FOR ATTENTION OF MODERATORS,URGENT !!!!!!!

It is well nigh time Moderators became more diligent in dealing with some of the

extremely unpleasant threads which besmirch the good reputation of this  Site.

Complaints have been made regarding this particular matter through the procedural

channels but to date nothing has been done whatsoever.

The thread which is in issue is entitled "Bobby Fischer Twin of Adolf Hitler".(off Topic section)

To describe the contents as scurrllous would 

be in my opinion the masterpiece of understatement..

I have noted some instances in which moderators have locked threads

far less contentious than the one I have referred to whilst ignoring more

"radical" ones.

In this case I urge the Moderators to take urgent action to lock the thread

and also for the powers-that-be to consider the closure of the OP's Account.

I note the OP has deleted the contentious areas.Several members have taken screenshots!

Moderators don't see all topics and Off Topic is lightly moderated.

If you see something that breaks the TOS, you can report it with a ticket and staff will handle it, if it really breaks the TOS.

https://support.chess.com/article/346-contact-us

This was done precisely through the procedures laid down in the link-but it seems nothing

was immediately implemented.

Quoting you ",,Staff will handle it if it really breaks the TOS"

You clearly did not read the contents which were the cause of several justifiable complaints!

It is quite interesting to note that the identity of the OP of that thread has been "deleted"

completely.Unusual to say the least?

Anyway screenshots have been taken by a number of members who were equally affronted

by the contents.I rest my case.

It can take a little while for staff to see a ticket. As far as I know, most staff work M-F during US Pacific hours, though there may be some extended coverage. There are also staff and mods that are on at other times, but they may not be working tickets.

If the post is completely gone, then it is likely the OP was either muted, or the account was closed for abuse. It may be that the topic was deleted, but the OP can only delete their own posts; if other replies were made and the topic is gone, it is a mute,abuse closure, or staff/moderators deleted it completely.

fyi the  thread is still operationall,The essential info was deleted as was the identity of the OP

The member now appearing as the first person in the thread was NOT the OP.

The OPs account is still open.Anyway the Individual concerned certainly needs careful monitoring

from now on. Trust me.

Stahl wrote (above #3)   "Off Topic is lightly moderated"

With respect, the Off Topic can sometimes outstrip any other of the Forum sections in its

breaching the TOS with some comments in threads which urgently need active moderation.

Another matter which needs urgent review is the issue of selectivity employed in moderation

which sometimes penalises  entries in threads which are not particularly offensive whilst others

cry out for action by moderators yet go without any sanctions.

Also if a member has ALLEGEDLY committed a breach of TOS they should be informed of

 the specific alleged  breach so they can specifically deal with it in their "defence"That concept is known as

JUSTICE!

One has to accept that increased vigilance may have resource implications,

But a bland ("digitalised"????)  blanket allegation without the specific particulars

leaves as I see it a great deal to be desired.

Again I rest my case.

"Besmirch"? I haven't heard that term in a while...

A Modest Proposal

Free (non-paid) member scan not Read or Post to forums blogs etc.

Gold members can Read all but Post once

pay more then Gold unlimited 

    "from now on. Trust me"..........   I've been telling THAT to Erik for 7 yrs now.

It has been explained to me by a member of the support team that bearing in mind so many 

millions are members of this  club that it would be impossible to have human monitoring of

all the aspects which include the  content of Forum threads.The "Robots" ? "Autobots"? or

whatever appear to have the role of digitalised monitors and censors.

I have found that even" acceptable "words or forum threads with no improper terminology

provoke a red warning signal that  e.g there is "unlawful" phraseology or something contrary

to so-called community guidelines which is taboo. In fact at least from my experiences and perception  much wording would be clearly acceptable. If repeated  "alleged violation" occurs the penalty might

be muting.Perhaps the robots should be better programmed to identify the permissible from  the non-permissible and also become more multi lingual.There was a message I wished to send to an opponent

in a language other than English.It was a social message couched in LEGAL terminology but lo and

behold the red sign flashed up alleging unlawful phraseology!Should I now  lose sleep wondering whether I am to be muted and have to go through the trouble of getting on to Support to sort the

mess out? It happened once before and reason was some technical "blip" for which in fairness

I was unmuted and received an apology.

I fully agree with the sites policy of penalising entries which are clearly objectionable-but the system of Robots gettiing it wrong is not very satisfactory.

I demand that all posts that offend me be erased immediately! I also demand that the person who made the posts that offend me be banned. I also demand that Chess.com contact the employer of the person who made the posts that offend me  be contacted, so that he can be fired. I also demand that Chess,com sends people to burn down the house of the person who made the posts that offend me. This is the very least that Chess.com should do when someone makes a post that offends me!

I DEMAND JUSTICE!

Similarly, another thread about Hitler, a fake photo and chess lasted for 10 days. A Mod finally closed it, stating she had "just noticed" the thread. Gimmie a break. Paying members expect and deserve more. The thread quickly degenerated into pro-Nazi propaganda, White supremacy which con't on for dozens of pages complete with pics and gifs.

Staff is telling us "sometimes these things take time" to sort out. Bull puckey. I can review ALL the ongoing threads in but minutes and very easily distinguish, by Titles, threads that will soon enough violate TOA by their very nature.

I agree. This lackadaisical approach is a Black eye on the sites reputation. That such "stuff" is allowed to persist is incomprehensible. With millions of paying members one would expect far more than the occasional glance by a Mod. Site bots monitor language. It's not so difficult a prospect for a bot to recognize Key phrases and terms and send off a note of attention for a Mod's review. 

Off Topic is precisely where more moderation is required in blocking threads that violate TOA. This is where the violations occur. A response made was Mod's "work" 9-5 M-F. Yep, true. It's noticed these threads appear early on in the weekend, offenders knowing full well their antics will go unnoticed.

There existed a thread about playing chess caused suicidal tendency. It went on for weeks with no intervention. The topic I felt should have been immediately closed. Piece of warning. Protest too much and find yourself muted for 2 weeks for "personal attack" on another member as I was. (After sending many tickets for days with zero response.) The thread never was closed. 

Staff finally did come to their senses. Any new thread is now immediately closed with a link for suicide prevention and support. This is easily figured out to be the best solution. What was so difficult for Staff to figure out there is NO PLACE for this stuff in ANY forum?

   I agree with you MM. My complaint one time was about a thread where the OP openly bragged about speeding in New York when he drives. After awhile I just let my protest go.

I hope the excuse for these type topics to be allowed to exist for lengthy periods is nothing more than inadequate manpower and availability. And not that of policy - permitting most everything and anything is open game to create discourse is OK. Topics as Religion and Politics are easily understood as being intentionally disruptive. Well, so are topics as Chess and suicide, Chess and Hitler, intentionally breaking Laws and participating in illegal activities. Such topics fall into the same category.  It's a Chess site for Pete's sake. That members can openly disrespect, mock our game is baffling. There is no mandate stipulating if forums are provided, that such topics must be permitted. Chat rooms exist for that purpose. Off topic is just that. It does not mean any topic, anything goes, ESPECIALLY when minors are encouraged to sign-up.

As seen by the mocking post #12 a great many members post disagreement. They site censorship and freedom of speech. I hope the policy is not to appease members who mock chess out of fun/trolling/all in jest/no harm no foul. I think CC Loses far more members than they realize. The silent majority will simply turn another direction than become involved with the outspoken troublemakers when it appears they are free to practice their distasteful behavior. I for one would not encourage minors to sign-up knowing they are openly exposed to such nonsense. It's a sign of the times I suppose- just observe the chat room in chess events. MOST of it is trolling with insulting and mocking comment. It's a shame really, that it has been taken this far by a disruptive few.

A chess outsider viewing the chat of many broadcast events and these chess forums would be hard pressed to believe chess represents sportsmanship and some resemblance of intelligence. 

Interesting thread.

Wow, I thought I whined a lot about the forum, but you guys whine about a completely different set of stuff.

I'd hate to be the guy in charge of pleasing everyone heh.

But yeah, mods are not paid, so don't be mad at them. I think especially on the weekend some things can go a while before being deleted in the forums but this is because of how management has chosen it to be.

Trying to "please everyone" is never a good idea. Policy gets stuck in middle ground with no clear cut grounds for action. It's a chess site. Stuff that is detrimental to the growth and health of chess can go elsewhere imo. I'm all for constructive and relevant criticism. Most everyone is capable of understanding the difference between negative intent or feedback seeking change. What logic prevails that institutes a hands off policy of obvious topics that are detrimental for the advancement of chess?

Who's mad at Mod's? Not I. They are volunteers doing their best. Perhaps they preside under strict restrictions about their authorities. It's the "Policy" from on top that direction is taken. Is it not reasonable to expect a course of action that blocks these threads sooner? They assuredly all get zapped at some later time. That they are permitted to run a long course is the complaint. 

   The only problem I have with the OP complaint is the thread title....   Doesn't it remind you of those pieces of mail you get that just screams......"JUNK MAIL".