Why Complain?

Actually, a more apt title is, why bother?

In my experience, nothing gets done - unless you breach the TAC - then the wrath of MOD descends upon you.

No feedback
No reasons
Nothing

Question a mod's decision?
"make a complaint then" is the usual answer.
Who looks at the complaints?
How is a decision reached?
Do some people close ranks to protect their own?

It might not be important to those who sit in an ivory tower, handing out opinions and "justice" to those beneath them, but that doesn't mean it's not important to a poster.

Make up your own mind - I've made mine up, and I have to say this site isn't what I thought it was.

I now prepare for the deluge of comments

"you're free to go elsewhere"

"insulted that you question integrity"

"blah, blah, blah" all the other stuff that I've heard a hundred times.

Well, budski, I don't know what's brought this on, I'm sure you have reasons.

But in my experience, when I've complained, I've got results. There have been instances where I've got no direct answer to my complaint on the complaint/suggestions button, but the problem I complained about is always curtailed.

I guess I can't complain.

I like this site. I've been on ones where there was no way to complain because the admins treated the place as a free-for-all and anything went, including trolls invading and ruining the place for everyone. I prefer the way this site is handled. I feel a lot safer here.

I've only had cause to complain about other members a couple of times, and been fully satisfied with the way it's turned out. The one time I had a beef with a moderator, I went directly to that mod and we worked out the trouble. I use the complaint button to complain about other members only, and about double threads. If I have an issue with a moderator, I U2U them directly. It's only happened once, though, but the mod and I worked it out to (I believe) our mutual satisfaction.

reply to post by MajorMalfunction


I like this site too - but I'm becoming increasingly frustrated and even a little angry about certain situations.
I know the mods do a difficult job under trying conditions, and I respect them for this.

What I don't like is dismissive comments, and people not listening to an opinion that differs from their own - in other words, looking down on others, or even just appearing to.

I'm not going into specifics, apart from I won't be a frequent poster and maybe not even a frequent visitor in future.

In my opinion there is a communication problem.

The other day I was reading a thread that was going in a really bad direction, I wanted to bring it to a mods attention.
I spent 20 minutes searching on how to do just that.
Every piece of information I found led to a dead link.

It took me more than half an hour of searching to track down how to send a complaint email, and even then it was for a generic site complaint.
By that time I couldn't even remember what my beef was in the first plcae, let alone be bothered anymore.

I see the alert for a single post but nothing else stands out and I looked.
maybe I'm just stoopid.

reply to post by earthchild


I understand what you mean, but this isn't about communication - there's also some lists in the forum index, which should give you all the info you need - whether you're able to resolve anything is another matter entirely.

reply to post by earthchild


If you have a complaint -- any kind of complaint -- you use the Complaints/Suggestions button in the member center.

Originally posted by earthchild
It took me more than half an hour of searching to track down how to send a complaint email, and even then it was for a generic site complaint.

It's been my experience that a quick U2U to a MOD will usually be answered in a few minutes, most of the time that is , and the times that I got no answer was usually to a stupid question

The 'complaint' feature is in your member center in the left portion of that page.

Just a note to let you know... I always read all the complaints I see because they are an invaluable tool to the moderators here. It's almost impossible to keep up on things without all the help from the membership.

That said, I leave most complaints for the moderators who are assigned the forums which the complaint directs to. If it's urgent, I'd handle it myself.

reply to post by the_sentinal


Thanks, you know I still couldn't figure out how to get to the member center that everyone kept talking about.
Little did I know that was the U2U button!!!

Originally posted by budski
It might not be important to those who sit in an ivory tower...

This seems to be inspired by a "news" thread of yours being moved from ATS to BTS and your complaint improperly claiming our action is "censorship."

In reality, your thread was a sideways attempt to inject a topic you know is preferred to be avoided on ATS, but where there is some limited tolerance on BTS.

Your complaint sparked discussion, and my own opinion was to completely trash your thread as I'm increasingly irritated with attempts such as this one from people who should know better. But the thread had already been correctly moved to the right forum by one of our staff, so I figured leave it alone.

You forgot this one in your "deluge of comments" comment...
You should have known better.

Why Complain?

Because we like DRAMA.

We (and i'm including myself) are nothing but a bunch of hens moaning about this and that.

We should thank our lucky stars that we have this place to post, and i am greatful.

If a thread gets moved, its because its better off someplace else! That's it!
Its not PERSONAL and people are not out to get you.

Lets paranoid not be.

It is as it is as it is as it is.

Lets try to deal with it. When they start charging $$$ then you can gripe.
For now, appreciate what you have.

I can sympathize but when I've hit the complaint button I've gotten very quick results and sometimes even an 'Applause' of 500 points.

I do try to make the complaint as specific, but as pleasant and polite as possible.

I don't demand anything, I just suggest or ask for a review.

Just my 2 cents.

I know it can be frustrating, man, but just be patient and maybe ask again a little later?

reply to post by dgtempe


I knew I could count on you DG to set the record straight and give it your own personal touch, your so grounded in reality, sorry Budski I callum like I seeum I've had threads moved that I didn't agree with but life goes on, there's always another story out there with your name on it.

[edit on 29-8-2007 by the_sentinal]

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


I was under the impression that there was no topic that we are unable to debate on ATS, especially where there is a conspiratorial angle - as there was with this thread.
So when I said that moving the thread was a form of censorship, I was essentially correct.

It now transpires that censorship IS an issue - I see nothing in the TAC that says we are not able to discuss the topic I raised - so how should I have known better?

In reality, your thread was a sideways attempt to inject a topic you know is preferred to be avoided on ATS, but where there is some limited tolerance on BTS.

Personally, I'm of the opinion that anything regarding governments targeting specific groups when there are more pressing concerns is newsworthy, and belongs in the alternative section.

There's also more to this than just ONE thread, but I don't want to go into that in public.


[edit on 29/8/2007 by budski]

Here we go again

Originally posted by budski


It now transpires that censorship IS an issue - I see nothing in the TAC that says we are not able to discuss the topic I raised - so how should I have known better?

2e.) Illegal Activity: Discussion of illegal activities; specifically mind-altering drugs, computer hacking, criminal hate, sexual relations with minors, and stock scams are strictly forbidden.

You might also want to check out ATS and censorship.

I have to agree with SO on this, I thought it should have been trashed as the source material isn't ATS material.

Ahhhh, this brings me back to that day in my first time in this boards that I earned a warn

Yes a warn, by Kano. I wonder where he is now, I miss him, he was my first.

Anyway, I always seem to feel that most of our outstanding administration of this board are pretty fair and as long as you do not lose your temper they will listen.

Now I am not going to point out some things that even I have disagree with, but it has nothing to do with me so I just let the ones in charge do their job at least the best in their capabilities.

After all a board like this one is able to keep everything smooth and clean with no many complications, that tells enough of the quality of their people and administration.

Like Dg said we love drama. So is nice to see that member are still vocal in some of what they consider unfair treatment.

So please complain!!!!!!!!

reply to post by intrepid


May I bring this thread to your attention, in support of my side of the argument:
www.abovetopsecret.com...

There's also the fact that my thread wasn't about the use of drugs, but about governments targeting what may be viewed by some as a harmless vice, whilst ignoring more pressing issues.
So, given the context of the article and the way it was presented, I stand by my opinion.

Why Complain?

Because you can? It's there...might as well use it...

Imagine...

...if we had to go through this with every complaint.

Staff time is finite and valuable.

We do our best to give our fellow members the service they deserve, but we are not gods.

Many complaints are valid, and I assure you the staff is grateful for every one of them, because they help us to do a better job of managing the forums.

Many complaints, however, constitute anything from differences of opinion about a thread move to false claims about members/moderators to things you simply wouldn't believe even if I posted them here.

I realize it can be frustrating if you think your complaint has disappeared into a "black hole" and think nothing was done about it, but speaking as someone who has access to and regularly participates in the discussions that take place in the Complaints forum, we hear you.

Oftentimes we feel the best response to a valid complaint is to take visible action on it -- editing a post, trashing a thread, issuing a warning, etc.

Other times we might feel it's best to just take a complaint under advisement and leave it at that, because frankly we just don't have time to go through the sort of back-and-forth that is being publicly played out in this thread on every complaint we receive.

If you don't receive a response to a complaint, please don't take it the wrong way.

Rather, I hope you can appreciate that yes, honestly, we're busy; no that doesn't mean we've ignored you; yes, we are entitled to our opinions about staff actions, too; and no, we are not required to do what every member thinks we should do.

Thanks for understanding.

reply to post by Majic


I appreciate your comments Majic - but this is not so much about complaints as about censorship - the article probably wasn't read fully, but the knee jerk reaction to throw it out based on a misconception of what it actually was gets to me - the whole "it's drugs related, quick get rid of it".
That and the fact that a fairly high handed tone has been prevalent, without any constructive advise or understanding of the issues that article raised.


The points raised in this thread about the nature of the article are IMO valid.

Then again - what's the point of trying to explain.