Stopping the witch-hunts
Discussion
As has already been mentioned many times on many threads, the kind of witch-huntery and showcasing of 'researching' skills by some members of Pistonheads has the potential to do some real damage. Taking the piss a little bit is fine, but posting up people's Facebook pages, blogs, and home addresses etc is too much.
I'm not being a drama queen here, but people on other fora have taken extreme action when they've been the target of such witch-hunts in the past.
Maybe there needs to be an amendment to the posting rules? Tighter moderation on 'those' kind of threads? I know these threads can provide a great deal of humour for most, but there is potential for things to go very badly, very quickly.
Thoughts?
I'm not being a drama queen here, but people on other fora have taken extreme action when they've been the target of such witch-hunts in the past.
Maybe there needs to be an amendment to the posting rules? Tighter moderation on 'those' kind of threads? I know these threads can provide a great deal of humour for most, but there is potential for things to go very badly, very quickly.
Thoughts?
Davi said:
Agree completely that posting in the open is a bit off, though sometimes I think it can be a useful reminded of just how unsecure your data is!
That's a valid point, but perhaps a little "Hey, you might want to take some personal info out of your profile" would be effective. 
Sadly, pulling stunts like posting people's details on here seems to be part of the 'personality' of PH...which is a great shame. People also tend to use the quote feature to keep it public if the witch-hunter decides to delete their post. Posting such info is very rarely on topic, or called for but if it were disallowed, how would the 'hunters' get recognition they seem to crave..?
Yes, our data isn't that secure on the internet but why use that as a justification to make said data even less secure?
I think it's a s
tty trick but seems to entertain the baying crowds...
Yes, our data isn't that secure on the internet but why use that as a justification to make said data even less secure?
I think it's a s
tty trick but seems to entertain the baying crowds...plasticpig said:
I though there already was a rule.
I've never seen that before. Just makes it all the more worrying that 'that' thread was allowed to continue for so long.PH Rules said:
4. Use the forums to harass anyone, including but not limited to posting personal or private information, photos etc without permission from the person to which such information, photos etc relates
plasticpig said:
I though there already was a rule.
I wonder how full the sin-bin is at the moment then..?PH Rules said:
4. Use the forums to harass anyone, including but not limited to posting personal or private information, photos etc without permission from the person to which such information, photos etc relates
Oh no, surely if the masses approve then that must make it right.
Poor show mods...
Edited by 4Q on Wednesday 1st December 14:08
4Q said:
Sadly, pulling stunts like posting people's details on here seems to be part of the 'personality' of PH...which is a great shame.
It never used to be. PH has always had banter, silly humour, and jokes at the expense of others, but it was of quite a different nature to what it is now. I think partly that is because to start with it was run (mainly) by one person, and as a result the way things were dealt with and what was considered acceptable was a reflection of his personality. As a result, those who fit in with that stayed, and those who didn't either fell in line or weren't around for long. With the change to a more corporate structure, that is a lot harder to maintain.That isn't intended to be a particular criticism of those running things now, more of an observation. That the site has increased quite considerably in size makes it all the more difficult.
If people want to post vitriolic rubbish based on whatever they can turn up about someone, they should stick to 4chan or its like.
4Q said:
plasticpig said:
I though there already was a rule.
I wonder how full the sin-bin is at the moment then..?PH Rules said:
4. Use the forums to harass anyone, including but not limited to posting personal or private information, photos etc without permission from the person to which such information, photos etc relates
Oh no, surely if the masses approve then that must make it right.
Poor show mods...
Edited by 4Q on Wednesday 1st December 14:08
PH's "researchers" have their purpose when someone is trying to pass off a crashed/repaired car as being genuine. For this reason I welcome their skills and efforts.
When using the same sleuthing abilities to ridicule a naive teenager, something has gone severely wrong.
So should it not just act as a deterrent to the previously banned, rubbish dribbling, teenagers who come along the next time?
If we don't get the idiots in then the "researching" referred to above won't be used or needed.
The only time this has happened is when someone has come in and caused grief. It's not just random witch hunting.
Hate to say they asked for it but each time i've seen it i've not felt very sorry for them.
The reasons behind the "outing" in that thread are being muddied with the fan boy arse licking IMO.
Agreed the very personal details, adresses etc should not be posted but anything humorous or pertaining to put some one in there place then all the better.
You never know, Bernard Matthews may take this the right way, stop talking/posting pish and advance with the right things he was doing. As would i hope with anyone daft enough to make stuff up.
How else do people learn?
As long as a line is drawn on how personal the details are, why stop such a useful tool?
If we don't get the idiots in then the "researching" referred to above won't be used or needed.
The only time this has happened is when someone has come in and caused grief. It's not just random witch hunting.
Hate to say they asked for it but each time i've seen it i've not felt very sorry for them.
The reasons behind the "outing" in that thread are being muddied with the fan boy arse licking IMO.
Agreed the very personal details, adresses etc should not be posted but anything humorous or pertaining to put some one in there place then all the better.
You never know, Bernard Matthews may take this the right way, stop talking/posting pish and advance with the right things he was doing. As would i hope with anyone daft enough to make stuff up.
How else do people learn?
As long as a line is drawn on how personal the details are, why stop such a useful tool?
Guys,
It's OK to raise it as an issue, and as Mr. P. Pig says above, there already is a rule:
Mods can't and don't read every post on every thread, in every forum; and tend to act more on reports. So that's the best and most appropriate course of action.
However, that all said - it's a tough call. It's all information that's publicly available; and anyone with any web sense would be able to track down a similar level of info on anyone. It's a tough call. And there are times when it's more acceptable than others (as per example above).
It's OK to raise it as an issue, and as Mr. P. Pig says above, there already is a rule:
PH Posting Rules no. 4 said:
Use the forums to harass anyone, including but not limited to posting personal or private information, photos etc without permission from the person to which such information, photos etc relates
However, if no-one raises it as an issue at the time; then you can't expect action to be taken. If you're not happy with any given post, you can report it using the {report] link on the top right of every post.Mods can't and don't read every post on every thread, in every forum; and tend to act more on reports. So that's the best and most appropriate course of action.
However, that all said - it's a tough call. It's all information that's publicly available; and anyone with any web sense would be able to track down a similar level of info on anyone. It's a tough call. And there are times when it's more acceptable than others (as per example above).
Kinky said:
Guys,
It's OK to raise it as an issue, and as Mr. P. Pig says above, there already is a rule:
Mods can't and don't read every post on every thread, in every forum; and tend to act more on reports. So that's the best and most appropriate course of action.
However, that all said - it's a tough call. It's all information that's publicly available; and anyone with any web sense would be able to track down a similar level of info on anyone. It's a tough call. And there are times when it's more acceptable than others (as per example above).
This is true, and while I accept that people DO put 'personal/private information' in the public domain via Facebook etc. I think it's a fair point that unless they share a link to their Facebook etc. on PH then it shouldn't be posted by other people.It's OK to raise it as an issue, and as Mr. P. Pig says above, there already is a rule:
PH Posting Rules no. 4 said:
Use the forums to harass anyone, including but not limited to posting personal or private information, photos etc without permission from the person to which such information, photos etc relates
However, if no-one raises it as an issue at the time; then you can't expect action to be taken. If you're not happy with any given post, you can report it using the {report] link on the top right of every post.Mods can't and don't read every post on every thread, in every forum; and tend to act more on reports. So that's the best and most appropriate course of action.
However, that all said - it's a tough call. It's all information that's publicly available; and anyone with any web sense would be able to track down a similar level of info on anyone. It's a tough call. And there are times when it's more acceptable than others (as per example above).
We had a similar situation on CTF a while back where some members posted another member's name, address and telephone number - it wasn't done out of malice, just thoughtlessness, but when I removed it, it was argued that the information was already in the public domain. Our response was that that member had not shared it himself therefore it was subject to our moderating rules.
You have a point though that unless someone reports it no action may be taken and I think that's key considering that PH mods can't be expected to read every thread, as you say.
ETA: Sorry, just realised that Garlick posted while I was composing!
Edited by Silver on Wednesday 1st December 21:58
OlberJ said:
If we don't get the idiots in then the "researching" referred to above won't be used or needed.
The only time this has happened is when someone has come in and caused grief. It's not just random witch hunting.
Sorry, but in what way did OP on the Plato thread "cause grief"?The only time this has happened is when someone has come in and caused grief. It's not just random witch hunting.
He made a stupid thread about meeting a celebrity, was disagreed with and then the celeb came on and all hell broke loose.
The OP was guilty of nothing apart from being an idiot IMO but was then hung out as the thread progressed.
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