You have received a Guideline Reminder at ********* Message Boards.
Reason:
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Discussion of Board Management/Post Removals – Removed
Removed.
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Original Post:
Quote:
Totally agree. Facebook is the future as it is truly people who are cruising minus all the restrictions based on the fact that ***** is a big travel agency, hence the selective editing/banning etc. Many of us moved to facebook so we could plan things and share ideas, something impossible on the ***** with the restrictions in place. We could post pictures, and links which are not allowed here – making roll calls on this site somewhat useless for actual planning.
**** also gives access to anyone to read the thread out of context, without meeting the people involved or actually being on the ship. That is followed by posting replies based on assumption of what transpired. If they used multiple ID’s (common practice), it will also appear as if there are 10 people agreeing with their opinion.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation,
All the best,
********* Message Boards
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This is apparently “censorship week” on the internet with multiple victims, including myself. I received the above “guideline reminder” in the form of a message on a cruise message board site. There to enjoy the whimsical writing of a certain Capndinghy in the form of a review from the transatlantic sailing of the Magic, I managed to run into the collective dragnet that swooped up poor Capndinghy, and halted his review pending a 7 day suspension. The fragments of the review remain, awaiting the return of the suspended Capndinghy. The rest of us only posted comments about the removal of some of the material from the review, and asked the reason for the removal. ASKING is a violation in itself, according to the moderators. Thou shall not inquire, request an explanation or comment on a decision in any way or discuss the management of the board, as my above NastyGram attests.
“All the best” - Am I wrong to consider this a mockery?
Does the IRS sign your audit notice with the same best wishes? Does the cop sign your speeding ticket - Love and Affection – Officer Bob?
“All the best?” It would probably be amusing if it did not imply that the balance of power in this NastyGram is not slanted in your favor. It does however convey the condescending nature of the management of this particular message board.
Lucky for us, as I noted in the comment that was censored, there are much better sites for sharing cruise information and meeting your fellow cruisers out there. With the mounting number of cruise message board victims, the other sites are enjoying a surge in popularity.
Lucky for us, captdingy was graciously offered information on another cruise message board without such heavy handed tactics, where he can finish his great review without censorship. Abandoning ship is a metaphor for finding ourselves another cruise message board to use for sharing information and having a good time.
Misery really does love company and I apparently have enough company. Little by little, the victims censored by the message board came limping over to facebook where they can live in peace and freedom. Volunteer hosts granted power over others is a scary proposition. Doling out guideline reminders by the handful yesterday, NastyGrams arrived along with the evidence of multiple missing entries in Capndinghy’s review. Entire threads also disappeared as the heavy hand of censorship came pounding down. One can only look back into history to similar examples of censorship at the hands of the tyrants of the past to see the similarities. Many of the other victims of yesterdays dragnet only questioned the people who were judging the material based on tidbits of information they gathered from several sources, they were not on the cruise. Attempts to correct the information others were interjecting into the review, were the first ones crushed by the gigantic thread eraser. Then came the suspension of poor Capndinghy, as he transversed the walk of shame for politely defending his review. Sitting comfortably among friends, he started his review again in the free land of facebook.
Even Rome fell thinking itself invincible, and so as the internet grows and the people decide what sites they wish to spend their time on, some sites will implode and fall. Likely it will be the sites banning and suspending members, like the talented Capndinghy and Man in the funny hats, that suffer and die. After all, the people following these popular characters will leave the site in search of their favorite fellow cruisers on a competing message board.
Now to find those two characters and think up another user name and password for the new message board. I don’t think there will be anyone left on the old Ancient Rome message board, plus who wants to be sentenced to death by over zealous message board hosts.
copyright November 29, 2011 Rita Alexandrea
Among the many other Facebook Groups is Cruise Critic Sucks. Come check it out. I started it several years ago, for all the reasons you mentioned: Not just to get away from the censorship, rules and restrictions, but also to post pictures, notes, video clips, etc. Also, because mostly people use their real names, they are actually MORE responsible in what they post.
Kudos and very well written.
Goodness I am a suspended victim for stating ‘I am enjoying Capndighny’s review along with your blog.’
I have been traveling back in your writings and find myself hopelessly entranced with your forthright boldness.
Well written, as always, Rita
For those who want to partake in a message board but without moderators with hidden agenda’s, and just basic common sense rules where you can review a ship warts & all – and we don’t mind observations about fellow passengers either, good & bad, you can always come and join the family at CruisingTalk.com…like Cruise Critic Sucks on Facebook, we offer a haven of free expression & speech without the hinderance of staff who own the world and make you pay for it if you forget to tug your forlock and get on bended knee to them. You’ll be made very welcome
There is another message board over at CruisingTalk.com – many folks from “that place” are finding their way over. I will leave you breadcrumbs if you wish to join in the fun either there or Dave’s Facebook group…
I have enjoyed reading some of your Magic TA blog posts (which I found via the message board you are speaking of). I also know the “man with the funny hats” and LOVE him. I was also following the review by capndinghy and knew that the mods would be too based on some of the controversy of the TA. The thing that you have to remember is that it is THEIR message board and their rules. Everyone must agree to those rules when they sign up. I really don’t understand how you can call it cencorship? Believe me, I am not a cheer leader for the site for rules are rukes and everyone must follow them. OK, OK, I can already hear y’all saying that they are selective in enforcing the rules, but again, it’s their site to do as they please.
I have gotten a couple of warnings…but never a suspension….but I have to say that even the “warnings” were over something totally laughable.
Thank you for writing such an excellent response to my recent suspension. I feel badly that people who have stepped in questioning my punishment, commenting on it, or even writing about it have been punished as well.
Me, too! This is fascinating, and I am trying to piece everything together of what, exactly, happened, from the clues left lying around….I do have a small nit to pick about the word “censorship.” I certainly don’t doubt that the posts were removed and warnings issued (and people suspended – get real! If this is the retired airline pilot that got suspended, that is completely wrong – he’s polite and an excellent reviewer and I have enjoyed reading all his commentary and pictures); however, the site does actually belong to that certain travel agency, and they have every right to decide what is appropriate posting on their own site, and that is not censorship. Censorship is when a government agency or other **controlling** entity tells you what you can and cannot write or say. Since “that travel agency” really cannot control anything about what we do except for posting in their small area, this is not censorship.
Mind you – I totally agree that these reviews should not be squelched, and fortunately, due to the other boards are available, they won’t be. Now, off to see if I can’t find you guys. Since I wasn’t on the cruise, of course I wasn’t invited to the online “party.” I have definitely been enjoying the stories to date, though. Thanks for keeping us updated. I am so glad I found you!
I have come to the point where I don’t even care what they do at that message board anymore. There are far too many good alternatives. When it stops being fun, it’s time to move on. Here is their message to me for the second time in as many months:
“Your posting privileges have been suspended for the following reason:
Member continues to disrupt the forum discussing board moderation.
Date the suspension will be lifted: December 12th, 2011, 08:00 PM”
The funny thing about it is that I never mentioned board moderation, They are aware though, that I am a member of some groups that they don’t hold in high regard. Think they have a target on me? LOL!