Just out of curiousity...

[John]

I'm not totally sure what is going on with this issue, but before this gets out of hand I am asking everyone to please relax and give me some time to figure out what is going on.

I am closing this thread for now and will reopen this issue either in this thread or as a new thread later today after I have a chance to review the situation.

If you have any comments that you would like to direct to me regarding this, please send me a private message.

Regarding previous comments in this thread claiming that Amycat is Timber, I can assure everyone that this is not true. I know this because there is an administrative feature in the bulletin board system which enables me to list all users who share specific & partial IP addresses. Timber & Amycat do not share any IP addresses and do not connect to GreekChat from the same network.

Again, I am asking everyone to please hold your comments regarding this situation until the issue is reopened later today. Also feel free to send any comments to me via private message.

Thanks,

- John

[John]

Originally posted by LeslieAGD
What's up all the thread locking?

I feel like there's a new GL thread locked at least every week and most aren't as duplicated or disrespectful as those encountered in Chit Chat.

Just wondering if I missed something...

After reading all the related threads & comments, I do feel that this is a valid issue. I don't believe there is a one way or the other type solution to all this, but rather a slightly different balance may be needed. I'm not going to detail the specifics but will say that we will be further addressing this.

My goal for GreekChat is to continually improve this website as one of the best destinations for greeks online. The comments & suggestions we receive from GC site members really do help in making GreekChat a better place. Sometime it seems as though the mods are a bit under-appreciated, but I cannot say enough how much of a help the moderators are. From a site administration standpoint, I can say without a doubt that the moderators team is an incredible help in keeping this website running smoothly.

Although I may sound slightly critical in my reply to this thread, I believe Amycat is doing excellent with the Greek Life forum. As it appears, maybe a bit too good, but that is all part of the balance I mentioned in the first part of this post.

Besides all that, stay tuned - there are some very exciting things planned ahead for GreekChat! For now, it's top secret but not far off.

First of all, John...thank you for your input because I was wondering what your take was on this situation!

Second, I almost fell off my chair when I heard about the accusation that Timber=Amy. Though I don't know for sure who Timber is, I have a feeling I know who it is, and it's not Amy. Now that John has said that it's not Amy, I hope that all GCers will believe the same!!!

Finally, let me say this. I moderate the AGD and Fundraising forums, and luckily I don't have to do as much as Amy [or the Chit Chat forums mods] have to do. But I do believe that the mods take any actions for a purpose, whether it be locking/deleting/merging threads and posts. I support every action that a mod takes. Once in a while I won't agree with the action, but I know that the intention is a good one--and that's to make sure that GC is a pleasant place to visit.

[aopinthesky]

>>>Regardless of what some folks think, mods don't lock or delete threads on a whim.<<<

They may not do it in the future, but it has definitely been a problem in the recent past. As far as PM-ing with a Moderator directly about something, I received an uncalled for tongue-lashing (twice) for my trouble.
This subject has turned into a "Moderators against everyone else" issue, which is unfortunate. I don't think that any subject is fair game in a forum such as this, but I do see the balance. I wish that some of those who moderate could see it as well.

[LeslieAGD]

Originally posted by John
After reading all the related threads & comments, I do feel that this is a valid issue. I don't believe there is a one way or the other type solution to all this, but rather a slightly different balance may be needed. I'm not going to detail the specifics but will say that we will be further addressing this.

Thank you, John!

I just wanted to point out that the original "Just out of curiousity" thread was not meant to pit mods against non-mods...I just wondered if I was the only one concerned with the high volume of thread locking. Perhaps better explanations of why threads are closed would lessen some of the negative reactions that go along with thread locking.

And as always, lets at least try to play nice!

[UCFPhiDelt]

I don't care who Timber is... nor do I think that most of the mods do a bad job. I do think that they do a fairly good job usually BUT...

lately I think some of their power has been misused. If someone wants to openly gripe about a mod and has a serious gripe, they should be allowed to publicly air that grievance. This must be done in a correct way, but this is a public forum, and open discussion is allowed. I personally know that some threads deserve to be locked and/or deleted. When that happens, it is the mods job to do so. When should that happen? That's the million-dollar question and lately I think the mods have been far too liberal in their use of that power. Maybe if posters would show a little more common courtesy and decnecy to each other, this wouldn't have to happen. To a point it has become mods vs. others because I think the mods quickly rally to the defense of each other. I would too, wouldn't any of you? If you’re good friend was being ripped into in a thread? Look, it's not an easy job being a mod, and it's impossible to make everyone happy all the time. I do know this; I think that some of the mods have forgotten that they have POWER and RESPONSIBILITY. They may not like what is said, even about themselves, but in most cases they are going to have to deal with it. If they don't like it, maybe they aren't cut out for the job. They are responsible to us, not the other way around. No mod can demand that they receive a PM to request that a thread be left open. The going in position of every mod should be "a thread should not be locked unless it is the LAST resort." If not, you are killing open and real communication. Censoring free speech is a slippery slope and I request that all mods remember that.

Ok, I know that I will be ripped into for this post. Fair enough, it's my opinion and like the rest of you I will post what I think. One last thing, this is not aimed at amycat. This post goes out to all posters and mods.

[Kevin]

Free speech doesn't exist here. That's why there are moderators.

If anyone could start any thread about anything any time we'd find ourselves quickly in the midst of flame wars, duped threads and just general chaos. ESPECIALLY in a forum like Greek Life.

If a mod makes a decision, live with it. Does it really shatter your world that much that somoene locked your thread?

Oh the horror!

I can personally think of much better things in life to get bent out of shape about... Like taxes!

[dzrose93]

I agree with much of what UCFPhiDelt said, particularly with the part about being able to gripe about something if you want to on GC, but to make sure that you do it in the correct way.

I for one don't think that starting a thread designed solely to call a mod out is the correct way to do things, which is why I made the comment about PM'ing a mod if you ever have a concern or complaint about something he/she has done (or not done). Lots of times, a simple PM can clear up any misunderstandings before they have a chance to cause drama on the public boards. (Of course, there are always going to be some pigheaded people out there who refuse to hear anyone's opinions but their own.)

That being said, I don't know of a single moderator who would not take the time to respond to a serious complaint that someone has about a GC issue -- I think it's just a matter of making sure that you don't immediately put the mod on the defensive by being rude or condescending when you post/PM/e-mail/etc. Just think of it as a debate and don't get personal about it -- make sure that you stick to the issue at hand instead of insulting the person on the other side of the fence.

I guess the main thing that I want everyone to realize is that the mods are human, just like every other GCer, and that we should all treat each other with respect, regardless of whether you're a newbie or a golden oldie.

[cuaphi]

I also noticed that this forum had gotten awfully thread lock happy lately. However, I really wasn't too concerned about this. I figured it was just a new Moderator adjusting to her new and extremely high profile role and had assumed the situation would resolve itself eventually. I don't think Amy is trying to be mean, I think she's trying to do a kick-ass job and in this may have gotten a little overzealous. It's really not a big deal.

[Tom Earp]

Oh, I love this thread!!!

amycat and Timber what ever!! LMAO!

Timber or what ever is not a Mod! End of story!!!


As many of you know oldies(ME?), have tried to come back to post under different names. I tried it once, Da, it do not work because there are enuff sharp people on site who pick up on it very quickly and point is out!!

The reason I tried it was to see how other people were doing it just to see how it was done. See above for reasoning! Si?

I am sure from talking with many Mods on Ma Bell and PC that we are of all the same mind even though there may be spats as family members, this is the best thing that has happened to the Greek Social College Community ever.

We can discuss and cuss things like no where before in the history of Greekdom! Can we as Greeks try to work out problems.

Am I wrong?

Love this site or do not get on it! DADA DUDU! and away we go!

[cash78mere]

i don't understand why people spend hours of their time trying to figure out who other people are. i don't know about you all, but i have more important things to do with my time.

[Tom Earp]

OTW, Put a Lei around your lovely neck and go have one of those soft Island Cocktails overlooking the lovely water lappiing at the soft sand while I am wishing I was with you!

Hell, Kansas In March! Shorts all week, long pants for today and weekend!

If you cannot envision it, I am, so I am sitting along side of you enjoying it!

[damasa]

Originally posted by ZTAngel


Furthermore....jeez people! It's a freakin' message board! If you get all upset about this, I'd hate to meet you in person.

She only said that because she'd hate to be let down if she met some of you. She said she REALLY REALLY wants to meet some hot guys from GC.


NOTE: It was a joke so don't go pming her now! Besides, I think she has had a boyfriend for like a gizillion years? I dunno, I've never actually talked to her! But she told me she wanted to meet hot guys!!! LOL

[Eclipse]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
Oh, I love this thread!!!

As many of you know oldies(ME?), have tried to come back to post under different names. I tried it once, Da, it do not work because there are enuff sharp people on site who pick up on it very quickly and point is out!!

Love this site or do not get on it! DADA DUDU! and away we go!

I could not resist this...Tom, there is NO WAY anyone who has posted on this site longer than a milisecond could miss your Earpisms! You could not be mistaken for anyone else. Kinda like the toddler who closes his eyes and says "I'm hiding! You can't see me!"

Sorry, that cracked me up!!!

[Tom Earp]

AHHH eclipse if you only knew! I am an open book!

There is a lot of pissing and moaning going on at the moment, but I for one can tell any and all who listen, the best of the best and the creme del a creme. May not always be right, but are not always wrong either!

"Ah, I just had a biker Chick in so took a break, hell lost my train of thought since she is an ae-doep dealer and new her dad when we were both cops!"

Ah yes my train of thought, yep I was another person, well not very well know what I mean! I have one EGO, it is mine not some
wareped asswhole or maybe ????

Is that how you spell wrapped?

Beef Tippes for dinner, now or sooner!

I have to much fun with being with the Peoiple of GC!


Thanx to each and each of you!