A Plea to Mods Administrators

[varsha]

Please help stop discussions about the personal angles to lives of public figures.
Unless you want to be counted amongst the mindless , thankless , tasteless segment of posterity.

All the names we discuss at length in our promiscuous frivolity are indeed flowers that have spread heavenly peace on the above.In spite of a stench filled undergrowth .

The silence of the silent mature majority is deafening . And I am not complaining.

We may end up as a crass and uncouth bunch
As crass and uncouth as infant-terrible and his ilk.(error intended)
Who have started with a fragrant undergrowth and revel in stench around.

Please make a serious note . This issue has visited you yet again. Maybe for the last time.
Wake up and set right some editorial policies if you wish to stay relevant .
Please .

[Sachi_R]

Mods,
It is, as you all surely well know, that in this noisy and thoughtless social media frenzy, rumour, and gossip, take centrestage and people post, repost, forward, comment, share, and add fuel to the fire witlessly.

Any Google search result in the context of CM throws up rasikas within the top five results for me. It shows how important and influential rasikas.org has become. So I second Varsha's request or note of caution.

[kvchellappa]

I think we must flag specific posts to mods. as it will be impossible for them to sift the maze of posts and keep editing. But, of course, it must be accepted as a policy and then we may keep referring.

[sureshvv]

Better to use the "Report" feature and flag individual posts that you think need to be examined.

The mods/admins are also busy people and do not have the time to chase down every thread here. Let us not put all the burden on them.

I think it would be quite good to put up a Code of Conduct type of thing that we can all agree upon, so people understand what they can post here and what they should not.

Another method is to have a Thumbs Down/Dislike feature for a post and if the number exceeds a certain number, hide the post.

[Sachi_R]

Suresh, good suggestions!

[kvchellappa]

The code is already there.

[Nick H]

I think two things...

One is that when a person becomes of a certain status, perhaps in history, their personal history becomes relevant. At least to some. Others may focus on the art and leave it at that. Either way is valid.

Sometimes the histories may include flaws. Consider the great heroes of the epics... If they had not had flaws, we would, for instance, have no dice game to be danced ad infinitum!

But history, the admission of flaws and/or things that are socially acceptable in one generation but not in another, is a matter of fact. If the life and accomplishments of a person are sufficient, they will be enquired into. It's history.

But there is a border, and beyond that border, is muck raking. Digging the dirt becomes the purpose. That reduces history to mere gossip of the worst kind.

And then... There is the spewing of venom. There are authors who write rubbish and somehow get published; there are celebrities who get to be famous for... Being famous. Criticism is valid: should we let bad writing on topics and people relevant to the site and of interest to us, just pass without comment?

I think that is not necessary. But even more, I think that rasikas.org should not become a vat of poison.

If there ever was a thread title that should make the forum look in the mirror, it is the spewing of venom. I'm afraid that members are actually joining/rejoining to do exactly that.

This should be nipped in the bud. These train-wreck threads should be stopped, closed, deleted long before they become scenes of mass carnage. And, yes, their perpetrators (especially those who join to join in) should be warned or even banned.

That is called forum moderation, and it is no good arguing that those who do the job are too busy to do the job.

It has to be done. This is not a dung heap. Except, at the moment, it is.

[thanjavooran]

Another method is to have a Thumbs Down/Dislike feature for a post and if the number exceeds a certain number, hide the post.
[/quote]
Excellent!
This suggestion is good. Definitely will solve the problem.
Thanjavooran
09 12 2017

[Sreeni Rajarao]

I agree with Varsha's Opening post #1

I think Nick's points quoted here must be implemented: "This should be nipped in the bud. These train-wreck threads should be stopped, closed, deleted long before they become scenes of mass carnage. And, yes, their perpetrators (especially those who join to join in) should be warned or even banned"

[narayan]

I have a suggestion. Move "General Discussions" to "Member's Lounge" or some such place. The rest of the forum, except some bad-mouthing in Concert Reviews is often informative and nice and worth visiting. Whenever I go to General Discussions, I have to retreat hastily to calmer places, not having the stomach for the language and opinions there. My failing, certainly. But life is short and there is much to learn and do, so I guess one has to choose.

[arasi]

Yes, at least for a while, shunt General Discussions to the lounge, please. The spirit of the music season is hampered by heaps of negativity which plagues it now
We rasikAs welcome the season with hopes of having a rich musical experience. mangala isai, banana trees and decorations greet us everywhere. Let's open our portals too in a welcoming way

[Nick H]

It's hard not to be a little hypocritical here. I suppose I should try more.

I absolutely agree with what Varsha says, and I stand by my own post. The difference is that I don't think that Varsha has taken any part in any of the recent feeding frenzies, whereas I, even just now, have been unable to resist sticking my toe in with the piranhas.

[arasi]

Nicholas,
We all get carried away, in the way a mighty wave drags us in at the shore and yes, we do get carried away, with all the excitement.
Then we say, enough...

[srkris]

I do agree with some of the comments. The forum needs constant monitoring & reporting.

However, we used to have many moderators earlier (and some of them left after a year or two). If other people are willing to moderate the forum (although it is like a 24x7 activity and can get tiring after some time), please let me know.

[Nick H]

Then we say, enough...

Despatched... with a flea in our tail