I have only briefly mentioned this amongst the staff of America's Debate, but I would like to get some public discussion going about this for the benefit of all members, whether they are being reported or doing the reporting.

Lately I have noticed reports coming in from members, only to find unnecessary commentary from the reporter following the offending post. If you report a post, there is absolutely no need to post your own admonishment to the member or let them know you have reported the post. As some of you may or may not have noticed, these posts are often removed along with the offending post.

While it is unnecessary, I might also point out that it does nothing for carrying on a constructive debate, as required by the rules and guidelines. It is, for example, hypocritical for members to report a post as unconstructive only to be unconstructive themselves in saying so in a subsequent post.

Reporting a member for a violation is not a free pass to being unconstructive or confrontational in a following post.

Example:In a topic about WMD in Iraq, somebody posts
A member, seeing this is clearly off topic, reports the post, only to then make their own post...
While there is nothing wrong in what the reporting member said, it isn't necessary and it only further distracts from the debate... not to mention the offending member will likely never see the personal admonishment once it is removed with their own posting.

Reporting a post is all that is necessary here. The Moderators and Administrators will take action to the post without other members adding their own commentary on the matter. It is unnecessary and is dealt with hand in hand with the reported post.

Now, maybe some people disagree. This being the topic for Comments and Suggestions, feel free to express your opinion on this whether you agree or not. Maybe I have it all wrong...

No you're right Abs, reporting a post is enough, and from what I can tell, the moderators and admin at the site are more than capable of dealing with unconstructive posts without every member of the site chiming in against an offender.

As the goal of AmericasDebate is to have constructive debates the use of reporting is the better route to this goal as opposed to having off topic statements concerning others breaking the rules. The mantra we all can repeat to ourselves while posting is: "This post must contribute constructively to the topic addressed in the very first post in this thread".

I agree with you completely, Abs.

Actually, Abs, I half disagree. I would agree that it is just as wrong for people to say someone is being unconstructive and should read the rules IF that is all the member plans on saying. However, if that is the first line and the remainder of the post is on topic and constructive, it is not wrong. (Or I suppose the line could come at the end or in the middle of a similar style post…)

I would also add that the tone of the post is very important.

Some quick examples:

Bad tone:

Good tone: (and a report is made without publicly saying so)

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And I expect to get a few who will say reporting posts does nothing. There always are. I'm not really sure how to rebut that other than saying it is not true. Yes, there are times we don't act as the reporter may have wanted but we do review every report that comes in.

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Personally, I appreciate when members pitch in and want to help enforce the rules. It shows people care about the integrity of this forum. That is one of the most reassuring and encouraging aspects of being part of this place - seeing people who come to like the forum as much as I do and working to keep it a great place to debate.

Excellent points about tone and substance, Jaime.

For those participating in this discussion, my interest in this was recently stirred after a series of one line "admonishments" between members about rules. More than one were not done out of concern for the site's integrity but rather as a means of criticizing members they disagreed with.

Like Jaime, I'm also glad when members help out... so long as they continue to be constructive for the remainder of their posting. And, of course, as long as they aren't using it as an opportunity for attack.

One of the dangers of having strong rules is that some people will spend more time and energy "working the ref" than developing cogent arguments. Spurious reports come with the territory, I guess. Fortunately, we do have a pretty good set of refs and they do a good job of separating the wheat from the chaff.

There are a few other things that I think deserve mention with respect to reporting:

• Certain forums and categories are not subject to reporting. Casual Conversation is like that, as is Comments and Suggestions. The rules don't mention it (I just checked) and the Report button still works but apparently you're supposed to just know not to use it.
• When moderators etc. receive a report, they review the entire thread (according to Mike). Reporting multiple posts in the same thread, even if it's for different reasons, is viewed as nagging.
• Reports are conveyed to moderators via email (at least as of the last software version, again according to Mike). I had assumed that it would be a private forum, or at worst a PM here, but it's actual real-world email. This makes redundant reports even more intrusive for the volunteer staff.
• It's helpful to identify which rule a post is violating. Whatever Jaime might say, I find it hard to believe that a post which is generically non-constructive will get taken as seriously as one that clearly violates some specific rule.

I don't think anybody wants to discourage people from reporting posts, but perhaps knowing these things will enable people to report more effectively.

ABS...i agree with you all the way. It is not necessary to inform the person you reported via the message board. That can be done in PM.

I disagree ABS. I don't like reporting posts because it feels smarmy to me. However, Jaime has told me more than once that it is the only way to go. That said, I compromise by briefly mentioning that I've reported the post and then continuing on with my own post. If I have nothing to add to the topic, I report only.

I've reported two-three posts (I think) since joining America's. I always use the report pushbutton and copy and paste the part I believe to be "against the rules". I then list the rules I believe are being broken. I don't know if admin finds it helpful or a nuisance?!?!?!?!?

Constructive criticism is a good thing. Using "I am going to report this post" as a veil to attack another poster reflects badly on the "reporter".

I'm constantly being reported by people that are overly sensitive. Please stop reporting me!!!

Then please stop being insensitive.


I just wanted to address one point raised by Platypus: Even Casual Conversation and this forum are subject to reporting - if a post is in violation of the rules. One can be just as inflammatory here as anywhere else - and one can easily post personal attacks or hate speech in Casual Conversation. Some of the guidelines are a bit more lax in these forums, but the rules are in force everywhere.


Oh - and the reporting method you describe, Beladonna is very helpful. Including details of which parts of a posting (especially the lengthier ones) you find violate the rules or guidelines saves time and alerts us to the specific comments in question. I'd recommend your form of reporting to everyone.

Would saying, "You stink,Wertz." be a violation in the Casual Conversation forum?

I don't feel any reluctance to report posts that I feel are attacking an individual and I strive not to create posts myself that attack individuals.

So far, so good.

However, heaven knows there are certain individuals on the board who seem to live for the purpose of being inflammatory and difficult. If I say, "This apple is red." They will say, "No, this apple is green." Not because the apple is green, but they would die before agreeing with me that it was red.

Those people I have a difficult time not calling a blithering idiot. But I just recall that diplomacy is the art of not saying the terrible things you think about somebody else.

I'm not sure - but it is in the Comments and Suggestions forum. Consider yourself reported!