Once upon a time there was a boy named Warren. A group of kids would come over to Warren’s house often to talk about fashion. Three in particular, Ricky, Susie and Nancy, would bring in an outfit and start up a conversation about the outfit. They’d talk about what colors would look best, or what changes could be made to make the outfit look better. Other kids would also chime in with their thoughts and the conversations were mostly friendly. The kids had fun.
But there was this one girl Jenny. She would come over and interrupt the conversation and start talking about other things. She called other kids names. She never really talked about the outfit that started the conversation. When Jenny started talking, it caused arguments and distracted from the conversation about fashion.
Ricky, Susie and Nancy asked Warren to keep Jenny out of the house. Warren thought that was a good idea and he did so. Most of the kids were happy and the conversations did get a lot better with Jenny out of the picture. A few of the kids were Jenny’s friends and they asked Warren to let Jenny back in, even though they everyone knew Jenny would not change her behavior.
I told this story to my elementary school daughter and asked whether Warren should let Jenny back in. Her answer was quick and unsurprising.
By the way, to make my daughter happy, Ricky and Susie got married, had babies and puppies, and they all lived happily ever after. The End.
NewFederalist is correct. Captia sucks.
Whatever changes you make, Warren please don’t go to the platform that Richard Winger now uses over at BAN. It is a tremendous disappointment and not user friendly at all.
“(1) limiting pseudonyms to one per e-mail address (not sure how this technology works though)”
Easy. Require a login. Verify it against their given email address. We used to do this, back in the online Forum days. Before that, we had the BBSes, where you used your phone number as the verification.
In fact, the other 4 items on that list require the same thing. I’m a huge fan of the personal blacklist (#3). I coded such a feature into an old internet communication mechanism that I helped maintain, back in the day…
“which I think handles the …”
I’m a member of this blog/discussion list, and I think the “assholes” issue well:
http://www.flyertalk.com/
Most commenters are anonymous, using a self-selected pseudonym, but they avoid the problems that have arisen here by:
(1) limiting pseudonyms to one per e-mail address (not sure how this technology works though)
(2) requiring each post to indicate the poster’s start date, and post count
(3) permitting posters to “ignore” all posts from particular posters, so all that would be seen is the poster’s name, and a note that this poster is on your “ignore” list
(4) published and detailed rules as to the permitted content of posts, and whether particular posts are allowed at all, and which sub-forum they belong in
(5) active moderators who explain their actions publicly, and who may be easily contacted privately. Posters are publicly warned, and silently banned.
There are also preview and quote functions which are useful.
BTW, flyertalk.com is frequently cited in the MSM, and I have the impression it makes a good deal of money from banner ads and whatnot. Even though some of the technical things they do would cost you, it may be a worthwhile investment. But I’m certainly no expert.
Just saw this:
http://dashes.com/anil/2011/07/if-your-websites-full-of-assholes-its-your-fault.html
I don’t get it O_O ?
So many of the kids think Tom Stevens should not be allowed to comment here, and his stuff should not be posted here…
YET, despite this, some believe that IPR should allow Tom to remain… for whatever reason…
In the end, everyone’s life will be just fine despite the fact that he is remaining a source of amusement on the site… Have I got this correct?
Steve
IPR is getting a puppy!
Other than that who got banned?
I think IPR is just fine, allegorically speaking!
what’s happened to IPR?
???
I’m with Jared King on this one.
That is the first video I have watched all the way through!
http://youtu.be/Va5_rn3vG3A
The thing that’s great about this story is that Jenny’s friends have their own houses they can go to, where they can talk about whatever they want, and invite whomever they want to! In fact, there are lots and lots of houses they can go to.
I’m confused. Is this the playbill for Naked Boys Singing?
Well, what was her answer?