Here is a radical idea - have Gather require that anyone who flags an article be identified.
Why?
Simply because if something is that offensive to you, you should be able to stand up, be recognized and point it out. If you have to do it in secret, then, perhaps, the article was not so bad after all.
We, as a society, have become so wimpified that it has become almost "cool" to not stand up and take responsibility for ones actions. After all, we are never responsible - it's someone else's fault or we parse words to the point of questioning what the definition of is, is.
So, how about it Gather? Let's have a new policy which requires flaggers to stand up and take responsiblity for their actions and then get the accolades they deserve when they flag something that is truly offensive.
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Comments: 29
While transparency may appear to be a great idea on the surface (in the case of content reporting), I believe that the negative consequences of this would far outweigh any benefits to the community. Plus, members would still be able to report anonymously by creating another username and reporting content under that id.
In the past I have written to members when their content violated the Terms of Service (TOS), in lieu of reporting. Even these friendly notes triggered a lot of animosity, as well as negative comments on my content (plus coincidental low ratings). Thus, until human behavior changes significantly, I vote to keep content reporting anonymous.
Why do we celebrate the coward and demean the courageous?
Dubby some people flag for no reason...I was flagged once because the person didnt like that I had brought up an issue SHE didnt think I should.
Also, every article that is in one of the four "flag-worthy" categories states that it has been flagged.
Take Care and stay safe Dale, we'll miss you.
Right on... ID the flaggers and make them tell us why.
Your idea flies with me Dale.
God bless you in your newest challenge.
-Mark
Good for me.
This is a subject that I have written to the main Gather HQ's several times. The response I received was always the same. They feel that, if a flagger was required to identify themselves, it would cause the person whose article was flagged by them to retaliate. And then, the original flagger would retaliate against the retaliator, and on and on and on. Gather's thinking is that, before you know it, everybody would be in a flagging war with each other and there would be a serious breakdown in the Gather community as a result. However, I still agree with you anyway.
Personally, I feel that if someone wants to flag an article, they should first be required to send a private e-mail to the writer and explain why they feel the article, or some of it's content, is inappropriate. "Drive by" flagging should not be permitted.
If an article is validly flagged, in the opinion of the Gather officials, it should not be removed from viewing. Gather puts a warning at the top of flagged articles stating why it is flagged. If a Gatherite continues and reads the article, and they get their feelings hurt, so be it. Stick your hand in a fire, it's gonna get burned.