Censorship in Robin Linden's Blog Replies

Speculation here: If I were a mod for that blog...

[1] Speculating as to the reason for forum closure. Also veiled accusation

[2] Not unheard of. As it was pointed out, there was a period Everquest forums were removed.

[3] Accusation

[4] A threat

You didn't need any of the above to make your point. Rephrase in positive terms. Even negatives can be phrased positively.

My take (speculation):

[1] Unnecessary attack. The rest of the post is powerful enough as it stands. You don't need to attack.

Aohdan:

Under your standards It is unlikely that any negative or critical post would ever be allowed.

My take (speculation):

[1] Unnecessary attack. The rest of the post is powerful enough as it stands. You don't need to attack.

Have you read Brace's post? No? Get back to me. Don't believe your lyin' eyes!

Aodhan:

No one is attacking you. The criticsm is of the standards that you say were imposed by the forium of the MMORPG that you moderated.

I made a positive and completely friendly post just now to Torley's thread for her tutorial on how to use a Blog. Her tutorial said nothing about havig to register to make replies. It did say it's possible to 'log in', but when I found the micro-type login link, it's not accessible to me. Apparently that is a "Linden only" function.

My two-sentance, non-inflammatory post to Torley's blog is also 'awaiting moderation'.

*sigh*

I made a positive and completely friendly post just now to Torley's thread for her tutorial on how to use a Blog. Her tutorial said nothing about havig to register to make replies. It did say it's possible to 'log in', but when I found the micro-type login link, it's not accessible to me. Apparently that is a "Linden only" function.

My two-sentance, non-inflammatory post to Torley's blog is also 'awaiting moderation'.

*sigh*

I'm only speculating at the possible causes why a post won't get approved, viewing it as a mod would. Consider the possibility that different mods are working the blog.

I don't like the situation any more than you do. Attacking me is not helping one bit and I hope you realize that. My post was approved.

[1] In fact you have already accused some of us as "attacking" while I have given you posts that were far more hostile.

[2] And if figuring out what is acceptable to say on a Linden blog is this difficult and mysterious, then any attempt at communication really is pointless.

[3] Personally, I don't think it is censorship or posting something the "wrong way" simply because there are posts that are far more critical, personal and hostile than mine or others which were not posted.

I guess there is a difference between “moderated” and “censoring dissent”.

Before a comment appears:
An administrator must approve the comment (regardless of any matches below)
Comment author must fill out name and e-mail
Comment author must have a previously approved comment

Comment Moderation
Hold a comment in the queue if it contains more than links. (A common characteristic of comment spam is a large number of hyperlinks.)

When a comment contains any of these words in its content, name, URI, e-mail, or IP, hold it in the moderation queue: (Separate multiple words with new lines.)


Comment Blacklist
This is a list of words that you want completely blacklisted from your blog. Be very careful what you add here, because if a comment matches something here it will be completely nuked and there will be no notification. Remember that partial words can match, so if there is any chance something here might match it would be better to put it in the moderation box above.

This is taken directly from my wordpress dashboard. I think they have the option "Comment author must have a previously approved comment" checked. Also if they have put any words in the comment blacklist then your post doesn't even show up for them to approve or deny. The combination of both of these things would make it appear that heavy moderation is being done when its really just weird option settings.

There must be some pattern to the posts that were not approved. Don't look only at content, look at the way they were written also.

Modding is not always about content.

Check for tone of speculative accusation. When I was modding before (other MMOG) that type is the second most common reason for mod action. The first being flaming and foul language.

A begging tone is not a good idea either.

Why are all of Ceera Murakami’s replies being kept out of Robin Linden's blog? (Mine too, for that matter.) She has tried replying to Robin's blog about the forum closures three times, and all are “awaiting moderation”, even though replies to this blog are supposedly no longer being moderated? Even though well over 30 other replies from other folks, made many hours after hers, have been posted for public access? Even though her posts are less critical and inflammatory than some of what HAS been approved???

I guess there is a difference between “moderated” and “censoring dissent”.

Did you check under the community link?

Ilianexsi Sojourner Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
August 10th, 2006 at 3:14 pm

Well. Way to go… hot on the heels of one unpopular decision - open registration - comes this, which is already shaping up to be another really unpopular decision. I guess everyone at LL got tired of having to listen to our opinions. Obvious solution: silence us altogether!

So, now if we want to give any feedback, we’ll have to use the Official Company Blog, which doesn’t allow for open discussion and debate. Someone in the forum quoted The Prisoner: ‘Questions are a burden to others; answers, a prison for oneself.’ That’s sounding more and more like it could be LL’s position on having forums.

I would hope the classifieds at least could be allowed to remain; they provide a lot of visibility for new designers, and are a valuable service and a really helpful resource for the rest of us. In world classifieds are not a replacement; they cost money, which puts them out of the reach of new residents, and they’re spotty at best in terms of benefit.

I’m sorry, but saying ‘dialogue, we love it’ is really laughable in light of this. It’s a bad move, and in the end it won’t help to heal the widespread bad feelings that have been growing lately. I’m really disappointed by this decision.