gifted forum - posts being moved - Page 9

[georgia]

Yes, and I apologize for any past problems. Anyone with previously moved threads is welcome to PM me so we can work it out privately

[RandiFlowers]

Originally Posted by georgia

Hi, everyone Moving forward, for organization's sake, we are simply asking members to demonstrate how a topic is related to giftedness. There is no need to be dramatic, snarky or hyperbolic to demonstrate "on-topicness." [...] So, please help us by ensuring topics are demonstrated to be gifted-related

So I'm guessing that Sarcasm is out, too?

I've been following a handful of forums @ MDC for ages, and really only de-lurked because of the interesting developments and debates relating to the PtGC forum.

The polite (and reasonable) request for posters to PtGC to avoid drama, snark and hyperbole when demonstrating "on-topicness" seems in itself to underscore that the requirement to "demonstrate 'on-topicness'" would very naturally -- and justifiably -- invite such reactions.

I, for one, would much enjoy reading the (well-deserved) onslaught of drama, snark and hyperbole should the same request be made within the Queer Parenting sub-forum's guidelines... although that is unlikely, considering that sub-forum has no stickyfied set of guidelines. Yet thread after thread within that forum -- especially those dealing with TTC issues -- would not likely pass the "prove to us why this belongs here" threshold applied to PtGC. Perhaps there is an implicit understanding that the folk who post there do so precisely because they wish to hear -- first and foremost -- from the others who post there.

The same reactions would likely occur within the Waldorf community as well were their forum locked-up tight while administrators assessed their ability to self-determine relevancy within their community. When we were seriously exploring different methodologies for our own children, we found the Waldorf & Montessori sub-forums to be very comfortable communities within the larger MDC world. And as soon as this "administrative re-organization" of PTGC began, I immediately thought of how the Waldorf and Montessori communities would recoil should similar "administrative actions" pay a visit to their neck of the woods.

I strongly suspect that if MDC were to launch a "Prove to us why this is Waldorf-esque (or Montessori-esque)," drama, snark and hyperbole would be the very least of your concerns. And for as many arguably generic questions that are posted in each of those sub-forums, I've rarely seen anything moved outside of their walls for the betterment of the MDC community at large.

And then there are the Mongolian spots... apparently these only occur in multi-cultural parenting situations, because the thread has lived a long life within the multi-cultural families since [checking...] 2008. I'd venture that the OP would have failed the "Prove how this relates specifically to multi-cultural parenting" test... after all, it makes much more sense for that topic to be moved to one of the broader baby forums, as the condition is in no way dependent on multi-cultural backgrounds. Nor are many of the questions regarding straight hair, fine hair, curly hair. Nobody in the general forums have any experience with this? Really? Or perhaps those posting in the multi-cultural forums do so in an effort to narrow the responding audience to a sub-group of their choosing. But there is no Stuck-at-the-Top admonishment for these community members to justify their choice to address there questions to others within their community.

But apparently the PtGC forum participants have recently arrived from another planet.

After a series of posts were moved for not meeting some threshold of "relatedness to giftedness," one parent politely asked about clarification of the guidelines here:
http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1118614

The response was interesting:

"If it isn't specifically involving Gifted issues then it

does need to be in the other forum. Simply because a topic involves a child that is gifted doesn't really mean that all threads about that child should be in that forum." Now let's imagine, for a brief moment, just for the sake of argument, how a similar response to a similar question as to why posts were being inexplicably moved out of other communities within MDC:

"If it isn't specifically involving

Queer Parenting issues then it does need to be in the other forum. Simply because a topic involves a child that lives in a Queer Parenting situation doesn't really mean that all threads about that child should be in that forum." or

"If it isn't specifically involving

Waldorf issues then it does need to be in the other forum. Simply because a topic involves a child that is in a Waldorf environment doesn't really mean that all threads about that child should be in that forum." or

"If it isn't specifically involving

Multi-cultural issues then it does need to be in the other forum. Simply because a topic involves a child that is in a multi-cultural household doesn't really mean that all threads about that child should be in that forum." Good heavens, Katie bar the door... The entirety of the internets would be instantly set aflame with much more than simple drama, snark & hyperbole... and rightfully so.

If it's not obvious why it was placed in Gifted, we just ask that members explain the reasoning why a topic was placed in parenting a gifted child vs. age specific parenting or general parenting, H&H, LAS, etc.

Perhaps the "threshold of relevance" that is applied to most any other forum @ MDC could be applied to PtGC as well. And that threshold ought to be something patently objective such as a.) the parent has posted her question in the XXXX forum, and that b.) the parent is presumed to know the nature of the audience she is addressing by virtue of not accidentally posting a question about Mongolian Spots in the "Arts and Crafts" forum.

[tiffani]

[Conifer]

RandiFlowers -

[Qbear'smama]

RandiFlowers,



I only hope that your post results in some reflection and thought rather than a padlock on the thread.

[alegna]

RandiFlowers- :

:

Well written summary of my thoughts on the subject.

-Angela

[Cynthia Mosher]

When a forum becomes a moderation burden and expends more than its due share of our resources, we have to reconsider its purpose and direction and figure out where the problems lie and how they can be addressed. Sometimes we find it necessary to apply more specific stipulations in the guidelines that are not carried over to all forums because they are not all presenting the same sort of concerns. That does not mean that we would not apply the same to other forums if we saw the need to do so. Each forum is looked at separately and dealt with accordingly. We are aware that similar thread topic issues exist in other forums and they too will be addressed as we find it necessary.

If demonstrating "on-topicness" without drama, snark, or hyperbole results in a member posting in reply with drama, snark, or hyperbole, that reaction will be dealt with just as it would in any situation and will most likely end with the member losing privileges to the forum. Members have a clear posting and policy outline to protect themselves from such behavior and moderators have a clear path to follow to justly deal with the issue. Snark reaction posts do not denigrate the value of placing a post that is appropriate and on topic for a forum.

We have had other moderation issues with other subforums, Waldorf being one of them when it faced issues that necessitated temporary limited posting access that was not applied to any other forum. Viewing moderation through your own personal and narrow lens and applying it to every forum and situation you find is not at all something we can take into serious consideration when coming to a decision about forum needs and rules. What you perceive and what the moderators and administrators experience as they work here every day and night, dealing with a variety of problems, people, reasoning, and circumstances cannot be given equal value in a decision process.

We have given ample opportunity to express concerns and opinions, all of which have been considered. The resulting decision is in place with a very gracious apology from the administration. Now it is time to close the door to this discussion, especially since the posting has turned to sarcastic criticism and supposition. We hope that our sincere members who are here to participate in a community they love and value will appreciate the concerns the moderators and administration have and will respect the new guidelines and abide by them.

All others, please park your drama, snark, hyperbole AND sarcasm at the door or you may find it barred.