Our Automatic Banning System

byMagus

2.3K followers

Updated 3 years ago

One of my biggest pet peeves is the double standards. Let me start with clarifying what double standards mean in this context:

Double Standards

": a set of principles that applies differently and usually more rigorously to one group of people or circumstances than to another" - Meriam-Webster.

Double Standards are one of the greatest causes of imbalance and chaos in the world. I'm sure many of you are familiar with that.

It is impossible to eliminate double standards because people are people and not machines. One always will be tolerated for the same mistakes more than someone else depending on their net worth, political standing, social and media popularity, etc.

What I am writing now is not about the reach of perfection but the pursuit of effectiveness.

Codes Become Obsolete

As far as I can tell, we still have the same banning/restriction algorithm on this website six years ago when I joined.

Every blog, comment, post, etc., have an option to be reported as "spam". Spam is a pretty broad term, but okay, we can go with that.

Once ten people report someone's contribution as spam, the writer of that post, comment, whatever is blocked out by the system in a way that they can not write anything anywhere on this website. And that means absolute kill of any communication, including the ability to contact support.

So here is where it is ugly:

An Algorithm for the Trigger Happy Egostiacs

When I came back to WA about two months ago, I was just reading stuff, setting up my next website, etc. So I'm not much for socialising, and I rarely contribute to posts or chats, mostly when I need to ask something.

When I decided to comment the first time, I think it was a question about whether WA has a mobile app. I saw the very first few people reply that there is no app, but the website is fully responsive for mobile devices.

By the way, have you all noticed how the same people reply quick to answer questions in a hurry and sometimes offering half butted answers? I think it goes back to the desire of having a good rank or something.

So I just wanted to make sure that the person asked the question gets the correct answer, instead of the "I-want-to-be-the-first-to-answer-weeeeeeeeeeeee" kind.

I replied to those people that no, WA does not have the full responsive ability. About ten minutes later, I was no longer able to do anything.

• I couldn't write a blog.
• I couldn't write a question.
• I couldn't chat
• I couldn't contact support
• I couldn't request help
• And I had no bloody idea what just happened and why

I still could access the website content, so I managed to find a very well written article that explained the only way they found to solve the issue.

They logged out and contacted support as a guest.

https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/josephc00/blog/write-access-...

Thank you for that!

So I did the same, and I managed to get an answer a day later. But, unfortunately, it was a generic, template answer. No explanation of what happened and why just a template.

My only conclusion is that some members did not like me offering a factual correction on their answers. On the other hand, I may have dented some prestige or popularity ego. Either way, I did not break rules that would warrant my restriction or ban for the time that I have paid for.

And really, how long would that ban last if I didn't manage to reach out to support with that odd detour?

So the Moderating Robot must be trashed or upgraded because it is obsolete and unfair. It's not the fault of the developers. It's the fault of those who have an itchy finger to click "report" every time they or not 100% agreed or nodded to.

Ever since that happened to me, I have been watching closely and learned that I surely am not alone with this issue, which means it needs to be addressed. After all, we dish out big bucks to use this website, and if the ban is unfair, there is no refund or even a decent explanation of any kind.

I have gone around and matched website content with the rules Kyle posted, and behold... there is so much content still there that break rules - especially the clickbait rule - and their authors don't get restricted, but - because of the social popularity - even get likes and a bunch of short, nothing comments that put the content up to the top. Talking about value pumping of trash.

My suggestions to make this better:

• Change the algorithm or drop it
• If the coding remains, why not add an automatic messaging, so the person blocked is notified and offered at least one option to communicate the issue with the moderator.
• Class or training to members about how to be fair, not just shoot right from the holster
• Class or training for members not to post, comment, like, etc., purely for the ranking purpose but put the effort in adding content that has value.
• Have a separate access area for those who want to socialise and keep the main for those that want to learn high-value stuff or contribute high-value stuff.
• Ban me for being so smart

That was my penny for the day.

Magus

Edit: I just saw someone else also addressed this - or similar - issues. I'm slow in writing, well, in everything, I guess. Lol, No matter. More, the merrier.