Breach Of Rules Will Get You Moderated / Banned

[anthony]

I have never had any hesitation in moderating or banning a member for breaching forum rules here. This time is no different. [DLMURL="http://www.ptsdforum.org/thread8386/6.html"]Robbed's thread[/DLMURL] where she gave her username and password to another to post on her behalf... completely against forum rules and such an act can breach another's privacy.

Robbed has been put back in moderation as a result and will stay there for quite a while now due to stupidity. It is commonsense that you would not give out passwords or your account to anything online. So much damage can be done by doing so. The only reason Robbed is not banned is because the member did not have any private access. The member will never get such access though now after such a breach to begin with.

I have a zero tolerance policy which only equals equality on how I govern members when breaching the rules.

 

[Deleted member 541]

Thanks Anthony for doing what needed to be done. I'm glad to know that Robbed will never get into PTSD ONLY section.

Wendy

 

[linasmom]

Anthony -

Thank you! I feel much better knowing that this person will not ever have access to our private area.

Best,
Rachel

 

[baileysemt]

She allowed a medical professional to login and only to post in one thread.

Anthony, did you go through the raw Apache logs and track exactly what pages the nurse viewed during that login? What did she do during that visit? If we're going to pander to the paranoia, let's back it up with hard, cold facts so people can know if they are safe or not. Those are the issues that we struggle with after all, right? Paranoia - safety - what is real vs. not real.

Frankly I think there are a handful of people who are hypersensitive and overreacting. Let me put it this way ... give me 20 minutes and I could not only read everyone's private entries, but I could delete the data on your entire server. I don't need no stinkin' password, LOL. :rolleyes: That is not a threat, I am just pointing out the FACTS of web server security. I run web servers like yours for a living, I know them inside-out and backwards. And I realize how oblivious 97% of people are about how insecure their data really is. "Internet security" is an oxymoron. If someone wants to get in, they aren't going to waste their time with a username and password.....

Personally I find the public tar-and-feathering (once again!) to be reprehensible. The fact that a fragile and freshly traumatized member who was blind after brain surgery is being shunned and ridiculed for reaching out to us in whatever way she could, and for trusting a medical professional no less (of all people), is what is stupid.

In my opinion it would be a good idea to have a couple of less emotional people on the moderation board, as it appears that a very few are intent on yanking on the reigns and running the board based on their irrational and overreactive fears (from the PTSD they are here to try to heal from) This was a nice lady who was just attacked and hurt and violated to the core by someone she trusted. And lookie here... this board has done the exact same thing to her again!! Un-freakin'-believable.

Anthony, I have disagreed with you on policy before, and that disagreement on principle and how people are treated here (namely the blatant disrespect exhibited re. discipline) is raising its ugly head once again, and I'm calling you on it, once again. It's not acceptable, it's not supportive, it's not healing behavior and it's not okay. If you want to tar-and-feather somebody, go after the asshole that raped and beat Robbed IN HER OWN HOME! But to demean and shun Robbed so severely for trusting the very people we encouraged her to see, is utterly ridiculous.

Needless to say, there are some ways in which you and I would run very different boards. I don't question the need for moderation, it is an absolute necessity. But a more level head must prevail when a handful of people go off the handle. All that was necessary was a password change, and a private POLITE reminder of the rules.

What can I say, I am all about the respect and politeness. :-P

And no, this is not the only board where I point out when peoples' manners and response is out of line. :wink: I pretty freely call a spade a spade on all of the boards I'm on. Somebody's got to draw the line about proper decorum, y'know ...

Just my opinion. Take it or leave it, but somebody's got to stand up and say it.

Bailey

 

[Nicolette]

She allowed a medical professional to login and only to post in one thread.

Actually there are 3 posts - # 50, #54 and #55

Anthony, did you go through the raw Apache logs and track exactly what pages the nurse viewed during that login? What did she do during that visit? If we're going to pander to the paranoia, let's back it up with hard, cold facts so people can know if they are safe or not. Those are the issues that we struggle with after all, right? Paranoia - safety - what is real vs. not real.

What is important is that the nurse was given access under Robbed's membership. This is a violation of privacy and is not permitted. The rest is irrelevant other than Anthony stating the nurse didn't get access to private areas as Robbed didn't have access to those areas. It is due to this that Robbed is only in moderation and not banned.

... give me 20 minutes and I could not only read everyone's private entries, but I could delete the data on your entire server. I don't need no stinkin' password, LOL. :rolleyes: That is not a threat, I am just pointing out the FACTS of web server security. I run web servers like yours for a living, I know them inside-out and backwards. And I realize how oblivious 97% of people are about how insecure their data really is. "Internet security" is an oxymoron. If someone wants to get in, they aren't going to waste their time with a username and password.....

And your point is? Sounds to me like you are taking this issue on another tangent. The issue is member behaviour and not website security.

Personally I find the public tar-and-feathering (once again!) to be reprehensible. The fact that a fragile and freshly traumatized member who was blind after brain surgery is being shunned and ridiculed for reaching out to us in whatever way she could, and for trusting a medical professional no less (of all people), is what is stupid.

I would have thought if someone had just had brain surgery that there focus would be on getting well and not what was posted on an internet forurm. It seems Robbed got her eyesight back within 24 hours of the nurse posting so why couldn't she wait? What was so urgent?

In my opinion it would be a good idea to have a couple of less emotional people on the moderation board, as it appears that a very few are intent on yanking on the reigns and running the board based on their irrational and overreactive fears (from the PTSD they are here to try to heal from) This was a nice lady who was just attacked and hurt and violated to the core by someone she trusted. And lookie here... this board has done the exact same thing to her again!! Un-freakin'-believable.

I don't have PTSD and I think you are out of line coming here accusing others over over-reacting when I personally think you yourself are guilty of such.

 

[anthony]

Hi Bailey,

Please feel free to remove yourself and participate in another forum if you don't like the rules of this forum. The rules are rules and they exist for a reason. This forum contains people's very private and medical details in areas that exist.

I believe I have already clearly stated that the member had no private access, so nothing was harmed to begin with in respect to private data. The act of giving account details is a breach, live with it.

Next point. Regardless your job, servers are quite secure when done right. You might get a rude shock when attempting to hack my server, you might not; as you believe you are an expert. Yes, many have no idea what they are doing and leave exploits and holes everywhere. I don't... Why? Because this forum contains individuals private medical data, so I am obliged to make the server security much tougher, above your average general hacker to someone who really doesn't give a shit about data on a forum and has better things to do with their time.

This topic about forum policy is not up for debate to begin with. Live with it or go elsewhere. I do not apologize for moderating a member of the forum because they broke the rules. Tough shit.... regardless who it is, I have no bias nor compassion when it comes to upholding the forum rules. I do not apply it to one, then not another. All work under the same rules or you simply do not participate here.

I am not making Robbed an issue... you and others are. I am simply enforcing the rules here, and I do that without bias. I tar all equally when it comes to editing here.... you should know that about me by now. I do not care about personal circumstance when it comes to breach of forum policy and specifically and more important, handing out account details to allow another to access the forum under another identity. Once I am made aware of it action as per the rules is taken immediately.

Again, this topic is not up for debate, nor are the rules or policy of this forum. You can piss in my pocket all day about how it upsets you, but I am not listening. Rules are rules here... I look at everything equally and do not care who the member is that makes the mistake, new or old, young or old, friend or not... don't care. I edit without bias.

Again, forum policy clearly outlines that you obide by the rules and policy of this forum or your account may be moderated, banned or simply your own course is to leave the forum immediately.

Live with the rules as they are not up for debate. Do not attempt to make me feel bad for the personal circumstance of any member surrounding it either, as it doesn't work. I edit without bias, plain and simple.

 

[Rivergirl]

Thank you Bailey for your brave stand on all of this. I agree with many of the points you have made.

I am especially disappointed in the selective application of consequences in this whole mess.

I have re-read the rules and editorial policy, which are full of rules about grammar and spelling and capitalizing threads, but nowhere do I read anything about not allowing others access to your account. This may be common sense, but Robbed's nurses clearly stated who they were. Any other member could be allowing access to their account and have someone else writing for them without identifying themselves and we would never know it! You can't control everything, and I believe that Robbed has been punished unfairly.

I do read in the rules and policies about complaints, the following:

If you read a post that you believe someone is dragging another member into something.....makes comments or remarks against another member of this forum in a derogatory manner that is asking to cause conflict here, then please report the post to me. [as I mentioned to you, I clicked on the Report Post icon and, although I didn't know it, my report went to the moderator, Linasmom, who told me that there was nothing wrong with the post I had reported].
I will then review it and edit it if required, I may disagree with you, either way, you do have control over helping the forum overall maintain a safe and friendly environment without allowing members to have snide remarks against any other member. (my emphasis)

As well I feel that Anthony's statement that Robbed has been put back in moderation "due to stupidity" is extremely insensitive. To use name-calling like this I feel is unprofessional, and makes me feel unsafe on this forum. On any forum I need to feel that the rules are applied fairly and equally, without name-calling, and that----as stated above----a safe and friendly environment is maintained. I don't feel that is being done here.

I do thank you, Anthony, for your replies to my complaints by private message about what I still feel is the disrespectful behaviour by some members of what is now appearing to be an "inner circle" towards a very vulnerable member. I especially thank you for encouraging me to add my thoughts to the public discussion, as I have done so here.

Rivergirl

 

[kers]

I have re-read the rules and editorial policy, which are full of rules about grammar and spelling and capitalizing threads, but nowhere do I read anything about not allowing others access to your account.

Check number 16 in the "Terms and Conditions" of [DLMURL="http://www.ptsdforum.org/misc.php?do=page&template=disclaimer"]the legal policy[/DLMURL]:

Please note that you are responsible for taking all reasonable steps to ensure that no unauthorized person shall have access to your password or other information you consider confidential. It is your sole responsibility to control the dissemination and use of activation codes and passwords, to authorize, monitor, and control access to and use of your password, and to promptly inform ptsdforum.org of any need to deactivate a password.

 

[Auburngirl]

I've read through the thread. I agree people shouldn't let others use their account. However, I think politeness and kindness are indispensable, and this could be dealt with privately through PMs rather than a post like this. We all have our issues and dealing with things the best we can. Being supportive and caring is critically important, particularly when someone who already has PTSD is undergoing something traumatic.

In a community (of which this is a virtual representation) mutual respect is key, giving out information is one violation of this, but the response to that act is another. And, real discussion on issues like this, and consideration of the variation of opinions is also important this cannot be a closed or taboo topic.

 

[cyndi]

Wow, volitile topic. I applaud the open dialogue on this. As a new (still moderated)member, I wanted to say a couple of things here. First, I give kudos to all of you guys for speaking your minds. There are many here who have gone through abuse severly limiting the power of voice, and I for one find it very empowering to know I can be heard too.

As a newbie looking in, I wanted to offer my view and this seems like a good opportunity to do so. I was tempted to before, but really need the support and learning from this forum so didn't say anything. (usual behavior after abuse *rolling my eyes at myself*) I think speaking up and not being punished or banished for it is a good, healthy exercise in empowering oneself. I myself had a thread locked because I didn't capitalize all the letters in the title. I was excited about a reply to my post, really needed feedback and I found a reply that I had to prove I'd read the editorial policies before posting and my thread was locked. I apologized, reread and understand the policies. I will say though, along with my apology that I felt the response was a wee bit harsh. I initially logged off immediately, had been sharing with my boyfriend by reading him my posts to help in understanding and he was as put off as I was by it. I saw another post by someone saying it was the first time ever to talk about their trauma and it too was locked because of similar editorial issues. I wanted to reach out and hug that person-how awful to speak out for the first time, putting it out there in cyberspace, making themselves vulnerable and get their post locked as a response. It broke my heart.

Again, I totally understand the need for policies and rules, I respect that. Is there not a gentler way of following up on them? Could the forum have a vote on that? There are so many of us here in a fragile state, could the forum move to react with that in mind? I will be honest here: the only reason I'm still here after seeing how some of this is handled is because it's the best resource I've found for info. and support for PTSD, otherwise I would have split and found another.

I hope my speaking how I feel won't affect the duration of moderation but I'm taking that chance because I feel it is important.

Thank you to everyone for making this forum happen and keeping it happening.

 

[anthony]

Is there not a gentler way of following up on them? Could the forum have a vote on that?

The problem with public issues.... is that they are public already which means many members know about it at once. Some issues that are private, or found quickly, often are handled and remain private. Unfortunately I do not edit things if they are already in the public spotlight.... I let them run there course and allow members their right to speak about the issue at hand. It is only when members want to challenge the forum policy that I often step in, or if things get too out of hand... like this topic is.

I hope my speaking how I feel won't affect the duration of moderation but I'm taking that chance because I feel it is important.

No... you opinion is as valid as another. Moderation is to weed out spammers and predators.... it is not used to shut down voices for the fun of it.

 

[becvan]

Um first off.. WOW. Just wow.

Okay as for this being a public notification.. there is a reason for that. For those that are new and to remind those that are not, when someone gets moderated or banned, that the community knows, and NO ONE posts what is going on there is holy hell breaking loose on here with members demanding to know what is going on.

I know, I was at the heart of one of these type of discussions, much to my displeasure. There was even a poll about whether or not to make stuff like this public. Those that voted wanted it public, well guess what you got it!

The rules were also made by MEMBERS. You wanted them, you got them too!

Editors simply enforce them because they have to. It's not an easy job, it's not a pretty job and barely anyone likes you for it. But someone has to do it.

Just reminding, otherwise I'm staying the hell out of this one!

bec