Hi,
Some members who have joined recently will probably not have a clue who this is, so let me introduce myself ...
I'm Dan, founder of Allotments4All. I started the site before the dawn of time to try and spread knowledge among people who grow things! I think it has been quite successful at doing that.
The site has now grown, and my commitments outside of the site are much larger that I could have imagined 7/8 years ago when I posted the first topic on Allotments4All.
We now have a band of volunteers who try and keep the peace ensure we are not over run with SPAM as many forums are. These moderators are volunteers and ensure the site continues to run for no personal gain, several give many hours each week to enable all members to have a safe pleasurable website.
As I hope long standing members will agree, I have always been fair with people, sometimes gone to extraordinary lengths (which I have been more than happy to do) to ensure people have a safe worry free environment and I continue to monitor from afar.
I treat every member of the site with the same respect as the moderators, I must however, unless a moderator is unquestionably in the wrong support the people who enable this site to function.
Please feel free to PM me with any questions, I'd ask that you do not discuss any individual issues in the open, it will only make it harder for people to start enjoying the site again.
Lastly, the majority of people reading this will not have a clue what I am talking about - let me assure you if you have not noticed a problem, I doubt you will now.
Absolutely lastly :) I hope everyone can continue to enjoy the site, I welcome everyone (well apart from spammers) and I would like every to feel welcome.
Thanks
Dan
Dan, i am sure many many PMs will be coming your way.
This was the best site ever untill people got to big for there boots.
As a long standing member on here I have noticed many changes and not all for the good.
I am about to pm you asking why someone who has contributed so much to this forum has been banned.
I did post a public message to you but this was deleted.Since when did moderators have the power to delete messages to you.
Sorry Dan but it feels like the rot is setting in.
No-one goes in the shed anymore for a good old chat, and no funny jokes. Sob, sob.
betula, rosebud - I will answer your PMs when they arrive.
For clarity, the person you are referring to was banned for 7 days, and is no longer banned. I will not enter into public debate about why the ban was put in place.
Dan
Quote from: Borlotti on September 22, 2011, 21:10:38
No-one goes in the shed anymore for a good old chat, and no funny jokes. Sob, sob.
If you know a joke (even if it is not funny :)) post away!
Dan clearly there is a problem and I don't find your post reassuring with regard to it.
Quote from: Flighty on September 22, 2011, 21:14:02
Dan clearly there is a problem and I don't find your post reassuring with regard to it.
If you haven't seen the problem, don't worry.
I am sure you will soon receive a PM with some of the story - drop me a PM if you want and I will try to reassure without divulging too much.
The problems relate to something which the vast majority of the users of Allotments4All will not see or notice.
Dan
Its not so dull to-night Betula!
I've been a member here for nearly 7 years and have only noticed small changes during that time. When I first joined, Dan was able to manage the site single handed albeit with IMHO a tad too much leeway for the odd abrasive personality who appeared from time to time. Since then the site has grown to such an extent that he, quite sensibly, appointed moderators. This is a necessary function on any larger forum so it's nothing unusual. They have, as far as I've seen, done an admirable job of moderating the site with the light hand that, I suspect, Dan has aked for. On a daily basis they will have had to delete spam, less frquently they will have had to take action with certain posts or posters. As the ex-owner/moderator of various forums, I would never want to belong to a forum where this function did not exist or was not exercised. I have seen many such forums over the years implode in bickering, abuse and even translation into real life.
As far as I'm concerned, I am more than happy to be ignorant of anything I haven't noticed and am confident that the forum is being run with our best interests at heart.
I'm not worried but I am concerned that some long standing, and well respected, members who I consider to be friends feel as they do.
You've never responded to any previous PM that I've sent you, and I doubt if what you have to say will reassure me.
betula, PM answered.
Flighty - to give you an idea at the moment I have nearly 1300 PMs.
Send me one now if you have a question and I'll do my best to answer.
Dan
I won't bother, and I have nothing further to say here.
Quote from: djbrenton on September 22, 2011, 21:26:45
I've been a member here for nearly 7 years and have only noticed small changes during that time. When I first joined, Dan was able to manage the site single handed albeit with IMHO a tad too much leeway for the odd abrasive personality who appeared from time to time. Since then the site has grown to such an extent that he, quite sensibly, appointed moderators. This is a necessary function on any larger forum so it's nothing unusual. They have, as far as I've seen, done an admirable job of moderating the site with the light hand that, I suspect, Dan has aked for. On a daily basis they will have had to delete spam, less frquently they will have had to take action with certain posts or posters. As the ex-owner/moderator of various forums, I would never want to belong to a forum where this function did not exist or was not exercised. I have seen many such forums over the years implode in bickering, abuse and even translation into real life.
As far as I'm concerned, I am more than happy to be ignorant of anything I haven't noticed and am confident that the forum is being run with our best interests at heart.
DJB speaks for me also. I'm very grateful to Dan for the excellent place that is A4A, and for the mods who keep it ticking over. I haven't seen a problem, and I'm confident that whatever it was has been dealt with appropriately. Least said soonest mended I say. Let's move on.
Oh, Flighty please don't go. I regard you as a friend, and you love cats. ;D ;D I don't understand what the problem is, but have noticed not so many posts from people I like to read their posts, and never anyone in the chat room.
Further to my last post, and in view of the PMs that I've received, and replied to, asking if I'm leaving, I meant that I've nothing further to say here on this topic and I will be staying.
Glad you are not going Mike.
Let us hope J will read the boards and come back on.
It is a humiliating experience so I must admit I would not blame her if she steers clear.
Betula,wish you would tell us the problem that your friend is having,perhaps someone could help or advice her what to do,Aim. not trying to be nosey ,but lots of pepole seem very concerned about Jeanine,what on earth has bean so humiliating for this poor soul that the site is almost in mourning for her.
Just re-posting Dan's message:
Hi,
Some members who have joined recently will probably not have a clue who this is, so let me introduce myself ...
I'm Dan, founder of Allotments4All. I started the site before the dawn of time to try and spread knowledge among people who grow things! I think it has been quite successful at doing that.
The site has now grown, and my commitments outside of the site are much larger that I could have imagined 7/8 years ago when I posted the first topic on Allotments4All.
We now have a band of volunteers who try and keep the peace ensure we are not over run with SPAM as many forums are. These moderators are volunteers and ensure the site continues to run for no personal gain, several give many hours each week to enable all members to have a safe pleasurable website.
As I hope long standing members will agree, I have always been fair with people, sometimes gone to extraordinary lengths (which I have been more than happy to do) to ensure people have a safe worry free environment and I continue to monitor from afar.
I treat every member of the site with the same respect as the moderators, I must however, unless a moderator is unquestionably in the wrong support the people who enable this site to function.
Please feel free to PM me with any questions, I'd ask that you do not discuss any individual issues in the open, it will only make it harder for people to start enjoying the site again.
Lastly, the majority of people reading this will not have a clue what I am talking about - let me assure you if you have not noticed a problem, I doubt you will now.
Absolutely lastly I hope everyone can continue to enjoy the site, I welcome everyone (well apart from spammers) and I would like every to feel welcome.
Thanks
Dan
sorry claybasket but I think you get the picture
What is going off????!!! Few of us wrote post here..there wasn't nothing degrading, insulting or otherwise offensive in our messages..and yet all are wiped out!!!!! >:( I just managed to read them and write one message myself and they were gone!
I think this is out of order!
Check your PMs goodlife.
Quote from: goodlife on September 23, 2011, 09:36:13
What is going off????!!! Few of us wrote post here..there wasn't nothing degrading, insulting or otherwise offensive in our messages..and yet all are wiped out!!!!! >:( I just managed to read them and write one message myself and they were gone!
I think this is out of order!
goodlife I've responded to your PM.
Dan
All,
Lots of people are posting naming a member, this will only increase the pressure they feel should they choose to start posting again.
Let me say that the person everyone is concerned about is not subject to a ban.
I'll leave it at that.
Dan
I do think that Dan and the moderators do an excellent job. I also think that there are some posters who really feel that they can post quite rude things, for which I don't see the point on a gardening forum where we are just sharing advice and "havin' a laff". OK, yes there are certain political positions etc which I guess is OK as long as everyone can express themselves but I draw the line at people getting personally offensive or putting down other people. We should speak in a tolerant manner. Having said this, I do think that on the whole the community of posters recognizes these people very swiftly and they are politely but firmly reminded that they have overstepped a line.
I have no idea what this dispute is all about, and hope that if some members have steered clear because of comments made by other posters, then they will decide to come back and just make use of their ignore button. ;)
antipodes
Thanks for the recognition of the job we all do as moderators.
Just want to say that the person who this mainly concerns is ordinarily a lovely person and a highly regarded member of this community. This issue relates to one very specific thing which was not offensive and said privately.
Thanks again
Dan
All
I have locked this thread as I have to go out for a few hours and can not monitor it.
I will unlock it when I am back online.
Thanks
Dan
Unlocked
Dan
Can I chip in my thoughts?
I've been in and - mainly out - of the site for a few weeks now. A combination of computer problems and personal ones. But it's meant that I don't really have much clue what this sudden outburst is all about.
But I do know that A4A has always been - and, for my money, continues to be - one of the best and most informative sites around. And thanks to Dan - even though you have been a bit of an absentee landlord recently - and the moderators, who work to tidy the site up and keep everything working. A bit like being in charge of an allotment - or anything, really - in that you're over-worked, under- (or un-) paid, at everyone's beck and call, and always being criticised. I've reported things plenty of times, and they have always been dealt with fairly instantly. Keep up the good work guys!!
And let's keep a bit of sense of proportion. We're here to learn from each other, not slate each other off. If I don't like a thread - or a contributor - I don't read it. What's so difficult in that?
For those of you with short memories, we're the website which identified - and temporarily banned - aminopyralid. (That couple of weeks certainly gave me an insight into the people-power of the internet!) I've learnt so much from this site, and our allotment is better-run than it would be if I couldn't come here and ask for advice.
Let's loosen up and appreciate what we've got here, shall we?
Cheers Trevor_D, and I am impressed by the information on aminopyralid- that is something to be proud off :)
well i'm having a rest