A message from a webmaster...

[KathyTX]

We are trying hard to let people participate and vent and share during this crazy time, but PLEASE remember:

The mods and admins here are VOLUNTEERS.

We are also personally dealing with all the fallout of the current crisis- job loss, illness, isolation and uncertainty, financial disaster.

We want to keep the DIS a place of refuge and civil discourse, but spending every waking moment monitoring the boards and cleaning up messes really is not what we need to be doing now.

I have a great amount of respect and gratitude for our members, who have been GREAT about supporting each other and keeping most conversations respectful and safe!

PLEASE use the “report a post” link to alert us to any truly problematic, profane, attacking posts so we can take care of them. Also, please think before reporting posts that are not really problematic but that may be just something that you do not agree with.

“Political” is a very gray area right now as our government response is very entwined in all issues dealing with the virus pandemic, and we (admins and moderators) have to use a lot of personal judgement when trying to balance allowing conversation and drawing a line preventing political debate and insult. DO NOT insult other posters directly by attacking them for their views or words. Try to discuss IDEAS, not slam other posters. Don’t rage about political parties or philosophies, but mentions of what government figures may have said or done are not necessarily going to be forbidden now.

The reason we had to make politics a “no go” topic years ago is because PEOPLE WERE ATTACKING AND ARGUING. So do not do that, okay? As a team, we get accused of protecting liberal views, conservative views, any views that do not align with a specific poster’s views. The truth is that we are a collection of people with political views all over the spectrum. Just like the membership here. Share your ideas respectfully and we’ll all get through this still being friends.

And if you find your blood pressure rising and temptations to respond harshly to others here or to report LOTS of posts because you do not agree with them, take a break. Turn off the computer. Go sit out in the sunshine and listen to some happy music. Unplug for a while.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Thank you for stating this so eloquently, WebmasterKathy.

Also want to thank our community that have really been trying to stay within the guidelines while posting, and to those who've been providing good information, or trying to help lift each others' spirits during this time.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

And if you find your blood pressure rising and temptations to respond harshly to others here or to report LOTS of posts because you do not agree with them, take a break.

Thanks for posting and I think the part I quoted is very important - and something I need to remember personally at times, at all times, not just now .... take a break, don't respond emotionally, etc.

though it is really cold and rainy and gloomy here, so can't do the "sit out in the sunshine" part

Thanks to all the admins and mods - not an easy job ... let's keep trying to focus on the positive

 

[Hiitsme]

Thank you. I really just need a Mickey icecream bar and a Dole whip.

 

[OKW Lover]

Well said @WebmasterKathy

 

[RamblingMad]

I’m super frustrated by COVID-19. Thanks for letting me vent. I really want to get through this and back to normal sooner than later.

 

[yankeesfan123]

Is it okay if we report a moderators post? I fully appreciate what they are doing, but there have been some that have certainly injected politics into posts or have deleted posts simply for disagreeing with them.

I love the boards and moderators. But hopefully they are kept to the same standards.

 

[OKW Lover]

Is it okay if we report a moderators post?

You can report any post you think has violated the DIS Boards rules.

 

[yankeesfan123]

You can report any post you think has violated the DIS Boards rules.

Thanks!

 

[Donna3271]

Kathy,
What a lovely post! And you are from the Great state of TEXAS!!! My daughter wants to live there so badly! Disney is my happy place, so I am so happy to have these boards to visit and chat with y'all!!! I am right outside Manhattan, and it has been terribly scary here. Meat is getting harder and harder to get. I go out at 5:30 AM to line up at Acme for 6 o'clock opening. This too shall pass. Thanks for letting me vent. Stay safe everyone! Sending hugs to all!!!

 

[hertamaniac]

Is it okay if we report a moderators post? there have been some that have certainly injected politics into posts or have deleted posts simply for disagreeing with them.

But hopefully they are kept to the same standards.

Per their published guidelines: "We do not believe in censorship, and open discussions about various issues is encouraged. "

https://www.wdwinfo.com/guidelines.htm#INFRACTIONS
So where would the report mechanism go on a moderators post? If it goes only to that moderator, isn't that akin to circular reasoning? And what if it's not a post, but a repeatable series of posts/actions targeted against certain forum members (almost pattern-like)?

 

[mshanson3121]

I agree they have a hard and thankless job, especially now, and really as a whole do a great job. However, I agree it would be nice if there was consistency among the mods. Some people seem to get notices when they have committed an infraction letting them know what rule they broke, how it affects them etc... (which is nice I think), but many others don't. Sometimes the punishments imposed don't actually match what is written in the rules. Sometimes what is deemed an infraction really isn't, or, of course the imposition of a valid infraction is subject to favouritism - with one person getting called out, and several others being allowed to do/say the exact same thing. And of course, some mods themselves do occasionally bend the rules, as is human nature. We all make mistakes. These are difficult times in which to be a moderator.

 

[rteetz]

I agree they have a hard and thankless job, especially now, and really as a whole do a great job. However, I agree it would be nice if there was consistency among the mods. Some people seem to get notices when they have committed an infraction letting them know what rule they broke, how it affects them etc... (which is nice I think), but many others don't. Sometimes the punishments imposed don't actually match what is written in the rules. Sometimes what is deemed an infraction really isn't, or, of course the imposition of a valid infraction is subject to favouritism - with one person getting called out, and several others being allowed to do/say the exact same thing. And of course, some mods themselves do occasionally bend the rules, as is human nature. We all make mistakes. These are difficult times in which to be a moderator.

I’ll add that when a warning/infraction is given an automatic message is sent to the poster which doesn’t specify exactly the reason or which post. It’s automated so we have to go in and edit or send another message if we want to specify. Many times I would think people can figure it out but if not I have no problem pointing out the reason.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

Definitely a tough, thankless job! So - thank you, all mods and web masters!!

 

[RobDoc]

For those with a specific question about an action taken regarding your own account, please start by privately asking the Moderator or Webmaster who issued the warning.

If you feel additional information is indicated, you may send questions/concerns to admin@wdwinfo.com where they will be reviewed by all DIS Webmasters. It helps if links, dates, usernames and a complete description is provided.

If a response is warranted it will be provided. Questions/concerns about accounts other than their own will not likely receive any reply.

 

[disneyland_is_magic]

I totally get how both sides are feeling. The mods are working overtime...for free.

I had one post edited by a mod a couple months ago that took me a while to figure out why since I wasn’t notified, didn’t know which mod had done it and didn’t know who to ask. I reviewed it several times trying to figure out what I had done wrong and was nervous to post again if I was out of TOS. It turned out it had been to simply add a last name for clarity to whom I was referring to. The mod was just trying to make the thread better and I was sweating, does that mean I have a warning?! Points?

The boards are a bit confusing with sub-forums. I think to admins the organization is second nature and seem very clear. I have figured out the threads where speculation or discussing the virus in general are allowed...but it taken my some time and kinda knowing the mods style. If someone told me they didn’t understand it, I would 110% believe them.

 

[hertamaniac]

I agree they have a hard and thankless job, especially now, and really as a whole do a great job. However, I agree it would be nice if there was consistency among the mods. Some people seem to get notices when they have committed an infraction letting them know what rule they broke, how it affects them etc... (which is nice I think), but many others don't. Sometimes the punishments imposed don't actually match what is written in the rules. Sometimes what is deemed an infraction really isn't, or, of course the imposition of a valid infraction is subject to favouritism - with one person getting called out, and several others being allowed to do/say the exact same thing. And of course, some mods themselves do occasionally bend the rules, as is human nature. We all make mistakes. These are difficult times in which to be a moderator.

Couldn't agree more.

I find it interesting that we are to give a point of reference and cite certain posts which are often deleted and/or modified in a premonition of some sort. How can a user have preemptive knowledge that their post(s) would get flagged, deleted or even modified prior to the event? To that end, how can a user have 100% confidence that his/her post wasn't modified/deleted as a point of reference to a higher authority? I've seen self-protectionism at work many times in the workplace.

Almost all of the moderators have been judicious, fair and impartial. With that being said, I think there are a few of us that truly know where the fundamental, repeatable issue resides. As such, I think our PM's may have likely been compromised which is why I have shared other forms of communicating our concerns.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

This is not the place to discuss moderating decisions. I am going to lock the thread now.

And to answer this:

As such, I think our PM's may have likely been compromised which is why I have shared other forms of communicating our concerns.

We do not read or moderate PMs. The only way we would see a PM is if someone shares it with us to report it; and we don't see the actual PM, we would only see what the person has quoted.