A certain person who used to be a moderator in one forum recently claimed that I made a slanderous remark against a new forum in a recent blog I did. A claim that is certainly unfounded. The problem is that I've always supported competition as I've said before elsewhere. If people think they can build a better mouse trap (i.e.better product, services, etc), go for it. This is exactly how it happened between Deafread and Deaf Village. Both are blog aggregator websites where Deaf Village was borne out of its own need (and frustration) on a matter of principle and ideology in 2008 to build it's own blog aggregator site instead of relying on Deafread's blog aggregator site. In fact, I was one original Deaf Village staff who helped get Deaf Village off the ground in 2008. And yet I am a blog contributor to both Deafread and Deaf Village blog aggregator sites.
The same story goes between DeafvideoTV, Deafcube and ASLrocks.net (now defunct) which are (or were as for ASLrocks) video blog aggregator websites but Deafcube (and ASLrocks) was, too, born out of its own need (and frustration) on a matter of principle and ideology recently to build it's own video blog aggregator site. So, nothing is new under the sun when Naturally Deaf came about a few weeks ago borne out of its own need (and frustration) and as a matter of principle and ideology against All Deaf to build it's own forum.
People are free to make their choices when it comes to competition over the internet and that's what makes America great. There are now more choices to chose from for deaf and hard of hearing people, late deafened, culturally deaf, cochlear implant wearers, CODA, hearing parents of deaf/hh children and people who are simply curious or interested about deafness issues. I've already told a few people about the new forum site to check it out yet the snarkiness and sniggering on congratulating me for helping generate traffic to their new forum continues as I speak which certainly tells the story.
As I have said before to the new moderator, good luck on the new endeavor and duty as a moderator. I mean it.
Now, back to my blog.
It's understandable that some people would miss my warning that I'd play the devil's advocate (I made it abundantly clear in the beginning) in one of my recent blog. Long story short, I explained that some people might think of the phrase "naturally deaf" as applied to people would find it odd. Much the same questioning could be said for "naturally blind" and so on. But if people actually think I did make a slanderous statement against the new forum in my recent blog then show exactly where I made that slander. Otherwise it'd be smart to retract that accusation when it was never true in the first place which, ironically so, is the very definition of a slander. Go figure. Yet, I have my own opinions and beliefs regarding forums, blog and vlog aggregator sites. I have the right to express them as I see fit. Even when I believe some favoritism and bias have played a role on influencing moderators. There is no such thing as a bias-free moderator, naturally so. And in retrospect, I'd be wary of joining a deaf discussion forum with that kind of rampant bias and favoritism.
Sunday, March 04, 2012
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11 comments:
Exactly. Just like how you moderate your own site to set up your own frame.
Thanks for the link.
I moderate, yes, but so what? I moderate according to the rules I've established. What I don't do is moderate on the basis of favoritism. Or look the other way.
Thanks for promoting our new forum. We're forever indebted to you. :bow:
Been there done that Mike ! Moderation can be abuse yes, it can and is used tactically to bully and misinform. Deaf.read has them. I moderate too, but only for personal abuse and off topic posts,I am considering brying anonymous posters for good, I can't see why they want to be anonymous unless they want to attack people.
Good points, mike. But new comers need to be made aware of mods on potential abuse of their position. I've seen it before. Candy is not being completely honest.
I have gave up on forums along time ago. I will never join or start my own. Due to my own bad experiences with them. Not naming forums here. But any forum I would not waste my time joining. Its put me off big time.
I'll name them if you want Liz, we all know who they are !
Mike, I took a look at the new forums but didn't see anything that would appeal to me. I still prefer DeafRead as my go-to aggregator. Deaf Village isn't bad either. The moderators set the tone, and Tayler Mayer has been steadfast in his stand against cyberbullying. kudos to him.
I think every deaf blog has to be moderated these days because they can be used to attack people, which is not cool.
MM, I hope you don't ban anonymous commenters, especially when they don't attack people, such as myself. I comment anonymously for a reason. The deaf blogosphere isn't a safe place for someone whose views don't represent the majority. Even if people don't know who I am, I hope they will still consider what I have to say.
I'm constantly amazed how upset folks get when an anonymous commenter says something that makes them mad. It's sooooo important that they know who that person is. Why? Why not just focus on what was said, and counter the argument instead of making it personal?
Always Anonymous
You said it right...
" I moderate according to the rules I've established. What I don't do is moderate on the basis of favoritism. Or look the other way."
That's where it all went crazy out there..
Always anonymous,
That has been my argument since day one. In one forum that made me suspicious of some moderators was the outright favoritism and bias that influenced some of their decisions that over time became apparent rather than adhere strictly to their own rules. Members there could tell. It wasn't just me.
To all anonymous commenters...just in case those whose comments were not approved....please observe the rules as seen in the link above the comment box.
Don't be a moron, read and understand the rules.
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