Urgent message for all members!

Following a post today on this forum and the low carb diabetic blog re. diabetes.co.uk  Mr. Panesar the forum owner has kindly agreed to meet me in London on Thursday. Obviously I have questions to ask him, I am sure other members here have questions they would like brought up at the meeting. This is your chance to have your say. Let's keep it business like and polite, this is your chance to make a difference. Members here have been very vocal re the DUK forum in the past, time to speak up again.

Eddie

Hi Eddie,I shall reply later as I need to condense my questions down into a small chunk but thinking ahead...Is it OK for any members who wish to put questions forward but don't feel comfortable using their DCUK forum name due to fear of reprisals from the admin/mods there to still do so?

Paul1976 wrote:Hi Eddie,I shall reply later as I need to condense my questions down into a small chunk but thinking ahead...Is it OK for any members who wish to put questions forward but don't feel comfortable using their DCUK forum name due to fear of reprisals from the admin/mods there to still do so?

Very good point Paul. If members want to post a question they want asked at the meeting or make a comment they can post anonymously at this thread. http://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/diabetescouk-and-why-you-must-follow.html

Eddie wrote:

Paul1976 wrote:Hi Eddie,I shall reply later as I need to condense my questions down into a small chunk but thinking ahead...Is it OK for any members who wish to put questions forward but don't feel comfortable using their DCUK forum name due to fear of reprisals from the admin/mods there to still do so?

Very good point Paul. If members want to post a question they want asked at the meeting or make a comment they can post anonymously at this thread.   http://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/diabetescouk-and-why-you-must-follow.html

Can't say fairer than that!

I'll give this some thought Eddie.

Well done, Eddie. Actually I'm finding this one quite difficult to answer.  When you meet the "bloke at the top" in any organisation, to sort out difficulties, it's important to have well thought out points, not going in with a rant or a stream of inconsequential, minor points, which they can tick off one by one, then close the meeting.  I'm sure you know this.  You have to decide what your fundamental point is, have it well prepared and illustrated with facts.  Throwing in the odd compliment for their considerable achievements is always a good idea!
So, I would tell him how useful and what a great starting point his site and forum was when I joined the T2D club.  I would also say that I understand that large sites and forums, with paid staff, have to be paid for and that money has to be brought in somehow.  BUT, I would query the calibre of some of the moderators and their ability to make fair and reasonable decisions about some posts and some members.  They have created a "walking on eggshells" feeling, when replying on certain subjects and are frequently seen to delete or moderate valuable contributions, which members have spent time and effort preparing, for no other reason than the post goes against some unseen agenda.  As a result, the quality of contributions has drifted downwards.  Many well informed members, who were able to bring special expertise, beyond simple personal experience,  have gone.  
Mr Panesar is still in a position where his forum could be a world leader, but by failing to moderate the moderators and creating an impression in the minds of some, that money comes before all else (rather than being a necessary fellow traveller) he is in danger of clipping the wings of the golden goose, if not actually killing it.
If he has nothing to hide (and I'm not suggesting that he has), could he please tell the staff to stop turning the lights out.
Sally
(If someone would now like to ban me from DCUK, feel free, it will prove my point.)

Re Sally's point about moderators. I am sure that being a mod over there is a thankless task. As far as I know they are unpaid and untrained. I would like to see them given some training to help them with the job. Sometimes I feel they are a little too strict on 'keeping the thread on topic' when it is naturally just evolving and still providing useful info for anyone reading it. Also a little bit of chit chat is what builds relationships. I'm not blaming them as such, I just think more guidance would be useful for them.

Thank you for the responses so far.

To Rod.

In fairness to Mr. Panesar I am hoping to send a list of questions to him before our meeting to give him time to make some enquiries before our meeting. I believe this will be more productive, rather than him saying quite understandably, I don't know etc. I will have to get back to you and so on.

To Sally

Thank you for your advice, I have taken it on board. You are always the straight talker, I respect that big time.

To Zand

Thank you for your input, all your posts and for being a mod here. I hear what you are saying, but my initial thoughts are these. How much training does and adult need to be honest, to mod a forum in and open and fair way. To not delete, thread lock and ban members on a whim or an unfair and corrupt interpretation of the forums rules. People like Fergus, Dr.Katharine Morrison, Timo, Dennis, Pneu, IanD and our own Mo done a great and even-handed job without resulting to the tactics and out and out dishonesty of some of the current and past mods.

Sally has pretty much covered what I would like to have raised.  

On Zand's point about moderators and moderation, I don't know that you necessarily need to be trained as a moderator (I am open to being convinced on that one) but what you do need to have are objectivity and clear guidelines defining the criteria that they work to (which is not the same as the forum rules) and perhaps more importantly a set of rules amongst themselves defining what their powers are and how they are implemented.  Banning for example should never be determined by a single moderator acting alone.  This would go some way to dispelling the appearance of inconsistency, lack of transparency and subjectivity/personal agendas on the part of the moderation team.  What is needed is a clear and consistent protocol applied with objectivity.  The moderators should not push their own agendas as part of the moderation process, nor appear to favour any members.

So the actual question would be something like "What assurances can you provide that forum moderation is carried out fairly and objectively and is not open to abuse by any individual moderator?".

I'm still thinking of others but they are probably no different to what Eddie already has up his sleeve.

Where are you meeting Pizza Hut?

Baruney wrote:Where are you meeting Pizza Hut?

Nice one.  

I very much doubt it, I though this might be a good place. "London to get its SECOND cereal cafe as the capital goes crazy for breakfast staple (and this time there's a takeaway option)  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-3063972/The-Cereal-Killer-Cafe-open-second-branch-Camden-Stables-London.html

Perhaps they can make the forum rules a bit more easily found?

Also, take the ambiguity out of this statement:

Moderator decisions are final and not up for discussion. Criticism of moderators and forum monitors will not be tolerated. Things may be discussed via PM, but members will be suspended for personal attacks.

How can decisions not be up for discussion but, can be discussed by PM?

How come I got banned without any warning being given - there was one general warning not three specific ones!

The Moderation really needs moderating! I'm generally just a lurker there now.

Sally wrote:Well done, Eddie. Actually I'm finding this one quite difficult to answer.  When you meet the "bloke at the top" in any organisation, to sort out difficulties, it's important to have well thought out points, not going in with a rant or a stream of inconsequential, minor points, which they can tick off one by one, then close the meeting.  I'm sure you know this.  You have to decide what your fundamental point is, have it well prepared and illustrated with facts.  Throwing in the odd compliment for their considerable achievements is always a good idea!
So, I would tell him how useful and what a great starting point his site and forum was when I joined the T2D club.  I would also say that I understand that large sites and forums, with paid staff, have to be paid for and that money has to be brought in somehow.  BUT, I would query the calibre of some of the moderators and their ability to make fair and reasonable decisions about some posts and some members.  They have created a "walking on eggshells" feeling, when replying on certain subjects and are frequently seen to delete or moderate valuable contributions, which members have spent time and effort preparing, for no other reason than the post goes against some unseen agenda.  As a result, the quality of contributions has drifted downwards.  Many well informed members, who were able to bring special expertise, beyond simple personal experience,  have gone.  
Mr Panesar is still in a position where his forum could be a world leader, but by failing to moderate the moderators and creating an impression in the minds of some, that money comes before all else (rather than being a necessary fellow traveller) he is in danger of clipping the wings of the golden goose, if not actually killing it.
If he has nothing to hide (and I'm not suggesting that he has), could he please tell the staff to stop turning the lights out.
Sally
(If someone would now like to ban me from DCUK, feel free, it will prove my point.)

Your banned

Eddie wrote:

Baruney wrote:Where are you meeting Pizza Hut?

Nice one.  

I very much doubt it, I though this might be a good place. "London to get its SECOND cereal cafe as the capital goes crazy for breakfast staple (and this time there's a takeaway option)  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-3063972/The-Cereal-Killer-Cafe-open-second-branch-Camden-Stables-London.html

Hope you have a constructive meeting - can't find the thread that lead to the meeting though - how did this come about then and what is the purpose of the meeting (if I may ask).

Baruney wrote:

Sally wrote:If someone would now like to ban me from DCUK, feel free, it will prove my point.

Your banned

@Baruney you numpty - @Sally meant ban from www.diabetes.co.uk forum not this one!

So glad you're not a moderator here - I'd never be able to post! Perhaps you should apply at that other place?

nomistheman wrote:

Baruney wrote:

Sally wrote:If someone would now like to ban me from DCUK, feel free, it will prove my point.

Your banned

@Baruney you numpty - @Sally meant ban from www.diabetes.co.uk forum not this one!

So glad you're not a moderator here - I'd never be able to post! Perhaps you should apply at that other place?

Yes I know - I just like to post those 3 guys at any given opportunity and like wise when you're around I get to use this falla

Hi @eddie

Covered by other really but you could ask him why their IT dept is playing around with my home IP address as shown below.....

Baruney wrote:Hi @eddie

Covered by other really but you could ask him why their IT dept is playing around with my home IP address as shown below.....

I am getting "This video is private" and as such cannot view it.

Baruney wrote:

Eddie wrote:

Baruney wrote:Where are you meeting Pizza Hut?

Nice one.  

I very much doubt it, I though this might be a good place. "London to get its SECOND cereal cafe as the capital goes crazy for breakfast staple (and this time there's a takeaway option)  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-3063972/The-Cereal-Killer-Cafe-open-second-branch-Camden-Stables-London.html

Hope you have a constructive meeting - can't find the thread that lead to the meeting though - how did this come about then and what is the purpose of the meeting (if I may ask).

This is why it came about  https://lowcarbdiabetic.forumotion.co.uk/t1730-diabetes-co-uk-and-why-you-must-follow-the-money#18269

And the purpose of the meeting is try and bring about much needed change.

I thought that was posted a while ago.

New link hopefully you'll see it this time....

Eddie wrote:

Baruney wrote:Hi @eddie

Covered by other really but you could ask him why their IT dept is playing around with my home IP address as shown below.....

I am getting "This video is private" and as such cannot view it.

OK got it now, yes the flog likes to play these games, but a proxy server gets you straight back on the forum. Would you believe some naughty reprobates who have been permanently banned are back at the flog doing sterling work for the cause.

Who'd have thought. Have a good one on Thursday.

In my case I just cleared all my cookies and cache on my browser and did a complete re-start on my router thus,giving me a new IP address and voila! I was back viewing the forum!

I agree with Sally. What USED TO BE a valuable resource long ago became a ridiculous waste of my time. Despite never having used it for many years I'm still on their mailing list though.

I'd like to know what his rationale is for mostly banning low carbers, and not the antis, no matter how ignorant or insulting they are. Or what he *thinks* his rationale is.

The issue with moderators at DCUK has been going on for five years it all started with the appointment of cugila as a mod, I've dug out a thread and a post by admin from 2010, it appears his words fell on deaf ears. The thread is six pages long I made a couple of posts on it too.

Administrator wrote:
Jo, as I've said, if anyone has a grievance with a particular moderator or monitor, come directly to me and I will do my best to address it. I am always in favour of laissez-faire moderation that does not stifle debate, and I also believe that the 'rules' of this forum are only established as a benchmark to protect against abuse, and do not need to always be followed to the letter. 

All we are trying to do here is provide a free environment to encourage people with diabetes to exchange information between each other. That was my original purpose in setting up the forum, and remains the purpose today. It makes me happy that thousands of people have been helped, less happy that the knowledge base we once enjoyed has been fractured by individual egos who tried to make a support system into a battleground.

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/moderation.16483/page-3#post-151013