Moderators

[HarpoJoyce]

Before the start of a new LoI season I have to make some comments on the management of the message board. It hasn't been very good. I have been asked to post a message on the Support Forum when it concerns Moderators. I believe this gives the Moderators an extra cushion of protection to abuse posters.

pineapple stu
In the close season I was getting abusive posts from this moderator that has duties on at least three forums here, this lead on to abusive emails, this is ridiculous. Previously, abuse from this moderator has gone on a longtime. When I reported posts in the past I was receiving infractions from the Adminstrator and threathened if I reported anymore posts. Of course, it meant I was reluctant to report for fear of losing entitlements or been banned. I have had to tiptoe around and PM Moderators to edit or remove posts which are personally abusive to me. One PM asking Galway Utd. moderators to remove a charge of 'habitually liar' against me, Galway Utd and UCD had been drawn together in the League Cup last year, pineapple stu took exception to this. I received no feedback if pineapple stu received any punishment, I doubt it.
pineapple stu may feel he has a sense of entitlement to abuse other posters on this messageboard. Another infraction was received because I reported a Thread title which was deliberately inflammatory about another LoI club. There is no discussion, just infraction. There are other occasions where he discusses me in a derogatory way with Senior moderators, this reenforces his right to abuse with impunity. This moderator expresses himself in an apoplectic way, all this unneccessary abuse is starting to drag a little.

This situation has allowed internet bullies to personally abuse posters and dominate many of the forums.

UCD Forum
I am a UCD AFC fan for a while now, but the UCD forum is uninhabitable. There has been a small but significant group of posters that have intimidated and abused other UCD posters. One chap has a relentless amount of abuse for a few years, he stood up to it but has been banned for a number years. There was no protection for him from the moderator.
The moderator has informed me through PM that he has never issued an infraction to a UCD avatar-fan, which means that this allows UCD fans a unfair advantage in discussions with visitors on those UCD threads, but also allows them to abuse other UCD fans with impunity.
Double-account holders are tolerated, which is specifically against the rules.
There are still two long-time regulars who round on individually posters, when this is pointed out in the forum. Posts are deleted and the clique are free to continue to abuse.

The same moderator, who receives his own share of grief both inside and outside foot.ie, has been on the UCD forum since I joined in 2004. The current chap has done alot of work but he's too close to a small number of posters and there should be a wider space for UCD fans to converse in. I believe it is time for a change and an 'Independent-minded' moderator can make choices for that forum. To dilute the core abusers, the UCD fan that was banned from the site may return.

I think that foot.ie can't have it both ways. Can't boast about a large member forum but not familiarise the Moderators with bullying and harrassment clues [that's recognising B&H when it accurs not get better at B&H]. Members deserve some right to be protected (small, small).

[dahamsta]

I dealt with your reported posts personally. They were a waste of time. You're a timewaster. You're doing it again.

As I've said a dozen times to you, if you don't like the way we run the site, don't use the site.