To paraphrase an infamous cliché, Hell hath no fury like a Goan whose
message was rejected for posting on Goanet.
There has been much bafflegab on this issue over the past few days by a
couple 'experts' in this field. Since Mervyn asked two 'simple' questions, I
will acquiesce to his request and provide some examples.
ALMOST (emphasis) every message rejected for posting on Goanet is afforded
an explanation and in many cases seen by more than one moderator, sometimes
three or more moderators. It is our experience that most of the rejected
posts are re-posted after the posters make amends based on the explanations
provided in the rejection notice. The remaining resort to private and public
lambasting and abuse of the moderator, me or Goanet Admin members in
general.
The exceptions are FEW (emphasis). These are habitual violators of Goanet
Rules. For eg. Mario Goveia. I have told him I will never give him an
explanation after hundreds of his messages have been rejected over the past
4 years (since he joined Goanet) and indulging him in scores of private
explanations. Has he improved his posting skills? I think he has in the past
few months but there is no guarantee that he will not go down that road
again.
Posters who have a propensity to send in flame-baits, abuse, name-calling,
often indulge in off-post topics, aggressively top/bottom-post, etc.
repeatedly will not be provided with an explanation after several
explanations have been given. There are 3-4 individuals who are consistent
with this behaviour. These guys cannot debate issues without attacking,
demeaning or abusing a fellow poster and will not follow the other simple
rules that have been laid out. These are the guys who are crowing at this
time.
Cornel's initial message on this thread exhibits elitism and is compounded
with ignorance. He cannot come to accept that some of his message(s) do not
conform to Goanet Rules. On another front, he periodically addresses me on
Goanet. He has been informed several times and fails to understand that if
he wants my attention to any administrative issues he has to address it to
goanet-admin <at> goanet.org or bosco <at> goanet.org Cornel would like
nothing but to belittle and abuse Fr Ivo, Gilbert Lawrence, Eric Pinto,
Mario Goveia, etc.in language that he thinks is appropriate but which
violates Goanet Rules and since he is unable to do so, is now suffering from
a bout of bafflegab!!!
The only reason that Miguel has resorted to flatter me over the past few
days is because I held his feet to the fire over the preceding few days in
an off-list discussion (that he alluded to), telling him not to include
entire original posts in his responses to Goanet. Miguel being Miguel will
not accept that his posts are violating any rules as he posts on several
mailing lists where such rules do not exist and he has free rein to do as he
pleases. He is also angry with some moderator(s) (perhaps me) who did not
allow him to respond to Rajan Parrikar 'in kind' earlier this summer. He
believes Rajan Parrikar slighted him publicly and he (Miguel) was denied an
opportunity to return the favour.
Santosh Helekar had a message rejected recently (as he disclosed) and he has
concluded who the moderator was. However he fails to mention that he was
provided an explanation in the rejection note but did not follow through on
the suggestions provided therein. He appears more concerned with who
rejected his message rather than why his message was rejected. Santosh
Helekar is not one of the 3-4 individuals I referred to above. This is just
an illustration of how some messages to Goanet are being used to twist the
truth against Goanet's moderators/moderation.
In a running exchange with a Goanetter (who shall remain nameless for now,
but is certainly reading this) last year, Mervyn Lobo and Gabe Menezes have
had several of their messages rejected last year alongwith some from the
nameless poster for consistently violating Goanet Rules. Again reasons were
given several times after which the messages were just rejected without
explanation. I never heard (directly or indirectly) of Gabe or Mervyn
conduct a campaign to vilify any Goanet moderator or Goanet Admin. Edward
who posts regularly has had many of his posts rejected; I don't see him
getting choleric at any Goanet moderator or Goanet Admin.
If there is any other disgruntled poster out there, please step out from the
shadows. I will give you a reason why your posts are or were rejected if you
haven't got one already. And while you make the effort to identify yourself,
please tell us how many times you have knowingly tried to skirt the Rules
especially to verbally assault a fellow Goanetter?
There is a balance that moderators have to strike between free-speech and
abuse. As is sometimes the case with the same few individuals they cannot
bring it upon themselves to accept that their messages can be rejected.
Instead of focusing on the comments in the rejection notice, some posters
are more concerned about who the moderator was so that they can lynch
him/her verbally in Goan cyberspace. I know best, it has happened to me
several times and is still happening whether I am the moderator or not. If
they don't know who it is, an inquisition is conducted. Would it matter if a
moderator signed his name as Jose or Kamlakar or Caetan or Krishna?? The
problem is the offending message not the moderator. And if you feel you
received a raw deal at the hands of a moderator, please raise the issue with
Goanet Admin goanet-admin <at> goanet.org who have done everything they can
in the past and will do so in the future to afford everybody an opportunity
to share his/her perspective here on Goanet.
In essence, there should be no need to moderate Goanet. Goanet's Rules are
clear and concise. They are published on Goanet's website at www.goanet.org
and are regularly published here. They have been tweaked to their current
status over years of experience.
The question wafting through the air: Are the handful of disgruntled posters
willing to post as per the rules or not??
And yes, through some perspective or another Goanet moderation is always
perceived as biased to somebody or the other. With strong political
convictions some Goans that are pro-Congress are bound to see pro-BJP
posters have a free-hand and vice-versa. Or if its religion vs atheism vs
agnosticism, one group is often offended. Its human nature. If the posts we
see do not conform to our political leanings or religious beliefs, the
easiest thing to do is blame Goanet moderation and when Goanet moderators
reject the messages laden with tripe what happens...the posters turn on the
moderators!! And the circle begins again.....
Mervyn, I hope that was helpful..couldn't shorten it after the flurry of
messages that have been flying around, lots needed to be explained!!! Well,
standby for the reponse........
- Bosco
Goanet Admin
http://www.goanet.org
Where Goans Connect
