Most of the time (and in this case) we contact our interview guests. We don't accept money for interviews. Occasionally someone will have something coming out and will reach out to us if we've asked for an interview before. Our James Cameron interview last year was such a case. That is the exception however. http://interviews.slashdot.org...
Nothing is "outright deleted with some regularity." The flag just puts the comment on a list that an editor looks over every day. We ban spammers who we find leaving links in comments, and occasionally mod down any egregious trolls that aren't already at -1. That's it. We've deleted comments in the past under legal threat but it's not our policy to do so normally. This comment showed up on the list but none of the editors are going to delete it. We think it's important to maintain a place where you can say whatever you want, even if that thing isn't popular or as in this case, correct.
We don't delete comments (there are plenty of negative ones here to read as proof). I'm assuming the post you are referring to is http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3455889&cid=42879165. Although I'm not sure why you can't see it since it at a "2" right now. Are you only looking at comments rated 3+.
When you press the "Flag this comment as inappropriate" button that comment ends up on a big list that the editors go through each day. Usually it's filled with user comments that other users don't like, and sometimes theories that we're deleting comments. We try to respond to the conspiracy theories and ignore the complaints about not liking posts for one reason or another. That's what the moderation system is for. Every so often however someone uses the button for it's intended purpose, which is to quickly downmod the worst trolls and to identify spammer accounts so we can ban them. The button is to make sure the gnaa crowd stays at -1 and to keep the spammers out of discussions. Feel free to continue to be inappropriate.
I guess It's hard to glean from the transcript, but if you watch the video I think it's fairly obvious that I was feigning surprise that the Social Media Director wouldn't want to dress as Xena after it was suggested to her. It was easy to get through actually, because the suggestion was ridiculous.
Normally we try not to feed the trolls but since this has started to pop up in comments, here's Soulskills response to this tired accusation when it was brought up on Reddit last week. http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/wzmdu/censored_slashdot_post_describes_in_explicit/c5hzate. Or you could read the FAQ about why we don't post a story. The relevant part being: Could you explain why my submission was declined?
This is harder than it sounds. We try to select the most interesting, timely, and relevant submissions, but can only run a fraction of those submitted; there are probably as many reasons for stories to get declined as there are stories. Think positive: read our submissions guidelines for some hints about increasing the chances that we'll run yours.
Nobody removed or banned you for "stating a dislike of the USA gun laws." If you'd like you can mail me your username or uid and I can take a look, (assuming something really did happen to your account and your not just trolling.)
The comment abuse flag is just a way to more quickly catch robo-trolls and spammers. We do ban spammers, but as long as you're not trying to sell shoes, handbags, pills, or treasure maps you have nothing to worry about. On second thought, I probably won't ban you if you're trying to sell treasure maps.
It means that I can more quickly mod down the most egregious trolls (GNAA, goatse.cx, that sort of thing), and ban spammer accounts that get reported. The abuse report it generates is really good at finding spammers, but is unfortunately filled with a lot of comments other readers don't like. This one for example. Contrary to some opinions we won't delete your comments or mod you down if we don't like your tone. You're perfectly free to have your opinion and express your views, (yes even the paranoid ones.) We like it that way.
That's our intent today. Instead of "going black" we're leaving this post up all day to inform on the potential implications if these laws were passed, and how to contact your elected official.
We is the other two editors and myself. I wrote a few initial ideas and then it got passed around. I'm not sure if my boss picked the topic or someone at SourceForge. As rbowen eludes to in a thread above, this is a sort of test run to work out the kinks, but we still wanted to get a decent discussion going.
We wrote the question after being told that cloud security was the topic to be covered. When the editors write a story there isn't a "username writes" at the beginning. Here are a couple of examples from yesterday and Tuesday.
Slashdot Mirror
Most of the time (and in this case) we contact our interview guests. We don't accept money for interviews. Occasionally someone will have something coming out and will reach out to us if we've asked for an interview before. Our James Cameron interview last year was such a case. That is the exception however. http://interviews.slashdot.org...
The very first link goes to NASA.
Nothing is "outright deleted with some regularity." The flag just puts the comment on a list that an editor looks over every day. We ban spammers who we find leaving links in comments, and occasionally mod down any egregious trolls that aren't already at -1. That's it. We've deleted comments in the past under legal threat but it's not our policy to do so normally. This comment showed up on the list but none of the editors are going to delete it. We think it's important to maintain a place where you can say whatever you want, even if that thing isn't popular or as in this case, correct.
I just tried to search with the "interviews" tag and it showed up. Searching with the "features" tag should work as well.
You mean these answers from Aug. 20? http://features.slashdot.org/s...
We didn't delete anyone's comments. http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3455889&cid=42890287
We don't delete comments (there are plenty of negative ones here to read as proof). I'm assuming the post you are referring to is http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=3455889&cid=42879165. Although I'm not sure why you can't see it since it at a "2" right now. Are you only looking at comments rated 3+.
When you press the "Flag this comment as inappropriate" button that comment ends up on a big list that the editors go through each day. Usually it's filled with user comments that other users don't like, and sometimes theories that we're deleting comments. We try to respond to the conspiracy theories and ignore the complaints about not liking posts for one reason or another. That's what the moderation system is for. Every so often however someone uses the button for it's intended purpose, which is to quickly downmod the worst trolls and to identify spammer accounts so we can ban them. The button is to make sure the gnaa crowd stays at -1 and to keep the spammers out of discussions. Feel free to continue to be inappropriate.
I guess It's hard to glean from the transcript, but if you watch the video I think it's fairly obvious that I was feigning surprise that the Social Media Director wouldn't want to dress as Xena after it was suggested to her. It was easy to get through actually, because the suggestion was ridiculous.
Normally we try not to feed the trolls but since this has started to pop up in comments, here's Soulskills response to this tired accusation when it was brought up on Reddit last week. http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/wzmdu/censored_slashdot_post_describes_in_explicit/c5hzate. Or you could read the FAQ about why we don't post a story. The relevant part being:
Could you explain why my submission was declined?
This is harder than it sounds. We try to select the most interesting, timely, and relevant submissions, but can only run a fraction of those submitted; there are probably as many reasons for stories to get declined as there are stories. Think positive: read our submissions guidelines for some hints about increasing the chances that we'll run yours.
Axe Cop, the stories of a 5-year-old through the pen of his 30-year-old brother.
Josh wanted to make sure a couple of credits were given out that didn't make it into the video.
Write me with your info and I can help you out. rrozeboom@geek.net
Nobody removed or banned you for "stating a dislike of the USA gun laws." If you'd like you can mail me your username or uid and I can take a look, (assuming something really did happen to your account and your not just trolling.)
The comment abuse flag is just a way to more quickly catch robo-trolls and spammers. We do ban spammers, but as long as you're not trying to sell shoes, handbags, pills, or treasure maps you have nothing to worry about. On second thought, I probably won't ban you if you're trying to sell treasure maps.
It means that I can more quickly mod down the most egregious trolls (GNAA, goatse.cx, that sort of thing), and ban spammer accounts that get reported. The abuse report it generates is really good at finding spammers, but is unfortunately filled with a lot of comments other readers don't like. This one for example. Contrary to some opinions we won't delete your comments or mod you down if we don't like your tone. You're perfectly free to have your opinion and express your views, (yes even the paranoid ones.) We like it that way.
Actually, they made him turn in the keys. They're hanging on the wall in my office right next to the set for the PT Cruiser.
That's our intent today. Instead of "going black" we're leaving this post up all day to inform on the potential implications if these laws were passed, and how to contact your elected official.
I'm pretty sure we've only posted two stories about sites going black to protest SOPA. The first was about Reddit using this an an opportunity to educate people on the issue. The second was yesterday about wikipedia. You a correct in that we didn't mention Reddit in that story.
We is the other two editors and myself. I wrote a few initial ideas and then it got passed around. I'm not sure if my boss picked the topic or someone at SourceForge. As rbowen eludes to in a thread above, this is a sort of test run to work out the kinks, but we still wanted to get a decent discussion going.
We wrote the question after being told that cloud security was the topic to be covered. When the editors write a story there isn't a "username writes" at the beginning. Here are a couple of examples from yesterday and Tuesday.
I could be getting paid? We actually do this with a lot of stories, and you're welcome!
Wouldn't that make me the pretty receptionist?