Reporting violations and posting threads (please see 4/25 update)

[Lizincinti]

This is a reminder that SOC moderators are volunteers, and there are less than ten of us, including administrators who oversee the forums. We review quite a bit on a daily basis, but we can't see all posts in all threads, so we rely on posters to help out by reporting violations that they see in the course of posting.

We guarantee that all Reports of Problem Posts (RPPs) are reviewed within 48 hours, but more often than not it's more like every 2 hours. Every report is sent to each of the moderators and admins, so most RPPs are reviewed by several sets of eyeballs.

All RPPs are confidential. We will never share who reported a violation with a poster or posters on or off the forum.

We can't discuss why a post was removed -- except with the person who created the post -- out of respect for everyone's privacy, but if you see something that lingers longer than 48 hours after you reported it, you can email a moderator directly. We each have an active link in our signatures, and we are always happy to explain why a post has NOT been removed.

When you report a post, you will have an opportunity to type a message to the moderators. Please remember that the guidelines apply. Respect is paramount, including when you address a moderator. Snarky comments about the moderators, insults, and hostile messages are uncalled for and against the guidelines. Unfortunately, lately there has been an uptick in messages that harass and bully the moderators when posts are reported. This is unacceptable.

We appreciate those who report violations, but be advised that effective immediately, anyone who uses the RPP to bash the moderators will have their access restricted for no less than 24 hours. Longer if the message is threatening.

04/25 Update:

When scanning for topics to discuss, please do not revive threads that are older than 3 mos. You only need to check through current threads to see if the topic you wish to discuss is already on the forum.

Any thread older than a few weeks will be closed simply because the topic is old and updated information is available.

[believeinme246]

I'm so sorry that you have to put up with abuse when you all volunteer your time so selflessly. Just know that the majority of us so appreciate you and we are so grateful that you allow this to be a healthy and safe place to discuss our favorite soap.

[Lizincinti]

Thank you for that. We just want this to be a fun place without all the ugliness that so many social media sites have.

[Shellyinphx]

Thank you, we've had report's asking "why is this being allowed" for years and years but lately it's gotten out of hand.

[Moore ideas]

Exactly. Posters need to understand that the moderators don't "allow" violations. We just cannot possibly see many hundreds of ever-changing posts all at once! If any poster here is able to read every post that currently exists on ALL the forums (that's thousands), and read all of those posts all at once, please contact us immediately, because you're gonna go directly to the head of the line for flag responder!!

[Shellyinphx]

Always amuses me when folks ask "why is this allowed" when the post has only been up for 5 minutes

[Someday]

In recent months a couple of times I have reported violations of things like speculation being labeled as spoilers. They weren’t removed. It was a bit frustrating. But I just figured you had legitimate reasons. I never thought to ask why! Thank you for taking the time and energy to be moderators!

[Moore ideas]

Hmmm... I'm not exactly sure what happened with those specific flags, but it's possible that the spoiler itself had already played out by the time the moderators saw the reported violation.

Sometimes, too, a poster will report a topic or comment that they personally find to be offensive, but that doesn't actually violate the rules. In those cases, we're not going to remove the post, because it isn't a rule violation. And I know that's not what you're asking about, but I just want to remind everyone, while I'm here, that flagging something doesn't mean it will automatically be removed. Usually, posters are very good at bringing legitimate violations to our attention, but we also get notified about posts that turn out to be simple differences of opinion. Unless they're improperly expressed (they're off topic, they use profanity, vulgarities, insult posters, actors, writers, etc.) a legitimate difference of opinion will be left alone. It may irritate the posters who disagree with that opinion, but not liking something doesn't make it a violation; opposing opinions are allowed.

But when in doubt, just go ahead and flag the post that concerns you, and we'll take a look. Sometimes, the moderators will even have a group discussion about a particular flag, if (for example) several posters have flagged the same post, but none of the mods is seeing a violation. In those cases, we'll email each other and ask whether or not we're missing something! It doesn't happen often, but it does happen occasionally. My point is that we really do try to get it right!

You're also more than welcome to email a moderator directly, if you think that an important flag might have been missed (or with any other concerns). But just like Lizincinti's advisory points out, please keep your inquiry respectful, because insulting the moderators by making implications of incompetence, bias, or worse is in violation of the guidelines all by itself.

[Wendall Wilcox]

I always try to report what I see. An I try to be clear and concise and why I feel its wrong

[Moore ideas]

We appreciate the extra sets of eyes. Thank you for flagging.

[Moore ideas]

I also want to clarify that flagging is meant to alert the moderators about possible rule violations, not to express an opposing opinion about the post itself! The mods don't care whether or not a person like's the content of another poster's comment, as long as that other poster's comment was made properly and within the rules.

[Jackaled]

When the show addresses political issues like currently
with Victor and Climate change. Since that is a real topic
are we allowed to discuss that within the thread...not starting
a completely new thread just on climate change but within the
context of the show thread? Can we say like I can;t believe
that Victor would believe that nonsense? (regarding climate change)
or something like that..Since the show is bringing up the subject.
Not any of us bringing it up just randomly of course.

[Moore ideas]

The conversation does need to be within the context of the show itself and within the parameters of the topic. However, characterizing something like climate change as "nonsense" -- or by characterizing the opposite opinion as "nonsense" would not be allowed. That leads to bickering and ultimately to personal insults. (Example: "You're an idiot!!") And so, as always, posters would need to politely disagree with anyone's opinion (including a character's) by simply explaining their own point of view about what the character said: "I disagree because....."

[Michaela69]

Thank you for all you do. I so enjoy these boards.

[Moore ideas]

Thank you for all you do. I so enjoy these boards.

Thank you for the kind comment.

Our whole goal is to make sure that the forums are friendly and fun, so that posters can enjoy reading everyone's various opinions. It would be a very boring world if everyone shared exactly the same opinion on everything (we'd never have the chance to consider other points of view that we hadn't thought of before), but no one "listens" when they're being insulted or yelled at.

SOC also provides an "ignore" feature in posters' profiles, so posters are advised to take advantage of that whenever there is someone whose posts consistently upset them. Enable the ignore feature and you won't see their posts anymore, except when someone else quotes them. In those cases, just skip on past the quote!

[soapholic]

Can one have a post of theirs and any related comments removed?

[Moore ideas]

Absolutely! Just flag your own post and let the moderators know that you want you post removed. Internal reply comments will be deleted automatically, as part of your post. Separate follow-on comments to your specific post (if they're quoting you, for example) will also be removed for no longer being relevant.

[emhersal]

Goodness too many times I have come back on this site and see notifications for a thread I commented in, only to discover that the entire thread has been removed. Why was the "Why don’t the writers just have Carly save Willow already" thread removed? I have reply notifications for it I can't even see.

Is there no way to just lock a thread and remove violating comments. It's not very fair that people who have not violated the rules can't continue discussions on a thread because an entire thread has been removed because a few decided to violate the rules.

At this point I'll have to start looking for a new forum considering the amount of bad actors that are on this site causing threads to be taking down. Idk maybe I'll check out reddit

[Moore ideas]

*Yes, there is a way to lock a topic. We do it all the time.

*Yes, there is a way to remove specific violations, and 9 times out of 10 that's exactly what we've done and is the reason why posters can't see replies to their notifications: it's why you're not seeing yours.

*If an entire topic is removed, it's because it's a duplicate topic of one that already exists on the forum, or because it was so filled with animosity and violations that it was no longer a viable discussion.

* There are numerous reasons why topics are removed, and ALL of those reasons have to do with violations. If posters would simply follow the rules, then everyone could always read everything that's been posted. Unfortunately, that's not our reality and we can't just leave violations on the forums so that posters can read pertinent replies to their own comments.

[Lulubee]

I keep having the same experience. One poster in particular keeps trolling my threads and comments on others related to a topic they don’t like just to antagonize and get those threads removed. What I do not understand is why that poster keeps being allowed to stay here and do the same thing repeatedly.

My thread was recently removed after they commented and I responded in kind. All other comments were fun and lighthearted and celebratory or just people normally sharing their opinions but the whole thing is gone….

I’m not asking for a response here. I followed procedures for getting feedback in private. But I’m sharing this issue to say it happens a lot and it’s not fair.other than that I love it here and enjoy sharing and reading perspectives of other fans

Moore ideas

[JaeBianca]

Lulubee, I am in complete agreement with you! I've been a GH viewer for 40+ years, and a member of this board for 17 of them, yet lately I've questioned why I bother to even check in due to the negative posters. I recently had a post deleted because I generally criticized posters (rather than anyone specific) who mock other posters who praised the Sprina love scenes. One poster in particular suggested that there was something wrong with anyone who "swoons" at something that commonly happens in soaps. It wasn't a simple matter of a difference of opinion, it was a direct shot at the concept of "love in the afternoon" which is a foundation to the genre.

I get that not everyone will like every couple. What I don't get is people who are determined to crap all over the joy others might find in them. I personally didn't care for the Nik & Ava pairing, but I cannot conceive entertaining myself by complaining about them constantly. I didn't even like MC as Nik, but I respected that others did, and refrained from comparing him to other Niks whenever he annoyed me. I understood that actors change, and sometimes my favorite just isn't available. I can find something about the new actor that I like, or FF in peace.

A particular pet peeve I have is the bombardment of Sprina threads with comments about Tabyana's height and youthfulness. On the surface, it may seem like an expression of an individual's perception. But really, it's a criticism of an actor's physical attributes that would normally be banned. Robin was significantly shorter and more youthful looking than Patrick, yet it would have been unconscionable for people to feel obligated to mention it in every single thread discussing their relationship. And for anyone who might counter that Trina & Spencer are younger than Robin & Patrick were...it is well established that both the characters and the actors are at least 20 years old! Back in the day, there were soap characters who were on their 2nd marriages by then (Laura included)!

It makes me sad because I feel like I need to find another outlet where people are more positive, but there are fewer out there than ever before.

[Lulubee]

Please don’t leave 🙏🥰. I agree when I don’t like something I don’t care enough to comment on it unless the prompt also talks about other things that I DO care about. Let’s just keep ignoring things (and flagging when necessary like this thread says). As you said there’s not a lot of other boards that allow many diverse opinions.

Wouldn’t you know it I think we’re talking at least about once same poster.
.

[TinkerTailor]

Lulubee and JaeBianca


You can put people on your ignore list if you want. Click on your name at the upper right to open then drop-down menu, then click User Settings, and click the Account tab. If you scroll all the way to the bottom there is an area for an Ignore List. Put the person's user name in there with @.

Sometimes there are people you just disagree with in every way and so the easiest way to make your experience better is to put them on ignore, meaning none of there posts or threads will show up in your view. I don't use it often, but sometimes there's just nothing else to be done.

For certain things though, like the Carly- and Nina-related threads, you just have to sort of learn to let it all go. No matter how the thread starts out or what it's about, any thread about either woman will devolve into personal animosity toward these characters. Sonny threads tend to be the same way.

[Lulubee]

This seems to be the exact solution I need in my case. Thank you.

[JaeBianca]

I've done a version of this on the Discus moderated portion of of SoC site, so I will also try it here. That said, experience has taught me to expect a string of posts confronting/supporting the poor to insulting logic of the person I ignored.

Meanwhile, I still hope that the moderators recognize the harm of certain comments, and see that they are inconsistent with the rules set by the board.