. Quantity and quality are two very different animals! I’d much rather read three pieces of genuine, intelligent advice than wade through 2,000 posts of absolute trash. And don't even get me started on those people trying to prescribe their "special recipes" down to the milligram. Good grief! It's like they think they're prepping a high-stakes chemical reaction for explosives instead of just making a simple cauliflower, carrot, bouillon, and ginger smoothie. Honestly, give me a break!

Look, I'll be the first to admit that a few people around here have tried to push their own agendas and offer advice that doesn't actually align with the true Alternative. But honestly? It's pretty obvious they're just a tiny minority.

Elizabeth Jackson said:Daniel Davis40 and Gregory Ramirez2, I think you both hit the nail on the head. 🙂

I feel quite certain, even from the very first post in this thread, that the admins are just going to tune us out. They’ll either dodge giving a straight answer or they'll just shut the whole topic down—which, if we're being honest, is what's happened a few times already. And yet, we still don't have any moderators in sight... who knows how much longer this will drag on... regardless of all that "intense effort" supposedly being poured into finding someone....

So, if I may be so bold as to ask— what kind of impossible standards does someone actually have to meet to alternative moderate this place properly and follow the rules of the Forum and its sub-sections?
I’m really not trying to be difficult here; I am genuinely curious since we haven't had any moderation for nearly a year now 🤦 and I believe we have a democratic right as users to expect the admins or supermods to actually give us a direct answer. I’m sure I’m not the only one wondering about these criteria.

The reason I'm asking is that I simply can't wrap my head around it. How is it possible that in ten months, they haven't found a single genius among the hundreds of thousands of registered users? Out of the dozens of active, on-topic members who have gone years without so much as a single warning, people who actually enjoy and understand the discussions in the PDFs and would likely moderate with high quality and integrity—even as volunteers?
It seems statistically impossible that such people don't exist.

Given that this search for a moderator has been going on for so long (it’s probably a record for any online community globally), I suppose you're looking for someone who is essentially flawless—someone whom absolutely no one could ever find a single thing to complain about.
As someone who is very active in the alternative section, I would truly love nothing more than for that to be the case.

To wrap things up, I have one very pointed question:
- What is the justification for not sanctioning any of the posts our colleague linked , when every single one of them represents the most blatant insults imaginable?
Please, just don't tell me we were supposed to report them by clicking the little icon and then wait... because we all know there are no moderators to see them, making clicking that button about as useful as barking at the moon....

Let me give you my two cents on this. Honestly, it’s the exact same reason why some users were once allowed to dump over 2,000 posts of absolute nonsense onto the Forum—I'm talking literal garbage. We’re talking endless rants about personal traumas, random life stories, and off-topic rambling that belongs on a therapist's couch rather than here on Alternative. Some people found it hilarious, and others jumped in to support it with all their heart, starting idiotic threads or just messing around in existing ones. It’s also the same reason why certain characters were "permitted" under the guise of being part of our community, even though they never actually wrote anything related to what we stand for. Instead, they just used their platform to insult other members and tear down whatever opinions people held.
It’s honestly for the exact same reason you see people around here clearly just pushing their own agendas and peddling all kinds of nonsense under the guise of "offering advice." They’re just dropping links to their own sites because they know that every single click translates directly into cash in their pockets. It's pretty transparent when you look at it!
And they’ve got it all wrapped up in a pretty little bow, calling it an "Alternative."
It’s really the same old story, isn't it? It goes back to that period when people were actually allowed to share medical advice—especially when you had folks dealing with serious stuff like cancer treatment. Back then, things were a bit of a free-for-all; you could write just about anything or coordinate private deals through direct messages. Honestly, if we're being real, none of that should have ever been part of a community built on basic decency and common sense, yet somehow, it was all just sitting there happening!
Honestly, the whole reason this thread was even started is just the icing on the cake. We’re back to talking about the same "controversial figure" and it’s the exact same old story. But now that this person is clearly getting on everyone's nerves, let's try to be "fair," shall we? Let's just single him out and go after him. It's not like he's going anywhere—sooner or later, he’ll move on anyway. Whether the site admins force him out or he just gets bored and leaves, it doesn't matter. Let's face it, the user base has dried up and most of these threads have gone completely dead.

And that's exactly why everything has gone totally south.

Elizabeth Jackson said:I’ve noticed a few things regarding this matter myself. It makes me wonder—are we seeing the beginning of the end for this Forum?
If this lack of moderation continues to bleed into other topics, I suppose it isn't particularly difficult to predict exactly where this is all heading. It feels like an inevitable slide.

It seems more than obvious that there are certain people for whom this particular topic—and honestly, this entire sub-forum—is the single biggest thorn in their side. It’s become quite a defining feature of their lives, I suppose. Still, I have to admit, I always find a certain quiet satisfaction in watching them obsessively dwell on the very things that seem to bother them so deeply. 😁

And just who exactly is deciding all of this? I mean, what kind of criteria are they actually using, what methods are being applied, and what sort of qualifications do these people even possess to make such determinations? 🤷
You’re basically calling me Superman, bluemason3, just because I stepped up to moderate. That’s incredibly kind of you, though I’d say I was more of a steady hand on the wheel than a caped crusader. 🙏

Sandra Kern37, please, let’s not be quite so obvious about it. Could you at least try to vary your writing style? 🤦
Consider yourself ignored from here on out, and that goes for this handle too. Happy New Year. 👋

I have one and only one username on this Forum, and that’s the one I’m using. Even the moderators can double-check that if they want, so we can see what’s actually happening here. 😉

Since you've completely run out of actual arguments, you've resorted to just spewing falsehoods and lies, mostly because you're bitter that fewer and fewer people are buying into your nonsense.

The threads about cancer treatment have been nuked in three different ways... seriously—they're totally gutted, and half our community has just walked away from them. These discussions are incredibly valuable, so it’s a massive waste when this happens. There's really only one reason why: zero moderation. Because of that, these threads turn into a total war zone where people are constantly using trash language (honestly, I’d probably say some pretty wild stuff myself if I were provoked)...

You guys locked the thread on cancer treatment—and from what I can see, even the whole holistic movement is at risk of getting shut down. Either lock the entire section so the alternative medicine crowd can just move elsewhere, or actually find a moderator....

If you don't know how to moderate alternative topics, or if you think it's "wrong" to speak out against mainstream medicine and you're terrified of running into potential snake oil salesmen—there’s an easy fix here.

First off, implement a zero-tolerance policy for insults. Given everything that's gone down over the last year, that tolerance should be even lower than it is in other parts of the Forum until things settle down. Regarding medical advice, also set a zero-tolerance rule for any mention of conventional medicine—whether it's pro or con. If specific alternative advice becomes problematic, you can tighten things up by defining the thread to focus on explaining individual alternative concepts. That way, you present the theory behind why certain methods might help various ailments without giving anyone permission to push a specific agenda on others. It stays a place where people can learn about different approaches to fighting illness and decide for themselves if something holds water or if it could actually help them....

As for the snake oil issue—you don't even need to worry about that, even if a moderator isn't well-versed in basic alternative principles; most of us are. Today, there are maybe 5 or 6 major alternative concepts that basically overlap in their essence. Any nonsense like "take this pill or this supplement and do a handstand and you'll be cured instantly" would be flagged and reported to a mod immediately. At the end of the day, that's in the best interest of those of us into alternatives, especially since most of us are fed up with the "magic cloak" bullshit that gets used to label and discriminate against alternative medicine.... just like it's in the interest of the community to avoid insults and wasting energy on pointless arguments...

There's another huge point that I'm almost certain the mods or super-mods aren't realizing: these threads (especially when they aren't filled with madness) act as a platform for alternative progress—like a little lab...

Let me explain that with an example everyone can get behind—like the use of hemp in medical treatments, which mainstream medicine is increasingly adopting...

We still don't even know all the fields or the various ways hemp can be utilized—and honestly, mainstream medicine doesn't know either. On these threads, that kind of stuff is researched, questioned, and shared through experience. I personally learned a ton from this—especially regarding small, practical, extremely useful details like how hemp can be consumed, in what amounts, what it can be combined with, whether there are contraindications with other therapies, or side effects that people struggle with. On that note, I can mention that I learned from our colleague here how (specifically regarding the method of consumption) you can reduce the negative side effects of hemp, helping people who usually get wiped out by it to actually be able to use it in their treatment, etc...

Like I said—this is our lab. There are no others. This stuff doesn't get funded, and there's a massive lack of scientific research in alternative fields. This is the only place where it actually happens—trying to make progress in the most basic way possible using fundamental scientific methods: observation, statistics, and trial-and-error based on personal positive or negative experiences, or those of people close to us. You can throw in some serious alternative literature, and that's it. Given all that, I think the importance of these threads should be obvious to you; it goes way beyond just some random rambling or alternative chatter....

Look, it’d be smarter to either bring in some mods or just kill this thread entirely. This whole status quo thing is doing nothing but hurting the alternatives and this entire Forum

P.S. Shout out to Gregory Ramirez2, Elizabeth Jackson, and the rest of the crew on this thread—as you guys probably noticed, I’ve been MIA for a while. If things settle down, I might pop back in, but until then, good luck with the research. Try to focus on the actual field instead of wasting all your energy fighting over nonsense...🎉

Later, Amy Rogers6

Amy Rogers6 said:The threads about cancer treatment have been nuked in three different ways... seriously—they're totally gutted, and half our community has just walked away from them. These discussions are incredibly valuable, so it’s a massive waste when this happens. There's really only one reason why: zero moderation. Because of that, these threads turn into a total war zone where people are constantly using trash language (honestly, I’d probably say some pretty wild stuff myself if I were provoked)...

You guys locked the thread on cancer treatment—and from what I can see, even the whole holistic movement is at risk of getting shut down. Either lock the entire section so the alternative medicine crowd can just move elsewhere, or actually find a moderator....

If you don't know how to moderate alternative topics, or if you think it's "wrong" to speak out against mainstream medicine and you're terrified of running into potential snake oil salesmen—there’s an easy fix here.

First off, implement a zero-tolerance policy for insults. Given everything that's gone down over the last year, that tolerance should be even lower than it is in other parts of the Forum until things settle down. Regarding medical advice, also set a zero-tolerance rule for any mention of conventional medicine—whether it's pro or con. If specific alternative advice becomes problematic, you can tighten things up by defining the thread to focus on explaining individual alternative concepts. That way, you present the theory behind why certain methods might help various ailments without giving anyone permission to push a specific agenda on others. It stays a place where people can learn about different approaches to fighting illness and decide for themselves if something holds water or if it could actually help them....

As for the snake oil issue—you don't even need to worry about that, even if a moderator isn't well-versed in basic alternative principles; most of us are. Today, there are maybe 5 or 6 major alternative concepts that basically overlap in their essence. Any nonsense like "take this pill or this supplement and do a handstand and you'll be cured instantly" would be flagged and reported to a mod immediately. At the end of the day, that's in the best interest of those of us into alternatives, especially since most of us are fed up with the "magic cloak" bullshit that gets used to label and discriminate against alternative medicine.... just like it's in the interest of the community to avoid insults and wasting energy on pointless arguments...

There's another huge point that I'm almost certain the mods or super-mods aren't realizing: these threads (especially when they aren't filled with madness) act as a platform for alternative progress—like a little lab...

Let me explain that with an example everyone can get behind—like the use of hemp in medical treatments, which mainstream medicine is increasingly adopting...

We still don't even know all the fields or the various ways hemp can be utilized—and honestly, mainstream medicine doesn't know either. On these threads, that kind of stuff is researched, questioned, and shared through experience. I personally learned a ton from this—especially regarding small, practical, extremely useful details like how hemp can be consumed, in what amounts, what it can be combined with, whether there are contraindications with other therapies, or side effects that people struggle with. On that note, I can mention that I learned from our colleague here how (specifically regarding the method of consumption) you can reduce the negative side effects of hemp, helping people who usually get wiped out by it to actually be able to use it in their treatment, etc...

Like I said—this is our lab. There are no others. This stuff doesn't get funded, and there's a massive lack of scientific research in alternative fields. This is the only place where it actually happens—trying to make progress in the most basic way possible using fundamental scientific methods: observation, statistics, and trial-and-error based on personal positive or negative experiences, or those of people close to us. You can throw in some serious alternative literature, and that's it. Given all that, I think the importance of these threads should be obvious to you; it goes way beyond just some random rambling or alternative chatter....

Look, it’d be smarter to either bring in some mods or just kill this thread entirely. This whole status quo thing is doing nothing but hurting the alternatives and this entire Forum

P.S. Shout out to Gregory Ramirez2, Elizabeth Jackson, and the rest of the crew on this thread—as you guys probably noticed, I’ve been MIA for a while. If things settle down, I might pop back in, but until then, good luck with the research. Try to focus on the actual field instead of wasting all your energy fighting over nonsense...🎉

Later, Amy Rogers6

Give me a break. Just a few days ago, Elizabeth Jackson explicitly wrote that eating raw food cures cancer. Where were those charlatanism detectors then, the ones that are supposedly always able to spot them? 🤦
The reason why people have stopped talking about that hemp stuff is because everyone has found it acceptable. Instead, everyone has jumped on the bandwagon of promoting these fraudulent methods, like: "eat this and cure that because I read it on this site," or things like non-vaccination. How many times does it have to be repeated to you people that actual human beings—real Homo sapiens—are reading these posts? Grow up, for crying out loud. Someone is going to die because they followed some one of your tips.
Moderator, if one even shows up, the only real option is to bring in someone from the outside, someone who isn't active on this subforum. The reason is quite simple: right now, there isn't a single high-quality member here capable of handling it. For instance, a certain person comes to mind who moderates an alternative group and seems okay at first glance, but it would be tasteless of me to name names right now.
As far as the currently active members go, everyone is biased. That goes for the members active in the Alternative Medicine and On the Edge of Science subforums; as for the rest, I couldn't say.

Amy Rogers6 said:The threads about cancer treatment have been nuked in three different ways... seriously—they're totally gutted, and half our community has just walked away from them. These discussions are incredibly valuable, so it’s a massive waste when this happens. There's really only one reason why: zero moderation. Because of that, these threads turn into a total war zone where people are constantly using trash language (honestly, I’d probably say some pretty wild stuff myself if I were provoked)...

You guys locked the thread on cancer treatment—and from what I can see, even the whole holistic movement is at risk of getting shut down. Either lock the entire section so the alternative medicine crowd can just move elsewhere, or actually find a moderator....

If you don't know how to moderate alternative topics, or if you think it's "wrong" to speak out against mainstream medicine and you're terrified of running into potential snake oil salesmen—there’s an easy fix here.

First off, implement a zero-tolerance policy for insults. Given everything that's gone down over the last year, that tolerance should be even lower than it is in other parts of the Forum until things settle down. Regarding medical advice, also set a zero-tolerance rule for any mention of conventional medicine—whether it's pro or con. If specific alternative advice becomes problematic, you can tighten things up by defining the thread to focus on explaining individual alternative concepts. That way, you present the theory behind why certain methods might help various ailments without giving anyone permission to push a specific agenda on others. It stays a place where people can learn about different approaches to fighting illness and decide for themselves if something holds water or if it could actually help them....

As for the snake oil issue—you don't even need to worry about that, even if a moderator isn't well-versed in basic alternative principles; most of us are. Today, there are maybe 5 or 6 major alternative concepts that basically overlap in their essence. Any nonsense like "take this pill or this supplement and do a handstand and you'll be cured instantly" would be flagged and reported to a mod immediately. At the end of the day, that's in the best interest of those of us into alternatives, especially since most of us are fed up with the "magic cloak" bullshit that gets used to label and discriminate against alternative medicine.... just like it's in the interest of the community to avoid insults and wasting energy on pointless arguments...

There's another huge point that I'm almost certain the mods or super-mods aren't realizing: these threads (especially when they aren't filled with madness) act as a platform for alternative progress—like a little lab...

Let me explain that with an example everyone can get behind—like the use of hemp in medical treatments, which mainstream medicine is increasingly adopting...

We still don't even know all the fields or the various ways hemp can be utilized—and honestly, mainstream medicine doesn't know either. On these threads, that kind of stuff is researched, questioned, and shared through experience. I personally learned a ton from this—especially regarding small, practical, extremely useful details like how hemp can be consumed, in what amounts, what it can be combined with, whether there are contraindications with other therapies, or side effects that people struggle with. On that note, I can mention that I learned from our colleague here how (specifically regarding the method of consumption) you can reduce the negative side effects of hemp, helping people who usually get wiped out by it to actually be able to use it in their treatment, etc...

Like I said—this is our lab. There are no others. This stuff doesn't get funded, and there's a massive lack of scientific research in alternative fields. This is the only place where it actually happens—trying to make progress in the most basic way possible using fundamental scientific methods: observation, statistics, and trial-and-error based on personal positive or negative experiences, or those of people close to us. You can throw in some serious alternative literature, and that's it. Given all that, I think the importance of these threads should be obvious to you; it goes way beyond just some random rambling or alternative chatter....

Look, it’d be smarter to either bring in some mods or just kill this thread entirely. This whole status quo thing is doing nothing but hurting the alternatives and this entire Forum

P.S. Shout out to Gregory Ramirez2, Elizabeth Jackson, and the rest of the crew on this thread—as you guys probably noticed, I’ve been MIA for a while. If things settle down, I might pop back in, but until then, good luck with the research. Try to focus on the actual field instead of wasting all your energy fighting over nonsense...🎉

Later, Amy Rogers6

Regarding the cancer treatment topic, it was previously stated that it would reopen in just a few days.
Since that announcement, 96 days have passed, and it’s still nowhere to be seen. 😲
The reason?
Is it Nica...?

As for the raw food discussions, I've actually mentioned elsewhere that there is this one individual—someone we all know, who operates through several clone accounts—who is making a deliberate, constant effort to derail things with insults. These are quite blunt attacks, which, for some inexplicable reason, aren't even being sanctioned. It feels like they are trying to force the thread to close.
Their modus operandi is pretty straightforward and follows the exact same pattern we saw with the cancer treatment thread: if you bury a topic under the very things moderators and admins are most sensitive to—namely, constant and crude insults—then once enough reports pile up, someone will report everything from a specific handle to the administration. The admins usually just take the path of least resistance and, citing "constant disorder within the thread" (disorder that only exists because they haven't appointed a moderator in nearly a year), they simply shut the whole thing down.

That seems to be the goal for people like this—to get these topics closed—and it’s becoming crystal clear to all of us that they do it to protect their own interests.
I mean, anyone can see that certain individuals come to the alternative section solely to obstruct discussions—by attacking, insulting, trolling, and going completely off-topic.
They don't have a single constructive, on-topic post to their name; they exist only to target other forum members. Some of these profiles were created quite recently and have already racked up hundreds of posts exclusively in the alternative section, yet every single one is identical: disparaging alternative views and attacking anyone who dares to write about these subjects.

Furthermore, it is highly interesting that not a single post linked by stormyrider28 has received a single strike—not even a yellow card—despite involving extremely harsh insults that he claims to have reported directly to the admins (since there are no moderators present)!!!
Why hasn't this been penalized, especially when it was reported so clearly, and why is even this specific thread on the PŽK open just to discuss this particular user? 🤷

Amy Rogers6 said:The threads about cancer treatment have been nuked in three different ways... seriously—they're totally gutted, and half our community has just walked away from them. These discussions are incredibly valuable, so it’s a massive waste when this happens. There's really only one reason why: zero moderation. Because of that, these threads turn into a total war zone where people are constantly using trash language (honestly, I’d probably say some pretty wild stuff myself if I were provoked)...

You guys locked the thread on cancer treatment—and from what I can see, even the whole holistic movement is at risk of getting shut down. Either lock the entire section so the alternative medicine crowd can just move elsewhere, or actually find a moderator....

If you don't know how to moderate alternative topics, or if you think it's "wrong" to speak out against mainstream medicine and you're terrified of running into potential snake oil salesmen—there’s an easy fix here.

First off, implement a zero-tolerance policy for insults. Given everything that's gone down over the last year, that tolerance should be even lower than it is in other parts of the Forum until things settle down. Regarding medical advice, also set a zero-tolerance rule for any mention of conventional medicine—whether it's pro or con. If specific alternative advice becomes problematic, you can tighten things up by defining the thread to focus on explaining individual alternative concepts. That way, you present the theory behind why certain methods might help various ailments without giving anyone permission to push a specific agenda on others. It stays a place where people can learn about different approaches to fighting illness and decide for themselves if something holds water or if it could actually help them....

As for the snake oil issue—you don't even need to worry about that, even if a moderator isn't well-versed in basic alternative principles; most of us are. Today, there are maybe 5 or 6 major alternative concepts that basically overlap in their essence. Any nonsense like "take this pill or this supplement and do a handstand and you'll be cured instantly" would be flagged and reported to a mod immediately. At the end of the day, that's in the best interest of those of us into alternatives, especially since most of us are fed up with the "magic cloak" bullshit that gets used to label and discriminate against alternative medicine.... just like it's in the interest of the community to avoid insults and wasting energy on pointless arguments...

There's another huge point that I'm almost certain the mods or super-mods aren't realizing: these threads (especially when they aren't filled with madness) act as a platform for alternative progress—like a little lab...

Let me explain that with an example everyone can get behind—like the use of hemp in medical treatments, which mainstream medicine is increasingly adopting...

We still don't even know all the fields or the various ways hemp can be utilized—and honestly, mainstream medicine doesn't know either. On these threads, that kind of stuff is researched, questioned, and shared through experience. I personally learned a ton from this—especially regarding small, practical, extremely useful details like how hemp can be consumed, in what amounts, what it can be combined with, whether there are contraindications with other therapies, or side effects that people struggle with. On that note, I can mention that I learned from our colleague here how (specifically regarding the method of consumption) you can reduce the negative side effects of hemp, helping people who usually get wiped out by it to actually be able to use it in their treatment, etc...

Like I said—this is our lab. There are no others. This stuff doesn't get funded, and there's a massive lack of scientific research in alternative fields. This is the only place where it actually happens—trying to make progress in the most basic way possible using fundamental scientific methods: observation, statistics, and trial-and-error based on personal positive or negative experiences, or those of people close to us. You can throw in some serious alternative literature, and that's it. Given all that, I think the importance of these threads should be obvious to you; it goes way beyond just some random rambling or alternative chatter....

Look, it’d be smarter to either bring in some mods or just kill this thread entirely. This whole status quo thing is doing nothing but hurting the alternatives and this entire Forum

P.S. Shout out to Gregory Ramirez2, Elizabeth Jackson, and the rest of the crew on this thread—as you guys probably noticed, I’ve been MIA for a while. If things settle down, I might pop back in, but until then, good luck with the research. Try to focus on the actual field instead of wasting all your energy fighting over nonsense...🎉

Later, Amy Rogers6

I fully support this proposal. However, I have a strong gut feeling that it isn't going to happen.

Amy Rogers6 said:The threads about cancer treatment have been nuked in three different ways... seriously—they're totally gutted, and half our community has just walked away from them. These discussions are incredibly valuable, so it’s a massive waste when this happens. There's really only one reason why: zero moderation. Because of that, these threads turn into a total war zone where people are constantly using trash language (honestly, I’d probably say some pretty wild stuff myself if I were provoked)...

You guys locked the thread on cancer treatment—and from what I can see, even the whole holistic movement is at risk of getting shut down. Either lock the entire section so the alternative medicine crowd can just move elsewhere, or actually find a moderator....

If you don't know how to moderate alternative topics, or if you think it's "wrong" to speak out against mainstream medicine and you're terrified of running into potential snake oil salesmen—there’s an easy fix here.

First off, implement a zero-tolerance policy for insults. Given everything that's gone down over the last year, that tolerance should be even lower than it is in other parts of the Forum until things settle down. Regarding medical advice, also set a zero-tolerance rule for any mention of conventional medicine—whether it's pro or con. If specific alternative advice becomes problematic, you can tighten things up by defining the thread to focus on explaining individual alternative concepts. That way, you present the theory behind why certain methods might help various ailments without giving anyone permission to push a specific agenda on others. It stays a place where people can learn about different approaches to fighting illness and decide for themselves if something holds water or if it could actually help them....

As for the snake oil issue—you don't even need to worry about that, even if a moderator isn't well-versed in basic alternative principles; most of us are. Today, there are maybe 5 or 6 major alternative concepts that basically overlap in their essence. Any nonsense like "take this pill or this supplement and do a handstand and you'll be cured instantly" would be flagged and reported to a mod immediately. At the end of the day, that's in the best interest of those of us into alternatives, especially since most of us are fed up with the "magic cloak" bullshit that gets used to label and discriminate against alternative medicine.... just like it's in the interest of the community to avoid insults and wasting energy on pointless arguments...

There's another huge point that I'm almost certain the mods or super-mods aren't realizing: these threads (especially when they aren't filled with madness) act as a platform for alternative progress—like a little lab...

Let me explain that with an example everyone can get behind—like the use of hemp in medical treatments, which mainstream medicine is increasingly adopting...

We still don't even know all the fields or the various ways hemp can be utilized—and honestly, mainstream medicine doesn't know either. On these threads, that kind of stuff is researched, questioned, and shared through experience. I personally learned a ton from this—especially regarding small, practical, extremely useful details like how hemp can be consumed, in what amounts, what it can be combined with, whether there are contraindications with other therapies, or side effects that people struggle with. On that note, I can mention that I learned from our colleague here how (specifically regarding the method of consumption) you can reduce the negative side effects of hemp, helping people who usually get wiped out by it to actually be able to use it in their treatment, etc...

Like I said—this is our lab. There are no others. This stuff doesn't get funded, and there's a massive lack of scientific research in alternative fields. This is the only place where it actually happens—trying to make progress in the most basic way possible using fundamental scientific methods: observation, statistics, and trial-and-error based on personal positive or negative experiences, or those of people close to us. You can throw in some serious alternative literature, and that's it. Given all that, I think the importance of these threads should be obvious to you; it goes way beyond just some random rambling or alternative chatter....

Look, it’d be smarter to either bring in some mods or just kill this thread entirely. This whole status quo thing is doing nothing but hurting the alternatives and this entire Forum

P.S. Shout out to Gregory Ramirez2, Elizabeth Jackson, and the rest of the crew on this thread—as you guys probably noticed, I’ve been MIA for a while. If things settle down, I might pop back in, but until then, good luck with the research. Try to focus on the actual field instead of wasting all your energy fighting over nonsense...🎉

Later, Amy Rogers6

That’s actually an excellent suggestion. 👍
Because if we were discussing alternative methods within a thread dedicated to conventional medicine, we’d be considered off-topic and would probably deserve a warning.
So, I suppose the question is: why doesn't that same logic apply here?

Amy Rogers6 said:The threads about cancer treatment have been nuked in three different ways... seriously—they're totally gutted, and half our community has just walked away from them. These discussions are incredibly valuable, so it’s a massive waste when this happens. There's really only one reason why: zero moderation. Because of that, these threads turn into a total war zone where people are constantly using trash language (honestly, I’d probably say some pretty wild stuff myself if I were provoked)...

You guys locked the thread on cancer treatment—and from what I can see, even the whole holistic movement is at risk of getting shut down. Either lock the entire section so the alternative medicine crowd can just move elsewhere, or actually find a moderator....

If you don't know how to moderate alternative topics, or if you think it's "wrong" to speak out against mainstream medicine and you're terrified of running into potential snake oil salesmen—there’s an easy fix here.

First off, implement a zero-tolerance policy for insults. Given everything that's gone down over the last year, that tolerance should be even lower than it is in other parts of the Forum until things settle down. Regarding medical advice, also set a zero-tolerance rule for any mention of conventional medicine—whether it's pro or con. If specific alternative advice becomes problematic, you can tighten things up by defining the thread to focus on explaining individual alternative concepts. That way, you present the theory behind why certain methods might help various ailments without giving anyone permission to push a specific agenda on others. It stays a place where people can learn about different approaches to fighting illness and decide for themselves if something holds water or if it could actually help them....

As for the snake oil issue—you don't even need to worry about that, even if a moderator isn't well-versed in basic alternative principles; most of us are. Today, there are maybe 5 or 6 major alternative concepts that basically overlap in their essence. Any nonsense like "take this pill or this supplement and do a handstand and you'll be cured instantly" would be flagged and reported to a mod immediately. At the end of the day, that's in the best interest of those of us into alternatives, especially since most of us are fed up with the "magic cloak" bullshit that gets used to label and discriminate against alternative medicine.... just like it's in the interest of the community to avoid insults and wasting energy on pointless arguments...

There's another huge point that I'm almost certain the mods or super-mods aren't realizing: these threads (especially when they aren't filled with madness) act as a platform for alternative progress—like a little lab...

Let me explain that with an example everyone can get behind—like the use of hemp in medical treatments, which mainstream medicine is increasingly adopting...

We still don't even know all the fields or the various ways hemp can be utilized—and honestly, mainstream medicine doesn't know either. On these threads, that kind of stuff is researched, questioned, and shared through experience. I personally learned a ton from this—especially regarding small, practical, extremely useful details like how hemp can be consumed, in what amounts, what it can be combined with, whether there are contraindications with other therapies, or side effects that people struggle with. On that note, I can mention that I learned from our colleague here how (specifically regarding the method of consumption) you can reduce the negative side effects of hemp, helping people who usually get wiped out by it to actually be able to use it in their treatment, etc...

Like I said—this is our lab. There are no others. This stuff doesn't get funded, and there's a massive lack of scientific research in alternative fields. This is the only place where it actually happens—trying to make progress in the most basic way possible using fundamental scientific methods: observation, statistics, and trial-and-error based on personal positive or negative experiences, or those of people close to us. You can throw in some serious alternative literature, and that's it. Given all that, I think the importance of these threads should be obvious to you; it goes way beyond just some random rambling or alternative chatter....

Look, it’d be smarter to either bring in some mods or just kill this thread entirely. This whole status quo thing is doing nothing but hurting the alternatives and this entire Forum

P.S. Shout out to Gregory Ramirez2, Elizabeth Jackson, and the rest of the crew on this thread—as you guys probably noticed, I’ve been MIA for a while. If things settle down, I might pop back in, but until then, good luck with the research. Try to focus on the actual field instead of wasting all your energy fighting over nonsense...🎉

Later, Amy Rogers6

In my view, a moderator doesn't need six college degrees or a 280 IQ to get the job done.
And yet, there hasn't been any real moderation for nearly a year.
I find myself wondering, what's the reason for that?
Why aren't the blatant insults that stormyrider28 linked being sanctioned?
There have even been new instances of verbal abuse from that same individual, though I don't quite have the time right now to dig up the specific links given everything on my plate; I think I've made my point sufficiently.

Amy Rogers6 said:The threads about cancer treatment have been nuked in three different ways... seriously—they're totally gutted, and half our community has just walked away from them. These discussions are incredibly valuable, so it’s a massive waste when this happens. There's really only one reason why: zero moderation. Because of that, these threads turn into a total war zone where people are constantly using trash language (honestly, I’d probably say some pretty wild stuff myself if I were provoked)...

You guys locked the thread on cancer treatment—and from what I can see, even the whole holistic movement is at risk of getting shut down. Either lock the entire section so the alternative medicine crowd can just move elsewhere, or actually find a moderator....

If you don't know how to moderate alternative topics, or if you think it's "wrong" to speak out against mainstream medicine and you're terrified of running into potential snake oil salesmen—there’s an easy fix here.

First off, implement a zero-tolerance policy for insults. Given everything that's gone down over the last year, that tolerance should be even lower than it is in other parts of the Forum until things settle down. Regarding medical advice, also set a zero-tolerance rule for any mention of conventional medicine—whether it's pro or con. If specific alternative advice becomes problematic, you can tighten things up by defining the thread to focus on explaining individual alternative concepts. That way, you present the theory behind why certain methods might help various ailments without giving anyone permission to push a specific agenda on others. It stays a place where people can learn about different approaches to fighting illness and decide for themselves if something holds water or if it could actually help them....

As for the snake oil issue—you don't even need to worry about that, even if a moderator isn't well-versed in basic alternative principles; most of us are. Today, there are maybe 5 or 6 major alternative concepts that basically overlap in their essence. Any nonsense like "take this pill or this supplement and do a handstand and you'll be cured instantly" would be flagged and reported to a mod immediately. At the end of the day, that's in the best interest of those of us into alternatives, especially since most of us are fed up with the "magic cloak" bullshit that gets used to label and discriminate against alternative medicine.... just like it's in the interest of the community to avoid insults and wasting energy on pointless arguments...

There's another huge point that I'm almost certain the mods or super-mods aren't realizing: these threads (especially when they aren't filled with madness) act as a platform for alternative progress—like a little lab...

Let me explain that with an example everyone can get behind—like the use of hemp in medical treatments, which mainstream medicine is increasingly adopting...

We still don't even know all the fields or the various ways hemp can be utilized—and honestly, mainstream medicine doesn't know either. On these threads, that kind of stuff is researched, questioned, and shared through experience. I personally learned a ton from this—especially regarding small, practical, extremely useful details like how hemp can be consumed, in what amounts, what it can be combined with, whether there are contraindications with other therapies, or side effects that people struggle with. On that note, I can mention that I learned from our colleague here how (specifically regarding the method of consumption) you can reduce the negative side effects of hemp, helping people who usually get wiped out by it to actually be able to use it in their treatment, etc...

Like I said—this is our lab. There are no others. This stuff doesn't get funded, and there's a massive lack of scientific research in alternative fields. This is the only place where it actually happens—trying to make progress in the most basic way possible using fundamental scientific methods: observation, statistics, and trial-and-error based on personal positive or negative experiences, or those of people close to us. You can throw in some serious alternative literature, and that's it. Given all that, I think the importance of these threads should be obvious to you; it goes way beyond just some random rambling or alternative chatter....

Look, it’d be smarter to either bring in some mods or just kill this thread entirely. This whole status quo thing is doing nothing but hurting the alternatives and this entire Forum

P.S. Shout out to Gregory Ramirez2, Elizabeth Jackson, and the rest of the crew on this thread—as you guys probably noticed, I’ve been MIA for a while. If things settle down, I might pop back in, but until then, good luck with the research. Try to focus on the actual field instead of wasting all your energy fighting over nonsense...🎉

Later, Amy Rogers6

Warm regards to you as well, and I truly hope you'll be joining us again soon.
All the best. 🙂

Jessica Morris6 said:Give me a break. Just a few days ago, Elizabeth Jackson explicitly wrote that eating raw food cures cancer. Where were those charlatanism detectors then, the ones that are supposedly always able to spot them? 🤦
The reason why people have stopped talking about that hemp stuff is because everyone has found it acceptable. Instead, everyone has jumped on the bandwagon of promoting these fraudulent methods, like: "eat this and cure that because I read it on this site," or things like non-vaccination. How many times does it have to be repeated to you people that actual human beings—real Homo sapiens—are reading these posts? Grow up, for crying out loud. Someone is going to die because they followed some one of your tips.
Moderator, if one even shows up, the only real option is to bring in someone from the outside, someone who isn't active on this subforum. The reason is quite simple: right now, there isn't a single high-quality member here capable of handling it. For instance, a certain person comes to mind who moderates an alternative group and seems okay at first glance, but it would be tasteless of me to name names right now.
As far as the currently active members go, everyone is biased. That goes for the members active in the Alternative Medicine and On the Edge of Science subforums; as for the rest, I couldn't say.

Do you even realize how mainstream medicine treated hemp maybe 30 years ago? Exactly like how you're describing the raw food movement now... actually, even worse, since hemp always carried that "narcotic" label. You know how mainstream medicine eventually embraced hemp and started seeing it as a potentially valuable plant for treating everything from neurological issues and cancer to basic aches and pains? It's simple: over time, results showed up across the board. Those insights came either through sharing experiences, rare literature, or, in the last 20 years, via various online platforms. The alternative community deserves 100% of the credit for forcing mainstream medicine to finally take notice, start researching it, and ultimately, for Big Pharma to start manufacturing it for mass consumption... That's why I used hemp as my example.

And until recently, you could get hit with a massive fine just for messing around with hemp....

Maybe the raw food thing will surprise you in 30 years too.....

Regarding moderation—if strict rules are put in place, I think anyone can do it. It's not rocket science.... Let the Forum decide who they want, as long as they let the rules decide more.

Jessica Morris6 said:Give me a break. Just a few days ago, Elizabeth Jackson explicitly wrote that eating raw food cures cancer. Where were those charlatanism detectors then, the ones that are supposedly always able to spot them? 🤦
The reason why people have stopped talking about that hemp stuff is because everyone has found it acceptable. Instead, everyone has jumped on the bandwagon of promoting these fraudulent methods, like: "eat this and cure that because I read it on this site," or things like non-vaccination. How many times does it have to be repeated to you people that actual human beings—real Homo sapiens—are reading these posts? Grow up, for crying out loud. Someone is going to die because they followed some one of your tips.
Moderator, if one even shows up, the only real option is to bring in someone from the outside, someone who isn't active on this subforum. The reason is quite simple: right now, there isn't a single high-quality member here capable of handling it. For instance, a certain person comes to mind who moderates an alternative group and seems okay at first glance, but it would be tasteless of me to name names right now.
As far as the currently active members go, everyone is biased. That goes for the members active in the Alternative Medicine and On the Edge of Science subforums; as for the rest, I couldn't say.

Well, people die from chemotherapy too (certainly not from fruit), so the moderators on the Health PDF are also "biased" and won't allow anything related to alternative medicine there, forcing people to move to the Alternative section instead. Same thing happens in Natural Sciences. Personally, I think that's fine.

I think, purely for the sake of fairness, the Alternative PDF should receive equal treatment. If it were run the way you’re suggesting, what would anyone even be allowed to write in Alternative? Hemp oil? Since doctors prescribe that now, it isn't even "alternative" anymore—so that would be it?

Amy Rogers6 said:Do you even realize how mainstream medicine treated hemp maybe 30 years ago? Exactly like how you're describing the raw food movement now... actually, even worse, since hemp always carried that "narcotic" label. You know how mainstream medicine eventually embraced hemp and started seeing it as a potentially valuable plant for treating everything from neurological issues and cancer to basic aches and pains? It's simple: over time, results showed up across the board. Those insights came either through sharing experiences, rare literature, or, in the last 20 years, via various online platforms. The alternative community deserves 100% of the credit for forcing mainstream medicine to finally take notice, start researching it, and ultimately, for Big Pharma to start manufacturing it for mass consumption... That's why I used hemp as my example.

And until recently, you could get hit with a massive fine just for messing around with hemp....

Maybe the raw food thing will surprise you in 30 years too.....

Regarding moderation—if strict rules are put in place, I think anyone can do it. It's not rocket science.... Let the Forum decide who they want, as long as they let the rules decide more.

Even today, hemp is still far from being part of official medicine. As far as I know, you can't even buy its oil in Amsterdam, yet it supposedly helps a lot of people dealing with cancer. Even though it’s still categorized as alternative, most people who advocate for mainstream medicine are starting to accept it. That means there’s something to it. Meanwhile, raw foodism is still relegated to obscure websites called things like "New World Order," "third eye," and so on. I’m not saying it won't change in the future, but that requires actual, real-world results. And if those results truly manifest, then the mainstream media will eventually start reporting on them.
What’s being written here on this forum is incredibly dangerous. People are recommending certain diets to cure cancers when they haven't personally cured a single soul in their lives. You can tell by the way they post. Some of them don't even grasp the basics of biology. Look, I’m no biology expert myself, but I don't go around claiming I am or pretending I can cure every disease out there.

Daniel Davis40 said:Well, people die from chemotherapy too (certainly not from fruit), so the moderators on the Health PDF are also "biased" and won't allow anything related to alternative medicine there, forcing people to move to the Alternative section instead. Same thing happens in Natural Sciences. Personally, I think that's fine.

I think, purely for the sake of fairness, the Alternative PDF should receive equal treatment. If it were run the way you’re suggesting, what would anyone even be allowed to write in Alternative? Hemp oil? Since doctors prescribe that now, it isn't even "alternative" anymore—so that would be it?

People die from driving cars, too; driving is a stressor that shortens your life. I don't see any reason why someone shouldn't die from chemotherapy—it's the best tool we currently have (scientifically proven). In some branches of medicine, we are still stuck in the Middle Ages. 🤷

Daniel Davis40 said:Well, people die from chemotherapy too (certainly not from fruit), so the moderators on the Health PDF are also "biased" and won't allow anything related to alternative medicine there, forcing people to move to the Alternative section instead. Same thing happens in Natural Sciences. Personally, I think that's fine.

I think, purely for the sake of fairness, the Alternative PDF should receive equal treatment. If it were run the way you’re suggesting, what would anyone even be allowed to write in Alternative? Hemp oil? Since doctors prescribe that now, it isn't even "alternative" anymore—so that would be it?

People in the alternative health community always preach about freedom of speech, but let's be real: it isn't absolute. Just because you have the right to say whatever crosses your mind doesn't mean you have the right to put other people in harm's way. The reality is that this sub-forum has become a complete free-for-all where people post just about anything under the sun.
If we were living back in Nazi Germany, I could easily claim I had the right to target a Jewish family just because society at the time deemed it acceptable, and then act confused when anyone dared to object to my "rights."

Look, people can talk all they want—especially those haters over at Alternative—BUT you’ve gotta use some common sense here and face the facts:
A nation might manage to get by without a formal government for a little while (since old laws and rules would still be hanging around), BUT without a police force and an army? There is NO WAY it works, because then neighbors and enemies alike would just do whatever the heck they wanted.

Based on that, the Alternative crowd desperately needs some "police-style" moderators. Now, sure, everyone can hunt for moderators with psychology degrees or all that other pseudo-science training (call it whatever you want!) as much as they need—once they finally find those first "law enforcement" mods, they can always swap them out or add even more "perfect" moderators later.

Bottom line: law and order comes first.

Sure, but I don't think the moderator should be someone who genuinely believes the Earth is flat. Or someone claiming that eating raw food is some kind of miracle cure for cancer. Or even someone who spends their time harassing waiters in Washington, D.C., only to turn around and brag about it on Reddit later. ☕

The alternative is to find a moderator who is actually neutral—ideally someone who hasn't even touched that PDF and wouldn't know what to write on that sub-forum if their life depended on it.