Everyone,
Due to some recent ruffles in the fabric of the Festool Owners Group, moderation of the off-topic areas is now changing.

We all need a place to express random non-woodworking ideas.  That will remain the same.  However, certain things just cannot continue, even in an "Off-Topic" zone.  I have spent countless hours over the past month dealing with forum postings that are overly personal, intended to do damage, and generally out of character for the FOG.  If I leave the post alone, members call on me to respond.  If I craft a diplomatic response, it never seems to help once a damaging subject is out in the open.  Truly, a no-win situation!

When an inappropriate discussion appears here, most members wisely prefer not to stir things up and instead choose to report the post to me offline.  That means that most people never even see how much work goes into dealing with the mess created by negative postings.  The vast majority of the effort to deal with damaging discussions occurs offline, in the tedious process of member-by-member correspondence.

It has been extremely difficult dealing with the negative posts that have appeared here recently.  However, dealing with it has taught me something positive: about 99.98% (actual calculation) of Festool Owners Group members want peace, and support whatever actions are necessary to make that happen.  I have listened to you, and am prepared to make this forum stronger in the face of challenges.

Until today, I have essentially left negative and damaging posts alone.  That must now change.  It has become too time consuming to deal with the aftermath of purely negative posts that add nothing to our community and are designed to cause disruption and harm.  It risks alienating the vast majority of our members who don't want such things in their forum.  Why would I allow that to continue?

Following the wisdom of the vast majority of FOG members, these kinds of posts will now be deleted without comment:

• Posts designed to raise personal gripes between two or more members
• Posts that contain the text of PMs or e-mails exchanged between two or more members without the consent of all involved
• Posts meant purely to spread lies or rumors about FOG members or the FOG itself
• Posts with racial undertones or overtones
• Posts that generate more than 20 complaints from FOG members

For 99.98% of our members, these new rules will not affect their posts in the least, because they have never done anything even close to what I'm describing.  In other words, for the most part this is in response to 0.02% of members.  Even so, the changes are necessary because that minuscule minority has had a disproportionate presence in the FOG.

Thank you to all those many members who have worked hard to make this forum a truly fun, exciting, informative, and positive community.  This is your forum!

Stay in touch,
Matthew

Agreed on all points.  I would add politically abusive statements, since I've seen this as a problem on other forums.

This is a world class forum, there's no reason it should change.

Richard

It's a shame everyone can't play in the sandbox nicely.  I personally have not seen anything, but you get em sherrif!. I hope it does not take a tone of your time.  Take care.

Way to go, Matthew.  Thanks.

Keep up the good work Matthew.  Thanks for keeping the peace.

Atta boy Matthew!!

It is interesting that this thread was reopened yesterday, since the original post was made almost two months ago.  Every reply in this thread has been supportive.  Good job Matthew.

Matthew, I agree except I would change:

"Posts that generate more than 20 complaints from FOG members"

To: 3-4 complaints is enough to delete those posts...

DITTO

Matthew.

I offer a suggestion regarding negative post.  Yes they need to be dealt with quickly.  How quickly has its limitations based on time zones, availability, etc.  Deleating negative posts does not prevent that poster from doing it again in another post quickly.  I would suggest that you and this forum investigate "probationary" actions against the posters.  For instance by example.

I post a negative post.  It's deleted.

I post a negative post or start a negative thread.  It's deleted.  The first post of a  negative thread can't be deleted if I understand.

This can go on and on and on.

It's not the isolated occurrences that are being disruptive - its the patterns.  The real issue is not the posts, it's the intent of the poster.  I suggest you look at how it is fair to deal with the poster rather that the written verbage.

In court an attorney says something totally inappropriate.  Opposing counsel objects and the judge directs that the comment be stricken.  The problem is that it has been heard and the fear is that is will be acted upon when determining the verdict.  An attorney who continues these actions is likely to be sanctioned.

Same thing here would apply.

Just a suggestion.

Peter

Not to sound dumb here but whats a trolling post?

Ok thanks... an Instigater...

"pot stirrer" is another, but "troller" has more negative connotations.

A suggestion to Matthew from someone in much the same position.

I run a neighborhood news service which, in practical terms, is much like this website.  Since I started and maintain it I get to make the rules. 

When people join/subscribe I make it clear that I will only forward (or in this context post) things which I deem to be acceptable and in appropriate tasteful language about a permitted subject.  On the few occasions when I have had to invoke that authority I sent a quick note to the person saying that I didn't intend to post it as written and they were free to rewrite it.  I don't think that would be practical in this context, but I would encourage you to think about the "probation" idea suggested above.  I would take the position that in the heat of the moment most of us may say/write something inappropriate on occasion, but rarely twice (in the same group) within a couple of months.  I firmly believe in the efficacy of "three strikes and your out" in a variety of contexts and would suggest that a similar rule could be crafted here.  My guess would be that the people most likely to offend the rules are the same people who will violate them repeatedly.  Getting rid of the repeat offenders will eliminate most of the problems (except for the periodic trollers).  It works with criminals and I suspect it will work here.