mn hq, contentious I know, but is there a way of blocking posters from posting on specific threads?

[wannaBe]

I realize this is an open forum, people are entitled to their opinions etc etc.

But really, when someone is being so offensive on a particular thread that they are having multiple posts deleted, wouldn't it be better that they be blocked from posting on that particular thread? (assuming this is possible).

Obviously this could be judged on a thread by thread basis, but sometimes when an op of a thread is seeking real support and understanding, the thread gets derailed by vile comments from one or two individuals, and those who challenge the comments of those individuals, to the extent the op is often scared away.

It would be a middle ground between banning a poster and letting them go unchallenged, surely? They would then be free to go and start a bunfight post a challenging op elsewhere and could then be challenged on it on their own thread instead of derailing someone else's.

thoughts?

I don't agree with hide poster option, but even if it existed, you'd still get posters who didn't hide people and would challenge them thus still leading to sensitive threads being full of argumentative posts. And it is hard not to rise to such ignorant posts as the ones on that thread.

If a certain poster could have been removed on Wednesday it would have spared tens of really vile and horrible posts which were essentially blaming the op for what had happened to her.

Hello. Thanks for this.

As many of you may know, 'hide poster' has been suggested a few times before.

And we've always decided, in the end, that, as gratifying as it might be for some people in some cases, it would make discussions more difficult to follow.

If any poster is getting on your wick concerning you enough to want to hide all their posts from view, we'd rather you let us know about them by reporting them to MNHQ, please. Odds on, they'll be somebody we should be taking a look at - and possibly mailing/banning.

I know it's a tricky one Helen and thanks for replying. The thing is you can't ban someone for just hating another poster, and posting to the effect that they disagree with them all the time on any given subject. It's really subtle and insidious and it isn't breaking any rules.

It's like someone coming along and pushing past you on the pavement or standing on your toe.

It makes you want to say 'please just fuck off and leave me alone' but of course they'd just say 'who, me?' and then you'd get done for attacking them.

All totally hypothetical of course but has happened in the past.

I wholeheartedly agree with this suggestion. The Hide Poster function wouldn't solve this problem, because if the OP didn't do it and lurkers didn't do it (for what ever reason), this horrible, harmful drivel would still be on display. Some really painful, sensitive threads about sexual violence have been horribly derailed this week by people with the most noxious views. It's happened on every one of these threads (and unsurprisingly this week there have been more than usual) and it must have been impossible at times for a distressed OP to wade through all the crap and people's rebuttals of it, to find advice that was targeted at her and the desperate situation she was in.

I think a '2 deletions and you're barred from the thread' rule would work for every thread. I often come across threads late in the day and can't make any sense of them because of the mass deletions of one or two poster's repeated and obviously unwelcome contributions.

The response I got when I reported this week was that they would delete posts with rape myths (and they did, eventually) but that: "we have left a few of posts of X to stand, as we're not in the business of blanket censorship and we think it's fine for people to ask questions about rape and the definitions of rape, even if, in doing so, they post some myths"

Well I don't think some poor raped woman's thread is fair game for some idiot to ask questions and be educated, especially if in doing so they post rape myths. It would have been much better if after 2 deletions they had been barred.

that's a good idea I think Charbon. Well thought through.

Having finally go round to reading the fred in question, I am very much in agreement that posters like the heavily deleted one should be dealt with differently and - much more quickly.

A thread where someone is asking for help and support is not one where we should be having an intellectual debate about the issue the OP is struggling with.

If said poster wanted to debate what did and didn't construe rape within marriage, she could have started her own post. But no. She continued to, and was allowed to, debate her own personal views in a hugely offensive way, and in such a way that could in no way have been any help to the obviously distressed OP.

I appreciate that this is a difficult issue for MNHQ in what is intentionally a lightly moderated site, and on a fast-moving board, but it was not only a horrible spectacle to watch, it was also particularly concerning as it was happening at the same time as MN was launching its 'We Believe You' campaign.

Would it not be possible to identify particularly key boards - Relationships has got to be one of the top ones - and moderate (or at least monitor) them more closely? Posters like the one in question should be prevented from posting constantly on 'high alert' threads.

Oh gawd it sounds a horrible thread.

Do HQ have enough staff to moderate like this though? My gut is that the team are stretched to craziness as it is.

Not a helpful post, sorry.

I suspect you're right, Pinot. Especially at weekends.

If people want to be educated - let them start a thread.

If people are pulled up on what they post - then they should be supported.

If MNHQ want MN to be the website they say it is then they need to provide the necessary staff on any day of the week. It is a bit like the NHS not having the same amount of doctors on a weekend. It is stupid. People still need support and post shit on a weekend as people get ill at the weekend.

MNHQ need to prioritise their posts reported section. What has gone on this week has been disgraceful.

I mean the people doing the pulling up should be supported.

It wasn't just one thread. I've been on 3 threads started this week by OPs whose partners have been violating them while they are asleep and it's happened on all of them.

On one, the OP of a long-running similar thread that was also hijacked by rape apologists came on to confirm that she was being raped. If her thread hadn't been derailed by complete idiots telling her to suck it up because her husband was a man and she ought to keep the family together, maybe she would have acknowledged it then. That poster is in bits now.

It happens every time and it could and should be stopped.

What about appointing moderators to the relationship board? I used to mod a board in Thailand and didn't get power crazed. There were three men who drove me to distraction with their ridiculous postings, but I didn't get all heavy handed.
I imagine HQ want a life, especially at weekends. The moderators could have a hot line (? possible) to alert HQ to offensive and inappropriate posts.
The mods would have to be elected annonymously of course.