Discussing a removal

Tele II·Nov 22, 2019·1 votes·2,633 views

I recently had a post removed and would just like to discuss with the person who removed it, their thought process behind it. I'm not the type to just brush it off as bullshit and just think I'm right and there is no reason for it. Im just struggling to find the reason behind it.

My post said: "he already covered that. Maybe try reading the post" and the reason for the removal talked about like how if you disagree with someone you dont need to be disrespectful yada yada" (sorry, short term memory isnt the best and im on my phone so i dont wanna go back and look at it again). I'm just wondering why that is percieved as a disrespectful thing to say. I mean, that seems very neutral to me. Is it just because I wasnt the OP? Like, if the OP had said "I already addressed that... maybe try reading the post before you comment" would that be removed? Is it just because I white knighted my ass into the situation?

I didnt insult the person. Its definitely not a show of respect, but I think its far from disrespect honestly. How can that be percieved as needing a removal? Just telling someone they should read the post? Is it disrespectful to suggest the common courtesy of reading the person's post if youre gonna comment on it? I informed him that his comment was already addressed in the person's post, and told him in a very neutral way to read the post. I didnt say his comment was useless or really any personal opinion on it that would be considered offensive.

Then I was called condescending and told that MY post was useless lol. I dont get it... should I just never mention that someone should actually read the post they are commenting on? It didnt have to turn into anything. Oh yeah! The message said something about feeling attacked. How am I attacking him? It was such a non-issue of a comment to say "maybe try reading the post"... is it just snarky? Are you inserting a tone of condescension that wasnt meant to be there? We cant hear the emotion behind a post. It was not meant to be a mean, smug tone. Why are you putting that on me? Why is the worst assumed there?

Id just like some clarity on the thought process behind why it is considered necessary to remove, because when I was reading why it was removed, it seemed as if the reasons werent even referencing the post in question. Like it was the wrong post or something. Ive had plenty of removals in the past where I thought "okay yeah I can see that. Fair enough." but this one has thrown me in the dark as to what is considered worthy of removal.

4 Comments

ModUlanopoNov 23, 20195 votes

To begin with, your removal read, "While we did remove your post, we'd like to emphasize that this is not a warning and won't count against your Boards account status. However, please take some time to familiarize yourself with the Boards Universal Rules, as well as the guidelines for any sub-board you intend to post in before posting."

In other words, you received the gentlest reminder possible that we expect better from people than what we got in your post.

Your removed content was, "Just dont reply maybe if you dont bother reading it?" You may recall the OP was a wall of text, so it would have been just as easy to assume that person missed it and say "he said he doesn't want to play against bots." That would have gotten your point across just fine.

Then I was called condescending and told that MY post was useless lol.

You weren't told that at all. You were told we expect posters to remain polite and respectful at all times.

I dont get it... should I just never mention that someone should actually read the post they are commenting on?

Generally, no. You should not, as it's a discussion style that generally doesn't get you the response you're looking for and is more likely to cause drama or conflict than anything else.

Its definitely not a show of respect, but I think its far from disrespect honestly.

That's an awfully low bar. We remove things for a lot of reasons other than active insults and open disrespect. Sometimes, as is the case with your post, we remove something because it conveys a tone that tends to make the Boards a less welcoming and productive place.

Tele IINov 23, 20191 votes

Oh, I didnt mean that I was told by the Mod that my post was useless, sorry I couldve been more clear on that I suppose. The last thing I want to do is put words in other people's mouths to help support my point... thats pretty low, I didnt mean that. And yes I know that I wasnt punished or anything, I just like to have an understanding, which is all I'm trying to accomplish here.

Okay, I get that I should leave out the "you should read the post" parts in the future. I wish that my words didnt convey that tone, but I cant control how other people will percieve it, so yeah, I'll just leave it out in the future.

I understand if you cant tell me this, but was there a complaint that influenced the decision to remove, or was it just seen by the mod and thats how they percieved it without any other influence? Just for my own knowledge. I dont hold grudges or anything, and its not personal. I'd just like to know if someone being personally offended affects the decision to remove a post. Not a big deal though either way. Thanks for explaining.

ModUlanopoNov 23, 20192 votes

[{quoted}](name=Tele II,realm=NA,application-id=6heBIhQc,discussion-id=voHlJIOE,comment-id=00010000,timestamp=2019-11-23T02:53:24.796+0000)

I understand if you cant tell me this, but was there a complaint that influenced the decision to remove, or was it just seen by the mod and thats how they percieved it without any other influence? Just for my own knowledge.

I wasn't the mod who removed it, but I will say that the vast majority of what we remove is in response to a report. We simply don't have the time to roam the boards. I will also say that, had I seen that while reading, I would have removed it regardless of whether or not it had been reported.

blindasleepNov 22, 20192 votes

I think that would be in the way you stated it. Would have been better without the last bit after stating that a point had been covered in the post. You probably meant no disrespect, but it could be taken that way. Just an issue of word choice and structure of your statement.