Commenting on Planetfeedback

This letter was not meant to be a complaint about the TOS or about the
current condition of PFB, and the Kitchen Table was the furthest
thing from my mind when I wrote the letter. I wasn't even sure if the
Kitchen Table still existed.

I simply wanted to know if there was a change in the TOS. This isn't
the first time I noticed discrepancies in the removal of comments.
Last time I made the mistake of posting my observations in a profile,
and we all know how that turned out. So this time I went directly to
the source.

But when all is said and done, it still leaves me wondering (as I said
in the letter) why some comments that clearly violate the TOS are not
removed while others are. I haven't really been given an explanation
other than informing me that all the comments are not read. I guess
I'll just have to accept that as the answer whether I think it's fair
or not.

I guess I haven't noticed some comments getting pulled but other
rule-breaking comments getting to stay. I rarely see any comment that
I think crosses the TOS line.

This site was much more fun when we could get away with murder. It
also could be very mean and inhospitable.

While the site isn't as fun (for me) as it used to be, it is more
professional. If I think an OP is being a complete tool, I have to be
an adult and find a respectful way to disagree, or I leave the letter
alone (usually the latter, since I don't like to edit myself).

But I don't think this site's responsibility includes providing me and
others with endless hours of entertainment. In fact, if someone were
to want to "buy" the site, I can see that if a buyer were to look a
sample of letters and responses at certains in this site's history,
they may not be interested once they saw some of the content
(including from me).

Because Pete has never blasted me or treated me unfairly, so why
wouldn't I show him the same respect?

I've noticed that people have been asking about Pete, but that seems
to be another subject avoided lately. As owner of the site, it would
be nice to know how he feels about things.

I didn't realize that I blasted Greg in my letter. I was trying to be
as polite and professional as possible.

...is not involved in the site's operations, as he's explained to me.

If you want to speak to the person at the top, that's going to be
Greg.

Even if Pete were actively involved, think of it like trying to get an
audience with the CEO of Verizon. The average customer isn't going to
have their concerns directly addressed. There are "managers" that
take care of issues that escalate. Same here.

i have noticed that some comments I thought would be pulled haven't
yet been touched. (i.e. related to grammar or pointing out where a
letter-writer may have broken the law)


but on the flip side i have seen comments that contain direct attacks
and name calling have been pulled.


maybe they've finally relaxed a little with how things are being
handled.

i think it has something to do with the way things got heated up very
quickly over the blog-moderation notice.

I have had comments deleted in the past. Usually they are ones where I
have politely suggested that the original poster rewrite the letter to
make it more readable. Simple things like punctuation, spelling, etc.


It was my understanding that when a comment is deleted that the
poster of the comment was supposed to be sent an email explaining why
it was deleted. I never received an explanation of why the comments
were deleted.

I agree with you Venice that lately it seems like comments of those
type and worse are being allowed. I have no problem with some of my
comments being deleted but all such similar comments should be deleted
as well. It should be fair and equal.

Oh Venice, here you go again.......

As one of the folks that recently posted a comment about rewriting a
letter that included calling the employees things like "idiots", I
apologize if I've offended anyone.

I am a casual poster here,(obviously, since I am just now seeing this
letter) and thought that constructive criticism was allowed.
Apparently, I am wrong. Although I fail to see how trying to help
someone realize that a well written letter will forward their
complaint more than a really bad letter can be construed as offensive.
If I failed to see this rule in the TOS then it is my fault.

I do have to offer my completely unsolicted opinion on another matter.
This site now has so many posting rules that a score card is needed,
and it's just not worth it.

Combine the interesting posting rules with the ever present tension
and sniping among members, this site has become hard to take
seriously. What a shame!

Somewhere along the line the inmates have taken over the asylum and
it's just not working. If I were Planetfeedback I'd close the whole
thing down, re-vamp things, and start over in rebuilding the site's
creditbility.

I know that I've been told that there have been no changes to the
moderation policy, but I'm still not sure if that includes suggesting
that a letter be rewritten or made clearer. I have seen several
comments to that effect lately that were not removed. Are suggestions
on how to improve a letter now permitted?

Never fear Venice, the censor police at PFB are still out and still
working overtime.

My guess is...its just certain people who are being censored.

Venice, if there is a comment that you feel is inappropriate, why
wouldn't you simply shoot an email to Greg to delete it? What could
you possibly hope to accomplish by posting this letter? Really. I
don't for one minute believe that you honestly think that "comments
now allowed that include but are not limited to speculation,
name-calling, insults, letter critiquing, etc.?"

This letter really comes across as an attempt to stir the pot so to
speak. Have things been too calm? I have noticed a bunch of new
names lately - maybe they need to be sucked into the drama filled
whirlpool that was the TOS debate.

Hopefully Greg will respond so that everyone who participates in
commenting can have things be ever so much more clear than the TOS
makes them.

wow.