I see the new rules are released but it looks as though we cannot dicuss them under threat of 3 strikes and you are out.

Bob

OTT rules.

I now post only rarely due to over moderation.

Nice try guys but neither the 'three strikes and out' or the power of the moderators decisions is new. Maybe they were so far down the old rules page that few users ever found them! That is the main reason for the changes. No significant changes in the intent just hopefully easier to find and follow?

For clarity forum rule 6 covers complaints not general discussions. General discussion about rules, improvements to them etc are not complaints, whinges or likely to bring forum rule 2.2 into play.

Formal warnings are relatively rare - only six people have received them in the space of the last two years.

Hope this helps

Moderator team

Can we please have a summary of what has changed added to the sticky post then? It's entirely pointless telling us the rules have changed but not telling us what the changes are!

Shouldn't your sticky be 'New Forum Layout' then as opposed to new forum rules?

Thanks (again) Mod 2 but your post and mine will be swept away in the flood of questions about RIDDOR reporting, moneybags consultants and pointless risk assessments fairly soon, so I'll ask again if we can have the WebTeam state the changes, or lack thereof in the sticky at the top of this forum please?

And totally agree with Graham about having some sort of sticky in each forum that explains what it is for and gives some simple warnings about not relying on the posts as competent advice. I read and contribute to many internet forums and this is absolutely the norm elsewhere so that new posters have a sticky for easy reference as to forum netiquette for that particular site.

To be fair, I did need a little slap there. I had it wrong and the mods had it right. Sorry.

It's not the Moderators' announcement Bob so don't blame them for the inaccuracy. All they have done in this thread is try to explain what really should have been made clear in the original sticky post and for that we should be grateful that they take the time since as you observe they are volunteers.

As someone who moderates on other forums which allow MUCH more robust language than this one (hint - think British Army..) I often remove posts with no prior warning and no explanation. The user usually knows quite well why. I agree it's nice to let the poster know subsequently what the full reason is but again let's bear in mind that Mods are volunteers. Maybe some of us should offer to join the Mod team... ;-)

If I put my name forward I'd be shot.

To be fair I had it coming. Thank you for the WB Bob

Why are so many posts being removed from what appears to be an innocuous thread?
Is it possible to show which rule has been breached when removing a thread so others can try to avoid the same mistake?
Stuart

Err, link does not work!

With regard to New Rules, just noticed that I've been moderated - first for a while. Not quite sure why but if anyone took offence, let me know via PM and I'll decide whether a grovelling apology is in order.

KieranD at #22 suggests that its easy to underestimate the value of this forum. It's also equally easy to overlook its various LIMITATIONS plus the fact that whatever is posted becomes visible to whoever in the world cares to visit the forum. Therefore, though some forum users might not care for the rules and moderatorial intervention as and when needed, they're surely essential for maintaining standards on a forum operated by a professional body.

Apologies to those who think the following observations comprise statements of the obvious. However, they might not be obvious to others:

For most discussions between two or more people, talking face to face is preferable to doing so by phone and far better than via this and other electronic forums. There is instant exchange of information and opinion. People having face to face discussions also benefit from being able to see facial expressions, have some idea of who they are talking with, and also know if and when others leave such discussions. Also, people are less likely to insult each other face to face than as pseudonymous forum users.

It's also a lot easier and quicker to exchange information and opinions using one's voice than by typing, but perhaps I'm just slower than most forum users as regards typing. Also, I'm conditioned to try to read over what I've typed and make corrections if necessary before hitting the send button.

Bruce, being a bit of a Luddite I am not aware...do tell us more or PM me?

Heather

Like most electonic data I suspect that nothing is truly deleted even if it says it is - Just think of all thye police time spent on data recovery of illegal images that were deleted. Give a hacker a chance and s/he will find the information. Like I said elsewhere somebody will be using the username and password of either username or admin and password. Even the US defence department computer experts did that one.
Long way off the new "rules layout" though:-)

I am just a cynical old safety practitioner.

Bob

Then use the "report" button. That's what it's there for.

The First Rule of the IOSH Forums is you don't talk about the IOSH Forums!

Because it's much more satisfying just to complain that others aren't doing their job than it is to actually try to help them do it?