...using that post, without making it clear to other users that the post was originally written in another thread, in another context?

I feel this is grossly unfair for a number of reasons:
- The original post may have been made in response to a post, and the context is lost when it is reposted.
- If other users don't know the post was originally made in another context, the thread may appear more antagonistic/out of proportion/dualistic than it was originally intended to.
- Many users are uncomfortable about starting their own threads and don't usually do so. It could be argued that by placing users unwittingly in this position, the mods are acting in a way which could be received as punitive or shaming.
- Some users feel 'safe' staying within a particular area of the site, where they experience friendship and support from other users. Moving their post to another area of the site may be hurtful for this reason.
- By putting someone's comment up for debate in this very public way, the OP could feel "shouted down" in a platform they are not comfortable engaging in.
- It is simply misleading for everyone, if such a practice must exist on this site, surely users should be made aware of when it is happening.

Personally I feel the mods have a certain duty of care to users of this site (particularly the owner) and I feel that acting in a way which a user may experience as shaming is grossly unfair and potentially unethical. Why not speak to the user in question and give them the option of starting a thread if they wish to do so?
Also would it be so hard to inform other users that a certain thread was a originally a post from another thread, and posted in a different context? These seem to me to be very simple steps to prevent a user feeling hurt or misrepresented.

[DocJohn]

We have a number of options of what we can do with posts that are tangential or off-topic to another person's thread. We generally do not leave them alone, because they are disrespectful to the original poster by taking the thread off-topic or into a direction that, unless the OP consents, are not in keeping with the OP's subject matter.

Typically when it's been brought to our attention, we will remove the post(s) if they are against the community guidelines (e.g., start to call out an individual for personal attack).

Or we move the post(s) into their own thread, typically within the same forum. If the post(s) are not appropriate to that forum, they will be moved to the forum they are most appropriate here.

Part of our roles in the community support team is to curate the community, ensuring that people are posting the right topics to the right forums. If we didn't, we might just as well have one big single forum for everyone's topic. People don't usually mean to post off-topic to a thread, or to the wrong forum, but it's a part of our jobs to find the best homes for topics when they do. You'll see this all the time when you see "Moved" next to a title or thread, where we've moved an entire thread to a more appropriate forum.

Yes, when a topic is moved out of a thread into its own thread, we typically notify the poster(s) that's been done. Sometimes this isn't done, and I apologize for the oversight.

I'm not sure about the "fair" question -- we do a lot of things in a community for the community's overall good and smooth functioning that would readily be uncharacterized as "unfair" by the member who's been impacted by our action. I would say we try and be sensitive to individual members' needs, but have to take into account the bigger needs and health of the community too when making decisions about posts, threads, and off-topic posts.

DocJohn

All of this could have been avoided if the de facto OP simply closed the thread.

In the case where this happened and led to this particular situation, the poster brought up an administrative issue which, by my understanding, is not to be handled on threads, but rather through PM's to administrators/moderators. DocJohn moved the administrative issue to the community feedback forum because it was an administrative issue and not about the original post. Seemed like a reasonable way to handle it. He could have chosen just to delete that whole line of discussion and take it to PM, but he was allowing that line of questioning/discussion to still be heard, but on the forum designed to handle more administrative/technical issues.

Originally Posted by lolagrace

In the case where this happened and led to this particular situation, the poster brought up an administrative issue which, by my understanding, is not to be handled on threads, but rather through PM's to administrators/moderators. DocJohn moved the administrative issue to the community feedback forum because it was an administrative issue and not about the original post. Seemed like a reasonable way to handle it. He could have chosen just to delete that whole line of discussion and take it to PM, but he was allowing that line of questioning/discussion to still be heard, but on the forum designed to handle more administrative/technical issues.

Did DocJohn consult with you?

Was consent obtained to use the reply as an OP in another thread?

Originally Posted by kindness

Did DocJohn consult with you?

Was consent obtained to use the reply as an OP in another thread?

No, DocJohn explained himself pretty well as far as I could tell.

Originally Posted by lolagrace

No, DocJohn explained himself pretty well as far as I could tell.

Maybe I missed something, but I still cannot determine if the member who replied in psychotherapy gave consent to use that reply as an OP in another thread?

Originally Posted by kindness

Maybe I missed something, but I still cannot determine if the member who replied in psychotherapy gave consent to use that reply as an OP in another thread?

I don't personally believe he needed to ask for permission.

Originally Posted by lolagrace

I don't personally believe he needed to ask for permission.

I do believe this type of situation should have the consent of the member who replied in psychotherapy.

It's his website, so he can do whatever he wants. Thus I agree with you that he did not need consent.

[Tsukiko]

Upon signing up for the site, we agree to terms and conditions, therefore automatically giving consent to what is described in those terms and conditions. We know what we're getting into when we become members, so I'm not sure why anyone would be upset when the admin does what they have clearly stated they are going to do.

Originally Posted by Tsukiko

Upon signing up for the site, we agree to terms and conditions, therefore automatically giving consent to what is described in those terms and conditions. We know what we're getting into when we become members, so I'm not sure why anyone would be upset when the admin does what they have clearly stated they are going to do.

You're missing my point.

I already stated that the owner of this website can do pretty much whatever he wants. When you referenced "Terms and Conditions" did you mistakenly mean "Terms of Use"? The Terms of Use mainly focuses on members' behavior and the indemnification of the website.

I'm simply saying that I believe that the member who replied in psychotherapy should have been asked if he or she wanted that reply to be used as an OP in another thread.

[Tsukiko]

Originally Posted by kindness

You're missing my point.

I already stated that the owner of this website can do pretty much whatever he wants. When you referenced "Terms and Conditions" did you mistakenly mean "Terms of Use"? The Terms of Use mainly focuses on members' behavior and the indemnification of the website.

I'm simply saying that I believe that the member who replied in psychotherapy should have been asked if he or she wanted that reply to be used as an OP in another thread.

I wasn't replying to you. I would have quoted your post if I were.

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[DocJohn]

Just to be clear, we do not ask for "consent" from members to moderate their posts or threads, outside of the general consent you've given us when you agreed to the terms and conditions of use for our website. Those terms and conditions do allow us wide latitude in how we manage the community, and I've explained our guiding principles in how we moderate here.

This is not therapy, and you are not in a psychotherapy relationship with anyone here (I say this since the word "consent" is usually used in medical or therapist relationships). This is a mutual self-help group, that we manage and run to hopefully help benefit those who seek us out.

DocJohn

[IrisBloom]

I believe when the poster in question brought criticism of the Admin into the thread, he/she was fully responsible for what ensued. I, too, would have been upset to see my own post moved in that way, but it does not remove the responsibility of the poster to take his/her complaint through the correct channels.

Thank you for replying Doc John. I understand about the terms and conditions, yet I still feel there is a balance to be struck, and it would have been much more respectful to simply say via PM "Your post is off topic. Our options are to remove it to a new thread or to delete it. Which would you prefer?" Or to put "post originally posted in another thread" at the beginning of the new thread.
I see the comparison with a therapeutic relationship as a bit of a red herring. I don't think I in any way suggested it was comparable, however I think we have all (as people) have a duty to be respectful to one another, and personally I do not find it respectful to take a person's post out of context and make it into a thread without either gaining consent (which is not a word restricted to medical relationships in any sense) or informing other members of the community.
You are free to see it differently.

Originally Posted by Tsukiko

I wasn't replying to you. I would have quoted your post if I were.

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I realized that.

I quoted your post because I was replying to you.

[Tsukiko]

Originally Posted by kindness

I realized that.

I quoted your post because I was replying to you.

Obviously you didn't realize because otherwise you wouldn't have made a statement about how I missed your point. But this minute detail isn't what this discussion is about. Not going to further detail it.

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Originally Posted by Tsukiko

Obviously you didn't realize because otherwise you wouldn't have made a statement about how I missed your point. But this minute detail isn't what this discussion is about. Not going to further detail it.

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Yup, I realized.

[Tsukiko]

Originally Posted by Tsukiko

Obviously you didn't realize because otherwise you wouldn't have made a statement about how I missed your point. But this minute detail isn't what this discussion is about. Not going to further detail it.

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Note: I meant "derail", not "detail". My phone and the autocorrect.....

In my experience "fairness" is sadly irrelevant.

I am referring to forums, life....whatever.

YMMV.

[DocJohn]

Echos Myron brings up a good point and a good suggestion. After discussion with the community support team, we agree with the general idea that members should be given more of a choice in the matter. However, since not all members log on every day (and some only once or twice a week), we don't feel we can reasonably wait for a reply from a member regarding their off-topic post to a thread before we act. (While we'd be waiting for a reply, many off-topic replies could be made to the original off-topic post, further confusing the OP's thread, and making more work for us to try and disentangle the whole thing later on.)

So moving forward, for posts that need to be moved and that we feel are valid topics to address in another forum or thread, a member's post will be moved and the member PM'ed with a link to the new thread made with their post. We will explain why it was moved and then ask the member if they wish to leave the post as a new thread, or have it removed altogether.

We hope this will help people feel more empowered by giving members more options regarding any moved post.

DocJohn

[lizardlady]

Doc John, this kind of thing is what makes PC such a great place in my opinion. You and your staff are willing to listen to concerns from the members, then make changes as appropriate. Thank you so much!

[Tsukiko]

And this is why PC is the best. ♡

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DocJohn,
Thank you very much for listening to my concern and taking action to ensure PC remains the inclusive and respectful community I have always known it to be. I am impressed with and grateful for the way you have handled this issue.