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Wednesday, June 10, 2009

A Message From Our Blog Moderator

Joe,

Reading your post regarding comments accepted or rejected, it might be helpful to let your readers know what guidelines I follow when moderating comments. If they have any questions you can direct them to me via email at this address.

I will reject comments that are not in line with the thread.
If a comment has absolutely nothing to do with the content of the post, it will be rejected.
If foul language is used, it will be rejected.
If you voice a differing opinion, that is fine, but do so in a civilized manner, without the name calling and personal attacks or it will be rejected. The opinion of everyone counts, it's how you voice your opinion that counts most.

If you make threats of any kind, towards anyone, not only will they be rejected, they will be held in a file to be turned over to the proper authorities, let them sort them out.

I have seen comments about posts where people have disputed the source or content and their comment doesn't get posted. The reason every one of these comments doesn't get posted is because, usually one comment of this nature has been posted, and I do not have the authority to remove the post in question.

That's all I can think of right now.

moderatorsbynews@gmail.com

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have to question your explaination. I have posted a different OPINION and it was never listed. I have to think that it was due to the fact that I was on the other side of the issue. I followed YOUR rules too. So there!

ModeratorSbyNews said...

If your comment was not posted, there was something in your comment that did not meet with my guidelines. How do I know you commented on anything when you comment anonymously? Anyone could make this statement.

Anonymous said...

Well I hope you follow your guidelines. I think if you do, it will be nice.
Joe set guidelines awhile back and I still see people using profanity in their posts and typing in all caps, so much for those guidelines.
I enjoy the blog here but I do get tired of the "stupid" stuff and especially the name calling. We're adults, we should all act like it and agree to disagree with respect of each other.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for clearing that up. I have never had a problem getting my comments to go through.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the clear guidelines. They are certainly easy to follow. However, the last paragraph is somewhat ambiguous. Could you please clarify or elaborate.

ModeratorSbyNews said...

Anon 2:07 I have every intention of following these guidelines to the letter.

I should have mentioned that I do not have set hours that I moderate. I moderate when Joe has appointments or needs to be away from his computer. I never know when this will be until he calls to see if I am available. Rest assured, when I am moderating, I will follow the guidelines I have stated.

Anonymous said...

So, even with a moderator, there is not one "voice" that is overseeing the comments. You are moderating comments only when Joe is not, so whether you follow your "rules" or not, comments will still be accepted by Joe, or someone else, who will have there own opinion of what is "right."

I have nothing against Joe or anyone he "Calls out" in this blog from time to time (and have never met most of them) but I suspect that when there are posts similar to "John Robinson is a Liar," or whoever will be the next focus of being "blogged," the comments accepted to those threads will not follow all the rules of decorum.

Adam Leyritz said...

1) There is no "moderator". A few of us know Joe is the moderator, that way he doesn't have to take the blame for not publishing comments.

2) I have left comments on several occasions that dispute his opinion or point out blatantly false information that is on snopes.com, and it won't get published. I even use my name and sign my posts.

This all makes me believe that you do not want differing opinions or ones that make you possibly appear incorrect.

joealbero said...

anonymous 2:55, why do you worry so much, or all of you for that matter?

I think it's very clear, when you compare Salisbury News to ANY other Blog or Website in the entire State of Maryland, we deliver more comments per day than any one of them. Now I could be wrong, but I don't think so and if I am you'll need to direct me to a Site that has more.

Mind you, none of you pay a penny to access this Site or the comments and as I'm confident our Moderator will tell you, we dump a TON of comments each day because they're completely out of line.

Have we made mistakes and deleted some comments we should have let through, absolutely. We're human but we do our very best, especially for a FREE service.

That being said, I challenge you to think again and realize the fact that IF we were to allow every comment in one day, IF everyone toned down their comments and left out the personal attacks, we'd have 600 to 800 comments a day going up.

If it grows even more, great, we'll find a way to handle that too. In the mean time, while each and every one of you write comments under anonymous and hold absolutely ZERO credibility, for all we know you can and probably are one or two people out there constantly coming back to this single Post making challenging comments.

We have other things to do than sit here answering questions day in and day out. IF you do not like what we deliver, there's always that "X" at the top right hand corner of the Blog for our Complaint Department. Believe me, we're growing every single day and for those anonymous fools that write in once in a blue moon and say they'l never be back, you're liars and that's why we refuse to publish those comments as well.

Like I said, we do our very best but we're busy people and we're not here to please any single one of you named anonymous.

joealbero said...

Adam, think what you want. However, do tell me how it's humanly possible for me to be away from the computer for several hours at a time and your comments always come through. Take Monday night Council Meetings as a perfect example. Come on now, use your head.

Anonymous said...

You forgot the ALL CAPS people! Oh, and by the way, I've made some comments that I was later glad to see were not posted! Thank you, Moderator Man! ( or Woman)

Dan said...

Whatever, Joe;
I agree with Adam. I have more than once posted evidence that you were wrong about something. I posted in a polite, courteous, manner, only stating the facts. Nine times out of ten, if they prove you wrong, they don't get posted.

I hope you do have a moderator now that will allow these posts through. I kind of doubt it though.

ModeratorSbyNews said...

Anon 3:19 the all caps doesn't bother me as much as it does others. I take into consideration that many people use caps for a variety of reasons, vision being one of them.

Anonymous said...

Well, you didn't post my comment here--no swear words, no repetition, just a criticism of the policy. Ironic, isn't it? So let's try again: I don't understand why you manke it policy not to publish repeated criticisms pointing out that a post is not true, yet you will publish repeated praise/analysis of the same untrue post. Sure, you can always say it is your blog and you will do what you want, but that particular policy does not make much sense.

Anonymous said...

This website caters to white republican folks and the website is not tolerant of other points of view. Point in case...try posting anything using spanish especially when the comments are bashing the hispanic community. Calling use wetbacks, illegals, and other hateful stereotypes.

Anonymous said...

Since Joe has proven by his actions that he will go after and flame those that oppose him, why would anyone use their name on this blog.

ModeratorSbyNews said...

Anon 3:40 Why are you saying YOU? I laid it out as clearly as I possibly could. What Joe approves and I approve are not always going to be the same. You assume Joe is the only person moderating this blog. Be careful of assumptions.

Anonymous said...

ok. I posted a short comment a week or two ago on the photo - Hands of God - with clouds looking like they were being separated by hands. All I said was something like "you can really do amazing things with photoshop". If was not posted. How can this be in line with your offensive or off-topic policy?

Anonymous said...

If it has anything to do with the fire department you post any and all comments. I have seen some of your rules broke more than once with those postings. Most people leave anonymous comments because with the way things are today who wants to give out their email address or name on an unsecured web page blog.

ModeratorSbyNews said...

Anon 3:50 why would you expect a comment in a foreign language to be approved on an english speaking/reading blog? How do we know what it says? I have no intention of learning a new language so speak english.

Anon 3:53 Apparently I wasn't moderating at that time. I see nothing wrong with that statement.

Anonymous said...

I have never gone against these guidlines, and yet my comments usually don't get posted. Once I posted something and Joe called me a piece of sh**! I kept a copy of that post for proof. He is the only person that has ever called me that. LOL
And no I don't expect this to get posted. I would like to see myself get proven wrong, however.

Anonymous said...

Becky Doss from Beaver Run will be at Pittsville, assistant Vice Principal

Anonymous said...

OMG People, People!
They cannot possibly read EVERY comment on EVERY post and see that ALL get posted.
Cut them some slack for heaven's sake!
If you want EVERY one of your comments posted, then start your own blog!

Anonymous said...

Hire more moderators

Anonymous said...

Those rules are not fair to liberals they have been promised and are used to special treatment.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, but I've read this blog long enough to know that there is lot of name calling by the owner of this site. Rules are fine, but let's call it what it really is.

Anonymous said...

Joe will not post anything negative about Davis Ruark even if true and on the front page of the Daily Times. It's not the guidelines, it must be something else. I've made several relevant and true comments about Ruark, only to have them rejected. Why?

Adam Leyritz said...

How do you make a statement saying "we get more comments than any other blog in this State", and then the very next sentence say "I could be wrong..." Which is it? If you're going to make a statement of fact, you can't go and put a disclaimer at the end of it. It is or it isn't.

Plain and simple, the war of Blogs on the Shore are considered a joke. I work in journalism, actually have a degree in journalism, and know what it takes to be MSM. This definitely isn't. Sorry if that hurts your feelings.