Why Should A Thread Be Reported?

[paraffin]

We often hear of people running off to the AB Ed to report this or that. There are also many who just do it without telling anyone.

Apart from downright filth, libellous insult or character assassination etc, can this practice ever be condoned?

You know, the individual who just wants to be sneaky or bitchy for whatever reason? And should whoever's being reported have a right to know who's doing it and why?

N.B. My opinion is that it is only justifiable in the extreme circumstances mentioned in my 2nd paragraph, and I believe that anyone doing the reporting should be made known to the alleged offender. It's too easy to stick the knife in anonymously.

And, yes, I'm also well aware that AB has rules (allegedly!).

[Barmaid]

I guess this is a dig at me. Yes I reported something for advertising a URL on numerous occasions. Shame on me. When I break the rules of the site, I expect to get reported, so I do not see why others should feel they can get away with it. That said, I probably wouldn't ordinarily bother with just advertising, I was just in a particularly tetchy mood.

Yes I report the vitriol (with a particular poster last night I didn't bother saying I was reporting him since it was obvious the posts were offensive in the extreme).

If it is only justifiable in the extreme circumstances mentioned, the site should remove the "non extreme" reasons from the "reasons for report" options.

[daffy654]

I report any advertising I see,I nearly always tell the poster that I have done so.I will report abusive posts too if I can be bothered but rarely mantion it for fear that I will then be singled out for abuse too.

[paraffin]

Barmaid:
No, this is most definitely not a "dig" at you, although you are forgiven for thinking so. I can understand why.

It's just that last night rather got me thinking about, apart from the blindingly obvious reasons I've highlighted in my initial post,
why anyone would feel compelled enough under different circumstances to report a thread.

There was another thread running on CB last night about how sensitive certain posters seem to be, and this is another reason why I wanted to find out peoples thoughts and opinions on the subject.

Personally I've never even felt the need to report anyone, my philosophy being that no one forces you to come onto AB and take part. So if you do and you don't like what's being said, it's a bit like switching on the telly to find something on there you don't like, switch over to another channel.

I guess sensitivities and different ideals have something to do with it, but I can't quite shake off the image of the school nark scuttling off to tell "Miss" what the naughty kids are doing. Know what I mean?

[albaqwerty]

I've reported 3 advertising threads, the garden lighting stones if you remember seeing that post, other than that I guess it's a free for all :D

[ReallyLegend]

the stuff by koolklown

all needed reported

[pastafreak]

I think that if something is offensive enough to be deemed as such by most people...then it should be removed. What we saw this weekend certainly fitted this description as far as I am concerned,

As for there being no editorial presence this weekend, that is not true as threads WERE removed....just not straightaway. I would imagine that it takes a while for 10 individual reports to accumulate for any one thread....then it sits in the 'pile' waiting judgement.

[pastafreak]

Ooops...hit 'submit before I meant to....

In addition,I would think that making public WHO reports WHOM would just add to the stress already present on AB.

[dot.haukes]

Hi paraffin, I've read your question a few times but not had chance to reply but I am less busy now.

I don't need to go running off the the ed to report a thread that I find in any way offensive to me personally, i just click the report option that I deem fits it and click submit. then i very often will add a post that i have used the report button.

This is to a large extent a self moderating site, the facility is there for us to use or not use. I use it when i feel i need to.

It is the same with the awarding of stars, it is a facilty there to use if we want to and feel it is pertinent.

If you are saying that the report option should only be used in extreme curcumstances, then you maybe should also say that the rating option should only be used when an answer is so fantastic it warrants it.

They are both there for us to use our personal discretion over and i donlt think anyone should feel they are in the wrong because they choose to use or not use either.

[mrs.chappie]

I report the extreme abuse, but never add to the thread that I have done so, as this just encourages the abuser to post more.

I tend to ignore abuse between regular posters as they are often as bad as each other, flinging insults backwards and forwards.