Questions about "Closed" topics

jplante4 wrote:
It's not subjective at all. I put the forum rule violated in the last post in the thread. Normally on a double post, I would close the most recent thread, but in this case they were posted simultaneously.

What you all don't see behind the curtain are the emails mods get from the "notify moderator" button. A member complains, I look to see what I can do and I do it.

There are some subjects that historically end up in the same bad place - like guns - and I'll do a "premptive strike" as Biscuit said. This saves me a lot of time.

To imply that moderators have an agenda in what posts get deleted and which threads get moderated more heavily than others is wrong and makes a thankless job even more so.

I am assisting with a new forum website for a campground. We put in a big EULA-type deal that you have to scroll to the bottom to accept. The language contained within states if you accept this agreement, then you agree that the moderators/admins of this site reserve the right to delete your post for any reason. We've had way too many over the top posts/threats/implications of violence/threats of property destruction lately due to one owner thinking she runs the entire place.

If you want an example of how undermoderation results in wackjobs, that would be it.

Moderating a forum is a thankless job, to be sure. But some people know that the net result is a place that runs smoothly when done properly. Sometimes there are not enough moderators, or mods will disagree with other mods decisions, etc. It is a moving target keeping the majority of forum posters happy and it is rare to get volunteers to do it.

Thanks to the mods, we are still posting in this thread :)

edited to explain - this is not directed to jplante4, some of it is informational for the rest of the people in the thread.