Topic locking behaviour on this site.

[Kev]

I'm new here.

I was just reading a very interesting thread in one of the off topic areas. I was very disappointed to reach an artificial end to the exchange (locked). The views being expressed were strong ones but there was no rudeness or hostility to my thinking.

Is this the common practice here?

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Kev, it's pretty rare that a topic is locked. Can you provide a link to the thread you're referring to?

 

[mouppe]

It was probably about the Carvex.

[poke]

 

[ajones]

I'm new here.

I was just reading a very interesting thread in one of the off topic areas. I was very disappointed to reach an artificial end to the exchange (locked). The views being expressed were strong ones but there was no rudeness or hostility to my thinking.

Is this the common practice here?

Its a little like being  back in school at times [big grin]

 

[nehardwoodfloors]

I find it to be so. Unfortunately some speech is not free on this site.
I mean they will probably even edit or delete this posting even though nothing bad has been said.

That's why I mostly read on here.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

I find it to be so. Unfortunately some speech is not free on this site.
I mean they will probably even edit or delete this posting even though nothing bad has been said.

That's why I mostly read on here.

I'm very sorry if you feel that way. Posts are never edited in any way or deleted unless they do not align with our publicly published forum guidelines. I believe that we are very liberal in allowing members to speak their minds. There hundrds of threads in which members are talking about tool problems, dislikes of Festool, competitive brands, etc.

I'd really like some specific examples of how members perceive myself and/or the forum moderators in being too heavy handed in the moderation of the forum. I can literally think of only a few threads that I have locked in the past 2 years since we took ownership of the forum. If we are not doing a good job in balancing our involvement in the forum with the freedom of members to speak their minds, then maybe some adjustments are in order.

Please feel free to openly express your concerns here or send me a private message. The feedback of forum members is important.

Quite honestly, that comment comes as a surprise to me. You've made 132 posts on this forum in the past year and none of your posts have been edited or removed.

Edit: I should mention that any administration of this forum prior to July 2009 was done by the forum's previous owner.

Shane

 

[PeterK]

If you hang around here for a while you will understand how it all works. As this site is owned by Festool, on rare occasion a thread will end or be deleted if it shows or recommends unsafe usage of a tool. Very understandable to me. On occasion a thread will wander off course too far or get too argumentative. Shane and the other moderators do a great job of handling this and most often a posting or thread that requires editing, locking or deleting will get mentioned for all to see. This site is not independent but is tied to Festool so they have to handle it as they see best for their company.

I learn so much by being a member here that any rare disagreement I have with how the site is handled just does not bother me. Hope you stay and share your knowledge like so many others here.
Pete

 

[vwdave]

I belong to a few forums and I find I can talk and express myself more on the FOG then any other forum.  There is only a few occasions were people were bashed but the moderators are quick to step in and help smooth out the situation.  The FOG is very open and I've never been told don't talk or post about other tool companies.  I'm very happy here and glad to be part of the festool community.

Dave

 

[peter halle]

Hi Kev!  Welcome to the FOG!

I, as a member, and also as a moderator would love to know which thread you found and were asking about.  As Shane said we often times go out of our way to not moderate but we aren't perfect and there are times we have to moderate.  But I can tell you that our biggest job and joy of being involved in the moderating is being able to help members.

Please do not feel shy.

Peter

 

[TomLewis]

I've only been a member for a month, but...

I personally find the moderation here to be very liberal. One other forum that I check every day doesn't allow the names of competitors to be used, nor do they allow any negative comments towards the company. This forum seems open, honest and a pleasure to read.

 

[justinmcf]

I think this Forum is very fair.

If there was a lot of enforcement going on, I am sure a lot of people would not use this Forum. Myself included.

I enjoy reading negative comments as much as reading the positive.

Most of the negative comments are targeted directly at Festool.
I have made many negative comments targeted directly at Festool, in the hope that the comments will be used by Festool's Research and Development Department to ensure better tools in the future.

I can't think of a better way than an open Forum to receive honest user feedback with regards to tool development and hardware updates!

I want to read the good, the bad, and the ugly.
And hopefully, further down the line, we end up with better tools because of all the feedback.

Personally I think the moderators and administrators do an awesome job here on the FOG.

Justin.

 

[CutsTwice]

I double-dog dare you to lock this forum. That would be worth a giggle.  [smile]

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I'm puzzled.  This forum seems to me to be wide open.  The moderators are much more liberal than the rest of us.  Maybe the OP took some of the negative comments we throw at each other to be from the moderators???

I was a little skeptical when Festool took over the forum, but I have to say they have been very open to criticism.  I think in the end, their products will be better for it.

I think the moderators are doing a great job.

Would like to hear which thread the OP is talking about....

 

[nehardwoodfloors]

I was a little rough in my previous post. I am sorry Shane.
i just feel favoritism hinders this site, but I guess thats how all the sites are with their regulars and long time followers.

Thanks for running this site, we all appreciate it!

 

[semenza]

I would like to comment on favoritism and this topic in general.

I am perfectly willing to deal with any member that is not following the forum rules I don't care who it is.  I do my best to read all posts and threads and try not to let things slide.  Occasionally it may appear that I let  a member "get away" with something. That is not the case.  It is not easy to read every word in every post , all the time. So what appears to be letting something go is most likely a case of not having  had the chance to read the post or simply having missed it.  Sometimes a judgment call is needed but I would make the same judgement regardless of who the member is.

As a general comment  on locked and deleted posts / threads.  Shane, Peter and I  work to keep the FOG a pleasant place. And to keep flame wars from  burning the place to the ground.  If you have ever been on forums where flame wars are common then you will see the difference in the atmosphere here. And also note the lack of disruption  as well as the free flow of information.  The FOG has an OT area and plenty of general conversation which is great to have available. However it must be realised that the primary purpose of the FOG is to discuss tools and related topics, not  a general clubhouse.

Seth

 

[jmbfestool]

I would like to comment on favoritism and this topic in general.

I am perfectly willing to deal with any member that is not following the forum rules I don't care who it is.  I do my best to read all posts and threads and try not to let things slide.  Occasionally it may appear that I let  a member "get away" with something. That is not the case.  It is not easy to read every word in every post , all the time. So what appears to be letting something go is most likely a case of not having  had the chance to read the post or simply having missed it.  Sometimes a judgment call is needed but I would make the same judgement regardless of who the member is.

As a general comment  on locked and deleted posts / threads.  Shane, Peter and I  work to keep the FOG a pleasant place. And to keep flame wars from  burning the place to the ground.  If you have ever been on forums where flame wars are common then you will see the difference in the atmosphere here. And also note the lack of disruption  as well as the free flow of information.  The FOG has an OT area and plenty of general conversation which is great to have available. However it must be realised that the primary purpose of the FOG is to discuss tools and related topics, not  a general clubhouse.

Seth

ref:  To the Off-topic  topic which was created by Woodguy as an off-topic area to talk about anything but ended up being deleted entirely  lol

Good times!
[tongue]
JMB

 

[Ken Nagrod]

JMB,

They deleted that one as a favor to you so you could start a forum about everything and absolutely nothing.

When's it coming?  [popcorn]

 

[Kevin D.]

Can't complain one bit about how this forum is run. [smile]

My only complaint is the forum software itself.  Still haven't really gotten the hang of it, especially when dealing with pictures. PITA sometimes. [sad]

 

[peter halle]

Can't complain one bit about how this forum is run. [smile]

My only complaint is the forum software itself.  Still haven't really gotten the hang of it, especially when dealing with pictures. PITA sometimes. [sad]

Kevin,

Here is one of the things that makes this place different.  I did some videos on how to deal with attaching or including images.  But if you need additional advice - just send me a PM.  I guarantee that there are oodles of members out who have the same issue and I / we are here to help.

Peter

 

[Kev]

The topic was ...

Why????? Cost of internet in US vs. other countries

... Posted in the OFF-TOPIC area under Computers, Gadgets, Technology.

It's an area that I would have loved to share an opinion and some of my experience - as one of the first "non tool" things I read here, it made me concerned that sharing opinions in the open way they were expressed in the thread invites locking.

In my experience (and to be honest, I have a lot) a moderator's role is not to lock a thread in the belief that it could go bad. Over the years I've seen threads turn relatively hostile, but then bring themselves back.

Guiding conversations with some positive suggestions is usually a much better experience. Locking and bannings should be an absolute last resort.

My thoughts ...

Kev.