[bpcyclist]

What is the process for or behind doing this?

[DocJohn]

Thread are removed -- and always have been removed -- due to a violation of the community guidelines. If the thread is salvageable through a small amount of editing, we'll do that instead.

But if the entire thread is violating the community guidelines -- such as talking about other members, the choices they make in our community, or administrative actions -- the thread will be removed.

After a thread has been removed, a PM is constructed to explain why the thread was removed and approved by the community support team. This generally takes anywhere from 24 to 48 hours; we try and get it written as quickly as possible given the volunteer nature of our community. That PM explaining the thread removal is sent to the OP (and the OP only).

We don't generally comment further on such threads, since the community guidelines are fairly self-explanatory (and really don't change much -- at all).

[bpcyclist]

All we do is talk about each other--on the bipolar forum, anyway. It is essentially and almost literally and entirely all that happens there. Are those violations?

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

All we do is talk about each other--on the bipolar forum, anyway. It is essentially and almost literally and entirely all that happens there. Are those violations?

good question.

especially the threads along the lines of, I've not heard from such and such for a while, are they okay?

[Fuzzybear]

Originally Posted by raging vortex

good question.

especially the threads along the lines of, I've not heard from such and such for a while, are they okay?

I'm not sure what's wrong with that?

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

All we do is talk about each other--on the bipolar forum, anyway. It is essentially and almost literally and entirely all that happens there. Are those violations?

The issue is talking about others in a degrading or otherwise inappropriate manner, not just talking nicely. Casually mentioning others in a polite manner isn’t a violation.

Like I assume stating: “ i like this article that bpcyclist posted” or “I haven’t heard from bpcyclist for a long time” is fine. Stating “bpcyclist is an.... and I can’t stand him”, isn’t ok

Or being not as direct but still obvious like “I know this cyclist with BP (Include some other very identifying details or maybe even something they know about you irl or from PMs) and he is a lazy bum” could be a violation .

Or if every time you post something, I immediately post indirect degrading comment about you right under each of your posts, randomly. It could be a violation if someone wants to pursue it

You: I like to dress up
Me: somebody said they like to dress up, only stupid people dress up
You: I like to take a nap
Me: only lazy people nap
You: I am happy
Me: only arrogant people say they are happy.
You: i bought new shoes
Me: This one cyclist (lol) bought new shoes, shallow people buy shoes

So I am not talking directly to you and I am not even naming you but everybody and their mama know I am talking about you.

So it depends.

Mostly behaviors that aren’t ok in real life aren’t ok on here.

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by raging vortex

good question.

especially the threads along the lines of, I've not heard from such and such for a while, are they okay?

.

I Think it’s fine. I usually just send person a PM if I worry about them but I think it’s ok to ask it in threads

[DocJohn]

I'll refer you all back to the community guideline:

Members should generally not speak for, or about (especially in a negative manner), other current or past members. If a member wants to say something, they are welcomed to do so themselves. If a past member who's left on their own accord wants to say something, they're welcomed to start a new account.

This is indeed meant to focus on members talking openly and negatively about other members -- even if they don't mention them by name.

Of course, if you're just complimenting another member or mentioning them in context of the thread or something they've posted publicly in the past about, you're more than welcomed to do so. (Be aware that some members are sensitive to being mentioned publicly, and you may have to accommodate their needs if they communicate that to you (privately).)

[bpcyclist]

Originally Posted by divine1966

The issue is talking about others in a degrading or otherwise inappropriate manner, not just talking nicely. Casually mentioning others in a polite manner isn’t a violation.

Like I assume stating: “ i like this article that bpcyclist posted” or “I haven’t heard from bpcyclist for a long time” is fine. Stating “bpcyclist is an.... and I can’t stand him”, isn’t ok

Or being not as direct but still obvious like “I know this cyclist with BP (Include some other very identifying details or maybe even something they know about you irl or from PMs) and he is a lazy bum” could be a violation .

Or if every time you post something, I immediately post indirect degrading comment about you right under each of your posts, randomly. It could be a violation if someone wants to pursue it

You: I like to dress up
Me: somebody said they like to dress up, only stupid people dress up
You: I like to take a nap
Me: only lazy people nap
You: I am happy
Me: only arrogant people say they are happy.
You: i bought new shoes
Me: This one cyclist (lol) bought new shoes, shallow people buy shoes

So I am not talking directly to you and I am not even naming you but everybody and their mama know I am talking about you.

So it depends.

Mostly behaviors that aren’t ok in real life aren’t ok on here.

Hmmm......

Originally Posted by bpcyclist

All we do is talk about each other--on the bipolar forum, anyway. It is essentially and almost literally and entirely all that happens there. Are those violations?

Hi @bpcyclist. I understand your question differently than some others seem to in this thread. Perhaps my interpretation is right or not. I agree with your observation about the bipolar forum. All I can say is that the recent trend is frustrating me a bit, though I understand that no one means to create such a trend that frustrates. Obviously some like it. If it continues even further, new visitors may also find it frustrating and turn away, quickly. If even more ultra casual chat threads, meme/cutesy stuff threads, journal threads (and select other non bipolar-related/Off-topic stuff) keeps being added to the bipolar forum's primary area, I will likely turn away, eventually. We all have different limits, I know.

If my remarks are totally unrelated to yours, bpcyclist, my friend, please ignore.

Originally Posted by raging vortex

good question.

especially the threads along the lines of, I've not heard from such and such for a while, are they okay?

The problem I see with threads like this is that they seem to encourage an almost cliquishness. So maybe "Ana" is seemingly more popular than "Jane". Both have been away for a week for an unknown reason. Patty posts a thread entitled "Where is Ana? I miss her!" Then everyone starts posting there missing "Ana".

Meanwhile, "Jane" sees it and thinks "No one asked about me!" Yea, high schoolish, for sure, but the gunk goes on. Instead, people could have PMd "Ana", as someone suggested, or casually mentioned it in the Daily Check-in thread #45 of 45, instead of in a whole new thread, and it wouldn't have been such a problem. Is it a bipolar forum or strictly a social network page, like Facebook? People's feelings do get hurt easily. Some people are more emotionally mature than others.

Am I wrong to feel sorry for "Jane"? "Jane" may not even return to the forum because of such a slight.

So, one must see things from more than one perspective.

[DocJohn]

A very good example of one of the potential concerns with calling out a specific member (and something that's actually happened here and pretty much in every online community). It's not so much high-schoolish behavior, as it is just plain human. We all want to be acknowledged -- in our presence, and yes, even in our absence. It's a basic human need shared by many.

If you're concerned about a specific member (who's also a friend), a PM is probably the best way to go to inquire about their health or what-not.

[HD7970GHZ]

Thank you for starting this thread Bpcyclist,

DocJohn, perhaps I am mistaken, but in the past I was told that when a decision is made by a moderator to delete a thread or a post, we cannot discuss it with other members. Is this still a rule?

If so, I realize that perhaps it might prevent arguments and or attacks against moderators and community members. It makes sense to avoid discussions for these reasons, but if a thread is truly helping others - and it is deleted due to content that is deemed negative or against forum rules, (not as a result of the content shared by the OP, but rather because of a few particular members who spark arguments / ad hominem attacks / debate), could the moderators instead choose to hide the thread temporarily, and work with the those who started the thread to delete whatever content is against the rules, rather than deleting the entire thread?

Not sure if this is already the procedure, but I would think this might eliminate some of the issues we sometimes experience surrounding eliminating threads or posts...

I hope everyone is staying safe.

Thanks,
HD7970ghhz

[DocJohn]

We generally take the path of least resistance. If a thread is short and has few replies, it can usually be fixed fairly easily and re-opened.

If a thread is long and the off-topic or against-community-guideline replies span pages of the thread, then it is far harder and more time-intensive to fix and so we usually can't fix it. The thread will remain closed or removed if that is the case.

It just depends on how problematic the thread is or has become. That's why it's always best to report a potentially problematic thread as soon as possible, because if we catch things early enough, we can often times save the thread itself.

[HD7970GHZ]

Originally Posted by DocJohn

We generally take the path of least resistance. If a thread is short and has few replies, it can usually be fixed fairly easily and re-opened.

If a thread is long and the off-topic or against-community-guideline replies span pages of the thread, then it is far harder and more time-intensive to fix and so we usually can't fix it. The thread will remain closed or removed if that is the case.

It just depends on how problematic the thread is or has become. That's why it's always best to report a potentially problematic thread as soon as possible, because if we catch things early enough, we can often times save the thread itself.

Thank you DocJohn,

This sounds reasonable to me.


HD7970ghz