Having never been banned before, I’m using the first of my three-day ban to self-reflect, as suggested. </a> http://disq.us/p/24epaoy Yes, good idea. As I reflect here, I realize that I may go down in the infamous “blaze of glory” (in the form of a permanent BN ban, or self-inflicted permanent ban, by way of this complaint), but I think there is something to be said for standing on principle. I do so here.
Regarding site moderation, myself, I hold moderators to a much higher standard, than I do my fellow blogging stiffs. To moderate means to have the capacity of stand back and judge a post regardless of personal feelings about it. To indeed be the arbiter, the “unemotional middleman,” of a situation. Wearing that moderator’s badge is, I think, supposed to mean something more than just a power trip. It means to be able to a fair overseer and judge the value of comments in a non-biased way.
Now let me present my case
Yesterday, someone on the Off Topic Thread posted a picture of Barack Obama with a cap that said, “I’ve already made America great again.” I upvoted because I liked and agreed with it. As I scrolled down to the next post, a well-known moderator had replied to his Obama picture with this meme:
https://memeshappen.com/media/created/how-to-spot-a–obama-supporter–meme-37335.jpg
Being offended, I emotionally reacted in the moment. Yes, my reply to the moderator who posted the asshole meme was pretty scathing; I’ll admit that. Guilty as charged. I was pissed and laid it on thick, in spite of knowing the consequences… potential banning. (And btw, for the record, this is not the moderator and my first bad rodeo together. We are already on each other’s negative radar.) 🙁
Now… it’s one thing to be just one more asshole, with no “moderators tag” attached to their ID, roaming around the BN corridors, handing out insults. We get plenty of those; dime-a-dozen. But for a moderator to be doing it in such a blatant and offensive way, well, that seemed a bit beyond the pale… to me. I saw it as an abuse of power for these “protected species” called moderators. Not fair or right, in my opinion. I think that if they choose to post under that revered moniker, they are expected to treat it well and be mindful of their own uncontrolled biases. But that’s maybe just me, who looks at moderation that way.
To add insult to injury, this moderator poster replied to me with, and I quote:
“Think of the 3 days off i’m about to give as time reflect on yourself and how you can be a positive influence out here and maybe a better human being.
Attacking people like you just did is never the answer.” [emphases mine]
Wow, how ironic! Yes, maybe I deserved that, and maybe I didn’t. You make the call. I’m not one who goes around, willy-nilly, judging or bashing others. Anyone who knows me knows that about me. I have a LONG history of posting here. I welcome anyone and everyone to check my “non-private” profile out.
Yes, I will take my three-day ban and not like it. I just think some review of moderators comments, posting replies AS a moderator, are in order; i.e., a moderation of the moderators (confer and agree that banning is warranted). I hope the other moderators call this one on the carpet, or at least question him, for his lack of moderation skills. Let’s all learn a lesson here, not just me.
I hope my compliant is noted and responded to.
Thank you for your time.