Coffee for you too?
Perhaps make the "playing field" more equal.
I don't mind the discussions, just the methods used to sidetrack, re-direct or defer or even derail a thread for it's original purpose - the "Hi-Jack" thing that occurs - plenty of examples showing this...but instead of the degrading, berating - deprecations towards others because of the theories and boastings they should be screened, as in allowed to post only after they have taken the time to adjust to the forums environment.
An example would be - a kinda feedback system that involves the poster "verifying" that this is what I want to post and if they mess up - they are given a extra chance to make amends - but not without moderation.
This may place more work on you for the process may be that you to use a "dashboard" and console that you have to go thru all the newbie posts and manually allow the post (like screening - not censorship - more of conduct - you have a website that has Terms Of Service with it's provider - you make violations against the "host" for the domain - you can find yourself with issues of even them willing to provide hosting services).Taking the TOS approach may offer a better level of conduct, or tier of safety for others
But in effort to provide the best level of service - you just can't let the forum try to run itself - I wish this was possible but as we have seen in the past - even the Constitution Of The United States has seen itself interpreted in many different ways - we are supposed to be able to self-govern ourselves and hold those that abuse the system - held accountable - but it's hard to enforce a rule when you can't even fault them for even missing a punctuation mark - so context as well as content needs to have boundaries set before this could even be installed.
One of the many sad things about all this are those "hit-and-runs" you see so prevalent these days - someone logs in as a new person - verified thru Email and wham off to post a series of messages as they try to generate damage or act as if they are damage control.
The above is just an example of why you are needed Captain, for the purpose of screening out those that want to harm the site due to some content they want by coercion or exercise perdition on the site to discredit others. Anonymity works well for many that want to do just that. You run a site that has Call-signs that are traceable - while they mingle with others that never even had their names ever checked for validity - as in identity theft They should prove whom they say they are for those that already have proven themselves, worked hard to validate and verify that they are whom they say they are - not to everyone - just to those the are responsible for the content of this site and the safety and security of it's members.
We are not talking certifications or college degrees, just prove that you are dealing with a real person - make it manageable for yourselves - what that person does is by their own hand afterwards is their own fault. So if they incite a riot and use this sites abilities to create it - you have to put out the fire but you also have more information about the users profile and "Methodi Operandi" (M.O.) You step in when the TOS you abide to and make others abide by for this site - has to be upheld to protect the members and keep the integrity of the forum intact. Protecting your assets - I guess...
I'll leave the rest for now, but when I used to "modem" while I ran a local BBS back when, I was held to a standard that if you violated it (your contract - TOS) or the trust of others on the network - you can find yourself in a very big mess and no one around that wants to talk to you or deal with your BBS - BS...
:+> Andy <+:
