Mohammed Censors

Anonymous Poster · Oct 18, 2001

I thought the discussion regarding the Kubota.ca discussion was interesting as it had censorship discussion included.

Thought you all might be interested to know that a couple of my posts have disappeared in existing threads, and they contained NO questionable language.

What gives Mohammed?

Muhammad · Oct 18, 2001

Your posts were removed for violation of our terms of use. We also received complaints about your posts privately.

If you were registered, we would have contacted you to let you know why your posts were being removed, but witout a way to contact you about your conduct on the forum, our decision was to remove the posts before they further disrupted the forum.

You're welcome to participate in the forum provided you refrain from trolling and/or other violations of our terms of use.

DarinRay · Oct 18, 2001

Well I for one know what gives. There is no Mohammed here. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Darin

fishman · Oct 18, 2001

Muhammad,

Is there someplace on the site that lists the terms of use? I guess it would behoove us all to be aware of them.

I am not familiar with the term "trolling", except in a fishing context/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif. What does it mean?

As an aside, a whole thread in which I had posted disappeared, which did not bother me in the slightest, as it was not contributing to the forum. Keep up the good work.

Gatorboy · Oct 18, 2001

Re: Muhammad Censors

There is a link to the Terms of Use at the bottom of each webpage.

Regards,
Dave "Gatorboy" Hoffmann
Fallston, Maryland

Muhammad · Oct 18, 2001

Terms of use can be found at http://www.tractorbynet.com/terms_of_use.shtml ...

Troll as found in the dictionary:

An electronic mail message, Usenet posting or other (electronic) communication which is intentionally incorrect, but not overtly controversial (compare flame bait), or the act of sending such a message. Trolling aims to elicit an emotional reaction from those with a hair-trigger on the reply key. A really subtle troll makes some people lose their minds.

Charlie_Iliff · Oct 18, 2001

Re: Muhammad Censors

And one of its clear provisions is:

TractorByNet.com has the right to delete, edit, or decline to publish any information provided by those accessing the site at any time and for any reason or that TractorByNet.com in its sole discretion deems to be unacceptable.

It is refreshing to see that power actually exercised, and insofar as I have been able to notice, exercised with appropriate Judgment. Thanks Muhammad

Charlie Iliff

huckflynn · Oct 18, 2001

I had never heard of trolling. I went searching on the net and found the following discussion of trolling:

The Fine Art Of Trolling

Sad.

Edited by huckflynn on 10/18/01 02:51 PM (server time).

BobT · Oct 18, 2001

Re: Muhammad Censors

I am going to agree here with Muhammad, and strongly. Tractrobynet.com is by any rational measure, one of the very finest places to visit and experience shared interests on the Internet.

We have ALL seen the chaos that can abruptly result when interlopers storm into a forum or newsgroup and "demand" their antagonistic or otherwise offensive posts be left alone or face an immediate charge of "censorship." This is exactly what has heppened in this case.

This has nothing whatsoever to do with censorship. Go read the 100,000+ posts on TBN of the past few years, and anyone would agree that a stupendously wide range of topics is dicsussed. But, Muahmmad insists upon that rarest of rarities -- courtesy and respect. It is called "good management." And I at least believe we are infinitely better off for his measured hand of administration.

BobT.
A Indiana Boy

Harv · Oct 18, 2001

Re: Muhammad Censors

that rarest of rarities -- courtesy and respect.

Having ventured into (and out of) various other forums, the above quality of TBN is what has continued to please and amaze me. Imagine my surprise when I discovered a bunch of compact tractor owners were head and shoulders more respectful of each other than even computer geeks (like myself) on other forums. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

For anybody who is relatively new to TBN, I would highly recommend reviewing the TBN and civility thread from earlier in the year.

This particular board caters to tractor newbies, and draws upon the vast pool of knowledge and experience of the general membership. No matter who you are, you can be pretty sure that there are folks here who know both more and less than you do about tractors and implements of all shapes and sizes. For that very reason, there is no call for anyone to feel holier than thou or be bashful about asking "stupid" questions. On this board, there is no such thing as a stupid question, and that is the atmosphere that has led to its great success.

Occassionally, and only occassionally, Muhammad will step in to maintain the proper ambiance, as specified in the Terms Of Use. I have never known Muhammad to be rash or unfair, and I have certainly seen nothing I would consider censorship.

That's how it looks from where I'm sittin'. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Knight9 · Oct 18, 2001

Re: Muhammad Censors

Well done Muhammad!!! If I recall correctly I believe I actually complained to you about one of the "complainer's" original...obviously trolling...messages that was posted and subsequently removed. Considering the generally consistent good will on the board (we all have occasional moments but we tend to get over them) I would say you have done an excellent job.

Thank you.
Kevin

ronjhall · Oct 18, 2001

Muhammad
Thanks /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

TWINKLE_TOES · Oct 18, 2001

Re: Muhammad Censors

Trollers 0, Muhammad 1

That's how it looks from where I'm sittin'. 

Harv, we have the same view and are 1000 miles apart, must be sitting in high chairs./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Civility Rules

Al

MikePA · Oct 18, 2001

Re: Muhammad Censors

The two websites I spend most of my time at are TBN and dpreview. The reason, in addition to being interested in tractors and digital cameras, is both sites are extremely well run. I've just about given up on usenet groups where the static to content ratio is horrible because of trolls. Muhammad does a fantastic, yet mostly transparent, job.

glennmac · Oct 18, 2001

Re: Muhammad Censors

The surgical strikes of censorship can be supplemented by psyops. If TBN creates a Trolling Only Forum, the trollers would be tricked into talking tractors.

Muhammad · Oct 19, 2001

Re: Muhammad Censors

And vice-versa?

Anonymous Poster · Oct 19, 2001

Re: Muhammad Censors

well said !

Devildog · Oct 19, 2001

Re: Muhammad Censors

Being fairly new to this forum, I think Muhammad does a great job. This is one of my favoite sites to visit, The members are great and the vast knowledge is fantastic. Thank You to Muhammad and all the members.
____________________________________________________
Take care all, Jim

2001 B7500 HST 302 Fel R4 Tires, Befco BRB60
Semper FidelisEdited by Devildog on 10/19/01 08:26 AM (server time).

MChalkley · Oct 19, 2001

Re: Muhammad Censors

Hear, hear! Or is it "Here, here"? Actually, I think "Hear here" may be the most applicable usage here, as in "in this instance".

Um, what I mean is: You guys have summarized all the issues perfectly, in my opinion. This forum has always had extremely high standards, always been exemplary in the level of civility, good nature, etc. not to mention quality of information. Muhammad deserves most of the credit for that. The standard here is admittedly high, but it's a pleasure, not a burden, to participate on those terms, both as a contributor, and as a beneficiary. As usual, it sounds a lot more complicated than it really is when I say it. That's why I started to just say "ditto". Probably should've gone with my instincts... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

MarkC

Rch · Oct 19, 2001

Very interwesting, huck. I too was clueless re trolling as an internet phenomena. The discussion referenced on a site about Algeria is emblematic of how internet pearls can pop-up anywhere. Of course, we see that all the time on TBN.
In medicine you can't read everything, it's just too much.The solution is to read all of a few good journals (and at least one British ! )- all the good stuff will be covered in short order.TBN is one of my good " journals" for this area of my life- in short order every thing gets covered, even stuff I didn't know that I didn't know( Nubond, "activate the surface with a propane torch", polypropene in the famous Chalkley Cup thread by Harv) The expertise available just blows me away sometimes- all in a fairly 'compact' form.

RCH