Job Discussion Forums

J-Pop · Joined: 07 Oct 2003 Posts: 215 Location: USA

Several days ago, a thread was deleted regarding the posting of resumes, started (I think) by "naturegirl." Basically, she was quesioning why she couldn't view a resume she'd posted, and was being asked to pay $75.

Later, MELEE posted in that thread a similar message, saying yes it was true. The whole thread was deleted. No explanation. No nothing.

Also, two long-term posters have (apparently) been banned recently: chinasyndrome & MyTurnNow. In reading their posts, they struck me as both being quite knowledgeable--and funny too. But, according to what is written in the China Forum (Off-Topic), they both have questioned some of the decisions made (or not made) by the mods (or Dave?). Now, for those comments apparently, they are both banned.

If that is true, it seems a quite "heavy-handed" & arbitrary approach to moderating a public internet discussion boad, IMHO.

Is this type of (seemingly) arbitrary banning--with no explanation-- something that is common here? Or deleting a thread that (at most) was mildly critical? (I don't know if the "resume" money issue was a fluke, or if it has been fixed, does anyone know?)

Other boards I've been involved with usually provide other regular posters with notices of people who have been banned. AND when that might happen an explanation provided, stating the reasons for why a thread had been deleted, or why a poster had been banned.

Shonai Ben · Joined: 15 Feb 2003 Posts: 617

I don't really pay much attention to who posts or doesn't post because a lot of people come and go or are away on vacation or are just plain busy.I sometimes don't post for long periods of time also.
If I don't find an interesting topic then I just ignore it and don't read it/post.
I am sure there is a valid reason for the mods to delete a post.I think if you send them a pm they will explain why.
Overall I think the mods do a super job here.
Just my 2 cents worth...

Steiner · Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Posts: 573 Location: Hunan China

I think that this board would profit greatly if your suggestions could be implemented.

Not likely, but surely it would create a freer atmosphere. Everyone would know where the boundaries are and then abide by them. The guidelines for posting can be interpreted differently by different mods, so it's nice to know how the board is going to be moderated.

The board was at its height some months ago, right around SARS time, and recently the number of posts, especially from China veterans, has dropped off greatly. That is due in large part to how the board has been administrated.

Some communication with moderators would be nice, but that cry has often been made and often fallen on deaf ears.

Maybe this post will disappear. Maybe I will. Or maybe I'm just getting paranoid. Question

.

I don't really care much about the moderation of the board (he said, contradicting his entire post), but it would be nice to know why some people are banned (Chinasyndrome and MTN) when the reason is not self-evident.

Sherri · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2003 1:25 pm Post subject:

The $75 is for employers who want to access the resumes, not for teachers. Teachers post for free. As for accessing your already posted resume I haven't tried, but I am guessing that is what your login name and password is for. If you can't it is a question for the webmaster not this board. Perhaps a moderator can comment on this.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

J-Pop & Steiner--

I totally agree. I hadn't noticed that the thread was missing, and, not being a frequent visitor to the China forum, I hadn't noticed the decreasing amount of posts, but I do wish there were a bit more transparency.

d

Will. · Joined: 02 May 2003 Posts: 783 Location: London Uk

People come and people go and people drift away, Yep tht ia what they've done, drifted away. I must admit to spending less and less time perusing (lurking) in the pages of Dave's the content is down on the academic side therea are, as Steiner says, less posters than in the summer. Like many i am drifting away to a site that gives me the info I crave. this one is merely a drop in and pick up on the gossip site for me these days. no criticism intended to those nice mods but that is my perception of the state of input here. Some really brilliant and erudite posters have just gone
" bravely turned their tails and fled, "
Shame. I suppose there is nothing the moderators can do about that unless they start posting under pseudonyms and get us more involved that way. An idea has just hit me, I finally realise who that weird poster of the summer was.....