View Full Version : Open Government Reform


Porfiry
12-09-04, 09:36 AM
Effective immediately, SF Open Government is closed to all motions to ban users and all motions to take punitive action against moderators. Complaints about users can be made to moderators directly. Complaints about moderators can be made to me directly.

This forum has proven to be divisive, ineffective, and has taken the focus of members and moderators away from the core discussion forums here.

spuriousmonkey
12-09-04, 02:08 PM
The mighty monkey approves.

Combine
12-09-04, 03:29 PM
Yep me too,

It was annoying seeing it.

Dreamwalker
12-09-04, 05:25 PM
A good idea.

Athelwulf
12-10-04, 02:35 AM
I suppose this is kool with me. :)

vslayer
12-10-04, 03:42 AM
about time, great move porfiry :D

guthrie
12-10-04, 04:38 PM
I am afraid I dont really agree. The obsessed who think this is a place of free speech might waste a few hours here, and I suppose it does get a bit boring for moderators seeing how many people do or dont like them, but I dont think it is taking attention of posters away from the main forums.

On the other hand, I am generally persuaded of its innefectiveness, since to be effective, people would have to be proposing changes to the forum that are both practicable and permissible, and be willing to follow them through, which I havnt sen so much of.

SO this place is alright, as these places go, and nobody is really fussed enough to change things. Indifference rules OK!

cardiovascular_tech
12-10-04, 09:20 PM
I agree but don't know if what I say really matters since I am new here.. But I do agree that mods are needed and people should relize that they do what they do for a reason and respect the mods at hand.

Dr Lou Natic
12-10-04, 10:03 PM
Porfiry, can you please ban truthseeker?
Thnx.

Dr Lou Natic
12-10-04, 10:08 PM
Open government has been ineffective because it's never been allowed to function.
We're yet to give open government a try.
If there is a proposal for something that the site wasn't planning on doing anyway the poll is closed.
There's never been an open goverment, this subforum is the "make a thread and get it closed or ignored" section.

That said, I don't like the idea of an open government anyway, democracy pisses me off, but it would have been interesting to see how much of a disaster it would have been.
You can't honestly say it has been ineffective, it hasn't been allowed to be effective.

spuriousmonkey
12-11-04, 06:11 AM
Just as ineffective as what we call democracy in our political system. Makes you think doesn´t it?

Tiassa
12-11-04, 11:11 PM
• There's never been an open goverment, this subforum is the "make a thread and get it closed or ignored" section.

• You can't honestly say it has been ineffective, it hasn't been allowed to be effective.

I disagree in part because the quality of the Sciforums experience depends heavily on the posters themselves, even moreso than it does on moderation or administration.

As I see it, it is the open government's participants that have largely failed. Given a tool to make their experience better, people chose to whack each other over the head with it.

Must "democracy" allow its participants to destroy it in order to be effective? Should any system respect and encourage what damages it?

The changes to SFOG protect the Open Government concept from the petty and corrupting abuses of narrow politics and willful myopia that make it so ineffective and seemingly useless in the first place.

That SFOG hasn't been effective is a choice of the general posting community.

Tiassa
12-11-04, 11:12 PM
Just as ineffective as what we call democracy in our political system. Makes you think doesn´t it

You're certainly right about that. It does make me think. About women's underwear. Maybe smoking a bowl. Should I do alfredo for dinner?

spuriousmonkey
12-12-04, 06:40 AM
smoking pot again?

Dr Lou Natic
12-12-04, 07:03 AM
That SFOG hasn't been effective is a choice of the general posting community.
Thats bullshit, no matter what you say the closing of a poll in sfog is a subjective decision of the moderator, and in conflict with the concept of an open government.
Now look at sfog, every thread is closed bar about 4.

That is what I would call not allowing sfog to be effective.
It simply has not been put into practice. The whole subforum is a farce.
Ban fucking macm or whatever if thats what the poll decides, that is what the open government has decided. No matter how you feel about it, an open government would entail letting votes decide whatever they decide.
This does not happen, it has not happened, an open government has not existed here. And it's got nothing to do with the members shortcomings. You seem to be drawing a line, like "well they can't do this", thats completely your opinion, and a vote which does not agree with you simply would not agree with you and you'd have to get over it if you truely believed in giving an open government a chance.
If sciforums was in control of the election, the thread which re-seated bush as president would have been closed, and we would have tried again and again untill kerry won.
This might seem attractive to you, but it's not an open government.
Why even pretend by letting people propose things to be voted on? Frankly it's insulting.
The only things that will be approved are things the moderators already approve of, just stay honest about that reality.
Get rid of "sfog" altogether because it's clearly a load of shit.

Gustav
12-12-04, 11:41 AM
And it's got nothing to do with the members shortcomings.

Pardon me but it has everything to do with that. I see stunted emotional development, righteousness and fear. Democracy works with an enlightened and rational populace. It appears that you and your kin do not possess those attributes.

You Shall Thus Be Ruled and Lorded Over as Befitting a Peasant

Thuggery Will Not be Allowed to Stand in these Hallowed Grounds of Higher Learning.

Motions that clearly do not advance this forums Best Interest will be Stomped on and Ground into the Pavement

It is also extremly fitting that you have been insulted. Retards often get that way due to the Demands of Ego.

In closing...my Final Statement....

Peasants, Assume The Position! Your Privileges Have Be Rescinded. Make Haste and Retreat Back Into the Swamps. You Have Been Demoted

*smirk

Gustav
12-12-04, 11:52 AM
The only things that will be approved are things the moderators already approve of, just stay honest about that reality.
Get rid of "sfog" altogether because it's clearly a load of shit.

Thanks For Showing All, the LIGHT


01-19-04, 09:48 PM
The administrator (myself) holds veto power over all proposals.

It was Outlined from the very Onset.

It was NOT in Fine Print

SFOG played admirably into the members Fantasies of Power and Delusions of Grandeur

*more smirking

Combine
12-12-04, 11:56 AM
What you could do is if someone doesnt like the behavior and language, they pm a mod or admin and ask for pemission to create a thread to ban them.
The mod/admin must only say they can if there is enough evidence.

Tiassa
12-12-04, 08:11 PM
Thats bullshit, no matter what you say the closing of a poll in sfog is a subjective decision of the moderator, and in conflict with the concept of an open government.
Now look at sfog, every thread is closed bar about 4.

So if I decide to file a class action suit against you on the grounds that you're a complete f@cking moron and detriment to society akin to a social disease, and the court--as it most certainly would--refuses to hear my case, would you describe disdain toward and measures taken against frivolous lawsuits, "not allowing the courts to be effective"?


If sciforums was in control of the election, the thread which re-seated bush as president would have been closed, and we would have tried again and again untill kerry won.

You're getting a bit loose with your comparisons, Lou. Especially considering that the very same election day provides a much better analogy.


Get rid of "sfog" altogether because it's clearly a load of shit.

Test your theory, then.

I don't see that you're prohibited from seeking a vote on that issue.

In fact, that's one of the stated purposes of SFOG that remains intact.


• Proposals can be made as regards the creation/deletion/modification of forums, appointment/removal of moderators, and the banning/punishment of users. Proposals cannot be made to reinstate previously banned users. ("About SF Open Government (http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?t=32273)", 1.19.2004)

• Effective immediately, SF Open Government is closed to all motions to ban users and all motions to take punitive action against moderators. ("Open Government Reform (http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?t=43161)", 12.9.2004)

Some SFOG topics you might wish to consider:


• Video game forum proposal (http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?t=37117) - Poll appears to have expired without achieving quorum. Proposal was failing. Discussion is not locked.
• Alternative theories forum proposal (http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?t=33168) - Poll appears to have expired without achieving quorum. Proposal was passing. Discussion is not locked.
• Sports forum proposal (http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?t=33203) - Poll appears to have expired without achieving quorum; proposal was failing. Discussion is not locked.
• History forum proposal (http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?t=32316) - Topic locked; resolution passed.

We have a History Forum because of SFOG. We might, sometime in the future, see enough affirmative interest in an Alternative Theories Forum; the proposal fell short of quorum by a narrow margin but appeared to be on its way to passing. My two cents says these are positive outcomes. So, also, are the defeated new forum proposals. They don't stand for all time, but at present neither the interest nor perception of necessity seem to be there to warrant a Video Game or Sports Forum. It's a better route than testing a hundred odds-and-ends fora in order to find out what people think Sciforums owes them.

SFOG, at such a level, provides a method of discussion between "administration" and "the masses". That so many would rather waste the forum kicking each other off the island serves nobody. SFOG, as I understand it, is intended as a tool to help augment the user experience in this "intelligent community". That the majority of the courtiers prefer it as an arena for sticking sand crabs in one another's shorts doesn't lend to a positive user experience at all.°

Sanity or sanitize? Is frivolity a requirement for efficacy?

When put to some useful end, SFOG is an effective tool. Its low average reflects the intended ends of the majority of the courtiers.
____________________

Notes:

° doesn't lend to a positive user experience at all - Perhaps the words "at all" are too strong. It could very well be that fish-clubbing and crab-cramming are in fact what constitutes an individual's positive user experience. I do, from time to time, actually enjoy parts of the brawls I get into with people, but I'm not about to shut any of them up when I can simply stop giving them more consideration than they're worth. Some of the people who voted against various ban proposals did so because to set that particular standard would crimp their user experience far more than size-twelving the ass of our latest headache could ever augment the experiences of the crabmongers. That I believe people are free to cut their own throats doesn't mean I think it's a good idea. And what of you, Lou? You're very well aware of such a conundrum, albeit from a unique perspective (http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?t=34321).

sargentlard
12-12-04, 11:31 PM
Why do I sense Spookz here?

certified psycho
12-13-04, 06:22 PM
*hmmmm safe for now.........

Combine
12-14-04, 02:13 AM
can we still strt threads for improvements for SCI?? Beause i have one idea

Jolly Rodger
02-19-05, 07:28 AM
shhhh Premonitioner

Hapsburg
04-12-05, 03:38 PM
doesn't his make this place more and more like a Dictatorship?
Basically taking away the ability to complain about the leaders.
kinda takes away the "freedom of speech" many of us are used to in our home nations.

not like I care, its just that i needed this clarified?
so, thats basically what it is?
yeah, thought so.

whitewolf
04-13-05, 12:10 AM
I propose to shut down the Open Government section all together and delete it. Nothing came out of it as far as I remember.
Well except for rantings written by newbies.

Hapsburg
05-31-05, 05:00 AM
I concur.
It is quite pointless, and most of the threads in this forum are quite pointless as well.

Roman
06-01-05, 09:41 PM
most of the threads in this forum are quite pointless
I think we should give Hapsburg a medal for such an ironic statement.

Athelwulf
06-01-05, 09:50 PM
doesn't his make this place more and more like a Dictatorship?
Basically taking away the ability to complain about the leaders.
kinda takes away the "freedom of speech" many of us are used to in our home nations.
We still have the ability to complain to Porf about the leaders.


]I propose to shut down the Open Government section all together and delete it. Nothing came out of it as far as I remember.
Well except for rantings written by newbies.
I don't remember anything coming out of it either.


I think we should give Hapsburg a metal for such an ironic statement.
:bugeye: Was that necessary?

whitewolf
06-01-05, 10:02 PM
I wonder what kind of meTal he wants to give and in what quantity.

I really think that Sciforums has reached its full efficiency, or whatever. Nothing needs to be done to make it better. Anyways, there is no improvement at which Porfiry wouldn't sigh in laziness. He can make avatars smaller, but that would be out of necessity, not because we proposed it (we don't propose such things).

invert_nexus
06-01-05, 11:11 PM
I wonder what kind of meTal he wants to give and in what quantity.

Pull over, Roman. Come out with your hands up. You've been accosted by the grammar patrol (spelling actually. But grammar patrol sounds so much nicer... Maybe Grammar Patrol, Spelling Division.)

Avatar
06-01-05, 11:22 PM
No, it should be Language Patrol, Spelling Division, because Grammar is just another division equal to spelling.

Roman
06-02-05, 01:36 AM
Sorry officers. I got all caught up in prose and overlooked my d's and t's. Won't happen again, honest. But no harm, no foul, right?

Avatar
06-02-05, 01:37 AM
10 euros for each and we agree.

Rosnet
11-03-06, 01:37 PM
Complaints about users can be made to moderators directly. Complaints about moderators can be made to me directly.


And complaints about Porfiry can be made to me directly.

www.bronepol.ru
12-29-06, 01:35 AM
It is quite pointless, and most of the threads in this forum are quite pointless as well.

invert_nexus
12-30-06, 04:49 PM
So is your post. So, I've decided to post after you so your web address is no longer displayed on the front page.
Enjoy.

www.bronepol.ru
01-25-07, 02:33 AM
So is your post. So, I've decided to post after you so your web address is no longer displayed on the front page.
Enjoy.
yes.

Bells
01-25-07, 02:35 AM
yes.

You think they are pointless, yet you return once more?

Now that is pointless.

Absane
01-25-07, 01:18 PM
Likely to be a sock puppet and/or a troll with bad spamming tactics.

The Devil Inside
01-25-07, 04:48 PM
wasnt ME. im not smart enough to know what "tatics" are.

Absane
01-25-07, 06:16 PM
Typo.

Tactics

:bugeye:

The Devil Inside
01-25-07, 08:03 PM
*poke in the eye*

Athelwulf
01-25-07, 10:57 PM
Why are we still posting in this thread? This needs to be closed. Its purpose has been fulfilled.


http://sciforums.com/images/buttons/threadclosed.gif

The Devil Inside
01-25-07, 11:57 PM
*pokes athelwulf in the eye*

Athelwulf
01-26-07, 07:02 AM
Sir, I counter your move with an Uncanny Dodge!

*Pulls off series of exaggerated and convoluted rolls, ducks, and spins*

The Devil Inside
01-26-07, 08:01 AM
dude, i have a +9 finger of pokey doom.
thats +9 to hit, AND to damage.

Athelwulf
01-26-07, 08:05 AM
And I dodged them uncannily. :D

The Devil Inside
01-26-07, 08:18 AM
dude, you are breaking the suspension of disbelief.
you cant be in my improv acting troupe anymore.

Athelwulf
01-26-07, 10:40 AM
:(...

darksidZz
05-29-07, 05:12 PM
Hi, what's this place for?

spuriousmonkey
05-30-07, 01:16 PM
Hi, what's this place for?

It's an evolutionary dead-end.

spuriousmonkey
11-11-07, 04:17 PM
*pokes athelwulf in the eye*

threatening violence against a moderator and a minor!?

reported!

Nickelodeon
11-11-07, 04:20 PM
Hope the fucker gets permabanned for that.

spuriousmonkey
11-11-07, 04:22 PM
Hope the fucker gets permabanned for that.

will he ever!

he is a close friend of the administrator.

real thight.