The bias issue is overblown. Having been around for a while the two worst times for bias were 1) when mods were "elected" and 2) in late 2005-2006 when the Catholic - Protestant wars were in full swing. I could care less whether someone is "liberal or conservative" when it comes to working reports. People should be able to work reports with fairly regular neutrality. I'm smart enough to realize that that will not always occur but it really isn't that hard. If there is a demonstrable inability to do so...people should be removed from staff. Likewise, I think that several posters really need to recalibrate their expectations of what CF "is." The number of people that simply cannot post without being a jerk to someone that believes different is fairly surprising. Of course, these are also the first people to complain - loudly and openly - about "bias" (real or perceived) simply because of someone's professed political or theological orientation. Frankly, these people need to grow up and get a life. Or leave. I'm fine with either solution. Staff is not a bunch of boogeymen that is looking to nail people that we disagree with.
Open reports aren't coming back (if that is what you're getting at). Whether or not the "reported" tag will show for regular users like it does for staff...I dunno. I'm strongly against the idea as I've seen the problems that it causes...but I may be in the minority on that point. Personally...I really don't care why you (not you...you know what I mean) posted something incredibly flamey and I don't really care to read a long ex post facto explanation of why you thought it was necessary. If it is some random member that never gets reported...I'm will than willing to listen. However - you've seen the report forums - it is the same people over and over. Under the new protocols it is almost impossible to be permanentely banned (it seems) unless something comes down from on high that mandates such a course of action. It will be interesting to see what happens.
As far as I see this, the site is trying to unite 2 complete opposites
& that is causing most all the trouble.
I almost wish they'de consider a split of CF into liberal/unorthodox &
conservative/orthodox & keep them apart than try to pretend the 2
will ever mesh politically or spiritually in either worldview & MOST of
the conservatives I know who've left have left due to the
this war. (probly equally liberal as well).
& as I see it, as the 2 are growing further & further apart, the
screws are tightening w/ the rules to keep people from being able
to say as much against the other group. Tightening the rules
doesn't change the source of the problem & people get
exhasperated & post much less.
CJ has a point that when something is hemorraging, people do tend to
go with the tide & just bail ship with the rest to find another
popular site.
I'd also like to say that some transparency regarding staff is also
very necessary - as it is, the power has shifted far too much on both sides over the past year & 1/2.
The elections of mods didn't work well (mods had too little control & were at the utter mercy of members in that fiasco of a time) -
then what we have now which is everything is blind on member's ends, we can't speak out in any posts (open criticism/displeasure is silenced -
& I know some people's rants have been obnoxious & needed to be kept in some sort of check),
rules have been changing to start reading more into posts to decide violations, & we can't explain our reported posts, let alone even know they were reported or anything.
The control needs to be balanced & being at staff's mercy to this
extent is truly unsettling; esp. when you know some dislike you.
The atmosphere here feels like it's changed.
)
I wonder of CF will ever learn.
