A little more respect from MOD
It is understandable that a website and a public forum have to be governed by a set of rules and in order to ensure full adherence, a moderator may be required.
That’s the case of Qatar Living (QL), ruled by a set of rules and guarded by a watch dog. The role of this watch dog, called in QL, MOD, should be restricted to ensure compliance with the published set of rules. His actions should be partial, neutral and unbiased> He or she should not step in a forum as MOD, and express his/hers personal view and in case of blocking an on-going forum he/she should justify the reason to all participants. Failing do so, is displaying an autocratic position, ironically so often criticized in this forum.
It is obvious that this expected MOD’s ethical behavior is not always observed.
Here are some few examples:
1 - In a certain forum, a discussion was going on about the laborers conditions in Qatar and the role of the Emir in its improvement. All of the sudden MOD decides to block the forum and divert it to a new one maliciously calling in Portuguese Slavery;
2 - Qatarita, one of the most assertive Qatari participant, often gets her comments deleted and forums blocked;
3 - The forum “AM I A WIFE OR A HUSBAND??” by dec1470, was blocked with no explanation. I have send a private message to MOD, to ask the reason, no reply was ever given;
4 -The forum “values of burqa”, was stopped again with no further explanation to the participants.
The aim of this post is solely to ask MOD, to demonstrate the respect they have with the participants, by informing them of the reasons, why the forums are stopped.
Not only we will all know the reasons but also we all learn that we need to avoid their reoccurrence.
Thank you for your understanding.
[mod note: Duly noted. Thank you.]
[mod note: Regarding #2 and #4 - When potentially sensitive/private information is posted that could jeopardise the future of QL a decision has to be taken quickly. Some threads are still under review.]
Alhumdullilah now i shouldnt worry about my deportation
This is not a rant thread. Some People are trying to give suggestions to the mods using their experience and brains.Can't see why you should oppose that ? It's a healthy participation from members who are as much a part of Ql as the mods. Open your mind a bit. Forums are meant to evolve like everything else. Good moderation is required for any website.So why not QL.
Life is Beautiful...Indeed!
mod note: This and several subsequent comments removed due to their sensitive nature and irrelevance to this thread. Please stop posting information of this nature.
MISSed Ur posts.
And as for respect, you earn it - you don't ask for it.
It's much much better if each and everyone of us 'control' our posts/comments and not just babble around and repeat the same number of replies that we already know we mentioned it before. Try to segregate 'entertaining' to 'informative' posts (or if you both know what it means).
You'll help the mods a lot more with that.
Like the last part of the QL community guidelines always say:
THINK FIRST BEFORE YOU POST
(not POST FIRST BEFORE YOU THINK so read it properly)
"Everything in this book may be wrong." Illusions: The Adventures of The Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach
No, because your referring to it here would have significantly increased traffic to the page.
Either someone who visited it flagged it as requiring a clean-up, or the increased traffic to the page resulted in someone from wikipedia taking a look at it and deciding it needed cleaning-up.
CLEANUP is just housekeeping. It has nothing to do with questioning the actual content of the article.
Tallg, the fact that the request for CLEANUP comes days after my referring to it , doesnt strike you as odd?
Especially since my cerifying the facts there are removed from here too...
Life, I havent been here long enough to make an assessment, the expats qualms are obviously indicative of their collective experiences here in Qatar.
However if you're referring to the Qatari vantage point, it appears that I being one along with the man named Abdalaziz althani who is also Qatari, are the only who posted a few weeks back are the only two who are coming out and stating that there are massive internal contraversy and corruption. 1000 miles starts with 1 step
'You pluck a rose, you get a handful of thorns'
...How much indicative is QL Forum/site actions/inactions etc. of the Overall Qatar in your opinion? Do you judge a country by only one chat forum?
Life is Beautiful...Indeed!
Qatarita - that notice say it requires a CLEANUP. This means that;
- something should be merged, deleted, or expanded.
- it needs formatting, proofreading, or rephrasing in comprehensible English
- multiple overlapping problems.
- The article is very short and might need removal or merging with a broader article
It doesn't mean the content of the article is wrong, so I don't think there's any conspiracy going on here!
To prove my point!!!
Remember when I wrote about the Sheikhdom history of Qatar...Now notice how I just mentioned above "History is being rewritten, especially attacked from the human geographical angles in Qatar...Notice the mod note on the 'burqa thread' claiming its false info?"
Well I just went back to wikipidia about the 'person mentioned in the site' (his brothers are just as disgrunteled gtw)...Well ever since I wrote my commet in the burqa thread, the thread was removed and the mods may have conacted the censors whom inturn contacted wikipidia and asked them to change the article!
See for yourself:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiekh_Abdelaziz_bin_Khalifa_Al-Thani
NOtice You get this note above the article 'This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (July 2009) NOTE THE DATE! lol
AGain history is being rewritten, this is even part of the reason lands are usurped, by flattening some of the lands of important people who played vital roles in Qatars history. Think about it what better way to stary rewriting historical facts than the removal of the visual proof and location, and the augnemting of a new history.
Plus it serves for breaking the spirits of people and works miracles when you give them just enough money for them to buy a new car or a small portion of revenue,as it makes them sedate enough to let the remaking of history pass.
Only one person whom would have a burning desire (not to mention vendetta ) to do this :)
Dear Lusitano...My post below ought to have been written in your thread here :-
.........................................................
It is obvious that QL is monitored, after all you are all guests here in our very own bonified 'Qatari dream' (the less than glamorous cousin of the 'American dream) and it is important that you like the rest of the country remain uninformed and.....for want of a better word 'sedate'
After all we wouldnt want to stifle the influx of expats to Qatar now would we? ;)
The thing is this, anyone who wants to get along in Qatar has to curry favor with the PTB (powers that be)even the Mods, they arent bad people, just weary and probably know how things go in Qatar.
Basic rule of thumb :- is to never question, never critisize , never think, never remember , never talk unless its all praise- et al...You get the picture.
Why else do you think that Aljazeera constantly gnaws at every other country and NEVER discusses controversial FACTS about Qatar?
History is being rewritten, especially attacked from the human geographical angles in Qatar...Notice the mod note on the 'burqa thread' claiming its false info?
Anyway, I'm not too good with double standards and hypocrisy, at all!
I only dallied here as a test run for the real deal, because word has it, that there will be a new forum for you to write, discuss, debate and read in.
Enriched with facts that are backed with sources, both legally doccumented and historical. There may even be a few video interviews with important people.
Since this site will be about Qatar, it wont be geared to just Qatars inhabitants, meaning the Qtel censors cant control free speech in the real world
Folks, its inevitable that people will one day think and talk, Obvioulsy the silencing couldnt have lasted forever?!
After all Qatar should really practice what it preaches; democrisy, civilisation, transparency...then and ONLY Then can corruption be halted for the betterment of all.
Unless off course Qatar has plenty to hide?!
'When you cut down a rose you get a handfull of thorns'
"To know the cause will prevent the participants from committing the same mistake again!"
You must be joking! I've seen so many repeat offenders who usually end up disappearing (I assume they are banned/blocked.)
in fairness to the MOD, on posting here in QL, should be more informative rather than argumentative. If you speak of certain facts, you should have at least some ref: or source of info so as no to confuse the readers. because we are using username' here, we cannot speak with authority unless proving our identity regarding the issue/subject posted.
I believed this site had been tracked and constantly monitored. Yes, maybe the Big brother is watching.
Haven't you noticed that before you read some news in today's paper, somebody posted them ahead in QL?
In my experience in QL, both in main forum and in our group, there was no problem dealing with the MOD, as long as your post bounded within the QL rules. I even requested the MOD to delete or ban the trolls (posting ads) that are messing with my thread. If we can justify the request, I think he's quickly to respond to that.
I prefer this site to be more useful in informing people not bashing them.
a one-line reason for deleting/junking thread.
No further argument guys though your elaborations had been very helpful.. informative. stay on tract.
Glitterfy.com - Glitter Graphics
No jonboy.. Like I said above, it's is tough task for the moderator to determine what is acceptable in a sensitive society that we live in.
There are authorities whom are watching this site. I for one have to admit this is one of the site that one can express their views freely with control.
The moderators have to view if the topic or the post is appropriate if not then they have to step in.
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HE WHO DARES WINS
UK,
what's your definiton of out of control? saying something that the mod doesn't agree with per chance?
AbuAmerican lusitanos request is clear "The aim of this post is solely to ask MOD, to demonstrate the respect they have with the participants, by informing them of the reasons, why the forums are stopped." I agree with him on the issue.
Did you even consider that maybe what Qatarita was saying was not true? Just because she says she is Qatari and then posts "inside" information doesnt mean any of it is true.
If what she is posting is not true QL could get in trouble for slander and could get blocked. Anyone can come on QL and claim to be anyone and say what they want. It is up to the MODs to determine was is harmful for the site. Maybe you should consider the point that she(or really could have been a he) was making things up.
tra la la
Well then they have to do what they have to do :)
QLady,
I accept and respect.
Just a little explanation for blockage of ongoing forums. That’s the only little thing I was asking and MOD was kind enough to provide us.
(see above in original post)
;)
They remove what the Qatari officials find or may find unacceptable. If they don't then Q-Tel will block the website altogether..
Life is Beautiful...Indeed!
"Nothing in Qatar is done "professionally". How long does it take you to understand that?"
LOL...
yet in the name of professionalism and courtesy, isn't it but right to inform a one-line reason IN doING so no matter how stereotype it is, paid or unpaid MODs?
Isn't it in the guidelines too MODs duties & responsibilities...
Wondering... this time not wondering around.
smiles n giggles..
Glitterfy.com - Glitter Graphics
www.qatarliving.com/user/moderator
LIB,
MOD always appear as MOD, but in this particular case, the person on duty at that time, PM'ed me, disclosing his identity.
Don't worry about that, it was just a discussion between me and Genesis.
The issue is now closed.
Which post are you talking about? Who is the mod? Shouldn't all mods have only one username?Otherwise anyone can claim to be a Mod..!! How do we know???
Life is Beautiful...Indeed!
You can't teach experience...
everyone happy now :-D
BACK THEN "when and if" my forum topics comes very near to "censorship".
I think it's the posters' responsibility to check or regulate or monitor his own comments. That's why they (site admins/mods) included the rule "think before you post".
But I don't go make comments to topics that about politics and/or religion, I just read them and move oin to other topics.
MOD,
Thank you for the feedback posted above. We all accept and respect that decision.
Any chances of letting us know what happened in case#3?
Because Qtel assigns the same IP to multiple users it is not possible to block people in Qatar by their IP address.
It becomes very difficult if the guy is on a public network and also if it would be too extreme a punishment for voilating simple guidelines. IPs are usually blocked for very serious issues.
Life is Beautiful...Indeed!
MAKE A FIESTA NOW FOR MY REVEALING....
I REST MINE...
Genesis,
I really didn't want to make this thread about incident 1, but you are forcing me to come back to it because you are accusing me of hijacking a particular post.
I don't think it was hijacking, maybe it was touching sensitive issues but still within the initial post's subject, being the Emir, while I was questioning his role on the improvement of laborers’ conditions.
Then I gave the example of how in Portugal the laborer's are protected with labor law equal to all citizens and these laborers could bring along their families and after a few years they could even apply for Portuguese nationality.
That’s when the MOD, stopped the thread and created a new forum maliciously entitled "Portuguese Slavery".
So we disagree about the hijacking here.
Let's say you were right and I was really hijacking that tread. Did the MOD (The one on duty that day, not being the one on duty today) react in accordance with QL rules and regulations, or was he being biased and malicious?
Now, you don't need to answer to this question. I am not complaining about this in particular. It was a clear exceptional incident and I knew it was not more than a personal attack from someone who had the power to do it the way they did it.
Let's forgive and forget.
The intention of this post was to suggest the MOD function to provide polite feedback when they are forced to stop an on-going forum.
Sorry to repeat this over and over again, but you keep diverting my intentions.
PS. Just one more thing, before I leave this forum: As you know very well, I do not repeat in all the forums the Portuguese slavery issue.
WHY NOT TO WATCH OTHERS IN HERE,ITS CALLED BIASED INDEED,IF HE CANNOT SEE OTHER SARCASTIC MEMBERS HERE,IM BEING A RUDE AND ANNOYING FOR SOMETIME,BUT I KNOW WHAT IS TO BE DONE AND NOT.
yes we can block. But what if he/she is on a public network ? for eg: corniche wifi ?
--
tEaCh Me RuLeS, i'Ll TeAcH hOw To BrEaK iT ..
rMs..!!
IP OR ANY ELSE1AND SO WHAT?ITS A CYBER WORLD.DONT BE SUCH A GENIUS ANDREW...
INTENTIONALY NOT TO PRESS CAPS LOCK.AM NOT SHOUTING EITHER...
you mean you're the most hated QL'er and most watched by mod.
Wow, long way to go for FU
Cheers!
I am wondering !!!!! is it not possible to block the ip address of a Troll ?
I think all the comments about the King, his wife or the royal family are very sensitive topics . Any commands made will be moderated, since the mod already stated it would jeopardize the future of QL..... and that is understandable.
We are guests here and should only speak good or keep quite . fair enough!
All I can say " They watching us" or like the song goes:
I got this feeling somebody is watching me .....
IT ALL THIS TIME IT WAS YOU AKA WHAT EVER OR WHO EVER YOU ARE.
SO NO NEED TO SHOUT .
Infact most of the 'evolved' sites use ingeneous methods to counter this issue and the mods succeed in appearing very courteous and professional in imposing the site policies.
I have a suggestion for the mods - Why don't you use simple sign boards ( which I can help with designing) with themes like - "Deleted for foul language","Removed for copyright fringe","Removed for explicit content" etc. for indicating or justifying your actions to the members. That will help in improving standardization of this forum.
I personally believe that engaging in PMs with the effected users for explaining why a thread/post was deleted/removed is not a good idea as it is not sustainable and there might be misses.
Life is Beautiful...Indeed!
what i can say here, the moderator sometimes has a personal biases interpretation on every posts here....
dont judge the moderator because he is not a book....lol
you are more addicted than me
you knew about all those topics which i never saw or read.
is that obsession or height of ignorance?
Why does it bother people if Muslim women want to cover their hair or go bald
MOD pls explain how does this obsession help QATAR?
Brussels Welcomes Hijabs in Parliament
www.qatarliving.com/node/569730
Is wearing Hijab oppression of Muslim woman?
www.qatarliving.com/node/453129
HIJAB - A burden to Muslim womens ?
www.qatarliving.com/node/382006
france to pass the law banning Burqa/Abaya
www.qatarliving.com/node/568895
Why is Hijab important in Islam???www.qatarliving.com/node/174757
SARKOZY CALLS FOR SEXIER BURKAS
www.qatarliving.com/node/572561
bank denies service for Muslim woman in Hijab
www.qatarliving.com/node/360165
The story of two girls
www.qatarliving.com/node/578146
Misuse of Culture& finding loopholes in Islam
www.qatarliving.com/node/606604
Why Muslim women wear the veil
www.qatarliving.com/node/77877
Parents make muslim lady prove shes a woman www.qatarliving.com/node/551722
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www.qatarliving.com/node/108977
france to pass the law banning Burqa/Abaya
www.qatarliving.com/node/568895
Muslim dentist 'refused to treat females
www.qatarliving.com/node/498094
The christian viel | Qatar Living
www.qatarliving.com/node/78249
Many concerns on the MOD actions were raised even before. They had stepped in and responded earlier in one of the thread. The comment was '' its not our fulltime job''.
Cannot complain I guess. They seems to have limitations.
when it comes to removal of threads. They do scracth few words why it is been done. Heard there were comments removed, which is a mystery!!!
______________________________________________
- Listen to Many...Speak to a Few -
No.1 Wasn't originally about laborers conditions in Qatar! because of your post, the discussion went toward that (that's hijacking!)
What brought Slavery in Portugal in debate, was my example of the situation of immigrant at Portugal. I don’t see why you are making a big drama out of it. Specially since you seem to repeat the whole thing in each topic.
I don’t know about 3 & 4. I’m intrigued too , why was it suspended
Off course I appreciate the diversity of inputs, or I wouldn’t be writing this post in the first place ;)
Mother Of Devils
You can't teach experience...
Genesis,
I did? We were discussing the role of the Emir in the improvement of the laborers conditions in Qatar and then all of the sudden, the MOD opened a new forum with comments to my comment entitled Slavery in Portugal or something like that. How can you justify that?
Anyway, you seem to have the impression that i hijack threads, is it because i say what i think and i am not politically correct? I really apologize for that, but you should appreciate the diversity of inputs, no?
Sorry if i offended you personally, its not my intention at all.
By the way, do you have answers for 3 and 4?
thanks
Are you that bored...
I’m sure you know the answer to your questions
Regarding No.1 you hijacked the original thread(like you repeatedly do). That's why the Mods took our debate to a new thread.
DaRude,
maybe, maybe you are right!
If so, would it be too much trouble to inform the participants that the forum was blocked due to the author's request?!
Azilana,
Yes there is more than one, that is why I refer to the "function of MOD" and not to the individual.
The sad incident that I describe on item 1 above was done by an individual who actually engaged on an exchange of private messages, with sarcasm and disdain.
The other incidents that I listed, I have no idea of who was behind them, but that's OK with me. MOD doesn't need to be identified.
maybe it was author of the topic who asked mods to block or delete their thread.
i still havent seen any of them coming up commenting to who you are referring to.
To the MOD on Duty,
Do you know why the forums listed under 3 and 4 on my post above were deleted?
Thank you in advance for your reply.
The MODS usually put/post the reasons why the post is deleted or a topic locked/deleted. I think we do have more than 2 MODs but i don't know who. It could be one of us QLers posting here.
Hey LIB it used to happen before, like i said new guy on the job, give him a chance to prove himself, I guess like any other job there is a learning curve:)
"Ali Baba and 40 thieves" are now "Ali Baba and 30 thieves" ; 10 were laid off.
I agree with you completely Lusitano. some of my posts have been removed by the mods and i've wondered aloud how that can be done when there are so many people out here who can say anything and get away with it.
But i think I know why this is happening a lot of late. The real MODS are on vaccation and the ones that are there now are new at their jobs and are getting carried away.
"Ali Baba and 40 thieves" are now "Ali Baba and 30 thieves" ; 10 were laid off.
...there has to be a reason provided. I have a suggestion for the mods - Let's have these small traffic signal like notices.One of those rectangular plates whcih mods can paste on to any deleted/removed post/topic. Itshould just say for ex. - "Removed due to bad language" or "Deleted for obscene comment" or "Deleted.Read QL Policy" etc. These sign boards can be picked by the mods and posted/pasted on the space which is being effected.
I don't think mods sending PMs individually is a good idea simply bcoz no mod in the world can afford to get into personal discussions and arguments with posters on open forums.
Life is Beautiful...Indeed!
Rizks,
great and relevant ;)
MD,
I figured that, but I thought that QL could have been an exception... I guess you are right, it is not!
Don't call them. If they come they will remove you!
LifeisBeautiful,
I accept that and respect it.
All I am doing is suggesting a simple thing that would improve the image we have from the MOD:
When blocking an on-going forum, provide a simple explanation for the blockage.
That's all I am asking, which in my opinion would show that the MOD does show consideration and respect the participants.
This won’t put they purpose in cause, it would just add value to their existence.
Mods Mods were are you ?
Come again another Day, Little Lusitano wants to play.....:)
where r u MOD? reply to his questions
Agree Lusitano in that case the Moderator should only remove the offenders comments and not the fourm topic itself.
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HE WHO DARES WINS
Nothing in Qatar is done "professionally". How long does it take you to understand that?
You might be lucky to get a PM from the Mods.. but don't expect it in the Public forum. They are the bosses of this site but they also like everyone else in Qatar have to answer to a higher authority..
Like they say.. Big Brother is watching you.. so the little sister (QL users) should be more responsible in what they post.
One mans Terrorist is another mans freedom fighter. One see's see Burqa as acceptable the others see bikini and so on..
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HE WHO DARES WINS
UK,
How much does it cost to write: "forum blocked due to inappropriate use of words" or something like that?
Picture a forum where several people are having an intelligent discussion and all of the sudden a couple of them breach the rules. When later on you want come back to reply to your comments, you just see the forum blocked but no reasons are given. You then politely ask the MOD's the reason and they never answer to you.
Do you think this is appropriate behavior?
Wouldn’t a simple explanation to all participants provide a polite excuse and it would teach the offender not to repeat the act again.
Like this, with no explanation, it just discourages some of the non offenders to abandon the forum for good
You are right but I wouldn't say the 'mods' should show more 'respect'.It's more to do with QL being a relatively new forum and the mods have limited responsibilities. Importantly,I doubt if they are paid for their QL duties ;) They will need more time in putting advanced guidelines in place and implementing them professionally. Not to say they are not doing a good job ( I have to say this...) but a lot needs to be tightened around QL. I have been a long contributing member of a literary forum and I think those guys are the best in the business of moderating. QL mods are still learning.
Life is Beautiful...Indeed!
UK,
Of course, you know that I am not challenging that!
Asking for feedback, is it too much to ask?
Yes the Mod's have every right to step in when things get out of control..:)
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HE WHO DARES WINS
Qatarita gave some information thatt we are not supposed to read and should remain hearsay. maybe thats why mod suspended it.
But even then, what we the readers will think if the comments like that left hanging?
Presume, assume that it was the truth or give way to a healthy debate just like Qatarilady did?
DaRuDe,
great and relevant ;)
Brit,
I totally agree with you. The example sated in item 1 above, was clearly an individual's malicious act, not the usual MOD's duty or function.
All I am saying here is asking the MOD to provide the reason when an on-going forum is abruptly blocked. I believe it would be more respectful for the participants as certainly not all of them were the reason for its blockage!
1 week for sexual topic like Gays and homos (being member of QL for last 2 years saw only 1 one just one topic on Lesbian rest all were about Gays, common cheerup for the lesbos too guys :p
1 week for bashing nationalities and cultures
1 week for bashing the mods
1 week for religious ethics bashing
rest the hijackers are keeping the forum busy.
With all respect for the MOD function, can anybody let us know why the forums mentioned under items 3 and 4 above were blocked?
To know the cause will prevent the participants from committing the same mistake again!
The sad fact is that we are living in the real world and within a specific region with its own norms and values.
Like you, I am a constant contributor to QL. However, it is clear to me that many many many posts , especially relating to Islam deteriorate from deiscussion to mud slinging and abuse. I think in this case the MOD is right to step in.
I love Qatarita's posts. they are logical, full of personal experiences and very pertinent. However, the MOD has to react when certain "barriers" are breached.
QL and this region is still young and the society is evolving. It is still not as open as we may like it to be, but its a lot lot better than many.
via PM so they could personally address this issue. It's not all the time they're on line so they may not be well-abreast with what's happening in the main forum on a day to day basis thus the need for the MODs.
with due respect to the MODS, of course.
Genesis,
As I said, one thing is rules and regulations that all must have to comply with. The other thing is childish behavior as the one I describe in item 1 above and also no explanation to why the forums are canceled even when I ask in a private message. I believe that the problem may not be the MOD but certain individuals behind that function!
Don't you think that the participants deserve an explanation, even more when they actually asked for it?
Every Internet Forum has its own rules & policies. Admins & Mods are entitled to define their own regulations. Either switch to another forum or continue to debate.
There is this Qatari public forum I post in ,that has removed many of my posts as other posters consider my point of view too Liberal (in the local standard). Yet I continue posting...