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Gamers Grapple With VA Tech Shooting
I imagine it's been a hard week for a lot of people; gamers in particular have been jumping to defend their hobby from the likes of Dr. Phil and Jack Thompson, both of whom were quick to link gaming and the tragedy in Virginia. Despite their vigor, it seems like game enthusiasts can breathe easily this week. As far as most people can tell, gaming was in no way involved. Even the mainstream media is coming to realize that gaming isn't always the right place to turn when youth violence grabs the headlines. Just the same, some activist gamers are still trying to make sure their hobby comes out of this unscathed, and at least some folks think they may be overdoing things: "While I'm all for activism for one's beliefs, I really think this may do more harm then good. As gamers, we feel a need to defend our passion, but we run the risk of ending up looking no better than those seeking to shift blame, while further disrupting the already-mourning. I say that the thing to focus on at this point is simply remembering those lost and cherishing what we still have. Now's not the time for political vendettas, and gamers need to step down and just humbly accept the fact that blame will always be shifted to the popular youth activities: be it a KISS concert, a video game, or something else."
I've read it multiple times. As probably the most outspoken critic of the slashdot moderation system, please allow me to assure you that I have studied it carefully. And nothing in the section you are discussing in any way changes the definition of Flamebait which I have copied and pasted for you here.
The only section where the word "flamey" is used is the following: "A good comment says something interesting or insightful. It has a link to a relevant piece of information that will add something to the discussion. It might not be Shakespeare, but it's not Beavis and Butthead. It's not off topic or flamey. It doesn't call someone names. It doesn't personally attack someone because of a disagreement of opinion." The FAQ also says "Concentrate more on promoting than on demoting. The real goal here is to find the juicy good stuff and let others read it. Do not promote personal agendas. Do not let your opinions factor in. Try to be impartial about this. Simply disagreeing with a comment is not a valid reason to mark it down." If a post could only marginally be considered flamebait, then you shouldn't mark it flamebait, for two reasons: You should focus on positive moderation, and you should try to be impartial.
There is every need to be a condescending jackass when I hear the same tired and incorrect explanations from people who have been here long enough to know better.
You are making it clear that you did not understand the FAQ and I have no obligation to be nice to you. It is written in simple (if occasionally fragmentary) English and is not that difficult to comprehend.
I understand that most people are not interested in the FAQ, or doing things the way the ownership of the site has asked us to do them. I don't do everything the way they want either, but that's because other people don't understand basic tenets of slashdot (like "concentrate on positive moderation") and I am working around the idiots in the system. The system itself doesn't account for those idiot/assholes very well and provides multiple opportunities for abuse, like the "overrated" and "funny" moderations.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
I have never moderated a single comment down. There are way to many inappropriate downmods. I spend 4 or all 5 of my points moving those comments back up.
I see vindictive downmods which are clearly being done because of some past grudge and I see pointless downmods.
The faq can say whatever it wants- you post on certain issues and you are going to be down/upmodded by people with an agenda on that issue not because of something the Faq says.
She was like chocolate when she drank... semi-sweet at first and then increasingly bitter.
Dude, do you publish on the Web? Send me a link if you do, please. Writing here because I tried email but got no reply.