Should Anonymous Posts Be Allowed On Powerlifting Watch?

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Sat, 05/08/2010 - 05:59 -- admin
Yes, Anonymous Posts Should Be Allowed. This Is America for Crying Out Loud!!!
26% (471 votes)
Heck No; If You Type It, A Registered Name Should Be Attached To It
58% (1065 votes)
They Should Be Allowed, But Have To Be Approved By A Moderator
16% (303 votes)
Total votes: 1839

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
It would be really cool if Eric embraced a true no-holds-barred policy on the comments. That would make PLwatch stand out from the crowd. Also seize the independent spirit of powerlifting.

Submitted by Phillip Wylie on
[quote=Anonymous]It would be really cool if Eric embraced a true no-holds-barred policy on the comments. That would make PLwatch stand out from the crowd. Also seize the independent spirit of powerlifting.[/quote] There are other sites that currently allow that.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
[quote=Phillip Wylie][quote=Anonymous]It would be really cool if Eric embraced a true no-holds-barred policy on the comments. That would make PLwatch stand out from the crowd. Also seize the independent spirit of powerlifting.[/quote] There are other sites that currently allow that. [/quote] Yeah, it is called the NASA hate forum, everyone knows about it.

Submitted by eggsurplus on
[quote][quote]eggsurplus wrote: I'm a fan on how Slashdot filters out the crap. They let the users moderate the posts by giving it a score. Lower scored posts (trolls) get hidden by default but can be viewed if desired.[/quote] Doesn't PLwatch have that already? How does Slashdot's implementation differ? [/quote] Yes, there is moderation but it doesn't filter the view. On Slashdot there is a 0-5 score and by default it shows only those 3 or higher. The rest below that are visible but collapsed to allow you to see and moderate them up if you so choose to. The level you want to be shown is configurable by user so you could see all from 0-5 expanded if desired. Plus there is a better threading mechanism to allow easier to follow comments as they tend to take a life of their own.

Submitted by Priest (not verified) on
I like coming here and reading the anonymouse posts. Even though it is entertaining, there is also some truth in what is said. Who cares? If you dont like what is said, dont read it. If you take folks too serious, dont read it. I cant believe so many people voted against this. there are more important things to fix in this sport. Like, having too many feds.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
[quote=admin][/quote] Opinions should always be allowed but due to the nature of people it should go through a moderator for content.

Submitted by Jason Harbin on
I definitely say if you want to POST, you have to be registered, if you want to be anon, then that says a lot right there about the quality and thoughtfulness of your post. Not 100% of anon posts are garbage, but easily 90%, and for a number like that its worth it to make everyone who posts to log in.

Submitted by gack_the_ripper on
I think if you eliminate anonymous posts, you'll lose a lot of the candid comments, and lose some of what PL Watch is. Keep the anonymous comments, trolls are easy enough to recognize. That being said - to the anonymous posters: grow a pair and own your opinions! Ken Gack 'the Ripper'

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
Being anonymous allows lifters to post about fed's they may be in without fear of reprisal from egomaniacal directors or board members. It is true that allowing that also means that you will have pot stirrers that post, but this site runs on traffic. If you eliminate anonymous posts, your traffic will go down. There is no doubt about that.

Submitted by zane geeting on
And to answer phreaks questions about asking someones name at a meet... I wouldn't ask for their names, you're right about that. But I can tell you in the 7 or 8 years I've been competing in this sport I have never heard anything like these anonymous posts at a meet, because people know the consequences and reprecussions of such nonsense. If you wouldn't say it to someones face, don't say it. As for what kind of man I am, I am a man who belives in respect and courtesy, if I had a problem with someones lift at a meet I would say something about it because I would be fully prepared to deal with the reprecussions. And if I was going to say something about a bad lift on the internet I would put my name to it as well. I would stand up for what I believe, if you can't do that you are a coward.

Submitted by briangodsen on
Just so everyone is aware, if you post under your real name, and pay your $12, your posts are still subject to moderation/deletion. That makes the premise of this poll kind of shady. Everyone's posts have to be approved by a moderator.

Submitted by hourlywage on
[quote=briangodsen]Just so everyone is aware, if you post under your real name, and pay your $12, your posts are still subject to moderation/deletion. That makes the premise of this poll kind of shady. Everyone's posts have to be approved by a moderator.[/quote] you arent paying for total freedom, dummy. you are paying for the lifter rankings. how you draw a connection between those two things is beyond laughable and is the reason that they have to have the poll. if you dont like the anonymous stuff, dont come to the site. These updates are luxuries and not a right that we have. i stayed away from this site for a good long while and my car still worked and my mortgage rates didnt increase without my daily updates and user comments. if you dont like your situation, then stay away. none of your rights are being stripped when you are offended.

Submitted by eggsurplus on
[quote]...this site doesn't need people to put their names down, it needs to delete immature comments by immature people. [/quote] Exactly right.

Submitted by Rob Schmidt (not verified) on
I don't think banning all anonymous posts is the answer. I think a complete ban will reduce the quality of the discussion that goes on here. Most anonymous posts are legitimate comments. However, in the past, some of the anonymous posts were either nasty personal attacks, or were just obscene rants (f- this, f-that, f-you and the horse you rode in on...). I bet a review of the IP addresses associated with those posts would show that it is probably a fairly small group of people. I think that banning all anonymous posts will stifle discussion because there are some things that people may want to say in good faith, but may not want to post if their name is attached to it for all the world to see, forever. I think Eric should (and will) peruse the posts and delete those that are either vulgar or just personal attacks. (And congratulations, Eric, on taking over PLW. I wish you all the success with PLW that you have had with Raw Unity.)

[quote=Rob Schmidt]I don't think banning all anonymous posts is the answer. I think a complete ban will reduce the quality of the discussion that goes on here. Most anonymous posts are legitimate comments. However, in the past, some of the anonymous posts were either nasty personal attacks, or were just obscene rants (f- this, f-that, f-you and the horse you rode in on...). I bet a review of the IP addresses associated with those posts would show that it is probably a fairly small group of people. I think that banning all anonymous posts will stifle discussion because there are some things that people may want to say in good faith, but may not want to post if their name is attached to it for all the world to see, forever. I think Eric should (and will) peruse the posts and delete those that are either vulgar or just personal attacks. (And congratulations, Eric, on taking over PLW. I wish you all the success with PLW that you have had with Raw Unity.)[/quote] Tracking an IP address will NOT solve the problem. Depending on the Internet Service Provider, the user may have a "dynamic" IP address - so one day I post and my IP is xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx the next day I turn off my machine, repost and my IP changes - so someone else will have that IP address. Review the amount of ANON posts to PL Watch, I bet they are more than 50%. Remove those posts, whether good or bad, and you will lose both hits and interest to the site. As site driven by Hits, it will impact PL Watch greatly to remove or block the posts. The answer: 1.Turn on your word filter and block curse words 2.Have the moderators do a better job on managing the conversation flow. 3.Add a filter to either include posts with ANON or exclude them. 4.Remove yourself from the politics of Powerlifting (don't be more concerned with one Fed than the other) 5.Add the users IP address to every post - it will remove some of the anonimity. 6.Just relax - ANON post = hits, HITS = traffic, Traffic ='s Money. In the end, I can be anyone I want to be in an "e-inviornment." My name is Bob - no that's not really my name, but does it really matter? Bob "the builder" Smith

Submitted by admin on
[quote=Bob "the builder" Smith][quote=Rob Schmidt]I don't think banning all anonymous posts is the answer. I think a complete ban will reduce the quality of the discussion that goes on here. Most anonymous posts are legitimate comments. However, in the past, some of the anonymous posts were either nasty personal attacks, or were just obscene rants (f- this, f-that, f-you and the horse you rode in on...). I bet a review of the IP addresses associated with those posts would show that it is probably a fairly small group of people. I think that banning all anonymous posts will stifle discussion because there are some things that people may want to say in good faith, but may not want to post if their name is attached to it for all the world to see, forever. I think Eric should (and will) peruse the posts and delete those that are either vulgar or just personal attacks. (And congratulations, Eric, on taking over PLW. I wish you all the success with PLW that you have had with Raw Unity.)[/quote] Tracking an IP address will NOT solve the problem. Depending on the Internet Service Provider, the user may have a "dynamic" IP address - so one day I post and my IP is xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx the next day I turn off my machine, repost and my IP changes - so someone else will have that IP address. Review the amount of ANON posts to PL Watch, I bet they are more than 50%. Remove those posts, whether good or bad, and you will lose both hits and interest to the site. As site driven by Hits, it will impact PL Watch greatly to remove or block the posts. The answer: 1.Turn on your word filter and block curse words 2.Have the moderators do a better job on managing the conversation flow. 3.Add a filter to either include posts with ANON or exclude them. 4.Remove yourself from the politics of Powerlifting (don't be more concerned with one Fed than the other) 5.Add the users IP address to every post - it will remove some of the anonimity. 6.Just relax - ANON post = hits, HITS = traffic, Traffic ='s Money. In the end, I can be anyone I want to be in an "e-inviornment." My name is Bob - no that's not really my name, but does it really matter? Bob "the builder" Smith[/quote] We are in this to do the right thing and move the sport of powerlifting forward in a positive manner. I put the lifters first-always. I will do what is in the best interest of the sport and its lifters; not something just for web hits. Respectfully, Eric Talmant

Submitted by Noah Holdsbard (not verified) on
The threads that are full of controversy and debate are the topics that draw the most views, the most return viewers and the most comments. From a business perspective it's good money to keep fanning the flames. But if people are going to post anonymously or with ficticious names, they should be penalized by having their submitted remarks first reviewed by the moderators before they're released to the reading public. So, if you want to be able to post up instant comments and replies, use your real name. If you don't want to reveal your identity, be prepared to have to wait a day or more to see your post online, if it's approved at all.

Submitted by Paul Simmons (not verified) on
[quote=Noah Holdsbard]The threads that are full of controversy and debate are the topics that draw the most views, the most return viewers and the most comments. From a business perspective it's good money to keep fanning the flames. But if people are going to post anonymously or with ficticious names, they should be penalized by having their submitted remarks first reviewed by the moderators before they're released to the reading public. So, if you want to be able to post up instant comments and replies, use your real name. If you don't want to reveal your identity, be prepared to have to wait a day or more to see your post online, if it's approved at all.[/quote] Everyone knows eric is still just fanniny the flames and drawing hits. He isnt really going to go by his own poll and change anything. He knows the sponsors dont really care what people say to each other and the sponsors actually think lifters look at there props when they come on here to degrade each other. Nothing changing here.Actually makes me frown own the sponsors that go alone with the crap.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
I go an idea for those who don't want to have anynomous posts have the ability to turn them off most boards have an ignore feature. So registered members can turn off anym posts

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
I've competed about 20 times and it doesn't mean a damn thing. people want to talk about the sport, and complain about the sport. Anon posters are bringing up the real topics and carrying the real conversations on this board and others. Boards that only allow real names just have a lot of self congratulation like marunde-muscle.

Submitted by Aged Raw Lifter... (not verified) on
Just set a policy on anonymous posts and those who want to comment will adapt.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on
Saw the video this morning. I enjoy the site, especially some of the humorous dialogue. Whatever you decide is fine. The 57% to 43% is not a strong mandate to ban anonymous postings. I'm not all that up on computers, but perhaps there's a way for an anonymous contributor to mask his or her name. That way the site admin people will know who's doing what and will be able to respond accordingly if someone is causing problems. Personal attacks should never be allowed anonymously or otherwise...saw some pretty good people get trashed in the past.

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